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Dead Lift
Not yet published
Expected 29 Dec 26Lights Out meets Butcher & Blackbird in Dead Lift, a serial killer romcom from indie author Clio Evans
Murdering a man isn't hard. Getting rid of the body, though? That’s another story.
Forensic scientist Shelby has a simple plan. Get justice for her sister, kill the men who murdered her, and (hopefully) get away with it. But when a hot himbo with a man-bun catches Shelby in the act—her simple plan becomes a lot more complicated.
With her pink hazmat suit and butcher knife, Shelby is the most alluring woman Brad has ever met. He’s in danger, but he’s never felt more alive. He needs to be in her life, even if it means risking his.
Brad offers to be her henchman. Shelby grudgingly decides to spare his life. What could possibly go wrong?
It turns out everything.
Will Shelby finally get the justice she’s sacrificed her future for? Or will falling for her hot himbo henchman ruin it all?
Murdering a man isn't hard. Getting rid of the body, though? That’s another story.
Forensic scientist Shelby has a simple plan. Get justice for her sister, kill the men who murdered her, and (hopefully) get away with it. But when a hot himbo with a man-bun catches Shelby in the act—her simple plan becomes a lot more complicated.
With her pink hazmat suit and butcher knife, Shelby is the most alluring woman Brad has ever met. He’s in danger, but he’s never felt more alive. He needs to be in her life, even if it means risking his.
Brad offers to be her henchman. Shelby grudgingly decides to spare his life. What could possibly go wrong?
It turns out everything.
Will Shelby finally get the justice she’s sacrificed her future for? Or will falling for her hot himbo henchman ruin it all?
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication January 5, 2027
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August 25, 2026
𝘿𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙩 by Clio Evans
Shelby is on a revenge mission to avenge her sister’s death and Brad is just Brad until he finds a masked woman in the alley by his gym. She’s lifting something heavy incorrectly and he has to help her! He doesn’t notice it’s a body bag until the masked woman he can’t get out of his head has him at knife-point in his garage.
I loved this book so much. I’ll be honest, I’m normally a nerdy/grumpy MMC lover, but Brad is just such a lovable Himbo Golden Retriever MMC. Every chapter from his POV brought me such joy (and of course all the giggles). The plot was interesting and kept me in suspense.
And the spice was KINKY (and I loved every second). I will DEFINITELY be reading more from Clio Evans.
Thank you so much to Clio Evans and Tor Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Add Dead Lift to your TBR so you’re ready when it comes out on January 5th!
Shelby is on a revenge mission to avenge her sister’s death and Brad is just Brad until he finds a masked woman in the alley by his gym. She’s lifting something heavy incorrectly and he has to help her! He doesn’t notice it’s a body bag until the masked woman he can’t get out of his head has him at knife-point in his garage.
I loved this book so much. I’ll be honest, I’m normally a nerdy/grumpy MMC lover, but Brad is just such a lovable Himbo Golden Retriever MMC. Every chapter from his POV brought me such joy (and of course all the giggles). The plot was interesting and kept me in suspense.
And the spice was KINKY (and I loved every second). I will DEFINITELY be reading more from Clio Evans.
Thank you so much to Clio Evans and Tor Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Add Dead Lift to your TBR so you’re ready when it comes out on January 5th!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
When a book starts with a page of trigger warnings, you know you're in for a wild ride!
This book was super fun and spicy... It made me laugh and I really loved the characters, especially Brad. This is definitely a Dark Romance with a little mystery. I saw the twist coming a mile away, but it didn't take away from how much I enjoyed it. Excited to know that this is going to be a series!
4.5 stars rounded up
This book was super fun and spicy... It made me laugh and I really loved the characters, especially Brad. This is definitely a Dark Romance with a little mystery. I saw the twist coming a mile away, but it didn't take away from how much I enjoyed it. Excited to know that this is going to be a series!
4.5 stars rounded up
Read
June 20, 20263.5-4✨ This was simply just so fun. I loved Brad and Shelby so much. Their chemistry was absolutely believable, and I loved that the different POVs felt very different from one another and matched the personality of the character. I ate up the whole “She’s a serial killer, and he’s just Brad” thing. This book had me literally laughing out loud.
Super excited for the pub day next January!!
ARC provided by Edelweiss! Thank you so much!
Super excited for the pub day next January!!
ARC provided by Edelweiss! Thank you so much!
August 25, 2026
Who knew that my dark romance era was missing was an extremely lovable gym himbo? 😂🖤
Brad was unlike any MMC I’ve read in a LONG time. He’s huge, sweet, incredibly earnest, not exactly burdened by an abundance of intelligence, and genuinely just wants someone to love and make happy. Dropping that kind of golden retriever energy into a story this dark worked SO well.
And then there’s Shelby, who could not be more opposite. She’s smart, calculating, absolutely cutthroat, and their black cat/golden retriever dynamic was SO much fun. Somehow these two just fit.
This is definitely a darker and VERY kink-forward romance, so know what you’re walking into! There is a lot of spice, but I really appreciated how much communication, trust, and safety were woven into their relationship too 🔥
The mystery was pretty easy for me to figure out early on, but honestly, I was much more invested in Shelby and Brad and their completely unexpected sweetness anyway.
