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As Death Loves Me—A Grim Reaper Romance
THE GRIM REAPER expected the flowers to wilt when he walked past. To bend their heads and shed their petals, marking a life of endings. His purpose intertwined with the force that brings life to death. He certainly did not expect the day when A MORTAL would defy these odds while he reached for her hand.
As the newest restoration specialist at the New Haven Museum, Birdie Priest's job is simple: preserve the pieces, find their history, and go home. Then a portrait she uncovers has no face. A broken pocket watch starts ticking, and Birdie dies. This should be the end. Instead, she finds herself tethered to Rip, a grim reaper with a dangerous attitude and no memory of who he used to be.
Only by unraveling what’s buried in her soul can she set herself free?
Bound under the weight of a hollow eternity, Rip has spent his existence ferrying souls and working in the town’s library. Now, during the one death that goes wrong, he's pulled into a stranger's unfinished life and forced to confront everything he doesn't understand about his own. Even despite their inexplicable bond deepening, a lurking darkness plots his undoing.
However.
There's more to this town than meets the eye, and some truths might cost them both everything they have left.
As Death Loves Me is a slow-burn paranormal romance for fans of grumpy immortals and stubborn heroines who refuse to sit idly by and accept their fates. Beneath the cover is a cozy small-town mystery, a found family worth fighting for, and a love that defies death itself.
As the newest restoration specialist at the New Haven Museum, Birdie Priest's job is simple: preserve the pieces, find their history, and go home. Then a portrait she uncovers has no face. A broken pocket watch starts ticking, and Birdie dies. This should be the end. Instead, she finds herself tethered to Rip, a grim reaper with a dangerous attitude and no memory of who he used to be.
Only by unraveling what’s buried in her soul can she set herself free?
Bound under the weight of a hollow eternity, Rip has spent his existence ferrying souls and working in the town’s library. Now, during the one death that goes wrong, he's pulled into a stranger's unfinished life and forced to confront everything he doesn't understand about his own. Even despite their inexplicable bond deepening, a lurking darkness plots his undoing.
However.
There's more to this town than meets the eye, and some truths might cost them both everything they have left.
As Death Loves Me is a slow-burn paranormal romance for fans of grumpy immortals and stubborn heroines who refuse to sit idly by and accept their fates. Beneath the cover is a cozy small-town mystery, a found family worth fighting for, and a love that defies death itself.
414 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I've been looking forward to this book ever since I learned an ARC was available. There are too few books on grim reaper romance for so many readers. The characters, story concept, and lore all felt refreshingly unique within the current fantasy/paranormal romance market. At its core, it's a love story that explores pain and loss through two characters who couldn't be more opposite.
The lore was particularly compelling and structured. I loved how classical views on death and religion were woven into both the storyline and the characters themselves. Religion so heavily influences how people think about death, and seeing that explored from the perspective of a grim reaper was genuinely entertaining. The book strikes a strong balance between humor and heaviness; it never leans too far in either direction, and I appreciated that emotional range. The setting, too, managed to feel grounded and realistic while still carrying a sense of magic.
Just when you think the story is wrapping up, the tension shifts in unexpected ways, and the ending lands in a deeply satisfying place.
For readers looking for a no-spice romance, this one fits the bill. It's a slow burn told through both main characters' points of view.
The lore was particularly compelling and structured. I loved how classical views on death and religion were woven into both the storyline and the characters themselves. Religion so heavily influences how people think about death, and seeing that explored from the perspective of a grim reaper was genuinely entertaining. The book strikes a strong balance between humor and heaviness; it never leans too far in either direction, and I appreciated that emotional range. The setting, too, managed to feel grounded and realistic while still carrying a sense of magic.
Just when you think the story is wrapping up, the tension shifts in unexpected ways, and the ending lands in a deeply satisfying place.
