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Murder for the Modern Girl
Gatsby-era glamour, a swoon-worthy love story, and an indomitable heroine dazzle in this romp that captures the extravagance of the Roaring Twenties and the dangers of vigilante justice.
A ravishing young mind reader stalks the streets at night in kitten heels, prowling for men to murder.
A soft-spoken genius toils away in the city morgue, desperate to unearth the science behind his gift for shapeshifting.
It’s a match made in 1928 Chicago, where gangsters run City Hall, jazz fills the air, and every good girl’s purse conceals a flask.
Until now, eighteen-year-old Ruby’s penchant for poison has been a secret. No one knows that she uses her mind-reading abilities to target men who prey on vulnerable women, men who escape the clutches of Chicago “justice.” When she meets a brilliant boy working at the morgue, his knack for forensic detail threatens to uncover her dark hobby. Even more unfortunately: sharp, independent Ruby has fallen in love with him.
Waltzing between a supernaturally enhanced romance, the battle to take down a gentleman’s club, and loyal friendships worth their weight in diamonds, Ruby brings defiant charm to every page of Murder for the Modern Girl—not to mention killer fashion. An irresistible caper perfect for fans of The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, in an exquisite hardcover package with rose-gold foil.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Named to the Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice List
A ravishing young mind reader stalks the streets at night in kitten heels, prowling for men to murder.
A soft-spoken genius toils away in the city morgue, desperate to unearth the science behind his gift for shapeshifting.
It’s a match made in 1928 Chicago, where gangsters run City Hall, jazz fills the air, and every good girl’s purse conceals a flask.
Until now, eighteen-year-old Ruby’s penchant for poison has been a secret. No one knows that she uses her mind-reading abilities to target men who prey on vulnerable women, men who escape the clutches of Chicago “justice.” When she meets a brilliant boy working at the morgue, his knack for forensic detail threatens to uncover her dark hobby. Even more unfortunately: sharp, independent Ruby has fallen in love with him.
Waltzing between a supernaturally enhanced romance, the battle to take down a gentleman’s club, and loyal friendships worth their weight in diamonds, Ruby brings defiant charm to every page of Murder for the Modern Girl—not to mention killer fashion. An irresistible caper perfect for fans of The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, in an exquisite hardcover package with rose-gold foil.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Named to the Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice List
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 31, 2022
104 people are currently reading
8847 people want to read
About the author
Kendall Kulper
10 books329 followersKendall Kulper is the author of the historical fantasy YA novels SALT & STORM and DRIFT & DAGGER (Little, Brown Young Readers). Her latest novel, MURDER FOR THE MODERN GIRL, will be published Summer 2022 by Holiday House. She lives in Cambridge, MA with her husband, two daughters, and anxious rescue dog, Abby.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 428 reviews
March 31, 2023
Hey everybody! Hey everybody! I’m afraid I’ve caught myself a case of the “post-book blues.” You know? Where you read a really good book and then don’t really feel like doing anything other than staring into space. Yeah, I’ve got that. It’s funny because I almost always enjoy a dash of mystery in my fantasy books, but when it comes to fantasy in my mystery books? ...I usually check out. That’s why I had some trepidation going into this book because when you have one main character who can read minds and the other who can shape-shift, where’s the fun in solving the mystery? That’s like playing with cheat codes on! Thankfully, this book cleverly maneuvers around those issues by making it less a mystery and more of an action-packed thriller. The question wasn’t in who was behind the crimes, but rather how they were going to catch them.
I’m used to there being some pretty simple stances on morality in my mysteries, so this book was not only a complete surprise, but also a breath of fresh air! I especially enjoyed how the characters (well, mostly Ruby) weren’t on the “right” side of the law, but they were still incredibly moral and, I'd argue, justified in their actions. And while I think the book can be a little too heavy-handed in trying to sell us on who the good guys are (I can decide for myself, thank you very much), it still manages to add shades of gray to a genre that often doesn’t seem all that interested in examining its characters in a more unique and nuanced light. As a mystery, this might not have been what I was expecting, but I actually think that worked out for the better in the end. With charming characters, a glamorous writing style befitting the time period, and an electrifying adventure; I honestly couldn’t recommend this book enough!
“I just adored dreaming minds.”
I’m used to there being some pretty simple stances on morality in my mysteries, so this book was not only a complete surprise, but also a breath of fresh air! I especially enjoyed how the characters (well, mostly Ruby) weren’t on the “right” side of the law, but they were still incredibly moral and, I'd argue, justified in their actions. And while I think the book can be a little too heavy-handed in trying to sell us on who the good guys are (I can decide for myself, thank you very much), it still manages to add shades of gray to a genre that often doesn’t seem all that interested in examining its characters in a more unique and nuanced light. As a mystery, this might not have been what I was expecting, but I actually think that worked out for the better in the end. With charming characters, a glamorous writing style befitting the time period, and an electrifying adventure; I honestly couldn’t recommend this book enough!
“I just adored dreaming minds.”
July 8, 2024
This book is so damn cute!! It has murder, mystery and subtle romance. I had this book on my shelf for some time now and I'm really happy I FINALLY picked it up. Ruby is one of my favorite main characters and so is Peter. I absolutely adore them together. I recommend this!!
May 31, 2022
Happy pub day! 🎉🎉🎉
If you love The Diviners, read this book!!!!
This is set in 1920s, Chicago and we follow a girl, Ruby, who is basically Evie O'Neill, except she reads minds and uses her ability to murder bad men. So automatically, I love her.
And then there's Guy (or is that his real name?), who is the sweetest cinnamon roll science nerd who is working in a morgue and he starts linking together all these bodies coming into the morgue, realizing there's a serial killer in Chicago. But Guy also has a secret of his own. The face and body he wears every day, isn't his. He can change into anyone he wants to look like. So who is he really?
Also, politics come into play because Ruby's dad is the states attorney and some bad people in power are after him. After he's attacked, Ruby takes it into her hands to find out who was behind the attack and stop them.
I loved this books so much. These characters are EVERYTHING. Not just Ruby and Guy, but Ruby's fiercely loyal best friend Maggie. This goes back and forth between Ruby and Guy's POV and their chapters are so distinct from one another you could really feel whose head you're in. I loved every second of it. This is fast paced, atmospheric, and smartly plotted. Highly, highly recommend.
Thank you so much to NetGalley & the publisher for kindly providing an arc in exchange for my honest opinions.
If you love The Diviners, read this book!!!!
This is set in 1920s, Chicago and we follow a girl, Ruby, who is basically Evie O'Neill, except she reads minds and uses her ability to murder bad men. So automatically, I love her.
And then there's Guy (or is that his real name?), who is the sweetest cinnamon roll science nerd who is working in a morgue and he starts linking together all these bodies coming into the morgue, realizing there's a serial killer in Chicago. But Guy also has a secret of his own. The face and body he wears every day, isn't his. He can change into anyone he wants to look like. So who is he really?
Also, politics come into play because Ruby's dad is the states attorney and some bad people in power are after him. After he's attacked, Ruby takes it into her hands to find out who was behind the attack and stop them.
I loved this books so much. These characters are EVERYTHING. Not just Ruby and Guy, but Ruby's fiercely loyal best friend Maggie. This goes back and forth between Ruby and Guy's POV and their chapters are so distinct from one another you could really feel whose head you're in. I loved every second of it. This is fast paced, atmospheric, and smartly plotted. Highly, highly recommend.
Thank you so much to NetGalley & the publisher for kindly providing an arc in exchange for my honest opinions.
April 9, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Holiday House for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Murder for the Modern Girl was honestly one of the weirdest and most confusing books I’ve read of all time and I would’ve given it 1 star had it not been set in the Roaring 20s.
Wait. Let me rephrase that last sentence.
Murder for the Modern Girl was posi-lute-ly one of the weirdest and most confusing books I've read of all that and I would've given it 1 star had it not been set in the Roaring 20s, starting with that annoying word that Ruby Newhouse, our leading lady, says on what it feels like almost every page of the book. It's not like she says it all the time, but it's enough for you to notice that she does and it's SO. ANNOYING. I wasn't sure if it was a typo in the ARC and it was meant to say "positively" but in reality, I think it was meant to be a combination between "absolutely" and "positively" and it drove me nuts.
Diving into the characters a little more, I definitely respect Ruby's ambitions and her dreams to become a lawyer, which is something that at the time, women weren't doing (at least not super commonly). I also appreciate wanting to break down the standards for what women were supposed to be and act like with the way she acts and dresses. I also loved the concept of her being an "angel killer" who went around to quietly kill men who were mistreating women. However, I felt that there were too many moving parts in her POV to keep track of everything in my head easily and nothing was fully developed. Everything eventually connects with each other to reveal the full mystery and plot at the end, but it's all very twisted (not in a macabre way, more in the sense of that meme with the guy in front of the board with threads and pins over pictures and evidence trying to connect everything and crazily explaining it to someone).
As for Guy, her love interest in the book, it felt like there wasn't as much dimension to his character in comparison to Ruby. He goes to work at the morgue as a janitor (and later as a researcher with one of the doctors at the morgue), he has feelings for Ruby, and he tries to learn about his ability to shapeshift and that's about it. We learn a little bit about his past but other than that, the bulk of his POV was doing research with the doctor about who the "angel killer" is based on the autopsies of the victims and being a simp for Ruby as he follows her around town as she tries to find out who's been attempting to hurt her family.
To address the giant elephant in the room about this entire story- Ruby is a mindreader and Guy is a shapeshifter. Ruby is able to be the angel killer because she can read the minds of all her future victims and what they're thinking about doing, and Guy works at the place that he does because the doctor he does research with wrote a paper about people possibly being able to shapeshift and wanting to do research alongside him to make sense of his own abilities. However, despite these two major elements of our main characters, it's never explained how to why they have these abilities and why no one else in the book has them or any other sort of magic powers.