Dark, spicy, a little unhinged, and somehow weirdly adorable. Brad, you beautiful dumb man, I support you 😂🖤
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review 💕
Brad was unlike any MMC I’ve read in a LONG time. He’s huge, sweet, incredibly earnest, not exactly burdened by an abundance of intelligence, and genuinely just wants someone to love and make happy. Dropping that kind of golden retriever energy into a story this dark worked SO well.
And then there’s Shelby, who could not be more opposite. She’s smart, calculating, absolutely cutthroat, and their black cat/golden retriever dynamic was SO much fun. Somehow these two just fit.
This is definitely a darker and VERY kink-forward romance, so know what you’re walking into! There is a lot of spice, but I really appreciated how much communication, trust, and safety were woven into their relationship too 🔥
The mystery was pretty easy for me to figure out early on, but honestly, I was much more invested in Shelby and Brad and their completely unexpected sweetness anyway.
Dark, spicy, a little unhinged, and somehow weirdly adorable. Brad, you beautiful dumb man, I support you 😂🖤
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review 💕
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dead Lift
~Clio Evans
Dead Lift by Clio Evans isn't what you would call the typical meet-cute. This one is more like a… meet-corpse. Evans comes out swinging with a butcher knife in one hand and heart-eye emojis in the other.
After the murder of her sister, Kelsey, forensic scientist Shelby knows exactly how bodies talk after the fact, and exactly how to make one stop talking. But the moment she trades her white lab coat for a pink hazmat suit and a revenge list, Shelby knows hunting down those responsible for her sister's murder is going to be one messy job at a time. Killing is the easy part. Cleanup is where things get heavy.
As she's trying to load dead man number one into the trunk of her car, pink hazmat suit and ski-mask ensemble in full view, along comes gym employee Brad offering to help. Completely oblivious to what she's disposing of and fully smitten with her fully covered body, he doesn't run in the opposite direction. He runs straight toward her. With her personal himbo henchman in tow, Shelby and Brad venture out on stakeouts, make-outs, and murderous adventures.
Evans flexes her prowess at character development with Shelby and Brad. Shelby is the beating, blood-spattered heart of the story. She's smart, funny, grieving, self-conscious, cunning, and totally relatable. Her journey from being broken by the death of her sister to putting her heart back together, piece by piece, with Brad's help makes her the one to root for, even if she is a murderer. I mean, she's doing it for a good cause, right?
Brad is her complete opposite. While he still grieves the loss of his grandmother, the woman who raised him, he's a genuinely sweet, swole man who becomes smitten with Shelby and willing to prove it to her any way he can. The banter between the two gives the story a wholesome, down-to-earth feeling, as long as you can set aside the murder aspect. She's totally the danger, while he's the muscle and moral wobble.
While I loved the story and the character dynamic, the transitions felt clunky at times, with scenes moving from stalking murdery action to spicy and back again. Not a bad thing, and you can easily skip the spicy scenes if you choose without missing the story, but the momentum dropped for me when switching back and forth.
If you like your love stories with a laugh, a shovel, an orga$m, and a hero who'll never let you skip leg day, Dead Lift is one spicy, serial-romcom you won't want to miss. Releasing on January 5, 2027, Dead Lift is the first in the Love at First Stab series.
I would like to thank NetGalley and author Clio Evans for the opportunity to preview Dead Lift. As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition, Karen Brooks aka The Tx Lit Chic. I have not been promised any compensation, current or future, by the author or publisher for a fair and honest review of Dead Lift.
~Clio Evans
Dead Lift by Clio Evans isn't what you would call the typical meet-cute. This one is more like a… meet-corpse. Evans comes out swinging with a butcher knife in one hand and heart-eye emojis in the other.
After the murder of her sister, Kelsey, forensic scientist Shelby knows exactly how bodies talk after the fact, and exactly how to make one stop talking. But the moment she trades her white lab coat for a pink hazmat suit and a revenge list, Shelby knows hunting down those responsible for her sister's murder is going to be one messy job at a time. Killing is the easy part. Cleanup is where things get heavy.
As she's trying to load dead man number one into the trunk of her car, pink hazmat suit and ski-mask ensemble in full view, along comes gym employee Brad offering to help. Completely oblivious to what she's disposing of and fully smitten with her fully covered body, he doesn't run in the opposite direction. He runs straight toward her. With her personal himbo henchman in tow, Shelby and Brad venture out on stakeouts, make-outs, and murderous adventures.
Evans flexes her prowess at character development with Shelby and Brad. Shelby is the beating, blood-spattered heart of the story. She's smart, funny, grieving, self-conscious, cunning, and totally relatable. Her journey from being broken by the death of her sister to putting her heart back together, piece by piece, with Brad's help makes her the one to root for, even if she is a murderer. I mean, she's doing it for a good cause, right?
Brad is her complete opposite. While he still grieves the loss of his grandmother, the woman who raised him, he's a genuinely sweet, swole man who becomes smitten with Shelby and willing to prove it to her any way he can. The banter between the two gives the story a wholesome, down-to-earth feeling, as long as you can set aside the murder aspect. She's totally the danger, while he's the muscle and moral wobble.
While I loved the story and the character dynamic, the transitions felt clunky at times, with scenes moving from stalking murdery action to spicy and back again. Not a bad thing, and you can easily skip the spicy scenes if you choose without missing the story, but the momentum dropped for me when switching back and forth.
