I only got 10% in before I had to DNF. The MC was insufferable almost immediately and I wasn’t going to vibe with that throughout the whole book. Thank you for the opportunity!

I've been excited about this book since I read the announcement - a romcom about a true-crime obsessed woman (for reasons) who can't decide if the cute guy next door is boyfriend material or a serial killer? I mean, c'mon - brilliant!! And the execution was everything I wanted and more. Phoebe is sarcastic, closed-off, and wounded, but she's so soft inside. And Sam...SAM is my new favorite book boyfriend. There is so much to love about this book. It's funny, sweet, sexy, and a little sad all at once. I can't wait to see what the author brings us next!

What would you do if you thought your neighbor was a serial killer? Would you a. Ask this person outright b. Spy with binoculars on this person's whereabouts or c. Just ignore the creepy feelings you are getting. You'll want to read Alicia Thompson's Love in the Time of Serial Killers if you wish to discover how Phoebe gets herself out of this pickle.

Phoebe has come into town to clean up her dad's house, write her dissertation on true crime and then move on with her life. What she doesn't expect are the creepy feelings she gets automatically when her neighbor pops up on her in the middle of the night, welcoming her as she just pulls in for the first night. Immediately, she suspects Sam is a serial killer and shares her theories with her little brother, Connor. But as time moves on Phoebe quickly discovers that Sam may not be the killer that she imagines but rather an adorable next door neighbor.

I enjoyed Alicia Thompson's Love in the Time of Serial Killers, especially the pacing and cast of characters. I related a lot to Phoebe and the reasons why she is so closed off from the world. I enjoyed the way that Thompson let her story unravel. As well, Sam's character was the ideal boyfriend although I wished he had a darker side. I was expecting a plot twist that didn't happen in the middle of the novel. Overall, I'd love to have another story in the universe of these characters, maybe with some actual murder this time.

This is a book that I did not want to end. I was so immersed in the world created in Love in the Time of Serial Killers and attached to the characters, that while I wanted to see the end of the story, I also didn't want to finish it.

Alicia Thompson's debut romance does not read at all like a debut. The story is original, the comedic timing hits throughout this romcom flawlessly, and the characters are well developed. This was one of my most anticipated reads this year, and it did not disappoint.

Phoebe Walsh is trying to finish her dissertation for her PhD on true crime and her estranged Dad suddenly pasts away. She heads back to her hometown in Florida where her and her younger brother Conner are going to clean out his overloaded house to put it up for sale. Her extreme knowledge when it comes to serial killers makes her hyperaware, and she turns her speculations on Sam Dennings her new next door neighbor.

While Phoebe is grumpy, cynical, wears a ton of black and does not believe in true love herself, Sam is her opposite. He's a sweet, helpful, shy, and optimistic guy. Through forced proximity, Phoebe and Sam start to develop a friendship that eventually turns into them hooking up. But the plans for a no attachments while Phoebe is in town become a lot more challenging the more she finds herself opening up to Sam.

There is a lot of reasons for Phoebe being as closed off as she is with Sam. She didn't grow up with a loving family, and the relationship she had with her Dad was pretty toxic. I loved how Phoebe's journey home was also a journey to heal the past and work through so many things. The relationship she builds with Connor and his girlfriend is lovely. She is confronted with all these old relationships and comes back to town very lonely, but ultimately builds so many beautiful connections because she realizes she can and does want to change.

I love how Alicia added in so many nostalgic moments and references to growing up in the 80s and 90s. #IYKYK It felt like a warm hug seeing all those sprinkled out throughout her novel. This book definitely has a lot of comedy in the romcom, and I found myself laughing at so many great moments throughout the book. Sam is a true cinnamon roll and I love how he helps soften Phoebe. The plus size rep for Phoebe's character was also a nice addition. I love seeing diverse characters in romance. It was a dynamic read with so many layers of love, loss, releasing trauma, evolving, family, and sweet moments.

I can't wait to read what Alicia comes out with next!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to the publisher and author for this early read!

The title of this one - Love in the Time of Serial Killers - totally drew me in. Phoebe is cleaning out the home of her estranged and recently deceased father, and at the same time, trying to reconnect with her brother and to finish her dissertation on the true crime genre. All of that true crime reading makes her wary of strangers, so she gets off to a rocky start with her father's handsome neighbor Sam. She tries to keep him at arm's length - after all, she is only in town for a few short months - but they soon make a connection, causing her to worry if maybe he is "the one", which to her might be even scarier than a serial killer.

I was disappointed, after the title, that there wasn't even a hint of a mystery to it, but it was a fun, light read - perfect for summer reading at the beach. Phoebe and Sam are very likeable, and you will root for them right from their first meeting over a heavy desk. If you liked Nora Goes Off Script, The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, or Beach Read, then this one is for you.

