Let me tell you what, I love a book that has dark content but makes me laugh out loud and man, did this one achieve that. These women are hilarious and honestly felt so incredibly relatable.

“Eat Slay Love” by Julie Mae Cohen is a sharply comic thriller that has captured the hearts of its readers and set a benchmark for character development and intricate storytelling. With its delightful blend of humor, camaraderie, and culinary indulgence, this novel shines a spotlight on the dynamic relationships between its central female characters, while offering a plot that snowballs into an exhilarating adventure.

One of the standout features of “Eat Slay Love” is its commendable character development. The main protagonist’s journey of self-discovery unfolds through a series of paranoid moments, resilience, and growth. As the narrative progresses, readers witness her loss and transformation from a seemingly uncertain individual to a confident figure who embraces her abilities and desires. The other protagonists are equally well-developed, each displaying unique traits and struggles that contribute to their rich backstories. The nuances in their personalities come to life as they share their aspirations, fears, and experiences. The author skillfully exposes their weaknesses and strengths, enabling readers to forge deep emotional connections with them. This level of character work enhances the overall reading experience, making it both immersive and rewarding. One could easily write the women off as murders if not for their individual histories, struggles, and ways they were abused by the antagonist.

Another element that sets “Eat Slay Love” apart from other thrillers is the powerful female friendships woven into the storyline. The blood bond between the main characters is not only central to the plot but is also indicative of the positive representations of sisterhood in literature with a bit of a sadistic twist. Their relationship is built on a criminal secret and blooms into expressions of unconditional support, mutual respect, and shared laughter—a refreshingly dark take that resonates deeply in today’s context. After all, what love is deeper than a friend who would literally kill for you?

Skepticism and manipulation transforms as these women find solidarity in their most vulnerable moments, reinforcing the concept that empowerment often lies in connection. The camaraderie they share, while odd and disturbing, not only aids their individual development but propels the narrative forward. The dark secret they share and how they embrace each other’s shadows, lends itself to protective feminine bond like that between warrior women or soul sisters. This portrayal serves as a reminder of the strength found in women supporting women, encouraging readers to embrace their own networks of female friendship.

The plot of “Eat Slay Love” elegantly unravels, evolving in complexity as it progresses. Beginning with an engaging narrative, the novel quickly escalates into a whirlwind of unexpected twists and thrilling escapades. The reader wonders at every turn, will they be caught? The pacing is precise; just as readers settle into certainty, the author expertly shifts gears to maintain intrigue.

This snowballing effect keeps readers turning pages, eager to reveal how the women will face these new challenges and if they will turn on each other. As alliances are forged and authorities poke their noses around, the stakes grow, creating a riveting tension that sustains reader interest throughout. The intricate interweaving of culinary elements, devious actions, and personal challenges enriches the story, making it a multifaceted exploration of life and death, love and hate, and personal growth.

In conclusion, “Eat Slay Love” serves as a testament to the power of character development, the strength of female friendships, and the art of crafting a captivating plot. As readers delve into this narrative, they are invited to explore their own concept of right versus wrong, vulnerability as a strength, making the journey both enjoyable and enlightening. This novel not only entertains but also inspires, leaving a lasting impression that is sure to resonate with audiences long after the final page is turned.

*** Thank you to NetGalley, Julie Mae Cohen, and Overlook Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.***

This was a fun and quick read. Three women, one man, infinite chaos.

Opal, Lilah, and Marina are an unlikely sisterhood, bonded over falling in love with the perfect man. Unfortunately, it is the same man.

Each woman is dealing with their own personal issues when their paths cross because of Opal pursing Zander (Opal)/Xavier (Lilah)/Zachary (Marina) to make him pay for stealing all of her money. Zander is a master manipulator and con-artist. Opal was his last victim, Lilah the one in progress and Marina his next mark.

Once the women know about each other, they are determined to make him pay, but how?

Fast-paced, improbable, and fun to read. The three women are well fleshed out characters and the book ends a note that promises another book, but is fine if it ends here. I really hope there is another one though. I like these ladies and want to spend more time with them.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book! That being said, all of my thoughts and opinions are my own.

