XO Karma

XO Karma Trilogy #1

by Hailey Dickert

After Lily Huxley’s best friend falls victim to the elusive Kodak Killer, she’s convinced cosmic justice has abandoned Cleosville. With a thirst for revenge, she creates a “Karma for Hire” platform where requests for retribution are submitted as easily as ordering takeout.

During late-night recon, she meetsAster, a handsome stranger who has her wondering if there’s more to life than work, sleep, repeat. But when a body is discovered shortly after, she suspects her new crush is the killer she’s been searching for.

Aster Blake is a local crime journalist, exposing the city's sins while harboring a secret of his own—one with bleach, body bags, and fake alibis. During a getaway, he’s distracted by the curious, beautiful, and highly suspicious Lily. But after realizing he’s her latest target, the pair becomes entangled in a dangerous game of mutual stalking until a new victim forces them into an unlikely partnership.

But unmasking the Kodak Killer is far from simple, and between near-death experiences and steamy late-night stakeouts, the line between allies and attraction blurs. Lily’s supposed to be balancing the cosmic scales, not falling for the man who’s a self-proclaimed reaper. As danger lurks closer, one question remains:

Will her desire for revenge become her demise, or will karma come for her in a way she never expected?

A Dark Romcom:

- Touch her and die
- Mutual stalking
- Accidental serial killer
- Revenge
- Oops I murdered again
- Shameless flirting
- Endless banter
- Retro modern vibes
- Mc’s in their 30s
- Bi rep (FMC)

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Dark, Stalker, Rom Com, Touch Her and Die, Mystery

424 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 8, 2026

Reviews

[charisse ♡]

˗ˏˋ 4 stars ⟡ ݁₊ .

happpyy release dayyyy!!!

omg this is such a vibe! i think this is kinda the book where you didn't know you needed it until you read it! everything about this was so refreshing and i loved the idea of them stalking each other lmao

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• lily huxley
i love that she's a badass vigilante! we literally need more books with this!! she's also lwk unhinged sometimes and like i'm all her for it!

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• aster blake
he definitely gives of the touch her and die mentality! i loved that he's so protective of lily and is basically always there for her.

besides that, i loved their banter! like "bark like a fucking dog" literally sent me- they're just so meant for each other!!1!

and also i loved the idea of xo karma and like getting revenge for profit, however i felt like some of the jobs are lwk middle school/high school pranks? (like one of them was literally egging a house or smth like that)..

the only reason it's not a five was that i figured out the mystery VERY early on.. like i originally thought i was a lil delulu with my guess but turns out i was right!!

⤷ thank you to the author, hailey dickert, for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶

₊˚⊹♡ pre-read ♡⊹˚₊ ↴
ahhh finally have time to pick this one up! i've been wanting to read this ever since i came across the tropes on insta, cuz like wdym mutual stalking and revenge for profit?? i'm so intrigued by all of it! hoping it delivers!!!! also the colours on the cover looks so good together??

[litlindseyreads]

"You can't just kill someone every time I'm in danger."
"I'd burn down the whole fucking world to give you one extra breath."

XO, Karma by @haileydickertauthor

This Dark Rom Com was such a wild ride! Lily has an anonymous Karma business online while trying to figure out the identity of the Kodak Killer who killed her best friend. Aster is crime journalist by day and a vigilante serial unaliver by night. They run into each other during one of Lily's karma missions. She becomes suspicious and starts stalking him to find out more.
I loved the tension and banter (and a particularly spicy scene under a desk l), and the mystery aspect kept me in suspense throughout the book. (And that plot twist!)
I can't wait to read the next book!

Thank you so much to Hailey Dickert for the ARC!

[Sarah]

✨ARC Book Review✨

Lily is a vigilante for hire. She runs XO Karma, where she brings karma to whoever has wronged you. While working a job, she accidentally crosses paths with Aster, a local crime journalist. There was definitely some flirting, but she runs off as soon as she can. When she later finds out that a murder happened in the area, she begins to suspect he might be the serial killer who killed her friend. She starts stalking him to get the tea, but little does she know, he’s noticed!

I love when both main characters are stalking each other. It definitely kicks the book up a notch! Lily seems like a total girls’ girl. She loved her friend Violet, who is thought to be a victim of the Kodak Killer, and it felt like helping others who had been wronged gave her a sense of comfort. I also loved how into Aster she was. He was quite charming, so I totally get it! The more she learned about him, the more interesting the story became.

