My biggest problem with “Wicked Charm” is that everything from the cover to the synopsis implies that this is going to be a thriller/mystery type novel when instead that component plays a very small role in the overall plot, so small in fact if you took it out completely until about 90% into the book you wouldn’t notice a change in the story as a whole.

Willow moves into town and is living with her parents and grandmother when she meets your stereotypical bad boy next door who has a new girlfriend each week but might have something in his past to justify his bad behavior and our girl is completely enchanted from day one, despite you know the murders of girls who are all connected to him- oh and her parents are totally fine with her not only seeing him but going out alone into the swamp where the bodies have been found for late night chats and make out sessions.

This feels like it was trying to be something more but ended up wrapped into a sort of Freeform high school drama that happened to have a body count if you bothered to read the first couple lines of certain chapters where it was briefly mentioned and then forgotten until the rather short and ultimately unsatisfying climax. All of the characters where more like x, y, and z’s to plug into a formula that has worked for other authors to achieve success but for this novel fell flat as there was nothing more to them to where, as a reader you felt a connection or rooted for them to succeed or at the very least not be killed.

Overall I understand how some might enjoy it if they are looking for a quick, simple read with nothing else to it but what’s presented on the surface, but all in all I was disappointed.

**thank you to netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

I received an ARC copy from netgalley for my honest review,  so thank you netgalley and publishers for offering me this book! ♡
This is a story is about "Nothing good comes from living in the Devil's swamp.
Willow Bell thinks moving to the Okefenokee area isn't half bad, but nothing prepares her for what awaits in the shadows of the bog.
Girls are showing up dead in the swamp. And she could be next.
Everyone warns Willow to stay away from Beau Cadwell—the bad boy at the top of their suspect list as the serial killer tormenting the small town.
But beneath his wicked, depthless eyes, there's something else that draws Willow to him.
When yet another girl he knew dies, though, Willow questions whether she can trust her instincts…or if they're leading to her own death."
This was my first book by this author, however I did enjoy it! It was fast paced and just alltogether an easy read. I give this book a 3.5 star rating!