For readers looking for a no-spice romance, this one fits the bill. It's a slow burn told through both main characters' points of view.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
[Overview]
✍️ Writing Style: 3/5
📖 Plot / Storyline: 2/5
🌙 Character Depth: 1.5/5
💬Character Interactions: 2/5
💕 Couple Dynamics: 0/5
🔥 Insta love/lust or real build-up?: Insta love
[Spoiler-free Section]
I do not feel this couple at all. Gabby being so interested in Rip makes no sense unless she's into emotionally unvailable men, I guess. Rip's interest in Gabby makes even less sense and his constant denial of caring is annoying. It's not cute, it's not interesting, it's just plain annoying. They have no chemistry whatsoever and every moment that is supposed to be romantic feels forced. When it comes to the "romance" (or lack thereof) there is nothing you haven't read before, so I wouldn't read this for the romance. The reaper side and God is a little more interesting, but it feels like the book has neither side figured out, it wants to do romance and a plot but leaves both threads hanging, making you feel unsatisfied.
Bonus points for Dual POV. Subtracting points for only rarely using Rip's POV. Not only that, when we actually get his POV it's useless because he gives us the same information we already know - He doesn't 'supposedly' like Birdie, he doesn't want a relationship or form any attachments. Okay... So what's the point of your view if you're going to give us the same information and no deeper insight into your feelings? There was not a single moment where Rip's POV provided longing or romance. His POV could've been cut and we wouldn't be missing anything. Shame.
Birdie was a good character in the beginning, quite relatable even, but somewhere along the way she lost her personality. And Rip never gained one.
[Spoiler Section]
[Overview]
✍️ Writing Style: 3/5
📖 Plot / Storyline: 2/5
🌙 Character Depth: 1.5/5
💬Character Interactions: 2/5
💕 Couple Dynamics: 0/5
🔥 Insta love/lust or real build-up?: Insta love
[Spoiler-free Section]
I do not feel this couple at all. Gabby being so interested in Rip makes no sense unless she's into emotionally unvailable men, I guess. Rip's interest in Gabby makes even less sense and his constant denial of caring is annoying. It's not cute, it's not interesting, it's just plain annoying. They have no chemistry whatsoever and every moment that is supposed to be romantic feels forced. When it comes to the "romance" (or lack thereof) there is nothing you haven't read before, so I wouldn't read this for the romance. The reaper side and God is a little more interesting, but it feels like the book has neither side figured out, it wants to do romance and a plot but leaves both threads hanging, making you feel unsatisfied.
Bonus points for Dual POV. Subtracting points for only rarely using Rip's POV. Not only that, when we actually get his POV it's useless because he gives us the same information we already know - He doesn't 'supposedly' like Birdie, he doesn't want a relationship or form any attachments. Okay... So what's the point of your view if you're going to give us the same information and no deeper insight into your feelings? There was not a single moment where Rip's POV provided longing or romance. His POV could've been cut and we wouldn't be missing anything. Shame.
Birdie was a good character in the beginning, quite relatable even, but somewhere along the way she lost her personality. And Rip never gained one.
[Spoiler Section]
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First and foremost, thank you SO much to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review!
I was super, super excited to get into this book!
It had been a while since I'd read a good romance, and a Grim Reaper one seemed right up my alley. Edgy and angry and everything that I needed at the moment!
But unfortunately, I couldn't finish it.
The premise is very interesting. I loved the dark academia undertones of the book, the museum, repairing and restoring art, the library, the spooky, foggy town where everything seems sort of suspended in time.
I liked how the supernatural aspects came into play, how the reaping of the souls happened and what it entailed, especially when Birdie became involved. I also really liked her, for the most part! I kept thinking "Girl, he doesn't want anything to do with you, take a hint and move one", but I suppose we needed our romance. I thought it was a bit annoying how she kept pursuing him even though he'd made it very clear he wasn't interested in being her friend. Like, girl, stand up. I know she says there's something inexplicable drawing her towards him, but it gave me the creeps.
The atmosphere was sooo immersive. It is, in my opinion, this book's saving grace. The town and its eeriness is very well described, the people who live in it and who work in it truly do give off "small town who's never seen much of the world" vibes. I could picture it all so well and it honestly made me feel chilly in the best way possible, like I could put on a cardigan and wander around and find whatever it is Birdie and Rip found.
I had to put it down, though.
The pacing is headache inducing - I was halfway through the book and things had either dragged on like crazy, or happened so quickly it gave me whiplash. Halfway through the book and I could not understand what was going on, or what the "mystical" system was, or what the purpose of the story or even the characters was. Some of it read very metaphorical to me, and while I love metaphors, it just felt very confusing and I had a hard time grasping where the story was going as soon as I started hitting the halfway mark. I would read the same page over and over again and still be confused as to what sort of powers Rip had, what sort of connection he and Birdie had, what sort of religion was "canon" in this book.
I might pick it up later, who knows! There were aspects of this book that I greatly enjoyed, and maybe some time in the future I'll be in the right headspace to read this, maybe I'll have the correct mindset to read this sort of story, but right now, I really can't and don't want to.
Birdie (who, by the way, has an iNCREDIBLE name, I think this is one of my favourite "long ass name with cool nickname" case EVER, her name is so goddamn baddass????) and Rip are very interesting and I honest to God (pun intended) hope that I can return to this book and other people can enjoy it the way I did not.
Besides (and this has nothing to do with the author), the file kept crashing my Kindle over and over again. It doesn't happen with any other book, only this one, and it would make me even less inclined to read it. But it did not influence my rating of the book or the story and its characters, I just thought it was worth mentioning.
I was super, super excited to get into this book!
It had been a while since I'd read a good romance, and a Grim Reaper one seemed right up my alley. Edgy and angry and everything that I needed at the moment!
But unfortunately, I couldn't finish it.
The premise is very interesting. I loved the dark academia undertones of the book, the museum, repairing and restoring art, the library, the spooky, foggy town where everything seems sort of suspended in time.
I liked how the supernatural aspects came into play, how the reaping of the souls happened and what it entailed, especially when Birdie became involved. I also really liked her, for the most part! I kept thinking "Girl, he doesn't want anything to do with you, take a hint and move one", but I suppose we needed our romance. I thought it was a bit annoying how she kept pursuing him even though he'd made it very clear he wasn't interested in being her friend. Like, girl, stand up. I know she says there's something inexplicable drawing her towards him, but it gave me the creeps.
The atmosphere was sooo immersive. It is, in my opinion, this book's saving grace. The town and its eeriness is very well described, the people who live in it and who work in it truly do give off "small town who's never seen much of the world" vibes. I could picture it all so well and it honestly made me feel chilly in the best way possible, like I could put on a cardigan and wander around and find whatever it is Birdie and Rip found.
I had to put it down, though.
The pacing is headache inducing - I was halfway through the book and things had either dragged on like crazy, or happened so quickly it gave me whiplash. Halfway through the book and I could not understand what was going on, or what the "mystical" system was, or what the purpose of the story or even the characters was. Some of it read very metaphorical to me, and while I love metaphors, it just felt very confusing and I had a hard time grasping where the story was going as soon as I started hitting the halfway mark. I would read the same page over and over again and still be confused as to what sort of powers Rip had, what sort of connection he and Birdie had, what sort of religion was "canon" in this book.
I might pick it up later, who knows! There were aspects of this book that I greatly enjoyed, and maybe some time in the future I'll be in the right headspace to read this, maybe I'll have the correct mindset to read this sort of story, but right now, I really can't and don't want to.
Birdie (who, by the way, has an iNCREDIBLE name, I think this is one of my favourite "long ass name with cool nickname" case EVER, her name is so goddamn baddass????) and Rip are very interesting and I honest to God (pun intended) hope that I can return to this book and other people can enjoy it the way I did not.
Besides (and this has nothing to do with the author), the file kept crashing my Kindle over and over again. It doesn't happen with any other book, only this one, and it would make me even less inclined to read it. But it did not influence my rating of the book or the story and its characters, I just thought it was worth mentioning.
Review of advance copy
Received an ARC copy of this book through BookFunnel for honest review.
The premise and idea of this story is very interesting. The fact that the center is a grim reaper is refreshing.
In the beginning of the book, many of the world's rules are unknown to the reader. It causes a delicious tension that is just waiting to be explored. However unfortunately it does not get explored.
I am sad to say that this was not written well. As the chapters advance, the rules are still unclear, or new rules are created and bluntly thrown into the mix without much context.
In many places conversations between the characters are more confusing than enlightening. Questions go unanswered, unasked questions get answered instead, but in a fashion that's hard to understand rather than mysterious.
The reveals that drive the story are flat and predictable or again, out of nowhere. The pacing is all over the place and consistency is nowhere to be found.
Traits pop up for characters, and presented as if it was already described, when it was not.