I may be wrong considering I'm writing this review about 2 weeks after I finished the book, but I'm pretty sure that Ruby literally figures out who the person behind all the attacks on her family is through her ability to mind read (and the rest of the book is her attempting to find tangible evidence because no one would believe her if she said that she found out because she read the person's mind of course) but we never find out how she gets the ability and why no one else in her family has it.
There were also pacing issues I found in the book but that's not as major in comparison to the things I already mentioned earlier in my review. Unfortunately, I didn't like this book as much I thought I would've but I hope that other people find luck with this book and love it!
—
2 stars
Trigger warnings:
Murder for the Modern Girl was honestly one of the weirdest and most confusing books I’ve read of all time and I would’ve given it 1 star had it not been set in the Roaring 20s.
Wait. Let me rephrase that last sentence.
Murder for the Modern Girl was posi-lute-ly one of the weirdest and most confusing books I've read of all that and I would've given it 1 star had it not been set in the Roaring 20s, starting with that annoying word that Ruby Newhouse, our leading lady, says on what it feels like almost every page of the book. It's not like she says it all the time, but it's enough for you to notice that she does and it's SO. ANNOYING. I wasn't sure if it was a typo in the ARC and it was meant to say "positively" but in reality, I think it was meant to be a combination between "absolutely" and "positively" and it drove me nuts.
Diving into the characters a little more, I definitely respect Ruby's ambitions and her dreams to become a lawyer, which is something that at the time, women weren't doing (at least not super commonly). I also appreciate wanting to break down the standards for what women were supposed to be and act like with the way she acts and dresses. I also loved the concept of her being an "angel killer" who went around to quietly kill men who were mistreating women. However, I felt that there were too many moving parts in her POV to keep track of everything in my head easily and nothing was fully developed. Everything eventually connects with each other to reveal the full mystery and plot at the end, but it's all very twisted (not in a macabre way, more in the sense of that meme with the guy in front of the board with threads and pins over pictures and evidence trying to connect everything and crazily explaining it to someone).
As for Guy, her love interest in the book, it felt like there wasn't as much dimension to his character in comparison to Ruby. He goes to work at the morgue as a janitor (and later as a researcher with one of the doctors at the morgue), he has feelings for Ruby, and he tries to learn about his ability to shapeshift and that's about it. We learn a little bit about his past but other than that, the bulk of his POV was doing research with the doctor about who the "angel killer" is based on the autopsies of the victims and being a simp for Ruby as he follows her around town as she tries to find out who's been attempting to hurt her family.
To address the giant elephant in the room about this entire story- Ruby is a mindreader and Guy is a shapeshifter. Ruby is able to be the angel killer because she can read the minds of all her future victims and what they're thinking about doing, and Guy works at the place that he does because the doctor he does research with wrote a paper about people possibly being able to shapeshift and wanting to do research alongside him to make sense of his own abilities. However, despite these two major elements of our main characters, it's never explained how to why they have these abilities and why no one else in the book has them or any other sort of magic powers.
I may be wrong considering I'm writing this review about 2 weeks after I finished the book, but I'm pretty sure that Ruby literally figures out who the person behind all the attacks on her family is through her ability to mind read (and the rest of the book is her attempting to find tangible evidence because no one would believe her if she said that she found out because she read the person's mind of course) but we never find out how she gets the ability and why no one else in her family has it.
There were also pacing issues I found in the book but that's not as major in comparison to the things I already mentioned earlier in my review. Unfortunately, I didn't like this book as much I thought I would've but I hope that other people find luck with this book and love it!
—
2 stars
Trigger warnings:
April 24, 2022
thank you so much to netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
4.5 ★
absolutely perfect for fans of 'the diviners', and even a little bit of 'stalking jack the ripper'
this was just so so good. i fell in love with the dark, glamorous, glitzy city and its captivating characters. it was the type of book that had me giggling, crying, screaming, shocked, terrified, and swooning all in the span of a minutes.
the plot was really interesting and was fairly fast-paced. it left my heart POUNDING at times, thats for sure.
the murder mystery aspect was so fun to read about because of... well, you'll see.
there was a bit of forensics, which i loved and as well as a fair amount of politics, but it wasn't too bad. politics always fly over my head so whatever !
it did take a while for the story to really get rolling; the beginning especially felt really convoluted and messy but it got much better as the story progressed, and the ending wrapped up pretty neatly.
the characters were my favorite part. the side characters were fairly fleshed out it was sometimes hard to keep track of all them. i did especially love the strong friendships- we all need a friend like maggie.
now, one of our mcs, ruby, is an extravagant, sweet, endearingly dramatic flapper with some clever secrets. she is secretly a murderous little vigilante, and we love her for it! imagine a mix of juliette from these violent delights and evie from the diviners. i loved seeing the mask she wears slowly fade away to reveal a kind, caring fiercely loyal soul who just wants to do good. she's also like so incredibly smart ???? i want a lawyer like ruby pls. i love her
then we have my love, guy. now, you'll find out guy's real name once you actually read the book bc i refuse to ruin the surprise. he started off by constantly getting on my nerves bc of how naive, and nervous he always was. i get he was supposed to be shy but omfg this man could not get a single word out without stuttering.
BUT- character development! we gradually see him gain confidence and omg i am absolutely in love with him. his backstory is just heartbreaking. he's a soft-spoken, honest, brilliant, little genius with a heart made of actual gold. i loved seeing him open up and his character arc was my personal favorite. also, he's hot.
the absolute swoonworthy ROMANCE omg i adore these two. ruby's outspoken, flirty personality with guy's gentle, reserved nature was so so cute i cant. if you're looking for a case where the guy falls first- look no farther !! this man was down bad for her and would quite literally do anything for her. their growth together, individually and as a couple, was just so perfect. JUST LOOK AT THIS QUOTE
ok now the two things that slightly bothered me. first, the writing. it took me a WHILE to get used to the prose- it was like the author just researched every single slang term ever used in the '20s and tried to shove them into every single sentence. the writing felt so stilted and awkward bc of it, mainly for the first 15-20%. it got so much better after that and i could actually understand what they were saying.
idk the story in general just needs a little bit of editing to polish things up, and i can just hope and pray the final edition is much cleaner.
the second thing is just something that won't stop nagging me: the whole "fantasy" aspect. our two main characters had these special magical abilities: ruby could read minds and guy could shapeshift into any human. ok but is that it? is there anyone else that has these abilities? why was no one else curious about how they both had these powers? ik guy wanted to research the science behind his ability but that was kinda it. i wish we got more on that whole world-building.
overall, i cannot recommend this book enough. it was a near-perfect murder mystery set in the dazzling roaring '20s, with characters and a romance to absolutely die for.
------
update 2/19/22 oh my god oh my god oh my god im fcking screaming i got the arc
--------
realizing this will be an actual book i get to actually read in only a few short months is the only thing that gets me through the day
this looks so good i cant omfg im so excited
4.5 ★
absolutely perfect for fans of 'the diviners', and even a little bit of 'stalking jack the ripper'
this was just so so good. i fell in love with the dark, glamorous, glitzy city and its captivating characters. it was the type of book that had me giggling, crying, screaming, shocked, terrified, and swooning all in the span of a minutes.
the plot was really interesting and was fairly fast-paced. it left my heart POUNDING at times, thats for sure.
the murder mystery aspect was so fun to read about because of... well, you'll see.
there was a bit of forensics, which i loved and as well as a fair amount of politics, but it wasn't too bad. politics always fly over my head so whatever !
it did take a while for the story to really get rolling; the beginning especially felt really convoluted and messy but it got much better as the story progressed, and the ending wrapped up pretty neatly.
the characters were my favorite part. the side characters were fairly fleshed out it was sometimes hard to keep track of all them. i did especially love the strong friendships- we all need a friend like maggie.
now, one of our mcs, ruby, is an extravagant, sweet, endearingly dramatic flapper with some clever secrets. she is secretly a murderous little vigilante, and we love her for it! imagine a mix of juliette from these violent delights and evie from the diviners. i loved seeing the mask she wears slowly fade away to reveal a kind, caring fiercely loyal soul who just wants to do good. she's also like so incredibly smart ???? i want a lawyer like ruby pls. i love her
then we have my love, guy. now, you'll find out guy's real name once you actually read the book bc i refuse to ruin the surprise. he started off by constantly getting on my nerves bc of how naive, and nervous he always was. i get he was supposed to be shy but omfg this man could not get a single word out without stuttering.
BUT- character development! we gradually see him gain confidence and omg i am absolutely in love with him. his backstory is just heartbreaking. he's a soft-spoken, honest, brilliant, little genius with a heart made of actual gold. i loved seeing him open up and his character arc was my personal favorite. also, he's hot.
the absolute swoonworthy ROMANCE omg i adore these two. ruby's outspoken, flirty personality with guy's gentle, reserved nature was so so cute i cant. if you're looking for a case where the guy falls first- look no farther !! this man was down bad for her and would quite literally do anything for her. their growth together, individually and as a couple, was just so perfect. JUST LOOK AT THIS QUOTE
“All right,” I said, shaky. “So who am I?”
“Smart,” he said without thinking. “Curious. You like asking questions and learning things. You let people underestimate you. You keep your real self at a distance. You wear masks, just like me.” He reached out and touched a finger to my cheek and I felt a shiver roll from my spine to my toes, which would probably stay rooted to this floor for the rest of my life.
