Made it 60% through and the gave up. Didn’t connect with the characters (especially Stacey—who talks like that? ) and the friendship between Stacey and David seemed forced and unnatural. I thought this was going to be funny and it had the plot of a slapstick comedy but the writing was stiff and boring. Didn’t feel compelled to find out what happened.

Reading "I Might Be in Trouble" was a rollercoaster experience that caught me completely off guard—in the best possible way. I picked it up expecting a thriller, but what I got was a wildly entertaining and deeply relatable dark comedy that I couldn’t put down.

From the moment I met David, I felt an immediate connection. His struggles with writer's block, anxiety, and the weight of past successes were so familiar. The way Aleman captured David's desperation and heartbreak were very relatable, and his attempts to spin this nightmare into a career-saving novel were both cringe-worthy and captivating—I couldn’t stop turning the pages.

What makes this book truly stand out is its seamless blend of humor and genuine emotion. One minute I was laughing out loud at David's and Stacey's wild decisions, and the next, I was hit with a wave of empathy as David’s loneliness and fear of failure gave a *WHY* to all the crazy things he does. I felt like I knew him, and I never stopped cheering for him. The relationship between David and Stacey was also a highlight, and she's the kind of scene-stealing character that you can't help but love.

This book will leave a lasting impression on me. It's not just a clever, dark comedy—it's a story about the struggles we all face when we chase our dreams, the fear that we might not be good enough to get the things we want, and the courage it takes to keep going. If you’re someone who’s ever questioned your own path or felt the sting of self-doubt, I can’t recommend "I Might Be in Trouble" enough. Aleman has crafted a story that’s not just entertaining, but deeply resonant, and I’m so glad I got to read this.

Initially, the cover for this book grabbed my attention and after reading the premise, I was intrigued (a struggling writer waking up to find his date from the night before dead). Unfortunately, this book did not work for me. The blurb pitches it as "a suspenseful dark comedy" but I did not find those descriptors to be accurate. Despite our main character finding himself in tricky situations (again and again), the writing fell a bit short and the stakes did not feel high enough to have me on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what happened next. I believe the main character is in his late 20's but reads younger than that with his actions and inner dialogue.

The book is a really quick read but after I finished it, I couldn't quite figure out what this book was supposed to be. It didn't feel like a suspense and while it focuses on the main character's relationships quite a bit, nothing really connected. It went from dragging around a dead body, to heart to hearts with other characters that didn't feel authentic or fitting to other parts of the story. I went in thinking this book would be one thing (a suspense/comedy) and when it wasn't, it just really wasn't for me.

Thank you Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is one that is incredibly out of my comfort zone, but will likely end up being one of my favorites for the year! I was on the edge of my seat through this entire book just waiting to see what would happen next, once I started it was so hard to put it down. There is such a masterful web weaved between the humorous aspects of the story and the deeper more raw emotions and themes that are simultaneously handled. David is messy, he’s struggling, his loneliness is heavily relatable and written in such a visceral way I felt my heart ache for him. His story is one that I and many who will read this book can see some part of themselves in, and watching him slowly grow throughout this story was wonderful (even if you’ve never woken up with a dead body in your bed after a one night stand).

Aleman has masterfully crafted an amazing story here, that I cannot recommend enough regardless of what genre you typically read because I can guarantee you will find something in this for you.

(4.5 stars rounded down)

I'm really sad that I didn't enjoy this book. I really liked the idea of someone waking up next to a dead body, and then trying to cover up the situation. And I did like the general direction of the plot, just not the execution.

I think the problem is that I went in expecting and hoping this would be more of a dark comedy about trying to move a body and then using that situation for financial gain, and instead it was more of a comedy of errors that focused on the narrator figuring out his life and relationships. I feel like the main character is a bit of a representation of the author just going off a lot of the things David says or thinks in the book (see the "you look like a Daniel" line), plus what I read in Aleman's bio. I don't mind when a book is obviously more personal for an author, but this story just wasn't necessarily for me.

I also didn't connect with the writing. It was easy to get engrossed in the book, and was a smooth reading experience, but it read a little young considering the narrator is 28. I actually felt that, overall, the book felt more YA than adult. The way the characters spoke and acted felt more like something I'd see in a book for a younger demographic, and some of their logic just didn't make sense to me at all. I also felt like David was the only character who had any depth, and that's because he's the narrator. Furthermore, a lot of the comedy Aleman included here just didn't land for me, so rather than being a fun read, it was just more of an easy palate cleanser.

So, at the end of the day I think I just wasn't a good match for this book. While this wasn't for me, I can definitely see a lot of people enjoying this. If you're looking for a lighter comedy with a wild plot and a lot of heart, this could be your thing. (I mean, this book is as light of a comedy as you can possibly have when it comes to moving a corpse)

Great read! Recommend for dark comedy lovers everywhere. From the cover to the emotional journey within, this book really is top tier.

