Scan barcode
A review by lindseyhall44
Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson
emotional
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
2.5
After seeing Love in the time of serial killers on the Barnes and Noble shelves, I was immediately intrigued. After all, it was a romance novel centering around a true crime obsessed academic, what's not to love? And while I do believe it was an impressive contemporary novel, especially for a literary debut, this one was not for me (which is okay, not all books will resonate with everyone)!
I think the main dissuading factor for me was the plot holes surrounding the (incorrect) assumption by the protagonist of the love interest's possible criminal background. This was highly emphasized in the advertising, yet was rarely mentioned, and it in fact, Sam and Phoebe's relationship read more like insta love! In addition, I felt like Sam's character was not fully developed, as he could be inconsistent more often then not.
That being said, I thought the conversations around grief, childhood trauma, and emotional abuse/neglect were handled very well, and Phoebe's character arc was phenomenal. Also can we talk about Shani and Charlie? The Definition of soulmates.
Overall, although it might not have struck a chord with me, I could definitely see it being popular for romcom lovers and fans of Christina Lauren. If you fall into one (or both) of these categories, then I would recommend checking out Love in the Time of Serial Killers.
I think the main dissuading factor for me was the plot holes surrounding the (incorrect) assumption by the protagonist of the love interest's possible criminal background. This was highly emphasized in the advertising, yet was rarely mentioned, and it in fact, Sam and Phoebe's relationship read more like insta love! In addition, I felt like Sam's character was not fully developed, as he could be inconsistent more often then not.
That being said, I thought the conversations around grief, childhood trauma, and emotional abuse/neglect were handled very well, and Phoebe's character arc was phenomenal. Also can we talk about Shani and Charlie? The Definition of soulmates.
Overall, although it might not have struck a chord with me, I could definitely see it being popular for romcom lovers and fans of Christina Lauren. If you fall into one (or both) of these categories, then I would recommend checking out Love in the Time of Serial Killers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment