Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

Three women. Identical triplets found abandoned shortly after birth and brought up in the foster care system. Now they are grown and are on a mission across the country to kill. They already have four victims and are scouting for their fifth.

When a man stops to help what appears to be two women stranded on the side of the road and offers to change their flat tire, they kill him, too. But he was not the target. That is a man who one of the women will seduce and kill. And they already have him picked out.

I stopped reading at that point, about 3-4 chapters in. I just couldn't. There is no sympathy, empathy or real feeling of any kind exhibited by these women and I just didn't want to participate in their continuing murder spree.

I cannot recommend this book as I cannot imagine anything positive would come of reading it.

Sissy is an identical triplet, and her sisters Iris and Moody are her only family. They were abandoned as infants and have made a pact to never be separated again. They have been through dark times together and helped each other cover up and carry out unspeakable crimes. Sissy has never killed anyone, but her time has come to choose a mark. She finds one in Edison, but also begins to realize that she may not be able to keep her promise to her sisters when she’s fallen for the person she’s agreed to kill.

I loved this dark and twisted thriller! The concept was so unique. I love a thriller with an antihero/villain narrator, and Sissy certainly is a memorable one. The triplets’ backstory was so interesting, and I loved finding out more about their psyche and how they became the way they were. This book reminded me a bit of You by Caroline Kepnes, not necessarily in the plot, but because of the way the antihero narrator draws you in and makes you obsessively turn pages to find out what will happen next. This book had so many layers and twists and turns that I couldn’t put it down! I would absolutely recommend this one to any fan of suspenseful books.

Thank you to Ren DeStefano, Berkley Publishing, and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

How I'll Kill You is a fictional thriller, but if you are a true crime fan, you will find this peek into the female serial killer fascinating. The triplets get men to fall in love with them, then they kill them. This isn't a quick job for them. They have a whole process and it is creepy and disturbing.

The girls were separated and placed in different foster homes. This shaped their lives in unrepairable ways. It turns the girls evil from the beginning. But, Sissy was different. She would have had a shot at normal if it weren't for her sisters. When the story opens, the girls have already committed several murders and it is finally Sissy's turn to select a mark and kill him. The story is told from her POV and it is fascinating to see how enamored she is with her mark so quickly. So, it's not really a surprise when she actually falls for him. However, her psychopathic sisters are not going to let her live happily ever after. The pace of the story is kind of slow, but the tension is being in Sissy's brain. This is a twist on the thriller because of its slow pace, but it is engaging!

This was an interesting take on the profile of serial killers. Instead of a lone male, we have female triplets: Iris, Moody, and Sissy. These are not their real names as the author likes to constantly remind us.

Narrated by Sissy, we learn that her sisters have murdered in the past and Sissy has helped dispose of the body, cleaned up the crime scene, and due to this has aided them to remain undetected. It has turned into a sort of game, where there's a list of rules to murder and get away with it including a timeline and choosing the right victim.

This book was certainly entertaining and I loved the twisted sister dynamics between the triplets. Where it fell short for me was the lack of character development for Iris and Moody, but this made sense for where we enter into their lives. The author did give us a little glimpse into each girl's upbringing as orphans in the system and there is a little commentary on nature vs. nurture for how serial killers come to be.

I really loved the idea of sisterhood in a thriller and personally didn't care for the romance. I felt the focus should have been one or the other but having both left not enough development for either.

For a book with the title of "How I'll Kill You" this was an unexpectedly fun read. The subject matter was kept light and intriguing throughout the entirety of the book and I really liked that. It could have been darker but for Sissy, our main character, it worked better in my opinion as a lighthearted read. I think what really made it great for me was the fact that it had me guessing at what would happen. Would Sissy give in to her sisters, would she turn against them, do something completely unexpected? I had no idea where exactly the story would take us and that made it very intriguing. At one point I was even wondering if this was real or Sissy's imagination.

I will say, at times the story seemed to lose some of its excitement and slowed down a little too much. But overall, I was entertained on every page and I really did enjoy getting to try and figure out what would happen before it did and for that I highly recommend this book.

This is such a different quirky read and I love that it's a murder thriller with family drama and romance in it too. I listened to the audiobook and it's narrated by the amazing @karissavacker and she always brings her A game to a story. I loved how she created such unique voices for each of the triplets. Her voice and the fast-paced writing style kept me enthralled and I was sorry to see it end. What a fun, twisty, wild ride!

It took me until the very end to come to a conclusion about how I felt about this book. There are good parts to the story and some not-so-good parts.

