All the true crime junkies out there will relate to Phoebe in Love in the Time of Serial Killers. Honestly, if I could figure out how to get a PhD involving true crime research, I would do it.

Phoebe falls the Crime Junkie rule of being rude, staying alive by becoming instantly skeptical of her late father's neighbor, Sam. But, Phoebe's gruff exterior is more than just a crime junkie life rule. She has a walled off heart to pretty much everyone. Sam is one of those genuinely nice guys, and I'm kind of surprised he stuck around because sometimes I wanted to throttle Phoebe. Perhaps the real focus of the story is on everyone around Phoebe getting her to realize not everyone is going to bail on her. Her brother is a shining light of pure happiness, and it serves to further showcase how untrusting Phoebe is.

I enjoyed Love in the Time of Serial Killers and think fans of true crime books and podcasts will as well! The story does feel slow at times, but I think it is worth hanging in there!

Lee Daniels narrates the audio version and I thought she was great!! I highly recommend the audio version.

I went into this blindly as I usually do these days but I was taken in by the cover. My assumption was that the MC was going to fall for her neighbor despite the fact that she thinks he may be a serial killer, and hilarity would ensue. Well, dear reader, that is kinda true. But unfortunately, that plot line resolved itself pretty quickly and then it we just a lot of her defending her thesis of peoples fascination with true crime (including her own) and her trying to cope with the loss of her father and re establishing a relationship with her brother while they try to get their fathers house ready to sell after his death. The MC doesn’t really do any personal development, she just misses the guy she wants and could have if she would just communicate like an adult.
Overall, it’s not a bad read at all. It mentions several true crime books that I have read and some that are on my tbr and there were some funny bits but it wasn’t anything super memorable.
Thanks to Berkley Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

Phoebe has a bit of an obsession with true crime, most especially serial killers. Her obsession is so big she is doing her dissertation on it.

When she is called home following her dad's death, she begins to think her neighbor Sam is a serial killer. This book is a rom-com so you know where it's going.

I loved that the main characters were middle class, quirky, imperfect and oh so sweet.

I went into this with high expectations, expecting hilarity and tons of misunderstandings (think of the old movie the Burbs), so I was a bit disappointed.

This was a good story for those who geek out on true crime.

Suspicious romance lovers everywhere will delight in this entertaining rom-com from Alicia Thompson.

I can’t really say enough good things about the main character Phoebe. She is quirky, smart, and unhealthily obsessed with serial killers. As we get to know Phoebe, we realize she has some major self-esteem and attachment issues (for good reasons) that have made it hard for her to rely on other people or even ask for help. She’s a character with a lot of depth that I really enjoyed getting to know.

Sam, for his part, is a dreamy counterpoint to Phoebe. His kind has this geeky primary school music teacher thing that was endearing. I loved how much he loved Phoebe just the way she is. It was nice to see a love interest who was so all in, no casual dating for this guy, yet at the same time, he was willing to take it slow and let Phoebe be herself.

The banter between these two was pretty adorable and, at times, hilarious. They both had such a good sense of humour which I always appreciate. Nothing sexier than witty banter in my eyes.

I also enjoyed all the true crime bits we learn through Phoebe’s character. Watching her write her dissertation on true crime literature was really interesting, and I enjoyed the detail that Alicia put into this aspect of the book. I didn’t even know that was something I would enjoy! My favourite TV show growing up was Murder She Wrote, so maybe I should have seen that coming.

Overall, Love in the Time of Serial Killers is a highly satisfying and fun read.

Thank you, Berkeley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Phoebe is obsessed with true crime and is even doing her dissertation on it. She moves back to Florida to clean out her fathers home after his death and is instantly suspicious her neighbor, Sam, may be a serial killer. Until she realizes he is actually pretty cute 🥰

This was a cute, quirky rom com. I was expecting something a little darker with some actual murder but enjoyed reading about Phoebe and Sams relationship. I also loved her brother, Conner, and his girlfriend and loved the big scene of theirs at the end. There are some themes of family, learning to trust people and let love in. ❤️💗

Thanks to @berittalksbooks and @berkleyromance for the arc for an honest review!

DNF @43% I considered pushing myself to finish this because I had a review copy, but I'm more than far enough through now to know that this just isn't a book for me. Something about the main character just rubs me wrong and I can only really see her getting more on my nerves the deeper through I get. If you enjoy true-crime and pop culture references, this may still work for you!! But it was not for me and that is okay lol

CW: death of a loved one, grief, suicidal ideation

Love in the Time of Serial Killers is a slow-paced romance with a unique premise. Phoebe temporarily moves back home into her father’s house to clear it out and put it up for sale after his death.