If you like your love stories with a laugh, a shovel, an orga$m, and a hero who'll never let you skip leg day, Dead Lift is one spicy, serial-romcom you won't want to miss. Releasing on January 5, 2027, Dead Lift is the first in the Love at First Stab series.
I would like to thank NetGalley and author Clio Evans for the opportunity to preview Dead Lift. As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition, Karen Brooks aka The Tx Lit Chic. I have not been promised any compensation, current or future, by the author or publisher for a fair and honest review of Dead Lift.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Shelby is a woman on a mission. She’s got a list of men and she’s taking them out one by one. However, this most recent one was a little heavier than she anticipated.
When Brad sees Shelby outside the gym in a mask and PPE gear, all he sees is a person who needs help lifting a large, person-shaped bag into the trunk of a car. Brad is here to please. He gives this “Ski Mask Girl” his business card and heads home, a spring in his step for helping his fellow human.
After a series of events that end in Shelby accidentally stabbing Brad, he makes her an offer she finds herself thinking over. He wants to be her henchman, help her carry out the last remaining murders. One look at Shelby and Brad would do anything for her. Help her commit murder, hide a body, ease her tension with sex. Brad is here to please. What could go wrong?
-------
Dead Lift was a fast, fun read!
I surprised myself by reading this in 24 hours! At the end of the day, I had fun reading it, and that’s what we’re here for folks. Shelby was determined and had a goal in mind. I can respect that! Brad had pluck! I would disagree with the comps of Butcher & Blackbird and Lights Out. It’s more if Barbie and Ken were a murder duo and then ended the day decompressing in their sex room. Did Brad lean a little too dumb to be believable for my taste? Sure. Did I have to suspend disbelief more often than I cared to? Maybe. But it was fun, dammit. I was there for the ride. I’ll be checking out the next book for sure.
Dead Lift is out January 5, 2027.
Many thanks to Tor Publishing Group, Bramble, NetGalley, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
When Brad sees Shelby outside the gym in a mask and PPE gear, all he sees is a person who needs help lifting a large, person-shaped bag into the trunk of a car. Brad is here to please. He gives this “Ski Mask Girl” his business card and heads home, a spring in his step for helping his fellow human.
After a series of events that end in Shelby accidentally stabbing Brad, he makes her an offer she finds herself thinking over. He wants to be her henchman, help her carry out the last remaining murders. One look at Shelby and Brad would do anything for her. Help her commit murder, hide a body, ease her tension with sex. Brad is here to please. What could go wrong?
-------
Dead Lift was a fast, fun read!
I surprised myself by reading this in 24 hours! At the end of the day, I had fun reading it, and that’s what we’re here for folks. Shelby was determined and had a goal in mind. I can respect that! Brad had pluck! I would disagree with the comps of Butcher & Blackbird and Lights Out. It’s more if Barbie and Ken were a murder duo and then ended the day decompressing in their sex room. Did Brad lean a little too dumb to be believable for my taste? Sure. Did I have to suspend disbelief more often than I cared to? Maybe. But it was fun, dammit. I was there for the ride. I’ll be checking out the next book for sure.
Dead Lift is out January 5, 2027.
Many thanks to Tor Publishing Group, Bramble, NetGalley, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dead Lift • Clio Evans
One phrase: she’s a serial killer, he’s just Brad 🔪💪
This was so stupid fun in the best possible way.
Shelby is a forensic scientist on a revenge mission, taking out the men who murdered her sister and trying very hard to get away with it. Unfortunately, body disposal is apparently harder than murder.
Enter Brad.
A hot gym himbo with a man bun who sees a woman in a pink hazmat suit struggling with a suspiciously body shaped bag and thinks, “Wow, she needs help lifting.”
Sir. Please.
I ate this up. Shelby was ruthless, smart, unhinged, and absolutely carrying feminine rage like a weapon. Brad was pure golden retriever chaos, more muscles than survival instincts, and somehow exactly what this murder girl needed.
Was the mystery obvious? Kind of. Did I care? Absolutely not.
I was here for the dark romcom chaos, the black cat x himbo dynamic, the murder couple nonsense, and Brad being wildly devoted with one shared brain cell and a dream.
✨ Tropes and vibes:
🔪 serial killer romcom
💪 hot himbo MMC
🖤 black cat x golden retriever
💗 pink hazmat suit
🩸 revenge killings
🔥 kinky spice
🧪 forensic scientist FMC
🐶 unhinged devotion
💀 body disposal problems
😂 murder chaos
📚 Read this if you like:
Dark romcoms, revenge plots, morally gray heroines, lovable idiot men, black cat x golden retriever dynamics, kinky spice, murder as bonding, and books that are not here to be realistic, they are here to be a good time.
Chaotic, spicy, ridiculous, and honestly? Brad, you beautiful dumb man, I support you.
#DeadLift #ClioEvans #DarkRomcom #SerialKillerRomance #BookReview
One phrase: she’s a serial killer, he’s just Brad 🔪💪
This was so stupid fun in the best possible way.
Shelby is a forensic scientist on a revenge mission, taking out the men who murdered her sister and trying very hard to get away with it. Unfortunately, body disposal is apparently harder than murder.
Enter Brad.
A hot gym himbo with a man bun who sees a woman in a pink hazmat suit struggling with a suspiciously body shaped bag and thinks, “Wow, she needs help lifting.”
Sir. Please.
