Cosimano is a successful American author of several YA novels, but this is her first adult release. The book is a humorous mystery and features Finlay, a divorced mother of two young children who is in debt and barely hanging on. She is a book writer and is way behind on getting the draft of her next mystery book to her agent. As they discuss plot possibilities in a local restaurant, Finlay notices a nearby woman staring at her. After her agent leaves, the woman slips her a note offering her $50,000 to kill her husband, having mistaken her for a hitman. Thus begins this madcap adventure. In addition to the humour and mystery there is also an element of romance. It would be a great recommendation for fans of Janet Evanovich, or mystery fans looking for something a little lighter.

I had a lot of fun reading Finlay Donovan!

The book tells the story of poor Finlay Donovan who is going through a very rough time. As an author suffering from writer’s block, the bills are mounting without the financial means to pay them, and now her sleazy ex-husband and his traitorous real estate agent fiancé are trying to take full custody of her two small children. The story begins as Finlay has missed her breakfast appointment with her agent due to her missing babysitter as well as her four years old’s disastrous self-induced haircut and a very cranky two years old. After being told by her sleazy ex, Steven, that he laid off the babysitter, Finlay has no choice but have him watch the kids so she can meet her agent to try to get an extension on the book she has been contracted for. Absently throwing the bloody shears in the diaper bag she heads out to the Panera to meet with Sylva. There she explains her morning as “sorry head wounds take forever to clean up” while her unsympathetic agent asks her where she is with her deadline. While they have this conversation another Panera customers notices the bloody shears and completely misinterprets the conversation. This customer then offers Finlay $50,000 to off her husband. So begins this crazy romcom.

I found this book very entertaining and it was nonstop action. Finlay is a flakey heroine that has you both rooting for her and wanting to slap some sense into her. Love, love, love Vero, her unflappable and feisty nanny/accountant. Plus, who needs Steven when she has both dreamy Julian and sexy cop Nick vying for her. There was a personal element for me as well having grown up in Northern VA my entire life. It was very fun to see my neighborhoods mentioned throughout the story. I really like how the book wrapped up with nothing left unanswered. However, the ending made me feel that Finlay will have a sequel. If there is a sequel, sign me up!

It was a good book reminded me of the Janet Evanovich books. It kept me entertained all the way through. I really enjoyed the book

First things first, this story not only made me laugh out loud but it's completely unique. As an avid reader, I find books start to be quiet repetitive but that wasn't the case with "Finlay Donovan Is Killing It".

Finlay is a stressed out, recently divorced mom of 2 who is trying to write her next novel -- one worth the big bucks and the respect of those around her. While chatting with her agent in Panera, a chance encounter provides Finlay with more than she bargain for to help ends meet. Before Finlay knows it, she's a very active member in a real life murder investigation. What ensues is an one of a kind story that involves the mob, a hot lawyer AND police officer, a nosey neighbor, a honest 5 year old and a complice that's the perfect hype girl.

It took me a bit to get into this book, but once I was in, I couldn't put it down. Finlay is a great character (as are all of the secondary characters). The plot was delicious. I never knew what was going to happen next. Super fun book.

Finlay Donovan is Killing It
Publishes 2/2/21
Several friends mentioned that I had to read this book, it combines a mystery and comedy which has been my favorite thing lately. After reading Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano I now completely understand the hype. It is well deserved. There were moments while reading this book that I thought, “How is she in my head?”

Finlay is a divorced mother of 2 with an ex husband that is a habitual cheater. Finlay is struggling to get her life together after the divorce. She’s also an author who is behind on her deadline. A chance meeting in a Panera Bread leads Finlay down a path that leads to murder for hire, mischief and some of the funniest improbable moments I have ever read. Finlay and her nanny Vero have the best sarcastic one liners ever. Their shenanigans as hit women for hire were nothing short of a wild ride.

I honestly couldn’t have loved this book more. It was so much fun to read and well written. I sat down to just take a look and was half way through the book before I knew it. Holding my attention has been a struggle this year so thank you to Elle Cosimano for this amazing escape from reality.

