I had mixed feelings on this book:

Pro-
A new twist on the dating app drama
I LOVED the authors quippy writing style
I loved it more when I found out the author was a male writing from a females perspective. It was both accurate and funny

Con-
The story seemed a bit too far-fetched for me
I found the story slow to develop for some reason

Fun and with a twist I genuinely didn’t see coming! A nice, quick little read - I devoured it in a day! Can’t wait to read more from this author when I need a fun little journey

A murder-mystery Bridget Jones.

While the idea of a serial killer on a dating app doesn't seem like it would be good for a giggle, Swiped by LM Chilton has managed to create a fun read about the woes of dating in the modern world. Gwen is her own worst enemy but you can't help but love her.

Yes, the storyline is a bit ridiculous but everyone needs a light-hearted murder mystery.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book has such a fun premise: a compulsive user of a dating app realizes every man she goes on a date with ends up murdered. I was totally engaged from the very beginning, laughing at out at our main character Gwen’s sense of humor. Unfortunately, I felt like this book lost the plot somewhere around the 60% mark. It went from a tongue-in-cheek dark comedy to an actual thriller, which was a turn I wasn’t expecting and did not care for. The story got very convoluted and outrageous, which could have been campy and fun, but I think it just took itself too seriously, and for me, it didn’t work. I’d still be interested in reading more from this author, but overall this one was a three star book for me.

Gwen’s life is a bit of a mess. She broke up with her loving boyfriend and turned down a job she had worked tirelessly for, but can’t really figure out why. Her bff and roommate is getting married and moving out, and she is stuck swiping away at the dating apps. When the men she went on dates with slowly start to show up dead, Gwen is a clear suspect, but she wants to figure out what is happening just as badly as the cops do…

I decided to try this book on audio after sadly giving up on the book I was listening to and dang did it deliver. I was immediately drawn into the story and the craziness that ensued. As someone that has sadly spent a lot of time on dating apps and finally deleted them all, this book was so fun! I mean, it’s about murder so not too much fun, but I enjoyed every second. I just needed to know who was killing these dudes, though honestly, a few of them kind of deserved it! I felt so much for Gwen as tried navigating the stupid apps, but becoming a detective to solve the murders kind of sounds a lot more fun!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ ½
Genre: Mystery Thriller

The plot of this story revolves around the concept of online dating and the circumstances that may arise when something goes wrong. After going through a difficult breakup with the man she loves, the protagonist, Gwen Turner, turns to an online dating app in order to find a new romantic partner. What Gwen didn’t expect was for things to go that wrong.

In her city, there is a string of murders that have taken place. What comes as a surprise to the protagonist, however, is the fact that all of the men who were murdered were men that she had dated. As a result of this, she is the primary suspect in the commission of all of these murders!

In order for Gwen to be able to find the real killer and demonstrate that she is innocent, she needs to collect additional information from all of her dates and make an effort to track down each and every one of them.

This was a fun book to read because it was a combination of comedy and suspense. The narrative struck the ideal balance between the two, in my opinion. Although I would not go so far as to say that I felt a connection with the main character, I believe that she was someone that a great number of other readers would find extremely endearing.

This thriller, like many others that have been released in recent years, suffers from the fact that it is not realistic in any way. There are instances where over-the-top situations in the plot are evident, but fortunately, they do not affect the fun gained out of it if you are not too critical about them. Overall, it was a good and entertaining read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

Gwen is getting over a breakup by swiping right on love. She is filling the void and mending her heartbreak by matching and dating any of the guys on Connector who will have her. They might be playboys and horrible people, but it passes the time. One night while at her best friend's bachelorette party, Gwen gets a message from a potential new match, Parker. Instead of witty banter, he sends her a link to a news article about a murder victim: a man she went on a date with just a few weeks ago. Just a coincidence right? Then another of her past dates is found dead and a pattern forms. Why is everyone Gwen went out with from Connector winding up dead?

I thought this was a great, light thriller. While there was murder and mystery, the storyline was light and easy to read. I found myself excited every day to read more about Gwen and her love life and checking off suspects just like she and the police do in the book. I do think that the ending was a bit rushed and slightly confusing; which resulted in me having the reread the last few chapters twice. Otherwise, this is a fun and delightful read that kept me guessing and highly entertained.

Who knew dating could be so deadly?

Would recommend for fans of…
📲 Fleabag
📲 Scream
📲 Dolly Alderton

As a reader I have two moods: dark, twisted, mysteries and thrillers or super fluffy and funny rom coms. These tastes seem in complete opposition, but I finally managed to find a book that combines both of them into one delightful romantic slasher!

Swiped follows Gwen, a woman trying her luck on dating apps after a string of unfortunate events. Sadly, things get worse when her dates begin dying, one after another.

