Kiss, Marry, Kill

by Cara Tanamachi

A former true-crime podcaster faces three guys--one is a fun date, one will be the love of her life, and one is a serial killer--in this fabulous fun romantic thriller perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey's My Killer Vacation.

Genres: Romance, Mystery, Thriller, Contemporary, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Contemporary Romance

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 7, 2026

About the author

Cara Tanamachi is an award-winning USA Today bestselling author who writes under two names, Cara Tanamachi and Cara Lockwood. She's a romance author, breast cancer survivor, women's health advocate and editor who lives in Chicagoland with her husband and their blended family.

Reviews

[Steph]

VERY bold choice to use the christopher pike font for a romantic thriller... hmmm...

[KC · Rating 4 out of 5]

A romantic thriller that I had difficulty putting down once I started! This is perfect if you’re in the mood for something with Hallmark movie mystery vibes.

Ella returns to her hometown after being fired as a true crime podcaster for naming the wrong man as the Canceled Killer. She suspects that the real killer is out to get her and may be one of the three guys she’s dating.

This book is a fast paced and enjoyable read. Once I got started, I needed to finish it. I couldn’t stop trying to figure out who the real killer was. I predicted one thing but did not see the other coming at all! Looking back, there were cleverly placed clues that I never picked up on.

Ella is a fun FMC and I loved all the nods to her Japanese heritage that reminded me of my family. Not the wooden spoon! 🤣 I love that she’s a Krav Maga expert that can defend herself but also learns that it’s okay to ask for help. The author did a great job of making each of the MMCs seem suspicious. Although I heavily suspected who the bad guy was, I was still working out how all the loose ends would come together.

The ending leaves room for more from Ella and if that’s the case, I’ll definitely pick up the next book! I would recommend this to anyone looking for a romantic thriller with small town vibes and a funny, lovable family.

Many thanks to Forever for the advanced copy!

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kiss, Marry, Kill by Cara Tanamachi
Romantic suspense. Diverse.
Ella Takeda left Chicago and her true crime podcast to return to her hometown of Lake Sanguis, Wisconsin.
After working with the police on the Canceled Killer murders, following clues and evidence, she pointed to a specific man as a suspect. The police eventually find that he had an alibi for two of the murders and he is now threatening to sue Ella and the station airing the podcast. Now that Ella is home, she’s also received threats which appear to come from the killer. Ella asks the sheriff for help. He’s asked their long time neighbor and cheese aficionado, Jude, to pitch in as bodyguard and companion to Ella. She doesn’t object. She and Jude used to be friends. Plus he’s turned out to be quite fit and handsome. Certainly not a chore to have him around.
Also visiting the small town is Mateo, a casual date of Ella’s from an app, who works as an entertainment Spider Man and waiter in a popular restaurant. Ella is not sure why he followed her home since they weren’t serious. He’s kind of ditsy and seemingly harmless. Right?
One more man in town is Detective Aaron Russo. Suave and handsome, the detective seems to be both hitting on her, and following up on the killer.
As Ella continues to get threatening texts, and another person goes missing, she needs to figure out who the killer is or she might be the next victim.

Twists and suspicion as Ella works on several theories as the killer time frame dwindles. Threatening texts. A strange car following her. Time is moving too fast! The small town will never be the same.
I liked the surface romance included, giving this a lighter touch than straight out horror.
A good mystery. I didn’t see it coming.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

[mimi (catching up) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Is this a safe place to say this book lacks many aspects a good crime AND love story should have?
And that I don't understand why no one else seems to see that?

Cara Tanamachi’s The Takeover felt underwhelming in the romance department but had a great take on evil billionaires and their technologies; that aside, it was fine — which is not an insult, but probably not the best thing to hear about something you put your sweat, blood and tears in.
But in Kiss, Marry, Kill, even what worked before was for some reason “improved” making it, therefore, worse.

The romance is pretty non-existent, as in I still don't understand why they even liked each other; all the narration is focused on making Ella seems like a badass who can kick everyone’s ass, only for her to be used as a punching ball by the bad guys; and last but not least, that woman is being targeted by a freaking serial killer and she doesn't question once the men closest to her.
Also, just to be clear, her red-flag radar is completely broken but her happy ending is about her becoming a private eye. That woman can't even see what's in front of her, for God’s sake!

