Name: Leisha Chadwick's review of Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson
Item: Love in the Time of Serial Killers
Rating: 4
Author: Leisha Chadwick

Alicia Thompson

Turns out that reading nothing but true crime isn't exactly conducive to modern dating—and one woman is going to have to learn how to give love a chance when she's used to suspecting the worst. PhD candidate Phoebe Walsh has always been obsessed with true crime. She's even analyzing the genre in her dissertation—if she can manage to finish writing it. It's hard to find the time while she spends the summer in Florida, cleaning out her childhood home, dealing with her obnoxiously good-natured younger brother, and grappling with the complicated feelings of mourning a father she hadn't had a relationship with for years. It doesn't help that she's low-key convinced her new neighbor, Sam Dennings, is a serial killer (he may dress business casual by day, but at night he's clearly up to something). But it's not long before Phoebe realizes that Sam might be something much scarier—a genuinely nice guy who can pierce through her armor to her vulnerable heart underneath.

Love in the Time of Serial Killers

Turns out that reading nothing but true crime isn't exactly conducive to modern dating--and one woman is going to have to learn how to give love a chance when she's used to suspecting the worst. PhD candidate Phoebe Walsh has always been obsessed with true crime. She's even analyzing the genre in her dissertation--if she can manage to finish writing it. It's hard to find the time while she spends the summer in Florida, cleaning out her childhood home, dealing with her obnoxiously good-natured younger brother, and grappling with the complicated feelings of mourning a father she hadn't had a relationship with for years. It doesn't help that she's low-key convinced her new neighbor, Sam Dennings, is a serial killer (he may dress business casual by day, but at night he's clearly up to something). But it's not long before Phoebe realizes that Sam might be something much scarier--a genuinely nice guy who can pierce through her armor to her vulnerable heart underneath.

Emma Wolfe

I don't regret giving you my heart, Phoebe. I just wish you'd taken more care with it.

I'd need at least a half hour on You- Tube University to figure that one out, and then I'd probably kill my phone battery, too.

I was tempted to get back in the car, to drive to a local gas station and sit in the parking lot for one full podcast episode, then circle the block a few times before pulling into the driveway again. 

Francesca 

Leisha Chadwick

i’m in two minds as to what i think about this! i felt like i was doing my degree all over again which i hated btw but the fluffiness of the writing was quite a nice change from the morbid, dark literature that i usually read. i genuinely really enjoyed the quirkiness and modern feel of the authors writing style but i feel like it just needed more? there was no real build up & i was waiting for something that just never really happened.. i just had bigger expectations for it but it still wasn’t the worst 

(ps i am very much here for the office references✨)

brianna

Jennifer mitchell

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

This book is the epitome of the word fine.

It was really just fine. I normally write reviews with what I loved about the book and what I didn't, and I'm really struggling to do that for this book. There wasn't anything I really disliked about it, but there also wasn't anything I really loved. 

The story follows Phoebe, who is writing a dissertation about true crime. She temporarily moves to FL to pack up her dad's house and ends up meeting the next door neighbor, Sam. At first she thinks he may be a serial killer, but quickly realizes he might just be an actual nice guy.

My main gripe with this book is that it felt really repetitive. Phoebe spends at least 50% of the book writing her dissertation, which is cool! But also, I signed up to read a romance novel, not a PhD candidates dissertation. There were also a few unnecessary plot points that interrupted the flow of the story. It wasn't so bad that I stopped reading altogether, but it definitely slowed down my reading speed and made me put the book down at various times.

But overall, the story was cute and there were some moments of good chemistry between the characters. I thought the plot was fun and original (it was the reason I requested the ARC in the first place). I just didn't think this book was memorable. It was simply fine.

Olivia smith 

This was a cute book! I love the main character as she reminds me of myself. Too scared to meet new people and date because I’m a true crime junkie. It was an enjoyable read overall ☺️

Courtney

Arielle Anderson

** spoiler alert **
           2.5 but rounding to 3. There was so little romance. The joke of serial killer neighbor dragged on for so long. Ending felt rushed.

Claire Murray

I love this book so much! Phoebe is different from your average main character in a romance book, but that’s what makes this book so special. She starts extremely closed off from all relationships, and then realizes being vulnerable with old friends, her brother, and next door neighbour doesn’t have to lead to a inevitable doom. Having true crime wrapped up in the storyline was so unique!! i seen a lot of negative reviews saying “he should have ended up being a serial killer in the end as a twist” and to those people i say, you do realize this was a romantic comedy right?

😐 this was the most boring blandest book ever and I feel so bad for saying this but it just was. 

So much inner monologue and hundreds of pop culture references.

I read it up to page 100 then I skimmed the rest of it because I hate DNFing books. 

The FMC Phoebe was irritating me a bit and made me cringe I just couldn’t handle it.

Gabriela Kondratyuk

😐 this was the most boring blandest book ever and I feel so bad for saying this but it just was. 

So much inner monologue and hundreds of pop culture references.

I read it up to page 100 then I skimmed the rest of it because I hate DNFing books. 

The FMC Phoebe was irritating me a bit and made me cringe I just couldn’t handle it.

book 23 of the year done. not so bad. not so great. 3/5. it was fun but i feel it switched very quickly. no leading up to the relationship just jumping straight in. i liked the idea and the true crime references. just wish it was conveyed differently

this book…. Shocked me by how good it was. It being listed as a romance to me was so interesting considering a lot of the content was so reflective of Phoebe's specific journey with grief, love, and her career. It was so much about love but not just romantics, letting love exist and breaking cycles. AMAZING. love to see it.

Cici Pearson

I was instantly drawn in by the cover, but the story ended up missing the mark a bit for me. The premise of a true crime junkie moving next to someone she thinks is a serial killer is hilarious, and I was sure it would lead to ridiculous moments, but it was over too quickly. Phoebe admits her suspicions to Sam pretty early on, they laugh about it, and then it's done. I thought it would be more of a plot point than it was. Without that element, the rest of the story felt boring. It was a lot of Phoebe having conversations with different characters, taking care of the stray cat she found, and then working on her paper. Also, I wasn't her biggest fan; she was a bit too pithy and negative for my taste. The saving grace for me was Sam. He was adorable, and I liked how much he cared for Phoebe. It was satisfying watching her open up to him and start working through all the dark feelings she's carried for so long. Overall, it was fine, but it could've been better.

Francesca &
Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson

Reviews

Highlights

Join the club

Francesca &Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson

Reviews

Highlights

Join the club

Francesca &
Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson