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If Books Could Kill
A NOVEL LOVE STORY meets LOVE IN THE TIME OF SERIAL KILLERS in this rom-com following Roxie Mitchell, an adventure-loving romance reader who finds herself trapped in a meet-cute turned murderous
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 and she finds herself swept into a first date with a handsome stranger who seems designed to take her breath away.
Except for one little That handsome 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 takes her straight into the path of Grant Hoffman, an anxious English professor with a convenient love of crime novels, she decides that kidnapping a grown man is a small price to pay for her own survival. Together, Roxie and Grant navigate a madcap story where the lines between fiction and reality blur. They’ll find out if they have what it takes to make it to The End—or maybe even Happily Ever After.
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 and she finds herself swept into a first date with a handsome stranger who seems designed to take her breath away.
Except for one little That handsome 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 takes her straight into the path of Grant Hoffman, an anxious English professor with a convenient love of crime novels, she decides that kidnapping a grown man is a small price to pay for her own survival. Together, Roxie and Grant navigate a madcap story where the lines between fiction and reality blur. They’ll find out if they have what it takes to make it to The End—or maybe even Happily Ever After.
357 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 18, 2026
About the author
Kate Eberle
1 book105 followersKate Eberle studied journalism at Boston University before rediscovering her love of fiction. She lives and writes in Connecticut, where she spends the rest of her time being the ultimate menace to society: a grown-up Theater Kid. If Books Could Kill is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 907 reviews
June 8, 2026
I didn’t expect If Books Could Kill by Kate Eberle to go the way it did at all.
It starts off like a familiar romance and I was fully in that mindset of “okay, I know where this is going.” That doesn’t last long at all. It shifts quite quickly into something much darker and more unsettling, and I kept having to adjust to what kind of story I was even reading.
Roxie is really easy to follow because she reacts like a normal person would—confused, in denial, and trying to act like everything is fine when it very clearly isn’t. At several points I was basically thinking she really needs to look around properly because things are not okay at all. Grant stood out as the only one making sense most of the time, which makes it even more frustrating (in a good way) when he’s ignored.
What stood out most is how it plays with romance expectations. It sets things up like you know exactly where it’s going and then quietly changes direction. I had a couple of moments where I genuinely had to pause because I didn’t expect the turn it took.
Kate Eberle’s writing style is fast-paced and very conversational, which makes it really easy to read and easy to get pulled into. It doesn’t overcomplicate anything, but that simplicity works in its favour because it makes the shift in tone feel even more effective.
The humour is subtle and comes from Roxie trying to treat everything like a normal romance story when it clearly stops being one quite early on. It’s those moments where you’re thinking “this is not normal anymore” while she’s still trying to convince herself it is.
Overall, I really enjoyed it. It starts off familiar and then becomes much more unpredictable and a bit chaotic, but in a way that keeps you interested throughout.
Thank you NetGalley, Viking/Penguin Publishers, and author Kate Eberle for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publishing date: July 18th 2026
It starts off like a familiar romance and I was fully in that mindset of “okay, I know where this is going.” That doesn’t last long at all. It shifts quite quickly into something much darker and more unsettling, and I kept having to adjust to what kind of story I was even reading.
Roxie is really easy to follow because she reacts like a normal person would—confused, in denial, and trying to act like everything is fine when it very clearly isn’t. At several points I was basically thinking she really needs to look around properly because things are not okay at all. Grant stood out as the only one making sense most of the time, which makes it even more frustrating (in a good way) when he’s ignored.
What stood out most is how it plays with romance expectations. It sets things up like you know exactly where it’s going and then quietly changes direction. I had a couple of moments where I genuinely had to pause because I didn’t expect the turn it took.
Kate Eberle’s writing style is fast-paced and very conversational, which makes it really easy to read and easy to get pulled into. It doesn’t overcomplicate anything, but that simplicity works in its favour because it makes the shift in tone feel even more effective.
The humour is subtle and comes from Roxie trying to treat everything like a normal romance story when it clearly stops being one quite early on. It’s those moments where you’re thinking “this is not normal anymore” while she’s still trying to convince herself it is.
Overall, I really enjoyed it. It starts off familiar and then becomes much more unpredictable and a bit chaotic, but in a way that keeps you interested throughout.
Thank you NetGalley, Viking/Penguin Publishers, and author Kate Eberle for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publishing date: July 18th 2026
June 15, 2026
[arc review] I don’t know where to start this review, but I will say that ‘if books could kill’ is one of my favourite reads of 2026—and maybe of all time, too.
the story follows roxie as she’s down on her luck, suffering through the plights of modern day dating, and wishing she was a protagonist in her favourite romance novels.
what starts out as a joke with some purple glitter, eventually turns into something very real when her wish comes true. roxie is now the star of anna matthew’s upcoming novel—except anna isn’t writing a romance, she’s pivoting into thriller.
this was SO good and I throughly enjoyed reading it. it was a different spin on magical realism, and I found myself not wanting it to end.
the story is the perfect amount of silly and whimsy, an action packed plot, and a great side of romance! I loved the dynamic roxie and grant have, and I was pining for them from their first encounter.
there’s so many laugh out loud moments—one of my favourites being when they first meet, but I’m not going to spoil it for future readers!
the side characters were also fantastic, with their own story and individual personalities that added depth to the book.
‘if books could kill’ joins the few books that I can imagine as a great book to movie adaptation—and if that ever happens, I need tom blyth as grant.
it’s overall an absolute stellar debut, and I can’t believe it’s the authors first books! I need more! I need roxie and grant in every universe!
thank you michael joseph for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
the story follows roxie as she’s down on her luck, suffering through the plights of modern day dating, and wishing she was a protagonist in her favourite romance novels.
what starts out as a joke with some purple glitter, eventually turns into something very real when her wish comes true. roxie is now the star of anna matthew’s upcoming novel—except anna isn’t writing a romance, she’s pivoting into thriller.
this was SO good and I throughly enjoyed reading it. it was a different spin on magical realism, and I found myself not wanting it to end.
the story is the perfect amount of silly and whimsy, an action packed plot, and a great side of romance! I loved the dynamic roxie and grant have, and I was pining for them from their first encounter.
there’s so many laugh out loud moments—one of my favourites being when they first meet, but I’m not going to spoil it for future readers!
the side characters were also fantastic, with their own story and individual personalities that added depth to the book.
‘if books could kill’ joins the few books that I can imagine as a great book to movie adaptation—and if that ever happens, I need tom blyth as grant.
it’s overall an absolute stellar debut, and I can’t believe it’s the authors first books! I need more! I need roxie and grant in every universe!
thank you michael joseph for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
July 27, 2026
3.7 Stars
One Liner: A fun book (don’t take it seriously)
Roxie only wished to become a part of her favorite romance author’s next book. How was she to know that the author switched genres and was writing her first-ever mystery/thriller, or that her wish would actually come true?