I did like the wokness of it all, especially since it also fooled me, but I’m pretty sure that’s it for me.

↠ 2.5 stars

Thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Forever and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Forever for the finished copy!

This book might just steal the crown for my new favourite book! I genuinely devoured this book in one night staying up till 3am and don’t even regret it. I absolutely fell in love everything about this book from the very beginning till the last page. It was such a twisty book that truly had me at the edge of my seat wondering what was coming next. The cover and the title alone piqued my interest.

This was my first Cara Tanamachi book and to say this wont be my last is very accurate. I absolutely adore her writing style and just loved the humorous aspect. The dad jokes through cheese puns were so so funny and I just love everything about the character of Jude. I personally loved the character development as well and truly think this book was executed so well.

Although I was able to figure out the murder of the mayor, I was completely clueless to who the Cancelled Killer was and it was truly so shocking. I absolutely adored the concept of the kiss, marry or kill and felt like it was truly brought full circle near the end of the book. I also really enjoyed the excerpts from the podcast as it honestly made me as a reader feel more clued into the workings of the Cancelled Killer.

Although the end was super chaotic and the grand reveal was saved till the very end, I feel like that gave me personally time to truly sit with the clues we had been given throughout the book and keep me guessing till the very end.

This book is perfect for readers who are looking for a whodunnit thriller book with a side plot of romance! I would 100% recommend this book and am so thankful to have had the chance to read this book!!

[labibliofille · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't love this one.

Kiss, Mary, Kill follows a podcaster as she returns to her hometown after blowing up a huge case and putting herself in the path of a serial killer. Upon her return home, three potential suitors vye for her eye and all look like potential suspects as she still works the case that put her in danger.

While the premise is super interesting, this was truly uninspired, predictable, and just *fine*. Towards the end I found myself skimming because I wanted to know if I was right, but I didn't truly care about the story itself. The twists weren't that twisty, the romance wasn't that captivating, and it just didn't do what I think the author intended (in my opinion). 

I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed.

[Sarah | Kerosene.Lit · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started off great. I loved the immediate ominous tone, balanced by the lighthearted humour of Ella returning to her hometown of Lake Sanguis, dealing with her lovably concerned mother, and having three men enter her orbit. Realizing she might be the Canceled Killer's next target, I genuinely got chills when those DMs started appearing! And Ella herself was such a fun FMC—a former podcast detective who's also a certified black belt. Woo! She was more than capable of handling herself.

I liked that it felt almost too obvious who the Canceled Killer was, to the point where I thought I was going to be severely disappointed by how predictable it seemed. But it got me. It really got me. Along with the final reveal, there were some unexpected turn of events that kept things interesting. I couldn't get over how much the characters seemed to revolve around their unique jobs, though. Mateo being a Spider-Man stuntman, Russo being a homicide detective who constantly called Ella "kid," and Jude somehow being a cheese scientist. It was all just a little weird.

And the romance was just ok. The synopsis made it sound like there would be an actual love triangle, but it was glaringly obvious from the beginning who the love interest was going to be. Which would have been fine, but I never really felt much chemistry between them, unfortunately. I did really enjoy the ending, though. It wrapped things up while still leaving this unsettling cliffhanger promising more to come! I'm definitely interested in reading the next book.

(spice level: fade to black/cracked door)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Robin]

DNF @ 9%

[Blair Warner · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the end this sounds up my alley and I did like it but I am more on the neutral side about it than absolutely in love. I think the pacing was good and it kept me interested propelling me going into the next chapter. This is my first book by Cara Tanamachi and I am interested in reading more. I did like how each chapter began with an excerpt from the podcast. I really did enjoy the cheese puns though they were corny. But overall sometimes I think even though our FMC, Ella is 27, sometimes it felt a little YA-ish. Overall I wanted to see how it ended and I liked it but I don't feel like I was super invested like I would have liked to be.
I still say give it a chance why I am still more neutral I am still happy I read it.
Thank you to Forever for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[giulia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5! ⭐️

Thanks for the ARC NetGalley!

I loved the journey this murder mystery/romcom took me on! It was cozy and lighthearted but there was lots that had me on the edge of my seat. The pacing was solid and never felt like it dragged, I really had a hard time putting this down.