I feel like I have been saying this a lot recently, but this is another book that was really out of my comfort zone, not only was it a cozy thriller (at least I think it is, I am not 100% sure what a cozy thriller is), but it wasn't a romance!

Eat, Slay, Love follows the story of three incredibly different women, Lilah, Opal, and Marina and their absolute mess of an attempt to get revenge on the man that all three women were in a relationship, unknowingly of course. Almost everything that could have gone wrong for these women, did. Not only was the original plan totally uprooted, but they continued to face more and more challenges in getting their lives back together, but in the process really grew as individuals and as characters.

At first, I was not the biggest of Lilah in particular, but I was really curious about Opal and Marina's characters. As the story continued, I found myself identifying with each character in different ways, and really loving them all. Each of them had their strengths and of course their flaws, which often drove the story.

While I can't definitively say if three women kidnapping, killing, covering up said murder, and then killing and covering up another murder is a cozy thriller, but if you are looking for a fun summer read that isn't your quintessential beach romance, this should be at the top of you TBR!

I really did enjoy the first 60% of this book. After that, it got a little far fetched and boring. While I would still recommend, I wouldn’t say add it to the top of your list.

I. Love. Women. Period.

This is a comedic thriller about three women who have very different lives. There is only one thing that brings them together: the man they have kidnapped and held hostage.

This is a story about friendship, becoming your best self, learning how to trust the right people.

Personally, I wouldn't call it so much of a thriller, but instead it read more like a women's fiction novel with thrilling aspects. Don't get me wrong there's twists and turns, but it's not the typical dark and eerie thriller that I have read in the past (which is not a bad thing). That might just be me being an inexperienced thriller reader, but it was good none the less!

I cannot wait to go back and read through the rest of Julie's backlog.

Thank you NetGalley & Abrams for this ARC!

I also really enjoyed the audiobook so much!

One note, if you read this as an ARC and thought something was off, there was a decent amount of editing done to improve the dialect that the book was written in. In the ARC there was a lot of American English that was changed to British English and that made a huge difference in the tone of the book. I am glad they made those changes!

In spite of some gory details and darkness, I still consider this a lighthearted read. I guess the pun in the title is a good descriptor. The lightheartedness is developed due to the ridiculous circumstances. What starts out as one woman warning two others that her estranged husband is a con artist who is trying to swindle their fortunes turns into an unlikely friendship and some unexpected revenge. The “slay” and “love” parts of the book are pretty self-explanatory with emphasis on slay. The “eat” aspect comes into play as one of the women is a chef who cooks elaborate meals for the others in the midst of the slaying. Overall, the book is funny at times and entertaining (I would consider it a quick and easy read) but expect it to be unrealistic and just ridiculous. The character development is good. None of the women are really malicious and they tend to act impulsively. I was disappointed that one of them had some initial ulterior motives but liked the way that they became such good friends. Female friendships and the power of strong women seeking revenge usually make good stories but this book is a little over the top. Not bad for entertainment value though. I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

This book was not my favorite. It was only ok for me. I would suggest reading reviews before you commit to reading this.

3.5 stars, rounded up
This is a female empowerment story with a lot of unexpected turns. The pacing is a bit off and the reveals are occasionally clunky, and I'm never a huge fan of epilogues that go on for 10% of the book and reveal way too much. Just make them the final chapters, why epilogues?

Other than that, despite what this cover implies, this is a dark yet heartfelt story about wronged women and the steps they take to remedy that situation. If you liked The Change, you might like this book too. No magical realism in this one, but this one has a similar female empowerment message. There were parts of all three women's situations that I could identify with and could root for as things went along.

There are definitely some shocks--in a very good way. Everything is tempered by some humor that my sarcastic, dark heart could fully get behind. If you like stories about women taking back their agency after being wronged, you've come to the right place.