I ate this up. Shelby was ruthless, smart, unhinged, and absolutely carrying feminine rage like a weapon. Brad was pure golden retriever chaos, more muscles than survival instincts, and somehow exactly what this murder girl needed.
Was the mystery obvious? Kind of. Did I care? Absolutely not.
I was here for the dark romcom chaos, the black cat x himbo dynamic, the murder couple nonsense, and Brad being wildly devoted with one shared brain cell and a dream.
✨ Tropes and vibes:
🔪 serial killer romcom
💪 hot himbo MMC
🖤 black cat x golden retriever
💗 pink hazmat suit
🩸 revenge killings
🔥 kinky spice
🧪 forensic scientist FMC
🐶 unhinged devotion
💀 body disposal problems
😂 murder chaos
📚 Read this if you like:
Dark romcoms, revenge plots, morally gray heroines, lovable idiot men, black cat x golden retriever dynamics, kinky spice, murder as bonding, and books that are not here to be realistic, they are here to be a good time.
Chaotic, spicy, ridiculous, and honestly? Brad, you beautiful dumb man, I support you.
#DeadLift #ClioEvans #DarkRomcom #SerialKillerRomance #BookReview
Review of advance copy received from Shelf Awareness Pro
the romance market right now is so, SO oversaturated with the most toxic, abusive, genuinely misogynistic shit imaginable, so i went into this with hesitation, but it was shockingly baller?! like tbh i was expecting it to be internally misogynistic at the VERY least because that truly seems to be an inescapable theme with romance in general - "i'm not like other girls, i can be hot and sultry but when other girls do it they're BIG OL SLUTS and also depending on what book i'm in i might PHYSICALL PUNCH THEM IN THE HEAD FOR LOOKING AT MY MAN" etc. this was not that! there was NONE of that! what!
like i don't wanna say this was WHOLESOME because it features a serial killer and a very enthusiastically active bdsm relationship but like honestly?! kinda wholesome. beautifully healthy bdsm representation imo.
the protags def do fit into the sunshine/grumpy trope on a very base level, but they were also individually multidimensional -when you first meet brad he might seem Too Stupid but pls power through i promise you he has Depth. it was fun and cute, silly and intense, the protags were funny, the balance between smut and thriller was pretty solid.
like, were bits of this corny to the extent that i physically set the book down and closed my eyes for a moment of recalibration? hell yeah. were some of the kinks they explored 100% turn-offs for me? ABSOLUTELY. (breeding? i would rather perish thanks) did i realize who the killer was on page 130? i sure did. did any of that bother me terribly? nah.
i had a really fun time with this, 4/5.
like i don't wanna say this was WHOLESOME because it features a serial killer and a very enthusiastically active bdsm relationship but like honestly?! kinda wholesome. beautifully healthy bdsm representation imo.
the protags def do fit into the sunshine/grumpy trope on a very base level, but they were also individually multidimensional -when you first meet brad he might seem Too Stupid but pls power through i promise you he has Depth. it was fun and cute, silly and intense, the protags were funny, the balance between smut and thriller was pretty solid.
like, were bits of this corny to the extent that i physically set the book down and closed my eyes for a moment of recalibration? hell yeah. were some of the kinks they explored 100% turn-offs for me? ABSOLUTELY. (breeding? i would rather perish thanks) did i realize who the killer was on page 130? i sure did. did any of that bother me terribly? nah.
i had a really fun time with this, 4/5.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐☆☆
If you've followed my reviews for any length of time, you already know one thing about me... I cannot stand a weak female main character. Thankfully, Shelby is anything but weak. She's smart, ruthless, unapologetically unhinged, and absolutely carries this story.
Now let's talk about Brad... because this man may take the crown as the biggest lovable idiot I've ever read. He's the definition of a golden retriever himbo, and while I know that's exactly what the author was going for, his constant optimism and obliviousness were a little over the top for me. At times I found myself laughing, and at other times I just wanted to shake him.
The premise is completely bonkers in the best way... a serial killer rom-com with plenty of dark humor, murder, and chaos. It definitely doesn't take itself too seriously, which made for a fun, quick read.
For me, though, the humor occasionally overshadowed the story, and I wanted a little more depth to the characters and emotional stakes. Overall, it was entertaining and unique, but not one I'll be thinking about long after I finish.
If you love dark romantic comedies, morally gray heroines, and golden retriever himbos who somehow survive by pure luck, this one is worth checking out. Just know you're signing up for absolute chaos.
If you've followed my reviews for any length of time, you already know one thing about me... I cannot stand a weak female main character. Thankfully, Shelby is anything but weak. She's smart, ruthless, unapologetically unhinged, and absolutely carries this story.
Now let's talk about Brad... because this man may take the crown as the biggest lovable idiot I've ever read. He's the definition of a golden retriever himbo, and while I know that's exactly what the author was going for, his constant optimism and obliviousness were a little over the top for me. At times I found myself laughing, and at other times I just wanted to shake him.
The premise is completely bonkers in the best way... a serial killer rom-com with plenty of dark humor, murder, and chaos. It definitely doesn't take itself too seriously, which made for a fun, quick read.
For me, though, the humor occasionally overshadowed the story, and I wanted a little more depth to the characters and emotional stakes. Overall, it was entertaining and unique, but not one I'll be thinking about long after I finish.
If you love dark romantic comedies, morally gray heroines, and golden retriever himbos who somehow survive by pure luck, this one is worth checking out. Just know you're signing up for absolute chaos.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
To say I was excited for this book is a GROSS understatement.