“Am I right?” he asked, with the kind of smile that turned my insides to goo.
ok now the two things that slightly bothered me. first, the writing. it took me a WHILE to get used to the prose- it was like the author just researched every single slang term ever used in the '20s and tried to shove them into every single sentence. the writing felt so stilted and awkward bc of it, mainly for the first 15-20%. it got so much better after that and i could actually understand what they were saying.
idk the story in general just needs a little bit of editing to polish things up, and i can just hope and pray the final edition is much cleaner.
the second thing is just something that won't stop nagging me: the whole "fantasy" aspect. our two main characters had these special magical abilities: ruby could read minds and guy could shapeshift into any human. ok but is that it? is there anyone else that has these abilities? why was no one else curious about how they both had these powers? ik guy wanted to research the science behind his ability but that was kinda it. i wish we got more on that whole world-building.
overall, i cannot recommend this book enough. it was a near-perfect murder mystery set in the dazzling roaring '20s, with characters and a romance to absolutely die for.
------
update 2/19/22 oh my god oh my god oh my god im fcking screaming i got the arc
--------
realizing this will be an actual book i get to actually read in only a few short months is the only thing that gets me through the day
this looks so good i cant omfg im so excited
May 25, 2023
3.5/5 this book was SO stressful lol but still fun and definitely unique. Totally didn’t realize Henrietta was her sister plus I’m all for bad men getting deaded. I was definitely annoyed by her constant use of Papa and fella b plus I’m just not a huge fan of the speech patterns and slang of the flapper era as I find it GRATING. The romance didn’t quite convince me and I didn’t really feel the chemistry.
April 25, 2022
I personally didn't like the writing at all. I found the characters unlikeable and annoying, and had to skim half of it. I wouldn't say this book is terrible by any means or that u shouldn't read it, but it really wasn't for me, which is super sad.
Thank you to netaglley and the publisher for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to netaglley and the publisher for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.
Want to read
October 5, 2021Me and adding any book to my TBR that has Diviners vibes; name a more iconic duo
May 16, 2022
3.5/5 stars, it didn’t fully live up to the roaring 20s vibe
Thank you Holiday House for the arc through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
"Honestly murder worked better than mascara" (11)
When I read the synopsis of this book I immediately requested it, the story was said to be set in the roaring 20s, with a girl who murders men who have wronged other women seemed like a fantastic premise. And it should have been a perfect book for me, sadly it wasn't, but it was still overall an exciting story. The closest thing I can relate this book to is The Diviners, if you enjoy that series there is a very high chance you will love this book! The main characters have strange powers (like mind-reading and shapeshifting), with a backdrop of the roaring 20s and a few murder mysteries.
This feels like a debut novel, which is unfortunate as the author has definitely published some other books, and it just didn't feel refined enough. It took me a while to get into the story, it was easy to read but there didn't seem to be much substance until the main characters met. Even then, there was something missing from the story as I never felt fully immersed and it was disjointed. There were not many plot twists either, and while the story always kept moving forward I didn't feel surprised by anything that happened. I think if there had been a bit more refinement on the overall feel of the book and the plot, it could have been improved. It was just a little too simple for my taste.
Ruby was a really interesting main character to have, especially in this time period. Her main goal was to become a lawyer, in a time period when women were not allowed to do nearly anything. On top of this, she took it upon herself to poison men who had done atrocious things to women. That was one thing I admired about her, she cared so much about the community around her especially women and children when no one else would. She was also very determined and strong-willed, without the worst aspects of both. I think she was my favorite part of the book, even if I still felt a little detached from her later in the story. It was really interesting as well to see how she used her telepathy to find the men that were doing things, and find their secrets.
Guy Rosewood/Peter had such potential to be an amazing character, but honestly, his biggest personality trait was just being nervous and unable to control his shapeshifting power. I had no problem with this for most of the story, but after a while it just became repetitive and I wanted him to experience some character growth other than the bare minimum. This didn't really happen so I was a bit disappointed overall with him. He also had a random dog that he didn't even name, and for being so good with noticing things about people's death he didn't realize who the "Angel Killer" was until he was told basically. There was a lot surrounding his backstory that was hinted at, but it just left me confused and I only realized what had actually happened at the end. He just didn't feel completely put together and I wish there had been a little more thought put into his character.
The romance in this book was honestly really boring. Even when the main characters met, and a long time after, I never felt the chemistry the author seemed to imply was there. At points, there were supposed to be romantic and I just did not see the romance that should have been blossoming between them. I think if the author had taken more time to create interactions that were more meaningful for their relationship, it was always so fast. They also did not have much in common so it was hard to see how their relationship was going to work out.
[TW: infidelity, poisoning, murder, alcohol use and being drunk, sexism, sex trafficking (mentioned), death of loved ones, burns, gun violence, trauma]
Thank you Holiday House for the arc through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
"Honestly murder worked better than mascara" (11)
When I read the synopsis of this book I immediately requested it, the story was said to be set in the roaring 20s, with a girl who murders men who have wronged other women seemed like a fantastic premise. And it should have been a perfect book for me, sadly it wasn't, but it was still overall an exciting story. The closest thing I can relate this book to is The Diviners, if you enjoy that series there is a very high chance you will love this book! The main characters have strange powers (like mind-reading and shapeshifting), with a backdrop of the roaring 20s and a few murder mysteries.
This feels like a debut novel, which is unfortunate as the author has definitely published some other books, and it just didn't feel refined enough. It took me a while to get into the story, it was easy to read but there didn't seem to be much substance until the main characters met. Even then, there was something missing from the story as I never felt fully immersed and it was disjointed. There were not many plot twists either, and while the story always kept moving forward I didn't feel surprised by anything that happened. I think if there had been a bit more refinement on the overall feel of the book and the plot, it could have been improved. It was just a little too simple for my taste.
Ruby was a really interesting main character to have, especially in this time period. Her main goal was to become a lawyer, in a time period when women were not allowed to do nearly anything. On top of this, she took it upon herself to poison men who had done atrocious things to women. That was one thing I admired about her, she cared so much about the community around her especially women and children when no one else would. She was also very determined and strong-willed, without the worst aspects of both. I think she was my favorite part of the book, even if I still felt a little detached from her later in the story. It was really interesting as well to see how she used her telepathy to find the men that were doing things, and find their secrets.
Guy Rosewood/Peter had such potential to be an amazing character, but honestly, his biggest personality trait was just being nervous and unable to control his shapeshifting power. I had no problem with this for most of the story, but after a while it just became repetitive and I wanted him to experience some character growth other than the bare minimum. This didn't really happen so I was a bit disappointed overall with him. He also had a random dog that he didn't even name, and for being so good with noticing things about people's death he didn't realize who the "Angel Killer" was until he was told basically. There was a lot surrounding his backstory that was hinted at, but it just left me confused and I only realized what had actually happened at the end. He just didn't feel completely put together and I wish there had been a little more thought put into his character.
The romance in this book was honestly really boring. Even when the main characters met, and a long time after, I never felt the chemistry the author seemed to imply was there. At points, there were supposed to be romantic and I just did not see the romance that should have been blossoming between them. I think if the author had taken more time to create interactions that were more meaningful for their relationship, it was always so fast. They also did not have much in common so it was hard to see how their relationship was going to work out.
[TW: infidelity, poisoning, murder, alcohol use and being drunk, sexism, sex trafficking (mentioned), death of loved ones, burns, gun violence, trauma]
August 2, 2022
In 1928 Chicago, young Ruby is the daughter of the State’s Attorney and popular at parties, but she also knows dangerous secrets--because Ruby is a mind reader. When her abilities put men in her path who prey on and murder women, Ruby takes matters into her own hands. Guy has talents of another kind, and his brilliance and abilities just may uncover Ruby’s hidden life. However, Guy has secrets of his own. When the two of them meet, sparks fly, and they become a powerful and gifted team. They soon begin investigating a crime that is close to Ruby’s heart.
This unique novel combines gangland Chicago of the late 1920s with young adult and paranormal fiction. Ruby, the witty flapper who also reads minds, explodes off of the page. Her gift and cunning take her from respectable society to back-alley bars, and from the best gatherings to the best poison.
With the ability to pull the thoughts right out of a murderer, she is a young vigilante, determined to make things right. Guy has talents of his own, and he is looking for answers as to where they came from. He brings caution to Ruby’s bravado and she pulls him out of the shadows. These two characters are brilliantly crafted and they instantly pull the reader in. The plot is thrilling and engaging and the touches of romance are beautifully balanced. This is a fun and original historical paranormal thriller that will have readers begging for a sequel.
4.6 stars, rounded up to 5.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Historical Novel Society. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
This unique novel combines gangland Chicago of the late 1920s with young adult and paranormal fiction. Ruby, the witty flapper who also reads minds, explodes off of the page. Her gift and cunning take her from respectable society to back-alley bars, and from the best gatherings to the best poison.
With the ability to pull the thoughts right out of a murderer, she is a young vigilante, determined to make things right. Guy has talents of his own, and he is looking for answers as to where they came from. He brings caution to Ruby’s bravado and she pulls him out of the shadows. These two characters are brilliantly crafted and they instantly pull the reader in. The plot is thrilling and engaging and the touches of romance are beautifully balanced. This is a fun and original historical paranormal thriller that will have readers begging for a sequel.
4.6 stars, rounded up to 5.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Historical Novel Society. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
November 26, 2022
I just love finding a book that is exactly what I hoped and expected when I started it. This was precisely what I wanted it to be, and it is incredible.
Deliciously atmospheric, surprisingly funny, and utterly unique, "Murder for the Modern Girl" is full of adorable characters and intriguing mystery. It does a great job of balancing the historical aspect with fantasy elements. It's probably the only book to feature the miscommunication trope where I didn't hate it (because finally, someone has done it right)
Ruby and Guy are fascinating protagonists to follow. Both have plenty of secrets that are slowly unraveled as the story progresses, and I love their dynamic together. (the charming/street-smart girl and the soft boy will always be a superior ship dynamic in my opinion) They're both intelligent and flawed and human, and it's great to see them both grow over the course of the novel.