⅘ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Eat, Slay, Love
Author: Julie Mae Cohen

Thank you Netgalley and Abram’s / The Overlook Press for this ARC! I was in the mood to change things up so this was the perfect read since it’s been a minute since I read a thriller type read. This one was one of my favorite combos of domestic thriller / murder / comedy type read. This unites three women who all have one thing in common… a man. I enjoyed each of the main characters and their individual storylines. I liked that they were all lonely in their own ways and how this incident brought them together (even though it was slightly unhinged). The friendship they formed in the unlikely events was truly heart warming. Also the underlying mystery was a nice addition to the plot. Some parts were a bit unbelievable but since this had a flare of comedy to it, it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Desperate housewives vibes. This one just released on 4/8!

3.5 This was a fun little darkly humorous revenge on a conman scenario that read quickly and don't require overthinking. We love these types of books for being a smooth ride not requiring a literary dissertation. Free advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This was so disappointing. I didn't think a book about kidnapping and murder could be so boring. But the writing made me feel disconnected to the characters and the story and it took way to long to actually get to anything with potential.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

I was excited to receive an arc of this book because I enjoyed Bad Men also by Julie Mae Cohen. I must say I did not enjoy this book as much as Bad Men. It was in no way a bad book, it just wasn't my favorite. I think I may try the audiobook out when it is released and see if I like it better....

Zander did them all wrong and now Marina, Lilah, and Opal have banded together. Yes, he's locked in a basement while they figure out what to do about them and that's part of the story. But this is really about female bonding and, yes, empowerment. They are three very different personalities with different backgrounds and each of them sees growth. It's dark but it's also funny. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

This was a fun dark humored John Tucker must die thriller- I loved these 3 very different ladies they made this a must read!

This was a very interesting read with twists and turns. The relationship between the 3 women was quirky and fun but also sweet. Would recommend.

Such a wonderful book about finding love in friendship. These three women come together because of a horrible man, but they found so much more. They each go on an important self-love and healing journey. It’s finding love in something other than a man. Kidnapping and killing just make the journey more adventurous.

A darkly humorous and thrilling novel that centers around three very different women—Marina, Lilah, and Opal—who find themselves united by a common enemy. Marina is a divorced mother struggling to make ends meet, Lilah is a shy librarian who recently won the lottery, and Opal is a post-menopausal fitness guru trying to maintain her online persona
The story kicks off when these women discover they've all been deceived by the same charming man. In a twist of fate, they end up holding him hostage in Marina's basement. As they navigate this bizarre situation, they form an unlikely bond and face various challenges that test their resolve and friendship

Julie Mae Cohen skillfully blends elements of suspense, comedy, and drama, creating a narrative that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. The novel explores themes of betrayal, empowerment, and the complexities of female friendships. "Eat Slay Love" is a raucous and engaging read that keeps readers hooked from start to finish.

Fun, Dark and Fasted- Paced! 3 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy! This book will be released 4/8/25.

Three women from different backgrounds - Marina, Opal, and Lilah - come together after discovering they have been deceived by the same man. They end up holding him hostage in Marina's basement, which brings them closer together. As they navigate the challenges that come with this shared secret, they must also deal with other dangerous situations that arise.

This is my second book by this author, and it is just as comical as the first. I thoroughly enjoy this lighthearted dark comedy. It's entertaining and provides a great escape from the real world through fun reading.

In this book, we are introduced to Opal, Marina, and Lilah, each with their own unique point of view. These characters are gradually developed, and you can't help but empathize with them and hope they become friends by the end. Different circumstances can bring people together in ways that others may not understand.

If you appreciate fast-paced dark humor, this book is perfect for you. While it has its moments of laughter, it also delves into themes of strangers becoming friends, self-discovery, and overcoming obstacles, which may or may not involve kidnapping or murder. As you can tell, it is a humorous and engaging read!

Thank you, Abrams | The Overlook Press, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I didn’t realize that this was the same author who wrote Bad Men, but it shouldn’t surprise me. This book was another knockout. I loved Lilah, Opal, and Mariana. Their characters shine bright throughout this book. Each is unique in their personality in all the right ways. This book is filled with twists, turns, laughter, friendship, honestly it has it all. I already recommend Bad Men all the time, so I am so excited to start recommending this one as well. I have already talked it up with a couple of people and they are excited to read it.
Thank you to Abrams and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.