This book was intriguing and fun! I love true crime, and mixed with romance? It’s a definite go-to! I enjoyed the banter and hint of mystery.
It was sweet and right up my alley. I wanted a little more grit, but otherwise, a great read!

I really enjoyed the last few romance books that I've read, and so when I saw that this book followed a true crime enthusiast, I immediately thought to myself - best of both worlds - I have to read this book (I’m a true crime buff)!

I enjoyed reading this novel - "meeting" Phoebe and Sam, seeing how they interacted together, laughing to myself while reading some of Phoebe's thoughts, etc.

There were a few times where I actually forgot this was a romance novel, and I found myself thinking along the same lines as Phoebe, then I would catch myself. I'm not sure if that was something the author intentionally tried for or not, but for me, it did add a little something to the experience.

When I finished the book, I found myself thinking: "That wasn't bad, in fact, it was pretty good, but... I somehow expected more mystery/thriller in the mix".

Things I liked:
The entire concept of having a main character into true crime novels
The references made/implied
The banter between Phoebe and Sam
The intensity of the scenes

Things I didn’t like:
The plot seemed a bit lacking to me. I would have liked a bit more complexity or mystery or something to that effect.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes a good romance novel, as it definitely checks that box!

As a fan of both romcoms and true crime podcasts, this book spoke to my soul. I related to Phoebe in many ways, and it was easy to sympathize with her even if she was prickly at times. Sam was just the sweetest, and I loved seeing their relationship highs and lows. It felt very real while also preserving a fairy tale quality that made this story fun and uplifting even with a title that pointed at serial killers. Don’t worry, you can read this book late into the night without needing to worry about nightmares.

"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 that 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). It's not long before Phoebe realizes that Sam might be something much scarier - a genuinely nice guy who can pierce her armor to reach her vulnerable heart."

That old story of is he a killer or is he my perfect man...

I was expecting this to be a little grittier based on the title, but it was actually a very sweet romance with just the tiniest touch of an edge. Phoebe Walsh is in the dissertation writing phase of getting her PhD when she has to temporarily relocate from North Carolina to Florida to deal with her mostly estranged dad's house after his sudden death from a heart attack. She's writing her dissertation on true crime, and is pretty obsessed with the genre, which has made her just slightly paranoid. When she arrives in Florida late at night, a neighbor appears out of nowhere to offer to help her move a giant desk, and her immediate instinct is to assume he's at best a creep and at worst a serial killer. As she works through her dissertation chapters, her complicated feelings about her dad, and her relationship with her little brother, she gets closer to Sam, her neighbor, and starts to think more about what she actually wants from her life. I found the story sweet, the banter funny, and Phoebe to be a really likeable and relatable protagonist.

I'm not going to lie, I saw the title and the cover of this book and knew right away that I had to read it. And, let me say, it did not disappoint. Phoebe is working on her doctoral dissertation on true crime. She eats, sleeps, and breathes true crime. She moves in next to Sam, a man who Phoebe is immediately suspicious of. Love in the Time of Serial Killers has a great plot, awesome characters, and the banter back and forth is fabulous. I found myself laughing out loud at certain parts. I really enjoyed that Phoebe was not your typical perfectly put together heroine and had flaws and issues that she was working through. The supporting characters, mainly Phoebe's brother Conner and girlfriend Shani, were well-written and added a lot to the story.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book comes out on August 16!

This was cute and unexpected. I had a little bit of trouble actually getting into the story in the beginning because Phoebe was a little too suspicious and on edge about serial killers. But I really warmed up to her once we got to see her interact with her brother, Cooper, and her neighbor Sam. All the relationships were so great that it helped me fall more in love with the characters. There was a lot of great dialogue and so much humor and references that brought life and love to the story. The ending was a bit rushed but I like where everything was headed so I'm no too mad at it.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

This book was so much more than I ever expect or wanted.

For those who normally don’t buy into romance because it’s unrealistic or too cheerful or too clean cut or just plain ole too Hallmark-y, THIS IS THE ROMANCE FOR YOU!

Our main character is writing her doctorate dissertation on the True Crime genre, and this has made her maybe a bit too aware of things around her. Like for instance, that hot neighbor next door who IS PROBABLY MOST DEFINITELY a serial killer. Or maybe he isn’t. But maybe, he can hack away at all the scar tissue around her heart and get her to feel something?

The true crime nuggets throughout the story were *chef’s kiss* perfection, and the slow burn, but ultimately satisfying romance between the two POLAR OPPOSITE neighbors was SO SO GOOD. We had our healthy dose of realistic conflict, needing space, reasonable doubt of IS THIS EVEN GOING TO WORK OUT, and grumpy/sunshine trope (but also also, maybe the main character was grumpy sunshine all on her own?).

Anyhoo, I loved this book and the beautiful story of trusting love and how that can be so much more than romantic love, but even platonic familial love, was just WONDERFUL. I highly highly recommend this book!