The side characters are fantastic as well, I adore the relationship between Ruby and Maggie, they're so precious. And also Ruby's relationships with her family members! were so cute! I'd absolutely read more adventures with these characters if the author ever wanted to write them.
The plot and mystery are intriguing, the pacing was great, I just had a wonderful time reading this book. It gets 4.5 stars from me!
Content warnings for violence (and obviously, murder), mentions of unsavory things done by unsavory people, kissing, and a good bit of profanity (nothing too strong, but it's there).
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
Deliciously atmospheric, surprisingly funny, and utterly unique, "Murder for the Modern Girl" is full of adorable characters and intriguing mystery. It does a great job of balancing the historical aspect with fantasy elements. It's probably the only book to feature the miscommunication trope where I didn't hate it (because finally, someone has done it right)
Ruby and Guy are fascinating protagonists to follow. Both have plenty of secrets that are slowly unraveled as the story progresses, and I love their dynamic together. (the charming/street-smart girl and the soft boy will always be a superior ship dynamic in my opinion) They're both intelligent and flawed and human, and it's great to see them both grow over the course of the novel.
The side characters are fantastic as well, I adore the relationship between Ruby and Maggie, they're so precious. And also Ruby's relationships with her family members! were so cute! I'd absolutely read more adventures with these characters if the author ever wanted to write them.
The plot and mystery are intriguing, the pacing was great, I just had a wonderful time reading this book. It gets 4.5 stars from me!
Content warnings for violence (and obviously, murder), mentions of unsavory things done by unsavory people, kissing, and a good bit of profanity (nothing too strong, but it's there).
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
June 25, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley & Holiday House for an eARC of this book. The following review is my honest reflection on the text provided.
3.5 stars
Murder for the Modern Girl will drag you back to the 1920s from the first page. I had no idea what to expect here - every new development was another surprise.
"I couldn't help dancing down the sidewalk, knowing I looked perfect for tonight's party: fresh and pretty and glowing with a mysterious kind of something that would send the fellas gathering like moths to a candle. I grinned.
Honestly, murder worked better than mascara."
If any character could be said to contain multitudes, it is most certainly Ruby. Overenthusiastic flapper, highly intelligent and driven future lawyer, and... mind-reading murderer? Now, I'm not advocating for murder, but I am all for a woman standing up for herself. I love how Ruby educates herself and learns about poisons and weapons to protect herself. Maybe don't take the next step into active murder, but self-defence is always reasonable.
"Keep your head down. Work ten times harder. Be better than them every chance you get, and don't expect anyone to notice. You'll have to be smart and charming and humble and confident and everything all the time, all at once. Remember that other gals aren't your competition, they're your allies. Stick to them like glue, support them - you're stronger together. And don't pay any attention to the bastards dragging you down. Believe me, there will be plenty. None of them are smarter than you, even the smart ones."
Murder for the Modern Girl does come on pretty strong with the '20s slang; it can be a little heavy-handed, but it goes along hand in hand with Ruby's personality. There aren't many characters that could pull it off without being obnoxious, but Kulper made it work. The fantasy twist was interesting but did take me out of the story at times. Because everything else feels so real, the mindreading and face changing can feel extraneous. Despite this, the narrative is fast-paced, and the intensity stays high throughout most of the story. There are some terrifying villains here - both on the crazy end of the scale and the cool, collected psychopathic end, keeping the danger levels surprisingly high and feeling incredibly genuine.
My favourite part of Murder for the Modern Girl is the care with which these characters hold space for each other. Maggie is the sweetest heiress alive - even her thoughts are nothing but kind (and Ruby would know). Supportive and protective, their friendship is beautiful. When Ruby starts getting to know her mysterious chameleon man, they quickly fall into sync, like two vigilante crime fighters genetically designed to work together. They're both holding back some pretty big secrets (and fears), and while there may have been ulterior motives at first, a sweet and intense relationship develops between them.
"It wouldn't do me any good to fall for this kind-souled boy with honest eyes"
For a fun and surprisingly complex narrative, look no further than Murder for the Modern Girl .
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
3.5 stars
Murder for the Modern Girl will drag you back to the 1920s from the first page. I had no idea what to expect here - every new development was another surprise.
"I couldn't help dancing down the sidewalk, knowing I looked perfect for tonight's party: fresh and pretty and glowing with a mysterious kind of something that would send the fellas gathering like moths to a candle. I grinned.
Honestly, murder worked better than mascara."
If any character could be said to contain multitudes, it is most certainly Ruby. Overenthusiastic flapper, highly intelligent and driven future lawyer, and... mind-reading murderer? Now, I'm not advocating for murder, but I am all for a woman standing up for herself. I love how Ruby educates herself and learns about poisons and weapons to protect herself. Maybe don't take the next step into active murder, but self-defence is always reasonable.
"Keep your head down. Work ten times harder. Be better than them every chance you get, and don't expect anyone to notice. You'll have to be smart and charming and humble and confident and everything all the time, all at once. Remember that other gals aren't your competition, they're your allies. Stick to them like glue, support them - you're stronger together. And don't pay any attention to the bastards dragging you down. Believe me, there will be plenty. None of them are smarter than you, even the smart ones."
Murder for the Modern Girl does come on pretty strong with the '20s slang; it can be a little heavy-handed, but it goes along hand in hand with Ruby's personality. There aren't many characters that could pull it off without being obnoxious, but Kulper made it work. The fantasy twist was interesting but did take me out of the story at times. Because everything else feels so real, the mindreading and face changing can feel extraneous. Despite this, the narrative is fast-paced, and the intensity stays high throughout most of the story. There are some terrifying villains here - both on the crazy end of the scale and the cool, collected psychopathic end, keeping the danger levels surprisingly high and feeling incredibly genuine.
My favourite part of Murder for the Modern Girl is the care with which these characters hold space for each other. Maggie is the sweetest heiress alive - even her thoughts are nothing but kind (and Ruby would know). Supportive and protective, their friendship is beautiful. When Ruby starts getting to know her mysterious chameleon man, they quickly fall into sync, like two vigilante crime fighters genetically designed to work together. They're both holding back some pretty big secrets (and fears), and while there may have been ulterior motives at first, a sweet and intense relationship develops between them.
"It wouldn't do me any good to fall for this kind-souled boy with honest eyes"
For a fun and surprisingly complex narrative, look no further than Murder for the Modern Girl .
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
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March 6, 2022
I'm in actual tears right now, this book 😭😭😭
I didn't know what to expect when I picked it up. It looked fun and quirky and exactly my brand of book. And it is. It's also deep and thought-provoking and honest and emotional and just so beautiful
Ruby is a delightful heroine. Yes, she kills people. Evil, awful people. And we're not really asked to condone or condemn it. It's just a part of her, a part of the story, and the fact that the author didn't necessarily say "she was absolutely right, no questions asked" but nor was it a vice she needed to give up, was a wise choice on the author's part. I like how it was handled
Anyway. That out of the way, Ruby is the perfect heroine to spearhead this book. She's clever and charming, and defit not to be underestimated. But she's also flawed and makes human choices. It's a great balance and I found myself deeply invested in her and her storyline. She's just such a fun, witty, intriguing character
Guy (we're using his synopsis name, since his real name is a spoiler) is a delight. I love this boy. He's sweet and earnest and honest. He's also got a troubled past that he's tormented by, so what's not to love??? He deserves all the hugs in the world. A definite cinnamon roll, too pure for this world. But he's also sharp and intelligent, which is a balance we rarely see and I adored that
We need more soft boy love interests, we don't get them enough. And I adore how much Ruby appreciates him. How she falls in love with his mind, with his kind soul. I love that their relationship is built on truly seeing and appreciating each other. They had so much chemistry and just *sparkled* together. I love these two. I ship them and their soft romance so hard
I also loved that there were very strong women supporting women themes throughout. Ruby's friendship with both Maggie and Vivian were wonderful and I loved how strong of a plotline that was, given as much space and care as the romance
The plot was fun, there were so many twists and turns and I was constantly guessing where it was going. But even as it surprised me, it never felt like it was trying too hard to be clever or like I couldn't keep up. Every twist made sense and had me going "I should have seen that!" and feeling like all the pieces were falling into plac
It also hit so many emotional notes with deep themes and wonderful character arcs. I laughed, I cried, I love these characters so incredibly much
All in all, this was a delightful book. I will absolutely be buying myself a hardcopy so I can gush about it and hold these darlings in my hands. This should absolutely be on your radar, go preorder it. Go. Shoo. You want to read this book
***Thank you for NetGalley and the publisher for a free digital advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own***
I didn't know what to expect when I picked it up. It looked fun and quirky and exactly my brand of book. And it is. It's also deep and thought-provoking and honest and emotional and just so beautiful
Ruby is a delightful heroine. Yes, she kills people. Evil, awful people. And we're not really asked to condone or condemn it. It's just a part of her, a part of the story, and the fact that the author didn't necessarily say "she was absolutely right, no questions asked" but nor was it a vice she needed to give up, was a wise choice on the author's part. I like how it was handled
Anyway. That out of the way, Ruby is the perfect heroine to spearhead this book. She's clever and charming, and defit not to be underestimated. But she's also flawed and makes human choices. It's a great balance and I found myself deeply invested in her and her storyline. She's just such a fun, witty, intriguing character
Guy (we're using his synopsis name, since his real name is a spoiler) is a delight. I love this boy. He's sweet and earnest and honest. He's also got a troubled past that he's tormented by, so what's not to love??? He deserves all the hugs in the world. A definite cinnamon roll, too pure for this world. But he's also sharp and intelligent, which is a balance we rarely see and I adored that
We need more soft boy love interests, we don't get them enough. And I adore how much Ruby appreciates him. How she falls in love with his mind, with his kind soul. I love that their relationship is built on truly seeing and appreciating each other. They had so much chemistry and just *sparkled* together. I love these two. I ship them and their soft romance so hard
I also loved that there were very strong women supporting women themes throughout. Ruby's friendship with both Maggie and Vivian were wonderful and I loved how strong of a plotline that was, given as much space and care as the romance
The plot was fun, there were so many twists and turns and I was constantly guessing where it was going. But even as it surprised me, it never felt like it was trying too hard to be clever or like I couldn't keep up. Every twist made sense and had me going "I should have seen that!" and feeling like all the pieces were falling into plac
It also hit so many emotional notes with deep themes and wonderful character arcs. I laughed, I cried, I love these characters so incredibly much
All in all, this was a delightful book. I will absolutely be buying myself a hardcopy so I can gush about it and hold these darlings in my hands. This should absolutely be on your radar, go preorder it. Go. Shoo. You want to read this book
***Thank you for NetGalley and the publisher for a free digital advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own***
April 12, 2022
Wow I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and I loved the glamorous atmospheric descriptions. It was such a fun and exciting read. Ruby is an amazing character she is spunky and uses her mind reading talents to help other women and girls who are being abused or taken advantage of. The other main character who I’ll call Guy, is one of the sweetest characters ever and I loved seeing him come out of his shell. I love a soft spoken sweet cinnamon roll character. I found he and Ruby balance each other out amazingly. I absolutely loved the romance. It was done well but didn’t feel like it was the sole focus of the book. The main mystery plot was a fun twist that helped drive the story forward. I loved the political intrigue and corruption and I also throughly enjoyed the 1920’s words and phrases.