This book was a blast and I tore through it. Our narrator Daniel is going through a rough time, struggling to pay bills after his second novel failed and still heartbroken over his ex. Things take a turn when he wakes up to find a one night stand dead in his bed. What follows is a comedy of errors when instead of calling the police he calls his literary agent who convinces him they have to get rid of the body. This book is full of twists and turns and makes for a really fun read.

I Might Be in Trouble is the kind of book that makes you question your life choices, but in the best, most hilarious way possible. David Alvarez had it all: fame, love, and a six-figure book deal—until his second novel flopped harder than a fish out of water. Now, he’s broke, single, and staring at a blank screen like it owes him money.

Enter one wild night out with a mysterious stranger who seems like the perfect distraction—until David wakes up to find him dead in bed. Yep, dead. Cue the panic, the awkward phone call to his literary agent Stacey, and the kind of hijinks that would make even the most seasoned crime thriller writer blush.

Aleman’s writing is a delightful mix of dark humor and pure chaos. David’s spiraling descent into madness as he tries to remember what happened the night before, while also trying to figure out what to do with a literal dead body, is both cringe-worthy and laugh-out-loud funny. It’s like watching someone try to juggle chainsaws—they’re definitely going to get hurt, but you can’t look away.

The chemistry between David and Stacey as they try to turn this disaster into a career-defining novel is gold. It’s as if Lucy and Ethel decided to cover up a murder and write a bestseller about it. The stakes are high, the body count is (thankfully) low, and the laughs are abundant.

So, if you’re in the mood for a darkly comedic romp through the pitfalls of literary fame, sprinkled with a dash of murder and a whole lot of bad decisions, I Might Be in Trouble is the perfect read. Just be prepared to question your own judgment, much like David does—over and over again.

Really really liked this one. It moved very quickly and the pace was spot on. I finished in about two sittings! I loved the friendship between David and Stacey- they were hilarious together.

This book has a pretty straightforward plot, but it’s really about friendships, foundations, and a little bit of grief. Light and fluffy with a lot of heart- one of my favorite kinds of books.

I will definitely be recommending this to my circle of people. 4.5 stars

Overall I think my students will enjoy and relate to this thriller. A gay Latino young man, finds himself in trouble and makes mistake after mistake trying to get himselves out of trouble. Along the way, he navigates family relationships, love relationship, career failures, money issues and lack of self acceptance. So two simultaneous themes going on. A likeable main character with an older woman as his closest friend/sidekick. There are some gay sex moments towards the beginning that might not be appropriate for all students but overall a satisfying read

This is a fast moving, sometimes funny, sometimes insightful story of a writer, who wakes up to find his grinder date dead in his bed. Did he kill him, what will this mean for his career which has taken a downwards turns. This is ultimately a story of coming to terms with your past and who you are

Special thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was surprisingly funny but a bit too slapstick for me. While the main character was very fleshed out and real, the overall writing was pretty simple which led to the stakes just not feeling very high.

This was a fun quick read that just fell a bit short for me.

This was a fun read. Billed as a black comedy, it has a bit more of a rom-com tone than I expected, and is quite lightweight despite the inherently dark subject matter of a man waking up next to the dead body of his latest one-night-stand. I liked it but am not surprised to read the author has previously written YA - the style is very simplistic and there's a lot of telling not showing.

Wildly messy and hilarious from start to finish, I Might Be in Trouble addresses the average struggles of a twenty-eight year old writer: dealing with writer's block, getting over a tough break-up, and hiding the body of the man he just slept with the night before. Of course, navigating these struggles becomes even more difficult when David is entangled with the murder investigation and thrust under a strict deadline for his next book. Weighed down with expectations, David is forced to confront his feelings of inadequacy in both his career and in his relationships with other people, discovering what it is that truly matters to him. In the end, his story serves as a comforting reminder that sometimes we don't need to have everything figured out in order to deserve love and happiness.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the arc.

I don't think I've ever loved a book that called me out this badly

There have very few adult debuts from YA authors I can say I have enjoyed, but this one - this one's different. In an amazing way, of course.

David is living the life I absolutely fear post-debut publishing, where his life falls apart and he can't write anything due to severe anxiety. So much of his thoughts sounded so eerily similar to mine it made me physically uncomfortable reading, and yet I was too thoroughly sucked into how terrible this guy's life/circumstance; it was too late for me to back out when I was already invested. My hopes for David to come out of this story OK was tying to the hopes for my future.

The story is fully self aware that it's borderlining meta so hard. An author and a literary agent trying to use book logic to hide a body is so good, because that is where the comedy shines brightest, especially when something inevitably pops out to screw with their plans. Plus, David and Stacey are such a great disaster duo; Stacey's dedication and loyalty to David is amongst the best I've seen.