Aster was such a cool character. He’s pretty complex and is also very invested in the local murders. His interactions with Lily gave me similar vibes to the energy in Brynne Weaver’s books! They had such a fun push and pull, and the chemistry was off the charts. I was living for their drama!

The last quarter of this book had me hooked! There was so much tea, and I was genuinely surprised by some of the revelations. I loved it! It definitely ended letting you know more is to come, and I seriously cannot wait!

[Annet Yarkovaya]

I’ve been singing this Cinderella song all day 😂 Best joke ever.

[Samantha (probablyatthebookstore)]

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

Genre: The perfect mashup of dark romance, romantic comedy, & suspense!
POV: 1st person, alternating
Format: ebook

Tropes:
* Touch her and die
* Stalking 
* Accidental serial killer 
* Revenge for hire 
* Both MC’s wear masks
* Shameless flirting 
* Endless banter <———— SO MUCH THIS!!!
* MC’s in their 30s <——— THANK YOU!!
* Bi rep (FMC) 

Favorite microtrope:
He tucks her hair behind her ears. If he does this one more time, I’M gonna be the one falling in love with him. Him and his slutty little glasses.

Other reasons I may fall in love:
He’s the one who pouted his lower lip.
He’s the one who batted his eyelashes.
The way he loved seeing how excited Lily got about something? Immediate heart eyes. 😍

This is giving Lights Out meets Dexter vibes and I am here for it. Aster is like if Dexter had any emotions without having to fake them. Oh, and he will burn the world down for her.

Lily is a lot tougher than she looks. She surprised me with how she can handle herself. Her inner thoughts are hilarious. She’s also adorable when she’s angry or annoyed with Aster.

The flirting and banter between the two of them was top tier, chef’s kiss. 👌🏻 “Bark like a fucking dog” literally made me snort.

I loved this story and was trying to figure it out the whole time.

OMG HAILEY! I need book 2 immediately! I WILL bark like a fucking dog for it if needed.

[micolreads]

3 ⭐

[Dilsa]

Thank you tot he author for the early copy of this ARC!

This was a highly anticipated read for me and it did not disappoint! I was coming with expectations of fun, flirty, spicy banter - [CHECK]. Creepy serial killer & ruthless vigilante vibes - [CHECK] & true crime/police work - [CHECK]. What I also got complicated family drama, twist after twist that left my jaw on the floor, and 2 headstrong independent people coming together and loving each other so unapologetically & unconditionally (& spicyly - which I'm not mad at... at all).

I love a good mystery (I’m nosy) & the vibes here were perfect for that. As the mystery kept unfolding, more questions kept popping up which makes it more fun for me. Ooooh but in the end it all gets answered. Except for ONE. MAJOR. QUESTION! But not to worry because Book 2 (of 3!!!) will be out next year!

If you are looking for a fun and twisty dark rom-com... STOP! Look no further do start with this one!

[Heather Knick]

Oh, THIS was a fun ride!!!
After Brynne Weaver came into my life (via books), I knew I’d found a new genre to love! Dark-rom-com!
And it started to feel like no one could match her level…until now.
I was honored to get to read this early, and what a treat it was!!
This is also the first book I annotated, because there were parts I didn’t want to forget!
AND…there were parts that were special to me.
IE, without spoiling it:
Lily reminds me of ME!! When I went through my pink hair phase. Plus, these characters are in their 30’s, so I LOVED reading from a more adult mentality!! Please, give me more!!!
One character in the book just so happens to have both my grandson’s names for his first and last!
There was an awesome mention of Dolly Parton that I read the DAY she passed.
There was also a reference to the Mariana Trench…which put me right back in Guam for a moment!

There was a beautiful quote that I highlighted by Isla. I don’t want to share it, but it’s in chapter 31!

And Aster…my heart hurts for him.
I love that Karma found him (in all the right ways), but I fear he will carry his demons with him to darker times down the road. Especially with how deep his connections go.
I am more than excited to read the next story! Yes, that cliffhanger shook me! I need to know all the deets!! And what’s V’s connection to Liam vs JC?!?! I feel there’s so much more to be known! I have my suspicions…but only time will tell!!

Definitely one of my absolute favorite reads this year! And I can’t WAIT to dive back in to Cleosville and read more!!