I will say, the kills in this had me chuckling. All justified, imho. But I had mixed feelings about Ella. I appreciated her strength and stubbornness at first, but the way she would impose her ideals on those around her felt more punishing than empowering. I also wish the supporting characters had more depth. I would start to like someone as they became more complex but they’d end up disappointing me and falling flat. That being said, I did generally find our MCs entertaining and they were a fab duo!

The twist did genuinely surprise me, but it left me disappointed that it was at the expense of who it was and why they did it… I was happy to see where things settled for Ella and the person she ends up with and genuinely excited to get another twist that hints at more!

[Magically Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever and author Cara Tanamachi, for providing me with the eARC of “Kiss, Marry, Kill”.

💭My Thoughts
I really enjoyed this romantic thriller/mystery. I liked how Ella got "cancelled" like the killer she was trying to uncover. And by being cancelled she ended up in a worse of position. That is just some high level stuff that would happen to me too. Makes you realize that pointing fingers at the wrong person is so harmful.

And the killer !!! I guessed wrong. I am interested to know if there will be a book 2 due to the ending... I would read it.

I do wish at the end Ella would have said who she would Kiss, Marry and Kill. Would have been a fun little bit to end on. However, we know who would be killed...

If you need a bit of romance with your thriller pick this one up!

❣️Tropes❣️
Mystery / Thriller
Serial Killer
Podcaster FMC
Romantic Triangle
Brother's Best Friend

🩵RATING🩵
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice Level: 🌶️
Length: 336 Pages
Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever

[Lauren Self · Rating 4 out of 5]

KISS, MARRY, KILL
📖 book review • out 07.07.26
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

thank you @readforeverpub for my ARC!

Ella has landed herself in the spotlight of a k*ller.. unfortunately she doesn’t know his identity, but thanks to a dating app, she believes she might be dating him. Is it the quirky Spider-Man stunt double? The geeky scientist? Or the hot detective 🤔

I’m here for ALL of the serial 🔪 books, and the fact that this one had romance • podcasts • humor in it - I was immediately sold. I actually loved Ella’s character, she was feisty and I was rooting for her. The pacing of the book was great, it got to the point I didn’t want to put it down, and while I did have a hunch about something.. other pieces I couldn’t quite figure out and I loved the thrill of trying to solve it. Definitely recommend giving this one a read!

[Ridhima · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75/5

Thank you to Forever Pub for the gifted physical ARC copy of the book!

Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me.

The book seemed promising with a premise just as entertaining: Ella has three potential men interested in her, and one of them might be a serial killer. Can she figure out who the bad seed is before it's too late? Told in Ella's first person POV, the story attempted to combine mystery/suspense and romance with an air of humor, and sadly fell flat in both aspects.

Ella's personality seemed to boil down solely to her Krav Maga expertise, and despite her claiming to have incredible detective skills, she made the worst possible choices throughout the book that endangered everyone around her. None of the male MCs had an actual impact on me as a reader so when the romance part actually picked up, I hardly felt invested. I was intrigued by the mystery plot-line despite it being very bare bones; but even though the reveal took me by surprise, I felt like the motivations of the killer didn't make much..sense?

I feel like this might be a quick, easy read if you're looking for something that isn't too heavy on the plot for either a mystery/romance, but if not, you might be disappointed like I was.

[Shannon H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kiss, Marry, Kill was a really interesting premise to me, however I found the journey from the beginning to end to not flow as much as I expected.

With three different love interests/ potential identities of the Canceled Killer, there was a LOT packed into the story, and this divide made the different romantic potentials feel a little underdeveloped for me, so that I wasn't necessarily rooting for a romance or super sold on who would be the killer. I did end up enjoying the reveal at the end, but wish I had been able to follow the thread throuhg the story more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC, all opinions are my own!

[Pj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it ! Please let there be a sequel. I want more adventures with Ella ❤️

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are a fan of both campy thrillers and otome games (one route only here though!) then this is a great read for you.

Ella is a disgraced true crime podcaster thrust back into her hometown after she was fired for pointing the finger at the wrong person in a serial killer case. The "Cancelled Killer" who goes around killing individuals who were virally cancelled for things like calling the police on a children's lemonade stand or testing products on animals while claiming not to.

Unfortunately, not only did she point the finger at the wrong person, but doing so means Ella has been....cancelled. Making her a prime target for the killer's next victim. And they have made clear, through all their initial signs and calling cards, that she is next.