Overall this book has everything I want in a book. It has a cute adorable love interest who is a cinnamon roll, murder , a strong female lead, an adorable dog and some mystery. I would love to see a sequel or at least have a longer epilogue. I can’t get enough. I definitely recommend this glitzy glam murder mystery romance. 5/5
Thank you Holiday House for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Overall this book has everything I want in a book. It has a cute adorable love interest who is a cinnamon roll, murder , a strong female lead, an adorable dog and some mystery. I would love to see a sequel or at least have a longer epilogue. I can’t get enough. I definitely recommend this glitzy glam murder mystery romance. 5/5
Thank you Holiday House for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 19, 2022
OMG this book was everything i imagined and even more !! our girl Ruby, being able to read minds, basically said “law school? too long. murdering bad men who abuse women? sounds good.” and honestly, good for her !! god really is a woman huh
i LOVED the romance, i just want to give a big hug to Guy (i will not say his real name just read the book and thank me later <3 ), the only man i currently will admit to stan. i really appreciated the representation of anxiety through Guy’s povs and his character development, starting to get more confident and opening up more about his past.
also i stan ruby’s bestie Maggie and love her with my whole heart :)
if you liked stalking jack the ripper definitely check this out because i am in love !!
*thanks again to netgalley and the author for the eARC in exchange of an honest review!*
i LOVED the romance, i just want to give a big hug to Guy (i will not say his real name just read the book and thank me later <3 ), the only man i currently will admit to stan. i really appreciated the representation of anxiety through Guy’s povs and his character development, starting to get more confident and opening up more about his past.
also i stan ruby’s bestie Maggie and love her with my whole heart :)
if you liked stalking jack the ripper definitely check this out because i am in love !!
*thanks again to netgalley and the author for the eARC in exchange of an honest review!*
February 25, 2022
3.5 stars
Murder for the Modern Girl is about is a high-flying flapper Ruby Newhouse uses her secret mind-reading ability to absolutely crush at charades and to hunt down and poison killers who escape justice. To sum up: this book has atmospheric world-building, cool characters and romance. It was a page turner, that's for sure
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Murder for the Modern Girl is about is a high-flying flapper Ruby Newhouse uses her secret mind-reading ability to absolutely crush at charades and to hunt down and poison killers who escape justice. To sum up: this book has atmospheric world-building, cool characters and romance. It was a page turner, that's for sure
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 16, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I struggled with the first 20%-ish of this book, mainly because we were being tossed 1920s lingo left right and centre but past that, as the lingo became less/I got used to it, I flew through the story. I personally love the era of 1920s, flappers, glitz, glamour, Gatsby-esque, so reading about it was a real treat, and it was such a spin on a typical historical fiction set in these times! With a sci-fi spin of mind-reading and shapeshifting, the characters of Ruby and Guy are just so fascinating and you really do fall in love with each of them and just want to give them both a big hug, especially Guy. I thought that maybe the ending fell a bit flat for me, but I loved the story as a whole. It was a quick, fun read, and I would definitely recommend it for any historical fiction lovers.
I struggled with the first 20%-ish of this book, mainly because we were being tossed 1920s lingo left right and centre but past that, as the lingo became less/I got used to it, I flew through the story. I personally love the era of 1920s, flappers, glitz, glamour, Gatsby-esque, so reading about it was a real treat, and it was such a spin on a typical historical fiction set in these times! With a sci-fi spin of mind-reading and shapeshifting, the characters of Ruby and Guy are just so fascinating and you really do fall in love with each of them and just want to give them both a big hug, especially Guy. I thought that maybe the ending fell a bit flat for me, but I loved the story as a whole. It was a quick, fun read, and I would definitely recommend it for any historical fiction lovers.
July 18, 2022
I started off struggling with this a little however once you just lean into it and don't take it seriously then it's a fun romp of a time in the 1920s with a couple of superpowers thrown in.
Just realise that you are going to eye roll every time Ruby says "Posi-lute-ly" or "Abso-tive-ly", but just bare with it.
Overall my way to describe this is just a fun read to binge through in a couple of sittings.
Just realise that you are going to eye roll every time Ruby says "Posi-lute-ly" or "Abso-tive-ly", but just bare with it.
Overall my way to describe this is just a fun read to binge through in a couple of sittings.
May 25, 2022
3.5 stars
I was this close to DNF’ing this book but around 24% it started grabbing my attention. It was super slow and confusing in the beginning but once it started to pick up I started to enjoy the book more.
I really liked Ruby. She is a tough character and a vigilante for women in danger. She has a good head on her shoulders and can read minds which comes in handy. Guy (let’s call him Guy to avoid spoilers) was adorable and a little bit of a mess but understandably so. He needed someone like Ruby to come in and shake things up and provide the strength to forgive and accept himself. With his shape shifting powers he has problems of his own. Maggie, Ruby bestie was the best. She is the type of friend you really need in life. Vivian was also fun as well. I really liked how much Ruby cared about her family, friends and protecting women from danger. Her methods are extreme but understandable in this time when women didn’t have much support or protection. Overall, pretty decent characters.
The writing could use some work. It just wasn’t always engaging. I found myself skimming some pages here and there. The plot was getting better as I kept reading but it took time for it to get interesting. The ending is as nice as well. I’m happy I gave this book a chance and it was a good read.
*Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
I was this close to DNF’ing this book but around 24% it started grabbing my attention. It was super slow and confusing in the beginning but once it started to pick up I started to enjoy the book more.
I really liked Ruby. She is a tough character and a vigilante for women in danger. She has a good head on her shoulders and can read minds which comes in handy. Guy (let’s call him Guy to avoid spoilers) was adorable and a little bit of a mess but understandably so. He needed someone like Ruby to come in and shake things up and provide the strength to forgive and accept himself. With his shape shifting powers he has problems of his own. Maggie, Ruby bestie was the best. She is the type of friend you really need in life. Vivian was also fun as well. I really liked how much Ruby cared about her family, friends and protecting women from danger. Her methods are extreme but understandable in this time when women didn’t have much support or protection. Overall, pretty decent characters.
The writing could use some work. It just wasn’t always engaging. I found myself skimming some pages here and there. The plot was getting better as I kept reading but it took time for it to get interesting. The ending is as nice as well. I’m happy I gave this book a chance and it was a good read.
*Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
June 13, 2022
Thank you to the publisher for providing an eARC through NetGalley for an honest review.
I liked this one. The first chapter instantly drew me in, but then it got a bit muddled and confusing for me. Once things picked up around the halfway mark, I was completely hooked again.
Ruby was such an interesting character. I liked her sass and her strength, and I thought her voice was really distinct. However, she reads minds and this confused me because Ruby would be thinking things herself in reaction to what others were thinking or saying but there was no way to distinguish between things. I think italics for the parts in other people’s heads would have helped to clear up confusion. I did like the element of mind reading and I thought it made it interesting for Ruby to figure out who was involved.
Guy was not a character I really cared about. Once we learned more about him, I liked him more. But in the beginning, I preferred Ruby’s chapters.
The relationship between Ruby and Guy was good. I liked how it changed, and I thought it was sweet. This romance was just kind of there though, and there wasn’t a lot of build up for it. My favourite relationship of Ruby’s was her friendship with Maggie. Maggie was a fantastic character, and I loved her loyalty.
One thing that annoyed me while I was reading was that some words would be broken in two. I’m not sure if it was just a weird formatting issue in the arc, but it interrupted the flow of reading for me. Words like ambulance or component would be broken in two: ambu-lance and com-ponent. This had me reading it differently from how I would’ve if the word had been one piece. This occurred quite often with seemingly random words, and it just really pulled me away from the story. The writing style was otherwise quick and easy to read, and I liked Ruby’s style of speaking. The book is set in the 1920s so there was some fun slang in here.
The plot was really interesting here. It wasn’t really a mystery because Ruby figured out pretty quickly who was behind things, but she had to figure out how to get evidence. Meanwhile Guy was investigating the “angel killer” who was actually Ruby. These two different plots didn’t intertwine until the second half of the book. I felt like the second half of the book was where it really got good. It was exciting, fast-paced, and I really enjoyed reading it.
