What a wild ride. Holy cow. The twists and turns and honestly this book was creepy. A few unanswered questions led to my 4.5 star rating. But overall I really enjoyed this. I caught myself excited about getting to listen to more of the book when I was away from it. The family that kills together... what a tangled mess they weave, especially when they start changing their own rules.

Audio was glorious and I highly recommend.
4.5 stars

After being abandoned as babies, Sissy, Moody, and Iris floated through the foster care system, until finally reunited for good. They have things down pat. Find their mark, make him fall in love with you, and then kill him. This time it’s Sissy’s turn. But when she questions whether she wants to end Edison’s life, she realizes her sisters will end someone’s life no matter what, whose will it be?

This book was so crazy. My heart broke for the three sisters and wha they endured during their childhood. It broke a little extra for Sissy since she had such a wonderful parent in Elaine, but felt she couldn’t allow that relationship to grow without turning her back on her real family. I also truly loved Edison, even though he was messed up in his own way) and wondered how Sissy was possibly going to kill him at the end of this. This was a unique story, and I can only imagine the chaos these three could cause as identical triplets.

So, I'm very thankful for the advanced reader's access to Ren DeStefano's How I'll Kill You from NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group. I am always a horror-reading girlie, but this one wasn't my cup of tea for some reason. Killing for revenge is justified in my fictional and literal brain, but the senseless killing of people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time doesn't register for me, and I feel like there was too much of that, page after page. How I'll Kill You is set to hit shelves on March 21, 2023.

This a thriller with a special twist: love. The premise is original, triplet serial killer sisters who make men fall in love with them only to murder them. The story centers on Sissy, who has never actually killed, but has cleaned up after her sisters. Now it's her turn, but when she discovers feelings for her target, can she see it through? Is her devotion to her sisters more powerful than those feelings? Suspenseful, pageturner with a cast of layered characters.

Thank you @prhaudio @berkleypub for my gifted copies! #PRHAudioPartner #BerkleyPartner ⁣
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“Distraction is its own addiction, and that’s what their love was.”⁣
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How I’ll Kill You is wild in its own right. The premise gets you hooked ASAP. Triplets! Disguising themselves as one person. Each get to pick their next victim and dispose of them how they see fit. The cat and mouse game is such an interesting idea. Sadly, it didn’t grip me as much as I wanted to. ⁣
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It’s written extremely well. Some of her inner dialogue is extremely lyrical and I just remember thinking, “dang, that was a good line.” Of course the audio is phenomenal because Karissa Vacker is literally queen. I will always listen to a KV book because she’s more than amazing. She did a wonderful job on Sissy, Iris, Moody, and Edison. ⁣
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I get sometimes we can cheer for the “bad guy”, but I would have cheered for the other two trips before Sissy because they knew who they were. It was hard for me to really like her because she felt as though she could be something her other two sisters could not be. Also, the entire romance part really through me for a loop. I’m all for romance and a thriller, but this actually took away from the plot for me.⁣
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While this has an amazing premise, it just missed the mark for me. If you read this, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Thanks again @prhaudio @berkleypub for my copies! How I’ll Kill You is out 3/21!⁣
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Predict text: How I’ll Kill You is..

This book about sisters who enter a pact to kill off their boyfriends reminded me a female You (Caroline Kepnes). In triplicate. Each of the sisters has a skill that makes their kills efficient and virtually untraceable. Their loyalty to each other is what holds them together and each knows the other one will be there for them.

But what if they allow someone else in?

When Sissy (Jade) gets too close to her neighbor, the sisters get restless. When she gets too close to her target, Edison, they get downright mutinous!

There was strong character development as we see the triplets background and how it played into their strong adulthood bond. We see how Jade pulls the "real" Edison out, showing that he might possibly have a dark side too. There were some moments that made me laugh, and some that made me sad ("His dead wife sleeps forever in the albums in the fireplace"). But the overall tone of the book is lighthearted and entertaining. I know that's a crazy thing to say about a dark thriller - but read it and you'll see what I mean!

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advance reader's copy.

What an intriguing premise for a story!
Three sisters, identical triplets, orphans. Torn apart as children and reunited as adults, they have no room for anyone else in their lives, and watch out if you fall in love with any of them!
I loved all the elements of this book, romance, mystery, friendship and murder and I thoroughly enjoyed the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this digital ARC. I highly recommend it!

How I’ll Kill You by Ren Destefano

There’s something about female murderers that’s so intriguing to me. We’re the gentler sex, the nurturers, right? So when I read a book that has a serial killer female or in this case, females, it’s fascinating to me. Women who are on the hunt for men to entice into a relationship with an end goal of murder. That is the cat nip of a premise that drew me right in.

When three sisters, triplets, are separated at birth, each one has a different fostering/group home experience but Sissy’s is different. She actually really likes her foster home and family. Her two sisters, not so much and it made them bitter, angry and umm, murderous. Although they’ve seen each other through the years, they reconnect fully as young adults and it’s clear that Iris is the leader of the pack with Moody close behind. Sissy follows their lead, because her guilt for having a better life makes her feel obligated to them.