Inconsistencies in the surrounds, places and rules make it very hard to know where this is all going.
Many times during dialogues the characters move from one place to the next, without this being mentioned , or just added as an afterthought. Other times characters would be in a short conversation and by the end, hours would have passed.
World building elements are sorely missing. This includes descriptions of the surrounds, names of places and any sort of reference of distances. Beside this, the world feels completely empty. There are nine charactes and that's it. No busy grocery store, no bustling pub, no few cars that reflect the morning routine of a sleepy little town. Nothing.
The narrative feels like it is trying to teach the characters a life lesson, but by the end, if feels like no one has learned anything. The characters all of a sudden change, their entire personality shifts with all of their views, without any sort of interim period, or realisations. Even though this is a dual POV story, we learn very little about the characters. What we do learn, we sort of have to gather from other characters describing them through the lens of their own judgements and preconceptions.
While the story promised so much unexplored territory, it ended up reading like a first draft of a book, not read by anyone but the writer.
It became overly critical of civil rights and religion, and not in a thought provoking way. Were that the case, the reader would feel urged to think about the situation, but instead it just felt judgmental and preachy.
My spoiler free thoughts of the story is that the idea is great. In hindsight, I can say that the complications were interesting and it could have been so much more, if it was executed well.
Tl;dr: The world feels empty, the characters shift personalities suddenly, the story is flat, the writing is confusing and inconsistent. It reads as a first draft instead of a published book.
The premise and idea of this story is very interesting. The fact that the center is a grim reaper is refreshing.
In the beginning of the book, many of the world's rules are unknown to the reader. It causes a delicious tension that is just waiting to be explored. However unfortunately it does not get explored.
I am sad to say that this was not written well. As the chapters advance, the rules are still unclear, or new rules are created and bluntly thrown into the mix without much context.
In many places conversations between the characters are more confusing than enlightening. Questions go unanswered, unasked questions get answered instead, but in a fashion that's hard to understand rather than mysterious.
The reveals that drive the story are flat and predictable or again, out of nowhere. The pacing is all over the place and consistency is nowhere to be found.
Traits pop up for characters, and presented as if it was already described, when it was not.
Inconsistencies in the surrounds, places and rules make it very hard to know where this is all going.
Many times during dialogues the characters move from one place to the next, without this being mentioned , or just added as an afterthought. Other times characters would be in a short conversation and by the end, hours would have passed.
World building elements are sorely missing. This includes descriptions of the surrounds, names of places and any sort of reference of distances. Beside this, the world feels completely empty. There are nine charactes and that's it. No busy grocery store, no bustling pub, no few cars that reflect the morning routine of a sleepy little town. Nothing.
The narrative feels like it is trying to teach the characters a life lesson, but by the end, if feels like no one has learned anything. The characters all of a sudden change, their entire personality shifts with all of their views, without any sort of interim period, or realisations. Even though this is a dual POV story, we learn very little about the characters. What we do learn, we sort of have to gather from other characters describing them through the lens of their own judgements and preconceptions.
While the story promised so much unexplored territory, it ended up reading like a first draft of a book, not read by anyone but the writer.
It became overly critical of civil rights and religion, and not in a thought provoking way. Were that the case, the reader would feel urged to think about the situation, but instead it just felt judgmental and preachy.
My spoiler free thoughts of the story is that the idea is great. In hindsight, I can say that the complications were interesting and it could have been so much more, if it was executed well.
Tl;dr: The world feels empty, the characters shift personalities suddenly, the story is flat, the writing is confusing and inconsistent. It reads as a first draft instead of a published book.
September 5, 2026
Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars
I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of As Death Loves Me, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review!
This book kicks off with a thought-provoking prologue set in 1844 that immediately hooks you in. I completely misread who the prologue was describing until the very end, but it did a fantastic job of compelling me to keep turning the pages.
From there, we jump to the present day following Birdie (Benevolence Priest), an art restorer moving to a new job at a museum in New Haven, Indiana. Birdie is a bit of a quiet art nerd who mostly keeps to herself. Her background was a little confusing to piece together early on, but everything made much more sense as her history and mysterious flashbacks unfolded.
The side characters really added flavor to the spooky, mysterious atmosphere:
🔻Sal: The ancient security guard who is the only one to give Birdie a warm welcome on day one.