[Robin ❤️]

So much fun!
Actually loved both MCs.
Obviously I was obsessed with this one. I took my sweet ass time reading it because I didn’t want it to be over. I had to limit myself to just a few chapters a day and I NEVER do that.

Lily and Aster had the BEST banter, I mean the absolute best. I was dying the entire time.
Such a great mash up of dark romance and comedy. You will laugh your whole entire ass off at this one.
Honestly so fresh and funny. Exactlyyyy what I needed.

4.5/5⭐️ if you loved lights out you will definitely enjoy this one.

Thank you Hailey for the ARC. I can’t wait to read book 2!

[Michellelovesreading]

I loved this book and it’s tropes. I recommend reading this book.

Tropes:
Stalking
MCs in their 30’s
Retro modern vibes


Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice.🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Tanya]

4.5 ⭐

Thank you to the author for the arc!

This book was so good! It drew me in from the first page. I loved the witty banter, the storyline was very unique, and the spice was just perfect.
The character were easy to like and root for.
If you told me I'd love a story about a serial unaliver and a vigilante joining forces and body parts, I would've said.... Heck yes!
I love the way Hailey writes. All her books are amazing and this was no exception.

Do yourself a favor and read this book!

[Melissa]

What are you doing tonight?" I ask, hoping to get the attention off me.
"Reorganising the sock drawer."
I gnaw on my lower lip. "Yours or mine?"
"Yours obviously."

For once, I would like to thank the Instagram algorithm 😂 Because apparently it does occasionally know what it's doing.
It showed me one of Hailey's posts promoting XO Karma, and two minutes later, I was SOLD 👀

This was a five-star book for me for SO many reasons. I think I was maybe one or two chapters in when I already had SEVEN highlights.

The comedy was one of my favourite parts. The banter and inner thoughts were HILARIOUS, and I had several moments where I genuinely laughed out loud (or did that little snort because I absolutely was not expecting what was about to be said 😂). I love when a book can make me laugh like that!

"You okay?" I whisper. She nods, her warm breath hitting my hand, and I remove it.
"Do you think they heard me?"
"I think the astronauts orbiting the moon heard you," I tease.

It was the perfect combination of dark, mysterious, spicy, and funny, and somehow all of those elements balanced each other out so well 🖤

Something else I absolutely loved was the dual POV. Both Aster and Lily felt like such strong characters, and their personalities came through so clearly. I genuinely couldn't pick a favourite POV because I loved reading both. And we're talking about two morally grey, occasionally VERY unhinged characters here. We have Aster, who's basically a golden retriever serial killer 🐕, and Lily, the badass vigilante who's not afraid to use a knife 🔪

Their interactions together were fantastic. Their meet-cute was HILARIOUS 😂 That scene hooked me from the very beginning and was basically the moment I thought, “Okay, this author knows what she's doing. This is brilliant.”

"Cinderella."
"Oh my god, barf! And what would that make you? Prince Charming?"
"Only if I can bippity boppity bang you."

The romance and spice were also really well balanced. There was definitely spice, but it didn't take over the story. The build-up and tension were palpable in every scene they shared 🔥 I may not have loved every single thing happening during the spicy scenes, but honestly, it was such a minor thing that it didn't influence my enjoyment or overall experience with the book.
The desk scene, though? FIRE ❤️‍🔥

I can definitely see why some people might find the romance a little insta-love-ish, but personally, I don't see it that way. This is a fast-paced story with murders happening, killers on the loose, and two people going through some pretty intense circumstances together. Trauma can bond people very quickly, and in the context of this story, their relationship made sense to me.

"I'd burn the whole fucking world to give you one extra breath."

I loved the murder mystery aspect of the story too. Did I guess some of the mystery? Yes. But did I figure out how everything was going to connect? Absolutely not!
I could pick up on certain things along the way, but I didn't have the full picture in my head, so watching everything come together was really satisfying.

And that ENDING?!!! I NEED MORE 👀

Thank you so much, Hailey, for allowing me to read XO Karma as an ARC 💕 I'm so glad that one random Instagram algorithm decision led me to this book, because I had an AMAZING time.

