I went into this completely blind and ate every bit of this up! This was such a cute story even though it involved murder (not like scary murder, more like ridiculous, juvenile murder, if that’s a thing). I loved Lily and Daniel and everything they stood for! I appreciate how the author tied it all together. Throughout the story, she gave you bits and pieces leaving questions unanswered, and the reader hungry for more! I am giving 5 stars because the story was captivating and fulfilling. The style of writing did not disappoint and I loved the MC's. What more could you ask for?

“Maybe loving someone doesn’t always mean you can save them”

So before I talk about the book, be aware that this is not a romantic comedy. I don't know if it is the illustrated cover or the pink and blue color scheme, but the cover had me expecting a fun serial killer rom com. This book is really heavy on grief and a commentary on beauty, wellness, and fad dieting.

I had to give myself a few days after reading this before reviewing because my expectations were so wildly inaccurate that it was skewing my rating. I think this is my first serial killer book where the MC is not an ultra-confident character. Lily annoyed me from page one, but again, at that point, I didn't know the tone of the book. Basically, everyone is terrible, so I can understand other reviews that have compared it to White Lotus, but without the comedic relief. I didn't love how wishy-washy Lily was in the first half of the book, but it started making more sense as the author kept leaving breadcrumbs. I absolutely did not see the twist coming at the end, and that honestly is what made me give this 4 stars instead of 3 stars. The twist explained so much of Lily's thoughts and actions, and it made for a great end. I love an ending that isn't a stereotypical HEA, and I get frustrated when no one suffers any consequences. I feel like I got a satisfactory ending with the HEA being up to interpretation.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Sienna Sharpe for the free ARC.

A less gruesome version of the Ruinous Love series. Lily is a complicated female serial killer who is hurt and grieving after something happens to her girlfriend. She goes back to where it all started, Riovan Wellness Center, year after year to pick someone to kill. This time, journalist Daniel Black (who's super attractive) seems to be onto her.

I thought Lily was a very sympathetic character, despite all the killing. She has a lot of trauma stemming from her mom and experiences in the foster system. In the place that brings up a lot of bad memories for Lily, Daniel is a source of safety and calm for her, despite the fact that he is there to dig up the truth about her previous victims. Even though they have different moral codes, they still understand each other's motives and drives. I didn't know how it was going to ultimately end, but I thought it was a good ending and tied everything up, allowing Lily to move on with her life.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC!

Everything about this should be my vibe, a serial killer FMC who falls in love? I should love that! The writing style just didn't work for me, constantly breaking the fourth wall just didn't do it for me. I do think that this would be a perfect book for people who watch a lot of crime shows/tiktok.

really enjoyed this romance and that she goes every year to this resort and finds someone to kill. she doesn't like the company and what they stand for. she ends up falling for a reporter who is podcaster and they have some good banter and he really see's her. loved this romance.

I'll be honest this went way more down not my genre than i was expecting. I think people will love it if you're into serial killers, but it wasn't for me.

4.5⭐️

I really enjoyed this book! I felt like the ambiguity was done really well and stayed consistent throughout the entire story until just the right moment for the final reveal. The little twists and tidbits fed to the reader throughout were great and kept the flow going smoothly while giving just enough to continue to advance the story.

I love the morally grey FMC and although sometimes
I felt like a piece of her and the MMC’s relationship was missing, overall I liked their dynamic and especially their ultimate ending.

There were some times during the book that I was internally yelling at Lily for some of her decisions but the ending tied everything together really nicely for me and I genuinely felt emotional at the ending. The messages within this book are important ones and I believe the author did them justice.

4.5/5 stars, would recommend

A serial killer as the FMC? Yes please! I feel like I’ve not read anything like this before. I was giggling, kicking my feet during the romance and gripping my seat during the mysterious parts. Ever chapter left me wanting more. I devoured this book so quick!

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC! The provision of this digital review copy for free does not impact my review for the book.

This book was amazing? The twists, the unpredictability, the blessing of thriller and reverse murder mystery is some something rare to see and is amazing! The writing style had me hooked the entire time! I was super intrigued to continue reading and could NOT put the book down!

What I loved most about this book was its unpredictability - a rare find in romance novels. In fact, I'd argue that this book defies traditional romance genre boundaries, blending elements of thriller and reverse murder mystery (a fascinating subgenre).

The author's writing is impeccable, weaving a captivating narrative that's both intriguing and unique. Lily's backstory is heartbreaking, providing a thought-provoking exploration of her motivations, even if they don't entirely justify her actions.

The dynamic between Lily and Daniel is electric, reminiscent of the iconic Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Their relationship is a volatile mix of passion, danger, and unpredictability. While it showed great potential, I felt it could have benefited from deeper emotional exploration, delving into the moral complexities and turbulent emotions that made their connection so compelling.

The romance is electric, laced with tension that builds until you’re practically begging for that next charged moment, and the writing is captivating. It’s the kind of story that leaves you breathless, caught between wanting to see justice served and hoping Lily gets away with it all.

Thank you NetGallery for the opportunity to read and review this eARC!

Every year Lily Lennox takes a month from her very successful business and goes to a Caribbean five star wellness center resort to be a cheaply paid lifeguard. Every year that she has gone there’s been a mysterious death that occurred. It’s not a coincidence though, because it’s Lily’s plan every year. This year is different because the hot swooning journalist Daniel Black catches her attention and complicates things as he starts snooping around about the deaths that have occurred.

You’re given a backstory on why Lily is a serial killer and it kinda makes you sympathize with her a little, but at the same time it’s still wrong. I had no idea what was gonna happen next in the book and didn’t predict the ending. Lily and Daniel’s romance was sizzling though and enjoyable to read.

I really liked that the book explores the toxic wellness culture of needing to look good on the outside no matter what it costs. As well as what guilt and grief can do to someone mentally.

Was overall a good thriller romance book! A quick and easy read.

🏝️- Beach setting
🔪- Female serial killer FMC
🏝️- Romance
🔪- Bisexual representation
🏝️- Thrilling