Rating: 4/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

Wow, this author did a great job with mixing mystery and romance. I loved that we got to see tropes like second chances, great banter, friends to lovers, forced proximity and a destination wedding. Oh, and did I mention that the main female character is an author of murder mysteries… and with her way of writing, she takes advice from her main character in her books, Loretta.

I really liked this plot; I thought the fast pace of the book made it easy to read and fun because you didn’t know what was going to happen next. I found myself laughing, swooning over the MMC and his actions, I loved that the readers will get to see a protest of the newest PR policies at Simon Says Publishing and of course murder. I loved the spooky vibes that come from the mansion that the whole wedding party is staying at, and to add to the spooky vibes you will find family drama done at its best. I found the characters to be fun and easy to connect with and relate to too.

I found MFC Kate to have someone that I would love to be best friends with. I love that she was always thinking outside of the box and wouldn’t give up on solving this mystery. I liked that she would pretend to be one of her main characters from her murder mystery books to help her find the clues to who did it. I found her to be witty and confident, but you will see that she has flaws which for me made her more real. I found the MMC, Jake, to be the best partner for her when she was trying to find the clues. I liked the fact that he was supportive but at the same time more grounded. I loved all the banter between these characters and seriously Kate…. I get it! A sexy Australian man, that’s all I have to say lol. I found their slow burn romance as they’re finding out who is murdering everyone. I found the mystery mixed with the romance to have been done well and I can’t wait to see what else this author will bring us.

I also received the audio of this book, and I thought she did a wonderful job. I loved that all the characters’ voices came through clearly, and that she was able to bring the characters to life for me. I would listen to another book narrated by Sarah Mollo-Christensen.

I want to thank NetGalley, Macmillan and St. Martin Press for the opportunity to review this book.

Jenny Elder Moke’s She Doesn’t Have A Clue offers a fun mix of cozy mystery and romantic comedy, set against the atmospheric backdrop of an isolated private island. While the story has its moments of charm and intrigue, it ultimately didn’t fully land for me.

Kate Valentine, a bestselling mystery author, reluctantly attends her ex-fiancé’s wedding, hoping to get through the awkward weekend with the help of champagne and a polished draft of her latest Loretta Starling novel. But when the bride is poisoned and a dead body is discovered, Kate finds herself entangled in a real-life mystery that mirrors her fiction. Add to that the presence of her old flame, Jake Hawkins, and the tension—both romantic and murderous—runs high.

The audiobook narration stands out as one of the strongest elements. The narrator does an excellent job capturing Kate’s wit and sarcasm, as well as the chemistry between her and Jake. The supporting cast is given distinct voices that enhance the story’s humor and suspense, making the audiobook an engaging listen.

However, while the premise is intriguing, the execution felt uneven. The plot is packed with red herrings and twists, but some felt forced or predictable, leaving the mystery less compelling than I’d hoped. Kate’s internal struggles and romantic tension with Jake added depth but sometimes detracted from the pacing of the main storyline. The stormy, isolated island setting creates a great atmosphere, but the story didn’t quite maximize its potential for building suspense and urgency.

I’m grateful to Macmillan Audio for granting me access to the audiobook, as the format added a layer of entertainment that elevated my experience. While She Doesn’t Have A Clue wasn’t a standout for me, it’s still a fun, lighthearted mystery that might appeal to fans of cozy mysteries and quirky characters. It’s worth a try for readers who enjoy a touch of romance with their whodunits.

This story follows Kate Valentine a bestselling mystery writer who for whatever reason agrees to attend her ex-fiances wedding. Kate decides that her gift to her ex-fiance who is also her editor is the finish the first draft of her latest Loretta Starling novel. But the night before the wedding the bride is poisoned and Kate stumbles across a dead body, she finds herself in a real-life mystery that follows the plot of her latest novel. The only person willing to help her solve the murder is Jake Hawkins, Kate's biggest romantic regret.

There were a lot of characters to keep up with which was at times hard on audio. The first half of the book was a little slow for me, but by the end I was enjoying myself. The mystery was good and the added bonus of romance helped. The humor and banter between the characters was great as well.

The narrator Sarah Mollo-Christensen did a great job with the multiple characters and is probably the reason I was able to keep them all straight.

Overall this book was good. It wasn't the best book I have read/listened to, but it wasn't the worst.

Read if you like:
-Friends to lovers
-Cozy mystery
-Funny banter
-Plot twists

Thank you Macmillan audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to read, She Doesn’t Have a Clue.


