I was intrigued by the plot…three identical sisters, two of which have murdered their boyfriends in the past. Now it’s Sissy’s turn, but what happens when you fall in love with the man you’re suppose to kill?

This is considered a thriller but so much more is going on…romance, abandon sisters growing up in the foster care system, and family relationships. It was such a unique story. It wasn’t fast paced but I was so interested in both the love story and the “serial killer” story line. The author did such an amazing job weaving the story together to make it interesting and bingeable. The ending was surprising and satisfying. I recommend!

First impression - wow, psycho galore! It seriously was nothing what I expected. And everything I wanted. So So disturbing and good.

The story follows triplets. They were abandoned as babies, but they have fought through their life to stick together. And they have. Through everything. The bad, the good, the murders. One kills, all clean up, Sounds like a dream team.

These girls were dealt a hard hand in life, but have come a long way. They travel across country, taking turns in picking their marks, killing them and then moving on. It has worked, till the "baby" of the three had to take a turn, and get her first kill in. But the plan isn't just to kill. It is to make the man fall in love with her, and then kill him at his weakest. All good, till the plan goes awry, and the girl falls in love with her mark.

It has so much more in this story. There's a lot of growth, a lot of twists (unexpected ones, as well as some very obvious), but all in all this was a very propulsive read. It moves fast, never bores.

Highly recommend if you're into serial killers, twins, psychopaths. This book as a debut will wow you.

Fabulously tense story, fascinating family bonds and relationships. This one is dark and twisted, featuring murderous triplets with an upsetting backstory and a unique bond. I really enjoyed this one and it's definitely one that stands out in the pack.

When I was in my early twenties I fell in love with The Chemical Garden series. It was a genre mashup of dystopian/fantasy/ science fiction and I devoured each book. I jumped at the chance to read Ren DeStefano’s newest book How I’ll Kill You. I mean, a story about diabolical, serial killer, identical triplets? Sign me up!

I primarily listened to the audiobook. The narration was excellent. There is so much happening in this story. Much of it is heavy, so much of it is twisted, and shockingly, readers get to enjoy a budding romance as well. The narrator makes all of these transitions with ease while keeping up with the fast pace of the novel.

I put this book down feeling conflicted which I feel was by design. DeStefano does an excellent of getting into the headspace of Sissy which is a very convoluted place to be. The backstory of each of the triplets is devastating and shows how neglect and a broken system groomed these girls into the monsters they have become.

I highly recommend choosing How I’ll Kill You as a book club read, you will want to discuss this one with as many friends as possible when you are done! For fans who love a morally grey main character- check out How I’ll Kill You which publishes tomorrow!

Sissy, who has been cleaning up the mess left when her sisters Moody and Iris murder men, is the most unusual and oddly engaging criminal I've read in a while. The women, now in their early 20s, are triplets who were abandoned at birth, split up, and raised in foster and group homes. A go-fund-me sort of thing raised a lot of money which was put in trust for them and it is this money that is financing them these days. Only Sissy had something resembling a normal childhood and she's the only one who hasn't killed- but now it's her turn. She falls hard for Edison and chooses him as her first (in more ways that one). She also falls for their neighbor Dara (in a platonic way- her first ever friend). So many twists in this one, which teeters on the edge of truly horrifying. DeStefano also manages to convey a sense of suspense throughout - I had the feeling something was about to go wrong for Sissy in a very bad way. No spoilers from me. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Great storytelling and a strong voice for Sissy make this a page turner.

Serial killer triplets setting their sights on the next victim? Only to have one of them fall in love with the man that was to be murdered? Oh my, this one was a bit of a ride and had a lot of unpredictability in it - definitely a unique storyline.

Three newborn identical triplets are found abandoned in a roadside rest stop. The girls are split up by the government and grow up in multiple foster and group homes with only occasional visits with each other. Moody, Iris and Sissy reunite at eighteen. When one’s relationship goes horribly awry, the triplets vow to kill all their future lovers to keep their small family together. Taking turns at killing men stupid enough to love them, they change identities and locations every few months—until it’s Sissy’s turn. Sissy falls hard for Edison. She isn’t sure she has the strength to murder him. But she has made a commitment to her sisters. The question she must ask herself about Edison is How I'll Kill You—not if.

How I'll Kill You is a unique genre mashup of a syrupy romance and a serial killer thriller. While I cringed at some of the more maudlin moments, I couldn’t stop reading the serial killers’ story. There were several surprising twists to keep my interest high. How can Sissy manage to fulfill both her sisters’ expectations and her own desires? 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars!

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

Featuring ~ 1st person POV, present tense, triplets, foster care, serial killers, dark, debut

Sissy, Moody & Iris ~ the serial killer triplets. Moody and Iris each have killed 3 unsuspecting chaps and Sissy, the one who usually cleans up the messes, is ready for her turn. I like that she just handles the clean up like it's any other day with great precision. Did the victims deserve what was coming to them or are they just women scorned that are psychopaths?