I liked this one. The first chapter instantly drew me in, but then it got a bit muddled and confusing for me. Once things picked up around the halfway mark, I was completely hooked again.
Ruby was such an interesting character. I liked her sass and her strength, and I thought her voice was really distinct. However, she reads minds and this confused me because Ruby would be thinking things herself in reaction to what others were thinking or saying but there was no way to distinguish between things. I think italics for the parts in other people’s heads would have helped to clear up confusion. I did like the element of mind reading and I thought it made it interesting for Ruby to figure out who was involved.
Guy was not a character I really cared about. Once we learned more about him, I liked him more. But in the beginning, I preferred Ruby’s chapters.
The relationship between Ruby and Guy was good. I liked how it changed, and I thought it was sweet. This romance was just kind of there though, and there wasn’t a lot of build up for it. My favourite relationship of Ruby’s was her friendship with Maggie. Maggie was a fantastic character, and I loved her loyalty.
One thing that annoyed me while I was reading was that some words would be broken in two. I’m not sure if it was just a weird formatting issue in the arc, but it interrupted the flow of reading for me. Words like ambulance or component would be broken in two: ambu-lance and com-ponent. This had me reading it differently from how I would’ve if the word had been one piece. This occurred quite often with seemingly random words, and it just really pulled me away from the story. The writing style was otherwise quick and easy to read, and I liked Ruby’s style of speaking. The book is set in the 1920s so there was some fun slang in here.
The plot was really interesting here. It wasn’t really a mystery because Ruby figured out pretty quickly who was behind things, but she had to figure out how to get evidence. Meanwhile Guy was investigating the “angel killer” who was actually Ruby. These two different plots didn’t intertwine until the second half of the book. I felt like the second half of the book was where it really got good. It was exciting, fast-paced, and I really enjoyed reading it.
August 20, 2022
I requested to review this book becuase of a) the cover (look how goregeous), and b) the 1920s setting and murder mystery elements. So of course I really enjoyed this.
I loved the lighthearted tone throughout the book and I found myself to be very entertained. There were even moments where I ended up chuckling to myself.
As for the mystery in the beginning, I had a hard time trying to wrap my head around it, but once I understood what was happening, I was hooked. But besides that, the best part of the book was Guy's storyline and character arc. His character was so incredibly sweet (such a cinnamon roll). I loved his character growth from beginning to end. Plus his ability is something I don't believe I've read before; it was pretty unique to me. And Ruby and Guy's romance was also pretty cute.
However, Ruby's character and storyline was not all that interesting to me. She very much reminded me of Evie O'Neill from The Diviners series, who isn't my favourite character from that series. I just wasn't as connected to her as I was with Guy.
Overall, this was a really great read and I woud recommend it if you like The Diviners series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the lighthearted tone throughout the book and I found myself to be very entertained. There were even moments where I ended up chuckling to myself.
As for the mystery in the beginning, I had a hard time trying to wrap my head around it, but once I understood what was happening, I was hooked. But besides that, the best part of the book was Guy's storyline and character arc. His character was so incredibly sweet (such a cinnamon roll). I loved his character growth from beginning to end. Plus his ability is something I don't believe I've read before; it was pretty unique to me. And Ruby and Guy's romance was also pretty cute.
However, Ruby's character and storyline was not all that interesting to me. She very much reminded me of Evie O'Neill from The Diviners series, who isn't my favourite character from that series. I just wasn't as connected to her as I was with Guy.
Overall, this was a really great read and I woud recommend it if you like The Diviners series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
October 14, 2023
Trigger warnings: death, murder, hospitalisation of a parent, domestic violence, panic attacks, death of a parent (in the past), body horror, kidnapping
3.5 stars
I was sold on this the second I read the blurb. And while it WAS a compelling story, it didn't QUITE lean as much into the crime side of things as I was hoping it would. Add in the fact that this felt a tad too similar to The Diviners at times but minus a lot of the really solid diversity and friendship stuff, and this just...didn't hit the way I wanted it to. I think I just wanted it to be a little bit darker than it was and to really lean into the characters for who they are and what they can do, rather than into the relationship between them.
3.5 stars
I was sold on this the second I read the blurb. And while it WAS a compelling story, it didn't QUITE lean as much into the crime side of things as I was hoping it would. Add in the fact that this felt a tad too similar to The Diviners at times but minus a lot of the really solid diversity and friendship stuff, and this just...didn't hit the way I wanted it to. I think I just wanted it to be a little bit darker than it was and to really lean into the characters for who they are and what they can do, rather than into the relationship between them.
May 16, 2022
When I saw the synopsis for Murder for the Modern Girl I was immediately interested. When you tell me 1920s + paranormal my mind immediately goes to The Diviners - and you got me. Now, this book is really nothing like The Diviners, and I don't mean that as criticism in the slightest. But if you enjoy the overall vibe of the 1920s and some mystery spiced with paranormal aspects - it definitely has that!
Ruby is a mind reader, who uses her power to find men to kill. But only the ones who deserve it, of course. She only targets the ones who otherwise would escape justice. On the other hand, Guy, a shapeshifter, afraid of his power, is catching on to the fact that all these seemingly regular deaths might be connected - and actually murders. When their paths cross, they don't at once realise what Guy's trying to prove, actually means uncovering what Ruby's done. What they also don't expect is falling in love with each other, which of course, only further complicates things.
The book switches POVs between the two of them, and while I enjoyed it, for the most part, it makes the pacing feel slightly off in the beginning. Ruby's chapters are bold and glamorous, full of scheming, parties - and they just feel much more dynamic and loud than Guy's beginning chapters. He works as a cleaner at the morgue, he's trying to find a way to prove his worth and do actual, real forensic work. His chapters are significantly more gloomy at the beginning. I did still like his chapters, he's dealing with a great deal of anxiety, and I thought this struggle was portrayed very well - however, that switch did affect the pacing a bit. I didn't really mind this, after a while, but it did take me a moment to get into this book properly.
Ruby is a great protagonist to follow, she is strong-willed, smart, bold and not easily intimidated. She is persistent and ambitious, she wants to be a lawyer, something that was not readily available to women at the time. I enjoyed how her killing people was handled in the story - however weird this sentence is. She feels very strongly about justice, and that is her main motive. The men she targets are always abusers who would get away with it - and she is doing what she feels is best to protect other women. This is neither glorified nor condemned in the book, which I like. It was simply a fact that she'd done it, and I liked that there was not too much regret surrounding her decisions. Then there is Guy, who really seems to be Ruby's opposite. Where she is bold and outspoken, he is shy and slightly uncertain. He believes his power makes him a monster, unworthy of love, but he is actually the gentlest, sweetest person. He is very intelligent but the shadows of his past, and the fear he could hurt people hold him back. This makes a really interesting contrast with Ruby, who in her pursuit of justice can be downright ruthless. I think this is why I enjoyed their relationship - I think they balance each other very well. They see each other's flaws and weak spots, but they also see past them. Guy understands Ruby, and in turn, she sees the real him. She sees past his masks and his fear, she sees who he really is. They were really sweet together, they had chemistry, and I was really rooting for them.
As I mentioned, it took me a minute to get into the story, but once I did I couldn't stop reading. The book is pretty fast-paced, and I was so interested to see how the story would unfold, and how the characters would get out of the messes they found themselves in. The book features quite a bit of 1920s lingo, which I think can be a bit overwhelming in the beginning, but I quite liked it. I also really enjoyed the side characters, especially Ruby's friend Maggie, and also Vivian. I love how Maggie came through for Ruby, and was a lovely, supportive friend.
The reason why I rated this 4 and not 5 stars, comes down to the fact I think the book left a lot of questions unanswered. This was not in the means of having an open ending, but more so regarding the world-building. Are ruby and Guy the only people with powers? Are there more of them? Where do their powers come from? Was it some sort of an experiment? Is it hereditary? There was so much I wanted to know!
Overall, I really enjoyed this! I would highly recommend this if what you're looking for is a 1920s atmosphere with mystery and a sprinkling of paranormal! I will for sure be checking out the author's other works!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Ruby is a mind reader, who uses her power to find men to kill. But only the ones who deserve it, of course. She only targets the ones who otherwise would escape justice. On the other hand, Guy, a shapeshifter, afraid of his power, is catching on to the fact that all these seemingly regular deaths might be connected - and actually murders. When their paths cross, they don't at once realise what Guy's trying to prove, actually means uncovering what Ruby's done. What they also don't expect is falling in love with each other, which of course, only further complicates things.
The book switches POVs between the two of them, and while I enjoyed it, for the most part, it makes the pacing feel slightly off in the beginning. Ruby's chapters are bold and glamorous, full of scheming, parties - and they just feel much more dynamic and loud than Guy's beginning chapters. He works as a cleaner at the morgue, he's trying to find a way to prove his worth and do actual, real forensic work. His chapters are significantly more gloomy at the beginning. I did still like his chapters, he's dealing with a great deal of anxiety, and I thought this struggle was portrayed very well - however, that switch did affect the pacing a bit. I didn't really mind this, after a while, but it did take me a moment to get into this book properly.
