This was a fun book- kind of like a combination of The Other Woman movie and the Finlay Donovan books both of which are some of my faves. I felt like the ending/big reveal were. a bit sudden but overall I enjoyed it- especially Kat and Olivia. The life alert scene was absurdly funny as well.

This is a fun little cozy murder mystery for younger women. I felt a little too old to get into it, especially with the references to things like number two. It will be a great fit for younger readers who want a PG friendly murder book.

This was funny and highly entertaining. If you love the movie John Tucker Must Die this book is definitely for you! The banter throughout between the women was hilarious. Loved the twist at the end and the final chapter. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC.

The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club is a witty, suspenseful, and wildly entertaining read. When Kat, Olivia, and Elle discover they’ve all been cheated on by the same man, Tucker, their heartbreak turns into an unlikely friendship. But when Tucker winds up dead, the trio launches their own investigation, determined to uncover the truth.

While some parts of the story felt a little dragged out and a bit unrealistic, the humor and the strength of the female friendships kept me hooked. The banter between the women was sharp and fun, and the mystery had enough twists to keep me guessing.

If you’re in the mood for a lighthearted mystery with strong female leads, this one’s a solid pick!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Harlequin for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Oh my gosh! This was such a fun read; an absolutely enjoyable, totally bingeable story! This book is filled with memorable and charming characters; each of the female MCs are wonderful in their own right and together they're a hoot. I loved that they are honored as individuals AND a trio and absolutely ate up all their shenanigans while worrying about their fates. Throw in a hot cop and a whodunnit and you're all set!

The John Tucker Must Die vibes are strong, in the best way, and I really hope there are more adventures in store for the Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club!

This one was FUN!! While I picked it up as a suspense/thriller, I didn't expect the added humor as well! Perfect for any 90s baby with plenty of Taylor Swift references that also reminded me a lot of Gossip Girl meets John Tucker Must Die - totally appropriate considering the notorious cheater's name is Tucker!

"The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club" was an easy book to spend a Saturday afternoon sinking into. The characters were funny and likable, but I wish some of them were fleshed out a bit more as I wanted to know more about their back stories with Tucker! Some immature moments that had me rolling my eyes a bit, but overall this was a fun rom-com with added suspense that will certainly be a hit upon release. Thanks for the ARC!

The book itself was absolutley captivating, and I was truly engrossed as I started reading. the plot was interesting, and the characters seemed unique. A few things felt out of place - Kat's quirks with the idioms and the metaphors/malaphors seemed like extras that didn't have a solid explanation. The cop romance and storyline was also interesting, and I would have liked to explore that character more.

Ultimatley I did enjoy this book, but I felt there could have just been a bit more expansion on the why behind these characteristics.

I really enjoyed this book. I wasn’t sure I would since I’ve read many similar books of this genre in the past year. I didn’t see the twists coming and as an ELA teacher I loved all the idioms laced throughout.

This book was such a funny, page turning, and cozy murder mystery of three very different girls who form a unique bond after finding out they’re dating the same guy! What better way to get back at a man who’s scorned more than one woman than with revenge. What happens when a dish best served hot goes cold and all three girls lives are left upside down in a mess they have to solve before the gig is up and they no longer can play koi with police on how they know each other. This book had elements of Clue, Charlies Angels, John Tucker Must Die, and Gossip Girl. Along with Taylor Swift and Sriracha hot sauce references. I could not stop laughing and gasping while reading this book! What a fantastically fun and crazy rollercoaster of a ride until the VERY END!

This was super cute and fun, really enjoyed the dynamics of the girls and how they all brought out the best in each other. Was a great cozy mystery! I know it’s supposed to be a play on john yucky must die but the extreme similarities between this and the other woman were a bit much for me. The murder element was super fun though! Thank you again to netgalley, and the publisher for this arc!

Still laughing out loud after finishing Gloria Chao’s The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club. Her trio of cuckqueans (females who have been cuckolded) really won my heart over with their hilarious hi-jinx and quirky personalities. It gave John Tucker Must Die vibes, but in the best way.

Katherine Hu was happily dating her dream man (she was 🎵looking for a man in finance🎵), Tucker Jones, while in her dream postdoc program at Harvard. She was a genius, but had the self esteem of a rock. He saw and appreciated all that she had to offer with her Big Brain Energy. One night, while she thought that Tucker was getting ready to propose to her, she inadvertently popped into the room where he was actually proposing to someone else. This is where the drama really begins….but doesn’t end anywhere near there.

After bonding with the other “Tucker Cuckqueans”, the drama gets more intense, but just as hilarious as the book started. I couldn’t stop reading it. It was like rom-com meets mystery meets Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. As to not give away any spoilers, I will just say that you need to read this book! It has something for nearly everyone to laugh along with and to sympathize with. One of my favorites of 2025 so far.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and MIRA for this outstanding ARC!!!

I was immediately drawn to this book by the cover and synopsis!!