My favorite thing about Swiped is that the book is funny! There are so many witty one-liners and humorous observations about modern romance and dating. It felt as though this book was written by Dolly Alderton or Phoebe Waller-Bridge. I also appreciated how Chilton didn’t skimp on the thriller aspect of the story. While it’s not as dark as some things I read, Chilton did a great job with the pacing, keeping the twists coming and the story moving and the overall rhythm of the story felt more in line with the story’s thriller pedigree.

There are moments that are predictable and others that require you to suspend your disbelief, but Swiped is so creative and fun that I’m willing to overlook those things. I’d absolutely recommend this book for anyone who’s looking to dip their toes into the slasher trope or for readers who are looking for a book that is lightheaded and creative.

Swiped hits shelves May 14th. Thanks to Gallery and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was fun! I love a good comedic murder mystery and this was just that. I really liked Gwen as a character, so I felt like she was the perfect lead for this kind of story. I had my guesses on who the killer could be and often times I thought I was on the right path, but then another twist would happen and I was left questioning myself ha. I love when a book can do that for me, it really makes the reading journey that much more enjoyable! I do wish the killer would have gotten caught, but also glad it didn’t because it kind of leaves this story open for a sequel maybe??? Overall, really fun read and very glad I took a chance on this one!

This one just didn't work for me, but I hope that others find something to love in it. Thanks to Net Galey and the publisher.

So, this is a fun concept! I really loved the idea and was really excited. Somehow, though, I felt a distance from the main characters and just didn't sink into the story. I felt as if this is a high-concept idea, but the character didn't feel 3-dimensional enough for me. I was also, a bit bored at times. I think, perhaps, some of the personal character stakes could have been woven through more.

I liked the characters and the story. Overall it was a fun and enjoyable read, even though it was a bit outlandish and surface level at times.

Thank you to Gallery Books and to NetGalley for the ARC!

Swiped was such a fun read filled with mystery, suspense, humor, and a topical commentary on friendships as well as dating in the modern age. I felt slightly nervous that this book would be too commercial for where my tastes typically bend, but the quick pacing and clever writing pulled me right in and never let me go until the very end! Chilton has a talent for writing hyper-specific, niche characters who fit a brand of society reader's will know all too well. Thus is our introduction to many of the protagonist's bad dates. Once we are off and running with Chilton's dynamic, baggage-ridden characters and their interwoven relationships (which are far more messy than meets the eye), the story is quite tricky to put down.

The protagonist, Gwen, is somewhat of an unlikable character since she has made mistake after mistake with men, friends, her career...the list goes on. This, however, turns out to be the very source of her character's allure and ability to make us root for her. Everybody loves an underdog, right? When men she has gone out with from a dating app begin to turn up dead, she embarks on a wild journey to investigate and clear her name, reflecting on her life along the way. She has the ability to garner empathy from readers so that you are peering through squinted eyes as she comes face to face with a killer, and perhaps even more terrifying, with her past.

This one wasn't something I'd ever tend to naturally reach for but it was extremely fun and I loved the pacing, characters, and how it all came to an end! Thank you again to the publisher, I'll certainly be recommending this and looking out for what Chilton does next!

4.0 dangerous dating world stars

Have you used a dating app? Many couples today have met on an app. What would you do if all your dates started turning up dead?

Gwen is a fantastic character. I loved her witty dialogue in this book. She’s trying to get over Noah and has turned to online dating. A series of disappointing first dates ensues.

And now her best friend Sara is getting married, and Gwen will be even more alone.
When the police question her about the outcome of several recent dates, we learn that Gwen has had some bad dates. But did she kill them?

She’s definitely a suspect to the police. She takes things into her own hands to figure out who the killer is and who will be the next target.

Dark and funny at times, this one was a fun read. That ending though . . . a bit over the top, even for me!

The main character Gwen comes off as an unreliable narrator. Though I suspected the culprit early on, the red herrings were fun and developed nicely.

Easy and kind of fun mystery. One aspect of Gwen figuring things out makes her appear a bit denser than she had seemed earlier (where she discusses why culprit chooses locations. I mean that seemed too obvious) Perhaps since it’s an ARC that aspect will be rectified.

Overall a solid 3

Thank you to Net Galley and Gallery Books for this advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review! I am so appreciative of the opportunity to read this book!

“Gwen Turner has made a bloody mess of her life. She recently broke up with the best man she’s ever known for reasons even she can’t admit to herself and quit a lucrative job to open her own coffee shop. To top it all off, her best friend is getting married and leaving her behind in singlehood.

Along with too much cheap wine and bad reality TV, Gwen turns to a dating app to help fill the void in her life. Swiping through the few eligible bachelors left in town, she spends her evenings out on one disastrous date after another. But when a string of murders suddenly occurs in her small coastal English city, she’s shocked by the connection between each of the victims—they’ve all been on a date with her.

Before she knows what’s happening, Gwen finds herself the main suspect in a serial killer’s murderous spree, and the only way she can clear her name is to track down her former dates (even those that have ghosted her) and unmask a killer before it’s too late.”

