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The Study Room Series #1
The Evidence of Us
Lila Jennings thought she was done with the Mayfair murder case after using it to ace her grad school thesis. But when another murder shakes the infamous family a year later, she can’t resist diving back in.
To uncover the truth, she’ll need help from Theo Grayson—the brooding professor and former defense attorney who’d probably rather eat glass than revisit the case that ruined his legal career. Theo knows the case inside out—better than anyone—and with the eerie similarities between the two murders, there’s no one better to dig into this with Lila than him.
Lila is brilliant, determined, and unafraid to challenge Theo’s maddeningly skeptical attitude. Theo, on the other hand, would prefer to keep his head down and his past buried. But when the Mayfairs—who have a connection to Lila’s past—invite her to stay at their secluded estate, Lila hatches a pose as a couple to get inside and investigate without raising suspicion.
The Mayfair family might seem eccentric and charming, but their sprawling estate hides darker secrets than Lila anticipated. What she really doesn’t expect is for the fake dating part to feel a little too real. Between late-night brainstorming, stolen glances, and close calls, Lila starts to realize there’s more at stake than just cracking the case.
Perfect for fans of Knives Out and Only Murders in the Building, The Evidence of Us is a twisty, witty romcom full of murder, mystery, and just the right amount of awkward flirting.
To uncover the truth, she’ll need help from Theo Grayson—the brooding professor and former defense attorney who’d probably rather eat glass than revisit the case that ruined his legal career. Theo knows the case inside out—better than anyone—and with the eerie similarities between the two murders, there’s no one better to dig into this with Lila than him.
Lila is brilliant, determined, and unafraid to challenge Theo’s maddeningly skeptical attitude. Theo, on the other hand, would prefer to keep his head down and his past buried. But when the Mayfairs—who have a connection to Lila’s past—invite her to stay at their secluded estate, Lila hatches a pose as a couple to get inside and investigate without raising suspicion.
The Mayfair family might seem eccentric and charming, but their sprawling estate hides darker secrets than Lila anticipated. What she really doesn’t expect is for the fake dating part to feel a little too real. Between late-night brainstorming, stolen glances, and close calls, Lila starts to realize there’s more at stake than just cracking the case.
Perfect for fans of Knives Out and Only Murders in the Building, The Evidence of Us is a twisty, witty romcom full of murder, mystery, and just the right amount of awkward flirting.
369 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 24, 2026
147 people are currently reading
1701 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
January 27, 2026
5 ⭐ 2.5 🌶️
I've read this book front to back, side to side and back to front a few times now and I swear it gets better every time. I fell so hard and so fast for these characters and the way Genna speaks on grief is unfathomably beautiful. All of this intertwined within a merdur mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end while you occasionally laugh your butt off.
The way this man Y E A R N S. Holy heck. We get Theo's POV in third because the man's got secrets... But it fits so perfectly within Lila's first person POV it's practically seamless. I loved the subtle switch and getting his inner thoughts had me so dang swoony. There's tension upon tension between these two, but when that dam breaks they are so hot. Lila's got certain... Proclivaties... And Theo is happy to oblige.
We get a sneak peek of Take This To Your Grave and I'm so excited for what's in store for us next. Thank you Genna for the copy!!
Beta Review: The banter, the tension and the spice were all off the charts. But the emotional impact this story makes will linger in your soul. I can't wait for y'all to meet Theo, Lila and Co.
In full disclosure, I'm Genna's friend and personal assistant, but these opinions are very much my own.
I've read this book front to back, side to side and back to front a few times now and I swear it gets better every time. I fell so hard and so fast for these characters and the way Genna speaks on grief is unfathomably beautiful. All of this intertwined within a merdur mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end while you occasionally laugh your butt off.
The way this man Y E A R N S. Holy heck. We get Theo's POV in third because the man's got secrets... But it fits so perfectly within Lila's first person POV it's practically seamless. I loved the subtle switch and getting his inner thoughts had me so dang swoony. There's tension upon tension between these two, but when that dam breaks they are so hot. Lila's got certain... Proclivaties... And Theo is happy to oblige.
We get a sneak peek of Take This To Your Grave and I'm so excited for what's in store for us next. Thank you Genna for the copy!!
Beta Review: The banter, the tension and the spice were all off the charts. But the emotional impact this story makes will linger in your soul. I can't wait for y'all to meet Theo, Lila and Co.
In full disclosure, I'm Genna's friend and personal assistant, but these opinions are very much my own.
March 2, 2026
God this was GOOOOOOOD!! I seriously ate it up. There’s nothing more I love than murder & a love story and this book delivered that TEN FOLD!
Lila became a professor after doing her dissertation on a case that was too easily closed. Her professor & former fling, Theo, was a defense attorney on that same case but ended up losing and moved over to teaching & was present when she was doing her presentation. They also work at the same college….and she thinks he hates her. Now, there’s another death in the SAME family and her best friend (the daughter of the woman who died) invites her to stay over. So she gets herself a fake boyfriend (hello sexy professor Theo) and is set to go to find some answers!! The twists were so fun & I loved the investigating & the characters in the story. The mayfairs are something else.
The dynamic between Lila & Theo is EVERYTHING. I was laughing so hard because Lila is so fun and wild & a genius, and Theo is grumpy, dry & very much a rule follower…until he isnt heheheh they are such opposites of eachother but truly so perfect for one another. Like the yearning Theo does in the story had my fingers cramping from how much I highlighted on my kindle!!!!!!!
Highlyyyyyy recommend.
Type:ebook
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Tropes:
Forced proximity
Fake dating
Grumpy x sunshine
Only one bed
YEARNINGGGG
Lila became a professor after doing her dissertation on a case that was too easily closed. Her professor & former fling, Theo, was a defense attorney on that same case but ended up losing and moved over to teaching & was present when she was doing her presentation. They also work at the same college….and she thinks he hates her. Now, there’s another death in the SAME family and her best friend (the daughter of the woman who died) invites her to stay over. So she gets herself a fake boyfriend (hello sexy professor Theo) and is set to go to find some answers!! The twists were so fun & I loved the investigating & the characters in the story. The mayfairs are something else.
The dynamic between Lila & Theo is EVERYTHING. I was laughing so hard because Lila is so fun and wild & a genius, and Theo is grumpy, dry & very much a rule follower…until he isnt heheheh they are such opposites of eachother but truly so perfect for one another. Like the yearning Theo does in the story had my fingers cramping from how much I highlighted on my kindle!!!!!!!