[Hailey Goshert]

4⭐️ 3.5🌶️ mutual stalking, vigilante justice, secrets and mystery galore, a sexy serial killer (though he will deny that he is one), heaps of witty banter... what more could you want??

this was such a fun read; chaotic and unhinged tomfoolery at it's finest! even though the twist was pretty predictable in my opinion, i think that as long as you're in it for the vibes rather than wanting to be bamboozled and shocked to your core- you'll enjoy this just like i did.

Lily & Aster were honestly so perfect for each other and i can't wait to read the rest of this series to get to know the other characters better, and see how the hell they're all going to navigate the mess they've found themselves in.

!!BE WARNED!! this book does end on a pretty diabolical cliffhanger if you weren't playing detective the whole book and trying to solve this shit Scooby Doo style!!

[Lauryn Munro]

Book Baddies Beyond Borders September read

This was such a fun read! I loved their banter! That ending was absolutely wild! I can’t wait for the next book to come out!

[alice]

Arc review ~ 4.25 Hailey is so back and I loved this dark romance from her! I loved this one, it was such a fun and sexy read. The plot was so good and I loved the characters. This is one of them books where you got exactly what you go in for and I binged it so fast, it was such a good time with crazy twists and turns and everyone I thought I figured things out I never had the full story, it was exactly what I needed after not reading for a week.

The flirty banter between lily and Aster was so good, I loved watching them 2 interact especially in the mutual stalking aspect, it was fun and refreshing to read the girl doing it back and I love how it ended but I also need book 2 like now cos I'm too intrigued with all that got revealed

[Kirsten Valencia]

Hailey Dickert has absolutely done it again! XO Karma delivers the perfect mix of serial killers, sharp banter, and revenge for profit. From the very first page, this book hooks you into a high-stakes mission full of endless comedy, dark secrets, and "Karma acts." You will find yourself constantly questioning who to trust and searching for answers about who is doing what, all while passionately cheering for Lily and her chance at love.

The only downside? The author leaves you completely hanging, wanting the next installment immediately! This cliffhanger feels like the absolute worst commercial break, but it has officially guaranteed that I will be ordering books two and three the second they drop. This girl needs closure ASAP!

[Sofie]

I had such a fun time with this book. The premise immediately got me: Lily has a karma website where she basically deals out consequences to people who deserve them, Aster is kind of a serial killer, and together they’re trying to solve the murder of her best friend.

The banter between Lily and Aster was TOP NOTCH. Their back-and-forth was probably one of my favorite parts of the entire book. I really enjoyed their dynamic, the stalking each other, the tension, and just the general slightly unhinged energy between them.

The murder mystery also genuinely kept me intrigued. I had theories toward the end, and some of them ended up being right, but there were still reveals I absolutely did not expect. I wanted to know what happened to Lily’s best friend and kept changing my mind about where everything was going.

My biggest issue, however, was the pacing of Lily and Aster’s relationship.

They basically go from hating each other → wanting nothing to do with each other → stalking each other → having sex → “you’re the love of my life” in approximately five minutes.

And then the book literally confirms at the end that they’ve been dating for TWO WEEKS.

Girl.

I love a yearning man. I love an obsessed man. Give me a man absolutely losing his mind over a woman any day of the week. But I still need to believe it. At the point where we’re getting declarations of eternal love, these two barely know basic information about each other. Their chemistry was there, but their actual relationship needed more time to develop. Give me another month. Another hundred pages. SOMETHING.

Lily also occasionally drove me insane with her independence. I love a feminist FMC, but there were moments where it felt less like independence and more like refusing help simply to prove she didn’t need a man.

Ma’am, someone is actively trying to murder you. Perhaps now is not the time for “I can do it myself.”

Aster would try to protect or help her, and she constantly needed to turn it into a discussion about how she didn’t need him. And sometimes I was just sitting there like, HE LIKES YOU. LET THE MAN DO SOMETHING NICE FOR YOU. It also made Lily feel much younger than a woman in her thirties.

Then we got to the finale.

The actual reveal? Shocking. I definitely did not expect everything that happened, and it made me extremely curious about the next book, especially because I now desperately want to know how the hell we got to that point.

But I wish the reveal had been allowed to just be dramatic.

There were funny moments and jokes mixed into what should have been this huge, emotional WTF moment, and for me, they completely undercut the tension. I loved the humor and banter throughout the rest of the book, but sometimes you need to let a dramatic scene be dramatic. This was one of those times.