Perfectly titled because we're told in depth detail how Sissy plans out her first kill. The extra details did make it seem a little longer than necessary. Sweet, broken, church going, Edison is the target, but can she go through with it when she really gets to know him?

Overall, it's quite impressive as a debut. The plot was cleverly planned out. The sisters were well and uniquely developed and each bring their own skill set to the table. I liked how the ending played out.

4 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

What the heck did I just read??? I finished the book a few days ago and had to just sit with it for awhile before I could write my review. The book is a a fascinating mystery/thriller/romance that I couldn't stop reading it.

Sissy is one of a set of identical triplets. They were abandoned when they were newborns and lived their youth in separate foster homes until they aged out. Fiercely protective of each other, once they were free of the system they were determined to never be separated again. No matter what. When Iris is hurt by her boyfriend and kills him in a fit of rage, Sissy steps in to clean up the scene and the triplets' plan to love men and leave them....dead, is born.

The triplets are now in Arizona and it's finally time for Sissy to step up and find a man to target. Her task: make him love her and live an entire relationship in a short span of time. Then end it - and him - and move on. Sissy spots her target, young widower Edison, and sets her plan in place. She plays it perfectly and the plan is going smoothly until Sissy realizes she's actually falling for Edison, and he's falling for her. Scurrying to hide this unexpected predicament from her sisters, while also dealing with her new neighbor's domestic violence situation, Sissy is stretched thin. When her sisters become restless and see what Sissy continues to deny, they decide to excelerate their plan.

This book left me feeling unsettled, sad and hopeful. It's weird to equate "hopeful" with a book about serial killer triplets, but there it is. I'm strange. I sympathized with Sissy and her predicament, and the slow, thoughtful development of her relationship with Edison reminded me of my first serious relationship - without the murder, of course. We learn about Sissy's life in foster care and her relationship with her sisters through flash backs. This sheds some light on their motives, but felt a little lacking to me. I know some people had trouble with the pacing of the book, but I really enjoyed the slow development of Sissy and Edison's relationship. I kept rooting for Sissy to just give in to the moment and accept Edison's love and comfort.

If you're looking for a twisty mystery with a dash of romance, this book is for you. I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group. All opinions are my own.

3.5. The threads get tenuous and the plot points feel sloppy in parts, but this is a fun thriller with an innovative premise--three triplets who do murder? I'm already intrigued!

Ren DeStefano humanizes her murderer-protagonist more than other thrillers I've read recently, which I appreciated. I enjoyed the insight into Sissy's relationship with her sisters and her turmoil over her potential first kill, having selected a mark she grows to love. I wasn't expecting the development of Sissy's relationship with Edison's stepdaughter, which is another oddly tender aspect of this book. While the ending genuinely surprised me, I wish it weren't so rushed; I wanted to explore its lead-up more.

Again, this could use some tightening/clean-up, but I enjoyed it--and I think other popcorn thriller fans will too.

I’ll be honest the title got me curious. It had me hitting the request button almost immediately. But the thrill of it all is what kept me reading.

It's dark, twisty, emotional, and such an oddity that you can't look away.

I think this book is perfect for fans of Netflix's YOU. Though I will confess I’ve only watched season 1 and about half of 2. Maybe a little more. But nevertheless, it has all those vibes. So morally gray in regards to Sissy, our main character. She has spent her life cleaning up her sister's messes. And by messes I mean murders.

She is calculative and manipulative. But at the same time, she's somehow a sympathetic character. A person you can empathize with. The book is fast-paced and unique, and the ending fits perfectly.

I am going to be in the minority here….but I could not get into this story. The idea is great: three identical triplet sisters that are serial killers? Interesting spin for a thriller. However the main sister, Sissy, kept going off on her daydream tangents way too often. It was easy to see what was going to happen for me, but then again I am always trying to figure out thrillers. Good narrator for the characters on the audiobook.

I read this book in one sitting and it’s the best debut novel I’ve read so far this year. This is the first book in a long time that I didn’t even look at my Kindle to see how much time was left to finish.

This book is clever and twisty and dramatic. The writing is amazing. It has triplet sisters that were abandoned as babies and were products of the foster system. They grew up separately but join together to become the perfect serial killer.

These sisters have rules. Only one kill at a time. They kill their boyfriends while love is still fresh in the air.

The self appointed youngest, triplet, Sissy, has one small problem. She has fallen in love with her mark and now has to decide between her sisters and her man.

If you are a thriller lover and like authors like Samantha Downing then YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK.

This was a little dark, a little spicy, a little wtf, and I liked it A LOT. 😂 A serial killer story with a fun twist. Killer triplets?!

