Thank you for the opportunity to review this new novel.

I expected more tension, suspense from this story but it fell lame for me.

She Doesn’t Have a Clue is a fresh new take on the cozy mystery for the younger, romance-driven audience! I’m a fan of both the cozy/caper mystery genre and the romance genre, and this was such a fun mashup. It brings Knives Out vibes with the overdramatic lifestyles of the rich & famous type characters, cozy mystery vibes with vignettes from our FMC Kate’s bestselling Loretta series, and romance vibes with Jake the Hotstralian and his sizzling chemistry with Kate!

It starts when Kate is on her way to a wedding weekend on a remote private island off the coast of Washington state - the wedding of her ex-fiance and publisher, so awkward! So many cringey moments thanks to this weird dynamic. Kate is acting very mature about it at all, though, as it’s clear she didn’t really love the former fiance. Plus she’s nicely distracted by the arrival of Jake, her ridiculously hot and available “friend” that she worked with for years on a set of books called the Wandering Australian. However, her weekend quickly goes downhill when a series of unfortunate events start to happen, and all fingers point to Kate as the culprit! So she has to don the mindset of her own main character, Loretta the Keys bartender/sleuth, to investigate what is going on and clear her name.

This novel reads almost like a parody at times, and I struggled a bit to follow the sheer number of fairly-similar characters and their various motives and shady actions, but it was well-paced, full of twists, and had enough hints to guess whodunit. I liked the romance element too, although the level of spice took me by surprise. Overall, enjoyed this light and fun read!

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for sending this DRC for review consideration.

This was a cute cozy mystery, romance blend. More romance than a normal cozy (a little spice even) but with a great mystery on the side.

Kate and Jake were a great couple and I enjoyed their flirting. The mystery kept my interest and I enjoyed guessing who did it but overall the story was a little slow for my taste.

It would be a good read for lovers of mystery romances!

She Doesn't Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke is the perfect combination of romance a locked-door mystery.
A delightful mix of mystery, charm, and intrigue. With a quirky characters, clever twists, and a touch of romance, this novel will keep you turning the pages.
Moke’s amazing storytelling was just incredible! I’m so excited to see what she comes up with next!

2.25 Stars

Sadly, this book was a bit disappointing for me. I thought the concept would be fun and I love a mystery/romance book, but it didn't read the way I wanted it to. I got tired of the back and forth between Kate and Jake. I wanted them to be together, but I got tired of the constant miscommunications. And sadly the miscommunications weren't just between the two. I just felt very annoyed with the characters, and I honestly was only rooting for Kennedy since she seemed sweet. I figured out who the killer was halfway through, which is fine. I was just reading to see when the main characters would figure it out. Overall, it was a bit of a struggle to get through this book, though the concept seemed fun.


Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books.

This was a fun and quick read. I thought the concept was really interesting! I enjoyed the plot, I just didn't connect with the characters much

Well, this was not quite what I expected! Was it entertaining? Absolutely! I read the blurb and was expecting a combo of your typical cozy mystery and a rom-com. It hit the rom-com mark with its zany situations and miscommunications, but the steamy romantic interactions and language push it out of the cozy mystery realm. This book is filled with quite the cast of characters! Kate - mystery author, amateur sleuth, hot mess; Jake - hunky Australian daredevil, Kate’s love interest; Spencer - the groom, Kate’s cheating ex-fiancé; Kennedy - the bride, sweet and kind, target for murder; Rebecca - family matriarch, hated dragon lady; Wedding Guests - suspect pool, multiple motives for murder. The setting of being stranded on an isolated island with its creepy, crumbling mansion during a raging storm sets the stage for murder and mayhem. The mystery itself offers up a slew of suspects and will keep you guessing. This was a quick, light, entertaining rom-com mystery.

This was more cute and cozy with a splash of mystery and a hint of romance. I was looking for a bit more suspense. Unfortunately the way that cozy and mystery mixed in this book just wasn’t my style.

I loved so much of this, but some of it also gave me romance cringe (after the spider scene).

Romance mystery is definitely a fun genre, but I don't believe this was for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing the ARC.

This book was delightfully unhinged from start to finish. When Kate attends her ex fiancé's wedding to the woman who he cheated on her with, she ends up with more than she bargained for - a murder pinned on her because they are following the very same plot points in one of her bestselling murder mysteries. Coupled together with a slew of unrequited feelings in the form of a hot Australian, Kate channels her book's heroine and tries to solve the case.

This book is filled with all of the shenanigans, so much that it will keep you from solving the mystery right up until the very end. There are red bearings and twists galore in this novel that keep both Kate and the reader on their toes. And all of that is interspersed with Kate resolving her feelings with Jake, the Australian surfer turned travel guide who became her unexpected plus one.