The communication during the finale also frustrated me because everyone seemed physically incapable of just saying the entire truth in one continuous sentence. I understand that emotions and adrenaline were high, but there was still this unnecessary withholding of information that felt like it existed mostly to drag the reveal out.

And without spoiling anything: Lily was WAY more forgiving than I would have been.

There was one correct response to that situation, and it involved punching people.

I stand by that.

Overall, though, I really enjoyed this! The concept was so much fun, the mystery genuinely hooked me, Lily and Aster had fantastic banter, and I absolutely want to continue because that ending left me with QUESTIONS. I just wish the romance had been given more time to develop and that the finale had leaned into the drama instead of trying to lighten the mood.

Definitely intrigued enough that I’ll be picking up book two because now I need to know how the fuck we got here.

Thank you so much to the author for providing me with an ARC!

[Kelsey reviews•books]

Sometimes far-fetched but overall a spicy, funny, dangerous good time! (more below)

▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
▹Format: 📱 eReader
─────────────────────────

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

– FMC: Lily Huxley (aka “Karma baby” or “gorgeous”). Seeking retaliation against people that wrong others (mostly men), 32-year-old Lily sets up a “Karma”-for-hire account as a way to cope with her best friend being murdered by a serial killer. She’s passionate but sometimes needs to take a moment to think before she does...
– MMC: Aster Blake (aka “Grim”). 34-year-old who has a very complex relationship with his family. Still trying to come to terms with the death of his older brother after many years, Aster has taken to trying to set things right.
– Location: Cleosville (fictional),
– POV: Dual first-person
– Spice: 5-6 open-door spicy scenes (explicit)
– Tropes: strangers to lovers, they stalk each other, they’re both morally grey, dark-ish rom-com, he spits alcohol into her mouth, squirting, “good boy,” MMC likes to take care of the FMC (even though he knows she can do things herself) MMC wears slutty little glasses
– Representation: nothing noteworthy

─────────────────────────

🎯 My Thoughts:

I was skeptical. I read another book by this author awhile ago and did not like it. But then a friend of mine recommended it and I’ve been in a darker-romancer with some comedy mood and picked this up and I REALLY enjoyed it!

Was some of it far-fetched? Sure. But do you usually go into stalker-ish romances thinking “I bet this will be relatable”? If so, babe, we need to have a chat. But if you can sit back and enjoy the ride, this has a great plot rife with mystery and even greater spice. I loved how dark it got without being for “shock value” while also being funny and swoony.

“Cat got your tongue?” His fingertips walk up my thigh, nearing dangerously close to the hem of my skirt, and heat floods my core. “A pussy might if you’d just behave.”

Oooo Aster. Yum. I loved his chemistry with Lily. They were such a fun balance of banter, stalking, and vulnerable. I also loved Lily’s story. Imagine losing your best friend and not knowing the answers and then watching other victims come to light?

AND THAT ENDING!? I need book 2 RIGHT NOW!

Would I Recommend?: Yes!! This was fun.
─────────────────────────

⍟»This or That«⍟

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



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

[Nicole (literary_nics)]

I finished this at 1am, closed my Kindle, and just sat there wondering what Hailey Dickert has against my sleep schedule.

XO Karma follows Lily Huxley, who turns her grief over her best friend's murder (courtesy of the still-at-large Kodak Killer) into a revenge-for-hire business called, fittingly, Karma. Enter Aster Blake, tattooed crime journalist, absurdly charming, and the kind of protective that makes you nervous in a good way. They flirt. They spiral. And then Lily starts wondering if the man she's falling for is the serial killer she's supposed to be hunting. So naturally, they both start surveilling each other, because apparently that's a acceptable stage three in this relationship.

What worked: the banter is genuinely some of the best I've read all year, quick and mean and clearly written by someone having fun. Lily is morally gray in the most satisfying way, running a vigilante operation with zero apology, and Aster's "touch her and die" energy hits different when you're not 100% sure he's not also capable of being the actual threat. The dual POV lets you sit in both of their paranoia at once, which somehow makes the tension funnier instead of less tense.

Why not 5 stars: these two have been dating for two weeks by the end of the book and are already operating like a unit, which is a lot of relationship development to buy into that fast. And that ending. I understand narratively why it happened. I am still furious about it.