Thank you to @netgalley @minotaur_books and @ellecosimano for my advanced reader’s copy. I was thrilled to hear Elle is already working on book 2! I need more Finlay in my life.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.5 stars

This book was a LOT of fun!!!!
Fresh. Well written. Funny. Smart. Entertaining.

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It had it all. And I hope that everyone who loves well written mysteries, with entertaining plots and protagonists that are likable and easily to root for, will pick it up. You do not want to miss out on this book.

I devoured it in two sittings. Even skipped out on a workout because I didn’t want to put it down. And afterwards I wanted to start the next book asap. Luckily, Amazon calls it “the first in a brilliant new series”. That’s exciting news.

What I loved about the book:

smart and engaging characters (especially Finlay and Vero)
many LOL moments, honestly I had so much fun with this story
the beginning of a possible love story
a fantastic mystery
and an orignial plot
Truly, this book is going to be a crowd pleaser. The balance of mystery, great characters and witty writing was incredibly well done. I just flew through it.

I think what I loved the most about this book was the team work between Finlay and her nanny Vero. Finlay had her hands full, literally, and Vero was the help she needed in more than one way. A mother/nanny duo was just what I needed. And I just loved how well they worked together. From one mishap to the next, they had each other’s back.

Also the many laugh out loud moments, thanks to the ridiculous things that happened throughout the book, made this novel a very enjoyable book. It’s not wonder that I had a fantastic time with this book, and I’m definitely signing up for more!!

Thank you so much @Minotaur_Books & @NetGalley for giving me this physical ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 02 February 2021)

SYNOPSIS | Finlay Donovan is a struggling writer who is in a custody battle with her ex-husband and has so many unpaid bills that at this point she is just pretending they don't exist. She meets up with her agent in Panera to discuss her new book however she is then mistakenly hired as a contract killer by the woman at the next table over.

WHAT I LIKED:
- fantastic blend of genres (I don't think I've ever read a humorous mystery before)
- this is such a unique & fun story concept (to fully enjoy you do need to suspend your disbelief though!)
- hooked from the first sentence
- i scoffed out loud on multiple occasions
- Finlay is highly relatable & the definition of a hot mess

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- i wasn't particularly attached or rooting for either of the romantic options

Finlay Donovan is a not-very-successful, recently divorced writer, on the verge of falling into poverty. She literally stumbles on a new career option, which helps turn her lackluster romance novels into riveting murder mysteries. Fun read! You'll want to get to know these characters better. Awaiting a sequel.

I was really expecting to love this one but I only ended up liking it.

It's a fun but over-the-top, comedy and mystery. Finlay Donovan is a newly divorced struggling mother of two. She's a mystery/thriller writer that is suffering writer's block. She finds herself entangled in her own mystery that in turn helps her to write a hit novel!

The story is original and I love the part Panera Bread plays in the novel. That was cute and funny but I didn't warm to Finlay right away nor did I find her all that funny. Perhaps it's just that I found some of her story to be too improbable however I liked the writing and the cliffhanger at the end. I'll read the next instalment for sure.

I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press as well as Minotaur Books for granting me access to this Advanced Reader Copy.

This was a fun read. Finlay is struggling to pay the bills as a writer, having recently split from her husband. Through a misunderstanding she’s offered $50,000 to carry out a hit on another woman’s husband.

You do need to take the story with a pinch of salt! In parts it is a little unbelievable. Her role as a mom is written so well though, it’s very true to life. She’s a great character and reminded me almost of a Bridget Jones type, doing what other people wouldn’t dare and getting away with it.

The ending of the novel paves the way for a second, VERY interesting book. Watch this space!

Loved it. Funny fun smart bumbling ridiculous but believable. A really enjoyable book that was fun to read. Light but not cheesy. I felt Finlay in her struggling young motherhood overwhelmed and just trying to stand on her own two feet. I loved it.