🔻Kane: Gives off decidedly creepy vibes right out of the gate.
🔻Gabby: A potential friend with a secret past who puts Birdie through a hilarious (and cringey ) blind speed-dating scene.
Then, of course, there is the Grim Reaper himself—whom the author humorously named Rip (R.I.P.—loved that touch!). Rip is classic morally grey: disillusioned with his immortality, rude, and carrying a heavy burden. While he starts off cold and resistant to any connection, the tether drawing them together eventually forces him to realize how much he cares for Birdie.
Note for romance readers: this is a slow-burn/low-spice dynamic where the connection builds alongside the plot.
What worked well:
The overall concept, blending paranormal elements, gods, and museum mystery.
The town’s spooky history and the mystery behind the damaged painting Birdie is restoring.
The epilogue, which tied up several lingering questions and gave us the happy ending. But I wish that the actual rediscovering of each other was given instead of telling us the outcome.
Final thoughts:
It's a solid 3.5-star read with a really intriguing premise. With a bit tighter line editing and plot pacing, it could easily be a 4+ star book. If you enjoy urban fantasy, paranormal mysteries, and a slow-burn romance, it's definitely worth checking out!
I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of As Death Loves Me, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review!
This book kicks off with a thought-provoking prologue set in 1844 that immediately hooks you in. I completely misread who the prologue was describing until the very end, but it did a fantastic job of compelling me to keep turning the pages.
From there, we jump to the present day following Birdie (Benevolence Priest), an art restorer moving to a new job at a museum in New Haven, Indiana. Birdie is a bit of a quiet art nerd who mostly keeps to herself. Her background was a little confusing to piece together early on, but everything made much more sense as her history and mysterious flashbacks unfolded.
The side characters really added flavor to the spooky, mysterious atmosphere:
🔻Sal: The ancient security guard who is the only one to give Birdie a warm welcome on day one.
🔻Kane: Gives off decidedly creepy vibes right out of the gate.
🔻Gabby: A potential friend with a secret past who puts Birdie through a hilarious (and cringey ) blind speed-dating scene.
Then, of course, there is the Grim Reaper himself—whom the author humorously named Rip (R.I.P.—loved that touch!). Rip is classic morally grey: disillusioned with his immortality, rude, and carrying a heavy burden. While he starts off cold and resistant to any connection, the tether drawing them together eventually forces him to realize how much he cares for Birdie.
Note for romance readers: this is a slow-burn/low-spice dynamic where the connection builds alongside the plot.
What worked well:
The overall concept, blending paranormal elements, gods, and museum mystery.
The town’s spooky history and the mystery behind the damaged painting Birdie is restoring.
The epilogue, which tied up several lingering questions and gave us the happy ending. But I wish that the actual rediscovering of each other was given instead of telling us the outcome.
Final thoughts:
It's a solid 3.5-star read with a really intriguing premise. With a bit tighter line editing and plot pacing, it could easily be a 4+ star book. If you enjoy urban fantasy, paranormal mysteries, and a slow-burn romance, it's definitely worth checking out!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for accepting my request for an ARC copy.
I have to preface this by saying that this really isn't a case of the book being bad. I just didn't quite vibe with it the way I thought I would. I can't put my finger on exactly what was missing, but for some reason, it just didn't hit the way I expected it to.
The ending was suitable and satisfying, although I did find myself a little confused in the middle of the book. Again, I think that's more down to the book just not quite connecting with me personally rather than there being anything wrong with the story itself.
There are plenty of supernatural elements and grim reapers throughout, and although I do enjoy books with this kind of thing, this one just didn't hit that sweet spot for me.
I loved the cover! it's actually what drew me in in the first place. The atmosphere and small-town vibes were also perfection and definitely some of my favourite aspects of the book.
Overall, this was simply a case of the book not quite being the right fit for me personally, rather than it being a bad book. I can absolutely see this being a hit with readers who love supernatural stories, grim reapers and small town settings.
I have to preface this by saying that this really isn't a case of the book being bad. I just didn't quite vibe with it the way I thought I would. I can't put my finger on exactly what was missing, but for some reason, it just didn't hit the way I expected it to.
The ending was suitable and satisfying, although I did find myself a little confused in the middle of the book. Again, I think that's more down to the book just not quite connecting with me personally rather than there being anything wrong with the story itself.
