When Sally Killed Harry
by Lucy Roth
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Pub Date Mar 27 2025 | Archive Date Not set
Avon Books UK | Avon
Description
‘The Tinder Swindler meets Sweetpea. I'll have what Lucy Roth is having.’ L.M. Chilton, author of Don’t Swipe Right
‘Dark, funny and thought-provoking’ Jackie Kabler, author of The Perfect Couple
'I absolutely loved everything about this book – It's the best fun, with such whip-smart characters and a compelling story. I couldn't put it down (I barely slept!). Lucy Roth is officially brilliant and I am obsessed.’ Lucy Vine, author of What Fresh Hell
‘This is how I like my rom coms – not too much rom, a good amount of com, but most of all a wicked amount of imagination when it comes to revenge – a book of tremendous energy, delightful malice and menace’ Robin Ince, author and comedian
‘Incredibly pacy, funny, oh-so- dark, devious and dare I say, relatable… Who hasn’t thought about getting back at someone who’s hurt you, right? I loved everything about it!’ Noelle Holton, author of His Truth Her Truth
‘Wow! I loved it. Devoured it in two days. It was dark, delicious and deadly. Provocative and thought-provoking too. Layered, with depth and utterly addictive.’ Louise Swanson, author of End of Story
‘They say don't get mad, get even – but Sally does both in this excellent revenge thriller. I couldn't put it down … I'll have what Lucy Roth is having’ L.M. Chilton, author of Don’t Swipe Right
‘A bold and clever coming-of-rage story that gives a razor sharp twist on the classic romcom’ Victoria Hawthorne, author of The Darkest Night
‘The characters leapt off the page, their back stories were compelling and drove the story well. The Sally and Harry names riff was also good fun.’ Kay Wilson, author of The Stand-Up Mam
'The anti-romcom. A feminist found-family of blossoming killers takes center stage in a thriller unlike anything you've read before.' Lily Sparks, author of the Teen Killers Club series
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THIS IS NOT A LOVE STORY. THIS IS A ROM COM GONE ROGUE.
Say hello to Sally.
I’ve woken up in the Big Apple with the world's worst hangover, an empty bank account, and the sinking feeling that my life just nosedived. Last night's escapade is a blur, but one thing is clear: I’ve been swindled and I’m not happy about it.
She’s the woman of your dreams…
The culprit? Harry – a total dreamboat and my worst nightmare. He’s got charm, secrets, and a smile that screams trouble. Little did I know, Harry's not just a pretty face – he's a liar, conman and he’s turned my life upside down.
…or is she your worst nightmare?
When I discover I’m not the only victim, I decide it’s only right I take my revenge. And with a group of wronged women behind me, murder isn’t on the agenda just yet because Harry’s in for a nightmare and I’m only just getting started…
A wicked, whip-smart revenge thriller, perfect for fans of Katy Brent, Bella Mackie and anyone who wants to take their revenge on The Tinder Swindler or Sweet Bobby.
Available Editions
EDITION | Ebook |
ISBN | 9780008740306 |
PRICE | £2.99 (GBP) |
PAGES | 384 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews

This is a fun crime novel about revenge that has a serious underlying message about misogyny and violence against women.
Sally is a morally complex character with a difficult past. It seems natural and right that she ends up as an avenging hero when she's conned out of money by a new boyfriend who she's met on an app.
It's a light read but has thought provoking moments. I like this sub genre of vengeful women novels and this sits well in the field. I especially liked Sally's voice. Her snarkiness and sardonic nature was a joy to read. It was easy to root for her.