Kate Valentine is a well known author of a murder mystery series. She received an invite to her ex-fiancé’s wedding on a private island. While attempting to board the boat, she runs into the man she’s held a torch for years, Jake. Ironically, he’s attending this wedding also. As the story unfolds, we embark on our own murder mystery in a classic case of, “Who Did It?”


I felt the narrators did a fabulous job of bringing the story to life. I felt the emotions expressed and could relate. The male narrator’s accent is swoon worthy.


This was a fun read. At times you wish you can shake some sense into Kate and other times you’re speaking out loud, telling her what could be around the corner. The twists and turns are a good recipe to enjoy this cozy, murder mystery.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for a honest review.

3.5
Overall I think this book had a very fun premise! I really enjoyed Jake and Kate as characters but I found the romance to be tepid. I wish we got more of interactions with Kennedy and Spencer because they were both interesting but I needed more! The murder investigation was really interesting!
I really enjoyed the mystery aspect of the book!

The setting of a semi-abandonded island was really fun!

Kate is a murder mystery writer who ends up in a murder mystery in real life--but it's one that's very similar to a book she has written. She must take on the persona of her main character to determine whodunit, with twists and turns all around. I liked what this book was doing, rotating between the fictional characters and the real characters, but something about the pace overall didn't feel right for me. The narration was great on this audiobook.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book but what I got was more than I imagined! I loved this book. Kate is a successful mystery writer. She attends her ex-fiancé’s wedding and runs into Jake. He’s the one that got away. Kate is a little clueless and has always felt less than in many areas of life. This girl has so much character growth that she jumps off the page by the end. Once at the wedding, the craziness begins.
I had so much fun reading this book! The writing and humor were fantastic. Was it a bit silly at times? Yes, but I loved every second. This book is a lot of mystery and a little bit of romance and usually that’s not my jam but not in this case. This was non-stop fun from start to finish. Sarah Mollo-Christensen aka Emma Wilder is an amazing narrator. She did a fantastic job! Huge thanks to Macmillan audio and Netgalley for allowing me to listen and review this book!

3.5⭐ rounded up

I love a good murder mystery! And with some spice mixed in... Love it even more! This was a good read. I enjoyed Kate. She was a great main character. The mystery portion was very good. It was a little hard to keep track of all the characters, but in the end you pretty much got it. I kinda wish the romance portion was executed differently.

The audiobook was produced very nicely. I enjoyed the narrator very much. She gave the perfect voice for Kate and her "Loretta".

*Thank you partners @minotaur_books and @macmillan.audio for the #gifted e-galley and audiobook in exchange for an honest review.*

When mystery writer Kate Valentine attends the high-end wedding of her ex-fiancé and editor on a private island, she doesn’t expect to be involved in a situation that bears an eerie similarity to one of her novels. She also doesn’t expect to be reunited with the adventurous Jake Hawkins, former subject of her biographical writing and the source of massive romantic regret.

She Doesn’t Have A Clue is a combination of murder-mystery and rom-com, with a decent amount of unpleasant potential suspects, amiable female and male main characters, a dash of witty banter and silliness and attempts at a wedding where everything seems to go wrong.

Due in part to murder.

Kate and Jake bounce off one another fairly well as romantic interests, with the customary flirting, forced proximity due to him being incorrectly labeled as her plus-one guest and even the typical miscommunications that lead to a bit of heartache.

The mystery aspect of the novel maintained my interest and while the wealthy guests/suspects were given ample motivations, I felt as though I was waiting for Kate to catch up to what was truly happening, despite her career as a mystery writer and her habit of imagining what her literary alter-ego Loretta Starling would do. The overall pacing of the story was also slightly slower than I personally preferred.

Narrator Sarah Mollo-Christensen does an excellent job of portraying the characters. Her switches from the lighter and goofier moments to the more emotional ones are also well-done.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for providing access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked the idea of this book. A romance with thriller vibes? Sounds amazing. However I listened to this and had the eArc and I just couldn't get into either. I felt like the pace was too slow and I just couldn't get myself to be present while reading. Unfortunately I did DNF.

One of the cutest, best romances I’ve read (or listened to) in a long time!

Kate is such a sweet heroine to follow and I was entertained the entire time. I loved all the references to sleuths in random spots (looking at the V Mars reference for sure).

There were moments where I definitely felt reminiscent of Jennifer Crusie novels and that made my heart so happy. I felt some Elle Cosimano vibes too.

I just wish there would have been a little more moments between Jake and Kate. This was a second chance romance and I didn’t feel like the chemistry and relationship build up was always there. But I wanted more in this universe. I’d follow Kate bumbling her way through another mess.

3.5/ 5 stars
Isolated private island, an ex's wedding, a murderer on the loose, a hot Australian surfer, and only one bed... What more could you ask for?!?!?