Highlyyyyyy recommend.
Type:ebook
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Tropes:
Forced proximity
Fake dating
Grumpy x sunshine
Only one bed
YEARNINGGGG
March 18, 2026
i really want to love anything reylo but i wasn’t into it
April 20, 2026
I really enjoyed this one! It is a good mix of murder, unravelling mysteries (and feelings), dealing with grief and, of course, romance.
I love the FMC. She is whip-smart, funny and coming to terms with the loss of her best friend. The group chat with her online friends is amazing!
The MMC is the grumpy to the FMC's sunshine. He is smart, broody, tall, built, and...um... hung. He is also irrevocably in love with her.
The mystery that is unravelled kept me guessing the whole way through. I'm glad I didnt guess correctly early on like I usually do. And it brought up some ethics and moral questions to ponder as well.
I will probably read the next book (even though I wasn't a fan of Bear)
Series: Book 1 in an interconnected series of standalones. Book 2 is releasing in December 2026.
HEA: Yes
Spice: 2.5 🌶
I love the FMC. She is whip-smart, funny and coming to terms with the loss of her best friend. The group chat with her online friends is amazing!
The MMC is the grumpy to the FMC's sunshine. He is smart, broody, tall, built, and...um... hung. He is also irrevocably in love with her.
The mystery that is unravelled kept me guessing the whole way through. I'm glad I didnt guess correctly early on like I usually do. And it brought up some ethics and moral questions to ponder as well.
I will probably read the next book (even though I wasn't a fan of Bear)
Series: Book 1 in an interconnected series of standalones. Book 2 is releasing in December 2026.
HEA: Yes
Spice: 2.5 🌶
April 26, 2026
this was not worth my time or a review lol
March 23, 2026
What a fantastic murder mystery romcom combination!
The Evidence of Us had me invested from page one! I enjoyed Lila and Theo's banter so much - it added so much to the tension. I never thought I'd be thinking jUST KISS ALREADY during a murder mystery, but here we are. This was Knives Out meets Only Murders in the Building with a hint of Nancy Drew. Only Nancy and Ned wish they had the chemistry that these two had.
Cannot WAIT for book two to see where this series goes!
The Evidence of Us had me invested from page one! I enjoyed Lila and Theo's banter so much - it added so much to the tension. I never thought I'd be thinking jUST KISS ALREADY during a murder mystery, but here we are. This was Knives Out meets Only Murders in the Building with a hint of Nancy Drew. Only Nancy and Ned wish they had the chemistry that these two had.
Cannot WAIT for book two to see where this series goes!
February 16, 2026
Knives out but make the MMC Adam Driver coded ✨❤️🔥
It’s murder mystery, spicy, rom-com fun. It has a little bit of everything you could want and I want it all!!
A yearning, broody, grumpy professor who only has eyes for one fellow professor but she think he hates her? Absolute perfection. I’m not sure I’ve ever met such a yearning man, the silence was LOUD from this man. I loved how oblivious Lila was to how Theo really felt.
Not only was this a fun time but it was a beautiful time. Genna writes about grief and navigating it with such care and love.
Thank you, Genna for this arc! It’s truly a gem✨
It’s murder mystery, spicy, rom-com fun. It has a little bit of everything you could want and I want it all!!
A yearning, broody, grumpy professor who only has eyes for one fellow professor but she think he hates her? Absolute perfection. I’m not sure I’ve ever met such a yearning man, the silence was LOUD from this man. I loved how oblivious Lila was to how Theo really felt.
Not only was this a fun time but it was a beautiful time. Genna writes about grief and navigating it with such care and love.
Thank you, Genna for this arc! It’s truly a gem✨
February 24, 2026
5⭐️ 2.5🌶️
This was so freaking good! Secrets on secrets, twists I never saw coming and an ending that will have you laughing, crying, and when the pieces come together your brain will be doing mental gymnastics trying to make sense of it all. Theo and Lila have amazing banter, chemistry, yearning, push and pull and it’s so yummy!!
Thank you, Genna Black for an advanced copy of this book! I loved it so much, and I cannot wait for book two in the series to come out!
This was so freaking good! Secrets on secrets, twists I never saw coming and an ending that will have you laughing, crying, and when the pieces come together your brain will be doing mental gymnastics trying to make sense of it all. Theo and Lila have amazing banter, chemistry, yearning, push and pull and it’s so yummy!!
Thank you, Genna Black for an advanced copy of this book! I loved it so much, and I cannot wait for book two in the series to come out!
March 6, 2026
This was very Ali Hazelwood coded, but the execution wasn’t quite as strong. The corniness was a bit too high and the pacing felt kinda off. All in all, not a masterpiece but entertaining! 3.5/5 ⭐️
March 3, 2026
The his was totally different from my usual genres and I really enjoyed it - the forensic psychology details and references, the murder whodunnit within one big weird super rich family, all with true crime podcast vibes was oddly charming. There was certainly romance that ran foundationaly throughout, but it was secondary in many ways to the mystery plot. The romance itself was a lovely tension-filled sloooow burn that hit when it finally hit. I really hate when authors compare their characters to real
actors because I want to create my own mental image. In this case, our MMC, Theo Grayson, was beyond unfortunately compared to Adam Driver, who may be a nice person in real life, but always plays assholes and I personably find revolting in appearance. So. I spent an incredible amount of energy undoing that comparison and fighting the image throughout. It lagged a bit around the halfway mark and I found myself caring less and less about the inner monologues, theories, and every single thought Lila had and needed to share. But…Theo’s dirty talk was worth the wait and I loved that he paid such close attention to what she liked after Emily shared her tying up kinks with the dinner table (a scene that Emily did not pay a single cent for, annoyingly) and did what he could to meet those needs while simultaneously falling into the deepest little cinnamon roll love he could with every second. Also seemed anticlimactic after Theo’s (weirdly third person) chapters full of hints of some big betrayal to discover he didn’t share his hunch that we all hunched…and then no real anger or reaction at all from Lila. Not that I’m a fan of 3rd act breakups, I’m glad we skimmed right over that, but still…why was it really all for?