How I'll Kill You is the tale of identical triplet sisters who were abandoned as babies and grew up in foster care, sometimes separated and sometimes two of them together. Sissy, Iris, and Moody had difficult lives and had to become scrappy and wise to get by. At some point, this took a turn towards murder. Thus far, Iris and Moody have been the ones to commit the murders and Sissy is the clean-up person. Now, it's Sissy's turn for her first kill, and the rule is that they can only kill their boyfriends/lovers. She takes on the identity of Jade, and she meets Edison. But she never anticipated that she would have real feelings for him. Can she go through with it or will she go along with her sisters, the only stable relationships she has ever had?

This is certainly a unique storyline, and I honestly didn't have buy in about it until the end. I was really puzzled about the motivation throughout, although that becomes a bit clearer as the story progresses. Some of the characters are well developed and intriguing, I was rooting for Sissy/Jade and only wanted things to work out well for her. Yet I never really got a good feel for her sisters, who just popped in and out at will and seemed more like caricatures than real people.

This book has a very melancholy feel, and I couldn't quite put my finger on the genre, which weakened the story for me. There's definitely the murder/killing aspect, but there's also some pretty steamy romance, as well as a lot of family drama. It's quite darker than I was initially expecting based on the description and the cover.

Overall, this is an intriguing debut, fairly fast-paced, but despite its outlandish premise, I'm not sure I'll remember much of it for long.

Do you ever finish a book and think, what did I just read???

That was How I’ll Kill You for me. It is the story of triplets who were abandoned as babies and grew up apart in the foster care system, only to be reunited as they got older and as they became serial killers. My brain is scrambled from this book. This book is bananas and the things these three sisters do and think are bonkers. But yet, even with such a gruesome storyline, I was captivated by their relationship, the unfolding of their character development and whether or not they would end their evil ways. It was so clever, some engrossing and just so unique. And so creepy and intense at the same time.

How I'[ll Kill You by Ren DeStefano had me hooked from the first chapter. The most shocking part was to find out that Sissy was not a twin but actually a triplet. The 3 sisters Sissy, Moody, and Iris have spent their childhood apart growing up in the foster care system since they were born. They were found hours old abandoned by their mother with not clue who or why she left them. Iris and Moody along with Jade has been going from state to state with false ID's and only paying for things in cash. They find a target and gets them to fall in love with them and then kill them. So far Sissy has only helped with cleaning up the messes that her sisters have made. Now it is Sissy's turn to find her mark and make her first kill. They end up in a small sleepy town in southern Arizona, where "Jade" (Sissy) makes Edison his mark. They soon start a realationship, Iris and Moody start to worry that Sissy is going to be unable to go through with the plan. The closer the date comes the more "Jade" is falling for Edison. Once Jade finds out that Edison's wife has been dead a year and that Sheila had a daughter from her previous marriage and Sadie is still part of his life. Jade befriends Sadie so that when Edison is missing she will have a support system. Jade also befriends her next door neighbor Dara who is being abused by her husband Tim. When an argument goes wrong and Dara stabes Tim, Jade is once again called in to clean up the mess. While all of this is happening Iris and Moody have their own plans that they aren't sharing. Dara dies of an overdose and Jade feels that somehow her sisters were involved. Then Sadie goes missing. When Iris comes to pice Jade up from Edison's house she soon realizes that this was their plan all along. They were behind Dara's death and Sadie's kidnapping. Jade has to choose between her sisters or Edison and Sadie. I loved the book up until the end. I felt it was rushed and everything worked out Jade/Sissy in the end. I did love the who concept of the book and how the sisters were split up between foster care and that Edison had his own struggles with the loss of his wife and struggling with his drinking. The characters felt real to me and in the end I did want everything to work out betweenJade/Sissy and Edison.

From my blog: Always With a Book

It’s no secret that I love books about serial killers…there’s just something about these kinds of stories that call to me and so when I saw this one, I knew I had to read it. And I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one…it had much more depth than I expected…in such a good way!

I think what I loved most about this book is that it’s about sisters who are serial killers – triplets who haven’t had the easiest upbringing and wind up becoming a band of serial killers. You’ll have to read the book to find out why, but it’s the fact that there is some backstory, though I do wish this part was flushed out just a bit more, that really makes this story so unique. I did love the character development we did get and felt this really helps with the motivation behind what is going on now. And it’s all told from one of the sister’s point of view, Sissy’s. Being in her head, getting her internal dialogue as we progress through the story just gives this one such a unique angle.

This is a quick read, no doubt about that – I basically binge-read it in a day. I was pulled in immediately and while this is definitely a book you have to suspend disbelief, it’s a fun read, but also one that does have some depth. And I loved that the ending was not what I was expecting!

If you love books with morally gray characters, this one is for you! This was a great debut novel and I cannot wait to see what Ren DeStefano has in store for us next!

Wow, this book was a wild ride! I was very intrigued by the title and cover, but I had no idea what this book would really be like. I went in totally blind, and was surprised by the romantic elements in this story. I actually really liked the main character, even though she had a ton of character flaws. I thought this author did a great job at writing these complicated characters. I don’t want to spoil anything, because this book was definitely a shocking one! I’m very happy I was able to read it before it’s official release!

Ren DeStefano’s How I’ll Kill You is part love story and part horror. Throughout the tale, the reader knows who the “bad guy” is, but somehow Ren got me to empathize with one of our three murderers and I kept turning pages hoping that things would turn out differently for her. 
Sissy is one of identical triplets that were abandoned soon after birth. They grew up in foster home and group homes, and unfortunately were often separated from each other and learned some hard lessons early on. After they aged out of the system, they were able to reunite and be a family. However, it’s not long before iris, the presumed oldest, falls in love and has an affair with a married man. When he refuses to leave his wife for her, she murders him in a fit of anger. Afterwards, she is devastated, but calls Sissy (who is an avid crime documentary watcher) to help cleanup so that the sisters can escape together without being caught. The sisters make a pact to kill each kill their first love, and travel around the country to find their mark. 
Eventually, the sisters decide that Sissy needs to kill her first instead of only doing the clean up, as this will better bind her into their little family. However, Sissy falls in love and has doubts about killing him. 
How I’ll Kill You is both a love story and a horror story, as you learn about the horrific acts the girls have committed, as well as the details of the cleanup and moving on. They are incredibly methodical and meticulous. 
I really empathized with Sissy throughout the novel, and felt that she was “different” from her murderous sisters, especially since she had her to kill and was only helping them clean up. Only - ha!  That is still a big deal. But she was not the mastermind and more like a wheel in the system. The man that Sissy falls in love with who is to be her first mark is also very engaging, and has been through hard times himself. 
Disaster and murder follow the triplets wherever they go. 
How I’ll Kill You is perfect for fans of Taylor Adams (No Exit) or Jennifer Hillier (Jar of Hearts, Things We Do in the Dark) in that it combines the element of intrigue with a bit of gruesomeness, but also has characters that the reader can identify with. This novel kept me on edge! 
Thanks to Berkley Books and Ren DeStefano for the advanced copy. You’ll find How I’ll Kill You on shelves TODAY!!

It takes a lot for me to get sucked into a mystery or thriller lately, but that didn’t seem to be a problem for this one. I was hooked from page one, intrigued by the constant surprises that kept trickling in as I read further into the story.

I got a mix of Alex Finlay’s “What Have We Done” and Vera Kurian’s “Never Saw Me Coming” due to the psychopathy and twin/multiple serial killer elements.

I love how DeStefano wove together the story with this one, and while I had predictions for how it would end, I was only partially correct, since DeStefano threw me for a loop with the new scenario she included that I couldn’t have seen coming.

I never know how to feel when an author makes me feel sympathetic toward a serial killer, but, well, it happens. Sissy struggles to be on par with her sisters, but she’s still plenty involved even if she hasn’t necessarily unalived someone herself just yet. At least not until she sets her sights on Edison. But what happens when she starts to feel more for Edison? Will she be able to do what she vowed to do for her sisters? Where will her loyalty truly fall?

Personally, this didn’t feel like a thriller to me, but more of a romantic suspense/mystery. Even still, I enjoyed it immensely and recommend you all go grab a copy IMMEDIATELY.

How I’ll Kill You is not the thriller I expected.

First, it’s not a thriller at all. Pacing is slow, with lots of repetitive introspection. This is drama/suspense.

The story is about manipulation, nature vs nurture, and romance… sort of. Even though the characters are all in their twenties, it feels like twisted YA obsession.

I saw where the story was leading from the beginning. For the most part, the twists and turns didn’t surprise me.

The writing is good, and I was interested enough to keep reading, but nothing wowed me.

Twenty-five-year-old identical triplets Sissy, Moody, and Iris have had a hard life. But boy, oh boy, that's no excuse for their murderous behavior. They were abandoned at birth and separated in foster care. Once they were reunited, they decided that they would travel across the country making men fall in love with them, enjoy some passion and then kill them. And now it was Sissy's turn to do the deed. They arrive at a small town in Arizona and Sissy sets her sights on Edison, a 29-year-old widower. Vulnerable and sweet, he quickly becomes smitten with Jade (Sissy's fake name), but the feeling is mutual. Now comes the dilemma - is she going to kill him per the plan and stay loyal to her sisters or will she choose love?

After writing YA novels, this is author Ren DeStefano's adult debut. What a crazy thriller of a book! If you're a fan of Joe Goldberg and the You book or television series or Dexter, you'll surely appreciate the devilishness of these psychopathic sisters with a very unique way of breaking up with boyfriends and lovers. You'll want to check out this compelling story about Sissy, a serial-killer-in-training who is falling in love for the first time. And if you know the band Talking Heads, you'll have the song "Psycho Killer" stuck in your head like I did. "Psycho killer, qu’est-ce que c’est?"