I absolutely loved this book. L.M. Chilton had me hooked with Gwen’s dark sarcasm by the end of the first chapter. I read the entire thing in one afternoon because I couldn’t stand to put it down. Chilton had my attention the entire time, and every time I decided I knew who the murderer was, a few pages later I learned I was wrong. The last chapter came and everything made perfect sense but also… WHAT?! This was a dark humor filled mystery more so than a thriller, but if that’s your jam (it’s obviously mine), you’ve GOT to read this one!

DNF @ 54%

Gwen goes on terrible date after terrible date hoping to dull the ache that her recent breakup has left in her heart, but none of these first dates have ever resulted in a second. And, now, they never will since all the men she’s been seeing have turned up dead. The police can’t overlook the weird connection, but since Gwen feels the police are spending more time investigating her rather than looking for the actual killer she takes matters into her own hands.

This synopsis is incredibly intriguing and I was so excited to see how this mystery played out. However, Gwen is an absolutely terrible protagonist. She is messier than a damn mop. Absolutely none of her decisions made any sense to me. I was debating with myself several times throughout this whether or not I should put it down. What finally got me to do it was reading a scene where Gwen leaves a crime scene against police orders, barges past security to confront who she thinks is responsible for the murders, and causes a giant commotion in this random office where she’s screaming and being held back by guards just to find it wasn’t the person she thought it was. Like… she needs to get that prefrontal cortex checked cause the decision-making skills are not there. What did she think she would get out of this? Somehow the person had enough time to leave the crime scene and return back to work in time for a meeting without being all sweaty and gross like her? She called the office before and asked if this person was there and the front desk was like, “Yes, he’s been in a meeting for the past hour or so.” So they have an alibi and you don’t need to make a fool of yourself BYE. It’s absolutely ridiculous and was just exhausting to read scene after scene like this.

Despite being unable to tolerate this protagonist, I also felt kinda weird that a story exploring the horrors women face while online dating is written by a man. On one hand, I appreciate the ability to be empathetic, on the other this felt extremely inauthentic. I also ended up skipping to the end to see if my hunch about the killer was correct, and it was. I’m actually disappointed, though, because my guess was based on the fact that a man was writing this and the ending was incredibly sympathetic towards the men even though none of them (at least out of the few I read about) was worthy of that. I mean, these men cheated on pregnant wives, made sexist and racist comments, and tried to force themselves onto Gwen even after she said no. Sure, they didn’t deserve to be murdered, but what’s the messaging here? The motivation of the killer was terrible as well. To not just murder someone, but to turn into a full blown serial killer with a motive of “these men were falsely boosting their profiles, so I decided they needed to die.” I’m trying not to be a hater, but I just don’t understand what this author was trying to accomplish. There were some good jokes sprinkled throughout, I’ll give it that, but this was a big fat no from me.

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's a pretty good book! I liked that it was witty and campy. I guessed the killer right away though. I jumped ahead a little once I felt my hunch might be right. It's a three stars but a good 3 stars! I know of several friends and patrons that would enjoy this one.

3.5 stars ✨

If you are looking for a darkly comic, entertaining book-this one might fit the bill!

Things aren’t going very well for Gwen Turner.

She still isn’t over her last boyfriend, Noah, and her best friend Sarah is getting married in a few days and moving out of their shared flat.

Gwen turns to the dating app, CONNECTOR, to help fill the void but so far all of her SWIPES have led to one disastrous date after another and the same end result-BLOCKING each match as soon as she can walk (run!) away!!

No one is more surprised than Gwen when a string of murders suddenly occurs in her small town and she learns from the Police that there seems to be only one connection between each of the victims—they’ve all been on a date with her-arranged through CONNECTOR.

She is suddenly the main SUSPECT and with the Police not really wanting to look elsewhere, she decides she will have to investigate on her own…

FOR THE MOST PART, this is a highly original, and really fun story which kept me amused-especially the chapters which give us the “fly on the wall” peek of what happened on each of her dates, and the two which share with us “what happened with Noah”.

It would have been a solid 4 stars if not for the slightly ridiculous and very OTT ending which let me down.

A buddy read with DeAnn. Did the ending work for her? Be sure to check out her amazing review!

Original Title: Don’t Swipe Right
Expected Publication Date: May 21, 2024

Thank You to Gallery/Scout Press for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

Swiped has a fun premise - Gwen learns that a man she went on a date with a few weeks ago has been murdered. She’s surprised - but only had one date with him and didn’t know him well so she wasn’t overly distraught. Until she learns the next man she went on a date with also turned up dead. She starts trying to figure out what’s happening and the police are also interested in what they can learn from her.

For the first half, I thought this was a fun ride. Over the top and unbelievable, but I was willing to roll with it and see where we were headed. However by the end it really felt like a slog. I find it annoying when things are held from the reader that the main character knows - like telling us Gwen wrote another name on the list and then tore it off. And just dangling that in front of us for ages. Too many red herrings drawn out for too long. And then the final conclusion was too unbelievable.

Thank you Gallery Books and Netgalley for the free book to review.