If the killer follows his standard M.O., Ella has three days to catch the killer a second time. But, just when her three days start, three guys which she has varying levels of romantic entanglement with arrive in town....apparently just when the killer does.

There's "Spiderman Mateo," a stuntman who she met on a hookup app and had a few fun times with before her downfall; Detective Aaron Russo, her partner in cancellation who investigated the case with her and took her suggestion for suspect; and Percy Julian or "Jude," her brother's best friend and her childhood crush who has a phd in cheese (literally. this is Wisconsin).

This was more suspense than romantic, which made it hard to get invested in the whole "kiss marry kill" aspect. And, a lot of this disconnect was led by the fact that Ella does not have any interest in a long-term romantic relationship, so really all she wants to do is "kiss" (although the replacement word would have been more appropriate here, despite this also being not a spicy book). Each of the three did have some interesting interactions with Ella, but the frequency of those interactions is nowhere near equal.

Ella, despite being 27, also reads as being fairly immature in a way that, although this is not being marketed as a YA or NA book, I could see it being one.

That said, the mystery here is what carries the book and, despite my ambivalence toward Ella, I found it hard to put down. It was fun to form theories, however right or wrong they may have been.

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever, and Cara Tanamachi for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

[magicallyaimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun fast paced mystery romance! More action and suspense than romance (closed door). Here for the mixed Japanese representation 👏🏻 I thought I had the killer figured out from the beginning but turns out I was wrong (sort of). Ella was fired from her crime podcast and back in her small hometown in Wisconsin, where she receives threatening messages from a serial killer. In the meantime, she has the hots for three guys 👀

Thank you Forever for the digital ARC!

[Danielle Stiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I got going this book was everything that I didn’t know I needed. A little romance, with mystery. A serial killer on the loose and Ella was informed not to trust anyone. Ella is the next target of the serial killer. As soon as you think you figured it out the plot twists. Looking forward to the next book because the story is not over yet.

[Crystal-Rain Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cara Tanamachi is fast becoming an instant-buy author of mine. This was different than her other books, more murder mystery but the romance angle was still there. Well-plotted, good world-building, and hard to put down.

[Bailey Desai · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - fun read and always enjoy a Midwest and Chicago setting.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful whodunnit mystery and it had me guessing like crazy. 🤪

This is the first book I read by Cara Tanamachi and it definitely won’t be the last. This book was filled with mystery, a dash of romance and a good amount of humor. Her writing is so delightful and I found myself looking forward to picking up the book again. I don’t want to spoil the AHA moments but just know it was a blast trying to figure out who The Canceled Killer was.

I really enjoyed our FMC Ella as she navigated having been fired and trying to find peace at having to live in her hometown again. I very much enjoyed the journey she took us on and I can’t wait to see what happens next. The romance isn’t the main story but I liked the bit that there was. This is very much closed door and I did not mind that one bit.

Thank you so much NetGalley, Forever and Cara Tanamachi for the eARC!

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐ | 🫑

I had such a good time with Kiss, Marry, Kill! Note that if you are a die hard mystery/thriller reader, this might not satisfy you on that side cos for a seasoned reader it leans a little predictable BUT for a romcom with a dash of mystery, it's a fun and enjoyable read that's not gonna take a ton of brainpower.

Our FMC, Elle, is silly in so many ways and her inner monologue and dialog cracked me up. I was a little surprised to see other reviews say they didn't like her. Does she make some dumb decisions? Totally but I saw her as a wild card and free spirit. She has 3 different suitors and they couldn't be more different from each other. Of course I had a favorite: Jude. Mateo was a little weird and Aaron calling Elle "kid" constantly was giving me the ick.

This was a really quick and easy read for me that I smashed in one sitting. Cara is a new to me author so I'll definitely be picking her up again.

Thank you so much to Forever for a copy of the ebook. All opinions are my own.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank You Cara & Forever for my netgalley ARC

Kiss, Marry, Kill was such a wild ride. I am usually one of those people that can guess the "who done it?" early on in the book and honestly even I was having a hard time deciding which of three men was our troublemaker. Even crazier that there was a secondary twist that I didn't see coming. I throughly enjoyed the story and the characters but at times the way that Ella was made me want to smack her.

This was such a fun book and a great change from my normal romance reads. I would defiantly pick up another book like this from Cara.

