I know it is very early in the year, but I foresee this being one of my favorite books of 2021! Thank you to both Minotaur Books and Netgalley for copies of Finlay Donovan is Killing It in exchange for an honest review. Finlay Donovan is a struggling writer trying to stay afloat in her mess of a life. Then a crazy opportunity transpires in the dining room of a Panera when she is mistakenly overheard speaker to her publicist about killing someone (in regards to her upcoming novel) and is offered money to kill a husband involved in horrible activities. Against her better judgement, Finlay disguises herself and attends an event at a local bar where the husband is and the events that occur afterwards will change Finlay's life forever!

I loved the comedy aspect of this unexpected thriller novel, I had to hold in laughter multiple times while the rest of my household was asleep! I also loved how flawed the main character was, it was just enough that you wanted to yell at her for some of her decisions, but still root her on in hopes of a happy ending! I heard that this could possibly be turning into a TV show and I am so here for it, I want to see Finlay and her sidekick Vero come to life and I'm excited which actresses are chosen for their roles. And that epilogue! It leaves you wanting so much more and hope that a second book is in the works. Thank you so much Elle for creating a really fun story that has everything you could possibly want in a comedy turned thriller novel!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me an ARC of Finlay Donovan Is Killing It in exchange for an honest review.

Finlay Donovan is a writer of lightly-read romantic suspense novels, but she’s late with her latest draft and at risk of having to forfeit her advance. She’s behind on her bills, and now her ex-husband is engaged to their former real estate agent and is gearing up to fight for custody of their two kids. In short, Finlay’s life is a mess.

And then one day someone overhears Finlay talking to her agent about her books and gets the mistaken impression that Finlay is a contract killer. By the time Finlay realizes what happening, she’s unwittingly agreed to kill this woman’s husband for $50,000. In part out of curiosity about why this woman wants her husband dead, in part feeling like this situation might give her a new idea for a book, and in part thinking about the money, Finlay begins to investigate the man she’s been hired to kill. Before long, Finlay has a body to bury, a new nanny/roommate/partner-in-crime named Vero, a possible hot bartender boyfriend, a possible hot police office boyfriend, but only if she can avoid being arrested for a murder she didn’t commit and avoid being killed for getting mixed up with the wrong people.

Gritty, realistic crime fiction this is not. Finlay makes a few choices early that you just have to accept in order to get into the story. And some of the characters are a bit one-dimensional and cliché. But the story works because Finlay is a well-developed character who you can’t help but root for, and her partnership with Vero is consistently hilarious and full of snarky banter. Finally, the story works because at the heart of the tale is one big mystery and several smaller ones that were unpredictable.

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It is a fun read, with lots of snarky banter and a fast-moving plot full of twists and turns. Recommended.

Such a fun read! I had hit a reading slump and needed something to get me out and this was the answer! The MC did take me a while to warm up too but I eventually did. The plot isn't anything revolutionary but that doesn't mean it wasn't a good read. Would definitely recommend!

Hooked from the very first sentence I could not put this book down. Finlay has not a single good thing going for her. She’s behind on all of her bills, she’s behind on writing the book that’s due to her agent, her husband left her for their real estate agent and just the general chaotic life of two young children. Long story short life is falling apart.
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After a woman overhears her explaining her plot with her agent she mistakenly assumes she’s a killer for hire and she hires her to kill her husband. After a series of misadventures Finlay’s life is set off on a course she never expected, all with her trusted friend by her side and a dose of humor.
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This was such a unique story of just your average mom in yoga pants who falls into the life of a hit woman. With dark humor and so many different pieces to form the perfect puzzle this book is smart and witty. This was a perfect ending and I truly hope there is a book two that I can devour soon.

My first book of 2021 was a 5 star read! I absolutely loved Finlay Donovan is Killing It. I was lucky enough to receive a copy of the book from @Netgalley and I will be discussing with @lovearctually tomorrow night! This book was so fast paced that just couldn’t put it down.

Finlay Donovan is a down on her luck author, a newly single mom of two young kids, and in desperate need of a break. She meets her agent in a Panera to discuss her latest book and a woman overhears her discussing and thinks she’s a hired hitwoman! She gets stuck in the middle of with her nanny, Vero, and they get into so many high jinks. There’s also many flirtations with two men and lots of laughs. Everything that can go wrong does and Finlay is always stuck right in the middle. It was such a fun and exciting start to 2021!

Finlay and all her situations reminded me so much of Stephanie Plum. I love that they both just happen to end up places with guns and mobsters. The supporting cast of characters in both also help make the stories! Vero and Finlay make such an unlikely friendship and I think this is what made the book for me.

