This had so much potential, as I love the story of a woman vigilante, but the main character ended up being unlikeable and the story didn’t really hold up.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest opinion.

This started off very strong but ended, at least for me, with a flop. I didn’t care about the podcaster AT ALL, tell me more about this bad bitch that murders pedophiles! 3 stars.

a fun, fast paced thriller that is hard to put down.

Bad Men follows Saffy, a successful independent woman who has a hobby - killing Bad Men. But... Saffy also has a crush on a popular true crime podcaster and decided to take a break from killing in order to pursue love.

This book is quick to grab your attention with a fantastic first chapter detailing Saffy's first murder. From there, we get glimpses into past kills as the story turns into part romance, part crime solving. I absolutely loved Saffy's character and thought she was so fun to follow despite being a manipulative sociopath.

This was a very bingeable read with a lot of elements I really enjoyed! However, I wouldn't necessarily advertise it as a 'feminist' or 'female serial killer' novel. As that is a part of the story, it is not the main focus and I think that description could be misleading to people who are expecting something similar to 𝘉𝘰𝘺 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 or 𝘈 𝘊𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 for example. I was also hoping this book would go in a different direction at the end. I was hoping for something shocking, but it was still enjoyable regardless.

Overall, if you are looking for an entertaining, bingeable thriller with a strong female character, crime solving elements, and obsessive romance, then I would recommend this!

So rarely does a book remind me of my favorite NetGalley book -- They Never Learn by Layne Fargo. Bad Men is one of the few books that hooks women as the apex predator and I am HERE - FOR - IT!

We meet the protagonist Saffy and quickly learn that she has a proclivity towards punishing bad men. Not your run of the mill, but truly awful men.
The murder that sparks her interest is that of her stepfather Harold. After being abused for years, Harold attempts to pass on Saffy to her younger sister. Saffy does what all older sisters do and takes matters into her own hands.
John is a podcast host who while doing some research he discovers he murderer that the police could not at the cost of his marriage.

Saffy is infatuated with John and decides to pursue him .

TW: rape, murder, torture, violence

I really wanted to finish this book. The first two chapters are captivating. Once we get the shift in perspective, the story starts to devolve quickly. I got almost half way through when I had to DNF. The plot becomes too convenient for our main character Saffy, and the dialogue becomes cringy. I was so hopeful based on the description and beginning chapters. I pushed through from 25% to almost 50% before realizing it is just not working for me anymore.

🌟🌟🌟
On paper, this is one of the coolest books ever: a female serial killer who hunts Bad Men teams up with an unsuspecting true crime podcast host to solve a murder. Unfortunately, the premise is the strongest part of this story.

The book is narrated from two perspectives: Saffy (the serial killer, who we are frequently reminded is very rich and beautiful) and the male podcast host (whose name I have already forgotten, if that’s any indication of how interesting he is as a character). I actually think his perspective is utilized more throughout the story, which seems somewhat contradictory to Saffy’s perceived role as the protagonist…and more importantly, disappointing because he was such a forgettable character! I still don’t understand why Saffy was so in love with someone who had so few interesting qualities.

Overall, this isn’t one I’d recommend. There are many other books that provide a more satisfying depiction of female rage & opportunities to support women’s wrongs. However, if this book seems like something you’d be interested in reading—it will be released on May 7, 2024!

Thanks to Abrams Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ✨

I am dnf’ing this book.

the readon why I am dnfing is because I felt that the base of the book is so slow. And the writing wasn’t the best in my opinion.

I couldn’t even tell you the main female character’s name is because it is literally only mentioned a few times.

I think that the idea of the book was great. but it just wasn’t written right.

This was so fun and incredibly dark at the same time. Ever wonder what it would be like for a serial killer to find love? Saffy is a killer but she only kills the bad men , the ones who truely deserve it. She falls for Jonathan a true crime podcaster who gets mixed up with another serial killer and gets accused of murder himself. Can Saffy find love and also help save Jonathan? I really enjoyed this one and all the layers to it. I can easily see this being a series and I would happily read it. This one surprised me in the best way possible. I would definitely recommend as long as you’re not a sensitive reader . It’s a dark, funny, dare I say romantic thriller and I’m here for it.

Well this was thoroughly entertaining. Saffy is a serial killer who develops a crush on true crime podcaster & novelist, Jonathan Desrossiers. It’s kind of a fun romp as Jon & Saffy get to know each other & try to solve a crime Jon has been accused of committing. I was pulling for Saffy even while I was concerned about what she might do next or who she might kill. A fun mystery with a quirky romance & lots of death & destruction.