She’s a thirty-year-old PhD student who is doing her dissertation on true crime. To say that she’s obsessed with true crime and lets it bleed into her day-to-day life would be an understatement. The instant she moves back, she becomes convinced that her handsome neighbour, Sam, is hiding something nefarious. The truth is that he’s just a shy, elementary school music teacher who made the mistake of moving into the house next to her father’s.

Phoebe’s extensive knowledge of true crime is hilarious in how she always seems to bring up serial killers at the most inappropriate times. In the beginning, however, I found her to be quite unlikable. Her obsession with true crime borders on the psychotic, and she uses it as an excuse to be incredibly rude to Sam when she first meets him. Honestly, the first 20% of the book reminded me of an AITA thread on reddit, where I kept saying “yes, definitely yes, you are the a$$hole.” In the beginning, her rudeness was harsher, and not particularly funny.

That said, as the book progressed, it became funnier. Sure, Phoebe is definitely NOT fun at parties, but her paranoia and extensive knowledge of serial killers made her into an interesting protagonist. As the book progressed, it became clearer that she uses her obsession with true crime as a defense mechanism–guarding herself from being hurt–emotionally. The handsome man next door can’t break her heart if she protects herself from his inevitable serial killer tendencies.

As the book progresses, the witty banter between Phoebe and Sam verges on mean on Phoebe’s side, but it becomes more humorous and less cringey. The sweet and shy Sam perfectly softens Phoebe’s sharp edges. Both Phoebe and Sam are very different types of antisocial, and I loved the juxtaposition of their personalities and how they handle their social awkwardness very differently.

This is ultimately an entertaining book for those who enjoy romances with an academic bent and a side of true crime.

Phoebe is writing her dissertation on the genre of true crime which is stressful enough without having to deal with cleaning out her dad's house after his sudden death. She's got a brother who wants to know her better, and a hot guy next door who has serial killer tendencies - soundproofed garage and middle of the night trips to his car. She's completely overwhelmed with everything in her life so when Sam, her neighbour, seems to be the kind of guy she'd like to get to know better, it's one more scary thing in her life.

I loved Phoebe's humour, her snark, her true crime references, loved the slow chemistry build between Phoebe and Sam, loved her growing relationship with her brother and best friend. And I always appreciate a woman chasing her doctorate.

Favorite Quotes:

I had no idea what my face was doing. In my mind, my eyes were wide with disbelief, my mouth opening and closing like a fish, my nostrils flaring with a barely contained exasperation. But outwardly, I must have been maintaining some semblance of control, because my brother was grinning at me like they’d just presented me with the greatest gift.

A four-year-old had lapped me twice and I officially left the last of my dignity back with my real shoes. I wasn’t going to see it again as long as I was wearing these wheeled bad boys.

Pat did appear to like animals way more than people. I had no doubt that she’d dangle a small toddler in front of an alligator if one came up the street.

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

My Review:

No serial killers were harmed, nabbed, or met during this story, although the main character of Phoebe had a somewhat disturbing lifelong fascination with them, to the extent of making them the focus of her doctoral dissertation on True Crime. Can you say, twisted sister?

These cleverly constructed and slyly paced storylines contained an odd dichotomy with an extremely angsty, graceless, and dark main character fleshed out and implanted into wryly humorous observations, heart-squeezing inner musings, a fledgling romance she wanted no part of, smoking hot sensual love scenes, and smirk-worthy comedic scenarios.

Phoebe was an acquired taste and difficult to fully appreciate most of the time as she was a smart yet prickly nerd with a sharp tongue. She was socially awkward and inwardly focused, yet self-sabotaging. I wanted to give her a pinch or ten and smack her with my Kindle more than once. Although she began to grow on me, bit by bit. Alicia Thomspon is a wily and insightful raconteur.

Phoebe is a PhD candidate who is very leery of strangers due to immersing herself in serial killer literature for her dissertation. She moves to her late father's house for the summer to help her brother get it ready to sell. Phoebe meets Sam late the first night and they don't exactly hit it off.