Faced with real danger in fiction, Roxie decides Grant Hoffman, an anxious English professor with a convenient love of crime novels, is her best bet, even if it means she has to kidnap him. Now, the two of them have to reach the end of the book and stay alive!
The story comes in Roxie’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts
I should thank Jayme for her fab review, which made me request this book right away. Luckily, I was also approved quickly and got to enjoy this mad ride.
This is not a book meant to be taken seriously, nor does it fit into a specific box. It blends romance, magic realism, crime, mystery, and comedy. Some of it is absurd, and I feel that’s intentional.
Roxie is easy enough to like (some moments annoyed me, but thankfully, she proved herself). I’m not an adrenaline junky like her, but I don’t mind murders (in fiction), so we managed to get on well.
Grant starts as a non-hero, but proves he is hero material. No sudden changes, but a gradual display of what it means to show up and be brave when it matters. I say, I like him more than the FMC.
The chemistry is not fully there, so this can be a problem if you read the book mainly for romance. The shift should have started a little earlier to make it more organic. Since we get only the FMC’s POV, it limits certain things. I’d have loved at least a couple of chapters from the MMC.
The whole believability part seems relatively easy since it doesn’t take them long to accept the change of circumstances. I’m okay with that. However, I wish the silver-eyed person appeared later on, too, especially towards the end. They were pretty charming, imo.
Also, the bestie has little to no role in the plot. She could have been a great addition as a third-party supporter. The cat is mentioned but has no active role. :/
There’s an epilogue, which I like.
Despite all the fun and madness, the book also uses a couple of heavier themes. Important ones that are given just the right amount of space to prevent them from shadowing the fun parts.
To summarize, If Books Could Kill is a solid debut, and it made me laugh, so I guess the minor issues can be dealt with. I’ll definitely keep an eye open for the author’s future works.
Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #IfBooksCouldKill
One Liner: A fun book (don’t take it seriously)
Roxie only wished to become a part of her favorite romance author’s next book. How was she to know that the author switched genres and was writing her first-ever mystery/thriller, or that her wish would actually come true?
Faced with real danger in fiction, Roxie decides Grant Hoffman, an anxious English professor with a convenient love of crime novels, is her best bet, even if it means she has to kidnap him. Now, the two of them have to reach the end of the book and stay alive!
The story comes in Roxie’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts
I should thank Jayme for her fab review, which made me request this book right away. Luckily, I was also approved quickly and got to enjoy this mad ride.
This is not a book meant to be taken seriously, nor does it fit into a specific box. It blends romance, magic realism, crime, mystery, and comedy. Some of it is absurd, and I feel that’s intentional.
Roxie is easy enough to like (some moments annoyed me, but thankfully, she proved herself). I’m not an adrenaline junky like her, but I don’t mind murders (in fiction), so we managed to get on well.
Grant starts as a non-hero, but proves he is hero material. No sudden changes, but a gradual display of what it means to show up and be brave when it matters. I say, I like him more than the FMC.
The chemistry is not fully there, so this can be a problem if you read the book mainly for romance. The shift should have started a little earlier to make it more organic. Since we get only the FMC’s POV, it limits certain things. I’d have loved at least a couple of chapters from the MMC.
The whole believability part seems relatively easy since it doesn’t take them long to accept the change of circumstances. I’m okay with that. However, I wish the silver-eyed person appeared later on, too, especially towards the end. They were pretty charming, imo.
Also, the bestie has little to no role in the plot. She could have been a great addition as a third-party supporter. The cat is mentioned but has no active role. :/
There’s an epilogue, which I like.
Despite all the fun and madness, the book also uses a couple of heavier themes. Important ones that are given just the right amount of space to prevent them from shadowing the fun parts.
To summarize, If Books Could Kill is a solid debut, and it made me laugh, so I guess the minor issues can be dealt with. I’ll definitely keep an eye open for the author’s future works.
Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #IfBooksCouldKill
July 27, 2026
“𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒆, 𝑰 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰'𝒎 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒚 𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒚.“
i had so much fun with this book, the mix of romantic comedy with thriller worked so well. Roxie makes a wish to be the main protagonist of her favorite authors next book.. only to later realize it won’t be in the usual romance genre. now she has to escape from people trying to kill her and figure out a way to change the outcome of this new story she’s been put in.
i loved Roxie, her reactions were honestly so funny and i think she contrasted in an interesting way with the mmc Grant. he’s such a nerdy, has to “think everything through” type, so Roxie dragging him into her mess had him coming out of his shell more than he ever had before. there was a certain part of the plot that was predictable to me though, but i loved how the romance developed and the pacing kept things engaging!
➘ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Penguin Books for the arc, all opinions are my own.
i had so much fun with this book, the mix of romantic comedy with thriller worked so well. Roxie makes a wish to be the main protagonist of her favorite authors next book.. only to later realize it won’t be in the usual romance genre. now she has to escape from people trying to kill her and figure out a way to change the outcome of this new story she’s been put in.
i loved Roxie, her reactions were honestly so funny and i think she contrasted in an interesting way with the mmc Grant. he’s such a nerdy, has to “think everything through” type, so Roxie dragging him into her mess had him coming out of his shell more than he ever had before. there was a certain part of the plot that was predictable to me though, but i loved how the romance developed and the pacing kept things engaging!
➘ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Penguin Books for the arc, all opinions are my own.
January 7, 2026
I haven’t laughed this hard and as much while reading for a good while.
August 5, 2026
I loved it
July 13, 2026
Das war mal ein Ritt! Die Geschichte hat es mir zwar anfangs etwas schwieriger gemacht, reinzukommen, da sie einfach etwas Zeit brauchte, um in Fahrt zu kommen, aber ab da - ach, herrlich, hatte ich einen Spaß. Besonders gefallen hat mir die Meta-Ebene der Geschichte: Die Protagonistin weiß, dass sie in einem Buch ist und arbeitet mit den bekannten Erzählmechanismen, Tropes und Co. Dabei wird immer wieder Humor untergebracht, der sicherli8ch nicht jedem gefällt, aber voll meinen Nerv getroffen hat. Eine wilde Geschichte, die irgendwie nach Schema F geht, aber es weiß und genau damit spielt! Ich weiß nicht, ob die Geschichte wirklich den Namen Thriller verdient und die Plottwists waren für mich auch nicht richtig überraschend, aber das Buch hat mir definitiv Spaß gemacht!
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.
August 1, 2026
Das war mal was ganz anderes und richtig gut!
Ich gebe zu, ich war hier absolutes Coveropfer, aber zum Glück lohnt sich auch der Inhalt😁
Viola Müller hat mir ein rasantes Buch vorgelesen und sie hat es super gemacht.