*******
There are things I shared with her that I could never share with anyone else in the world. Memories, fears, the thoughts you don’t dare speak out loud to anyone. She held the unedited version of me. And now she’s gone, and I’m just here, carrying it all on my own, a locked diary no one else has the key to, gathering dust, full of stories and bullshit no one else will ever hear again. We spoke a language only two people spoke, and now I’m the only one left who remembers it. p. 127
Emily stiffens. “She loved you. She loved all of us.” “I didn’t say she didn’t,” Katherine fires back. “She did. Of course she did. Love just—it doesn’t cancel out cruelty, does it? Sometimes they hold hands.” She laughs then, breathless, immediately realizing she shouldn’t have said it, but the words keep coming anyway. “I think sometimes you can miss the version of someone you remember more so than the person they actually were. That’s terrible, isn’t it?” p. 190
He doesn’t remember the exact moment he decided to pierce his cock, just the stretch of days where everything about her had started feeling too much and too little all at once. She’d joined the faculty then, trading one boundary for another—no longer a student, but still untouchable in every conceivable way—and he’d needed something to break the tortuous monotony of wanting what he couldn’t have. It was his own strange version of control. A way to feel something that wasn’t longing. He’d told himself it didn’t matter, that he wasn’t touching anyone else anyway, that the healing time was irrelevant. But underneath all that rationale sat the truth he never said out loud: some part of him wanted to be different the next time he touched someone. A new thing no one else had ever experienced with him, and in turn something he hadn’t experienced with anyone else. And maybe—if the universe ever stopped laughing at him—that someone would be her. p. 261
“I need you to draw a line in the sand for me, Lila,” he says. “I need to know your boundaries, because I have none when it comes to you. If you knew the things I’ve imagined doing to you, you’d never look at me the same.”p. 298
“I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you,” he says. “And I don’t just mean like this. I mean everything. You with your morbid little lectures. You, grumbling in the morning without coffee. You in my bed. In my life. I want it fucking all.” p. 305
He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear and kisses my temple. “You did so good,” he praises. “I just… I want you to always feel safe with me. Especially after. No regrets.” “I do,” I whisper. “With you, I do.” His eyes darken. “Good. Such a good girl for me. You are everything.” He says each sentence between kisses. It wrecks me a little. The praise. The heat behind it. The way it settles low in my belly and spreads like wildfire. p. 308
“How many times are you going to come for me today?” he whispers against my ear. “Theo—” It’s barely a sound. He sinks two fingers inside me and I nearly fall apart. The angle. The fullness. The way his other hand stays firmly wrapped around the tie, reminding me I’m held exactly where he wants me. “You’re going to come just like this,” he says. “On my fingers. On my desk. With your wrists tied and your thighs shaking and my name in your mouth.” p.355
actors because I want to create my own mental image. In this case, our MMC, Theo Grayson, was beyond unfortunately compared to Adam Driver, who may be a nice person in real life, but always plays assholes and I personably find revolting in appearance. So. I spent an incredible amount of energy undoing that comparison and fighting the image throughout. It lagged a bit around the halfway mark and I found myself caring less and less about the inner monologues, theories, and every single thought Lila had and needed to share. But…Theo’s dirty talk was worth the wait and I loved that he paid such close attention to what she liked after Emily shared her tying up kinks with the dinner table (a scene that Emily did not pay a single cent for, annoyingly) and did what he could to meet those needs while simultaneously falling into the deepest little cinnamon roll love he could with every second. Also seemed anticlimactic after Theo’s (weirdly third person) chapters full of hints of some big betrayal to discover he didn’t share his hunch that we all hunched…and then no real anger or reaction at all from Lila. Not that I’m a fan of 3rd act breakups, I’m glad we skimmed right over that, but still…why was it really all for?
*******
There are things I shared with her that I could never share with anyone else in the world. Memories, fears, the thoughts you don’t dare speak out loud to anyone. She held the unedited version of me. And now she’s gone, and I’m just here, carrying it all on my own, a locked diary no one else has the key to, gathering dust, full of stories and bullshit no one else will ever hear again. We spoke a language only two people spoke, and now I’m the only one left who remembers it. p. 127
Emily stiffens. “She loved you. She loved all of us.” “I didn’t say she didn’t,” Katherine fires back. “She did. Of course she did. Love just—it doesn’t cancel out cruelty, does it? Sometimes they hold hands.” She laughs then, breathless, immediately realizing she shouldn’t have said it, but the words keep coming anyway. “I think sometimes you can miss the version of someone you remember more so than the person they actually were. That’s terrible, isn’t it?” p. 190
He doesn’t remember the exact moment he decided to pierce his cock, just the stretch of days where everything about her had started feeling too much and too little all at once. She’d joined the faculty then, trading one boundary for another—no longer a student, but still untouchable in every conceivable way—and he’d needed something to break the tortuous monotony of wanting what he couldn’t have. It was his own strange version of control. A way to feel something that wasn’t longing. He’d told himself it didn’t matter, that he wasn’t touching anyone else anyway, that the healing time was irrelevant. But underneath all that rationale sat the truth he never said out loud: some part of him wanted to be different the next time he touched someone. A new thing no one else had ever experienced with him, and in turn something he hadn’t experienced with anyone else. And maybe—if the universe ever stopped laughing at him—that someone would be her. p. 261
“I need you to draw a line in the sand for me, Lila,” he says. “I need to know your boundaries, because I have none when it comes to you. If you knew the things I’ve imagined doing to you, you’d never look at me the same.”p. 298
“I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you,” he says. “And I don’t just mean like this. I mean everything. You with your morbid little lectures. You, grumbling in the morning without coffee. You in my bed. In my life. I want it fucking all.” p. 305
He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear and kisses my temple. “You did so good,” he praises. “I just… I want you to always feel safe with me. Especially after. No regrets.” “I do,” I whisper. “With you, I do.” His eyes darken. “Good. Such a good girl for me. You are everything.” He says each sentence between kisses. It wrecks me a little. The praise. The heat behind it. The way it settles low in my belly and spreads like wildfire. p. 308
“How many times are you going to come for me today?” he whispers against my ear. “Theo—” It’s barely a sound. He sinks two fingers inside me and I nearly fall apart. The angle. The fullness. The way his other hand stays firmly wrapped around the tie, reminding me I’m held exactly where he wants me. “You’re going to come just like this,” he says. “On my fingers. On my desk. With your wrists tied and your thighs shaking and my name in your mouth.” p.355
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2026
Genna Black delivers not only an amazing read, but quite possibly my new favorite book of all time.