This was a quick read with fun banter, some steam and lots of serial killer tidbits. I really liked Sam! He was a regular guy who was a very relatable. It took me longer to warm up to Phoebe because she came off as abrupt and saw everything through her prism of serial killer information. But she grew on me as the story progressed and you learn that she and her brother Connor had a complicated childhood. Connor is a great secondary character and was a good balance for Phoebe. A cute epilogue wrapped up the story.
Thank you to the publisher for my e-copy of this book.

killer rom-com that kept me laughing from start to finish and kept me on my toes with its emotional depth.

Y’all, I grabbed this one on a whim because I love true crime, and the idea of falling in love with the very neighbor you thought had serial killer potential really appealed. And I am SO GLAD I read it. Alicia Thompson infuses this story with a dry, sarcastic humor that tickled my funny bone—more than once, I laughed out loud. But it wasn’t only the humor I found appealing here; Thompson did an excellent job of sketching a character, Phoebe, who is prickly, closed-off, and still somehow likable. She grows as the story does—learning to hold on and let go, admitting to her vulnerabilities, and giving herself the chance to find connections with others. Which is particularly important because I think it would be so easy to dislike her.

In and with Phoebe, Love in the Time of Serial Killers touches on more than just true crime obsession and the struggle of finding and keeping love. It also explores what grief does and does not look like, the importance of friendship, and how easy it can be to spiral out of control when under pressure. It illustrates how easy it is to use the past as a shield and how hard it is to lower than even when you know it’s necessary.

If this book is missing one thing, it’s Sam’s side of the story. I’m not typically one for retellings from the POV of another character, but in this case, if one existed that gave us more insight into Sam, I would snap it up. What did he see in Phoebe? Why was he so drawn to her? How did he handle the ups and downs of their relationship? These are all questions I’m dying to know the answers to. Just like I’m dying to know him a little better. I loved what we got of Sam, don’t get me wrong; I simply wish we were given more.

Even without that more, Love in the Time of Serial Killerstruly is a wonderfully enjoyable book and one I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.

"I was just giving in momentarily to the paranoia that is my evolutionary birthright for survival..."

Phoebe is in a phD program studying serial killers and more. Her deep dive into all of them makes her look at people about more cautiously and has some funny ideas about some of her new neighbors. Well she is the new neighbor actually moving into to clean out her father's house after he passes away.

It was interesting following the mc as she was working on her graduate papers and her program. Especially with all these distractions of her brother and his relationship, going through her father's things and the attractive guy that lives next door.

Phoebe has issues with commitment and seems to stop anything and anyone before they get too close. It's a defense mechanism but I don't think she wants to be alone. She just doesn't want to get hurt, emotionally of course.

Thank you berkleyromance and netgalley for my honest and voluntary review.

Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson was such a cute book. Very different from what I normally read. The main character, Phoebe, absolutely cracks me up. She literally had me laughing out loud at times. She is a little over the top with her obsession for True Crime. But I did love all the true crime references.
Phoebe’s brother, Connor, and his girlfriend, Shani, are like a ray of sunshine, especially next to Phoebe. They seem so innocent, naive. I fell in love with Sam. The author was so descriptive, I could picture him. I also really liked Phoebe and Sam together. I literally cried through an entire chapter….or more. I was rooting for them the entire time. I think this would make a cute Hallmark movie.

Phoebe is obsessed with true crime to the point that she’s even writing her dissertation about it. When her father passes away and she has to stay at his house to help her brother clean it out, she immediately suspects the neighbor, Sam, is a serial killer. Why else would he be covered in a mysterious liquid late at night or have plastic sheets inside his garage? As Phoebe learns more about Sam, she can’t help thinking maybe she’s wrong about him.

I was expecting this book to be darker, or at least for there to be more suspicious things going on at Sam’s house, but it was quirky, humorous, and witty! It was also full of pop culture references, which made the book even more fun! Sam was a genuinely decent, nice guy (aren’t all serial killers?), but I loved Phoebe’s cynical nature. It was nice to see her slowly let her guard down though as she reconnected with an old friend, bonded with a stray cat, and spent more time with Sam. I absolutely adored Phoebe’s relationship with her brother, Conner. I think they get the siblings of the year award! Conner was the sweetest, kindest guy, the yang to Phoebe’s yin. Conner’s relationship with his girlfriend was also adorable. This was a highly enjoyable and unique romcom! You’ll have to read it to find out if Sam was actually a serial killer!

Do you like watching or reading True Crime? Specifically those about serial killers?

I love watching documentaries on Netflix or listening to the Crime Junkies podcast, but I’m not as obsessed as Phoebe Walsh, the main character of Love in the Time of Serial Killers!!

Phoebe Walsh is obsessed with reading about True Crime—so much so, that she’s writing her dissertation on it. It’s hard to finish though when she has to go home to Florida. To the house she left when her parents got divorced. The house she has to fix up and sale now that her father has passed away. The father she hasn’t had a relationship with for years.

On the day she arrives, Phoebe meets her handsome neighbor Sam, who she thinks is a serial killer, (like Ted Bundy) thanks to her overactive True Crime obsession. Realizing her neighbor is just an average school teacher, Phoebe and Sam start up a “neighbors with benefits” relationship—although Sam has actual feelings for Phoebe, but she keeps making excuses for why they can’t be together.

I really enjoyed this book. Fast-paced, fun and totally bingeable. I loved the True Crime talk and the “will they? won’t they?” of the relationship. Oh, and the steamy scenes!! 🥵

I really loved Sam. He was adorable and needs to be protected at all costs!! I also loved the relationship between Phoebe and her brother Conner, it felt very genuine. Definitely recommend this one if you want to read a cute romcom during spooky season.

Thank you to netgalley, berkleypub and lovearctually for the opportunity to read and review the eARC early in exchange for my honest review. I enjoyed it so much that I preordered a finished copy!! 💛

This book covered a lot of hard topics, grief, difficult parental relationships, anxiety, trust issues, and more—but it was also absolutely delightful.

Phoebe's self-sabotage was just starting to be a little much but the author was able to rein her in at just the right time and show some growth to keep her on the side of being loveable. Sam was a delicious cinnamon roll the whole way through.

There were so many complicated relationships, between Phoebe and her parents, her brother, her former best friend. She'd been hurt and confused so often as a kid that she tended to push people away as an adult. But Sam was able to see that and be patient enough with her to allow her time to grow and work through the things she needed to. Plus, you know, therapy is worth its weight in gold.

As I mentioned, even though there were some heavy topics, there were moments of levity and humor as well. I loved Phoebe's inner monologues as well as the snappy dialogue between characters. Overall the characters all felt very real to me, warts and all.

Phoebe, our main character, is finishing her doctorate program and her dissertation involves true crime. I love how the author incorporates several famous books written about serial killers to give depth to Phoebe dissertation work as well as show just how immersed she has become in the true crime world. And she is in deep. So it is no surprise that when she meets Sam, the next door to Phoebe's recently deceased father, she thinks he might be a serial killer.

Phoebe has issues with trust and takes relying on only herself to the next level. But as the story progresses we see some major changes in her. With a fantastic brother, Connor, and his caring girlfriend, Phoebe begins to see that relationships can be supportive and healthy. Sam is incredibly patient and clearly talks about his emotions and what he needs in a relationship, which is refreshing.

I liked this one so much. It is not a dark read inspite of the title. I hope to read more from this author.

I'm going to start my review with the fact that I didn't finish Love in the Time of Serial Killers. I was fortunate to have not only an early Netgalley copy, but also an early audio copy, but I just wasn't able to connect with the story or the characters. I've looked at other reviews that are positive, and I can agree with a lot of the comments, leading me to ultimately conclude that this is a it's-not-you-it's me situation and that not all books work for everyone.

Thanks so much for the opportunity read early!

I loved this mash up of romance, family healing and loss, and US serial killers.
Phoebe returns to home to help her brother pack up their dad's house, do some touchups and put on the market. Her relationship with her dad was lacking - he gravitated towards verbal abuse and yelling. As she packs up his belongings - he was borderline hoarder but not tv show bad lol, Phoebe begins to make peace with the man he had been.
While slightly obsessively watching her attractive neighbor, Sam. He's suspiciously nice. Some sort of activity going on in the garage.
And gorgeous.
They strike up a friendship - Phoebe is a hot mess, struggling to finish her PhD and cope with life.
Very enjoyable slow build relationship. Loved the inclusion of anxiety, real life circumstances and talking about issues.

3.5. This is sweeter than I was expecting; parts of Phoebe's arms-length approach to life got old quickly, but the romance is cute (albeit with less serial-killer incorporation than I thought there would be), and I enjoyed getting to know her brother, his girlfriend, and Alyssa. (Notably, Alicia Thompson does a decent job describing the duties of a public librarian, even if we all aren't incredibly organized with a penchant for cats and cardigans.)