Finlay Donovan is a struggling suspense writer who’s entire life seems to be falling apart. She’s a single mom, behind on bills, and no ideas for her next book. At a meeting with her agent, another customer overhears Finlay and thinks she is a hit woman. This customer leaves a note for Finlay offering $50,000 for her to kill this woman’s husband. While Finlay tried to get out of this situation she also finds herself wanting to know more about this man. One bad decision leads to another and she is very quickly in over her head.

This is a book that sounds absolutely ridiculous, and in many ways it is, but I also couldn’t put it down. It had a little bit of everything: comedy, romance, mystery and suspense all rolled into one book and I flew through it! Despite Finlay’s poor judgment and constant bad decisions I was rooting for her.

Another minor thing I loved, as I was reading it occurred to me that this book was happening in the Washington DC suburbs on Northern VA - where I’ve lived for most of my life 😍. It’s always fun to read about towns and places I’m super familiar with. That personal connection made it extra exciting to visualize the story.

This was an original storyline that was so fun to read. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that there will be more of Finlay coming 🤞🏼.

Thank you to NetGally and Minotaur Books for the advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Finlay Donovan is Killing It will be released in February 2nd. Be sure to grab a copy of this one!

THIS BOOK WAS SO FUN! I wasn't sure how I felt at first and it definitely requires some suspension of disbelief but it wasn't long before I found myself hooked. I was laughing out loud as Finlay navigated her personal, professional, and, uh, extracurricular messes (particularly at some scenes between Finlay and Steven when he realizes she's moving on). Finlay and Vero are easy to root for and they had me at the edge of my seat to see if they'd make it out in one piece. Cosimano also set it up beautifully for a sequel and I would love for a number of books in this universe!

Finlay is a unsuccessful crime writer, recently divorced with two kids. Until a woman overhears her meeting with her boom agent and assumes she’s a murderer-for-hire.
This was a fun romp through Russian mobs, mistaken identity and female friendship that hooked me with the truth of the opening sentence “it is a widely know fact that most moms are ready to kill someone by 8:30am on any given morning.”
Indeed.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC.

Finlay Donovan’s life is mess. But even she couldn’t predict how much messier it would get when she’s mistaken for a contract killer.

I could not put this one down. Finlay is sharp, sarcastic, and realistic from the very first chapter. I found myself vocally agreeing with her various thoughts on more than one occasion as I read. And as the plot unfolds, I couldn’t help but cheer her on.

The circumstances are outlandish, and Finlay a bit too apt to go along with things, but I enjoyed every moment. And as often as I rolled my eyes, I was laughing out loud. Well worth the evening I spent devouring this one. And now I’m already desperate for more! I will eagerly await more of Finlay’s story.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review via NetGalley.

Super fun premise with laugh out loud moments.
If you’re a fan of the show Dead to Me, this is the book for you.

I'll give this one a 3.5. It kept me entertained and was a quick read. It centered on Finlay, a recently divorced mother of two who is struggling to make ends meet writing crime/mystery fiction. She meets with her agent at Panera to discuss her falling behind on deadlines and a woman at the next table thinks Finlay is a serial killer. The woman drops a note at Finlay's table asking her to kill her husband. From there the story gets pretty ridiculous (though still entertaining). Finlay makes lots of decisions that no sane person would make - actually going to see the man she's supposed to kill, keeping in touch with the bartender who was a witness to some of her questionable choices, etc. Without giving spoilers, there was another character's death toward the end of the book that was truly ridiculous. However, it was light and interesting enough to still be enjoyable. The cliffhanger at the end was intriguing too. (Also, kind of random but I've never heard the term 'wig-scarf' before. I figured out what it was based on context but it felt a little strange to have this term so frequently peppered throughout the book.)

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This is funny, silly and sexy. Imagine being mistaken for a hitwoman. Imagine, sort of, doing it. Just a great idea. And the ending is absolutely killer! I can't wait.

Holy smokes! This was AMAZING!

The cover alone caught my attention from the beginning but the story kept me invested.

Omgosh this writing story line was FANTASTIC! Between the wry humor and a good murder mystery I couldn’t stop reading. Surprising I had several laugh out loud moments in this book.

Highly recommend! Fantastic and kept me engaged in the story.