Roxy hat mir als Charakter sehr gut gefallen, denn sie ist überhaupt nicht kitschig, hat einen wunderbaren Humor und eine direkte Art. Aber auch die anderen Figuren sind sehr gut und sympathisch gelungen. Grant, der irgendwie in alles verwickelt wird und mal besonnen und bedacht ist, um im nächsten Moment total überzuschnappen, oder Leslie und Liza, die ein sehr schräges Paar mit nicht eindeutig geklärter Identität sind ("Du bist nicht Banksy!"). Liza liebte ich wirklich sehr.
Tatsächlich, da sich die Charaktere wissentlich in einem Buch befinden, werden auch jede Menge Tropes und Klischees veräppelt, was einfach zu komisch ist🤭 Aus dem gleichen Grund kann man auch verzeihen, dass einige Dinge etwas willkürlich zu passieren scheinen. Die Charaktere befinden sich in einem Buch und hinterfragen daher vieles nicht, ich also auch nicht😅
Das Ende ist nicht unbedingt eine Überraschung, trotzdem bin ich erst spät drauf gekommen. Der Weg dahin war auf jeden Fall super.
Fazit: Mix aus Thriller und Romance der anderen Art, der super Spaß macht und durchgehend mitreißt❤️
Ich gebe zu, ich war hier absolutes Coveropfer, aber zum Glück lohnt sich auch der Inhalt😁
Viola Müller hat mir ein rasantes Buch vorgelesen und sie hat es super gemacht.
Roxy hat mir als Charakter sehr gut gefallen, denn sie ist überhaupt nicht kitschig, hat einen wunderbaren Humor und eine direkte Art. Aber auch die anderen Figuren sind sehr gut und sympathisch gelungen. Grant, der irgendwie in alles verwickelt wird und mal besonnen und bedacht ist, um im nächsten Moment total überzuschnappen, oder Leslie und Liza, die ein sehr schräges Paar mit nicht eindeutig geklärter Identität sind ("Du bist nicht Banksy!"). Liza liebte ich wirklich sehr.
Tatsächlich, da sich die Charaktere wissentlich in einem Buch befinden, werden auch jede Menge Tropes und Klischees veräppelt, was einfach zu komisch ist🤭 Aus dem gleichen Grund kann man auch verzeihen, dass einige Dinge etwas willkürlich zu passieren scheinen. Die Charaktere befinden sich in einem Buch und hinterfragen daher vieles nicht, ich also auch nicht😅
Das Ende ist nicht unbedingt eine Überraschung, trotzdem bin ich erst spät drauf gekommen. Der Weg dahin war auf jeden Fall super.
Fazit: Mix aus Thriller und Romance der anderen Art, der super Spaß macht und durchgehend mitreißt❤️
July 5, 2026
Thromance
Roxie Mitchell zeitarbeitet von Auszeit zu Auszeit. Tatsächlich könnte sie einen Vollzeitjob in dem Kampfsportstudio haben, wo sie als Aushilfe angestellt ist. Aber sie schwimmt lieber in ihren sicheren Bahnen. Allerdings liest sie gerne Liebesromane, bei denen man schon weiß wie es ausgeht, die man trotzdem genießt, weil es so schön ist. Ihr Wunsch wäre es selbst in so einem Liebesroman zu sein. Sei vorsichtig, was du dir wünscht. Ehe Roxie es sich versieht, ist sie mitten im Geschehen. Sie hat eine Verabredung mit Jack. Es könnte perfekt sein. Da liest sie, dass ihre Lieblingsautorin Anna Mathews diesmal einen Thriller schreibt.
Man wünscht sich eine Liebesgeschichte und rennt plötzlich um sein Leben. So hätte Roxie sich das mit der einmaligen Gelegenheit nicht vorgestellt. Wie ist die Autorin bloß auf das schmale Brett gekommen. Kein Himmel voller Geigen, sondern ein in höchster Not geklautes Uber mit einem Passagier. Grant ist ein Dozent und in keiner Weise daran interessiert, in einem Roman zu landen. Außerdem gibt es das auch nicht. Roxie glaubt selbst kaum, was passiert und ihre Versuche Grant die Situation zu erklären, sind zum Scheitern verurteilt. Vielleicht ist es auch eher eine Aufgabe, Grant zunächst mal am Leben zu halten.
Das ist das neue Genre: Thromance - eine Mischung aus Thriller und Romance. Kann das gutgehen? Oft kann ein Liebesroman durchaus spannungsgeladene Momente hat und ein Thriller gefühlvolle. Aber man weiß schon, was man liest. Und hier wird man ein wenig ins kalte Wasser geworfen. Gerade, wenn man es sich mit einem Date gemütlich machen will, muss man das Adrenalin hochfahren, weil plötzlich die Gefahr besteht, dass die sympathische Helden umgebracht wird. Wenn sie in großer Gefahr nur die Chance sieht, ein Auto zu klauen, kann man sich nicht viele Gedanken über Recht und Gesetz machen. Dass noch ein Gast im Auto sitzt, ist eben Pech oder ein Kniff, damit doch noch ein paar Gefühle ins Spiel kommen. Mal heiß, mal kalt. Sehr unterschiedlich sind die Szenen, die man liest. Wie bei manch anderen Büchern denkt man im Geiste schon an den Film, der sich zu drehen anbieten würde. Die schnellen Wechsel, die Heldin, der man doch ihre Romance wünscht, und der Thrill, der sich aus dem Umerwartbaren ergibt, dass trotzdem passiert. Am Ende fragt man sich, was hat jetzt besser funktioniert? Immerhin ist Roxie und damit auch den Lesenden bewusst, dass es sich um Fiktion handelt. Und die macht Spaß.
Cover und Titel sind so schön auffällig, dass sie Aufmerksamkeit erregen und dazu einladen zu Buch oder Hörbuch zu greifen. Das Hörbuch wird immer der Situation angemessen sehr schön und lebendig vorgetragen von Viola Müller.
Roxie Mitchell zeitarbeitet von Auszeit zu Auszeit. Tatsächlich könnte sie einen Vollzeitjob in dem Kampfsportstudio haben, wo sie als Aushilfe angestellt ist. Aber sie schwimmt lieber in ihren sicheren Bahnen. Allerdings liest sie gerne Liebesromane, bei denen man schon weiß wie es ausgeht, die man trotzdem genießt, weil es so schön ist. Ihr Wunsch wäre es selbst in so einem Liebesroman zu sein. Sei vorsichtig, was du dir wünscht. Ehe Roxie es sich versieht, ist sie mitten im Geschehen. Sie hat eine Verabredung mit Jack. Es könnte perfekt sein. Da liest sie, dass ihre Lieblingsautorin Anna Mathews diesmal einen Thriller schreibt.
