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A review by expertbooksmuggler
Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Love in the Time of Serial Killers is a witty rom-com focused on Phoebe Walsh- a PHD candidate who is a bit too obsessed with serial killers. So it’s no surprise when she immediately takes her new neighbor for a potential serial killer…
It’s not that Sam Dennings really gives off serial killer vibes, so much as Phoebe has forgone all types of relationships in her pursuit of academia.
However, lovable and sweet Sam eventually wins Phoebe over and she’s got to confront something far scarier- that love might be in the cards for her.
I don’t know about you, but I love rom-coms that read a little bit like crack fan-fic. You know, slightly over the top, a little bit ridiculous… the kind that make you laugh hysterically alone in your bedroom at 9pm on a Saturday. Those. Yeah, I love those.
This book delivered that with a side of emotional growth.
You see, Phoebe and her goofy brother Conner were separated as children when her parents were divorced. Before that, her father often made her walk on eggshells for fear of inciting one of his moods. And this impacted Phoebe throughout her entire life.
We get to see Phoebe blossom from someone protecting her heart (this, combined with her witty references often reminded me of Lorelei Gilmore) to someone who makes big, bold moves.
And we get to thank Sam Dennings for that.
I really enjoyed Sam’s character- he’s admittedly shy, but a sweet guy who teaches children and plays music. He’s always there to help out his neighbors and he quickly finds himself hopelessly in love with Phoebe. He’s got a bit of ‘Golden Retriever BF’ vibes and it’s a super refreshing departure from the typical alpha male.
This isn’t necessarily a spice filled book, but the scenes we do get are pretty solid.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it! It’s a great pool-side read with plenty of laughs, characters you grow attached to, and a great MMC who brings out the best in our FMC.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this E-ARC!
It’s not that Sam Dennings really gives off serial killer vibes, so much as Phoebe has forgone all types of relationships in her pursuit of academia.
However, lovable and sweet Sam eventually wins Phoebe over and she’s got to confront something far scarier- that love might be in the cards for her.
I don’t know about you, but I love rom-coms that read a little bit like crack fan-fic. You know, slightly over the top, a little bit ridiculous… the kind that make you laugh hysterically alone in your bedroom at 9pm on a Saturday. Those. Yeah, I love those.
This book delivered that with a side of emotional growth.
You see, Phoebe and her goofy brother Conner were separated as children when her parents were divorced. Before that, her father often made her walk on eggshells for fear of inciting one of his moods. And this impacted Phoebe throughout her entire life.
We get to see Phoebe blossom from someone protecting her heart (this, combined with her witty references often reminded me of Lorelei Gilmore) to someone who makes big, bold moves.
And we get to thank Sam Dennings for that.
I really enjoyed Sam’s character- he’s admittedly shy, but a sweet guy who teaches children and plays music. He’s always there to help out his neighbors and he quickly finds himself hopelessly in love with Phoebe. He’s got a bit of ‘Golden Retriever BF’ vibes and it’s a super refreshing departure from the typical alpha male.
This isn’t necessarily a spice filled book, but the scenes we do get are pretty solid.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it! It’s a great pool-side read with plenty of laughs, characters you grow attached to, and a great MMC who brings out the best in our FMC.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this E-ARC!