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If Books Could Kill
Not yet published
Expected 18 Jun 26Brought to you by Penguin.
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 favorite 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
Kate Eberle 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026
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 favorite 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
Kate Eberle 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026
Audible Audio
Expected publication June 18, 2026
1257 people want to read
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November 8, 2025Should i start this one?
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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 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
November 28, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Viking Penguin and Penguin Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.
If Books Could Kill is Kate Eberle’s debut novel and for me, she’s set herself up as a new author I’ll be keeping an eye on as this book is outstanding and a tricky one to get just right, which she did in a way that seems effortless for readers.
Roxie is clearly someone with wanderlust, always open to a daring adventure and adverse to laying down long term roots. She hasn’t had a love interest in some time as a result but one cold night she really wishes she could take a brief foray into her favorite author’s cozy romances - and that she’d write a new one. Shockingly she is writing one which Roxie discovers while on what seems like a standout date, only she’s writing a thriller and Roxie’s date is trying to murder her. I didn’t think some of my favorite types of books, thrillers and mysteries could ever find a happy marriage with light rom coms but this book not only does it, it sticks the landing perfectly.
This is a must read, and I’m so excited to lose myself in Kate Eberle’s next book!
If Books Could Kill is Kate Eberle’s debut novel and for me, she’s set herself up as a new author I’ll be keeping an eye on as this book is outstanding and a tricky one to get just right, which she did in a way that seems effortless for readers.
Roxie is clearly someone with wanderlust, always open to a daring adventure and adverse to laying down long term roots. She hasn’t had a love interest in some time as a result but one cold night she really wishes she could take a brief foray into her favorite author’s cozy romances - and that she’d write a new one. Shockingly she is writing one which Roxie discovers while on what seems like a standout date, only she’s writing a thriller and Roxie’s date is trying to murder her. I didn’t think some of my favorite types of books, thrillers and mysteries could ever find a happy marriage with light rom coms but this book not only does it, it sticks the landing perfectly.
This is a must read, and I’m so excited to lose myself in Kate Eberle’s next book!
December 1, 2025
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have struggled with this review. The book is very well written, and the author is obviously knowledgeable about both Romance and Mystery tropes, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped. It started off really strong for me - it is very funny and you really have no idea where it is going to go. It was fun. Then, at about the 40% mark, I felt my excitement diminish. There was so much mayhem, it made me anxious to read. I realize this is a "me problem", not a bad book problem. For the right reader, this will be an excellent choice. It reminds me of the Thursday Next books, although If Books Could Kill deals with less highbrow literature than Thursday Next does.
This book is perfect for people who enjoy frenetic rom-coms, who like a funny book, and are familiar enough with current popular culture to get the many jokes. If you don't read a lot of romance or mystery, or have not watched a lot of TV, the humor may not land for you. I think for the right reader, this is a 5 star book, but for me it is a 3.5. I will round up to a 4 here, because it really is well written, it is just not to my taste.
I have struggled with this review. The book is very well written, and the author is obviously knowledgeable about both Romance and Mystery tropes, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped. It started off really strong for me - it is very funny and you really have no idea where it is going to go. It was fun. Then, at about the 40% mark, I felt my excitement diminish. There was so much mayhem, it made me anxious to read. I realize this is a "me problem", not a bad book problem. For the right reader, this will be an excellent choice. It reminds me of the Thursday Next books, although If Books Could Kill deals with less highbrow literature than Thursday Next does.
This book is perfect for people who enjoy frenetic rom-coms, who like a funny book, and are familiar enough with current popular culture to get the many jokes. If you don't read a lot of romance or mystery, or have not watched a lot of TV, the humor may not land for you. I think for the right reader, this is a 5 star book, but for me it is a 3.5. I will round up to a 4 here, because it really is well written, it is just not to my taste.
December 8, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley, Viking Penguin, and Kate Eberle for providing an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
Screaming. Giggling. Crying. Oh my gosh, this book was such a fun read. I absolutely enjoyed every moment of this book. What initially piqued my interest was the premise: believing you’re the main character in a romance, only to realize you’re actually trapped in a thriller. Being introduced to Roxy and her normal life felt like an early-2000s chick flick vibes in the best way.
Then Grant comes into the scene (or more like forcefully since Roxy stole his Uber driver’s car) and the witty banter starts. The way they interacted felt so natural. I found myself laughing out loud multiple times. I appreciated all the bookish jokes!
Since they were technically living in a thriller, the friends-to-lovers were able to experience every big romantic and ridiculous thriller/mystery book tropes without it feeling forced or cheesy. The scenes include but are not limited to: quirky detective, one-bed, jump from a cliff, forced proximity, black-tie event, explosion. I was so excited for each one.
An extraordinary debut! I’ll be first in line for the author’s next book.
Screaming. Giggling. Crying. Oh my gosh, this book was such a fun read. I absolutely enjoyed every moment of this book. What initially piqued my interest was the premise: believing you’re the main character in a romance, only to realize you’re actually trapped in a thriller. Being introduced to Roxy and her normal life felt like an early-2000s chick flick vibes in the best way.