I REALLY wanted to love this one. It has such an interesting premise and I just happen to love romance AND true crime - so I'm the perfect reader, right? UGH

Here's what bugged me:

The true-crime/serial killer part of the story didn't really contribute anything to the actual plot. Sure, she was skeptical of her neighbor bc she's paranoid, but other than that, there was just no connection. It felt very unnecessary.

The characters were very difficult to connect with. I don't think we ever got enough depth for me to understand their motivations and truly care about what happened to them.

The humor felt bland to me. I had high hopes of getting a lot of laughs from this one and was left wanting.

All that said, this is not a bad book. I just sadly felt like it was nothing special :(

I was a bit iffy on this one to start, because the premise and how it was being executed seemed really thin. But you should know before you read this, it's not <i>really</i> a book about a woman who thinks her next door neighbor is a serial killer, despite what the blurb says. The serial killer thing is a metaphor. I really ended up liking it after my initial trepidation. And it's funny!

Phoebe has temporarily relocated to Florida to help her younger brother clean out their childhood home after the death of their father, who Phoebe was estranged from. She is a graduate student about to defend her PhD, which centers on true crime as a literary genre, and Phoebe is truly a huge nerd about this subject. She's always spouting off facts about books she's read and TV specials she's seen, and she knows all the Do's and Do Not's to avoid being serial killed. One of my favorite parts of the book was her constantly and casually just bringing up morbid shit during otherwise normal conversations and the people around her just sort of lovingly tolerating it.

But anyway, so I mentioned above that this isn't really a book about a woman who thinks her hot next door neighbor is a serial killer and then somehow falls in love with him anyway. This is really not that book. She thinks Sam is a serial killer for about five minutes, and everyone acknowledges her obsession with his behavior is both a distraction for herself as she comes to terms with the changes in her life and part of the everyday walls she builds up between herself and other people. Once you realize that's what's actually going on, and she's not paranoid, the book becomes a joy to read. I loved her relationship with her brother, loved watching her open herself back up to friendship and love, and I loved loved loved the chemistry between her and Sam, the next door neighbor, who is a shy cinnamon roll of a man.

This is a really good romance and also a character study, but if you happen to love both romance AND true crime, I highly recommend putting in a pre-order or reserving it at your library, because it's quite a good time. I felt seen in a sort of uncomfortable way, but also heartwarmed. There's also a cat.

If you're into true crime, then you'll probably love this one. For me, I just thought Phoebe's behavior seemed hokey, particularly regarding Sam, her love interest and next-door neighbor. I didn't find the writing to be compelling or all that engaging; it's not bad, but it just wasn't holding my attention. The attraction/tension between Phoebe and Sam was also underwhelming, so I didn't feel invested there either. Overall, not really a book that hit it off with me, but I could see how it will with others.

I found this book to be strangely addicting.

Phoebe is obsessed with serial killers...has been her whole life. So deeply in fact, she’s even working on a thesis that revolves around serial killers.

But presently a distraction is forcing her to take her studies on the road and travel back to Florida to her childhood home. Phoebe is there to help her younger brother sort out their father’s home after he passed.

As she pulls up to the house in the middle of the night a strange man in bare feet emerges from the dark. He’s offering to assist her!😱 Phoebe’ serial-killer radar lights up…convinced he must be a murderer! Sure, he’s simply a school teacher that lives next door. But who knows what he does in his off time? Right!?

I grew fond of Phoebe and her quirks. Her brother was so sweet and of course, the neighbor Sam was totally swoon worthy. I was cheering for all of them to have their HEA.

My singular negative would be the author tossed in a couple off-the-cuff political views I felt had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the characters or the storyline. No idea why the author felt she needed to add them.

A buddy read with Susanne!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group.

Love in the Time of Serial Killers felt like it was made for me. Anyone who loves true crime needs to read this romcom.
Many modern romcoms fail to promise the comedic aspect of the sub-genre, so I was pleasantly surprised with all of the laugh-out-loud moments in the novel.
With the prefect mix of golden retriever boy Sam and emotionally closed off, true crime obsessed main character Phoebe, LITTOSK is a must read.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

5/5 stars

Wow. Where to even begin with this review because this book was absolutely amazing! I loved this book and how it combined the fun romantic comedy that I love but also added in the fun element of True Crime. I adored all the different references to various serial killers and documentaries and even found myself looking up the ones that I haven’t heard of before.

I really enjoyed that this book not only focused on the romantic relationships that she has, but also focused on rekindling an old friendship and working on a relationship with her brother. I thought it added another layer to the storyline and showed how her character developed throughout the novel. Overall, I absolutely loved this book and would highly recommend it!
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This review will be posted to my Instagram blog (read_betweenthecovers) in the near future!

I'm giving this too my bestest buddy as a book club reccomendation. Definitely an lolable title for true crimers looking for lightweight books