This was such a fun experience!! It was different from anything I read, and it grabbed my attention quickly! The mystery was light hearted and comedic! I giggled multiple times! And was shocked when the murderer was figured out!

The women were relatable and likable! Their personalities complimented each other and made them the perfect group, especially with having the same thing (guy) in common!
AND THAT ENDING!!! I still can’t believe it!!

Definitely a book I’ll add to my shelf!!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade for the ARC!

The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club by Gloria Chao was absolutely hilarious! I typically stick to Women's Fiction, Fantasy, or Rom-Coms, but this book was incredibly engaging and kept me hooked. I loved Kat, Olivia, and Elle, and the unique friendship that forms between them in such a wild situation. While I’m not usually drawn to suspense, this one was more lighthearted and quirky than intense, making it enjoyable. The mystery was fun, and the story was well written. Definitely a must-add to your summer TBR!
Thanks to Netgally and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced copy of this eBook in exchange for my honest review.

This one is tricky for me because I did like the book - there was just too much that took me out of the story to make it a knockout for me.

This is a fun and both lighthearted and deep/introspective plot, with the exes out for revenge yet recognizing things holding them back in their lives and working to make themselves truly happy. Although they could be a smidge irritating, I enjoyed hanging out with the three main characters. I loved the side shtick of the origins of phrases. I liked the ending, as I did not suspect it at all. So overall it was a great read.

What I didn’t like: the immaturity at the beginning (way too much poop humor, and honestly the name issue with Kat’s coworker seemed very middle school); the conveniences and coincidences are a bit too much (I always expect some in a book about a murder but there was just too many); the romance (unprofessional and highly unlikely given the length of time this book took place over); and the podcast…I love a podcast and they are done so well in a lot of books these days but this one was mostly unnecessary - also the episodes seem like they would last about 2 minutes so it might have been better to make them TikToks, if anything. I do think the author accidentally stumbled upon a really cool plot for another book though - a podcaster discovers her show has led to a crime and feels bad/responsible so she investigates. (Said podcaster would need to actually be likable and non-annoying, unlike in this book.)

This would be a 3.5 for me but since I must give whole numbers, I rounded down since I was never fully able to be in the story.

Thank you Netgalley, for an arc in exchange for an honest review. This is the first book by Gloria Chao that I have read and I was not disappointed. The cover of the book is what caught my eye and I was glad that it did. The beginning of the book reminded me of the movie “John Tucker Must Die”, but it quickly turned into a fun mystery. I liked how the story kept you guessing and trying to figure out who did it but also had funny parts in it. The growth of the characters was an added bonus. I would read more from this author.

This book is just an all around great cozy mystery. As long as you consider a murder mystery cozy. Gloria Chao found such a fun balance of making our main character Kathryn quirky, unique, and so smart without her being over the top. I really enjoyed the fun facts about the origins of different phrases, it itched my brain in exactly the right way! I also can’t help but LOVE a girl group. The way these girls became fast friends, willing to do anything for each other was so fun. The mystery was well written, but I did guess the twist pretty early on and really felt like the romance was not necessary. Definitely pick tho up if you’re looking for a fun mystery!

I was in SUCH a slump and then I picked up Gloria Chao's book. As a HUGE John Tucker Must Die fan, The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club hits so many fun beats. Kathryn was a great narrator and I really enjoyed following her journey through the investigation. There were some moments I found to be a bit rushed, like the romance aspect, but it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment. Great cozy mystery!

This is outside of my typical comfort zone, but I loved the idea and I adore the author. This was a lot of fun in that very humorous like could never actually happen, but like maybe, way. This was such a good time and I can’t want to share the story with my book club upon it’s release.

The Ex-Girlfriends Murder Club by Gloria Chao is a delightful, fast-paced, and cleverly crafted tale that had me hooked from start to finish. The premise is absolutely hilarious yet surprisingly heartfelt. Three women—each unknowingly dating the same man—discover the betrayal and form an unlikely alliance to exact revenge. Their plan to wreck his condo is already pretty entertaining, but things take an unexpected turn when they find him dead in the closet. What follows is a whirlwind of secrets, humor, and self-discovery, as they try to unravel the mystery while navigating their own complicated emotions.
Chao’s writing is both witty and insightful, balancing laugh-out-loud moments with deeper reflections on relationships, self-worth, and the complexities of modern love. The dynamic between the three women is one of the book's greatest strengths, and the way they evolve from bitter exes to supportive allies is both funny and moving.
The plot twists are perfectly timed, and the ending is a delightful surprise that ties everything together in a satisfying and unexpected way. It’s a book that combines humor with heart, and by the time I finished, I felt like I’d been on an emotional rollercoaster—laughing, cringing, and rooting for these characters all the way through.

This hilarious murder mystery is absolutely perfect for fans of John Tucker Must Die and Dial A for Aunties. While this may seem like a strange combination of stories it fit so perfectly. I loved every moment of this book.