Sally is a complex character.
Along with a small group of women they aim to seek out the awful men in there live's.
Great storyline, a really good read.
The ending answer's a big question.
Hope there is a follow up.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing this book, with my honest review below.
When Harry met Sally is such a classic, but it was time for a twist with When Sally Killed Harry. Not at all reminiscent of that film (so it’s still safe if you’re a fan) this story dives into a woman who is out of revenge against a conman who slid into her dating app. What makes Sally’s revenge even better is that she’s not content to sit and take out her anger on Harry when she sees other woman being conned and treated badly, forming a vigilante support group to take justice into their own hands.
I need to disclaimer that Sally is disturbed pre dating Harry (literally) and so while this is a ‘you go girl’ feeling book it’s also not all fun and games as Sally is a complex character who has been hurt in the past and she’s incredibly morally grey, which may be to expected. Still, I had to support her as she helped bring other women out of their shell and empowered them. There were some opportunities to make the story smoother as there were times we jumped around in terms of supporting character’s personalities and development rather wildly to the point of disbelief, not to mention Sally’s own reckoning(s). But I did love the core story and Sally as a character was developed quite well.

As they say, don't get mad, get even - get revenge, and don't get caught. A quite different Harry and Sally, and no lunch at Katz's deli! Found family, found salvation, and found mission - plus a few surprises along the way. And yep, you will root for all of them.

Such a great and humorous mystery. The cover is cute and simple but also relates to the subject. The story is well written and isn't fluffy.

I wish I'd loved this as much as I thought I was going to when I read the blurb. In the end, things fell together rather conveniently, the way the women met and bonded for example and some of the revenge scenarios. I felt in the end it was a little trite and maybe convenient. There were some great moments too, it started off really well...
Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy. It is my pleasure to writ an honest review.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC.
Sally is from London but now resides in Manhattan. It is clear that she has run from something and that there is major trauma in her past. She lives with New Yorker Priya who is a psychotherapist, and works in a job she doesn't enjoy.
One day she gets drugged and conned out of her money by suave Harry, and her sense of revenge gets awakened. Interestingly, within what feels like minutes she has assembled a support group of half a dozen women who have been hurt by men - abusers, rapists, financial con artists, catfishers, thieves, the lot. They call their group " Some Women" and meet weekly in a church hall of all places to pool their resources. First they just want to get their money back or humiliate these men out of their jobs but it very soon tips into murder, with Sally being at the forefront of the action.
It is clear that Sally is deeply damaged. She talks of a psychiatric ward in her past and compensation money and once we learn what happened we can understand how she is behaving now. Of course, with that many bad men around, even less damaged women might be out for revenge, and so one abuser and rapist after the other finds their timely end, with the women dividing up the work and helping each other out, making sure that nothing connects them to their respective victims.
There remains a complicated relationship between Sally and Harry - after all he did to her, she still gravitates towards him. She attributes that to her childhood but I still found it strange. Things do go wrong, one man survives an attempt, Harry taunts Sally, and there is an interesting but logical twist about Priya's boyfriend Steve.
I have a penchant for revenge novels and female serial killers, and this one delivers in spades, even though they all get away with it a bit too easily and the story ends a bit too neatly. The revenge theme is strong but we don't really get more than a superficial sense of the other women. I'm questioning whether the first person narrative is the correct choice and whether we need a mystery around Sally's childhood trauma instead of just being told straightaway. It is also lacking any kind of humour. The story is however very entertaining and I read it in one sitting.

If you're in the mood for a rom-com that takes a sharp turn into revenge territory, When Sally Killed Harry by Lucy Roth is the perfect ride. This book flips the script on traditional romantic comedies and serves up a deliciously twisted tale of betrayal, revenge, and self-discovery.
Sally wakes up in New York City, nursing the worst hangover of her life, with a drained bank account and the crushing realization that she's been swindled by the charming, yet deceitful, Harry. This is no typical meet-cute gone wrong; Harry isn’t just a charming man—he’s a conman who has completely upended Sally’s life. And she’s not going to let it slide.
But this isn't a story about a heartbroken woman chasing after her wrongdoer. Instead, Sally channels her anger and disappointment into a mission of revenge. When she discovers that she’s not the only one Harry has swindled, she teams up with other women he's deceived, and together, they plot to turn Harry’s world upside down. And no, murder isn't on the agenda (yet)—but making his life a living nightmare is definitely on the cards.
Roth delivers a gripping, fast-paced narrative with equal parts humour and suspense. Sally is a wonderfully relatable protagonist, and her journey of self-empowerment is both funny and inspiring. The dynamic between Sally and the other women—each of them with their own reasons for seeking justice—adds an extra layer of depth to the plot. It’s not just about revenge; it's about reclaiming control and finding strength in unexpected alliances.
The twisty nature of the story keeps readers on their toes, and Roth’s clever writing ensures that the balance between humour and suspense is pitch-perfect. The dialogue is snappy, the characters are quirky and engaging, and the plot is far from predictable. The pacing is brisk, and the chapters fly by as the women set their plans into motion.
If you’re looking for a rom-com that’s anything but conventional When Sally Killed Harry will have you laughing, gasping, and rooting for Sally and her crew every step of the way. It’s a perfect pick for readers who love strong female leads, witty banter, and stories that break the mould.
Read more at The Secret Book Review.