But what I think is the best aspect of this book is the heart is contains. It's about the lonely people, those who never had a great foundation at the start of life and have floundering through life unstabalized and not knowing how to depend on people. It's for the writers who share all the fears that come with writing, publishing, the whole process that often leaves us vulnerable and could possibly pull the rug from underneath us at a moment's notice. Despite how much I hated it at first, it gave me a good think about myself that I've been needing.

All in all, this book is amazing, and I really hope it gets the attention is deserves once it officially releases thus coming December.

I appear to be the outlier here. I found Daniel Aleman's "I Might Be In Trouble" well, alright. It's not bad, but it's not great either. Something about it just feels unfinished. I am typically drawn to dark comedies and morally gray stories, but this one felt too...textbook? Almost like it was cosplaying a thriller. The characters, the dialogue, the narration, the writing itself...it all really struck me as stripped down. The characters came across as caricatures and the dialogue read almost immature. What strikes me as very 'YA' is that Aleman tells you exactly what the book is about and what it's all supposed to mean, leaving not the teeniest bit of the story up to interpretation. I was not surprised to learn that Aleman's first two novels are YA and that "I Might Be In Trouble" is supposed to be his adult debut. There's also a repeated attempt to break the fourth wall, which was almost good! But Aleman just can't help to *tell* you he's breaking the fourth wall, and so his self-insert comes across less intellectually stimulating and more tacky.

It's not a bad book overall but it's just not what I was expecting/hoping for from an adult novel. Ultimately, I think what the book really suffers from is a lack of trust in the reader to understand the underlying themes of the story. Perhaps this might work better if it were marketed as a new adult book. I just don't think Aleman as quite yet departed from YA (which is not a bad thing, for the record!)

This was a fun read with a creative plot! I definitely enjoyed all the twists and turns.

For me personally, the writing felt a bit simplistic and didn’t excite me. I felt like the character development and exploration of deeper themes could have been better.

Thank you to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and the author the chance to read this ARC.

I had no idea what to expect with this book, but the synopsis sounded intriguing. This wasn't like anything I had read before! David is a successful author at a young age, and then his second novel is a flop. The first half of the story introduces you to David's loneliness and feelings of despair. After a random grindr hookup, he discovers his date is now dead in his bed. Calling on his agent, Stacey, to help him figure out what to do, things take an odd turn. The vents of this tragic hookup and following day with Stacey seem to unlock his writers block, and suddenly, his third novel comes pouring out. The story told here felt surprisingly emotional and deep given what I thought I was getting based on the synopsis, but I enjoyed every page. The second half of the book delves more into David's personal growth and life lessons gained from the experience. I would definitely recommend this book!

I loved this book from the beginning! It felt like each part had a whole new vibe or trope to it and it was almost like 3 books in one!

A young gay writer is struggling with his love life, family life and career. He decides to blow off steam by dabbling in Grindr for a night to take his mind off things. And boy does it! A handsome wealthy man messages him and invites him to the Plaza. They have a night gallivanting about New York City but everything takes a turn for the worst in the morning.

I loved the description of the night of torrid romance. I loved the friendship between two unlikely characters.
I loved how 50% into the book I was like how can I only be half way through? Isn't this storyline pretty much wrapped up? But nope! We get thrown into what felt like a sequel and it never lost it's depth, pace or intrigue.

I loved Aleman's writing style and will definitely be looking to read more of his books in the future.

This is the kind of book that has you googling to find out if the author woke up next to the dead body of a one-night stand. Because when main character David is an author who wakes up next to a dead body and then writes a novel about Daniel who is an author who wakes up next to a dead body...and then you loop back around and remember the author's name is also Daniel...well it begs the question! For the record—I can't confirm or deny if this was inspired by a true story, but it feels vivid and fleshed out as you read about what David is going through.

Whether it's inspired by reality or not, this novel is playful, exciting, and kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters are well developed, the dialogue is interesting, and the look into David's complicated family life and struggle to get by even as a successful author felt very real. While it took me a few chapters to get invested, once things Started To Go Down, I was absolutely sucked in and finished the rest of the book in just two days.

One of my very favorite things about this book is the relationship between author David and his literary agent/best friend Stacey. What an unlikely pair they are—Stacey being aged out of an industry she helped build and David a young up-and-coming whose second novel flopped. Their dialogue never fell into the common traps that some writers of intergenerational friendships find themselves in; the two are able to communicate and relate to one another despite and in spite of their differences.

Sinilarly, the relationship between David and his ex, Jeremy, was really refreshing and lovely. I so enjoyed how Jeremy remained steadfastly supportive of his ex, no matter what, because he cared about him. It's not a dynamic you get to see too often in fiction, and I loved it!

This isn't even getting into the twists and turns of the thriller that is what happened to the dead body that David wakes up next to, and how he turns it into his next book! The story had me in disbelief at times (no one is noticing that they're dragging a dead body through the city??), but don't worry, those moments will be addressed!!.

I really enjoyed this read and look forward to reading more of Aleman's books in the future!

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley for access to an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.