5⭐️/2.5🌶️
Tropes:
•Knives-Out Style Murder Mystery
•Fake Dating
•Only One Bed (he takes the couch, but it breaks 🤭)
•Professor x Professor
•Grumpy/Sunshine
•Adam Driver MMC Vibes 🥵
•SO👏🏻MUCH👏🏻PINING👏🏻
I find that books that land within the “Top Five Reads of All Time” list are incredibly difficult to review; in the sense that it feels impossible to articulate exactly every detail you loved about it without writing a novel yourself. So I’ll just say that I loved every detail — the characters that felt like real people with real histories and traumas, the banter and wit, the tension, the drama, and the (accurate!) true crime and mystery aspect weaving its way through the middle of it all. “The Evidence of Us” in a nutshell is like Letizia Lorini, Ali Hazelwood, and Knives Out had a baby — which is probably the highest compliment I can give a book.
Our MMC, Theo, is a grumpy, muscled, ex lawyer turned professor after a lost case ruined his career. And our FMC, Lila, is a witty, yet traumatized, forensic psychology professor at the same university, that wrote her PhD thesis on said career-ruining case she obsesses over instead of proper therapy. They are both are messy and complicated and have a history that neither of them wants to address, and a new murder cracking the case wide open upends them both into a chaotic mystery that not only uncovers evidence towards justice, but also their attraction.
I absolutely adored these characters, but the tropes and supporting details made me fall head over heels in love. Coming from a career in Forensics, I am incredibly particular about the true crime content I consume, dramatized or otherwise. Having fiction content be based in scientific reality is such a treat for me because it’s so few and far between. Genna went above and beyond to not only create a riveting, well-paced, fictional, romance-mystery but also to verify the accuracy of all the forensic details within it. Ali Hazelwood was one of the first I discovered to really highlight scientific accuracy in fiction books, especially romance. So having another author come to the table to do the same, in a unique way, is a dream.
If you love the romances from Ali Hazelwood or Letizia Lorini, obsess over true crime (and appreciate the accurate details!), and - what the hell - have fantasized about Adam Driver more than once, this is a must read for you. Enjoy the ride!
Favorite Quotes (yes, this is the condensed list):
“Nothing says healthy relationship like unresolved trauma and a shared obsession with homicide.”
“Every time Theo thinks he’s finally done with Lila Jennings, she turns up again—smudged eyeliner, those blue eyes that edge toward purple, a whole arsenal of strong opinions—and he realizes he never actually was.”
“But of course he remembers. He always does. The details most people miss. The ones that make it impossible not to feel seen, even when you don’t want to be.”
““..people think I’m flighty, but I’m actually very grounded.” “By goats,” I murmur. “Exactly,” she says again, utterly sincere. “And crystals. And kombucha. And sometimes tequila, but only if it’s organic.””
“He looks good. Ruin-your-life good. I’m convinced he could make anything look obscene in the best possible way.”
“He didn’t mean to fall for her, but looking at her now, he can’t remember ever having had a choice in the matter.”
“He releases a breath, seemingly steeling himself for what he’s about to say next. “The day I met you, I stopped wanting anyone else.””
“Every contact leaves a trace. It’s the foundation of everything I believe. The rule I’ve never once questioned. And I feel that same certainty now.”
Thank you to Genna Black for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
5⭐️/2.5🌶️
Tropes:
•Knives-Out Style Murder Mystery
•Fake Dating
•Only One Bed (he takes the couch, but it breaks 🤭)
•Professor x Professor
•Grumpy/Sunshine
•Adam Driver MMC Vibes 🥵
•SO👏🏻MUCH👏🏻PINING👏🏻
I find that books that land within the “Top Five Reads of All Time” list are incredibly difficult to review; in the sense that it feels impossible to articulate exactly every detail you loved about it without writing a novel yourself. So I’ll just say that I loved every detail — the characters that felt like real people with real histories and traumas, the banter and wit, the tension, the drama, and the (accurate!) true crime and mystery aspect weaving its way through the middle of it all. “The Evidence of Us” in a nutshell is like Letizia Lorini, Ali Hazelwood, and Knives Out had a baby — which is probably the highest compliment I can give a book.
Our MMC, Theo, is a grumpy, muscled, ex lawyer turned professor after a lost case ruined his career. And our FMC, Lila, is a witty, yet traumatized, forensic psychology professor at the same university, that wrote her PhD thesis on said career-ruining case she obsesses over instead of proper therapy. They are both are messy and complicated and have a history that neither of them wants to address, and a new murder cracking the case wide open upends them both into a chaotic mystery that not only uncovers evidence towards justice, but also their attraction.
I absolutely adored these characters, but the tropes and supporting details made me fall head over heels in love. Coming from a career in Forensics, I am incredibly particular about the true crime content I consume, dramatized or otherwise. Having fiction content be based in scientific reality is such a treat for me because it’s so few and far between. Genna went above and beyond to not only create a riveting, well-paced, fictional, romance-mystery but also to verify the accuracy of all the forensic details within it. Ali Hazelwood was one of the first I discovered to really highlight scientific accuracy in fiction books, especially romance. So having another author come to the table to do the same, in a unique way, is a dream.
If you love the romances from Ali Hazelwood or Letizia Lorini, obsess over true crime (and appreciate the accurate details!), and - what the hell - have fantasized about Adam Driver more than once, this is a must read for you. Enjoy the ride!
Favorite Quotes (yes, this is the condensed list):
“Nothing says healthy relationship like unresolved trauma and a shared obsession with homicide.”
“Every time Theo thinks he’s finally done with Lila Jennings, she turns up again—smudged eyeliner, those blue eyes that edge toward purple, a whole arsenal of strong opinions—and he realizes he never actually was.”
“But of course he remembers. He always does. The details most people miss. The ones that make it impossible not to feel seen, even when you don’t want to be.”
““..people think I’m flighty, but I’m actually very grounded.” “By goats,” I murmur. “Exactly,” she says again, utterly sincere. “And crystals. And kombucha. And sometimes tequila, but only if it’s organic.””
“He looks good. Ruin-your-life good. I’m convinced he could make anything look obscene in the best possible way.”
“He didn’t mean to fall for her, but looking at her now, he can’t remember ever having had a choice in the matter.”
“He releases a breath, seemingly steeling himself for what he’s about to say next. “The day I met you, I stopped wanting anyone else.””
“Every contact leaves a trace. It’s the foundation of everything I believe. The rule I’ve never once questioned. And I feel that same certainty now.”
