I think I expected to like this more than I did. Brilliant premise, a man wakes up next to a dead lover after a drunken night and everything is a bit fuzzy. David is an author and may be a one hit wonder. He feels quite sorry for himself and other than his agent he has no support system. How he reacts and handles this situation is basically the premise of the story. Bad decision after bad decision seems to be his method of functioning and sometime I felt it was quite silly. Still you grow to care about David and hope he succeeds. I do recommend this book because there is a lot to like. Thank you Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing

Daniel is struggling after his second book bombs and his boyfriend left him. When he wakes up with a dead body next to him, it only gets worse.

I liked this one a lot for its dark humor. Despite the plot being solidly built on death and loneliness, it is humorous and light at times. There’s a lot of growth with the main character as we sit with his anxiety and missteps throughout the story. If you enjoy unique books about books, and the writing process, definitely check this one out.

“It makes you wonder, doesn’t it? How much an author chooses the story they want to tell, and how much the story chooses them.”

I Might Be in Trouble comes out 12/3.

Yes!! More of this please. David was such a endearing character and I was rooting for him the whole time, body and all. His agent was a great side character. He had great things to say about grief, loneliness, and identity while balancing it with levity. Highly recommend!

The palate cleanser thriller of my dreams!!!! David was literally the perfect narrator. This book was hilarious & unfiltered. It also reads like a coming-of-age story as this troubled author finds his place in the world after an unexpected tragedy. Despite the seriousness of what David & Stacey had to endure in the first part of the novel, I laughed out loud multiple times and this book never felt too heavy. It’s a twisty, feel good novel that I’m going to continuously recommend. I had such a good time with this one.

**ARC Review: *I Might Be in Trouble***

A struggling writer in NYC trying to rediscover his groove gets a plot twist he *definitely* didn't see coming—waking up next to a dead man in his bed. Talk about writer’s block, right? Suddenly, he’s got the story of a lifetime, but here’s the catch: he might need to commit a *few crimes* to pull off his big comeback in the literary world.

This book is an absolute rollercoaster—equal parts suspenseful, hilarious, and surprisingly emotional. As you follow the chaos of this wannabe literary legend dodging detectives, deadlines, and his own terrible decisions, you’ll be guessing till the very last page: will he turn his life around or end up writing his memoirs from a prison cell?

Perfect for fans of dark comedy and twisty thrillers, *I Might Be in Trouble* delivers a killer story (pun totally intended). Buckle up—it’s a ride you won’t want to miss!

David, a gay millennial writer, is in a bit of a quarter life crisis. He is struggling to create his next big novel and is out of luck with love. When a Grindr hookup goes wrong he ends up trying to ‘weekend at Bernie’s’ the guy back to his hotel room across town. Tough business when your agent also happens to be your partner in crime.

I would describe this book as an anxiety inducing comedy of errors. Every moment, wondering what could go wrong next and silently screaming at David “oh why did you do that?”. The book has a very meta feeling, our main character is writing a book about a writer who finds a dead man in his bed, it’s an auto biographical thriller. It feels like we are reading the story he’s writing in real time.

While I started the book kind of disliking David, you come to care about him and how he has grown from an anxiety ridden mess to someone not always jumping for the easy way out and knows the value of love and being true to themselves. Without giving anything away, I can say, in the end, this book reminded me that fiction can be a great way to tell a compelling story about the human condition, our traumas, and personal growth while still being funny and entertaining.

Please note, I received an ARC copy of this book for review from NetGalley, but that never influences my honest reviews of books or authors.

Thank you so much to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the early release of I Might Be in Trouble. This novel by Daniel Aleman ticks all my favorite genre boxes - dark comedy, suspense, romance, and overcoming tragedy. The main character, David, starts the story waking up next to a dead body, then takes you on this wild ride, trying to get his life together while colliding with one obstacle after another. If someone would have told me I was going to need tissues at the end - I’ wouldn’t believe them…but, there I was - sniffling and tissue-less.

I am obsessed with this book. It’s my first by this author and it won’t be my last! Dare I say this is my favorite book I have read in a while? It really got me out of a reading slump!

I won’t rehash the plot but I love how unique this story is. I love how flawed, yet rootable the main character is in the book. I love the message behind this book. I just loved it all. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this wonderful story!