[Martina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the gifted ARC!

After reading the summary, I was so excited for this. A true crime podcaster, a possible serial killer following her home, and three love interests?? Say less. The story jumps right into the action and then backtracks, which hooked me at first, but the middle did feel a little slow at times. I also had just a bit of a hard time with the writing, which pulled me out of the story here and there.

That said, the ending did surprise me and I liked how everything played out. I just wish it hit a little harder overall. Some of the characters felt a bit one note and not as well developed as I wanted, so I didn’t feel super connected to them. The concept is so fun and definitely kept me reading, but it fell a little flat for me in execution. It does end in a way that leaves room for a sequel, and I’d be interested to see where the story goes from here.

[Kelsey reviews•books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is for fans of romcom thrillers with witty and strong female lead characters, light romance, and commentary on social pressures and female roles in society.

▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
▹Format: 📱 eReader
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for and eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book comes out July 7, 2026.
─────────────────────────

○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○

– About: True crime podcaster Ella Takeda is a sucker for a good mystery. She has an uncanny knack for pinpointing killers ... until she gets it wrong. Turns out that identifying an innocent man as the Canceled Killer—a serial murderer who targets high-profile fraudsters—is cause for immediate backlash.

Now she’s returned to her small Midwest town, but the Canceled Killer may not be done with her yet. Ella has a terrible suspicion she’s his next target ... and worse, she might be dating him. Could it be Jude, the sexy, cheese-loving nerd her mom is convinced she’s going to marry? Or Aaron, the hot Chicago detective who’s the walking embodiment of every Swipe Right fantasy? And finally, there’s Mateo—a Hollywood stunt double who’s got allll the right moves.

Trusting guys is hard enough, especially when one wants her dead. Will she be able to unmask the killer before she becomes the next victim?
– Location: Fictional town in Wisconsin
– POV: Single first-person
– Spice: 1-2 fade-to-black spicy scenes
– Tropes: meddling mom, ex-true crime podcaster FMC, small town, multiple love interests (but not why choose), everyone is a suspect, down bad male characters, complex family dynamics
– Content warning: violence, being stalked, being targeted, non-gory murders, abduction, being tied up, falling through thin ice, being bullied (mention), commentary on cancel culture, being roofied, car chase, assault, sexual assault (referenced)
– Representation: bad-ass FMC who is of Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, and Scottish decent; BIPOC supporting character

─────────────────────────

↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12

Now Playing: Somebody’s Watching Me by Rockwell

╰┈➤ ❝I always feel like somebody's watchin' me; And I have no privacy (Oh-oh-oh)❞

─────────────────────────

★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★

➼ Darker rom-coms that kind of also feel like tamer 80s/90s slashers
➼ Strong female leads that are a bit down on their luck, but know how to make the most of it
➼ Vibes of Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver (but ONLY vibes) and My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey (but not as spicy)

─────────────────────────

⍟»This or That«⍟

Character Driven————✧———————Plot Driven
Fast Burn————————✧———Slow Burn
Sweet———✧————————Spicy
Light/Fluffy—————✧——————Heavy/Emotional

─────────────────────────

🎯 My Thoughts:

This is my first read by Cara Tanamachi and I really enjoyed her humor and writing style. The pacing was fairly balanced but what I loved the most was the main character, Ella, her family dynamics and the overall plot concept.

You do need to suspend your disbelief a bit and the last 20% was a touch chaotic but overall, this was a riotous good time.

The romance here was a lighter burn than in something like, say Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver or My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey, which could also be classified as a romcom thriller. That said, the romance was still a sweet story that added dimension to the plot and characters.

Would I Recommend?: Yes to maybe. I think if you like genre benders and want a little of everything (romance, mystery, chaos), then this is a perfect book for that. I am excited to get my friends to try this one and am going to be in the lookout for Truth or Dare in 2027!

•♥Consider following me on Instagram @kelseyreviewsbooks for more visual content and bookish discussions.♥•

[hannah ⊹ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kiss, Marry, Kill is the kind of thriller that asks you to buckle up, suspend your disbelief, enjoy the ride, and don’t ask too many questions. I have really been enjoying the blend of the romance and mystery/thriller genre, and this is equal parts rom-com, romantic suspense, and murder mystery. It’s a fast, entertaining read that never slows down… even if the plot frequently sacrifices logic in favor of keeping the twists coming. For me, there were too many moments of disbelief to rate this any higher than 3 stars. There were just too many moments that made me pinch my nose and go “you’ve got to be kidding me.”