Thank you to Genna Black for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 24, 2026
Genna Black delivered me everything I wanted in a Only Murders in the Building x Knives out dark rom com mystery. Honestly, this dark rom com mystery is witty, riddled with dark humor, and just the right amount of spice. So if this your jam, join me in obsessing over this book. This book had me laughing out loud. I even voice memo-ed my favorite parts to a friend, while screaming "you gotta read this book!"
The Evidence of Us (aka Lila and Theo Solve a Murder...or two) runs on amateur detectiving, pining, and sheer determination and I cannot stress enough how much I loved every minute of it. Theo, the former defense attorney, trying to write a wrong. Lila, the forensic psychologist unable to let this case stay in the past. They are the perfect crime fighting duo to launch the Study Room Series. Their interactions (THEY FREAKING FAKE DATE TO SOLVE A CRIME...drama ensues) are filled with awkward flirting and some hot investigative moments keep these book going in the best ways. Genna keeps the plot moving by sprinkling in sleuthing, some interrogations with the wildly eccentric Mayfair family, and of course, some red herrings (because every mystery needs them).
I couldn't write a review without talking about the Calla-Serena-Lila found family dynamic. Their group messages were the perfect mix of humor, unhinged, and absolutely on par for how friends chat with each other. I looked forward to those portions of the book because I knew they were going to do have me cackling.
This series was a sheer joy to read during the stress of 2026 and I CANNOT WAIT for [redacted]'s story (you gotta wait until the end). But seriously, if you love mysteries with dark humor, awkward moments, and some romance, ignore your tbr and jump right into this book instead.
The Evidence of Us (aka Lila and Theo Solve a Murder...or two) runs on amateur detectiving, pining, and sheer determination and I cannot stress enough how much I loved every minute of it. Theo, the former defense attorney, trying to write a wrong. Lila, the forensic psychologist unable to let this case stay in the past. They are the perfect crime fighting duo to launch the Study Room Series. Their interactions (THEY FREAKING FAKE DATE TO SOLVE A CRIME...drama ensues) are filled with awkward flirting and some hot investigative moments keep these book going in the best ways. Genna keeps the plot moving by sprinkling in sleuthing, some interrogations with the wildly eccentric Mayfair family, and of course, some red herrings (because every mystery needs them).
I couldn't write a review without talking about the Calla-Serena-Lila found family dynamic. Their group messages were the perfect mix of humor, unhinged, and absolutely on par for how friends chat with each other. I looked forward to those portions of the book because I knew they were going to do have me cackling.
This series was a sheer joy to read during the stress of 2026 and I CANNOT WAIT for [redacted]'s story (you gotta wait until the end). But seriously, if you love mysteries with dark humor, awkward moments, and some romance, ignore your tbr and jump right into this book instead.
March 5, 2026
Stars: 3🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Tropes: Romantic Suspense(Murder Mystery), Fake Dating, Grumpy/Sunshine, One Bed, Slow Burn
Couple: Theo Grayson and Lila Jennings
The was a new to me author and I enjoyed the read. It definitely gave murder mystery vibes without crazy intense suspense. I enjoyed the slow burn between the MCs and the payoff felt genuine.
I found it interesting that the bulk of the story was told in first POV by Lila and then we got a few snippets of 3rd POV for Theo.
Fav Quotes:
“If he thinks ignoring me will make me go away, he wildly underestimates my commitment to being a nuisance when it comes to getting what I want.”
“‘Remember, we’re tragically dysfunctional, but still together for now. So try to look both annoyed and mildly affectionate.’ He levels me with a flat stare. ‘I am only capable of one of those things.’ ‘Look at you,’ I say, lips twitching. ‘Already halfway there.’”
“We didn’t talk much outside of meetings, but somehow, he always knew exactly where my brain would go next. Still does.”
“For a second, all I can do is stare at him—this casually brilliant man who somehow puts up with my overthinking episodes, cuts through the noise with his incisive perspective, and—against all odds—has become the one person I trust to help me make sense of any of this. When everything feels like it’s falling apart, he’s the one looking at the wreckage like it’s just a puzzle. Like it’s solvable.”
What I Loved:
He makes her tea without thought or question exactly the way she likes it. Accidental chloroform mishap.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Evidence of Us
By Genna Black
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Evidence of Us by Genna Black is a sharp, atmospheric murder mystery that expertly blends "fake dating" tension with a Knives Out-style investigation. The story follows Lila Jennings, a brilliant grad student whose obsession with a cold case leads her straight into a fresh crime scene at the eccentric Mayfair estate. To get the inside scoop, she recruits Theo Grayson, a brooding former defense attorney whose career was destroyed by that same original case.
The narrative structure is fascinating—the chapters alternate between Lila’s immediate, sharp-witted first-person perspective and Theo’s more guarded third-person perspective. This choice works perfectly for a mystery because it allows you to feel Lila’s determination and humor while keeping Theo’s deeper secrets and "yearning" just slightly out of reach. Their chemistry is a slow-burn masterpiece, especially once they are forced into the "one bed" trope while posing as a couple to infiltrate the family.
I was completely hooked by how well the author balanced the dark, academic vibes with the absolute chaos of the Mayfair family. Even though the pacing dipped slightly in the middle, the final reveal and the emotional weight of Lila and Theo finally trusting one another made it a standout read for me. It’s the perfect spicy mystery to curl up with if you want a plot that makes you think as much as it makes you swoon.
10/10 Would recommend this book to all family and friends.
By Genna Black
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Evidence of Us by Genna Black is a sharp, atmospheric murder mystery that expertly blends "fake dating" tension with a Knives Out-style investigation. The story follows Lila Jennings, a brilliant grad student whose obsession with a cold case leads her straight into a fresh crime scene at the eccentric Mayfair estate. To get the inside scoop, she recruits Theo Grayson, a brooding former defense attorney whose career was destroyed by that same original case.
The narrative structure is fascinating—the chapters alternate between Lila’s immediate, sharp-witted first-person perspective and Theo’s more guarded third-person perspective. This choice works perfectly for a mystery because it allows you to feel Lila’s determination and humor while keeping Theo’s deeper secrets and "yearning" just slightly out of reach. Their chemistry is a slow-burn masterpiece, especially once they are forced into the "one bed" trope while posing as a couple to infiltrate the family.