Moody and Iris kill their boyfriends and Sissy is the cleaner. Moody and Iris both have 3 kills each and now it is Sissy’s turn to be the lead in their demented game of love. They move about the country. One sibling chooses a mark, an unsuspecting man, makes him fall in love with her and the she kills him. The other two sisters lay in wait until a sighting is needed to make an alibi and then they disappear into thin air. This story is told in Sissy’s perspective while she lures in her first victim, a man named Edison. She pretends to be Jade, a sweet songstress he meets at church. I don’t want to give too much away, I think this one is so fun if you go in blind!

I personally loved that this was part dark psychological thriller and part romance. I thought the romance aspect made the plot more believable! I also liked that it was told from Sissy’s perspective. She is the most “innocent” of her sisters and it is interesting to see her battle her conscience when making decisions. I was on the edge of my seat for much of this story, I HAD to know WHY the sisters became serial killers.

Thank you so much Berkley and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC!

Ren DeStefano has crafted a disquieting psychological thriller featuring identical triplets Sissy, Moody, and Iris. In this story, Sissy also uses the fake name of Jade. Moody and Iris have the habit of killing their boyfriends and Sissy handles the clean-up to ensure they don’t get caught. However, now it’s Sissy’s turn. She needs to make him want her and then fall in love with her. After that, she needs to kill him.

Arriving in Rainwood, Arizona, the sisters rent an apartment, but only one of them can be seen at a time. Since they’re identical, either Moody or Iris be a visible alibi (pretending to be Sissy) when the end comes. Sissy goes to a local diner to find her mark. He’s Edison, a widower living alone. They are attracted to each other quickly, but take things somewhat slowly. However, her sisters are getting impatient. Can Sissy make him fall in love with her? Can she kill him? If not, how can she protect him? Can the triplets move on to their next victim without getting caught?

The characterization in this novel is fantastic. Moody is confident, seemingly sweet, sharp, and deadly. Iris is confident, regal, and can transform into anything that attracts her victims. Sissy is the voice of reason that understands how to clean up crime scenes. Edison is gentle and trying to stay sober while harboring a deep anger at the person who killed his wife. Told from Sissy’s point of view, readers get insights into her thoughts and feelings about her sisters and about Edison as well as the conflicts she experiences.

The author is a superb storyteller who kept me on the edge of my seat as I wondered what would happen next. There are some unexpected twists as this dark story unfolds. Along the way, readers get more information on the lives of the triplets leading up to this story without it being an information dump. The final action scenes are riveting and hauntingly memorable. However, there were times when the pacing felt uneven and the ending was somewhat predictable. Themes include violence, murder, anger, friendship, love, sisterhood, and much more. The novel also highlights the complexity of foster care and the impact of separation on siblings.

Overall, this was suspenseful and disconcerting for me with memorable characters that kept me turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. The unique premise for this book is disturbing and readers who enjoy romance with their dark psychological thrillers will likely enjoy this novel.

Berkley Publishing Group and Ren DeStefano provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for March 21, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

Read if you like:
💔 Misguided Revenge
👀 Thrillers
🚗 Wild Rides
👯‍♀️ Sisters before Misters

This one is a wild ride, face paced thriller about triples with a bad habit of picking boyfriends with the intention of murder.

I was so curious about how it would all come together with the sisters with three very different personalities, but secrets that will tie them together forever. What will happen when one doesn’t want to follow through with their sister rules???

If you are looking for a different type of thriller I highly encourage you to check this one out! Thanks to Berkley for my arc copy of this one!

This was a unique read. I love sister stories and their bonds as I am very close with mine. Serial killers-especially female ones always get my attention and I enjoyed the POV of this.

I havent read this author before, but I look forward to more! Thank you Netgalley for my advance copy!

Identical triplets have a nasty habit of killing their boyfriends, but what happens when the youngest commits their worst crime yet: falling in love with her mark?

The premise of this one hooked me. Who wouldn’t love serial killer triplets? DeStefano did an excellent job creating identical siblings with distinct personalities and voices on the page. I loved Iris the most, but she wasn’t the main character. The sisters’ dynamics entertained me, even when the subject turned dark. The twists at the end paid off, and I got that sense of gratification I always look for in thrillers. 

The book comes in at 352 pages, but it feels longer because of the saggy pacing in the middle of the book. Also, I didn’t expect a dark romance subplot, but I got one, making the story an unusual read. All things said it’s an entertaining popcorn thriller.

Family ties are tested in this twisty tale of identical triplets who bond over love and death. When the youngest sibling is put to task, she dares to bend the boundaries of her sisterly pact along with her heart's expanding desires. All loyalties are challenged. Promises of enduring devotion are given. Tough choices must be made to protect and preserve their future . . . a soul’s battle between new flame and seasoned fidelity . . . which vow will remain true?

If you can wade through the mire of dysfunction and maddening ruminations in the story's first half, there are redeeming moments waiting for you in the second.

Due to release - March 21st, 2023

I'd like to thank NetGalley for an advanced copy of How I’ll Kill You for my unbiased evaluation.  3 stars

A unique story that catches you right from the start. Fast paced but a bit repetitive at times. I really enjoyed this book. Definitely recommend.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.