Ok this was honestly so fun - very much in the same vein as They Never Learn or even My Husband. I will always love a woman serial killer MC <3

Bad Men is about Saffy, and unhinged but methodical socialite 20 something who is also a serial killer. She targets bad men and only kills if she has a reason she believes is legitimate - she's essentially a vigilante.

We also follow Jon, a true crime podcaster. Saffy becomes obsessed with Jon and decides she wants him to be her boyfriend, and she will go to any lengths to stage the perfect meet cute and jumpstart their relationship.

The story starts FAST and I read the first 50% in one sitting. I was so excited about the book at the beginning because of how quickly I was immersed. I do think the pacing slowed down quite a bit in the middle, but I also loved the last 20%.

I definitely think this will be one of the hot girl thrillers of 2024!! While it wasn't perfect and Saffy and Jon were both kinda insufferable at times, I couldn't put it down.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you Abrams and NetGalley for the ARC!

Bad Men was a different kind of “murder” novel, one that had me cracking up and also rooting for a serial killer! This book was definitely a little disturbing in some places, and I would recommend for any prospective reader to check the trigger warnings before diving into this book. I am not a fan of murder as a plot point, but this one was almost endearing with the way the characters were written.

Thank you again for the ARC

This was a fun and pretty light mystery about a female serial killer who targets bad men. I was expecting the story to be darker and more focused on the serial killer's aspect but it wasn't, which was okay. The female main character is a narcissistic socialite who has no remorse for getting rid of all these men. The male main character is a famous crime podcaster and after he finds a body on his doorstep, he meets and teams up with the fmc to find the killer. He doesn't know that the fmc is a serial killer and that she trying to be in a relationship with him, which was fun. In a lot of the book there's a lot of investigation, false accusations and romance. I felt like there wasn't much to the plot, and it wasn't as explosive as it could have been. I wish there had been more of the fmc pov because she was interesting and a bit strange lol. The mystery and the romance also wrapped up very nicely at the end. I did really like the writing and how fast paced the book was. Overall this was okay if you like mysteries and romance with morally grey female characters you should read this. Thank you Abrams book for this arc for an honest review.

Rating: 3.5/5

In Julie Mae Cohen's gripping novel, Bad Men, readers are taken on a thrilling journey into the twisted mind of Saffy Huntley-Oliver, an intelligent and glamorous socialite who also happens to be a proficient serial killer. For years, Saffy has indulged in her secret hobby of hunting down and dispatching the worst kind of men – rapists, murderers, and domestic abusers. However, her double life has left her feeling isolated and lonely, as she struggles to form meaningful connections with others, especially in the realm of romantic relationships where trust is scarce. The story takes an intriguing turn when Saffy believes she has finally found a genuinely good man in Jonathan Desrosiers, a true-crime podcaster renowned for cracking cold cases and bringing justice to victims. However, their budding romance is swiftly complicated when a decapitated body appears on Jon's doorstep, leading him to become the prime suspect in a murder he vehemently denies committing. Driven by her infatuation and a desire to protect Jon, Saffy takes it upon herself to orchestrate a meet-cute and offer her assistance in clearing his name. With her arsenal of tricks and determination, she embarks on a perilous quest to uncover the truth and unmask the real killer, regardless of the personal cost. Darkly comic and addictively readable, Bad Men delves into the complex psyche of its characters, weaving a feminist thriller that challenges societal norms and expectations. Cohen masterfully combines elements of suspense, romance, and wit, creating a truly unique reading experience. The author's ability to infuse humor into such a dark narrative allows readers to explore moral dilemmas and question the notion of justice in unexpected ways. What makes Bad Men stand out is its exploration of the protagonist's internal struggles as a serial killer who seeks her own form of justice. Cohen expertly portrays Saffy's conflicting emotions, making her character both relatable and compelling. Despite her murderous tendencies, readers find themselves empathizing with her as she grapples with the complexities of her actions, ultimately questioning if even a serial killer can find their own version of a happily ever after. Overall, Bad Men is a captivating and thought-provoking read that seamlessly blends elements of crime, romance, and dark humor. Julie Mae Cohen's storytelling prowess shines through, creating a narrative that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page. This feminist thriller not only entertains but also challenges societal norms, leaving readers pondering the blurred lines between good and evil.