I was completely hooked by how well the author balanced the dark, academic vibes with the absolute chaos of the Mayfair family. Even though the pacing dipped slightly in the middle, the final reveal and the emotional weight of Lila and Theo finally trusting one another made it a standout read for me. It’s the perfect spicy mystery to curl up with if you want a plot that makes you think as much as it makes you swoon.
10/10 Would recommend this book to all family and friends.
April 17, 2026
Just finished it so my feelings are new and squishy with recency bias, but I think this was a really solid “almost.” I loved Lila, I enjoyed Theo as a love interest, and the supporting cast was good. It felt heavily inspired by both Reylo fanfic and modern detective franchise success, but still managed to feel fun and authentic.
Lila’s narration brought a lot of levity to the heavy topics (grief, murder, etc), and the humor didn’t feel forced. The group chats with her friends were particularly enjoyable for me. But, I did not enjoy that the few chapters we got from Theo’s POV were written in third person when Lila’s were written in first. I found it jarring.
I would have liked more depth/development of characters and relationships. Theo was easy to like but fell a bit flat. Lila’s relationship with Emily didn’t seem close enough (on page) to hold up the plot premise. The family members bordered on caricatures at times. The banter and chemistry between the main couple was great, but the depth of feelings felt a bit exaggerated compared to what we actually see unfold on page.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this but it wasn’t quite 5 star level. I think this author has a lot of potential, and I can’t wait to see what they do next.
Lila’s narration brought a lot of levity to the heavy topics (grief, murder, etc), and the humor didn’t feel forced. The group chats with her friends were particularly enjoyable for me. But, I did not enjoy that the few chapters we got from Theo’s POV were written in third person when Lila’s were written in first. I found it jarring.
I would have liked more depth/development of characters and relationships. Theo was easy to like but fell a bit flat. Lila’s relationship with Emily didn’t seem close enough (on page) to hold up the plot premise. The family members bordered on caricatures at times. The banter and chemistry between the main couple was great, but the depth of feelings felt a bit exaggerated compared to what we actually see unfold on page.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this but it wasn’t quite 5 star level. I think this author has a lot of potential, and I can’t wait to see what they do next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
5⭐️ 3🌶️
Haverhill Burning will always have a special place in my heart…but this is hands down my favorite Genna Black book to date. Romantic mystery suspense is 100% her lane and I hope she stays there forever.
Lila and Theo are everything. From the banter to the yearning, I couldn’t get enough. I adored how they both pined for one another after all this time and was kicking my feet with glee when they finally gave in and went for it. It’s a slow burn, friends, but the tension is delicious and the spice is absolutely worth the wait.
This was witty, mysterious, and captivating—I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out whodunit the entire time and the big reveal at the end was both expected and totally not what I expected at all. 10/10. No notes.
And while there were moments that induced giggles and laughs and down right feral snorts, there were also beautiful moments that tugged straight on the strings attached to my cold black heart. Genna’s exploration of grief and loss was poignant and heartfelt and really brought a sense of balance to the overall narrative.
So….when can I preorder book 2? 👀
Haverhill Burning will always have a special place in my heart…but this is hands down my favorite Genna Black book to date. Romantic mystery suspense is 100% her lane and I hope she stays there forever.
Lila and Theo are everything. From the banter to the yearning, I couldn’t get enough. I adored how they both pined for one another after all this time and was kicking my feet with glee when they finally gave in and went for it. It’s a slow burn, friends, but the tension is delicious and the spice is absolutely worth the wait.
This was witty, mysterious, and captivating—I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out whodunit the entire time and the big reveal at the end was both expected and totally not what I expected at all. 10/10. No notes.
And while there were moments that induced giggles and laughs and down right feral snorts, there were also beautiful moments that tugged straight on the strings attached to my cold black heart. Genna’s exploration of grief and loss was poignant and heartfelt and really brought a sense of balance to the overall narrative.
So….when can I preorder book 2? 👀
March 4, 2026
The angst and longing in the slow burn are killer but also works so well with the characters and their storyline. The banter between Theo and Lila is entertaining but it also made me giddy, and I couldn't wait for their next round. That banter is what pulled me in so quickly in Chapter One.
While I was pulled in by the banter, I stayed and lived for the plot and all of the different characters. So much mystery. Look, I know that the author described this book as a Knives Out vibe... but I haven't watched that. For me, it was like reading a Dark Rom-Com version of Clue, and I was so here for it. I really did love all the nuances of the side characters; they brought so much to the plot of the book.
Beyond the banter from all the characters and the random funny moments (I am looking at you, fancy fridge), I was just in love with the relationship between Lila and Theo. The quiet moments that showed how much they were meant for each other as well as how long they both have longed for the other.
While I was pulled in by the banter, I stayed and lived for the plot and all of the different characters. So much mystery. Look, I know that the author described this book as a Knives Out vibe... but I haven't watched that. For me, it was like reading a Dark Rom-Com version of Clue, and I was so here for it. I really did love all the nuances of the side characters; they brought so much to the plot of the book.
Beyond the banter from all the characters and the random funny moments (I am looking at you, fancy fridge), I was just in love with the relationship between Lila and Theo. The quiet moments that showed how much they were meant for each other as well as how long they both have longed for the other.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Read:
This book made my brain tingle. I loved this book so much as someone who not only loves a good mystery but delicious slow burn with a blazing pay off. Between the who dunn it and the please do IT of it all this has truly been a treat.
I also really enjoy the way the POVs were done. Lila’s (FMC) was in first person while Theo’s (MMC) was in third person. Kinda of kept our focus on Lila and made it so if you weren’t paying attention or picked the book back up in the middle of the chapter there was no confusion as to who’s POV it was. The spice! It was delectable when we FINALLY hit pay dirt. I mean Theo put in work. Made up for lost time 😂😮💨.
Overall, I love how the story panned out it kinda left you in a weird nothing is black or white, kinda grey area that didn’t make you really question yourself. All the emotions and depth worked really well for me! Thank you so much to Genna Black for the ARC!
This book made my brain tingle. I loved this book so much as someone who not only loves a good mystery but delicious slow burn with a blazing pay off. Between the who dunn it and the please do IT of it all this has truly been a treat.
I also really enjoy the way the POVs were done. Lila’s (FMC) was in first person while Theo’s (MMC) was in third person. Kinda of kept our focus on Lila and made it so if you weren’t paying attention or picked the book back up in the middle of the chapter there was no confusion as to who’s POV it was. The spice! It was delectable when we FINALLY hit pay dirt. I mean Theo put in work. Made up for lost time 😂😮💨.
