The title and cover of this book drew me in right away. Holmes’ writing style in the first half was so incredibly funny… her writing style sucks you in, makes you laugh and keeps you entertained. Romance fraud is a serious scam going around and is only getting worse, especially with vulnerable individuals, and Holmes finds a way to bring the severity of it to our attention in a way that we want to read about. The first half was so much fun and the screenshots of conversations Holmes had were hilarious! The second half of the book felt a little slower and the takeaway was basically “this is happening and there’s nothing anyone can do”, which is a sad reality. The stories of the victims were all similar, if not exactly the same, and it got tiring reading it over and over again - this was probably to make a point and help us recognize patterns. The part about the Yahoo Boys and harvesting organs was highly disturbing and I felt as if 2-3 pages of this topic sprinkled in there wasn’t enough. I felt as if Holmes could have explained it more in depth (especially to what extent this happens), or not have mentioned it all. As someone who loves to travel, this book made me feel afraid to ever visit Nigeria in fear of being kidnapped in my hotel and sold for parts. I hope, as Holmes does, that this book will be one step in the right direction of bringing to light the helplessness of these victims and that we can one day, find a way to stop these thieves!

Thank you, NetGalley and Unbound for the ARC copy for my genuine, honest feedback.

Totally downloaded this ARC purely for the title, and am so pleased I did.

A great light read addressing a little-discussed problem in the online space, this walked the line between being entertaining and serious. Very enjoyable, and I read it in a day

A good story about how you can be scammed or involved in a bizarre story online. There's plenty of humour and there's a lot of food for thought
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This feels like a very important book! I thought I was quite astute and could never be hooked into an online romance. Ignore the fact that I am very happily married! I get the feeling that absolutely anyone could suffer the consequences highlighted here.

The book uses humour initially to encourage you to find out more about this subject matter. I liked that.. The reader quickly finds out how many of our misconceptions work against us! Some of the experiences suffered by people were very disturbing.

I had two main insights!

My first feeling is that this book should be on the school curriculum! Youngsters would quickly relate to the subject matter and as a result be on a higher level of awareness! That would help.and make you less susceptible.

The second insight is how remarkably powerless law enforcement and other agencies are in dealing with or preventing this type of crime! Perhaps more global cooperation in the shape of collaborative efforts would be a start!

Okay, I will admit something. If a random person happens to message me on WhatsApp or Instagram, in my past I have been known to mess around with them a little. Hence where I discovered Becky Holmes’ Twitter account from. In the past, I have always had a great chuckle at her scammer trolling antics. So, I could not resist checking out her debut novel on the same topic.

First of all, Holmes’ writing voice is at times vulnerable, always incredibly unique, and oftentimes doused with humorous anecdotes. What more could you want from a writer, really? In Keanu Reeves Is Not In Love With You, Holmes explains the topic of romance scammers in an incredibly accessible way by using real life case studies and bullet point lists, all written with a deep sense of understanding regarding the sensitive topic. She also shares her own attempts at trolling scammers (the content which she primarily shares on Twitter) by inserting a few screenshots here and there, which serve as a great boundary between the heavier conversations which she undertakes.

This is honestly a book for everyone, and even if, like myself, you have no experience with being conned online (apart from the odd message from a suspicious looking sugar daddy), it makes for a fascinating read. The internet is getting increasingly scary out there, and there is no time like the present to remind your loved ones about being safe.

Four out of five scammers, ahem, I mean stars.

A poignant. hilarious, shocking and informative mix of a book. Keanu Reeves Is Not In Love With You will make you laugh out loud, feel empathy, sorrow, and shock you to the core.

The author explores every side of Romance Fraud, from poking the perpetrators (with funny results), revealing victims horrifying stories, and exploring the after effects and support network - or not.