“It’s OK, I type, even though it really isn’t. Because years have taught me that this is what straight men like. They like chilled-out, breezy women who are endlessly fun and forgiving. They like women who don’t have feelings other than adventurous sexual ones.”

Readers follow Saffy, an intelligent and glamorous socialite who harbors a hidden talent as a proficient serial killer. However, her world takes an unexpected turn when she finds herself falling/obsessing for the only “truly good man”, Jonathan Desrosiers, a renowned true crime podcaster.

I normally avoid thrillers but the cover and book description intrigued me and I cannot be happier I picked this up.

The dual point of view’s allowed me to fully immerse myself in both characters' “good” and “bad” narrative. Jonathan's pessimistic view of his own life and the unfortunate events that seem to constantly plague him, contrasted with Saffy's carefree and sociopathic tendencies, where she breaks the third wall, kept me on an emotional roller coaster.

I even started sympathizing a serial killer?? As narcissistic and sociopathic Saffy was you couldn’t help but love her charm.

I loved the carefreeness of this thriller and found myself wanting more. As the story puzzle pieces fell into place, I couldn't help but wish for fewer sluggish moments amidst the crime-solving and Saffy's manipulations to make Jonathan reciprocate her love.

I just wished that the catalyst that initiated everything to fall into place hadn’t been so obvious in the end. But hey, that’s just me.

Read on if you enjoy a darkly comedic, wild romp of a feminist thriller that asks if even a serial killer can have a happily ever after.

I have a new favorite author to look out for. This far fetched yet clever story of a serial-killer-socialite-to-root-for was completely engaging and really fun to read. Sure, I saw the ending coming early but that didn’t ruin my enjoyment of reading this in the slightest.

The writing was mostly thrilling, often hilarious, but did have such thoughtful moments that I appreciated. I know you’re not supposed to quote books that aren’t released yet but I would be shocked if this didn’t make the cut. It’s so lovely and sharp I want to keep it here for reference:

“Everyone of every gender wants other people to be kind and considerate to them. It’s only reply guys on the internet who reduce feminism to things like opening doors for women. And they should die in agony.”

Mark your calendars for the release in May. This is a good one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[3 Stars]

This was a lot of fun. Nothing mind-blowing, the characters and plot were quite 1-dimensional. But it was overall an intriguing, campy time. If you want a nice mind break this will do the job.

I read the description of this book and immediately wanted to read it. The vibe of the description was reminding me of Promising Young Woman, which was a movie I adored. While the actual book ended up being very different from that film, it was still an overall enjoyable read. The first chapter was shocking and definitely pulled me in, but once we jumped ahead in time it was a slower build, but it certainly ended with a bang.

Saffy’s POV was a bit challenging sometimes, as she is very obsessed with herself, but by the end I really loved her character. There were multiple times I genuinely laughed while reading her unhinged commentary. I couldn’t help but love her by the end, even though she is at times a horrible person. A completely delusional main character certainly makes for an entertaining read.

Jon’s POV was a little bland, but also where a lot of the action happened so it was kind of a strange mix because what I really wanted was more of Saffy taking out the bad men. I expected there to be more of that, but most of the murder talk actually came from Jon’s conversations. It wasn’t bad, but it took up a lot more of the book than I had expected.

Overall this book’s comedy didn’t always land for me and sometimes it felt a bit cringy in terms of humor, especially in the dialogue. That aside, I did have a lot of fun despite the often dark content, and would definitely recommend for a quick murdery read. 3.5⭐️

This was gifted to me by Netgalley & the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

We are following a serial killer. she only kills people in her free time. And someone has to do it..right? She's making the world a better place, by killing BAD MEN. She also has a secret that has absolutely nothing to do with her job. She has a gigantic crush and she wants to make him her boyfriend while also plotting murder.

This book was blurrbed by Clare Mackintosh, who I have enjoyed reading from. However, this book was not the vibes that I was expecting. I wanted a cozy/funny vibe and this did not deliver on that for me.

Bad Men was such a fun book to read, and very well written, but I feel pretty uncomfortable about Saffy, the main character, who's hobby is ridding the world of Bad Men. The book starts out with a little "horror", which made me want to abandon the whole thing. I continued, and I suppose I'm glad I did because Saffy and podcaster, Jon, team up to solve a murder. A little romance develops in their relationship. The reading is fun and compelling, but still "edgy". I feel like I should like the way the story ends up, but I have to say, this story was just a step outside my comfort zone.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Bad Men.