Trope Chaos Check
✨ Mutual stalking played as flirting (deeply unwell, deeply entertaining)
✨ Accidental serial killer discourse
✨ Morally gray heroine with an actual hit list
✨ Protective hero with something to hide
✨ Dark romcom tone doing a LOT of heavy lifting over a genuinely dark plot

★★★★☆ devastating banter, a genuinely upsetting cliffhanger, and I need book 2 yesterday.

[Amber]

I was lucky enough to receive this as an ARC!
I’m not normally a dark romance girlie but holy shit this book had me hooked from the very first page!!! I absolutely loved this book and absolutely loved the romance between Aster and Lily… which kinda makes me wonder if I need therapy. I won’t lie, I never understood the love of the masked men or the touch her and die trope…. Boy was I missing out. The banter between them was hilarious, the slow burn was the perfect pace that had you aching for more, and the murder mystery had you questioning every single character and their motives. This book had my heart rate on the verge of needing medical help the entire time. I don’t know if I need a therapist or some alone time with my husband in a mask after that book, probably both honestly. Especially after that ending!!!!

Needless to say I am very impatiently waiting for the next book in this trilogy.

[Krypto]

✨️I received an advanced copy of this book for free. This review is voluntary and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.✨️

Oh. My. GOD. I have no words. This book... I wish I could give it 50 stars.
XO Karma by Hailey Dickert follows the story of Lily and Aster - a girl who runs a revenge for hire website, and a guy who spends his nights as a vigilante serial killer. Chaos, banter, mutual stalking, and general unhinged antics ensue.

I fell in love with these two the second Lily fell out of that tree. My girl is an unhinged mess with a surprisingly flexible moral line. She can hold her own and isn't afraid to get a little stabby if the situation calls for it. Aster on the other hand... well, he can hold his own too, I just wish I could relieve him of all his burdens. He deserves some peace.

I don't think I will ever stop recommending XO Karma. This book is perfect for all dark rom com lovers, but especially those who loved Lights Out and Butcher & Blackbird.

I am honored to have ARC read this book and I am so, so excited for the next one.

[Haley Huseby]

First - thank you to Hailey for sending this ARC! I screamed when I checked my email!! I immediately fell in love with Lily and Aster and as always, the spice was obviously incredible but the characters and plot had me upset I had to work and couldn’t read this in a day. I knew I’d have a fun time reading this but I wasn’t expecting to be so invested in the characters, and I had a really fun time writing theories down while reading. I really love how much effort is put into the characters when it comes to their personalities and back stories, sometimes I feel like I’ll read a story that could have easily gotten 5 stars from me if the characters just had some depth but there was no issue with that here. The tension was incredible, the humor was woven in perfectly and the wait for this was so worth it. I could go on and on but I don’t want to add any spoilers so I’ll just say I can’t wait to physically have this on my shelf and I am ecstatic for the next book in the series!!!

[Danni]

WHAT IN THE EVER LOVING HELL DID I JUST READ?? HAILEY IM SENDING YOU MY THERAPY BILL.

I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS AND I AM IN DISTRESS. PLEASE GO BUY THIS BOOK. IT WAS INCREDIBLE. BUT IM STILL MAD.

I love a deranged, psychotic, down bad man so much. Even more so when he’s literally “touch her and die” coded. Aster is, quite literally, my dream man. He’s educated, has a good job, highly intelligent, a silly goose, has impeccable humor and the bod??? LORD. give me the psycho obsessive tatted man ALWAYS.

And Lily, she is everything I aspire to be. As a Libra, I fear I too wish to bring karmic justice to anyone who has ever wronged me. And at that, not only me, but anyone in general. I completely understand why she became Karma, I would too in this gross world.

If I say anything else I will be giving spoilers, so GO BUY THIS BOOK WHEN IT COMES OUT.

[han ♡]

“i’d lie on a witness stand for you.”
“that’s the most romantic thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

this was my first book by hailey and it absolutely will not be my last. i was hooked from the very first page and now i will have a book hangover for at least a month.

lily and aster were EVERYTHING. they met each other quip for quip, flirt for flirt, and their banter dynamic had me giggling and kicking my feet like an idiot. i can’t even begin to explain how badly i love them, i’d literally burn the world for them. the way they met was so unconventional and hilarious, and i knew i was in for a wild ride just from that. lily is an icon who does the lord’s work, and i genuinely can’t get over how sexy she is. aster, aka mr “i’d burn the world for her”, he was delicious. the comparison to clark kent definitely made sense and it was perfect for him. his mouth…i need him horrendously.

the writing style and prose of this book was gorgeous. i loved every single second of reading, and i only wish i could erase my memory and read it for the first time again. i swear, i was creating my own suspect board with red string and scribbled sticky notes in my head the entire time. hailey did such a beautiful job with this book, and i’m ITCHING for the next one. i will not rest until i get it in my hands. this one was one to remember, and i can’t wait for the future of this universe.

thank you so, so much to the author for the e-arc!