Man wünscht sich eine Liebesgeschichte und rennt plötzlich um sein Leben. So hätte Roxie sich das mit der einmaligen Gelegenheit nicht vorgestellt. Wie ist die Autorin bloß auf das schmale Brett gekommen. Kein Himmel voller Geigen, sondern ein in höchster Not geklautes Uber mit einem Passagier. Grant ist ein Dozent und in keiner Weise daran interessiert, in einem Roman zu landen. Außerdem gibt es das auch nicht. Roxie glaubt selbst kaum, was passiert und ihre Versuche Grant die Situation zu erklären, sind zum Scheitern verurteilt. Vielleicht ist es auch eher eine Aufgabe, Grant zunächst mal am Leben zu halten.
Das ist das neue Genre: Thromance - eine Mischung aus Thriller und Romance. Kann das gutgehen? Oft kann ein Liebesroman durchaus spannungsgeladene Momente hat und ein Thriller gefühlvolle. Aber man weiß schon, was man liest. Und hier wird man ein wenig ins kalte Wasser geworfen. Gerade, wenn man es sich mit einem Date gemütlich machen will, muss man das Adrenalin hochfahren, weil plötzlich die Gefahr besteht, dass die sympathische Helden umgebracht wird. Wenn sie in großer Gefahr nur die Chance sieht, ein Auto zu klauen, kann man sich nicht viele Gedanken über Recht und Gesetz machen. Dass noch ein Gast im Auto sitzt, ist eben Pech oder ein Kniff, damit doch noch ein paar Gefühle ins Spiel kommen. Mal heiß, mal kalt. Sehr unterschiedlich sind die Szenen, die man liest. Wie bei manch anderen Büchern denkt man im Geiste schon an den Film, der sich zu drehen anbieten würde. Die schnellen Wechsel, die Heldin, der man doch ihre Romance wünscht, und der Thrill, der sich aus dem Umerwartbaren ergibt, dass trotzdem passiert. Am Ende fragt man sich, was hat jetzt besser funktioniert? Immerhin ist Roxie und damit auch den Lesenden bewusst, dass es sich um Fiktion handelt. Und die macht Spaß.
Cover und Titel sind so schön auffällig, dass sie Aufmerksamkeit erregen und dazu einladen zu Buch oder Hörbuch zu greifen. Das Hörbuch wird immer der Situation angemessen sehr schön und lebendig vorgetragen von Viola Müller.
July 24, 2026
Anna Matthews is Roxie’s favorite romance author, so when she offhandedly makes a wish to be the heroine in Anna’s next book and her wish is granted it’s like a dream come true. Unfortunately, for Roxie, Anna’s decided to break from her usual romance genre and venture into crime thrillers. Roxie thinks she’s on a date with a dreamy book boyfriend when suddenly book BF tries to kill her.
Roxie doesn’t know the first thing about crime novels but as she’s making a run for safety she’s thrown into the path of Grant, an English professor and crime novel junkie. Together they navigate the crazy imaginings of Anna all the while trying to figure a way out of the plot and danger.
If Books Could Kill was a unique premise and so much fun! I’d say it was a whacky mash-up of romance, thriller and comedy, action-packed from page one! Roxie and Grant made a great team, albeit a reluctant one at first. Their romance was a slow-burn one nudged by fake dating and marriage situations that were both hilarious and heartwarming. I wasn’t sure how it’d all work out but loved their journey to HEA!
I voluntarily read a copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
Roxie doesn’t know the first thing about crime novels but as she’s making a run for safety she’s thrown into the path of Grant, an English professor and crime novel junkie. Together they navigate the crazy imaginings of Anna all the while trying to figure a way out of the plot and danger.
If Books Could Kill was a unique premise and so much fun! I’d say it was a whacky mash-up of romance, thriller and comedy, action-packed from page one! Roxie and Grant made a great team, albeit a reluctant one at first. Their romance was a slow-burn one nudged by fake dating and marriage situations that were both hilarious and heartwarming. I wasn’t sure how it’d all work out but loved their journey to HEA!
I voluntarily read a copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
July 15, 2026
¿Y si un día despertaras dentro de un libro escrito por tu autora de romance favorita... y el protagonista, en lugar de enamorarse de ti, intentara matarte? 😭📚
Esa es justamente la premisa de este libro. La protagonista es una amante de los romances que, después de pedir un deseo, termina dentro del universo de su autora favorita esperando vivir la historia de amor de sus sueños. El problema es que el supuesto interés amoroso resulta ser un asesino, y a partir de ahí todo se convierte en un caos.
De verdad hacía mucho que no leía una idea que se sintiera tan original.
La primera vez que él intenta matarla me dio muchísima risa por cómo está escrita la escena. Todo escala tan rápido que ella termina huyendo, subiéndose prácticamente al primer Uber que encuentra y arrastrando al pobre pasajero del mismo a una situación que ni él ni nosotros entiende 😂.
Y cuando por fin descubren qué está pasando... dije "ok, esto sí no me lo esperaba". Me encantó toda la explicación de que no viajaron a otra realidad, sino que siguen existiendo en la misma, y que si mueren dentro de la historia, mueren también en la vida real.
Pero mi parte favorita fue descubrir por qué el protagonista había cambiado tanto. Cuando ella ve que su autora favorita decidió abandonar el romance para escribir un thriller, todo hace clic. Fue un giro que me pareció divertidísimo porque inmediatamente pensé en esas autoras que llevan años escribiendo un solo género y de repente salen con algo completamente distinto. Literal me recordó a cuando Colleen Hoover publicó Verity y todos nos quedamos de: "¿qué acaba de pasar?" 😂.
Fue una lectura súper divertida, muy relajada y con un humor que conectó muchísimo conmigo. No pretende tomarse demasiado en serio y justamente ahí está su encanto. Entre las referencias a los libros, el misterio y todas las situaciones absurdas, terminé pasándola increíble. De esas historias que lees con una sonrisa en la cara y que se sienten diferentes a todo lo demás que has leído últimamente. 💛📖✨
Esa es justamente la premisa de este libro. La protagonista es una amante de los romances que, después de pedir un deseo, termina dentro del universo de su autora favorita esperando vivir la historia de amor de sus sueños. El problema es que el supuesto interés amoroso resulta ser un asesino, y a partir de ahí todo se convierte en un caos.
De verdad hacía mucho que no leía una idea que se sintiera tan original.
La primera vez que él intenta matarla me dio muchísima risa por cómo está escrita la escena. Todo escala tan rápido que ella termina huyendo, subiéndose prácticamente al primer Uber que encuentra y arrastrando al pobre pasajero del mismo a una situación que ni él ni nosotros entiende 😂.
Y cuando por fin descubren qué está pasando... dije "ok, esto sí no me lo esperaba". Me encantó toda la explicación de que no viajaron a otra realidad, sino que siguen existiendo en la misma, y que si mueren dentro de la historia, mueren también en la vida real.