This book is a rom-com gone bad. So much fun and I loved the characters and the story. Highly recommend!

Oh wow! I was a bit nervous reading this as the reviews from others weren't positive. But I loved this totally bonkers female revenge fantasy against all the men who traumatise us and get away with it.
Sally is a compelling anti-heroine who reminds me of Jason Dean (Christian Slater’s character) from Heathers. She’s unhinged (thanks to men who've traumatised her) and watching her unravel is part of the glee, as well as her strange crush on Harry. I loved the friendships formed amongst the women, all united by their experiences of male-perpetrated abuse, be it in the workplace or by their family or spouses. There's some surprise twists and turns with a perfect ending. I could easily see this as a short-run TV series. Pace-wise it was a bit slow to start after a strong prologue, but I appreciate it was needed to set up Sally's growing instability. I do wish we could stop legitimising Tik Tok censorship by using ‘unaliving’ instead of dead/kill/murder.
This was a darkly funny and unhinged wish fulfilment tale about women pushed to the edge to get justice in a patriachal society.
Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

Rounding up to 4 from 3.5. When Sally Killed Harry had so much potential at so many times. I loved certain parts, but I felt like flow was off and the big scenes just weren’t as satisfying as I would have hoped. It felt like things just happened because it needed too for the story. And then towards the end I would get confused thinking I’d already heard this part, but only because things became similar. I wish we could have learned more about the characters too without the men involved. More specifically Marie. It did have its moments though and the premise was very fun! Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Avon Books UK for the ARC.

A bold and clever coming-of-rage story that gives a razor-sharp twist on the classic rom-com. This is a revenge thriller that packs a punch.

“There's being ghosted. Then there's being fucking poltergeisted.”
When Sally Killed Harry is a bold, unapologetic, and raw exploration of frustration, fury, and the simmering rage women feel when the world constantly asks them to tiptoe around their own pain.
Our main girl Sally is not here to make friends or to win anyone's approval. She’s angry, cynical, and actually, really unlikable. She’s also hilariously witty, sharp, and unfiltered. Sure, Sally might describe her own appearance in the most narcissistic way possible “brown shoulder-length hair cascading like silk, red lips stained perfectly, eyeliner sharp" but I actually have to appreciate the audacity.
Sally isn’t just killing Harry; she’s waging war on a system that has, for too long, glorified men’s actions and swept women's voices under the rug. The book might seem, at first glance, like an anti-man manifesto. A “feminist rage" novel you’re either all in for or completely against. But I think it’s more nuanced than that. It’s less about "man-hating" and more about exposing the cracks in a deeply flawed system. It’s the frustration of seeing too many horror stories in the news, too many friends whispering about their experiences, too many women standing alone in a world that keeps telling them to be quiet.
Now, let’s talk about the controversy. This is a book that tackles toxic masculinity head-on, not with kid gloves, but with a sledgehammer. It’s uncomfortable, and it’s meant to be. If you’re coming into this thinking it’s a breezy romance or a lighthearted "feminist" novel, you might be disappointed. But if you’re willing to take the plunge, you’ll find a gritty, dark, and totally necessary examination of the real-world struggles women face every day. This isn’t a book that wants to paint men as the enemy…rather, it’s a book that highlights the toxic systems that make too many men think they can get away with anything, and a call for women to finally stand up and say, “enough is enough.”
“Can a girl not have a violent fantasy without getting interrupted these days?"
Does it go too far? Maybe. But the fact that people are uncomfortable with it is exactly why it needs to be said. I’ve read reviews that critique this book for "bashing men" and actually I think they might be missing the point. When Sally Killed Harry isn’t about hating men; it’s about shining a light on the stories that have been swept under the rug for far too long. It's about amplifying the voices that have been silenced and empowering women to claim their space, their stories, and their anger.
“And you know what really makes me sick? Every nickname, every headline, every fucking three seasons worth of documentaries or dramas. Every fucking thing is all about them. Their actions. Like we're nobody in our own stories."