There are plenty of supernatural elements and grim reapers throughout, and although I do enjoy books with this kind of thing, this one just didn't hit that sweet spot for me.
I loved the cover! it's actually what drew me in in the first place. The atmosphere and small-town vibes were also perfection and definitely some of my favourite aspects of the book.
Overall, this was simply a case of the book not quite being the right fit for me personally, rather than it being a bad book. I can absolutely see this being a hit with readers who love supernatural stories, grim reapers and small town settings.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ngl, it took me a little bit to get into the book. Probably just a me thing though.
The book itself was amazing.
I rarely see romances with grim reaper(s) as the main character(s) and I absolutely loved it!
Birdie and Rip were two very interesting characters with slightly similar backgrounds. Both ending up at some point as an orphan who gets adopted (in one way or another) by someone. Both being quite nerdy as well.
Gabby was one of my favorites too. Her name made me giggle when I realized it was basically a play on words.
Kane gave me the ick from the very moment we met him and it finally made sense why at the end.
So much trauma for Birdie and Rip but I believe that is what eventually led them to be together.
Also Birdies realization towards the end of the story about her soul was such a lovely twist.
Overall, amazing book. I really hope there will be another book because I would love to see more of the characters and why certain things happened!
Also fav quote: “Carpenter con artist with all those boyfriends.” Made me giggle so hard.
The book itself was amazing.
I rarely see romances with grim reaper(s) as the main character(s) and I absolutely loved it!
Birdie and Rip were two very interesting characters with slightly similar backgrounds. Both ending up at some point as an orphan who gets adopted (in one way or another) by someone. Both being quite nerdy as well.
Gabby was one of my favorites too. Her name made me giggle when I realized it was basically a play on words.
Kane gave me the ick from the very moment we met him and it finally made sense why at the end.
So much trauma for Birdie and Rip but I believe that is what eventually led them to be together.
Also Birdies realization towards the end of the story about her soul was such a lovely twist.
Overall, amazing book. I really hope there will be another book because I would love to see more of the characters and why certain things happened!
Also fav quote: “Carpenter con artist with all those boyfriends.” Made me giggle so hard.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really wanted to love this one. A grim reaper romance with a brooding librarian, spooky small-town vibes, mysterious artwork and an art restorer FMC sounded completely up my alley.
Unfortunately, I decided to DNF *As Death Loves Me* at 65%.
There were elements I enjoyed, particularly the concept surrounding Rip and the supernatural mythology, and Birdie and Rip had some fun banter. However, the pacing ultimately became too slow for me. By 65%, I still wasn't invested enough in either the central mystery or the romance, and I realised I was forcing myself to keep reading rather than looking forward to picking the book back up.
I think readers who enjoy very slow-paced, character-driven paranormal romances with lots of atmosphere and a gradual unfolding mystery may have a completely different experience with this one, but unfortunately it just wasn't for me.
⭐ 1/5 — DNF at 65%
Thank you to H&L Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, I decided to DNF *As Death Loves Me* at 65%.
There were elements I enjoyed, particularly the concept surrounding Rip and the supernatural mythology, and Birdie and Rip had some fun banter. However, the pacing ultimately became too slow for me. By 65%, I still wasn't invested enough in either the central mystery or the romance, and I realised I was forcing myself to keep reading rather than looking forward to picking the book back up.
I think readers who enjoy very slow-paced, character-driven paranormal romances with lots of atmosphere and a gradual unfolding mystery may have a completely different experience with this one, but unfortunately it just wasn't for me.
⭐ 1/5 — DNF at 65%
Thank you to H&L Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As Death Loves Me by Hannah Bronwyn
Rating: 2.75
I think I echo a lot of what other readers have said with the "great premise, slow delivery" style of this book.
We meet Birdie, an art restorer who gets a mysterious job offer in New Haven, where she meets the brooding librarian Rip who she can't help but be drawn too. I really liked the character of Rip, I think it gave a different perspective on the trials and tribulations of being a Grim Reaper.
Hannah Bronwyn did an incredible job setting up the gothic atmosphere within this book. The mysterious ambience swept through the story in a way that worked really well.