Pero mi parte favorita fue descubrir por qué el protagonista había cambiado tanto. Cuando ella ve que su autora favorita decidió abandonar el romance para escribir un thriller, todo hace clic. Fue un giro que me pareció divertidísimo porque inmediatamente pensé en esas autoras que llevan años escribiendo un solo género y de repente salen con algo completamente distinto. Literal me recordó a cuando Colleen Hoover publicó Verity y todos nos quedamos de: "¿qué acaba de pasar?" 😂.
Fue una lectura súper divertida, muy relajada y con un humor que conectó muchísimo conmigo. No pretende tomarse demasiado en serio y justamente ahí está su encanto. Entre las referencias a los libros, el misterio y todas las situaciones absurdas, terminé pasándola increíble. De esas historias que lees con una sonrisa en la cara y que se sienten diferentes a todo lo demás que has leído últimamente. 💛📖✨
July 22, 2026
& what if i said this is gonna end up on my favorites of the year list??
fun & quirky & cute & unique & genre bending
romance reader makes an off handed wish to live in her favorite romance authors next book, not realizing the author is writing a thriller. so her meet-cute turns into a near-murder & she kinda sorta kidnaps a hot crime novel loving professor to help her survive until the end of the book
as i said - unique af
this was fun!! idk the last time ive read a book so quick bc this summer ive unfortunately had the attention span of a marble (ie - nonexistent)
things to know:
- single pov
- genuinely hilarious
- hot nerdy love interest
- daring FMC
- forced proximity
- dumping a body but in a cute way
- only one bed
fun & quirky & cute & unique & genre bending
romance reader makes an off handed wish to live in her favorite romance authors next book, not realizing the author is writing a thriller. so her meet-cute turns into a near-murder & she kinda sorta kidnaps a hot crime novel loving professor to help her survive until the end of the book
as i said - unique af
this was fun!! idk the last time ive read a book so quick bc this summer ive unfortunately had the attention span of a marble (ie - nonexistent)
things to know:
- single pov
- genuinely hilarious
- hot nerdy love interest
- daring FMC
- forced proximity
- dumping a body but in a cute way
- only one bed
July 6, 2026
3.5
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was not what i was expecting but it was super cute. The storyline was fun and fast paced but the characters didn’t exactly draw me in. There was nothing wrong with this book i just didn’t connect with the story as much as I was hoping I would. I still enjoyed reading this and definitely recommend it but it will probably not be a story I remember forever. This would make a super fun movie though.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was not what i was expecting but it was super cute. The storyline was fun and fast paced but the characters didn’t exactly draw me in. There was nothing wrong with this book i just didn’t connect with the story as much as I was hoping I would. I still enjoyed reading this and definitely recommend it but it will probably not be a story I remember forever. This would make a super fun movie though.
Review of advance copy
Ich glaube, ich hatte einfach andere Erwartungen an das Buch. Die Idee klang spannend, aber ich bin mit der Story leider nie so richtig warm geworden. Irgendwie hat sie mich nicht gepackt und ich habe mich oft dabei erwischt, nur noch querzulesen oder ganze Abschnitte zu überfliegen.
Es war jetzt kein schlechtes Buch, aber für mich hat es einfach nicht so funktioniert (leider)
Es war jetzt kein schlechtes Buch, aber für mich hat es einfach nicht so funktioniert (leider)
July 6, 2026
Roxie ist passionierte Romance Leserin und mag vor allem die Bücher ihrer Lieblingsautorin Anna Matthews, deren Geschichten ihr seit Jahren als verlässlicher Rückzugsort dienen. Als Roxie eines Tages scherzhaft den Wunsch äußert, selbst einmal die Heldin in einem ihrer Romane zu sein, rechnet sie natürlich nicht damit, dass dieser Wunsch tatsächlich in Erfüllung geht.
Plötzlich findet sie sich mitten in einer Geschichte wieder, die zunächst genau das verspricht, wovon sie immer geträumt hat. Charmante Begegnungen, romantische Spannung und das Gefühl, endlich die Hauptfigur ihres eigenen Happy Ends zu sein. Doch die Idylle hält nicht lange an. Schnell wird klar, dass Anna Matthews diesmal keinen Liebesroman geschrieben hat. Statt einer romantischen Komödie steckt Roxie auf einmal mitten in einem Thriller.
Völlig überfordert mit den Regeln eines Genres, das sie kaum kennt, versucht sie verzweifelt, einen Weg aus der Geschichte zu finden. Unterstützung erhält sie von Grant, einem eher zurückhaltenden Literaturprofessor mit einer Vorliebe für Krimis. Gemeinsam geraten die beiden von einer brenzligen Situation in die nächste und müssen herausfinden, wie diese Geschichte endet, bevor sie selbst darin untergehen.
„If Books Could Kill“ ist das Debüt von Kate Eberle und dafür wurde ordentliche die Werbetrommel gerührt. Die Prämisse klingt aber auch einfach unglaublich verlockend. Eine Romance Leserin landet plötzlich selbst in einer Geschichte und stellt dann fest, dass sie diesmal nicht in einer RomCom, sondern in einem Thriller gelandet ist. Allein mit dieser Idee hatte mich das Buch sofort.
Gerade weil ich selbst überwiegend Thriller lese, gleichzeitig aber auch eine große Schwäche für klassische romantische Filmkomödien habe, war diese Kombination genau mein Beuteschema. Außerdem musste ich beim Lesen immer wieder an „A Killer Crush“ von Shailee Thompson denken, das mich Anfang des Jahres komplett begeistert hat und ebenfalls mit der Mischung aus Romance und Thriller gespielt hat. Entsprechend hoch waren meine Erwartungen.
Und was war das bitte für ein cooler Einstieg in die Story! Die Grundidee ist originell und macht sofort Spaß. Wir haben einen herrlich absurden Ausgangspunkt, der erstaunlich gut funktioniert. Auch Roxie selbst mochte ich direkt. Sie wirkt sympathisch, humorvoll und bringt viel Leben in die Geschichte. Generell die Dialoge im Buch haben mir richtig gut gefallen. Die Sprache ist witzig, locker und sorgt für eine angenehm leichte Atmosphäre. Der Humor war für mich wirklich eine der größten Stärken des Romans.
Leider konnte das Buch diesen starken Einstieg nicht halten. Die Handlung hat zunehmend an Klarheit verloren und ich hatte immer wieder das Gefühl, dass der Geschichte ein wenig der rote Faden fehlt. Vieles wirkte auf mich sprunghaft und manche Sachen tauchten gefühlt plötzlich auf, ohne dass sie sich wirklich aus der Handlung ergeben hätten. Die Reise, auf die sich Roxie begibt, um ihr Problem zu lösen, fühlte sich fast schon zusammengewürfelt an. Einzelne Elemente wirkten nicht immer vollständig ausgearbeitet, wodurch es mir schwerfiel, am Ball zu bleiben.