Ruby is a great protagonist to follow, she is strong-willed, smart, bold and not easily intimidated. She is persistent and ambitious, she wants to be a lawyer, something that was not readily available to women at the time. I enjoyed how her killing people was handled in the story - however weird this sentence is. She feels very strongly about justice, and that is her main motive. The men she targets are always abusers who would get away with it - and she is doing what she feels is best to protect other women. This is neither glorified nor condemned in the book, which I like. It was simply a fact that she'd done it, and I liked that there was not too much regret surrounding her decisions. Then there is Guy, who really seems to be Ruby's opposite. Where she is bold and outspoken, he is shy and slightly uncertain. He believes his power makes him a monster, unworthy of love, but he is actually the gentlest, sweetest person. He is very intelligent but the shadows of his past, and the fear he could hurt people hold him back. This makes a really interesting contrast with Ruby, who in her pursuit of justice can be downright ruthless. I think this is why I enjoyed their relationship - I think they balance each other very well. They see each other's flaws and weak spots, but they also see past them. Guy understands Ruby, and in turn, she sees the real him. She sees past his masks and his fear, she sees who he really is. They were really sweet together, they had chemistry, and I was really rooting for them.
As I mentioned, it took me a minute to get into the story, but once I did I couldn't stop reading. The book is pretty fast-paced, and I was so interested to see how the story would unfold, and how the characters would get out of the messes they found themselves in. The book features quite a bit of 1920s lingo, which I think can be a bit overwhelming in the beginning, but I quite liked it. I also really enjoyed the side characters, especially Ruby's friend Maggie, and also Vivian. I love how Maggie came through for Ruby, and was a lovely, supportive friend.
The reason why I rated this 4 and not 5 stars, comes down to the fact I think the book left a lot of questions unanswered. This was not in the means of having an open ending, but more so regarding the world-building. Are ruby and Guy the only people with powers? Are there more of them? Where do their powers come from? Was it some sort of an experiment? Is it hereditary? There was so much I wanted to know!
Overall, I really enjoyed this! I would highly recommend this if what you're looking for is a 1920s atmosphere with mystery and a sprinkling of paranormal! I will for sure be checking out the author's other works!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
October 6, 2023
For a book with such a high body count, I feel strange describing it as a fun read, but it really was. I liked the Roaring Twenties setting and the main characters' special abilities, as well as the pervading theme of women helping and supporting other women.
The main thing I couldn't get on board with was how tidily everything turned out. I just didn't buy it.
There was still a lot I liked in this book, and I plan to try another by this author.
The main thing I couldn't get on board with was how tidily everything turned out. I just didn't buy it.
There was still a lot I liked in this book, and I plan to try another by this author.
October 15, 2023
Okay, forse 5 stelle sono tante per uno YA, ma è l'ideale sia per persone che amano il fantasy e vogliono approcciare al genere giallo, sia per i ragazzi.
Si fa leggere volentieri, è adrenalinico e appassionato, non ti annoia e ha anche momenti divertenti e dolci.
C'è un pizzico di fantasy che non guasta e quindi, cosa posso dire di più se non LEGGETELO!
Si fa leggere volentieri, è adrenalinico e appassionato, non ti annoia e ha anche momenti divertenti e dolci.
C'è un pizzico di fantasy che non guasta e quindi, cosa posso dire di più se non LEGGETELO!
July 5, 2022
the feminine urge to become a 🥣 killer and help the women of chicago
March 2, 2025
Stelle: ★★★★.75
“I suoi pensieri erano as-so-lu-tis-si-ma-men-te strapazzati, come una banda di clown in una casa che va a fuoco.”
“Non pensavo ci fosse un’altra persona su questo pianeta che, scoprendo di poter udire i pensieri altrui, non ne avrebbe approfittato per barare a carte o per scoprire segreti. Solo Ruby si sarebbe sentita personalmente tenuta a salvare il mondo dai mostri.”
Di questo libro inizialmente mi hanno attirato il titolo, che in italiano è più accattivante di quello originale (Murder for the modern girl > La vendetta indossa i tacchi a spillo) e la copertina, che mi ha ricordato tantissimo una serie tv poco conosciuta, Miss Fisher: Delitti e misteri, ambientata nel medesimo periodo ma in Australia. Siamo qui invece a Chicago, nel primo dopoguerra, i ruggenti anni Venti. L'atmosfera è caotica e movimentata, tra feste, balli, piume, frange, brillantini e fiumi di alcool. La protagonista, Ruby, è una ragazza piena di brio, capelli rossi, occhi azzurri, impavida e sfuggente.
Non farò spoiler, tranne quelli che la trama in sé già rivela.
Sta di fatto che la nostra Ruby è un'assassina, ma non una di quelle regolari. Ruby è in grado di leggere i pensieri, le menti altrui: è una telepate. Questa dote gli permette di identificare uomini crudeli che non hanno un briciolo di rimorso per le loro cattive azioni. E le informazioni di cui viene a conoscenza la tormentano a tal punto che non riesce a starsene con le mani in mano, seppure sia una ragazza di appena 18 anni che deve farsi strada in una città piena zeppa di criminali nascosti alla luce del giorno. Per cui sfrutta la sua intelligenza e a colpi di aghi velenosi silenziosamente agisce da giustiziera, in salvaguardia delle donne maltrattate.
Ho trovato questo aspetto estremamente attuale, purtroppo, e il senso di dovere di Ruby è così potente che, quando dovrebbe essere la colpevole in qualità di assassina, diventa per molti un angelo, una salvatrice che viene acclamata e pregata dalle donne e dalle vittime di violenza. Ancora più straordinario il fatto che abbia solamente 18 anni e da sola si faccia carico delle ingiustizie del mondo, da brava figlia di un procuratore, che le ha instillato la giustizia nelle vene. Insomma, una vera eroina e come personaggio non la si può odiare. In più, è simpatica e sa gestire le situazioni difficili anche con ironia.
Il secondo protagonista è un ragazzo timido e silenzioso che nasconde un segreto gigantesco, Guy. Ancora più solo di Ruby, deve affrontare i suoi fantasmi ogni giorno, nel terrore e nell'incomprensione. Trova lavoro all'obitorio, dove si sente più a suo agio che altrove e dove coltiva la sua passione per la medicina, seppure sia solo un custode. La sua spiccata capacità di osservazione gli permette di collegare tra di loro alcuni indizi e capire che c'è un assassino a piede libero che uccide le sue vittime con lo stesso modus operandi, il veleno. Entra a far parte quindi del team di lavoro che indaga alla scoperta dell'identità dell'"angelo assassino", o meglio, assassina, perché Guy ha capito subito che si tratta di una donna, solo non sa ancora chi. E nel frattempo incontra Ruby, una bomba di energia, e trova in lei un conforto di cui non sapeva di aver bisogno, lei che lo tratta così dolcemente, lo incoraggia e lo elogia per le sue qualità e capacità.
Ma l'elemento principale della trama ruota intorno alle indagini. Ruby indaga i potenti di Chicago, uomini corrotti che vogliono fare del male a suo padre e alla sua famiglia, e che agiscono per puro interesse personale, facendosi strada con metodi niente affatto legali. Guy indaga sugli omicidi misteriosi, mettendo insieme i pezzi e avvicinandosi sempre di più all'identità dell'angelo assassino, ritrovandosi infine davanti a una scelta difficile.
Veniamo alle considerazioni finali. La storia mi ha soddisfatto, la particolarità dei piccoli elementi "supernaturali" l'hanno resa interessante nel contesto di una trama che altrimenti, forse, sarebbe risultata banale. Ho amato l'atmosfera, gli anni Venti, le flapper, le feste (nuovo mio periodo storico preferito?). Ho adorato i protagonisti: Ruby una scoperta eccezionale, mi piace la sua personalità, i suoi ragionamenti, la sua voglia di fare, le sue risorse. Guy estremamente dolce, profondamente intelligente, avrebbe bisogno di più ricognizione. Insieme li ho trovati un duo veramente amabile, per non parlare di alcuni personaggi secondari (Maggie, fantastica! Henrietta e Genevieve, perspicaci. Vivienne, super donna in carriera). In linea di massima il giudizio è molto positivo, qualche punto l'ho sottratto per il pacing finale: dall'inizio fino all'85% il libro è stato scorrevole, colpi di scena meravigliosi, sempre nuove scoperte e nuove evoluzioni; poi l'ultimo 15% è stato chiuso in fretta e furia, devo dire un peccato. Avrei preferito un libro più lungo ma con un finale più elaborato.
Altre cose che mi sono piaciute: il doppio pov, quello lo amo sempre, i capitoli corti e scorrevoli, lo stile semplice ma non banale, ed efficace. Affronta temi profondi in maniera così diretta e lucida ma riesce a rimanere leggero. Nel complesso, veramente ben fatto, una lettura inaspettata che consiglio.
“I suoi pensieri erano as-so-lu-tis-si-ma-men-te strapazzati, come una banda di clown in una casa che va a fuoco.”
“Non pensavo ci fosse un’altra persona su questo pianeta che, scoprendo di poter udire i pensieri altrui, non ne avrebbe approfittato per barare a carte o per scoprire segreti. Solo Ruby si sarebbe sentita personalmente tenuta a salvare il mondo dai mostri.”
Di questo libro inizialmente mi hanno attirato il titolo, che in italiano è più accattivante di quello originale (Murder for the modern girl > La vendetta indossa i tacchi a spillo) e la copertina, che mi ha ricordato tantissimo una serie tv poco conosciuta, Miss Fisher: Delitti e misteri, ambientata nel medesimo periodo ma in Australia. Siamo qui invece a Chicago, nel primo dopoguerra, i ruggenti anni Venti. L'atmosfera è caotica e movimentata, tra feste, balli, piume, frange, brillantini e fiumi di alcool. La protagonista, Ruby, è una ragazza piena di brio, capelli rossi, occhi azzurri, impavida e sfuggente.
Non farò spoiler, tranne quelli che la trama in sé già rivela.