For me, the plot felt very stilted. I enjoy a plot that you need to take your time with but this was a struggle. I also felt that the powers/mystical/religious elements were never fully fleshed out so I was unable to truly understand what was happening.
Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 2.75
I think I echo a lot of what other readers have said with the "great premise, slow delivery" style of this book.
We meet Birdie, an art restorer who gets a mysterious job offer in New Haven, where she meets the brooding librarian Rip who she can't help but be drawn too. I really liked the character of Rip, I think it gave a different perspective on the trials and tribulations of being a Grim Reaper.
Hannah Bronwyn did an incredible job setting up the gothic atmosphere within this book. The mysterious ambience swept through the story in a way that worked really well.
For me, the plot felt very stilted. I enjoy a plot that you need to take your time with but this was a struggle. I also felt that the powers/mystical/religious elements were never fully fleshed out so I was unable to truly understand what was happening.
Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2026
This is marketed as a grim-reaper romance, but I’d say it’s more a mystery and reflective piece about the purpose of life and the possibilities of the hereafter.
There’s a good gut-punch twist fairly early on, and I enjoyed the feminist commentary along the way.
I will confess I spent quite a lot of time confused about what was going on, I’m not sure if that is deliberate choice to reflect the unease of not knowing what happens in the afterlife-or just me failing to keep up.
Personally I would have preferred fewer ideas developed in more depth, but for those who like loads of themes and timelines this will be a good choice.
Christian purists are going to have issues with this story - which is probably one of the things I like most.
There’s a good gut-punch twist fairly early on, and I enjoyed the feminist commentary along the way.
I will confess I spent quite a lot of time confused about what was going on, I’m not sure if that is deliberate choice to reflect the unease of not knowing what happens in the afterlife-or just me failing to keep up.
Personally I would have preferred fewer ideas developed in more depth, but for those who like loads of themes and timelines this will be a good choice.
Christian purists are going to have issues with this story - which is probably one of the things I like most.
Review of advance copy
I read this book as ARC from bookfunnel and it was a great journey.
I was missing a romance with grim reaper and the conversation about mortality and immortality. I really liked that Birdie was an art restorer, it is such a beautiful work. And a grim reaper, Rip, that is a librarian? Oh, so good!
Gabby was a great side character and I really enjoyed the lore building of the Trinity. Not too much and not too little.
I loved the talk Birdie has with her soul, the realizations that both her and Rip needs to pass through are heartwarming.
This book was a great journey of love, understanding, mortality, and happiness.
I was missing a romance with grim reaper and the conversation about mortality and immortality. I really liked that Birdie was an art restorer, it is such a beautiful work. And a grim reaper, Rip, that is a librarian? Oh, so good!
Gabby was a great side character and I really enjoyed the lore building of the Trinity. Not too much and not too little.
I loved the talk Birdie has with her soul, the realizations that both her and Rip needs to pass through are heartwarming.
This book was a great journey of love, understanding, mortality, and happiness.
Review of advance copy
I received this book as an ARC through bookfunnel, and wow, it was incredible.
As Death Loves Me was such an interesting and refreshing take on death, free will, and what it might mean to exist as a supernatural being. I loved the quiet, almost melancholic atmosphere, balanced with just enough suspense to keep me invested. I could not put it down. The loneliness and humanity woven throughout the story gave it so much emotional depth. This book was a truly unique and memorable read.
As Death Loves Me was such an interesting and refreshing take on death, free will, and what it might mean to exist as a supernatural being. I loved the quiet, almost melancholic atmosphere, balanced with just enough suspense to keep me invested. I could not put it down. The loneliness and humanity woven throughout the story gave it so much emotional depth. This book was a truly unique and memorable read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
DNF
The beginning was good, but then it started going a bit slow for me. That’s my personal preference since I prefer faster paced stories. I love the plot of having a grim reaper as the main focus of the story. Not a lot of stories have that plot. Some quotes were hilarious. Overall, it was just the pacing for me.
The beginning was good, but then it started going a bit slow for me. That’s my personal preference since I prefer faster paced stories. I love the plot of having a grim reaper as the main focus of the story. Not a lot of stories have that plot. Some quotes were hilarious. Overall, it was just the pacing for me.
September 5, 2026
This book is sitting in my tbr and I’m so excited to read it. Full review coming soon
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