Thank you to @netgalley, @minotaurbooks, and @ellecosimano for the advanced reader copy. I’m also very excited the author is already working on book 2 because I need waaaay more of Finlay. This book is out on February 2 and you should absolutely be adding Finlay Donovan is Killing it to your TBR!

5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Received this from NetGalley in exchange for an hones review. Thank you.
I started this with high hopes and unreasonable expectations. New year, new free book. But, I could not put this book/story down.
A fun romp comedy of errors. When Finley finders herself in a sad state, about to loose her home, children and her low paying book deal, she gets an offer she can't refuse. Just take out a women's evil husband for $50k. While Fin wants to do this for the money, the fact she does not want to kill anyone, causes a bit of a problem.
In the final credits the writer just might have a great series. I hope to read the next . I will follow this writer

I was immediately sucked into Finlay Donovan is Killing It. The book starts with this truism: “It’s a widely known fact that most moms are ready to kill someone by eight thirty a.m. on any given morning.” The first scene is the sort of morning that any mom will recognize immediately, fraught with an absent nanny, a home haircut, a lot of maple syrup, and almost missing an important meeting you really can’t miss.

Recently divorced single mom Finlay Donovan has already missed a deadline to get her book to her agent, and she’s in danger of having to pay back her paltry already-long-ago-spent advance. While discussing the finer points of her murder plot with her agent at a Panera, a woman at the next table overhears and misunderstands, mistaking Finlay for a contract killer and tries to hire her to get rid of her husband. And that’s just the start of the craziness of this witty, hopefully-a-series mystery available February 2nd.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Finlay’s exploits although some of them did push my that-could-never-really-happen button. There’s a great female friendship at the center of this book, and I think one of the bigger themes was female empowerment and the importance of supporting each other. A theme I love and want to read more of! What makes it even better is knowing that the spark of the idea for this book came from a group of women supporting each other. The author had the idea with her critique partners at a Panera when they worried about how their murder-filled conversation might sound to an eavesdropper.

The book has a bit of a love triangle, a lot of funny parenting debacles, and many, many female detective hijinks. Overall, this was just a really fun book to read, and, having loved @ellecosimano YA books, I was thrilled to get a chance to read this one early. While all the main story threads do get wrapped up, be forewarned that there’s a bit of a cliffhanger. I’m hoping we get a book two soon!

I’ve been reading this as part of a buddy read with @lovearctually. Thanks to @netgalley, @minotaur_books and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

What an unexpected gem this was!! I loved it! A hot mess protagonist turns in to quite the badass. Cannot with that last line. There’s gotta be a book 2 and I need it now!! What a surprise hit for me (see what I did there ;) so glad this fun book was my first read of 2021. Well done and reminiscent of the tv show Good Girls which I also adore.

I was pleasantly surprised with this one! It started off pretty slow for me, and the first couple of chapters I had jumped to conclusion that Finlay Donovan was a divorcee who was trying to read a book that couldn't get her shit together and how in the world was she actually going to perform the task she had at hand (without spoilers). As I kept on, I actually really enjoyed this book! I loved the plot twists, I loved the fact that she still considered her ex- real estate's fate as her children's soon to be step mom, and I love Vero! I wish I had a Vero in my life.

I simply really enjoyed this book. This had all the great plots and twists, romance, friendship, relationship that you could ask for in a book. AND- I love the ending! I can't wait to read the next book (there has to be with that ending!).

Thank you Netgalley for giving me a chance to review this for an honest review! 4 stars!

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press/Minotaur Books for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review. Finlay Donovan is Killing it comes out February 2nd!

“I’m not taking a penny less than fifteen thousand…. Let’s bury this one and move on to the next.”

Finlay Donovan is a single mother of two kids whose ex husband left her for the realtor. She is also a writer and broke. She has to write a stellar novel to help pay her bills. Nothing seems to be going her way. Her babysitter was fired, she needs her ex to help pay her bills and she’s close to losing custody of her children. She meets with her agent and is told she must produce a novel and fast. As she writes, her novel is leaning closely with reality as she becomes involved in a murder investigation.

What did I like:
1. This book is hilarious. I have never read a mystery book that has made me laugh so much. The characters personalities and their banter and were so funny at times my abs hurt from laughing. (ok I might be exaggerating a tad but it was super funny and I laughed a lot)
2. The characters. I loved them all. All the characters were pretty likable, even the bad guys. I especially loved Vero, who was the fired babysitter who was rehired (read and find out why) and became a good friend. I need a Vero in my life.
3. The overall story was fast paced and well written. I seriously loved everything about this book. Will probably be a top read in 2021.
4. I don’t know why but I kept getting Dead to Me vibes while reading this.

What did I not like:
1. My only complaint was how the detective involved Finlay in the investigation. I am not sure that’s totally believable but at the same time it added a lot of value of the story. It is a work of fiction and so I can live with that.

Overall, this is such a fun read! I highly recommend it!

I enjoy reading books about authors and the literary world they work in. I also love a good mystery. Finlay Donovan Is Killing It combines these two interests and wraps it up in one entertaining package. This book is Elle Cosimano’s debut into adult fiction and I sincerely hope that she will continue writing in this genre.

Finlay Donovan is a single mother of two in deep financial debt. She’s already taken and spent the advance on her next book, but can’t find the time or a story to write about - particularly now that her estranged husband has fired the nanny. She meets with her literary agent over lunch to discuss the book she’s supposed to be writing and is overheard by a woman who believes she is a contract killer. Out of a need to get out of financial debt, she inadvertently finds herself accepting the offer to kill this woman’s husband for $50,000.

What transpires is a humorous set of events that delves Finlay deeper and deeper into a world she doesn’t belong. With the assistance of Vero, her once fired and now live in nanny, Finlay finds herself being able to write a story similar to reality. But will she get herself out of this mess in time to complete her book?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story is well developed, and the characters were both interesting and likeable. There were many humorous moments in the book which I appreciated. I loved the addition of Vero as Finlay’s partner in crime - she’s supportive, gutsy and a little crazy. While parts of the story were a little predictable, it didn’t decrease my level of enjoyment for the book. The set up is there for a sequel to this book and I will be watching with interest for one.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.

Suspend all disbelief before you open this book. Then prepare to go on one of the wildest rides you're likely to take this reading season. For example, Finlay Donovan is a moderately successful author/housewife. Things aren't going well for her as the book begins; she's out of money, the bills are piling up, her ex-husband is threatening to take her to court for her children, and the children are in the kitchen playing with scissors and syrup. Never a good setup for a calm life.

In the things can't get worse department, Finlay meets with her agent and the woman sitting at the table next to them overhears part of their conversation. Problem is, she jumps to the conclusion Finlay is a contract killer and before you know it she's given Finlay a huge wad of cash to kill her husband. Before she can extricate herself from the situation, Finlay's situation goes from bad to worse again, and then, try as she might to dig out of the problem she only succeeds in digging a deeper hole.

In the process, Finlay hires her former nanny, who was fired by the ex, to help her get out of the sticky situation. As they go about addressing the problem, things continue as....well, you need to read it for yourself. To give you too much information in advance would likely lessen your enjoyment of the book. Suffice it to say, prepare for a wildly unlikely tale, some terrific sticky situations, and a whole lot of fun.

This is the perfect counterpoint when you've been reading too many serious "who dun-its". My thanks to St. Martin Press/Minotaur Books for an advance copy of this book for review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Finished this right before 2020 ended and it was such a cute book to end the year on. It took a murder mystery and gave it a little humour and levity.

FInlay is a mystery author, not all that successful in her first books and struggling with coming up with something for her next release. Her life is a mess, bill piling up and long past due, her cheating husband engaged to his mistress and threatening to take her kids, her agent breathing down her neck. When someone over hears a conversation and mistakes Finlay for something she is not she's made an offer she can't refuse....but she probably should.

This book made me laugh and also cringe with anxiety throughout, it had a great pace keeping me engrossed throughout and was such an easy read. I would best describe it as chick-lit with a dash of thriller for some spice.

Definitely recommend!

I got Finlay Donovan is Killing It and finished it in a day. This is very rare for me.⠀
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Finlay Donovan writes murder mysteries and she’s behind deadline for her latest book, like really behind. The worst part, she has a lot going on in her personal life and she has no inspiration for a new novel. When she meets her agent, she’s overheard discussing plot ideas and someone mistakes her for a hit-woman. Then things get interesting. ⠀
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Between a unique plot and quirky characters, this book has something for everyone.

I didn’t read the description of Finlay Donavan is Killing It so I didn’t know what I was getting into. I’ll admit it, I thought the cover was cute. I enjoyed this book so much. I really liked the story of this mom turned contract killer and actually laughed out loud in several places. Finlay is a struggling author with a jerk of an ex-husband threatening to take custody of their two kids. He even fired her babysitter! Can her life get any messier? You’ll have to read the book to find out for yourself. 4⭐️

First of all, I would like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of Finlay Donovan is Killing It.