Overall, I love how the story panned out it kinda left you in a weird nothing is black or white, kinda grey area that didn’t make you really question yourself. All the emotions and depth worked really well for me! Thank you so much to Genna Black for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD!!!
firstly, we have a very Ali Hazelwood coded MMC - Theo is the tallest, grumpiest, broodiest man around campus (and he DEFINITELY hates Lila. for sure, no doubt about it)
Lila is so fun and lively, and she absolutely lives to push every single one of Theo's buttons. Their dynamic is so tense and delicious but most of all, they're both obsessed with each other's brains, which I just cannot get enough of
Theo was so tightly wound for the whole book that it was (as expected) simply glorious when he finally let himself go wild
This book is perfect for fans of true crime, Knives Out, and rich people behaving badly (and getting called out on it by some plucky investigators)
also Lila's group chat with her two friends had me laughing out loud - it's just perfect
AND THAT SNEAK PEEK it had me going a little weird
Thank you so much Genna for the eARC!!!!
firstly, we have a very Ali Hazelwood coded MMC - Theo is the tallest, grumpiest, broodiest man around campus (and he DEFINITELY hates Lila. for sure, no doubt about it)
Lila is so fun and lively, and she absolutely lives to push every single one of Theo's buttons. Their dynamic is so tense and delicious but most of all, they're both obsessed with each other's brains, which I just cannot get enough of
Theo was so tightly wound for the whole book that it was (as expected) simply glorious when he finally let himself go wild
This book is perfect for fans of true crime, Knives Out, and rich people behaving badly (and getting called out on it by some plucky investigators)
also Lila's group chat with her two friends had me laughing out loud - it's just perfect
AND THAT SNEAK PEEK it had me going a little weird
Thank you so much Genna for the eARC!!!!
March 14, 2026
The Evidence of Us is true to its description as a little Knives Out and Only Murders in the Building. Overall, this was a quick and interesting read with Lila and Theo investigating a murder mystery with some rich people family drama and missing antiquities. I really liked Lila's text thread with her friends throughout and thought it added a fun, light element. The cast of characters was well rounded and everyone felt unique. The MMC and relationship setup did, as others have mentioned, did feel like the Ali Hazelwood formula that I do quite enjoy in that she's brilliant, they work together, he's gruff, she thinks he hates her, surprise! he's been secretly obsessed with her for years. I do think that some elements felt a little superficial grab bag thrown in for the shock value and for the sake of making it on a trope list but didn't really add anything of value to the plot or character development.
May 12, 2026
2.7⭐️
I didn’t really enjoy this and it was boring for most of it.
The romance between the MCs was okay-ish but I felt that something was missing, especially when they talked about things that happened between them in the past 🤷🏻♀️, probably because the whole relationship building happened off-page and we were only given a brief mention of it without any details at all. Also, I didn’t understand why they couldn’t be together and ended up avoiding each other for a year! I didn’t get any clarity or maybe it was mentioned very briefly too.
Anyway, this book wasn’t for me.
______
Book info:
- Dual POV (mostly from the h’s pov) / (h’s pov - first person , H’s pov - third person)
- Fake dating
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Mystery
Safety:
Safety is good
- No info on the MCs’ past
- The H has been celibate since he met the h a year ago and the h has been celibate for years
- No OM (just some jealousy moment from the H)
- No ow/cheating/scene with other people
- HFN (in a relationship)
I didn’t really enjoy this and it was boring for most of it.
The romance between the MCs was okay-ish but I felt that something was missing, especially when they talked about things that happened between them in the past 🤷🏻♀️, probably because the whole relationship building happened off-page and we were only given a brief mention of it without any details at all. Also, I didn’t understand why they couldn’t be together and ended up avoiding each other for a year! I didn’t get any clarity or maybe it was mentioned very briefly too.
Anyway, this book wasn’t for me.
______
Book info:
- Dual POV (mostly from the h’s pov) / (h’s pov - first person , H’s pov - third person)
- Fake dating
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Mystery
Safety:
Safety is good
- No info on the MCs’ past
- The H has been celibate since he met the h a year ago and the h has been celibate for years
- No OM (just some jealousy moment from the H)
- No ow/cheating/scene with other people
- HFN (in a relationship)
February 5, 2026
ARC Review:
5/5⭐️, 2/5🌶️
-Grumpy x Sunshine
-One Bed
-First & Third Person POV: Dual
-Fake Dating
-Professor x Professor
Holy hell. Where do I even begin? This was phenomenal. It took me a second to be hooked but once the line was cast I couldn’t put this down. Genna Black just has a way with words. I will say, I don’t always love Third Person POV but the way she did it had me pretty okay with it.
I absolutely love Theo and Lila. They both have their own quirks that just make them beautiful people. And together after going through a lot they are a beautiful couple.
The way that the plot was twisty and turny had me in a choke hold. There was so many things that happened that I could not have predicted. My jaw was quite literally on the floor.
Check the TW’s prior to reading.
Otherwise I have to absolutely recommend this!
5/5⭐️, 2/5🌶️
-Grumpy x Sunshine
-One Bed
-First & Third Person POV: Dual
-Fake Dating
-Professor x Professor
Holy hell. Where do I even begin? This was phenomenal. It took me a second to be hooked but once the line was cast I couldn’t put this down. Genna Black just has a way with words. I will say, I don’t always love Third Person POV but the way she did it had me pretty okay with it.
I absolutely love Theo and Lila. They both have their own quirks that just make them beautiful people. And together after going through a lot they are a beautiful couple.
The way that the plot was twisty and turny had me in a choke hold. There was so many things that happened that I could not have predicted. My jaw was quite literally on the floor.
Check the TW’s prior to reading.
Otherwise I have to absolutely recommend this!
May 8, 2026
As a forensics nerd and thriller/romance lover I REALLY thought I was going to love this.
I love the grumpy trope with Theo, and I think his background and why he chooses to say yes to Lila’s proposed idea really adds to the depth of his character.
Lila is a kind but albeit cheeky FMC who’s easy to find a place in your heart with her chaos.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t get past the 50% mark. It started strong, but for whatever reason, I could not get on with the writing. It was super difficult to follow, a bit… dare I say, immature/unrealistic with the humour. Trying to feel immersed in this story became harder and harder.
I have read other reviews that’s says it picks up around the 60/70% mark of the book so maybe I’ll give it another try in the future, but for now I’m having to put the book down.