If I had one criticism it would be that the romantic elements of this book seemed incredibly out of place. They are in the middle of an active murder mystery where Kate is being framed, but they have time time for relations seems a bit too far fetched. All things aside, I really enjoyed this book!

Big thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

Mystery murder/RomCom
Light on the spice
Blond MMC

This was such a fun light-hearted quick read. I enjoyed the mystery writer aspect and how are FMC Kate would slip into the mindset of Loretta her FMC in the murder mysteries she writes. I do feel however that sometimes Kate was a mess at times. I loved our blond green flag MMC Jake. How he goes all in with Kate on her adventure to solve the murder. The spice was okay but both times it felt a little out of place. I feel like if Kate was not such a mess when she tried to explain things, more even flow with the story and the spice being places better I would have rated this closer to a 4. But if looking for a quick fun read I would pick this up.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really cute book! A funny romance with a little steam on a secluded island in the Pacific Northwest, which is what I was really intrigued by. The mystery kept me guessing, but was a bit convoluted and hard to keep track of with so many characters. I definitely didn't guess the ending!

I liked that the main character was so messy and imperfect. I really liked the descriptions of Jake! What a fun guy he would be to meet. I did find myself wishing the book was a bit shorter because I lost interest a few times while reading. But, I still liked this book and would read more by the author. I also liked the ending, which was surprising, but really worked!

Mystery writer, Kate Valentine, is off to a wedding at a private island. She's not sure why as the groom is her ex-fiancé. She's hoping for some great champagne and a few good conversations. Instead she finds the amazing wine cellar is under lock and key and her hunky ex-boyfriend. Oh, also there's a crazy storm hitting the island. The mansion is old and not in the best of shape. Kate tends to address every issue from the standpoint of the character in her mystery novels. Interesting at the start but annoying by the end. Perhaps I'm to old to appreciate this viewpoint. I enjoyed the book but would have enjoyed more Kate than her mystery character.

I've been on a cozy romance mystery kick these past couple of months. They have just been hitting all the right buttons for me lately. This book didn't hit all those buttons, but it was still an enjoyable read. If you like Knives Out or Murder Mystery (with Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler), then you will like the mystery elements in this story. The author brings together a cast of characters, all of which have larger-than-life personalities and their own personal agendas. Of course, because all these secondary characters have such strong personalities, it creates plenty of opportunities for delicious and highly entertaining drama.

Overall, I enjoyed the mystery elements in this story. The author does a great job setting the scene by having all these characters stranded on this island while a storm rages on around them. This isolation means it's up to the two main characters, Kate and Jake, to uncover the sinister plot that seems to be unfolding in front of their eyes. As a reader, I was kept guessing and was surprised by the big twist at the end of the book. In the first quarter of the story, the author introduces us to all the characters, and it becomes pretty apparent that they all have a grudge against Kennedy (the character who someone tries to kill over the course of the story) and her ruthless aunt who controls the family fortune. I loved all the different moving elements in this story because they made it feel like you were trying to solve a puzzle.

I liked the characters. Kate is a mystery author and finds herself struggling to write her next book. She feels lost and lacks the motivation and inspiration to write. The one thing I did struggle with was how Kate's POV was handled at times. There are scenes where we all suddenly slip into Loretta's POV (Kate's mystery heroine) and watch a scene from one of Kate's books unfold. It kind of created a jarring reading experience because one moment, you were in Kate's POV, and the next, you were in Loretta's with no clear transition. There is a part of me that understands why the author did this; Kate feels like her own identity has blended so much with Loretta's that she no longer feels like her own person. But it still made for a slightly confusing reading experience. Kate's character was fun to be with, and she was a great amateur sleuth. She does grow as a person in this book, and I enjoyed watching her find her spark again.

The romance was ok. It can be hard to blend story elements like romance and mystery. You have to make sure they weave together seamlessly and help move the plot along in a cohesive and interesting way. This is kind of a second-chance romance, which may be why I didn't enjoy the romance as much. Kate and Jake have a history, but it's unclear if it was a romantic one or a friendship that ended badly. But it's pretty clear that Kate is harbouring some pretty big romantic feelings for Jake. I can see the chemistry between these two, and I enjoyed their banter. I just wasn't super fond of some of the miscommunications that seemed to keep bubbling up between them. It felt slightly unnecessary and not really believable.

Thanks to NetGelley for an ARC of this book. This book was so much fun. It contained all of my favorite things in a book, romance, mystery, and humor. The story follows Kate as she tries to figure out who is trying to kill her ex-fiance's new bride at the wedding on a secluded island. If you enjoy reading fun mystery or romance novels, then you must try this book.

