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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
Just couldn’t get into it. Too slow. Seemed written for much younger audience.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Once again, I totally judged a book by its cover—or in this case, its title—and went in with the completely wrong idea. I thought I was diving into a steamy thriller with serial killers lurking in the background, but turns out… not at all! Yes, there are references to true crime, but only because the main character is working on her dissertation about how true crime shows up in modern literature. The serial killer mentions are academic or metaphorical at best—more about her research and the way she relates those themes to the emotional ups and downs in her own life.
But honestly? Once I let go of my (very dramatic) expectations, I had a great time with this book. It’s really a story about healing, self-discovery, and learning to love again after some heavy family trauma. There’s a solid emotional core, a sweet and spicy romance, and just the right balance of wit and heart. The title may have led me astray, but the writing kept me hooked—and now I’m definitely planning to read more from this author!
But honestly? Once I let go of my (very dramatic) expectations, I had a great time with this book. It’s really a story about healing, self-discovery, and learning to love again after some heavy family trauma. There’s a solid emotional core, a sweet and spicy romance, and just the right balance of wit and heart. The title may have led me astray, but the writing kept me hooked—and now I’m definitely planning to read more from this author!
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
Solid single POV romance about a true crime obsessed FMC and her late father’s next door neighbor. Phoebe is back at her dad’s house to pack it up and ready it to put on the market after his sudden early death. She’s in the middle of writing her dissertation on true crime as a genre and its cultural reflection. Sam appears to help her out the first night she arrives and she instantly distrusts him due to her preferred genre of media. The relationship development is sweet both between FMC/MMC as well as between Phoebe and her brother. The family dysfunction they do eventually get over is a core development in the story. As is Phoebe learning to trust those she is friends (or more) with despite her brain being constantly inundated with true crime and statistics. Though there were several things “not for Sara” in this novel it was a solid romance and I can see why many readers have enjoyed it.
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
It was a bit of a slow start (although that could have definitely been a 'me' thing) but I did end up really enjoying it.
honestly i enjoyed this book for what it was! there wasn’t much of a plot to it but the relationship between phoebe and sam was really nice ♡ i think phoebe was quite relatable as a character and i liked the healing she went through in regards to her father’s death/growing close with her brother again. my best friend got me this for my birthday too so also just grateful that she funded my reading addiction
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
slow-paced