I love the grumpy trope with Theo, and I think his background and why he chooses to say yes to Lila’s proposed idea really adds to the depth of his character.
Lila is a kind but albeit cheeky FMC who’s easy to find a place in your heart with her chaos.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t get past the 50% mark. It started strong, but for whatever reason, I could not get on with the writing. It was super difficult to follow, a bit… dare I say, immature/unrealistic with the humour. Trying to feel immersed in this story became harder and harder.
I have read other reviews that’s says it picks up around the 60/70% mark of the book so maybe I’ll give it another try in the future, but for now I’m having to put the book down.
Review of advance copy received from Author
eARC Review:
If Nancy Drew was as kinky as she was clever and Ned Nickerson was a broody professor with a few surprises up his *clears throat* … ummm sleeves…
Genna’s humor will ALWAYS leave me cackling. One of the things I appreciated most about the story—more than the amazing banter and well planned twists—was the representation of grief.
On the outside, Lila is witty and outgoing. Only the reader has the privilege of knowing her quiet heartache and how it fueled her determination as she and Theo work to untangle lies of the past and discover the truth behind more than one crime.
“And love, when it’s that deep and that unwavering, doesn’t pause to weigh outcomes or justify itself. It just moves.“
If Nancy Drew was as kinky as she was clever and Ned Nickerson was a broody professor with a few surprises up his *clears throat* … ummm sleeves…
Genna’s humor will ALWAYS leave me cackling. One of the things I appreciated most about the story—more than the amazing banter and well planned twists—was the representation of grief.
On the outside, Lila is witty and outgoing. Only the reader has the privilege of knowing her quiet heartache and how it fueled her determination as she and Theo work to untangle lies of the past and discover the truth behind more than one crime.
“And love, when it’s that deep and that unwavering, doesn’t pause to weigh outcomes or justify itself. It just moves.“
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is an EASY binge! Lila is a forensic psychology professor with a habit of becoming obsessed with cases until a resolution is made. Ok, just one case, just in her defense, the criminal system failed at finding the real killer.
Having defended her thesis on the case that ruined Theo’s career, needless to say they are enemies of sorts.
With the opportunity to spend a week at the house not 1 but 2 killings pertaining to this case occurred, Lila recruited a reluctant Theo to tag along. He can’t let this case go either.
This rom-com murder mystery is everything you want to read. Twists and turns, an unexpected murderer, and a seemingly sentient high tech fridge. With a mansion full of secrets, these two had their work cut out for them.
Having defended her thesis on the case that ruined Theo’s career, needless to say they are enemies of sorts.
With the opportunity to spend a week at the house not 1 but 2 killings pertaining to this case occurred, Lila recruited a reluctant Theo to tag along. He can’t let this case go either.
This rom-com murder mystery is everything you want to read. Twists and turns, an unexpected murderer, and a seemingly sentient high tech fridge. With a mansion full of secrets, these two had their work cut out for them.
March 19, 2026
this was not a typical read but it was really good and I did really enjoy reading it! there was murder mystery and thriller vibes in this and I really liked that aspect of it! I was constantly wanting to know who the killer was and the history behind all the murders and just always wanting to know more. to me it was different because Lila and Theo’s chapters were in different povs and I prefer first person but to be fair it wasn’t much of an issue. I liked Lila and Theo, the banter and tension was so good, I loved the teasing between them. they were just good together. I liked the balance between romance and mystery, it was a good read, I was so interested and wanting to know who the killer was! a good read!
4⭐
4⭐
April 1, 2026
I genuinely enjoyed this book, id been looking forward to it after spying it being advertised as Knives Out x Only Murders in the Building. It nailed the feel of a twisty mystery rom com. Just when I thought i knew what was up, a small detail would change the game and I loved it.
There are intially a fair few grief references that I immediately related to and I found through this that Lila became a kindred spirit and I was immediately intrigued with her story. Whilst I'd say the murder mystery holds court for most of the book, the tale of yearning is woven in effortlessly. The banter between Lila and Theo is electrically diabolical especially when whats in their head are completely different emotions. This man has been yearning for so long, I'm glad he discovers hes more of a match with Lila then he initally thought.
Special mention to the group chat texts between Lila, Serena and Calla, Im looking forward to some more unhinged discussions in the next books!
There are intially a fair few grief references that I immediately related to and I found through this that Lila became a kindred spirit and I was immediately intrigued with her story. Whilst I'd say the murder mystery holds court for most of the book, the tale of yearning is woven in effortlessly. The banter between Lila and Theo is electrically diabolical especially when whats in their head are completely different emotions. This man has been yearning for so long, I'm glad he discovers hes more of a match with Lila then he initally thought.
Special mention to the group chat texts between Lila, Serena and Calla, Im looking forward to some more unhinged discussions in the next books!
May 11, 2026
Take This to Your Grave by Gena Showalter was such a chaotic and entertaining read because this family seriously could not stop hiding secrets from each other! Every time i thought i figured out who the killer was we went a different direction. Every chapter had some new drama or lie being exposed, and I was constantly changing my mind about the characters. I also really liked the main couple’s relationship because even with all the drama, they still had chemistry and felt believable together. The author handled the FMC’s kink in a way that felt natural to her character instead of making it weird or over-the-top, which made her feel more real. This book was very entertaining and a good palate cleanser!!
January 28, 2026
I will start by giving, again, a huge thanks to Genna Black for the ARC! ❤️
I had an amazing time reading this book. Think Knives Out, but with romance and spice! Lila is a great FMC: she is smart and sooo funny, I had a smile plastered on my face the whole time. Theo is also one hot MMC, and guys, the slow burn is slow, but it's totally worth it!
Something I loved about this book is how Genna packed so much emotional stuff and truths about being human, all while writing a murder mystery about an over-the-top family: she wrote a side character that is a yoga goat lady, for example. 👏
I loved everything, 5⭐ and 3🌶️!
I had an amazing time reading this book. Think Knives Out, but with romance and spice! Lila is a great FMC: she is smart and sooo funny, I had a smile plastered on my face the whole time. Theo is also one hot MMC, and guys, the slow burn is slow, but it's totally worth it!
Something I loved about this book is how Genna packed so much emotional stuff and truths about being human, all while writing a murder mystery about an over-the-top family: she wrote a side character that is a yoga goat lady, for example. 👏
I loved everything, 5⭐ and 3🌶️!
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