When Sally Killed Harry - the twist on a classic rom com just as the title suggests. Sally has her guard up while dating in NYC, where she recently moved to from her home in London.
When the man she starts dating, and who she gives a chance to, proves her right (never trust men). She forms an unlikely alliance that snowballs into an Oceans 8 style support group.
There is depth in every character in this book however the biggest annoyance for me, is Sally’s constant fixation on Harry. She is angry at men for so many reasons but there multiple times she fixates on her fantasies of him and I just thought this didn’t make sense with her character’s motivations.
Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for this ARC ✨

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story was very sardonic and sharply written, blending the contemporary love and con narrative, I loved the main character, the support group, the engaging plot. My only gripe is the unrealistic ending, but it doesn't detract from the fact that this a fun, fast- paced read.

I really enjoyed this! It was so interesting to see different womens lives impacted by the same themes and how they handled it. the pace did get a bit confusing towards the end but overall, loved

A revenge story you are not going to want to miss out on. The book follows Sally, a woman with a dark past and a complex background who finds herself waking up one morning with the worlds worse hangover, her bank account empty and the realisation that the man behind this nightmare may just have been the man of her dreams, the guy with all the charm, the man she has been dating, Harry. Realising she has been swindled Sally must take her next steps and when she finds out she is not the only victim a plan is put into action. Setting up a group of wronged women the revenge story begins and Harry wont see what is coming his way, he may have started the game but Sally is hell bent on finishing it.
I loved this story. From the catchy smart title of the book down to the pacing of this book. The side characters all had depth and we found ourself as the reader just as interest in them as our FMC. We see these women grow on their journey of revenge and the rage felt by all these women is something that feels so real and compelling. The modern feeling of this book draws you in even more and is sure to allow readers of multiple ages to feel connected and able to relate to the story. We learn parts of Sally's story in sections throughout the book making her the friend we all want and the enemy we should all fear. Right down to the last page we have secrets revealed and I was left craving more from Sally!
The downfalls I felt were small here but I have to mention that I would have liked certain scenes to have more detailing and gore but overall this was a fun read, perfect for women who want to lean into a revenge story and perfect for fans of Katy Brent for I felt this had similar feel to some of her books too. I would recommend this book to everyone but especially the women in my life. This was a brilliant modern revenge story that tapped into serious topics but also added elements of humour at the right time.

Following Sally after waking up from a night out, penniless and badly hungover, who seeks justice in her own way. A slow burner, not my favourite read in this particular genre but overall an okay read.

I enjoyed this book!! It was a good story with themes of misogyny and violence against women, and the story was more of a play on a romantic comedy,. I liked the twist and the angle this book took!!
Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Say hello to Sally. I’ve woken up in the Big Apple with the world's worst hangover, an empty bank account, and the sinking feeling that my life just nosedived. Last night's escapade is a blur, but one thing is clear: I’ve been swindled and I’m not happy about it.! Good book! This book was definitely a bit different! It was a dark funny, sort of rom com that goes haywire! I definitely enjoyed the characters! And I enjoyed reading this book more than I thought I would! I liked the different! lol I would definitely recommend reading this book if your in the mood for something a bit different! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this story with me!

I've enjoyed the author's work previously, but this seemed like it was going to be a bit of a departure from that, so I was interested to see what it would be like. Pleased to say it was a lot of fun - a dark tale of revenge, following Sally and her friends turning the tables on the bad men in their lives.
I would recommend caution for people of a more nervous disposition - some of the events and themes in the book could be upsetting to some people.
Thanks to the author and Netgalley for the ARC.

