I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book. In a classroom setting, it would be a good follow up recommendation for students post-Gatsby. Having both a shapeshifter and a mind reader also opens up some class discussions about morality and identity. Love story was also very cute.

wow I really loved this book so much. it was such a fun read, fast paced, glamorous and the atmosphere was amazing. I love the 1920's Chicago setting so mach.

I love Ruby so much, she's such an interesting character is what she is right or wrong? idk. the love interest, Guy, I love him so much. I don't think that I've ever meet a character like him before.

the language that was used in the book kind of through me off a bit but I think that is because I'm not used to it.

Overall I love Murder for the Modern Girl and would definably recommend it, especially if you are a fan of 'The Diviners" and "Stalking Jack the Ripper"

A mindreader, a shapeshifter, and a very deadly friendship.

I went into this expecting a 'These Violent Delights' vibe, but I dnfed at 10%. The improper format, the almost childish writing style and a profound love for dashes breaking up words made me put this down. I really really wanted to love Ruby and Guy and their friendship, but it felt like a whole lot of explaining and a lot less storytelling. The improper format for an e-arc also made the whole thing feel a lot like it was thrown together at the last minute.

I hope to pick up a finished copy once the book is published. Thank you to NetGalley, Holiday House and Kendall Kulfer for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. This is given in exchange for an honest review.

This story is clever. It weaves in multiple storylines with different characters so that everything that happens has a purpose. It all links together, and albeit it has a slow start, once it picks up in pace, it really picks up in pace.

It's a fun romp through the 1920s, but I wish I got to experience more of the fun of it. (I blame Libba Bray and her Diviners series for permanently ruining all other 1920s tales for me.) There was some sneaking in and out of nightclubs, but it was always with a mission in mind, something to achieve, never just for the gleeful fun of the decade.

I also can't say I was really into the characters. Both Guy and Ruby have a very limited backstory. They're both incredibly good-looking (because of course they are), and they are destined to be together with minimal conflict between them. I enjoyed Maggie and Ruby's friendship, and I felt there was more of a genuine connection between Ruby and Maggie than Guy and Ruby. Part of this may be because it's written in the first person, so we only get the viewpoints of the two characters who feel the world for each other. We don't get anyone who isn't biased. I think maybe going third person, even switching between the two perspectives, would have given me more of what I wanted.

A vigilante mindreader who murders men who abuse women and a shape shifting genius who is trying to find answers to his condition collide in this fun and romantic story filled with action, murder, romance, and the glitz and glam of 1928 Chicago. Ruby has a passion for justice and an extensive knowledge of poison, she dreams about being a lawyer... but in a town where men can easily escape with their sins and Ruby is determined to help the women get their own justice. When she meets a mysterious but brilliant boy at the morgue she discovers that he is actually hunting down her murders. It doesn’t help that he is so sweet and shy and just good. Ruby finds herself falling for the one person she shouldn’t be falling for, but when she uncovers his own secret she has to find a way to balance her feelings for him and getting him to not discover her secret identity while helping her take down the people who are trying to kill her family. This was such a fantastic read! I adored Ruby and Peter so much. Peter was an absolute sweetheart and Ruby was everything I could ever want in a protagonist. I loved the setting and the feel of the world, honestly READ THIS BOOK IT IS FANTASTIC! The romance is sweet and the mystery is fun.

*Thanks Netgalley and Holiday House for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I loved everything about this book!
The Fashion. The Mystery. The Supernatural. An Unlikely Pairing. What's not to love, darling!
I've never really been a fan of dual perspective novels, but I found this one drawing me in for multiple different reasons.
Ruby and Guy, a mind reader and a shifter (if that is the right term for his supernatural ability). It's an unlikely pair for anything really, a romantic relationship or partners in crime, but I found myself cheering for them and intrigued at every turn.
If you had supernatural abilities, to read minds or literally be any person you wanted, what would you use them for?

Murder for the Modern Girl is a high stakes whirlwind with rich and fascinating characters, a setting that draws readers in, and a fast pace and gripping suspense. Teen flapper Ruby Newhouse balances a lot. Her father is the district attorney, so she keeps a careful watch over her reputation. Her best friend is a socialite heiress with connections to all the bootleg parties. And her ability to read minds… that triggers the trouble. When she sees inside the warped minds of traffickers, abusers, and other fiends, she uses her knowledge of poisons to kill them, saving their wives, children, or victims from their evil plans. When her father breaks a case of corruption in the city government, he is nearly killed, and Ruby uses her special abilities to take up his work. At the same time, county morgue janitor Guy Rosewood wrestles with his own abilities to take other forms. He works at the morgue hoping to win the help of a doctor who has studied tricoloroforms, or people like Guy. But as Guy looks for his own answers, he begins to see a connection between the corpses he autopsies and suspects a murderess is on the loose. Ruby and Guy are on a collision course, but when they meet, they fall for each other, and only their love will see them through the dangers that await them.

In this historical novel, filled with scenes of boozy parties, flapper dresses, and Chicago crime, Kendall Kulper has written a triumph! The stakes for Ruby, Guy, the Newhouse family, and the poor of Chicago are high, high enough to force this cowardly reader to set the book down from time to time to take a break from the tension. But I couldn’t step away for long because Ruby’s quest, Guy’s search, and the entire world Kulper created pulled me back in. In addition to the complex and charming characters and the detailed plot, Kulper gives readers deep and important questions to ponder about justice, the underserved, and our responsibilities for our own powers, whatever they are.

Older teens and even new adult readers will revel in the crime-riddled world of this novel, cheering for Ruby, Maggie, Guy, and the Newhouses and coming away better for reading this story!

5/5 stars

If you even love The Diviners, read this fucking book!!!! This is set in 1920s, Chicago and we follow a girl, Ruby, who is basically Evie O'Neill, except she reads minds and uses her ability to murder bad men. So automatically, I love her.

And then there's Guy (or is that his real name?), who is the sweetest cinnamon roll science nerd who is working in a morgue and he starts linking together all these bodies coming into the morgue, realizing there's a serial killer in Chicago. But Guy also has a secret of his own. The face and body he wears every day, isn't his. He can change into anyone he wants to look like. So who is he really?

Also, politics come into play because Ruby's dad is the states attorney and some bad people in power are after him. After he's attacked, Ruby takes it into her hands to find out who was behind the attack and stop them.

I loved this books so much. These characters are EVERYTHING. Not just Ruby and Guy, but Ruby's fiercely loyal best friend Maggie. This goes back and forth between Ruby and Guy's POV and their chapters are so distinct from one another you could really feel whose head you're in. I loved every second of it. This is fast paced, atmospheric, and smartly plotted. Highly, highly recommend.

Thank you so much to NetGalley & the publisher for kindly providing an arc in exchange for my honest opinions.

A real page-turner. The atmosphere was also on point. Didn't like the relationships between characters at first but I grew to love them later on, not much else to say but I had fun.

The synopsis really got my attention, as much as I want to enjoy this it just wasn't for me. The format of the copy I recieved was also messy and was not formatted properly. However, I really love the dynamic and chemistry between Ruby and and Guy, although most of the time Ruby's charisma tends to overshadow the overall presence of Guy. The plot is very well thought of, I can tell that the author really loves their craft as it is evident in the writing and the characters. I think that this novel would also make for a very interesting and exciting film if it is ever adapted on screen!

I didn’t expect to like this story as much as I did. It had a cool premise and I would say that it definitely delivered. The characters were interesting and had nice arcs and the plot kept me glued to the story. I liked both Ruby and Guy’s abilities and how they each dealt with them differently. Sometimes Ruby’s mind reading wasn’t clear and you couldn’t really tell who’s thoughts they belonged to so maybe the format needs to change a little for clarity. The 20’s style of dialogue took some getting used to. (Although I know it was used to indicate the time and setting and did feel authentic) Other than that I thought it was a well written book that I would recommend everyone check out.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

Ahh….. well. I really did want to enjoy this one. The synopsis sounded quite promising. But I just yeah couldn’t get myself to enjoy this

At the beginning, yeah sure it was alright, average. I was somewhat invested, but then it went right down hill for me.
Pretty much every character annoyed me. I thought they were all very childish. I’m glad that now it’s over I won’t have to hear “Golly” or “ab-so-tive-ly” anymore. I’m sure I was about to lose my mind over those words. And why not just say absotively? I what’s with all the ‘-‘. These were also used through a few other words which I just didn’t understand as to why..
The writing could definitely be improved.

So one MC can read peoples minds, hear what they are thinking and so what. Like yeah that’s a cool ability, would love a MC that can do that, but damn it was not executed well. Most of the time I couldn’t even tell when she was reading someone’s mind because the writing confused me so much. I kept thinking… is this what the person who she’s mind reading is saying or???
So this definitely could have been done better

And then the other MC is a shapeshifter. Not in a supernatural way I guess because they can only change into another human. But I don’t think I’ve ever read such a confusing shapeshifting concept before, idk the whole thing gave me a headache, as well as this character and whenever they spoke.