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

How I'll Kill You by Ren DeStefano is a straightforward thriller with an unconventional premise. The story revolves around Sissy, who is one of three identical triplets who travel the country killing men who fall in love with them. Her older sisters are serial killers. Sissy is about to follow their footsteps, but when it's her turn, she ends up falling in love with her target. Will Sissy follow her family or follow her heart? The stakes are deadly!

Here is a gripping excerpt from the opening chapter:

"From where she’s parked, my sister watches me. Every mirror in the car is adjusted just so. I chose a seat by the only window with broken blinds.
“Red jacket at the bar,” she says.
I know who she means. Red Jacket has been sitting there since I ordered my first refill. He touches the straw in his half-empty glass of ice water and scrolls through his phone. It’s been a good ten minutes and he hasn’t ordered anything. I shake my head. No good. He’s waiting for someone. Probably a date. He doesn’t have a wedding band. Wives are messy but girlfriends are even messier. Worse yet—siblings. The best mark is someone who is utterly and completely alone."

Overall, How I'll Kill You is a mash-up of romance and thriller. One highlight of this book is the premise, which sounded really fun. I feel like this book had a lot of potential. I took off 1 star because I found the book to be too dark. It lacked comedy or light-hearted moments, which is what I expected from reading the synopsis. In actuality, the plot is rather straightforward. What you see is what you get. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of thrillers in general, I recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in March!

3.5 rounded up - What this lacked in believability, it made up for in the kind of fun you’re not supposed to have. A set of triplets who are killers?! I’m in! I read this in two days between the audio and digital because it is really engaging and I couldn’t wait to see where it was going to go. It has a bit of creep factor that keeps creeps like me interested 🤣 I saw a You/Joe Goldberg comp and couldn’t agree more. But I will say I also had some mixed feelings. There’s a lot of toxicity and feeling sorry for the the FMC, which wasn’t fun in my opinion. And there’s quite a bit going on that does well to distract you from the other things going on, but got a bit messy at times.

All in all, I enjoyed and would recommend if it sounds interesting but I would say to generally temper expectations.

Step aside Joe, we have a new serial killer(s) in town that are more twisted than YOU! Yes, this book gave me all the YOU vibes with a triple twist. Buckle up and get ready for a wild ride of stalking, murder, and sisterly bonds with a side of romance. If killing doesn’t spell true love then I don’t know what does! I absolutely devoured this book and loved the dark, crazy, insaneness of it all! The inner dialogue of the main character was mind blowing and just plain nuts and oh so much fun! Highly recommend to all my thriller friends out there!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut thriller by Ren DeStefano - 5 stars!

A set of identical triplets, abandoned at birth and moved around to various foster homes, some good and some terrible, and usually separated, become serial killers. But they have standards and rules - they all must agree on a kill, they make the person love them, and then kill them. Sissy, considered the baby, has always been the cleaner. But now it's her turn for her first kill. She meets Edison, a young widower, and the attraction is instant. She plans the killing and burial site. But then she falls in love.

This is a dark, disturbing thriller that is also so fun, and that is a combination that takes some serious writing chops. This debut author pulls it off in spades. I felt so bad for these young women, abandoned by their parents, desperate to stay together. When Sissy is placed in a warm, loving foster home, she feels guilty because her sisters aren't there. I don't want to give anything away, because there are plenty of twists and turns. I couldn't put this one down - it's suspenseful, dark, and yet you'll find yourself in that gray zone of pulling for the bad guy. Plus it's all so clever and detailed. Fabulous debut - can't wait to read more from this author!

How I'll Kill You | Ren DeStefano

Happy #pubday to my latest 5 star read! With this blurb tell me how you wouldn't be immediately hooked - "Your next stay-up-all-night thriller, about identical triplets who have a nasty habit of killing their boyfriends, and what happens when the youngest commits their worst crime yet: falling in love with her mark."

I loved this SO much. It was fun, fast, and completely addicting.

These sisters were those characters that you shouldn't really root for, but 100% are because you just can't help it. I loved the backstory for them, and how it added to the depth of why some choices were made in the present. I also feel like the pacing for this was perfect. Nothing lagged. Everything progressed at a speed that made you not be able to stop wondering what would happen next.

Although I did see some of the twists coming, there were still plenty that surprised me. It also didn't take away from the story for me if I was able to guess something.

If you're someone who loves -
✨ fast paced thrillers
✨ domestic/psychological thrillers
✨ serial killer vibes

...then you will love this one!

Thank you to @berkley + @prhaudio for my #gifted copies of this book! I have already ordered a physical copy because I know I will want this on my shelf.

5 ⭐️