Long time Clio fan, and SO happy and excited for their first traditionally published book.
Off the bat? HILARIOUS read. This book is a raging hilarious good time. I was giggling and snort laughing the entire time.
Our characters are the epitome of black cat/golden retriever. Shelby is a woman on a revenge mission. She is pissed off and determined. Brad is, just along for the ride. Ready to serve his woman however he can. Their dynamic was SO FUNNY. The banter was hilarious. And I can't tell you how many times I was rolling laughing.
Now the revenge/murder plot. Is the logic and logistics sound? Ehhhh, not really. There is a lot of creative liberties being taken. Some feels on point, other times, with my vast knowledge of all things Law and Order SVU, CSI, and Criminal Minds, I was going, ok, this it NOT accurate. But this is a romcom. So I was able to kinda just let a few things slide.
The pacing for the book was good. And the smut was delicious and PLENTIFUL. God, I about DIED. Brad get GET IT.
All in all, if you are looking for a dark romcom that leans more romcom and campy, I think you'll love this book!
Long time Clio fan, and SO happy and excited for their first traditionally published book.
Off the bat? HILARIOUS read. This book is a raging hilarious good time. I was giggling and snort laughing the entire time.
Our characters are the epitome of black cat/golden retriever. Shelby is a woman on a revenge mission. She is pissed off and determined. Brad is, just along for the ride. Ready to serve his woman however he can. Their dynamic was SO FUNNY. The banter was hilarious. And I can't tell you how many times I was rolling laughing.
Now the revenge/murder plot. Is the logic and logistics sound? Ehhhh, not really. There is a lot of creative liberties being taken. Some feels on point, other times, with my vast knowledge of all things Law and Order SVU, CSI, and Criminal Minds, I was going, ok, this it NOT accurate. But this is a romcom. So I was able to kinda just let a few things slide.
The pacing for the book was good. And the smut was delicious and PLENTIFUL. God, I about DIED. Brad get GET IT.
All in all, if you are looking for a dark romcom that leans more romcom and campy, I think you'll love this book!
September 14, 2026
I received this book through a giveaway through Goodreads. When I began reading this book, I will admit I hated the main male character, Brad. I thought he was a little too simple; just a blond, buff idiot. I honestly thought he isn’t relatable or realistic in any way. There is no way someone is that dumb and unassuming. But as I kept reading, Brad and the female main character, Shelby, grew their relationship and I grew to actually like Brad.
The plot was spun in a way that kept me wanting to read, despite not liking Brad at first. Shelby was avenging the death of her sister by becoming a serial killer; meanwhile, there is a secondary serial killer on the loose.
Without giving away any spoilers, the book came full circle in the end, while also leaving room for a possible sequel. There was a LOT of spice. In my opinion, they didn’t need to have an encounter EVERY time they saw each other; but some people are into that. So if you like those type of scenes this book is definite recommendation.
Overall I enjoyed reading Dead Lift and would read a sequel if there was one. It had a mix of love story and murder mystery and although I was able to predict the ending, it was still a good story.
The plot was spun in a way that kept me wanting to read, despite not liking Brad at first. Shelby was avenging the death of her sister by becoming a serial killer; meanwhile, there is a secondary serial killer on the loose.
Without giving away any spoilers, the book came full circle in the end, while also leaving room for a possible sequel. There was a LOT of spice. In my opinion, they didn’t need to have an encounter EVERY time they saw each other; but some people are into that. So if you like those type of scenes this book is definite recommendation.
Overall I enjoyed reading Dead Lift and would read a sequel if there was one. It had a mix of love story and murder mystery and although I was able to predict the ending, it was still a good story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dead Lift was so different from what I typically read, and I’m so glad I was given the opportunity to read it! This is a dark rom-com, and I’m pretty sure this was my first time reading one and I was here for every single minute of it. 😂
From the moment I started reading to the very last page, I was constantly in a fit of giggles. Brad, our MMC, henchman, and all-around himbo, was absolutely precious throughout the entire story. Not only was he a total swoony dream, but he was also hilarious. I seriously couldn’t get enough of him!
Clio Evans did such a great job pairing Brad with his complete opposite, Shelby. Somehow, these two ended up being one heck of a power couple, and I loved watching their relationship come together.
The story flowed wonderfully and kept me completely engaged with the perfect mix of comedy, hot scenes, and some seriously dark mischief. But I have to say, that plot twist near the end is what ultimately had me sitting there in shock. 👀
I enjoyed this one SO much that I’m officially on a mission to find more dark rom-coms! And after reading the teaser for the next book, I already know it’s going straight onto my TBR. 😂
Dead Lift was definitely not what I expected but it was exactly the kind of surprise I needed. 🖤
From the moment I started reading to the very last page, I was constantly in a fit of giggles. Brad, our MMC, henchman, and all-around himbo, was absolutely precious throughout the entire story. Not only was he a total swoony dream, but he was also hilarious. I seriously couldn’t get enough of him!
Clio Evans did such a great job pairing Brad with his complete opposite, Shelby. Somehow, these two ended up being one heck of a power couple, and I loved watching their relationship come together.