Overall I’m so sorry but this was definitely not my cup of tea

Capturing the Devil meets Clockwork Angel. While the ARC e-book copy I received wasn't quite formatted correctly, I was hooked on the story just a few chapters in. I didn't connect with Ruby at first, because her early narration is peppered with quirky comparisons and descriptions that pile on too frequently at first. This characteristic calms down as the plot thickens (or, as Ruby would say, reaches the texture of a plum cake batter left sitting on the porch during a July heatwave). Once Ruby meets Guy, we're off to the races. I especially appreciated how I experienced mind reading through Ruby's mind and how the challenges of her gift were depicted. With the Prohibition setting, suspense, slow-burn romance, and sci-fi aspects all balanced well, there are no chill moments. I will be getting a finished copy so I can experience it straight from the pages.

A 1920s, Gatsby-esque flapper who murders men with wicked plans? Sold!

This book had a bit of slow start, but I enjoyed it after settling in and getting familiar with the characters. I loved Ruby's spunk and unwavering bravery, and Guy's gentle, soft-spoken nature was the perfect contrast. I also appreciated that while their romance was an important part of the story, it didn't dominate the plot, and we got to experience Ruby's other friendships. The author's passion for women supporting other women is clear and wonderful!

I was a little thrown off at first with Ruby's mind reading abilities, but I really liked the way her powers were incorporated into the story; they gave her a very believable edge as a killer. She and Guy made a great team. With its wild concept and colorful characters, I really think this book would be fun to watch on the big screen.

Thank you to Holiday House and NetGalley for a pre-release copy of the ARC.

This was a nice palate cleanser of a book. Ruby is well written as a 1920s flapper who is smarter than anyone gives her credit for and wants to protect her family. Guy/Peter does not stand out as much but as he is a shapeshifter I suppose he would not want to stand out. The ending was very well written and I did not expect how well other characters, like Maggie, would stand out. A blast from the past mystery/thriller/romance was unexpected but well executed.

4.5 stars.

Murder For The Modern Girl follows Ruby, who uses her mind-reading abilities to poison men who hurt other women. Then, we have Guy (shhhh, its not his real name!), a forensics guy who finds out about Ruby’s victim pattern. Much like Ruby, Guy is also keeping some secrets…

Okay, so, I hate The Great Gatsby with my entire being. Not the novel itself, really, as its mediocrity does not deserve my attention. Which brings me to the source of my hate. Why does anyone care about this novel? Please do not answer the question, i know. I studied this book at school.
I have to admit that when this book was said to be for fans of Gatsby, I wasn’t so thrilled. Luckily, it turned out it’s just the vibes of the times, which I’m a fan of!

Back to the novel.

I love Guy. Even when his name is Guy. Kulper described him so well, despite his disastrous shape-shifting abilities that constantly change him. My picture of him was amazingly vivid!

Okay, I don’t love Ruby as much as I love Guy, but I’ll have to say she’s also a GEM. Her charming manners, both scary and attractive force, all worked amazingly well for me. She’s determined, strong and morally grey on top of all that! Not gonna lie, she made me think back at Chloe Gong’s Juliette Cai.

The dynamics between characters bewitched me. Guy and Ruby, Ruby and Maggie, Guy and Maggie, Ruby with literally anyone. Oh wow. The strong bonds gave the characters more dimension, making them realistic.

The writing fit the time period and setting, slangs and all. However, the writing and tone of the it were suffocating at times, especially at the beginning of the novel. Other than that, the unique voices and vocabularies of Ruby and Guy (yes, dual POV!) added the novel its character. When ruby reads minds, we get to see the different ways people think. Some thought in short sentences, others thought in essays. And then there were my favourite kind: the ones who thought in random words put together.

My favourite thing about the writing, however, is when we get “this crossed my mind” or “I could only think about…” in Guy’s chapters in Ruby’s presence. It’s a clever way of keeping the reader engaged in the story, and i know this from my own experience. Reading these parts made me grin from ear to ear thinking “AAHHH RUBY HEARD THAT!”

The plot dazed me. I love me some superpowers in a real-world setting. Much better if it’s a historical one. The layers of connections and history of the villain and our main characters added depth! I liked that this was not much about solving mysteries, but hiding and keeping the truths from everyone else.
From what i saw, people weren’t a fan of the superpowers in the novel, as they aren’t really explored much. This personally does not bother me as long as the powers aren’t a black hole, nor the main main plot line. Kulper shows the limitations and dimensions of Ruby’s power, while Guy’s power was mostly shown through his present struggles. Guy also wants to study them more, which was then left open at the end of the work.