Then Grant comes into the scene (or more like forcefully since Roxy stole his Uber driver’s car) and the witty banter starts. The way they interacted felt so natural. I found myself laughing out loud multiple times. I appreciated all the bookish jokes!
Since they were technically living in a thriller, the friends-to-lovers were able to experience every big romantic and ridiculous thriller/mystery book tropes without it feeling forced or cheesy. The scenes include but are not limited to: quirky detective, one-bed, jump from a cliff, forced proximity, black-tie event, explosion. I was so excited for each one.
An extraordinary debut! I’ll be first in line for the author’s next book.
November 20, 2025
So fun and funny!! I absolutely loved this book! It's a great romance with a fun mystery!
Roxie accidentally makes a wish to be the protagonist of her favorite romance author's next book, and a strange busker grants it! She thinks she's about to live out every romance readers dream until she ends up living out a murder mystery instead. While running for her life she" Grand Theft Auto-s" a car that happened to have an anxious, lovable Grant in the back seat, and their adventure begins.
Roxie knows she's in a book while it's happening so the mystery is kind of light, but still engaging. The romance was sweet, both characters were totally lovable. Roxie is tough and ready for anything except a real life romance, while Grant is cautious and totally in awe of her.
I can't recommend this enough! If you like both mystery and romance, cleverly written books, or just added story along with your romance read, this one's for you!
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley and Viking Penguin in exchange for my honest review.
Roxie accidentally makes a wish to be the protagonist of her favorite romance author's next book, and a strange busker grants it! She thinks she's about to live out every romance readers dream until she ends up living out a murder mystery instead. While running for her life she" Grand Theft Auto-s" a car that happened to have an anxious, lovable Grant in the back seat, and their adventure begins.
Roxie knows she's in a book while it's happening so the mystery is kind of light, but still engaging. The romance was sweet, both characters were totally lovable. Roxie is tough and ready for anything except a real life romance, while Grant is cautious and totally in awe of her.
I can't recommend this enough! If you like both mystery and romance, cleverly written books, or just added story along with your romance read, this one's for you!
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley and Viking Penguin in exchange for my honest review.
November 30, 2025
I am so in Iove with this book that I'm literally speechless. So good! And I guess I did agree to a review (thank you to Viking Penguin | Penguin Books, the author, and Netgalley for the ARC) so I will try my best. This book is amazing! The author's humor is addicting. So many times it was unexpected and quite simply perfect. I smiled and laughed my way throughout the story. You will not be able to put it down. I think this is my perfectly written FMC. A hilarious badass with an addiction to adventure. Pairing her with the anxiety ridden MMC was comedy gold. But I think it was the authors ability to keep you in a state of guessing if it was a romance or thriller while at the same time managing to pull off characters being trapped in a book and knowing it that made this book pure gold. There are only a few books I've ever reviewed that I loved so much I started writing my review from chapter one. This is one of them. Do not hesitate to read this book!
December 5, 2025
My rating is 4.5 stars!
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"If Books Could Kill" was such a fun surprise! It’s clever fast paced and full of that chaotic book lover energy that makes you feel like you’re in on every joke. I loved the mix of cozy mystery and sharp humor and the plot kept me entertained the whole way through without ever feeling too heavy that i literally eat it up and finished in a two days all while reading another book!
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The characters are messy in the best way the bookish references made my nerdy heart happy and the mystery wrapped up with just the right amount of satisfaction. A perfect pick if you love a little snark a little suspense and a whole lot of bookish charm! can't wait to see what else Kate has to offer in the future!
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Huge thanks to NetGalley for providing me an ARC!
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"If Books Could Kill" was such a fun surprise! It’s clever fast paced and full of that chaotic book lover energy that makes you feel like you’re in on every joke. I loved the mix of cozy mystery and sharp humor and the plot kept me entertained the whole way through without ever feeling too heavy that i literally eat it up and finished in a two days all while reading another book!
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The characters are messy in the best way the bookish references made my nerdy heart happy and the mystery wrapped up with just the right amount of satisfaction. A perfect pick if you love a little snark a little suspense and a whole lot of bookish charm! can't wait to see what else Kate has to offer in the future!
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Huge thanks to NetGalley for providing me an ARC!
November 20, 2025
If Books Could Kill is a delightful debut from Kate Eberle that incorporates magic into a romance/mystery mash-up focused on Roxie, who wishes to be the protagonist of her favorite romance author’s next novel, only to realize it’s a genre switch after her charming date tries to kill her. In her escape, she accidentally brings adjunct literary professor Grant along for the ride and the resulting partnership develops beautifully throughout the story to become a relationship. The array of supporting characters and plot twists are enjoyable and surprising and Roxie is a terrific protagonist who you root for from the first page. Grant is a wonderful love interest/ sleuthing partner and it was a delight to get lost in the world of Roxie’s wish and watch everything come together. I highly recommend this debut and thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!