I think I might be into mystery books after reading this super fresh and spunky mystery. I usually am not one for scary books, but this one wasn’t scary but definitely had me at the edge of my seat waiting to see where the plot would take me. I also was not expecting this book to be about a murder by the looks of the illustrated cover.

This was such a unique and laugh out loud mystery, with a little bit of flirting thrown in. I could totally see this book turn into a movie, and definitely with a sequel after reading the cliff-hanging epilogue.

I highly recommend this book if you love a good mystery that isn’t all that serious, or if you have always wished you loved mystery books and what to dive into a new genre.

Finlay Donovan is the antihero I didn’t know I needed! Hilariously embroiled in a murder for hire plot, this mystery is a funny who-dun-it. Compulsively readable and I can’t wait for the next in the series!

This was such a fun read and I really loved the originality of the concept.

Finlay is an author who is having a very bad year. In the midst of a messy custody battle with a husband who left her for a “newer model” and a negative balance in her cheque book, add on being behind with delivering her next book and no idea where to begin with writing it, it’s not a good time. She writes under a pseudonym and wears a “wig scarf” disguise to meet up with her agent where someone mistakes her for a hit man for hire and ridiculousness ensues! Throw in the Russian mob and a babysitter who has her back and a few new suitors and many other layers and you have a wild ride that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

I had a bit of bad timing reading this over the Christmas Holidays and found myself distracted from it many times I wish I had been able to read it uninterrupted as I think I would have enjoyed it even more. I had heard so many good things about this and had been really looking forward to it and had to keep reminding myself that it was supposed to by implausible and fun! The writing was really good and I was surprised to see that this was Elle Cosimano’s first adult novel!

I didn’t fully connect with the characters but did find their choices true and believable (even if they left me thinking, why would you do that?? 😂) and that’s all that matters to me, I don’t have to like them, I just need to get them. I will for sure tune in to what looks like the set up for a sequel but that being said, I wont probably think too much about the characters in the meantime, I think that’s what stopped it from being a 5 star for me.

But please don’t get me wrong, I did really enjoy this and it was a lot of outrageous fun, and I definitely recommend that you see if Finlay is killing it! 🔪

**Thank-you to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book which will publish on February 2nd 2021**

When I started this novel, it sounded a bit different than my usual reads.
Finlay Donovan is a struggling, suspense novelist, single mom, and is struggling from drowning in debt. She gets mistaken as a hired killer and offered $50,000. Which, of course, it extremely tempting!
I soon discovered that Finlay and Nick are sure a lot like Stephanie Plum and Joe Morelli; Nanny/accomplice Vero, although much much younger and not exactly but somewhat similar to Grandma Mazur; however, no one is quite like Lula!!

Although described as a ‘dark comedy’ I guess because of the way Finn gets caught up in being a murderer! But to me it is a situation “The Bounty Hunter’ would easily find!

This story is fun read ~ a total treat!


Want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press ~ Minotaur Books for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for professional review purposes only. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for February 2, 2021

Wow.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

When a book starts out- “It is a widely known fact that most moms are ready to kill someone by eight thirty AM on any given morning.” you know you’re in for something good. (Especially for a mom stuck in quarantine for months with two young children and a husband working from home!) I was sucked in from that first line. I have never read a book quite like this.

Finlay Donovan is trying her best to stay afloat after her cheating husband moved out with his mistress. She’s left with no control and no money. She has to juggle motherhood while providing for her kids on her measly author salary all while dealing with her ex. After he fires their babysitter she’s late to meet with her editor and her life spirals from there. She is strangely offered a job to murder someone’s mobster husband which is convenient as she writes murder mysteries (but knows nothing about killing someone.) She’s not a murderer, but a mom who would do anything not to lose her kids. She teams up with her babysitter and attempts to get control of her life back.

I simultaneously didn’t want this book to end and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to know what would happen next. Finlay’s choices gave me anxiety but also totally intrigued me. She was so relatable I felt like I could be her (but wouldn’t want to be faced with her life.) I had crazy dreams after reading one night- thats how invested I was in this story. I loved the real news of Finlay’s character as well as Vero, the babysitter. Nothing beats a good murder mystery especially when you’re on the very confused side trying to figure it out too. There was one part of the story I didn’t love as it turned out to be too much of a coincidence for me but can totally look past it. I was speculating and guessing the whole time. And the epilogue! Phew! I can not wait to read the next one!