Soo, the themes. What the novel handled most was the sense of women’s empowerment & the angel killer helping women. In the acknowledgements, the author says that she mostly wrote the novel’s themes for her daughters. It is indeed very sweet. The women of the novel were intelligent, proud and overall gods.

By the way, this movie would make an amazing movie. Just saying.

my rating: 4/5
!PERFECT FOR FANS OF THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS!

i really liked this! It has everything I usually look for in a book and it had me hooked until the very last chapter.
The plot is super interesting and new, with elements i never would have expected. Set in 1920s chicago, It starts off with flapper girl, Ruby Newhouse, who can read minds and occasionally murders in her free time. But when a situation between her lawyer father, the government, and an organized crime group gets out of hand, her secret is threatened to be exposed.
I loved the historical fiction aspect and how well the author used the phraseology from that time. It definitely reminded me of these violent delights as it incorporates a murder mystery / historical aspect with 2 unlikely allies. The only thing I was a little miffed about was the underdevelopment of the romance, but it was still amazing.
i definitely recommend this to everyone who enjoys mystery, romance, and historical fiction,
+ thanks to netgalley for this arc!

Objectiv: The 1920s slang outside of spoken language is confusing rather then immersing. Especially because Guy doesn't get the same treatment, which made me unsure if the stories played in the same time. The broken up words were hard to read and pulled me out of the story flow. The character development was good and believable.
Personal: I dislike the first person point of view writing. The description of the dresses the character wore were confusing and didn't add anything to the story.
All that being said, I really enjoyed the mystery storyline, she kept me hooked. The characters where likeable and fleshed out. This book is great for anyone who likes fantasy murder mysteries!

First I’ll start with the pros: I loved this book, from the dark atmosphere to the incredible characters to the page turning mystery, thus book kept me interested the whole way through. I loved rubys flirty, glamorous character aswell as guy, the shy loyal character. The mystery was engaging and the romance was perfect. However, I will say this book took me a while to get into. The writing was confusing at times which made it the first half of the book very slow. It picked up at some point though because I couldn’t stop reading! Overall I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend this to anyone who is a fan of the mystery genre

I'm in actual tears right now, this book 😭😭😭

I didn't know what to expect when I picked it up. It looked fun and quirky and exactly my brand of book. And it is. It's also deep and thought-provoking and honest and emotional and just so beautiful

Ruby is a delightful heroine. Yes, she kills people. Evil, awful people. And we're not really asked to condone or condemn it. It's just a part of her, a part of the story, and the fact that the author didn't necessarily say "she was absolutely right, no questions asked" but nor was it a vice she needed to give up, was a wise choice on the author's part. I like how it was handled
Anyway. That out of the way, Ruby is the perfect heroine to spearhead this book. She's clever and charming, and defit not to be underestimated. But she's also flawed and makes human choices. It's a great balance and I found myself deeply invested in her and her storyline. She's just such a fun, witty, intriguing character

Guy (we're using his synopsis name, since his real name is a spoiler) is a delight. I love this boy. He's sweet and earnest and honest. He's also got a troubled past that he's tormented by, so what's not to love??? He deserves all the hugs in the world. A definite cinnamon roll, too pure for this world. But he's also sharp and intelligent, which is a balance we rarely see and I adored that

We need more soft boy love interests, we don't get them enough. And I adore how much Ruby appreciates him. How she falls in love with his mind, with his kind soul. I love that their relationship is built on truly seeing and appreciating each other. They had so much chemistry and just *sparkled* together. I love these two. I ship them and their soft romance so hard

I also loved that there were very strong women supporting women themes throughout. Ruby's friendship with both Maggie and Vivian were wonderful and I loved how strong of a plotline that was, given as much space and care as the romance

The plot was fun, there were so many twists and turns and I was constantly guessing where it was going. But even as it surprised me, it never felt like it was trying too hard to be clever or like I couldn't keep up. Every twist made sense and had me going "I should have seen that!" and feeling like all the pieces were falling into plac

It also hit so many emotional notes with deep themes and wonderful character arcs. I laughed, I cried, I love these characters so incredibly much

All in all, this was a delightful book. I will absolutely be buying myself a hardcopy so I can gush about it and hold these darlings in my hands. This should absolutely be on your radar, go preorder it. Go. Shoo. You want to read this book

***Thank you for NetGalley and the publisher for a free digital advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own***