December 6, 2025
I absolutely loved the premise of this book - and the beginning and ending were very strong. The middle had me a little bored, though. And one part near the beginning (when the two main characters are jumping from the car) left a bad taste in my mouth. The issue was Grant couldn’t initially get out the car because child locks were on. Then Roxie presses power locks and a few minutes later Grant can jump from the car. She would have needed to press the child lock button - power locks are just the main locking mechanism. I know it’s a nit-picky thing, but it took me out of the story. I did love how this book ended. I would give it 3.5 stars, and since this is only a debut novel, I am sure this author will only continue to improve. Will I read another of her books? Definitely.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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 19, 2025
3.5/5
When you wish to live in a book by your favorite author, expecting a cute little romance...but she started writing a thriller...and you nearly get murdered...and you have no idea what to do...
Our FMC recruits the help of a thriller/crime novel fan to get her out of this alive.
I really loved the premise of this book. I think it is such a fun idea. It felt like a darker version of A Novel Love Story, so if you liked that, maybe give this a try.
Overall, I did think this was fun, but I did want more to intrigue me and keep me on the edge of my seat. It wasn't as gripping as I was expecting a book with this premise to be.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
When you wish to live in a book by your favorite author, expecting a cute little romance...but she started writing a thriller...and you nearly get murdered...and you have no idea what to do...
Our FMC recruits the help of a thriller/crime novel fan to get her out of this alive.
I really loved the premise of this book. I think it is such a fun idea. It felt like a darker version of A Novel Love Story, so if you liked that, maybe give this a try.
Overall, I did think this was fun, but I did want more to intrigue me and keep me on the edge of my seat. It wasn't as gripping as I was expecting a book with this premise to be.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
November 29, 2025
This was such a great blend of romance, thriller, and comedy. I didn't think one book would be able to make me laugh out loud, have me on the edge of my seat, and make me believe in love at the same time but this book accomplished all of that!
I loved the dynamic between the two main characters. The development from kidnapper to friends to lovers was so fun to read and I loved their banter. I also loved the dynamic of bold and fearless fmc and nerdy and anxious mmc.
The minor characters really stood out to me in this one from the detectives to the villains and I loved all of their personalities and what they each brought to the story.
I have to admit that I did guess the twist at the end but I still managed to be shocked.
I loved the dynamic between the two main characters. The development from kidnapper to friends to lovers was so fun to read and I loved their banter. I also loved the dynamic of bold and fearless fmc and nerdy and anxious mmc.
The minor characters really stood out to me in this one from the detectives to the villains and I loved all of their personalities and what they each brought to the story.
I have to admit that I did guess the twist at the end but I still managed to be shocked.
November 17, 2025
If Books Could Make You Laugh Out Loud this one is it. Read this in one day because it was so fun. It had everything; comedy, romance, suspense, thrills, murder, twists, all the cliches that keep readers coming back for more wrapped up into one very entertaining story. I was even texting little pieces of the book that had me in stitches to my best friend the entire time. And, it was well-written which takes the cake. I enjoyed Kate Eberle’s debut novel so much and I absolutely will be reading more of their work in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 27, 2025
This book was so fun!!!
We follow Roxie who is a big fan of the romance genre. She accidentally makes a wish that is granted to be the main character in her favorite romance author's next book. Unfortunately, the next book is a crime thriller instead of a romance... Because Roxie and the MMC, Grant, are readers, I found that they were constantly saying things that I would think or say which made this book pretty enjoyable. It was also funny and had me laughing and smiling at times. But I will say that I was defffinitely cringing at some points. All around a good read though :)
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!
We follow Roxie who is a big fan of the romance genre. She accidentally makes a wish that is granted to be the main character in her favorite romance author's next book. Unfortunately, the next book is a crime thriller instead of a romance... Because Roxie and the MMC, Grant, are readers, I found that they were constantly saying things that I would think or say which made this book pretty enjoyable. It was also funny and had me laughing and smiling at times. But I will say that I was defffinitely cringing at some points. All around a good read though :)
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!
December 8, 2025
I seriously loved this book. The characters were great, and I loved how the author slipped in little bits about story structure without it being too heavy-handed. I honestly had no idea where things were going or how it would all wrap up and loved the way the author wrapped this one up. It’s such a cute, clever mash-up of romance and thriller vibes. Plus, the author is just flat-out hilarious. If you are looking for something different and unpredictable - this is your read! Easy 5/5 from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
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.
December 8, 2025
This was such an unexpected delight! I wasn't sure, as things started, if it would be for me despite the cover and blurb. It was quite rom-com cozy for a bit - right up until the first wrench was thrown into the works! From there on, it was hilarious and dark and fun and thoughtful, in all the best possible ways. I loved the meta ideas about reality and perspective and what it means to be a character in your own (or someone else's) story. It was a twisty and engaging read that held my attention throughout and I will definitely keep my eye out for more from Kate Eberle!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
November 26, 2025
Creative premise and kept me giggling.
December 7, 2025
Charming, exciting, wholly original, and wickedly funny. An impressive debut — highly recommend.
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