Scan barcode
sakura_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
b00kh0arder's review against another edition
4.0
Pheobe Walsh has been obsessed with true crime since she was a teenager, to the point where
she’s analysing the genre for her PhD dissertation. At least, that’s what she’s supposed to be
doing. Spending the summer in Florida clearing out her childhood home after her father’s
death, it’s hard to find the time between dealing with an cheerful younger brother and trying
to parse her feelings for the father she didn’t have an easy relationship with.
Then there’s her neighbour: Sam Dennings. Observing his comings and goings, Pheobe’s
low-key convinced he’s a serial killer, or at the very least that he’s up to something
suspicious. But it soon becomes clear that Sam might be something even scarier: a genuinely
nice guy who can break through the walls she’s erected around her heart. How do you learn
how to give love a chance when you’re used to suspecting the worst.
True-crime obsessed protagonist aside, if you’re looking for something more on the stabby
side, you’re going to be disappointed. But if you’re after a something with a teeny bit more
edge than the average rom-com, Love in the Time of Serial Killers will likely be for you.
Thompson creates characters and relationships – both familial and romantic – that ring true
and writes scenarios that move the story along in an entertaining and entirely satisfying way.
One for lovers of the genres and newcomers.
she’s analysing the genre for her PhD dissertation. At least, that’s what she’s supposed to be
doing. Spending the summer in Florida clearing out her childhood home after her father’s
death, it’s hard to find the time between dealing with an cheerful younger brother and trying
to parse her feelings for the father she didn’t have an easy relationship with.
Then there’s her neighbour: Sam Dennings. Observing his comings and goings, Pheobe’s
low-key convinced he’s a serial killer, or at the very least that he’s up to something
suspicious. But it soon becomes clear that Sam might be something even scarier: a genuinely
nice guy who can break through the walls she’s erected around her heart. How do you learn
how to give love a chance when you’re used to suspecting the worst.
True-crime obsessed protagonist aside, if you’re looking for something more on the stabby
side, you’re going to be disappointed. But if you’re after a something with a teeny bit more
edge than the average rom-com, Love in the Time of Serial Killers will likely be for you.
Thompson creates characters and relationships – both familial and romantic – that ring true
and writes scenarios that move the story along in an entertaining and entirely satisfying way.
One for lovers of the genres and newcomers.
melissa_baker's review against another edition
2.0
A cute rom I found at the library at a time when I had no business picking up extra library books…
Aside from the stunning cover art, I was drawn to this book by the meeting of chick lit and true crime. After reading, it was certainly heavier on angsty romance than true crime, but still kept me engaged.
Love in the Time of Serial Killers is your typical forced proximity trope. Our MC, grad school student Phoebe, temporarily moves back to her hometown into her recently deceased father’s home to clean it out and prepare it for sale. Phoebe is writing her dissertation on true crime from a societal POV and the impacts of author bias. Her cute but sus new neighbor sits at a solid 6 on Phoebe's 10-point scale of likelihood of being a serial killer. My neighbors do too, but this isn’t about me.
A few random serial killer facts were thrown around here and there, but MC spent most of her time procrastinating actually researching or writing for her assignment, and more time swooning over her neighbor who might unalive her. I would’ve liked to see the true crime element far more intertwined in this novel.
Aside from the stunning cover art, I was drawn to this book by the meeting of chick lit and true crime. After reading, it was certainly heavier on angsty romance than true crime, but still kept me engaged.
Love in the Time of Serial Killers is your typical forced proximity trope. Our MC, grad school student Phoebe, temporarily moves back to her hometown into her recently deceased father’s home to clean it out and prepare it for sale. Phoebe is writing her dissertation on true crime from a societal POV and the impacts of author bias. Her cute but sus new neighbor sits at a solid 6 on Phoebe's 10-point scale of likelihood of being a serial killer. My neighbors do too, but this isn’t about me.
A few random serial killer facts were thrown around here and there, but MC spent most of her time procrastinating actually researching or writing for her assignment, and more time swooning over her neighbor who might unalive her. I would’ve liked to see the true crime element far more intertwined in this novel.
mahamreads's review
1.0
underdeveloped, flat characters, no semblance of a plot, and just SO boring. this was not for me.
jordynlalalonde's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
lucyisabella's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-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
Read it in a day, very black cat girlfriend golden retriever boyfriend
eve_ward's review against another edition
3.0
This was decent, I really liked when it focussed on Phoebe's struggle with grief and how her relationship with her father and others was reflected in the true crime stories she immersed herself in. It had the tiniest bit of an Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine vibe (and I mean the tiniest, tiniest, barely there vibe). I really enjoyed the relationship between Phoebe and Sam and wish we'd seen a bit more of them being functional and happy together. Still, it was nice.
embringaling's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0