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writtenbydnicole's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Torture, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual content
linesiunderline's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Lots of fun to be had here - as promised, by many bookish pals!
You can’t help but root for Finlay as she tries to handle all the shit life has thrown her way. She’s a little bit out of control, a little bit hapless, but she’s managing, and underneath it all, she doesn’t miss much.
This one moves along at a brisk pace, and there are some humorous moments along the way. I’m here for more romantic tension in the second book, since I thought the author accomplished that element particularly well.
I think I was expecting even more, however - more funny, more mysterious / pageturny, more depth to the characters? I was expecting a lot, and it didn’t reach that level of total satisfaction for me. Still, it was a well-put together, easy, entertaining read and I’m totally in for the rest of the series.
You can’t help but root for Finlay as she tries to handle all the shit life has thrown her way. She’s a little bit out of control, a little bit hapless, but she’s managing, and underneath it all, she doesn’t miss much.
This one moves along at a brisk pace, and there are some humorous moments along the way. I’m here for more romantic tension in the second book, since I thought the author accomplished that element particularly well.
I think I was expecting even more, however - more funny, more mysterious / pageturny, more depth to the characters? I was expecting a lot, and it didn’t reach that level of total satisfaction for me. Still, it was a well-put together, easy, entertaining read and I’m totally in for the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Body shaming, Infidelity, and Suicide
Minor: Drug use and Trafficking
imstephtacular's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Death, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Gore, Gun violence, and Stalking
angelareads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book is extremely memorable. Finlay feels stuck in her life. She is financially reliant upon newly engaged ex-husband, who is a perpetual liar and cheater. When he threatens to sue for full custody of their who chaotic children, Finlay is feeling desperate. She is entirely unable to write the romantic suspense novels that have previously earned her modest advances and self respect. When an opportunity to earn $50,000 appears, Finlay knows she can't take it, not if she has to kill someone... or can she?
Along the way, Finlay finds herself leaning on her children's ex-nanny, her cop sister, and a handsome bartender, as she finds her way to who she is meant to be.
"Finlay Donovan is Killing It" is absolutely charming. The frustrating family members set the stakes without us harping on their terrible natures for too long. Finlay grows throughout the story as she learns to believe in and value herself. Also, the nanny is definitely my favorite character, hands down.
Twisty and turn-y, logical and zany, an armload of fun!
Along the way, Finlay finds herself leaning on her children's ex-nanny, her cop sister, and a handsome bartender, as she finds her way to who she is meant to be.
"Finlay Donovan is Killing It" is absolutely charming. The frustrating family members set the stakes without us harping on their terrible natures for too long. Finlay grows throughout the story as she learns to believe in and value herself. Also, the nanny is definitely my favorite character, hands down.
Twisty and turn-y, logical and zany, an armload of fun!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Blood, Gun violence, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Violence
blackmailfromjuliereads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Let me start off that I didn't dislike this book by any means. It was just okay for me.
The first 50% of the book was so slow... I struggled through a lot of it because it felt like nothing was happening, even though things were happening. It just didn't work. Even the end where lots was happening, I didn't feel completely invested. I think a big part was because the characters weren't developed enough for me, and I honestly didn't care about any of them... the only characters I liked were Vero and Nick, but they were too aside and not developed for me to be invested in the story because of them. I think there were just too mant characters and it caused a lack in full development of the main ones.
I think some things just wrapped up too neat as well. And the ending felt so bland. It wrapped everything up and set up for another book, but it was not an exciting ending like I would hope for - basically all the good guys keep their hands clean.
Side note: I also struggled with the ending because it felt like they gave up on some of the editing. It could have been so much cleaner... I had noticed it in little bits through the book and it was easy to ignore, but there were so many simple mistakes at the end that it made me even more frustrated with the ending.
I so wanted to like this book, because I really enjoyed Seasons of the Storm by this author. But it just didn't work for me. It couldn't compare to the fun and characters of Jana Deleon, Janet Evanovich, or Jennifer Crusie. Sorry!