The premise immediately hooked me. A disgraced true crime podcaster returns to her small hometown after publicly accusing the wrong man of being a serial killer, only to realize the real murderer may now have her in their sights. Add in three potential love interests who could each be hiding secrets, and there was plenty to keep me guessing. The central mystery was easily the strongest part of the book. I had fun trying to piece together who the Canceled Killer was, and while I managed to predict a few things, the final reveal still somewhat surprised me. The small-town setting also added a lot of charm, and the humor sprinkled throughout helped balance the darker subject matter.

Where the story lost me was with the characters, especially the FMC, Ella. For someone who’s built a career analyzing criminal behavior, she repeatedly ignored obvious warning signs and made decisions that felt more frustrating than believable. I wanted to root for her, but her actions often pulled me out of the story. The romance also didn’t fully work for me. With three potential love interests, none of the relationships felt particularly developed, and I found myself far more invested in solving the mystery than figuring out who she’d end up with. Tbh, I didn’t really care what happened to her in the end.

This definitely leans more toward a fun, popcorn thriller than a grounded mystery. It’s suuuuper messy, over-the-top, and frequently chaotic, but it’s also quick to read and undeniably entertaining. While it didn’t completely work for me, I can see readers who enjoy campy romantic suspense and twist-heavy mysteries having a great time with it. I just couldn’t get past how Ella was supposed to have this great mind who is fantastic at all things true crime, but she made the absolute worst choices imaginable! This was a chaotic mess, but it was entertaining enough that I could forgive some of it in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for this eARC!

[Gian Carlo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story Snapshot

Kiss, Marry, Kill follows a woman who returns to her small hometown and finds herself caught up in a murder investigation while reconnecting with someone from her past. As secrets unravel and the suspect list keeps growing, she has to figure out who she can trust. Blending mystery, romance, and plenty of twists, the story keeps readers guessing while delivering heartfelt moments along the way.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book. The writing was engaging, easy to follow, and flowed so well that I kept wanting to read “just one more chapter.” Every scene felt like it had a purpose, constantly building suspense and making me wonder what would happen next. It honestly felt like I was watching a movie unfold in my head.

I also loved how fast-paced it was. The mystery never dragged, and there was always something happening to keep me invested. One of my favorite parts was how the romance was woven naturally into the story. The balance between the mystery and romance was done really well, making both storylines equally enjoyable.

The tropes were also a huge win for me: childhood friends to lovers, slow burn, close proximity, and a charming small-town setting. Those elements gave the story a cozy, heartwarming feel without taking away from the suspense.

Is It Worth Picking Up?

Absolutely! If you enjoy mystery novels with a strong romantic subplot, I definitely recommend this one. The author keeps introducing new suspects, making you constantly question who the killer might be. Just when you think you’ve figured everything out, another twist changes your mind. The ending had me genuinely surprised, and I loved how it kept me guessing until the very end.

Final Thoughts & Rating

Cara Tanamachi completely hooked me with this story. She created a mystery that was suspenseful while also delivering a romance that had me smiling throughout. I found myself switching between swooning over the romantic moments and immediately questioning every character when another clue appeared.

Overall, this was such a fun and entertaining read with the perfect balance of romance, mystery, and unexpected twists. I gave it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars) If you’re looking for a fast-paced mystery with lovable characters, romantic tension, and an ending that will leave you surprised, Kiss, Marry, Kill is definitely worth adding to your TBR.

[Erin Louise Booked and Busy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun mystery read that had me guessing the entire time! 🕵️‍♀️🔍 Every time I thought I'd figured out who the Canceled Killer was, the story would throw another twist my way.

This was my first Cara Tanamachi book, and it definitely won't be my last. I loved how she balanced the mystery with just enough humor and romance to keep the story feeling light without taking away from the suspense. I found myself looking forward to picking this one up every chance I got. 📚✨

I really enjoyed Ella as a main character. As an ex-true crime podcaster forced to return to her small hometown after losing her job, she was the perfect person to get swept up in a murder investigation. Watching her navigate complex family dynamics, deal with her wonderfully meddling mom, and try to rebuild her life gave the mystery an emotional foundation that made me care about more than just solving the case. 💛

The romance (closed door) is definitely a subplot rather than the main focus and I would have liked more of it, but I thought it fit the story well. There are multiple love interests, and I enjoyed watching those relationships develop alongside the mystery. Plus, I always love a down-bad MMC, and this book definitely delivers that in spades.