Natürlich wollen wir auch nicht die Romantik vergessen und dafür gab es im Buch ein klassisches Love Interest. Leider konnte diese aufflammende Liebe nicht überzeugen, denn ich habe die Chemie zwischen den beiden einfach nicht gespürt. Fühlte sich eher wie ein Mittel zum Zweck an. Das Ende konnte dann noch ein wenig rausreißen, obwohl die Auflösung nicht völlig überraschend war.
Es ist ein Debüt mit einer wirklich großartigen Grundidee, mit dem Kreativität und ein gutes Gespür für Humor gezeigt wurde. Gleichzeitig merkt man dem Roman einfach an einigen Stellen an, dass es sich eben um ein Erstlingswerk handelt. Manche Handlungsstränge wirken nicht ganz ausgereift und hätten etwas mehr Feinschliff vertragen können. Trotzdem würde ich mir weitere Bücher der Autorin anschauen. Die Idee hinter diesem Roman war stark und ich kann mir gut vorstellen, dass Kate Eberle mit weiteren Veröffentlichungen noch einmal deutlich zulegen wird was ihr Können betrifft.
Plötzlich findet sie sich mitten in einer Geschichte wieder, die zunächst genau das verspricht, wovon sie immer geträumt hat. Charmante Begegnungen, romantische Spannung und das Gefühl, endlich die Hauptfigur ihres eigenen Happy Ends zu sein. Doch die Idylle hält nicht lange an. Schnell wird klar, dass Anna Matthews diesmal keinen Liebesroman geschrieben hat. Statt einer romantischen Komödie steckt Roxie auf einmal mitten in einem Thriller.
Völlig überfordert mit den Regeln eines Genres, das sie kaum kennt, versucht sie verzweifelt, einen Weg aus der Geschichte zu finden. Unterstützung erhält sie von Grant, einem eher zurückhaltenden Literaturprofessor mit einer Vorliebe für Krimis. Gemeinsam geraten die beiden von einer brenzligen Situation in die nächste und müssen herausfinden, wie diese Geschichte endet, bevor sie selbst darin untergehen.
„If Books Could Kill“ ist das Debüt von Kate Eberle und dafür wurde ordentliche die Werbetrommel gerührt. Die Prämisse klingt aber auch einfach unglaublich verlockend. Eine Romance Leserin landet plötzlich selbst in einer Geschichte und stellt dann fest, dass sie diesmal nicht in einer RomCom, sondern in einem Thriller gelandet ist. Allein mit dieser Idee hatte mich das Buch sofort.
Gerade weil ich selbst überwiegend Thriller lese, gleichzeitig aber auch eine große Schwäche für klassische romantische Filmkomödien habe, war diese Kombination genau mein Beuteschema. Außerdem musste ich beim Lesen immer wieder an „A Killer Crush“ von Shailee Thompson denken, das mich Anfang des Jahres komplett begeistert hat und ebenfalls mit der Mischung aus Romance und Thriller gespielt hat. Entsprechend hoch waren meine Erwartungen.
Und was war das bitte für ein cooler Einstieg in die Story! Die Grundidee ist originell und macht sofort Spaß. Wir haben einen herrlich absurden Ausgangspunkt, der erstaunlich gut funktioniert. Auch Roxie selbst mochte ich direkt. Sie wirkt sympathisch, humorvoll und bringt viel Leben in die Geschichte. Generell die Dialoge im Buch haben mir richtig gut gefallen. Die Sprache ist witzig, locker und sorgt für eine angenehm leichte Atmosphäre. Der Humor war für mich wirklich eine der größten Stärken des Romans.
Leider konnte das Buch diesen starken Einstieg nicht halten. Die Handlung hat zunehmend an Klarheit verloren und ich hatte immer wieder das Gefühl, dass der Geschichte ein wenig der rote Faden fehlt. Vieles wirkte auf mich sprunghaft und manche Sachen tauchten gefühlt plötzlich auf, ohne dass sie sich wirklich aus der Handlung ergeben hätten. Die Reise, auf die sich Roxie begibt, um ihr Problem zu lösen, fühlte sich fast schon zusammengewürfelt an. Einzelne Elemente wirkten nicht immer vollständig ausgearbeitet, wodurch es mir schwerfiel, am Ball zu bleiben.
Natürlich wollen wir auch nicht die Romantik vergessen und dafür gab es im Buch ein klassisches Love Interest. Leider konnte diese aufflammende Liebe nicht überzeugen, denn ich habe die Chemie zwischen den beiden einfach nicht gespürt. Fühlte sich eher wie ein Mittel zum Zweck an. Das Ende konnte dann noch ein wenig rausreißen, obwohl die Auflösung nicht völlig überraschend war.
Es ist ein Debüt mit einer wirklich großartigen Grundidee, mit dem Kreativität und ein gutes Gespür für Humor gezeigt wurde. Gleichzeitig merkt man dem Roman einfach an einigen Stellen an, dass es sich eben um ein Erstlingswerk handelt. Manche Handlungsstränge wirken nicht ganz ausgereift und hätten etwas mehr Feinschliff vertragen können. Trotzdem würde ich mir weitere Bücher der Autorin anschauen. Die Idee hinter diesem Roman war stark und ich kann mir gut vorstellen, dass Kate Eberle mit weiteren Veröffentlichungen noch einmal deutlich zulegen wird was ihr Können betrifft.
May 4, 2026
3.5 🌟 rounded up
Roxie makes a wish with a busker to be the main character in her favourite romance authors next novel. What she doesn’t know is that the next novel is a thriller not a romance.
This book is whimsical, funny and completely lighthearted. There were so many silly jokes throughout. It was fast paced and addictive. I read the whole thing in a day. There were so many of your typical romance tropes, it did fall into a bit of parody territory for me in some parts.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC copy.
Roxie makes a wish with a busker to be the main character in her favourite romance authors next novel. What she doesn’t know is that the next novel is a thriller not a romance.
This book is whimsical, funny and completely lighthearted. There were so many silly jokes throughout. It was fast paced and addictive. I read the whole thing in a day. There were so many of your typical romance tropes, it did fall into a bit of parody territory for me in some parts.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC copy.
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.
July 21, 2026
If you enjoy romance, intrigue, mystery and humor well, If Books Could Kill will check off all those boxes! The story is a wonderfully creative romp, as you literally fall into a book! It is clever, the characters funny and adorable...even the villains and the plot are well, magical.
When romance reader Roxie Mitchell meets a crazy man on the street and he asks her to make a wish and throws glitter all over her, well, she just figures it's just the sign of the times. But she immediately wishes her favorite romance novelist, Anna Matthews who has not written a new romance in quite a while would do just that...right another book.
That same day she meets a tall, dark and handsome stranger in a library no less and hit it off! He asks her on a date, she accepts, and the date is magical, until it is time for the kiss....