This book is a delightful blend of cozy mystery and rom-com, perfect for fans of lighthearted, feel-good reads. While it’s not overly dramatic or tension-filled, it balances its charm with just enough character self-reflection to make the story and its characters feel meaningful and relatable.

The main character’s journey, especially her reflection on living vicariously through her fictional female detective for her book series, struck a relatable chord. The cast of characters was likable overall, making it easy to stay invested, and the romance between Kate and Jake was undeniably cute—even if a few of the romantic scenes felt a bit ill-timed.

The mystery itself is breezy and fun, more of a casual whodunit than a nail-biter, and while I initially struggled to follow how all the characters connected, the story eventually came together in an enjoyable way. It’s not heavy or overwhelming, but it’s interesting enough to keep you guessing, and the pages practically fly by. A perfect choice for when you’re in the mood for a cozy, light-hearted read!

I enjoyed parts of this mystery/rom-com, but Kate was kind of a mess. I was frustrated by her self-doubt and the way she’d let others treat her. I did like the romance, they had great chemistry and I'm a sucker for a second chance romance, but thought the encounter after the elevator/spiders was unbelievable. You feel like getting it on in right after/in the middle of all that? It was odd.

I did like the mystery aspects. Kate compiling motives and looking for clues. She picked up great details. I thought the plotting was good. However, Kate’s reaction after finding out who the killer was made me roll my eyes. Why would you put yourself in danger for that kind of person? It didn’t seem like a reasonable person would do that.

📚 PUBLICATION WEEK BOOK REVIEW 📚

She Doesn't Have A Clue By Jenny Elder Moke
Publication Date: January 21, 2025
Publisher: St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📚MY REVIEW:

She Doesn't Have A Clue was the perfect combination of a whodunnit mystery and a slow burn spicy rom-com!! This story was a whole lot of fun, as I found myself literally laughing out loud multiple times as I read.

I'm finding that I really love these cross-genre/mixed genre books! The juxtaposition of the mystery and rom-com made for SUCH an entertaining and enjoyable read. The main characters, Kate and Jake, were incredibly likeable, with just enough self-deprecating humor and quirky sarcasm to become those characters you cheer for from page one.

This book takes place at a destination wedding weekend on a remote island, thrown by a ridiculously wealthy family. Most of the characters are either self-righteously pompous members of the bride's wealthy family, or authors who write for the publishing house where the groom is employed. The hilarity and antics of Kate and Jake, while trying to both solve the whodunnit mystery and sort out their second chance feelings for one another, kept me flipping these pages with a smile on my face. There's a little bit of spice in this one - nothing too wild - but there's no cutesy little hook-up in these pages! And the 'who' in the whodunnit was a complete surprise to me!

Kate transitions from her own narrative to excerpts from her past and future books about Loretta, the amateur sleuth who has been the start of her best-selling books. It took me a few minutes to get used to the mixed media format, but once I did, I loved how it was included in the book.

If you're one of those readers like me who loves mysteries and rom-coms, you're going to really enjoy the way these two genres mix and mingle in this book! Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

#SheDoesntHaveAClue #JennyElderMoke #StMartinsPress #MinotaurBooks #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARC #mysteryromcom #mixedgenres #romcomreads #mysteries #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

When the bride is poisoned and Kate stumbles across a dead body, she finds herself in a real-life mystery that eerily echoes the plot of her latest novel. And the only person who seems willing to help Kate catch the killer is Jake Hawkins, aka: the Hostralian; aka: Kate’s biggest romantic regret.

I loved Kate…she and her sleuthing sweater! And Jake is definitely someone that makes her “hot and bothered” in more ways than one! These two characters and their chemistry kept this story moving for me!

This is ALMOST a cozy mystery with a bit of spice. I am sure the author would not take kindly to that description. But, this is truly what I thought as I read this.

It is a good read with a predictable mystery. I did enjoy the crazy house and the good characters but the story was not quite what I expected.

The narrator, Sarah Mollo-Christensen, did a good job! Lots of characters and she had a different voice for each!

Need a mysterious romance…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

She Doesn’t Have a Clue is a cozy mystery romance centered around an ex's wedding. This book has all the tropes, drama, and whimsical mystery. The relationship progression throughout the book with the two main characters left me wanting more, plus the tension with her ex being there definitely raised the standards. Another positive that I wasn’t expecting was the humor; this book had me laughing out loud at parts, even though it’s a murder mystery book. The actual mystery itself was a little underwhelming in my opinion, and I had my suspicions from the start. The other issue I had with this was the writing style, which was more of a whimsical style, but this is more of a personal preference than anything. Overall, She Doesn’t Have a Clue is a romantic cozy mystery with a splash of humor, and a whole lot of fun.