The story flowed wonderfully and kept me completely engaged with the perfect mix of comedy, hot scenes, and some seriously dark mischief. But I have to say, that plot twist near the end is what ultimately had me sitting there in shock. 👀
I enjoyed this one SO much that I’m officially on a mission to find more dark rom-coms! And after reading the teaser for the next book, I already know it’s going straight onto my TBR. 😂
Dead Lift was definitely not what I expected but it was exactly the kind of surprise I needed. 🖤
July 25, 2026
This one was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I absolutely love Clio Evans' writing, so I went in excited, but this wasn't my favorite of hers.
The premise felt a little too over-the-top at first, and I had to let go of trying to make it make sense. Once I did, I found myself enjoying the ride much more. The dark humor and the golden retriever/himbo MMC paired with the competent, independent FMC made for some fun moments.
Brad was just a little too clueless for my personal taste. I loved how completely obsessed he was with Shelby and how devoted he was from the start, but his lack of common sense was a bit much at times. Shelby, on the other hand, was smart, capable, and easy to root for, and I actually thought Brad balanced her well.
Overall, this one just wasn't quite for me, but it definitely won't stop me from picking up Clio Evans' next book. She's still one of my favorite authors, and even when one book doesn't fully hit, I know another one probably will.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc!
The premise felt a little too over-the-top at first, and I had to let go of trying to make it make sense. Once I did, I found myself enjoying the ride much more. The dark humor and the golden retriever/himbo MMC paired with the competent, independent FMC made for some fun moments.
Brad was just a little too clueless for my personal taste. I loved how completely obsessed he was with Shelby and how devoted he was from the start, but his lack of common sense was a bit much at times. Shelby, on the other hand, was smart, capable, and easy to root for, and I actually thought Brad balanced her well.
Overall, this one just wasn't quite for me, but it definitely won't stop me from picking up Clio Evans' next book. She's still one of my favorite authors, and even when one book doesn't fully hit, I know another one probably will.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dead Lift ARC Review
I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF THIS!! It was hysterical! Probably one of my favorite Clio books to date.
I am pretty sure we all need a Brad in our life at some point in time!
𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗟: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗘: 🌶️🌶️
𝗧𝗬𝗣𝗘: Standalone
𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦: n/a
𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞: TBD — I plan on rereading once audio is available!
𝗣𝗔𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚: M/F
𝗛𝗘𝗔/𝗛𝗙𝗡: 💖
𝗟𝗚𝗕𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗣: 🏳️🌈
𝗪𝗛𝗬-𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗦𝗘: 🚫
𝗠𝗔𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦: Brad + Shelby
𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦:
♥︎ dark romcom
♥︎ grumpy x sunshine
♥︎ forensic scientist fmc who’s avenging her sister’s death 🔪
♥︎ the king of all himbos mmc
♥︎ viking sex god mmc
♥︎ fmc who doubles as scary dog privilege for mmc
♥︎ bisexual MCs
♥︎ paisley 🐕 + witness 🐈 being cuddle buddies
𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗞𝗦:
♥︎ soft pleasure dom
♥︎ light sexual D/s dynamic
♥︎ breeding
♥︎ spanking
P.S. I am just glad we didn’t find out Brad’s full name until the end because I know someone by that name and it would have completely taken me out of it 😂
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: 𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚊 𝚌𝚘𝚙𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝙽𝚎𝚝𝙶𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚢 𝚒𝚗 𝚎𝚡𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚗 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠.
I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF THIS!! It was hysterical! Probably one of my favorite Clio books to date.
I am pretty sure we all need a Brad in our life at some point in time!
𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗟: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗘: 🌶️🌶️
𝗧𝗬𝗣𝗘: Standalone
𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦: n/a
𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞: TBD — I plan on rereading once audio is available!
𝗣𝗔𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚: M/F
𝗛𝗘𝗔/𝗛𝗙𝗡: 💖
𝗟𝗚𝗕𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗣: 🏳️🌈
𝗪𝗛𝗬-𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗦𝗘: 🚫
𝗠𝗔𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦: Brad + Shelby
𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦:
♥︎ dark romcom
♥︎ grumpy x sunshine
♥︎ forensic scientist fmc who’s avenging her sister’s death 🔪
♥︎ the king of all himbos mmc
♥︎ viking sex god mmc
♥︎ fmc who doubles as scary dog privilege for mmc
♥︎ bisexual MCs
♥︎ paisley 🐕 + witness 🐈 being cuddle buddies
𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗞𝗦:
♥︎ soft pleasure dom
♥︎ light sexual D/s dynamic
♥︎ breeding
♥︎ spanking
P.S. I am just glad we didn’t find out Brad’s full name until the end because I know someone by that name and it would have completely taken me out of it 😂
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: 𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚊 𝚌𝚘𝚙𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝙽𝚎𝚝𝙶𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚢 𝚒𝚗 𝚎𝚡𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚗 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
☠️ oh my god. I had SO much fun reading this. Was it mildly predictable? If you’re looking for it, sure, but that honestly made it more fun in my opinion. Brad is the PERFECT man and I hate that I’ve fallen for yet another blonde MMC. The dynamic between him and Shelby is so out of the norm from your usual dark romance. The dedication Shelby has to her tasks and the dedication Brad has to HER… written to perfection. As someone who has lost a sibling, I was able to relate to Shelby so much because of how well the grief processes were written.
Clio Evans does it, yet again. There has not been a single book by Clio that I’ve read and not rated 5 stars. I will always applaud Clio and their dedication to ensuring the kink dynamics are as realistic as possible. This will absolutely be recommended to everyone looking to get into dark or wanting some good laughs.