Roxie realizes that perhaps Anna Matthews may have decided to change her style of writing and for some reason not only has her wish come true, but Matthews is actually writing a thriller, and she, Roxie is the protagonist and they are trying to kill her!
As Roxie tries to get away from said handsome stranger she jumps into an Uber with a passenger in the back. Another tall, dark handsome hopefully not as crazy stranger named Grant Hoffman. She starts the car and races away with a very frightened college professor in the back!
Now she must not only make Grant believe her crazy story, but she must also make him help her stay alive until she can figure out where Anna Matthews is writing and find her and tell her she has to stop because she is literally trying to kill HER!
That my friends is when the real fun starts!
Travel with Roxie and Grant as they must become superheroes, figure out who the bad guys are and oh yes, maybe fall in love. But wait! They are in a book being written and none of it is real so...
If Books Could Kill is delightfully amusing, suspenseful with so many twists and turns your head will spin!
Thank you #NetGalley #PenguinBooks #IfBooksCouldKill #KateEberle for the advanced copy.
When romance reader Roxie Mitchell meets a crazy man on the street and he asks her to make a wish and throws glitter all over her, well, she just figures it's just the sign of the times. But she immediately wishes her favorite romance novelist, Anna Matthews who has not written a new romance in quite a while would do just that...right another book.
That same day she meets a tall, dark and handsome stranger in a library no less and hit it off! He asks her on a date, she accepts, and the date is magical, until it is time for the kiss....
Roxie realizes that perhaps Anna Matthews may have decided to change her style of writing and for some reason not only has her wish come true, but Matthews is actually writing a thriller, and she, Roxie is the protagonist and they are trying to kill her!
As Roxie tries to get away from said handsome stranger she jumps into an Uber with a passenger in the back. Another tall, dark handsome hopefully not as crazy stranger named Grant Hoffman. She starts the car and races away with a very frightened college professor in the back!
Now she must not only make Grant believe her crazy story, but she must also make him help her stay alive until she can figure out where Anna Matthews is writing and find her and tell her she has to stop because she is literally trying to kill HER!
That my friends is when the real fun starts!
Travel with Roxie and Grant as they must become superheroes, figure out who the bad guys are and oh yes, maybe fall in love. But wait! They are in a book being written and none of it is real so...
If Books Could Kill is delightfully amusing, suspenseful with so many twists and turns your head will spin!
Thank you #NetGalley #PenguinBooks #IfBooksCouldKill #KateEberle for the advanced copy.
June 25, 2026
When Roxy Mitchell makes a wish to be the main character in the next novel written by her favourite romance author she unexpectedly finds herself the leading lady in a deadly thriller in Kate Eberle’s funny and fantastical debut, If Books Could Kill.
Roxy doesn’t really believe the busker with crazy eyes and a handful of purple glitter has the power to make her dream come true until she meets Jack. A handsome lawyer, he seems determined to sweep Roxy off her feet with an intimate dinner for two in the courtyard of the Boston Public Library, followed by a playful game of hide and seek among the stacks, and then a knee trembling kiss. The knife is the twist she didn’t see coming.
Suddenly Roxy is fighting for her life, the victim of a crazed plot by a remorseless mastermind (and an author experimenting with a new genre). Her only ally is Grant, a meek English professor (and aspiring crime fiction writer) whom she accidentally abducts and drags into the madcap adventure that crosses the globe.
If Books Could Kill really is a lot of fun, and I thoroughly enjoyed the whimsical plot, which offers a bit of everything, but never feels messy. It’s fast-paced with plenty of action that pits Roxy and Grant against a competitive group of serial killers. Despite this, the stakes aren’t particularly high (because main characters are rarely killed off) but Eberle creates enough tension to sustain interest in the outcomes of both the caper and the romance.
Roxy is feisty, cynical, and brave- not common traits for a romantic heroine, but perfectly suited to a thriller. Eberle also subverts expectations for Grant’s character, clearly taking on the roll of Roxy’s sidekick he is anxious, and not particularly athletic.
The romance is a slow burn, not only because the priority for Roxy and Grant is staying alive, but because falling in love scares Roxie more than serial killers do. Eberle weaves the tropes romance readers love into the story including ‘opposites attract’, ‘forced proximity’ and ‘only one bed’. I enjoyed the banter between the pair and the surprising tenderness of their relationship near the end.
If Books Could Kill is an impressive debut, witty and thrilling with a satisfying happily ever after.
Roxy doesn’t really believe the busker with crazy eyes and a handful of purple glitter has the power to make her dream come true until she meets Jack. A handsome lawyer, he seems determined to sweep Roxy off her feet with an intimate dinner for two in the courtyard of the Boston Public Library, followed by a playful game of hide and seek among the stacks, and then a knee trembling kiss. The knife is the twist she didn’t see coming.
Suddenly Roxy is fighting for her life, the victim of a crazed plot by a remorseless mastermind (and an author experimenting with a new genre). Her only ally is Grant, a meek English professor (and aspiring crime fiction writer) whom she accidentally abducts and drags into the madcap adventure that crosses the globe.
If Books Could Kill really is a lot of fun, and I thoroughly enjoyed the whimsical plot, which offers a bit of everything, but never feels messy. It’s fast-paced with plenty of action that pits Roxy and Grant against a competitive group of serial killers. Despite this, the stakes aren’t particularly high (because main characters are rarely killed off) but Eberle creates enough tension to sustain interest in the outcomes of both the caper and the romance.
Roxy is feisty, cynical, and brave- not common traits for a romantic heroine, but perfectly suited to a thriller. Eberle also subverts expectations for Grant’s character, clearly taking on the roll of Roxy’s sidekick he is anxious, and not particularly athletic.
The romance is a slow burn, not only because the priority for Roxy and Grant is staying alive, but because falling in love scares Roxie more than serial killers do. Eberle weaves the tropes romance readers love into the story including ‘opposites attract’, ‘forced proximity’ and ‘only one bed’. I enjoyed the banter between the pair and the surprising tenderness of their relationship near the end.
If Books Could Kill is an impressive debut, witty and thrilling with a satisfying happily ever after.
July 29, 2026
Wow! I understand why this book was sold in a massive auction - it's everything I love in a romance (chemistry, banter, depth, nerdy but hot MMC) and more (i.e. danger, mystery, serial killers). The premise is gold - a woman unknowingly makes a throwaway wish to be a character in her favorite romcom author's book and the wish is granted just in time for the author to make a genre switch to suspense. Lol. Genius.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
May 16, 2026
A book within a book done so perfectly. It’s funny and thrilling and ROMANTIC!!!
I loved that Roxie is the main character in every sense of the word - she’s the heavy in terms of fighting power - complete with a male sidekick. Such a fun reversal of thriller tropes.