Every person, male or female, should read a copy of this book. You may think you’re immune or too clever to be tricked by these dreadful scams, but anyone, anytime depending on personal circumstances, could be their next prey. If this book saves the pain for some person and some family by reading it, it has done its purpose. The author keeps you reading with her wit and sharp tongue, even through the more ‘technical’ parts. A good choice for a non-fiction read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Terrifying, fascinating, informative, honest and enlightening, I could throw quite a few more adjectives your way just by means of describing this book and funny is probably the most surprising. The subject, of course, is not funny per se but the way the author introduces it and her responses to the scamming toads are brilliant and keeps a very serious subject engaging and cushions the blow of my shock and horror quite a lot.
The stories are very real, retold by very brave people who have encountered the fraudsters. The realisation that anyone could be targeted is terrifying but very eye opening, I really feel everyone should read this book. I throughly appreciated how the author advocates for these people and includes a focus on the language used to describe what happens to them as well as the woefully inadequate legal action and investigation that is forthcoming from authorities, despite the seriousness and ever expanding numbers of people affected.
The number of ways these people infiltrate lives is shocking but something I’ve also experienced, when playing scrabble type games, so not just those active on dating sites. Indeed ‘mine’ ticked all the boxes, one was working on an oil rig and one was in the military. I didn’t question this at the time, I just thought they were bored and sleazy I hadn’t contemplated they were after my money, even more offended now. I only exchanged a couple of messages - being terribly British and polite I didn’t want to outright ignore a Good Morning Dear opener, but quickly blocked them after they got rather friendly, erm I’m married, bye. Brilliant book from start to finish.

Absolutely lapped up this book. The first few chapters had me in stitches, it’s so funny. Then as the book progressed it became more serious, looking at romance fraud and how it so adversely affects the victims, and how incredibly difficult it is to do anything about it.

This book interested me as my mother was the victim of a romance scam by non other than "Keanu Reeves". Author Becky Holmes delves into the murky world of romance scams, at times her writing is witty and irreverent and other times she is serious as she tells the heartbreaking stories of women who fall prey to these scammers.

Becky shines a light on an often under-reported subject, she talks to psychologists, law enforcement, victims and even some people behind the scams.

I found the book informative and interesting. I hope that this book helps to raise awareness of scams and the ways to protect yourself.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy.

An interesting and frankly horrifying exploration of the world of romance fraud, but written in such an entertaining way that it is a pleasure to read. The author also shares details of her own life, which add an extra dimension to this engrossing book.

This book is most definitely not for me and I feel the synopsis is misleading. Having the book be described as “hilarious” multiple times led me to believe the book would be, you know, funny. From the description I expected something along the lines of Don’t Even Reply or 27b/6. This is definitely not that - the author does respond to catfishers and scammers or “fraudsters” as she likes to call them with some funny(ish) quips, but the majority of the book focuses on real women’s horrible experiences being taken for a ride on dating apps and Twitter.

If you are a fan of the author’s Twitter account or want to read horror stories of women’s lives being wrecked by crusty internet men, this may be for you.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book, but very quickly found humour, sadness and a huge insight into a darker side of social media life. This book is so well written and brilliantly researched. If you’ve ever had one of those random DM’s from some random person on social media, then this is for you!

I feel I need to give a huge trigger warning here: If you have been affected by emotional abuse please consider carefully before warning due to survior stories.

I have, amongst many women been a target of them and mostly have deleted them in the past. This kind of crime is on the rise and looks like it will not be going anywhere.

This gives hope like other surviors can give peer support to others but highlights how the people who are suppose to support us are letting us down.

Interesting read.

When I used Twitter I followed Becky and knew she was planning to publish a book. I was delighted to receive a copy, thanks to Unbound Publishers and NetGalley.

The book is much more than just the funny interactions between Becky and the romance scammers, although they do bring some much needed lighthearted moments. Becky has clearly done a lot of research and spoken to many people about romance fraud, something that still has a lot of stigma attached to it. She shares stories from the victims, some absolutely heartbreaking and some unexpected. Who would expect a Detective to be a victim of romance fraud?

I found this book very readable, thought provoking and interesting. Entertaining is probably the wrong word to use but I did laugh at the panic of the fraudster, thinking Becky was en route to meet them.
It also shows the other side of romance fraud that I had never considered, people who have been trafficked and forced into carrying out the scams.

I hope this book raises awareness of romance fraud and I will be more mindful of the language used around it. I will be recommending it and it’s definitely worth a read.