ᥫ᭡ stalking
ᥫ᭡ dark rom com
ᥫ᭡ mcs in their 30s
ᥫ᭡ serial killer mmc
ᥫ᭡ revenge for profit

[Selena]

I received an ARC copy of this book ahead of the release, and this review represents my personal opinion on the story.

Since reading the Ruinous Love Trilogy last year, I have a soft spot for dark romantic comedy, and XO Karma definitely scratched the itch of getting to experience one, once again.

Aster and Lily are a match made in heaven, both on their own quests for revenge, both blurring the lines between right and wrong. Their courtship is unconventional and intense, their love moving at a fast pace, but their dynamic is why other plot points work.

This book has an underlying murder mystery, and each and every character has their own secrets, making the reader second guess at times.

The big plot twist might vary in size and impact, depending on the Sherlock status of the reader.

📖 XO Karma by Hailey Dickert
Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

#reading #bookstagram #arcreview #xokarma

[Kaitlyn]

What goes around, comes around…
Your turn will come. Karma is never done.

XO Karma is serving up a sassy vigilante FMC determined to avenge her best friend’s killer—one karma request at a time.

Then there’s Aster… the most adorable contract killer with a conscience. He’s giving biggest golden retriever energy one minute, before switching into a sexy Grim Reaper pleasure dom the next.
Anything for his Lily.

With secrets to unravel, a serial killer terrorising their town, killer banter, dark humour and some hilarious mutual stalking, this is one dark murder mystery that had me flipping those pages FAST.

And THAT ending?!
I’m dead.

I need more… NOW.

Thank you to Hailey for the ARC. 🫶🏻

Happy Reading!
😊🎨🥹

[Kiana Hatton]

Holy… this was SO freaking good!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ !!
I was not bored for a single second while reading this, from the beginning you’re sucked in from Lily having a “karma” business and then she meets Aster accidentally as he’s leaving from oofing someone. He’s basically Dexter, but tattooed and hotter. He immediately is smitten with Lily. Their banter is *chefs kiss*

🩷 Serial killer MMC ~ morally gray ~
💜 Dark romcom
🩷 Stalking
💜 MC’s in their 30s
🩷 Slow-burn ish and spicy!!
🌶️🌶️🌶️

“An iced coffee a day keeps the bitchy away.”

“I’d burn down the whole fucking world to give you one extra breath.”

That cliffhanger was diabolical!! I cannot wait for book two!

[Maddie]

OH MY GOD. I AM NOT KIDDING OH MY GOD! THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING. I loved this. First of all Lily and Asher were just so perfect. I loved there banter. I also really liked the spice in this one. I loved the whole mystery plot too. That ending was wild and I need book two now. I will be thinking about this one for a long time. I can’t wait to go back and reread this. I truly truly loved this.

Thank you so much Hailey Dickert for the ARC of this book. This comes out September 8 and I highly suggest this one.

[Sydney]

PHEWWWW. This book was an emotional rollercoaster in the best way.

I love how it was dark but also had like a romcom feel? Like there was some dark stuff but it was always sandwiched in some comedy or in a lighthearted way.

I did have a hunch who it was going to be but for sure didn’t figure out the whole ending so that did shock me a bit.

I really really enjoy this and I feel like it’s a good step for someone into dark romance, who may not be used to that.

Hailey thank you for the arc but you are evil hahahahah

[Lauren Hipskind]

Oh my what a fun ride!! From the very beginning to end I enjoyed every second!

Lily is a vigilante for hire aka XO Karma, after she lost someone so important and special in her life. The jobs she takes are both deserving and hilarious.

Aster is your typical nerdy journalist but think Clark Kent vibes! He writes stories for the newspaper during the day and serial killer by night. Aster takes pride in only going after the bad and deserving people of the world.

This is the perfect mixture of rom com, dark romance, stalking, and sexual tension. For lovers of lights out and butcher & blackbird!!