Now, it's Sissy’s turn to pick a target – and as the synopsis states - Make him want you. Make him love you. Make him dead. Problem is, Sissy’s never killed before – she’s the one that cleans up her sister’s messes but she doesn’t want to let her sisters down. Finding her target, Edison, is easy. He’s handsome, widowed and charming. The last thing she expects is to fall in love with him.

I loved being in Sissy’s head. Her inner thoughts are both stalkerish and entertaining but still contain a sense of innocence, kindness and conscience. I never really knew what direction she was going to take, that’s how strong her loyalty is.

Watching the story play out is a thrill ride and the plot is fast! I whipped through this in just a few hours. I read A LOT of thrillers and suspense but I’ve never read anything quite like this. It put a fresh and distinctive take on one of my favorite genres.

I really enjoyed this dark thriller, it’s full of heart and love with the most flawed of characters but there’s such a sense of sadness and heartbreak leading up to the most heinous of their acts.

Thank you so much, @BerkleyPub for this gifted DRC!

What a fun thriller that is perfect for fans of Samantha Downing! I found some parts repetitive, but I usually overlook that when it's an ARC since I know it's not a finished copy. I think parts of the story are predictable, but I still very much enjoyed the book.

This was a fast paced thriller that was really twisted and had a different concept than thrillers I’ve read in the past. A great debut novel by this author!

As I read, I was constantly reminded of Criminal Minds, which is a show I love, and I loved seeing the psychology behind the mind of a serial killer! A small portion of the plot took place near my hometown which was kind of cool and also a little creepy. I kept having to remind myself that it’s just a fictional story!

This is a great thriller of that is a genre you enjoy!

Thanks to @netgalley and @berkleypub for the digital copy! This review is voluntary and honest.

I received a gifted copy of HOW I’LL KILL YOU by Ren DeStefano for an honest review. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and PRH Audio!

Publication Date: 3/21/2023
Rating: 4 / 5
HOW I’LL KILL YOU follows Jade or Sissy or who really knows her actual name. She is one sister of identical triplets who lead a very interesting life. They travel from place to place to find a man to fall in love with, a relationship with a ticking clock. Each relationship begins with the end in mind, an end that will leave the man dead.

This time it is Sissy’s turn to find a man and plot his murder. In the past she has been the one to help her sisters clean up their messes, but this time she’s ready and she’s she’s put a lot of thought into the whole plan. Problem is, she didn’t expect to actually start to fall for the chosen man. She also didn’t expect some of the twists that get thrown in her path.

This premise instantly intrigued me and following along in Sissy’s mind was a wild ride. This isn’t a book full of likeable characters, but it is one that really made me question whether I did like Sissy or not. I loved the loyalty the triplets had to each other. They had a rough time growing up, abandoned as infants and separated into different homes for most of their lives. Sissy had the most stable upbringing, but even with that she was still pulled into her sisters’ horror stories.

It was really interesting to see how the sisters put each other above everything, stepping into one another’s’ shoes and lives time after time. Even as you know what they are doing is wrong, they are still compelling characters. Quite a few of the turns this story took weren’t entirely surprises, but how everything fit together still kept me engaged throughout!

Whoa! Just whoa! This book is one very dark trip that is completely insane. That is what kept me hooked, my nails bitten to the quick, my breath coming out in short puffs, my heartbeat rapid in my ears. Ren DeStefano has written an incredibly unique story, that will make you question everyone that comes across your path. What happens when a set of triplets are left abandoned in a stroller at a rest area when they are infants? No identity, no names, no one laying claim to them. Unwanted, abandoned, completely and utterly alone, motherless, left to the will of the state. The three of them pulled apart. Bouncing from foster home to group home until they aged out of the system. None of them knowing all of the horrors the others went through. Just knowing that all that matters is the three of them. They are the only ones they can depend on, the only ones they can trust, and the only ones they can be loyal to.

What happens when the three are reunited as adults? They go on a spree going from man to man. Charming him, making him fall in love, the only one who matters in the world is whichever triplet is pulling the strings. He won't live, their plan is to kill him, so he cannot leave them. They cannot be abandoned again. Sissy the youngest is currently working on her first mark. She is struck by the first glimpse of Edison. She knows she needs him; she needs to feel loved, and all that encompasses. She has six months with him, the plan is in place, his final resting place chosen. Will she be able to go through with it, her sisters need her. It all comes down to loyalty and trust of your family.

This book blew me out of the water. It is told from Sissy's perspective. The unknowing thoughts of her sister always coming into play. It is addictive, intense, and beyond anything I have imagined. The characters are fantastically written, their pain and anguish splashed across the pages. This is definitely not a book I will soon forget. Thank you to Red DeStefano and Berkley Books for my gifted copy.

This is one of my favorite books of 2023. I loved the plot, the characters, the surprising romance element, and the entire pacing of the story. I would read this one over and over again and have already ordered a physical copy.

How I'll Kill You is a fast paced read about three sisters who are serial killers and to date have never been caught.

Can their luck hold up?

Sissy is our narrator and she has found her mark. How will she kill him.