💌 thank you to Netgalley, Tor Publishing, & the one and only Clio Evans for providing me with the earc in exchange for an honest review!
Clio Evans does it, yet again. There has not been a single book by Clio that I’ve read and not rated 5 stars. I will always applaud Clio and their dedication to ensuring the kink dynamics are as realistic as possible. This will absolutely be recommended to everyone looking to get into dark or wanting some good laughs.
💌 thank you to Netgalley, Tor Publishing, & the one and only Clio Evans for providing me with the earc in exchange for an honest review!
September 2, 2026
I have a new obsession and it’s this book. Way to go, Clio, because I am officially in love with you more than before, hahaha. This was the Barbie and Ken retelling I needed, but throw a little Brynne Weaver in there and by god, Clio… I ate this entire book up.
In this serial killer rom-com, forensic scientist Shelby has a pretty decent plan in place… for revenge. Get justice for her sister, murder those responsible, and get away with it. Sounds simple enough, right? During one of her revenge missions, she’s discovered by hot himbo Brad, and just when she thinks she’s going to have to add another name to her list, Brad proves himself to be way more useful than expected, in more ways than one. Yup, that was an innuendo. 😂
The spice is spicing in this one, and I friggin’ loved every minute of it. But beyond the spice, this plot was killer, hehe, no, but seriously, it was SO friggin’ good. I could not put this book down.
I absolutely hated that fictional Shelby’s sister had to die for us to get this banger, but hot damn, was the fictional justice good as hell. And we get a smidge of a plot-within-a-plot situation because something even darker and more sinister is lurking behind Shelby and Brad’s backs.
I seriously need three more books in this world because I loved this one THAT much.
Thank you so much, Clio, for this absolute unhinged, spicy, murderous masterpiece. 🖤🔪
In this serial killer rom-com, forensic scientist Shelby has a pretty decent plan in place… for revenge. Get justice for her sister, murder those responsible, and get away with it. Sounds simple enough, right? During one of her revenge missions, she’s discovered by hot himbo Brad, and just when she thinks she’s going to have to add another name to her list, Brad proves himself to be way more useful than expected, in more ways than one. Yup, that was an innuendo. 😂
The spice is spicing in this one, and I friggin’ loved every minute of it. But beyond the spice, this plot was killer, hehe, no, but seriously, it was SO friggin’ good. I could not put this book down.
I absolutely hated that fictional Shelby’s sister had to die for us to get this banger, but hot damn, was the fictional justice good as hell. And we get a smidge of a plot-within-a-plot situation because something even darker and more sinister is lurking behind Shelby and Brad’s backs.
I seriously need three more books in this world because I loved this one THAT much.
Thank you so much, Clio, for this absolute unhinged, spicy, murderous masterpiece. 🖤🔪
July 25, 2026
The premise of this book caught me. A female serial killer and her himbo henchmen. That’s literally the dream.
Shelby and Brad were such a ride. Brad was absolutely hilarious, just true embodiment of a golden retriever boy. I loved that we got his point of view as well, it was such a treat to jump from our calculating fmc to our “eating hard boiled eggs out of a ziplock” mmc.
I don’t typically love the instalove trope, but Brad really made it work. Considering he first sees Shelby in a hazmat suit and ski mask and thinks “she’s the one for me”.
Dead Lift is pitched as Butcher & Blackbird meets Lights Out and I think that’s an apt description. I laughed a lot and overall just had a great time. Can’t wait to go through Clio Evan’s backlist now and see what I’ve been missing!
Shelby and Brad were such a ride. Brad was absolutely hilarious, just true embodiment of a golden retriever boy. I loved that we got his point of view as well, it was such a treat to jump from our calculating fmc to our “eating hard boiled eggs out of a ziplock” mmc.
I don’t typically love the instalove trope, but Brad really made it work. Considering he first sees Shelby in a hazmat suit and ski mask and thinks “she’s the one for me”.
Dead Lift is pitched as Butcher & Blackbird meets Lights Out and I think that’s an apt description. I laughed a lot and overall just had a great time. Can’t wait to go through Clio Evan’s backlist now and see what I’ve been missing!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Early in this book I knew that nothing in would be realistic... Shelby was a plus-size forensic scientist getting revenge on the men who killed her sister while a gym himbo was infatuated with her. The himbo was Brad and he honestly was the dumbest character I ever read but I still really enjoyed this book. Once I suspended belief and just went with the story, it was a very fun read. Brad starts to help Shelby commit the murders while falling in love with her, worshipping her body (there is SO much sex), and being the comic relief in the book. I figured out the twist pretty quickly but I still enjoyed it. It was an entertaining escapism and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5/5
So, first Clio Evans book and my first book with a himbo! A character I didn't know I needed in my life! Brad is the most perfect himbo you'll ever find. Like seriously!!
I had 0 expectations going into this book and it took me on such a fun suspenseful ride. Despite the darkness behind what Shelby is doing, she is witty, smart and bad ass!! Perfect combo for a serial unaliver!! I loved all the little plot twists and turns and the spice was top notch. Thank you so much to netgalley for this arc. I absolutely loved this book!!!
So, first Clio Evans book and my first book with a himbo! A character I didn't know I needed in my life! Brad is the most perfect himbo you'll ever find. Like seriously!!