Sensational!
I already love reading Becky's Twitter posts but I wondered how she would make it into a book...
I need not have worried; this was a very entertaining, thought-provoking read - I loved it.

Becky Holmes skillfully delves into the intricate world of scammers, focusing keenly on the insidious realm of romance scams. Through a blend of personal anecdotes and in-depth research, Holmes not only shares her own encounters but also conducts a thorough exploration with those who have fallen victim to these deceitful schemes.

Her writing captivates with its insightful observations, cleverly interwoven with humor, yet firmly showing the harsh realities of deception. Holmes adeptly highlights the vulnerability of individuals who, in moments of loneliness, find solace in the seemingly genuine connections forged online. The toll exacted by these scams extends far beyond financial losses, encompassing the erosion of trust, the squandering of time and the shattering of emotions.

Despite the lighthearted tone reflected in the title, the narratives presented within the pages resonate with profound sadness and poignancy. The juxtaposition of humor and heartbreak serves to underscore the gravity of the situations faced by victims. Yet, amidst the somber tales, Holmes offers a compelling commentary on contemporary culture and the lengths to which individuals are willing to go for financial gain.

This book definitely stands as a testament to Holmes' ability to navigate the complexities of human vulnerability with sensitivity and wit. It serves as a compelling exposé of the modern landscape of deceit, urging readers to confront the harsh realities lurking behind the facade of digital connections.

One of my favorite Reddit's to read is Scammer Payback. This week, there was one person who was being threatened by the "cartel" who was demanding $6000 for an escort that was cancelled.

Becky Holmes has taken the story of scammers and narrowed it down to the worst kind--the romance scam. Keanu Reeves is Not in Love With You is Becky's story of her own experiences with these scammers and did a deep dive with people who have been scammed.

The writing is insightful and injected with humor, but it doesn't stray from the truth. Sometimes people are lonely and that cute military man in their DMs seems real. Money, time and emotions have all been lost.

While the title is hilarious, the seriousness of some of these stories is heartbreaking. Still, this is a fabulous look at modern culture and how far people will go for money.

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

This was such an Insightful, detailed and informative book that had me engrossed from the beginning.

Some of those who had fallen victim to romance scammers bravely shared their stories and while these were incredibly fascinating, they were also very distressing.

It was so emotional to see how so many people were effected by scams and blackmail. Their lives have completely changed because they've used up all their savings, sold homes or taken out loans to help who they thought was their partner. Others are still living in fear that the scammers will come back and blackmail for more money or they will expose photos etc. it's so devastating that these monsters are causing so much stress and destruction to peoples lives and are still able to sleep at night.
It's so easy to blame the victims and say it's their own fault for being so naive but there's a lot of expert knowledge put in the book from many sources which explains how they fall into these traps through things such as manipulation and coercion.

It was nice that the author brought some humour into something so serious, to help provide a little light in-between the serious conversations too.

I also enjoyed reading some of the conversations between herself and scammers online - So funny (albeit, a little weird at times) Some real laugh at loud moments!!

A really interesting book that I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read about a subject that needs so much more awareness! Thank you so much to Netgalley for the gifted copy!

A fascinating dive into the murky world of online romance fraud.

I liked how the author was always sympathetic to the victims. It would be easy to say 'they should've known' but as Holmes shows, many of the victims are at incredibly low points in their lives when the fraud takes hold. By the time there are unignorable red flags, they are defensive, embarrassed, and often have no one else left to talk to.

In the course of the book, the author examines the different types of romance fraud, the profiles the fraudsters adopt, plus their habits/patterns and so on. She weaves in case studies - detailed stories of victims, so that you begin to see just how dangerous romance fraud is. And then you get frustrated at how little is done about it!

Yes, there are pages of copied conversations the author has had with would-be fraudsters over on Twitter, but they are very entertaining. Plus, she has also spoken to a number of experts in the field.

I enjoyed this one - and learned a lot.

What a fascinating book! I had no idea the problem was quite that widespread. Thanks for sharing it. My full review appears on Weekend Notes.