What a great story. It's funny, relatable and very easy to read. David and Stacey's dynamic is so great and over-the-top I literally laughed out loud several times. I was really digging this. Then...I got to about the 3/4 mark where the climax begins and BOOM sadly disappointed. I get why the author goes the way they do, but man did I have a different vision. I do stand by the recommendation to read, but don't blame me if the story takes a turn you don't like :)

3.5 stars rounded up

Although this book is billed as a dark comedy, I don't really see it that way. For me, it was a look into a person's life--what they thought it would be, what they want it to be, what it is, and what it could be. This is all placed in the context of an event that can either make or break him. There are some comedic elements, but overall it's more thoughtful than dark.

David Alvarez is a writer who is stuck. His first novel was a decent success, but his second one was a flop. Now trying to write a third, he can't come up with anything. To deal with his crisis of conscience, he goes on a Grindr date and after a wonderful night--he wakes up and finds the man dead in the bed next to him. Can he get out of this? Can he use it to jumpstart his writing?

There is so much about David that is really relatable, especially if you find yourself in a similar situation. Stuck in life and not knowing how to get out of the mire. When David talks about what foundation his life is built upon it really resonated with me and readers will likely feel the same.

If you're looking for a unique book filled with uncomfortable situations that will really make you think, then this quirky read might be for you.

Daniel Aleman!!! We need to have a word….you made me have small panic attacks throughout the book along with David. I was checking over my shoulders and wanted to hide. Not only the anxiety but the raw emotions that David shared about his family and how he felt around them…hit way too close to home. 

I’m a HUGE fan of Daniel Aleman…couldn’t wait for this story. It's a funny, emotional, and psychological ride all rolled into one. 

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing #IMightBeinTrouble #NetGalley

I’m really impressed with the premise of this book, but less impressed with the execution. And here’s the reason why: I found David to be unlikeable. Absolutely, we all get down on ourselves from time to time and many of us have trouble letting go of the things that hurt us, but my god, David, grow up and get a job. David’s self-involvement and the way he drew a line from absolutely everything in his world back to his own self-pity was taxing. His own self-involvement, for me, overwhelmed the action of the book. Can you tell us what’s happening around you without also explaining over and over and over again how you’re a victim of circumstance, even circumstances of your own making?

I think this is a thing that’s entirely personal to me and not necessarily something that would impede another reader’s enjoyment. In fact, it's likely the entire point of the story - David's decline and despair. I see what the author was trying to do with this character, but his qualities just didn’t work for me.

Five star story, two star character. Let’s meet in the middle and call this a three star book.

I thought this was a great debut and the mystery felt real with the suspense I like as well as great pacing and I want to see more of this

"A suspenseful dark comedy about a struggling writer who wakes up to find his date from the night before dead - and must then decide how far he's willing to go to spin the misadventure into his next big book.

A few years ago, David Alvarez had it all: a six-figure book deal, a loving boyfriend, and an exciting writing career. His debut novel was a resounding success, which made the publication of his second book - a total flop - all the more devastating. Now, David is single, lonely, and desperately trying to come up with the next great idea for his third manuscript, one that will redeem him in the eyes of readers, reviewers, the entire publishing world...and maybe even his ex-boyfriend.

But good ideas are hard to come by, and the mounting pressure of a near-empty bank account isn't helping. When David connects with a sexy stranger on a dating app, he figures a wild night out in New York City may be just what he needs to find inspiration. Lucky for him, his date turns out to be handsome, confident, and wealthy, not to mention the perfect distraction from yet another evening staring at a blank screen.

After one of the best nights of his life, David wakes up hungover but giddy - only to find prince charming dead next to him in bed. Horrified, completely confused, and suddenly faced with the implausible-but-somehow-plausible idea that he may have actually killed his date, David calls the only person he can trust in a moment of crisis: his literary agent, Stacey.

Together, David and Stacey must untangle the events of the previous night, cover their tracks, and spin the entire misadventure into David's career-defining novel - if only they can figure out what to do with the body first."

But hear me out... His sales would have gone up if he was a suspect in a murder... So, he could have just called the cops...

