Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson

64 reviews

shutupiamreading's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I didn't expect to love this as much as I did - while I've consumed a lot of true crime, I often find the narrative surrounding it very icky and cringey. However, this was a great and lighthearted romance with great banter, but also some really great exploration of darker themes such as grief, academic success, and complex relationships with parents.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Death of parent

Minor: Murder

rachelkmclaugh's review against another edition

funny informative lighthearted relaxing fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief

Minor: Death of parent

wilybooklover's review

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

This was very cute, but I felt like it was lacking some kind of character/story arc for the hero. He was great (he BLUSHES) but it would have been even better to get to know him a bit more and give him a bit more of a storyline of his own beyond being Phoebe's love interest. Nevertheless, it was so good to read a hero who was on the shorter side — at least for romance — and actually set some healthy boundaries. I loved that the heroine was fat and just... allowed to be without any kind of plot point revolving around it or her self-esteem. I also enjoyed how prickly and suspicious she was, but then, I am a big fan of grumpy heroines.

I think people who are into true crime would enjoy all the serial killer references more than I did. I had to keep Googling to understand the references (and all the pop culture references too) and it just pulled me out of the story. 

Still, if you like romances with prickly heroines and sweet heroes, this is a good one! Although I would say it leans in the women's fiction direction. Reminded me a bit of Beach Read, but less dramatic/depressing and with much more enjoyable main characters to spend time with. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Death of parent

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Kidnapping, and Stalking

sophiagideon's review

emotional funny reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

tabbed_reads2much's review

dark funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The true crime aspect oscillated between over-explaining and vagueness; severely diminishing my overall enjoyment. Cute read, otherwise.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Grief

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

emfass's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Grief

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Fatphobia and Suicidal thoughts

thebookwormmum's review

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Grief and Death of parent

bellaguiliano's review against another edition

emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content and Grief

nrogers_1030's review

emotional funny lighthearted sad medium-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

Super cute and I’m sure fans of true crime would like the bits of true facts scattered throughout. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Death of parent

Moderate: Sexual content

whatsamread's review

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Death of parent