I had 0 expectations going into this book and it took me on such a fun suspenseful ride. Despite the darkness behind what Shelby is doing, she is witty, smart and bad ass!! Perfect combo for a serial unaliver!! I loved all the little plot twists and turns and the spice was top notch. Thank you so much to netgalley for this arc. I absolutely loved this book!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
✅TW’s
This book was so much fun. It’s the perfect amount of dark and comedic.
Shelby is the FMC of this story. She is on a revenge mission to avenge her sister. Brad was just Brad until he meets Shelby. I love seeing a golden retriever himbo MMC. He was so oblivious to so many things. Every chapter from his POV brought me so much joy. Shelby and Brad were such a fun couple. I loved them as a couple. Also the spicy scenes between these two were so hot.
Tropes
-dark rom com
-k!ller FMC
-himbo MMC
-reverse grumpy x sunshine
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
✅TW’s
This book was so much fun. It’s the perfect amount of dark and comedic.
Shelby is the FMC of this story. She is on a revenge mission to avenge her sister. Brad was just Brad until he meets Shelby. I love seeing a golden retriever himbo MMC. He was so oblivious to so many things. Every chapter from his POV brought me so much joy. Shelby and Brad were such a fun couple. I loved them as a couple. Also the spicy scenes between these two were so hot.
Tropes
-dark rom com
-k!ller FMC
-himbo MMC
-reverse grumpy x sunshine
September 20, 2026
This was right below a 4 for me. I had moments of laughing out loud and cringing at how clueless Brad is. But man oh man I love when our MMC is obsessed with the FMC. She is who his world revolves around and it’s perfect.
I would have loved for more to be happening throughout the story instead of just the beginning and more towards the end. I enjoyed the revelations and how she was able to make everything work.
This story was good time with murder, kink exploration, and a pair of furry companions!
Open Door Romance
Thank you NetGalley and Tor/Forge for this ARC!
I would have loved for more to be happening throughout the story instead of just the beginning and more towards the end. I enjoyed the revelations and how she was able to make everything work.
This story was good time with murder, kink exploration, and a pair of furry companions!
Open Door Romance
Thank you NetGalley and Tor/Forge for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I wish I could upload the video I made about this book, long story short. Oh Brad…. You silly little goose…. I love him so much. I fell for Brad Brett much from the very beginning, he is literally the epitome of a a golden retriever puppy, like has no thoughts just vibes… But later on omg Brad gets SPICYYYY OMG… I loved the character development of the FMC, she needed it after the trauma she endured. I really loved them together, very black cat golden retriever.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a bit of a different take on the popular dark romance serial killer trope. The fmc is out for revence and the himbo mmc inadvertently stumbles upon her crimes. What follows is a cute kind of romcom of a story. I thought the characters really worked and I was invested until the end. If you like a grumpy/sunshine, serial killer, somewhat dark but still really sweet story then you'll like this.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
was it good? no. was it fun? absolutely.
but you’re really telling me that our fmc spent nearly nearly 400 pages murdered the 5 men who raped and murdered her sister and taking down a serial killer who raped and murder another 18 women, just to her boss catch a “woman with a vendetta”? Be so for real right now.
but you’re really telling me that our fmc spent nearly nearly 400 pages murdered the 5 men who raped and murdered her sister and taking down a serial killer who raped and murder another 18 women, just to her boss catch a “woman with a vendetta”? Be so for real right now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Omg this book was so damn funny. Shelby is off her rocker and Brad is the sweetest but dumbest boy in school. It was giving Izma and Krunk- villain and himbo henchman vibes but make it spicy. And less Disney. 🤣 this has the perfect amount of humor and mystery while mixing in some very excellent spice. I think if you liked Butcher & Blackbird, this would be right up your alley!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
If yiou are looking for depth, you won't find it here. If you are looking for a fun read while feeling sick, this one is for you. Loved Shelby's character, Brad drove me nuts until I rethought the concept of HIMBO. Then he made sense. Lots of spice, great. But once you got to the end snd reveals were made, it felt cliched. Exactly as one thought. Big letdown on that.
Read
October 3, 2026If you like X-rated novels, then this is the book for you - sizzling with explicit sex scenes. Sometimes it was too much for me and I skipped over some of those scenes.
The main story is about a young woman avenging the death of her sister. She is hunting for the 4 men who raped and killed her.
She wants to kill the four of them. But does she have the right men? Will she be successful?
The main story is about a young woman avenging the death of her sister. She is hunting for the 4 men who raped and killed her.
She wants to kill the four of them. But does she have the right men? Will she be successful?
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
that was such a cute romance 🥺 i mean, yeah it's a dark romcom and they kill people but the golden retriever himbo guy x black cat killer woman is such a good dynamic ! i had such a good time reading it, i couldn't put down the book and read it in one-go it was so good !
July 29, 2026
Omg, I was laughing from the very beginning! This is such a fun book with the hot himbo of my dreams. This book was such a good mix of silly humor, serial killers, and some real good spice! I could not get enough of it.
Review of advance copy received from Shelf Awareness Pro
I wanted to like this. This was touted as a cross between Lights Out and Butcher & Blackbird (which I enjoyed). Where these two books shone (banter, spice, serial killer intrigue/danger), Dead Lift fell flat.
I'll be passing on the next book planned for this series.
I'll be passing on the next book planned for this series.
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