Sta di fatto che la nostra Ruby è un'assassina, ma non una di quelle regolari. Ruby è in grado di leggere i pensieri, le menti altrui: è una telepate. Questa dote gli permette di identificare uomini crudeli che non hanno un briciolo di rimorso per le loro cattive azioni. E le informazioni di cui viene a conoscenza la tormentano a tal punto che non riesce a starsene con le mani in mano, seppure sia una ragazza di appena 18 anni che deve farsi strada in una città piena zeppa di criminali nascosti alla luce del giorno. Per cui sfrutta la sua intelligenza e a colpi di aghi velenosi silenziosamente agisce da giustiziera, in salvaguardia delle donne maltrattate.
Ho trovato questo aspetto estremamente attuale, purtroppo, e il senso di dovere di Ruby è così potente che, quando dovrebbe essere la colpevole in qualità di assassina, diventa per molti un angelo, una salvatrice che viene acclamata e pregata dalle donne e dalle vittime di violenza. Ancora più straordinario il fatto che abbia solamente 18 anni e da sola si faccia carico delle ingiustizie del mondo, da brava figlia di un procuratore, che le ha instillato la giustizia nelle vene. Insomma, una vera eroina e come personaggio non la si può odiare. In più, è simpatica e sa gestire le situazioni difficili anche con ironia.
Il secondo protagonista è un ragazzo timido e silenzioso che nasconde un segreto gigantesco, Guy. Ancora più solo di Ruby, deve affrontare i suoi fantasmi ogni giorno, nel terrore e nell'incomprensione. Trova lavoro all'obitorio, dove si sente più a suo agio che altrove e dove coltiva la sua passione per la medicina, seppure sia solo un custode. La sua spiccata capacità di osservazione gli permette di collegare tra di loro alcuni indizi e capire che c'è un assassino a piede libero che uccide le sue vittime con lo stesso modus operandi, il veleno. Entra a far parte quindi del team di lavoro che indaga alla scoperta dell'identità dell'"angelo assassino", o meglio, assassina, perché Guy ha capito subito che si tratta di una donna, solo non sa ancora chi. E nel frattempo incontra Ruby, una bomba di energia, e trova in lei un conforto di cui non sapeva di aver bisogno, lei che lo tratta così dolcemente, lo incoraggia e lo elogia per le sue qualità e capacità.
Ma l'elemento principale della trama ruota intorno alle indagini. Ruby indaga i potenti di Chicago, uomini corrotti che vogliono fare del male a suo padre e alla sua famiglia, e che agiscono per puro interesse personale, facendosi strada con metodi niente affatto legali. Guy indaga sugli omicidi misteriosi, mettendo insieme i pezzi e avvicinandosi sempre di più all'identità dell'angelo assassino, ritrovandosi infine davanti a una scelta difficile.
Veniamo alle considerazioni finali. La storia mi ha soddisfatto, la particolarità dei piccoli elementi "supernaturali" l'hanno resa interessante nel contesto di una trama che altrimenti, forse, sarebbe risultata banale. Ho amato l'atmosfera, gli anni Venti, le flapper, le feste (nuovo mio periodo storico preferito?). Ho adorato i protagonisti: Ruby una scoperta eccezionale, mi piace la sua personalità, i suoi ragionamenti, la sua voglia di fare, le sue risorse. Guy estremamente dolce, profondamente intelligente, avrebbe bisogno di più ricognizione. Insieme li ho trovati un duo veramente amabile, per non parlare di alcuni personaggi secondari (Maggie, fantastica! Henrietta e Genevieve, perspicaci. Vivienne, super donna in carriera). In linea di massima il giudizio è molto positivo, qualche punto l'ho sottratto per il pacing finale: dall'inizio fino all'85% il libro è stato scorrevole, colpi di scena meravigliosi, sempre nuove scoperte e nuove evoluzioni; poi l'ultimo 15% è stato chiuso in fretta e furia, devo dire un peccato. Avrei preferito un libro più lungo ma con un finale più elaborato.
Altre cose che mi sono piaciute: il doppio pov, quello lo amo sempre, i capitoli corti e scorrevoli, lo stile semplice ma non banale, ed efficace. Affronta temi profondi in maniera così diretta e lucida ma riesce a rimanere leggero. Nel complesso, veramente ben fatto, una lettura inaspettata che consiglio.
March 7, 2022
4.5 stars.
Murder For The Modern Girl follows Ruby, who uses her mind-reading abilities to poison men who hurt other women. Then, we have Guy (shhhh, its not his real name!), a forensics guy who finds out about Ruby’s victim pattern. Much like Ruby, Guy is also keeping some secrets…
Okay, so, I hate The Great Gatsby with my entire being. Not the novel itself, really, as its mediocrity does not deserve my attention. Which brings me to the source of my hate. Why does anyone care about this novel? Please do not answer the question, i know. I studied this book at school.
I have to admit that when this book was said to be for fans of Gatsby, I wasn’t so thrilled. Luckily, it turned out it’s just the vibes of the times, which I’m a fan of!
Back to the novel.
I love Guy. Even when his name is Guy. Kulper described him so well, despite his disastrous shape-shifting abilities that constantly change him. My picture of him was amazingly vivid!
Okay, I don’t love Ruby as much as I love Guy, but I’ll have to say she’s also a GEM. Her charming manners, both scary and attractive force, all worked amazingly well for me. She’s determined, strong and morally grey on top of all that! Not gonna lie, she made me think back at Chloe Gong’s Juliette Cai.
The dynamics between characters bewitched me. Guy and Ruby, Ruby and Maggie, Guy and Maggie, Ruby with literally anyone. Oh wow. The strong bonds gave the characters more dimension, making them realistic.
The writing fit the time period and setting, slangs and all. However, the writing and tone of the it were suffocating at times, especially at the beginning of the novel. Other than that, the unique voices and vocabularies of Ruby and Guy (yes, dual POV!) added the novel its character. When ruby reads minds, we get to see the different ways people think. Some thought in short sentences, others thought in essays. And then there were my favourite kind: the ones who thought in random words put together.
My favourite thing about the writing, however, is when we get “this crossed my mind” or “I could only think about…” in Guy’s chapters in Ruby’s presence. It’s a clever way of keeping the reader engaged in the story, and i know this from my own experience. Reading these parts made me grin from ear to ear thinking “AAHHH RUBY HEARD THAT!”
The plot dazed me. I love me some superpowers in a real-world setting. Much better if it’s a historical one. The layers of connections and history of the villain and our main characters added depth! I liked that this was not much about solving mysteries, but hiding and keeping the truths from everyone else.
From what i saw, people weren’t a fan of the superpowers in the novel, as they aren’t really explored much. This personally does not bother me as long as the powers aren’t a black hole, nor the main main plot line. Kulper shows the limitations and dimensions of Ruby’s power, while Guy’s power was mostly shown through his present struggles. Guy also wants to study them more, which was then left open at the end of the work.
Soo, the themes. What the novel handled most was the sense of women’s empowerment & the angel killer helping women. In the acknowledgements, the author says that she mostly wrote the novel’s themes for her daughters. It is indeed very sweet. The women of the novel were intelligent, proud and overall gods.
By the way, this movie would make an amazing movie. Just saying.
Murder For The Modern Girl follows Ruby, who uses her mind-reading abilities to poison men who hurt other women. Then, we have Guy (shhhh, its not his real name!), a forensics guy who finds out about Ruby’s victim pattern. Much like Ruby, Guy is also keeping some secrets…
Okay, so, I hate The Great Gatsby with my entire being. Not the novel itself, really, as its mediocrity does not deserve my attention. Which brings me to the source of my hate. Why does anyone care about this novel? Please do not answer the question, i know. I studied this book at school.
I have to admit that when this book was said to be for fans of Gatsby, I wasn’t so thrilled. Luckily, it turned out it’s just the vibes of the times, which I’m a fan of!
Back to the novel.
I love Guy. Even when his name is Guy. Kulper described him so well, despite his disastrous shape-shifting abilities that constantly change him. My picture of him was amazingly vivid!
Okay, I don’t love Ruby as much as I love Guy, but I’ll have to say she’s also a GEM. Her charming manners, both scary and attractive force, all worked amazingly well for me. She’s determined, strong and morally grey on top of all that! Not gonna lie, she made me think back at Chloe Gong’s Juliette Cai.
The dynamics between characters bewitched me. Guy and Ruby, Ruby and Maggie, Guy and Maggie, Ruby with literally anyone. Oh wow. The strong bonds gave the characters more dimension, making them realistic.
The writing fit the time period and setting, slangs and all. However, the writing and tone of the it were suffocating at times, especially at the beginning of the novel. Other than that, the unique voices and vocabularies of Ruby and Guy (yes, dual POV!) added the novel its character. When ruby reads minds, we get to see the different ways people think. Some thought in short sentences, others thought in essays. And then there were my favourite kind: the ones who thought in random words put together.
My favourite thing about the writing, however, is when we get “this crossed my mind” or “I could only think about…” in Guy’s chapters in Ruby’s presence. It’s a clever way of keeping the reader engaged in the story, and i know this from my own experience. Reading these parts made me grin from ear to ear thinking “AAHHH RUBY HEARD THAT!”
The plot dazed me. I love me some superpowers in a real-world setting. Much better if it’s a historical one. The layers of connections and history of the villain and our main characters added depth! I liked that this was not much about solving mysteries, but hiding and keeping the truths from everyone else.
From what i saw, people weren’t a fan of the superpowers in the novel, as they aren’t really explored much. This personally does not bother me as long as the powers aren’t a black hole, nor the main main plot line. Kulper shows the limitations and dimensions of Ruby’s power, while Guy’s power was mostly shown through his present struggles. Guy also wants to study them more, which was then left open at the end of the work.
Soo, the themes. What the novel handled most was the sense of women’s empowerment & the angel killer helping women. In the acknowledgements, the author says that she mostly wrote the novel’s themes for her daughters. It is indeed very sweet. The women of the novel were intelligent, proud and overall gods.
By the way, this movie would make an amazing movie. Just saying.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 428 reviews