Trouble is she is falling in love with Edison.

Her sisters Iris and Moody are watching her every move.

That's all I will say as I don't want to leave any spoilers.

Pick up your copy, put your disbelief on hold ( though you never know) and enjoy the wild ride.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley for a twisted read.

When I read the blurb for this debut novel, it was a quick YES from me! It's a unique premise and I felt like nothing I'd read before.

Identical female triplet serial killers! Say what? This premise grabeed me immediately. And then we meet Jade, Iris and Mood and start learning about each of them and their backstories. They were left abandoned on the side of the road, and as children were raised separately in foster homes.
They would occasionally be reunited in group homes, only to be separated again. As adults, they vow to never be separated again.

At age ninetten, they had their first kill. Each woman had their own specific niche when it came to the kill. We are told the story from Jade's POV. And while she has never had "a kill", she is the one who cleans up the mess afterwards.

But the time has come for Jade to pick a mark to be her first love AND her first kill. She has six to make someone fall in love with her and then murder him, and this time her sisters will clean up.
But Jade is a bit different and she break the rules a bit. She starts to make some friends. She meets and man and actually falls for him. This is forbidden and something her sisters just do not do.

This book shows the bond between siblings, more specifically multiples. And also the strange twisted relationship between people when murder is involved. Also, I wasn't sure how the ending would play out, but it shocked me a bit!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing and Let's Talk Books Promo for including in this Berkley Buddy read and for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Oh my… where do I start? The premise of this thriller was very different. How I'll Kill you is 100% a dark PSYCHOLOGICAL thriller, but some may put it in the dark romance genre. Either way you look at it, was very different for me and I tend to genre jump often.

It’s twisted that’s for sure. As the synopsis says… sisters out to kill. Triplets at that! We have three sisters, Iris, Moody and Sissy.
Without spoiling it, I’ll say the plot itself was intense enough to have me on the edge of my seat. Sissy is the only sister that has yet to kill out if the three and well, she’s being pushed to make her first kill. Enter Edison.

This was well written and unexpected. I might have guessed at some things, but it didn’t take away from the story for me at all. I enjoyed it!

I found one of the sisters to be more disturbing than the other, but in the end they were all pretty messed up. I can totally see this as a movie. I’d watch it for sure! It wasn’t fast paced nor did it drag if that makes sense. The author hooks you pretty fast and takes you along for a twister ride and into the life of three sisters with one who is torn and actually falls for her chosen kill.

Like I said, I don’t want to spoil it because it’s so much more than that.
Would I recommend? Yes! If you enjoy a good psychological thriller with a bit of a twist to it, Pun intended) then this is a great read!

This is one whacky set of triplets. They each have a skillset and have been working together for six years. Their traumatic experiences in the foster system have resulted in a lack of empathy for anyone except each other -- that is until they come to Rainwood, AZ. Our narrator is called Sissy by the other two sisters and has adopted the identity of Jade for this "assignment." It is her turn to choose a mark, to make him fall in love with her, and then end it before the relationship can become tarnished. A forever love in her heart, if not in the flesh. One interesting aspect to this book was the amount of time Jade and her boyfriend Edison spend at their church and with their church community. If Edison had shown a biblical attitude toward sex outside of marriage, I would have given this book another star. I do not see his church time in his lifestyle and for me that does not ring true. All in all, an entertaining read that started out strong, meandered a bit in the middle, and ended on a strong and positive note.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was bonkers and highly messed up. But I liked it. 🤷🏼‍♀️😂

Short Synopsis:
Sissy, Moody and Iris are identical triplets and have a passion for killing their boyfriends. Sissy’s the only one that hasn’t yet, so the three sisters move to a small town, Sissy picks her mark in Edison and plans to add him to their list in 6 months. But instead she falls in love with him.

My Thoughts:
This is not a book for the faint of heart. There were plenty of graphic scenes that had shocked. But it was highly entertaining and I couldn’t stop reading to see what Sissy and her sisters would do next.

Read if You Like:
🔪 Thrillers
🔪 True Crime Podcasts/Shows
🔪 Karin Slaughter/Jennifer Hillier books
🔪 Slow Burns
🔪 A Girl with a Plan

This was a wild ride of a story and one I won’t soon forget!

This book starts with a unique premise and I never quite knew what was going to happen with each sister. The individual backstories were helpful and added depth to the story.

Overall, a good read!

I absolutely loved this premise, triplet female serial killers?! AMAZING. Say no more, I’m all in. I was instantly pulled into this one and I know a huge part of the reason why I was so invested so quickly is because of how original the setup was. Of course none of this is plausible but who cares when you’re on such a wild ride? The book being set in Arizona was such a treat for me, I’ve only read a handful of books set in my home state so that was really fun. I love reading about unhinged characters and the fact that all three sisters are the very definition of unhinged was so fun. Sissy narrates the entire story and her voice was just so strong and well developed. Speaking of narration I listened to part of this one audio and Karissa Vacker is queen. Grab this is you want a fast paced thriller that is wholly unique and wildly entertaining.