If you liked "The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year" by Aly Carter, this would be a great book for you! It was a very cozy and fun mystery romance that had me laughing, swooning, and playing my own "who done it" guessing game. 

I won't lie, I did get a little lost in keeping track of all of the characters, but that did make for a big surprise at the end. And the chemistry between the FMC and MMC was TO DIE FOR.

Excited to stock this on the shelves of my romance bookstore!

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

🎧 ALC Audiobook Review 🎧
Title: She Doesn’t Have a Clue
Author: Jenny Elder Moke
Narrators: Sarah Mollo-Christensen

Solo narration
mystery romcom
Friends to lovers
Forced proximity

My Thoughts:
If you’re in the mood for a fun and thrilling “whodunit” with a colorful cast of characters, this audiobook is a must listen. Set on a moody island in a giant spooky manor in the misty Pacific Northwest, the story follows a murder mystery writer whose own books seem to inspire a real life killer. It weaves in quirky, funhouse like twists that keep you guessing until the very end.

Sarah’s solo narration is nothing short of fantastic. She’s just got voice talent in spades that shines brightly in this one, which showcases her ability to embody every single character with precision and flair. Her male voices are unbelievably convincing, and her Australian accent? Simply brilliant. Few narrators can hold an entire production on their own, but she proves that she doesn’t need anyone else to make this story sing. She is undoubtedly one of the best female narrators out there, and her performance adds layers of depth and entertainment to an already engaging story.

For fans of murder mysteries, dynamic narration, and stories with a quirky edge, this audiobook will not disappoint. Highly recommended!

I loved the Narrator in this book so much, she brought the book and laughs to life!

She Doesn't have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke is a fantastic mystery rom com that I absolutely LOVED!

I love a closed room locked mystery. Add in the romance and humor, I really enjoyed this story.
Kate is an excellent character. All the characters are well written and fleshed out.

Follow the clues and swoon a little, for this perfect romantic mystery!

She Doesn't Have a Clue follows many of the classic whodunit tropes--secluded location, stormy weather, multiple suspects with motive--along with some cozy tropes as well such as no gore and, of course, an amateur detective. But in this book, our amateur detective, Kate, happens to write one of the most popular mystery series on the market.

But unlike the no nonsense, brash and brave detective she writes, Kate has absolutely no idea what she is doing when someone tries to kill the bride at the exclusive wedding she is attending and tries to frame Kate for it. Kate can't necessarily blame them. After all, the bride did steal Kate's fiancé. Luckily, Jake, Kate's ex-friend and man she has long had a crush on, believes she is innocent, and the two set out to find the would-be murderer before they can finish the job.

I loved that Kate was not this brilliant amateur. She was, at times, bumbling, and she made mistakes and assumptions throughout the novel. But it served her character well! She is not dumb in any way. She is just...not a detective, and I liked that. I also appreciated how things played out between Kate, her ex, and the bride. It allowed for great character growth.

Now, for the romance! The romance was as huge part of the story, and I ate it up! There was chemistry, there was tension, there was spice, there were feels (but just the right amount). And if you listen to the audiobook, you'll get a sexy Aussie accent as a bonus!

This book is a mix of genres, a murder mystery comedy romance. For me, the romance was the best part of the three. Kate and Jake had good chemistry and good banter, and some pretty good spicy scenes (and it’s definitely spicy.) Though they had a tendency to get hot and heavy in places and times that were unwise or inappropriate considering everything else that was happening, which always makes it difficult for me to suspend disbelief. Slightly less good was the mystery, which was fine but I never felt fully invested. Also, there were times when I felt the title of the book was apt – there were some glaringly obvious things that Kate was oblivious to or willfully obtuse about. The comedy was my least favorite part. When it comes to comedy in murder mysteries, there’s a thin line for me between funny and cringey, and some of the “funny” in this book veers toward cringe. A lot of the comedy elements seem to just be cartoonishly cliché characters, which I didn’t care for. It was not bad, though. I was never tempted to DNF or anything, and it the book had a satisfying ending. Overall, it was not bad, and possibly just not to my tastes. I listened to the audiobook and found the narrator to be really excellent, no complaints there.

I received an advance copy of this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to St Martins Press and NetGalley for the ARC/ALC.

I absolutely enjoyed this fun romance/mystery novel

Jenny Elder Moke is a fantastic writer! If you enjoy the Finlay Donovan series or books by Emily Henry, then I definitely think you will adore this book.

This book made me laugh out loud and is sure to put a smile on your face. I thought it was absolutely brilliant! One of the best romance/mystery books I have read in a while!