The first 50% of the book was so slow... I struggled through a lot of it because it felt like nothing was happening, even though things were happening. It just didn't work. Even the end where lots was happening, I didn't feel completely invested. I think a big part was because the characters weren't developed enough for me, and I honestly didn't care about any of them... the only characters I liked were Vero and Nick, but they were too aside and not developed for me to be invested in the story because of them. I think there were just too mant characters and it caused a lack in full development of the main ones.
I think some things just wrapped up too neat as well. And the ending felt so bland. It wrapped everything up and set up for another book, but it was not an exciting ending like I would hope for - basically all the good guys keep their hands clean.
Side note: I also struggled with the ending because it felt like they gave up on some of the editing. It could have been so much cleaner... I had noticed it in little bits through the book and it was easy to ignore, but there were so many simple mistakes at the end that it made me even more frustrated with the ending.
I so wanted to like this book, because I really enjoyed Seasons of the Storm by this author. But it just didn't work for me. It couldn't compare to the fun and characters of Jana Deleon, Janet Evanovich, or Jennifer Crusie. Sorry!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death, Gun violence, Murder, Stalking, and Violence
Roofie drugsbookscoffeehayley's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
CW: infidelity, gun violence, mentions of stalking and sexual assault
I feel weird for what I’m about to say, but Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan Is Killing It was one of the most fun books I’ve read in a bit! ....Even if it’s about murder.
I say this having only read one of Janet Evanovich’s books, but Finlay Donovan was low-key giving me contemporary Stephanie Plum vibes. There were times in this book that were laugh out loud funny and there was a lot of heart in this book. It was a witty, fast-paced murder mystery with a twist!
This is the perfect summer mystery! I also think this would make a great book for a mother/daughter buddy read! I know my mom (and probably grandma, she loved her Stephanie Plum books) would have loved this one!
I can’t wait for more books in the Finlay Donovan series to hit shelves! I’m so excited to see where these characters end up!
I feel weird for what I’m about to say, but Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan Is Killing It was one of the most fun books I’ve read in a bit! ....Even if it’s about murder.
I say this having only read one of Janet Evanovich’s books, but Finlay Donovan was low-key giving me contemporary Stephanie Plum vibes. There were times in this book that were laugh out loud funny and there was a lot of heart in this book. It was a witty, fast-paced murder mystery with a twist!
This is the perfect summer mystery! I also think this would make a great book for a mother/daughter buddy read! I know my mom (and probably grandma, she loved her Stephanie Plum books) would have loved this one!
I can’t wait for more books in the Finlay Donovan series to hit shelves! I’m so excited to see where these characters end up!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Infidelity
Moderate: Stalking and Sexual assault
jenkneebee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Violence
chessakat's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was a fun one! I’d put this in the amateur sleuth + hijinks + teensy romance? department contemporary mystery.
Finlay is having a bad year - a crap divorce, a crap ex-husband, her book advance is running out and she still hasn’t written the book yet. She’s overheard talking to her editor in a Panera about the plot of the thriller she’s writing and gets mistaken for an assassin - and shenanigans ensue!
I really loved her partnering up with the smart and no-nonsense Vero, and though I gave side-eye at first to the TWO love interests that appear, it turned out alright in the end.
This wraps up nicely but with an epilogue that was very dun-dun-dun!!!! For the next in the series. I’ll definitely pick up the sequel when it comes out.
Finlay is having a bad year - a crap divorce, a crap ex-husband, her book advance is running out and she still hasn’t written the book yet. She’s overheard talking to her editor in a Panera about the plot of the thriller she’s writing and gets mistaken for an assassin - and shenanigans ensue!
I really loved her partnering up with the smart and no-nonsense Vero, and though I gave side-eye at first to the TWO love interests that appear, it turned out alright in the end.
This wraps up nicely but with an epilogue that was very dun-dun-dun!!!! For the next in the series. I’ll definitely pick up the sequel when it comes out.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault, Stalking, Murder, Gun violence, and Rape
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