I laughed out loud at many comments and loved how campy the story got because it was playing out multiple genre tropes.
A dizzying amount of fun! Highly recommended
I loved that Roxie is the main character in every sense of the word - she’s the heavy in terms of fighting power - complete with a male sidekick. Such a fun reversal of thriller tropes.
I laughed out loud at many comments and loved how campy the story got because it was playing out multiple genre tropes.
A dizzying amount of fun! Highly recommended
July 31, 2026
Review to come.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.25
I wanted to like \this so badly because the synopsis genuinely hooked me, and even though I am not usually a first person POV fan, I tried to overlook that since the concept sounded fun. Unfortunately, the execution just did not fully land for me. Roxie realizing that her wish came true and that she was inside her favorite author’s new book felt oddly underwhelming, especially for something that should have been a huge, mind blowing moment. The romance also did not work for me. Grant and Roxie’s relationship never felt believable because for most of the book Roxie shows little to no attraction to him, they barely communicate, and then suddenly she finds him attractive with no real buildup. Possible spoiler warning, but my biggest pet peeve was how easily everyone believed Roxie. She shows Grant the Giftster and he immediately accepts that she is living inside a book, and then when she finds Anna Matthews, Anna instantly believes her too. That lack of skepticism made the stakes feel low and took me out of the story. It was not a terrible book, and there were moments I enjoyed, but overall it felt like it dragged more than it needed to, and I finished it wishing the idea had been pushed further.
I wanted to like \this so badly because the synopsis genuinely hooked me, and even though I am not usually a first person POV fan, I tried to overlook that since the concept sounded fun. Unfortunately, the execution just did not fully land for me. Roxie realizing that her wish came true and that she was inside her favorite author’s new book felt oddly underwhelming, especially for something that should have been a huge, mind blowing moment. The romance also did not work for me. Grant and Roxie’s relationship never felt believable because for most of the book Roxie shows little to no attraction to him, they barely communicate, and then suddenly she finds him attractive with no real buildup. Possible spoiler warning, but my biggest pet peeve was how easily everyone believed Roxie. She shows Grant the Giftster and he immediately accepts that she is living inside a book, and then when she finds Anna Matthews, Anna instantly believes her too. That lack of skepticism made the stakes feel low and took me out of the story. It was not a terrible book, and there were moments I enjoyed, but overall it felt like it dragged more than it needed to, and I finished it wishing the idea had been pushed further.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2026
Hilarious, campy, and nonstop fun! One of my most entertaining reads of the year.
In IF BOOKS COULD KILL, Roxie Mitchell’s wish that her life could be like her favorite author’s next book comes true, only for her to realize that the book is a crime thriller instead of a romance.
I was intrigued by the premise because I love a genre-bender and let me tell you—this exceeded all expectation.
I think what really worked for me was the author’s permission to revel in the ridiculous. When the premise of the book is that we’re inside a fictional story, especially one that a fictional author is experimenting with for the first time, we can really poke fun at the tropes and laugh through the Meta of it all. We can say “oh wow, this is insane” with a nod to plot armor. Nothing is too outlandish or too unbelievable because it *all* is and it just works. This made for a reading experience that was adrenaline-filled, laugh-out-loud FUN.
We also had parts of the story that were about being a living, breathing, nonfictional human—being scared and wanting adventure and falling in love—and guess what? Those elements were done so well, I quit laughing and shed a tear or two instead. (How ‘bout that range 👏 )
What a blast and what an impressive debut! Thank you to Viking Penguin for the eARC in exchange for my review.
In IF BOOKS COULD KILL, Roxie Mitchell’s wish that her life could be like her favorite author’s next book comes true, only for her to realize that the book is a crime thriller instead of a romance.
I was intrigued by the premise because I love a genre-bender and let me tell you—this exceeded all expectation.
I think what really worked for me was the author’s permission to revel in the ridiculous. When the premise of the book is that we’re inside a fictional story, especially one that a fictional author is experimenting with for the first time, we can really poke fun at the tropes and laugh through the Meta of it all. We can say “oh wow, this is insane” with a nod to plot armor. Nothing is too outlandish or too unbelievable because it *all* is and it just works. This made for a reading experience that was adrenaline-filled, laugh-out-loud FUN.
We also had parts of the story that were about being a living, breathing, nonfictional human—being scared and wanting adventure and falling in love—and guess what? Those elements were done so well, I quit laughing and shed a tear or two instead. (How ‘bout that range 👏 )
What a blast and what an impressive debut! Thank you to Viking Penguin for the eARC in exchange for my review.
July 23, 2026
Big thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the ARC!
I wanted to like this one a lot more than I actually did. The first couple of chapters had me laughing and convinced I was in for a witty, bookish mystery, but unfortunately it never quite lived up to that strong start for me.
The premise was fun, and there were definitely moments that landed, but I kept waiting for the humor to hit the way I expected it to. Instead, it felt more hit or miss, and I found myself wishing it leaned further into the clever, laugh out loud vibe the opening promised.
Even though it didn't quite deliver on the potential I saw in those first few chapters it was still a decent read.. If you're looking for a light, bookish mystery, it may still be worth picking up! I just walked away hoping for a little more from this one.
I wanted to like this one a lot more than I actually did. The first couple of chapters had me laughing and convinced I was in for a witty, bookish mystery, but unfortunately it never quite lived up to that strong start for me.
The premise was fun, and there were definitely moments that landed, but I kept waiting for the humor to hit the way I expected it to. Instead, it felt more hit or miss, and I found myself wishing it leaned further into the clever, laugh out loud vibe the opening promised.
Even though it didn't quite deliver on the potential I saw in those first few chapters it was still a decent read.. If you're looking for a light, bookish mystery, it may still be worth picking up! I just walked away hoping for a little more from this one.
July 24, 2026
This is probably not something I'd have picked up myself but I would have missed out because I had an absolute blast reading it. (I read it for book club)
It had me grinning on the tube, gave me the chest-achy yearning feels that any good romance should, and had an exciting storyline to keep it moving.
It gets away with being cliché and tropey and a tad cheesy because that's the point - the characters are in a novel and are genre-aware. The final villain wasn't super compelling from a motivation standpoint but again it had the excuse of "this is a romance writer writing a crime novel" so the melodramatic silliness of it worked.
It had me grinning on the tube, gave me the chest-achy yearning feels that any good romance should, and had an exciting storyline to keep it moving.
It gets away with being cliché and tropey and a tad cheesy because that's the point - the characters are in a novel and are genre-aware. The final villain wasn't super compelling from a motivation standpoint but again it had the excuse of "this is a romance writer writing a crime novel" so the melodramatic silliness of it worked.
Want to Read
November 8, 2025Should i start this one?
August 1, 2026
almost 4 stars tapi best jugak dpt baca thriller romance lawak gini
July 3, 2026
3,5 Sterne
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