I would give this 3.5 if half a star was possible. It was a fun read, but it just had a hard time holding my attention. The premise of moving the body with no one noticing... I'm sorry I lived in NYC for the past 12 years and people would have absolutely noticed. There could have been a more clever way to accomplish the task without "Weekend at Bernie"-ing it, but the book probably would have been even shorter. The portrayal of the main character as a hopeless romantic was well done but could have been amped up even more. Why wasn't he fantasizing about Robert's husband falling in love with him while writing the memoir? For a book that was meant to be grounded in reality, there was no way their escapade with the dead body would have happened, so I wish the rest of the text was amped up to match that level of absurdity. Because once that sequence happened, I started to lose interest and it should have been the other way around.

Easily one of my this year's favourites! Aleman really hits all the notes I like with this one - dark humour, mystery, a messy main character, and a dash of romance. The book is witty, charming, and impossible to put down. I haven't read Aleman's previous work but I look forward to diving in now.

Daniel Aleman's I Might Be in Trouble is a suspenseful dark comedy that follows a struggling writer who wakes up to find his date from the night before death. This shocking discovery sets off a chain of events as the protagonist must decide how far he's willing to go to potentially resuscitate his flagging career.

While the book has an intriguing premise, its execution may vary in appeal for different readers. Some may appreciate the dark humor and suspenseful plot, while others might find the protagonist's actions off-putting. Ultimately, I Might Be in Trouble seems to be a novel that will elicit a strong reaction from readers, making it a potentially compelling choice for those who enjoy morally complex characters and darkly comedic storylines.

This was a fun read and even though it was a little predictable at times, I enjoyed the banter between the characters and the hijinks that ensued throughout the city. Would definitely read more by this author in the future!

I’m going to write a whole review post on this soon, but what a book! This is so different to Daniel Aleman’s previous works but it’s absolutely fantastic. There is a brilliant balance of thriller and dark humour contrasting with some really emotional and vulnerable aspects. David really is a nice guy who’s done nothing wrong but made some bad decisions, and my heart went out to him. Him and Stacey’s misadventures were hilarious to read about and the adventures just kept coming. Cleverly constructed and brilliantly carried out, I enjoyed every page of this book and flew through it in no time. Love love love.

This dark comedy is a meta-exploration about the relationship success and loneliness that is a quick, fun romp that still leaves you with something to think about. The main character is a desperate mess of emotions and feels genuine and relatable. The secondary characters, be it the MC’s dates or his agent, all feel a little bit like caricatures, yet this actually works for the story. They are all foils for different aspects of the MC’s neuroses to play off of, and so they embody their particular roles with a type of glee that still makes fun and interesting. The world-building is done really well, giving us the claustrophobic experience of success at a young age that doesn’t always feel entirely earned, coupled with a family that isn’t supportive and an inner life that feels like a constant performance instead of an actual identity. So much of this story is about pretense, and the anxieties that come from not showing others who you are, either because you are afraid of how they will react or because you don’t know yourself or a combination of the two, and the world-building and tone embodies that sentiment well. The writing is strong throughout, with convincing dialogue and a compelling style that pulls you through, not overly saccharine or emotional but still really letting the reader feel connected to the main character’s despair. The pacing was great for me until the third act, which dragged a little. On one hand the characters themselves are in a type of limbo, a holding pattern, and that unknowing, which can feel interminable, is reflected in the writing, so the resonance between pacing and character experience works… but it feels like the whole third act simply happens to the character and he has given up any pretense at agency, which feels like being dragged along. I like the twists and turns and the places the story eventually ended up, but there is a little disconnect, for me, between where the emotional journey ultimately lands and the character’s seeming stagnation in the third act. Everything is believable, and as I said I do really appreciate where it ended up, but it I would have liked to see a more active role in that outcome. Especially as, during that third act, there are some potentially self-sabotaging behaviors that suggested the character may have bene traveling in emotional loops, and the way he emerged from that spiral felt a little sudden.

Overall, this was a lot of fun. The mystery and story were a little predictable but never felt bland. The inner journey felt rich and relatable, overall, and offered an engaging exploration of loneliness and what it means to discover who you are and what you depend on when everything else is in chaos.

(Rounded up from 3.5)

I want to thank the author, the publisher Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.