One of my favorite parts was that everyone felt like a suspect. 🔎 Every new clue had me changing my mind about who the Canceled Killer could be, and I loved trying to solve the mystery right alongside Ella. I had a good idea of the ending, but the way it worked out still surprised me which was exciting!

Overall, this was a clever, entertaining whodunnit with memorable characters, plenty of twists, and a great balance of suspense, humor, and heart. If you're looking for a mystery with a cozy small-town feel, lovable characters, and a case that will keep you guessing until the end, I'd definitely recommend picking this one up! 🩵

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever, and Cara Tanamachi for the advanced eBook in exchange for my honest review.

[Liza Buss · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I had such a good time reading Kiss, Marry, Kill! This book felt like the perfect blend of a rom-com and a thriller, with plenty of humor, romantic tension, and mystery to keep me turning the pages.

The story follows Ella Takeda, a true crime podcaster who has built her reputation on identifying killers—until she publicly accuses the wrong person of being the infamous Canceled Killer. Forced to return to her small Midwest hometown, Ella soon realizes that the killer may not be finished with her yet. The problem? One of the men in her life could be a murderer.

I loved the twists and turns throughout the story. I spent the entire book trying to figure out the identity of the Canceled Killer, and I genuinely did not see the reveal coming. Looking back, the choice of the killer also ties into some important themes surrounding feminism, aging, and the way middle-aged women are often overlooked or dismissed by society.

Ella was such a fun protagonist to follow. She’s witty, flawed, determined, and capable of taking care of herself—after all, she has a black belt. The banter between Ella and the various men in her life was one of my favorite parts of the book. Every interaction felt entertaining, and the romantic tension added an extra layer of fun to the mystery.

I also really enjoyed the small-town setting, which gave the story a cozy feel despite the serial killer plot. And that ending! While the main mystery is resolved, the door is left open just enough that I would love to see Cara Tanamachi return to Ella Takeda in a future book.

If you’re a fan of lighter thrillers with romantic tension, true crime podcasts, rom-coms with a murder mystery twist, or flawed but lovable protagonists trying to rebuild their lives, I definitely recommend picking this one up!

[Nicole Lasnicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars!

Travis Kelce’s viral clip brought Kiss, Marry, Kill back into the limelight, and @caratanamachi uses it as a clever device in her very entertaining popcorn thriller meet hot romance 𝐊𝐢𝐬𝐬, 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲, 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥.

Will she catch feelings ... or catch a killer?

True crime podcaster Ella Takeda is a sucker for a good mystery. She has an uncanny knack for pinpointing killers ... until she gets it wrong. Turns out that identifying an innocent man as the Canceled Killer—a serial murderer who targets high-profile fraudsters—is cause for immediate backlash.

Now she’s returned to her small Midwest town, but the Canceled Killer may not be done with her yet. Ella has a terrible suspicion she’s his next target ... and worse, she might be dating him. Could it be Jude, the sexy, cheese-loving nerd her mom is convinced she’s going to marry? Or Aaron, the hot Chicago detective who’s the walking embodiment of every Swipe Right fantasy? And finally, there’s Mateo—a Hollywood stunt double who’s got allll the right moves.

Trusting guys is hard enough, especially when one wants her dead. Will she be able to unmask the killer before she becomes the next victim?

Ella Takeda is a master of self defense, and I loved her confidence & competence- she also found herself in some fun and steamy situations like a Midwestern Stephanie Plum. If you enjoy shenanigans with a little spicy romance, this is for you. I absolutely loved the humor, the fun mystery, the cute romance and this protagonist. It was a big win! I was delighted to see 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐞 will be published in Summer 2027. Ella is a star, and I’d read about her again.

QOTD: Name a memorable character like Ella Takeda from any genre that you loved reading about!

Thank you @caratanamachi @readforeverpub @booksparks #SRC2026 for this super read.

#bookstagram #thebookodyssey

Ella Takeda, popcorn thriller, romance, beach read, summer reading