Sarah Mollo Christensen does a great job with the narration of the audiobook as well. I would listen to more by her for sure.

She Doesn't Have a Clue is an adorable mystery romance that I found charming! The book is set at a wedding, so there are so many characters (and personalities). But, before the wedding, the bride is poisoned and a guest dies! Kate, a mystery author, is determined to solve the murder, and Jake, her former crush.

Kate is so strange and weird, but in a charming, adorable way. Jake is wonderful! He was really the star of the story for me (and I think for other romance fans). There is a LOT going on in plot and sometimes that got a little confusing. This is a whodunit story, and with all the various wedding guests, it creates a lot of possibilities for potential suspects. Overall, I really enjoyed this-its a light, fun, mystery with romance. Seriously, I love all those things! My only struggle with the book was Kate would randomly think about her book character/plot and it got kind of confusing.

The narrator, Sarah Mollo-Christensen, was new to me but I found her narration to be great! She does a good job with various characters and that was important when you are listening and trying to keep everyone straight.

A "Clue"-style mystery meets modern romance with a twinge of comedic charm! Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for providing an advanced reader copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

Kate Valentine is the author of popular murder mystery series starring main character and sleuth, Loretta, and her side-kick Blake; while Kate isn't plotting her next book, she's slipping into Loretta's mind to borrow from Loretta's confidence and perspective to make her own real-life decisions. Loretta's confidence is especially necessary while Kate prepares to attend the wedding of her ex-fiance and editor to her Loretta novels, Spencer, who is marrying the publishing house head of marketing, heiress Kennedy Hempstead. After Kate and Spencer's split, Spencer and Kennedy were betrothed within 6 months. Kate ignored the wedding invitations she received in the mail until she received a final invitation accompanied with a personalized letter from none other than Hempstead matriarch, Rebecca Hempstead, requesting Kate's attendance at the wedding.

And that's how Kate finds herself traveling to the private island on which the historic Hempstead Manor is located, in order to celebrate her ex-finance's nuptials. Since things can't possibly get worse, Kate quickly stumbles (literally) into her ex-best friend, Jake, who she hasn't seen for 2 years after their friendship came to a horribly awkward end. When they reach the manor, Kate and Jake discover that Jake was invited to the wedding at the last minute and that they have somehow been listed as each other's plus-ones, leaving them to share an attic room with 1 bed. The wedding guests assume a romantic history between Kate and Jake, and Jake steps into this role to protect Kate from any embarrassment - after all, she's attending her ex-fiance's wedding.

Aunt Rebecca Hempstead, current family matriarch and first-in-line to divvy out trust funds to worthy members of the Hempstead family at her own discretion, announces during the rehearsal dinner that she will be donating the entire Hempstead Island, Manor, and fortune to the local historical society. Other Hempstead family members in attendance are shocked by this news, furious that their inheritance is now at risk. Aunt Rebecca is hell-bent on ensuring that the family's fortune is spent towards charitable purposes, and will do anything to keep the other Hempstead heirs from squandering their own shares.

The shocks of the evening aren't over - when Kate attempts to swipe an extra bottle of wine from the cellar to drown her sorrows, she trips over an unconscious body. Her screams attract a crowd of onlookers, who immediately assume that Kate is murder suspect no. 1. Kate, on the other hand, through the lens of Loretta, sees a room of potential murder suspects to weed through: angry Hempstead family members, jealous friends of the bride, frustrated authors working under a failing publishing house, and a team of wedding planners and staff.

"She Doesn't Have a Clue" is a successful and creative blend of genres, including contemporary romance, mystery, and even some comedic spins. I immediately noticed and appreciated that this novel is reminiscent of the film or board game "Clue", but with a plot that is 10x more intricate! Although there is a lot going on and a lot of characters to follow, I had no issues keeping up with the plot and comprehending the mystery storyline. I would definitely recommend picking up this novel upon release on January 21, 2025!

This book was EXACTLY what I was hoping for. It was so over the top and cheesy and just so much dang fun. Obviously, the mystery aspect was a bit predictable, but I also feel like that was probably moreso because of the audiobook narration. I feel like some of the characters were narrated in a way that was just a bit obvious that they were being suspicious. But this book had the rich family drama that I wasn't expecting (I went into this not really knowing anything because I wanted to just vibe) but absolutely ATE UP.

If you're looking for a nice mystery romance that will have you laughing, I would recommend this one. It was just a grand ole time. Though the romance of this book really bothered me because it seemed to be a lot of miscommunication that could have been easily solved if they had just believed each other and TALKED. Which I know sometimes is very realistic, but it was just frustrating to deal with.