"There's being ghosted. Then there's being fucking poltergeisted."
Rom com with a twist, our main character Sally is a complex character with a traumatic background, a lot of bad dates and a therapist as a roommate. What ensues is a commentary of modern dating, how crap men can be and the revenge fantasy that plays out probably more than often in women’s minds.
Fans of the movie can read safety knowing there isn’t parallels drawn from the movie, it’s just a clever title.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Avon Books UK for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

"Self-defence is a necessity in this world. Attack, well, that's recreational."
A dark and delightfully vengeful addition to the women's revenge genre that has taken my heart by storm! This book is an all too realistic tale of misogyny and the fear all women must endure in a world controlled by men. But Some Women won't be controlled. Sally is one of those women and she has work to do.

The blurb;
This is the story of how I killed Harry Collins. Destined to be the great love of my life – until one day I wake up in the Big Apple with the world's worst hangover, an empty bank account, and the sinking feeling that my life just nosedived. How it happened is a blur, but one thing is clear: I’ve been swindled and I’m not happy about it. When I discover I’m not the only victim, I decide it’s only right I take my revenge. And with a group of wronged women behind me, murder isn’t on the agenda yet because Harry’s in for a nightmare and I’m only just getting started…
My thoughts;
This book is perfect for fans of Katy Brent’s HTKMAGAWI and IBYLGIAC- Sally reminded me a little of Kitty Collins and I enjoyed the similarities in the books themes and the support group.
The book is medium paced, and told from Sally’s pov. As the story evolves, we get little glimmers of Sally’s mysterious past and the trauma that she faced.
I liked Sally, she is strong and determined and a great support to the new found friends around her. She was quite fixated on Harry throughout the book, but this book was about Sally and Harry so it made sense.
I really enjoyed this one, and hope to read more from this author in the future. Thank you to Netgalley and Avon books for the advance copy of this book. Opinions expressed here are my own. 4.5⭐️

This was a really well done thriller novel, it had that element that I was looking for and was engaged with what was happening. The characters had that element that I was wanting and was invested in what was happening. Lucy Roth has a strong writing style and was glad I was able to read this.

The comps of The Tinder Swindler meets Sweetpea instantly had my attention, and this book lived up to all of my expectations! This is a brilliant exploration of the hazards of dating in a digital world packaged in a unputdownable revenge thriller. Smart, timely, and poignant. Come for the title, stay for the vengeance!

Sally is no stranger to being on the receiving end of or witnessing abuse at the hand of men, but it gets to a point where she needs to take action, for her own ‘sanity’. Her flat mate is trying to encourage her taking a chance on not branding all men as the same and embracing life, and sets a challenge where she needs to embark on dating less sceptically and self sabotaging any potential relationship. Not afraid of a challenge, she does so and meets Harry, who is too good to be true, literally. But Sally is done with being a victim and enacts a campaign to get retribution and then some. Helping ‘some women’ in similar situations to do the same.
It is quite dangerous to read revenge fiction as good as this, ‘fiction’ that focuses on women taking back their power. What if we all started standing up for ourselves and making ‘some men’ face the consequences…

Bella Mackie meets Katy Brent in this humorous debut thriller. Shrewd Sally awakens one morning to realise she has been swindled by smooth talking Harry. Fed up of men taking advantage of women, Sally decides to take action. Discovering a group of worked women, Sally sets about to fight some wrongs, fuelled by the injustice of her childhood when she witnessed her mom’s abuse from several “step dads”.
Witty, quick paced and climactic. First person perspective which draws us into Sally’s world, as she sets up for revenge.

This was my first book by this author, and it was a real page-turner.
This is a story of found family/you go girl vibes, as Sally (who is morally grey to begin with) finds an opportunity to get revenge on a slick conman who slid into her DMs.
Realizing she’s not alone, she unites with other women wronged by the same man and pursues revenge.
The whole “you messed with the wrong woman” theme was fun to read, and I recommend it.
I was happy to have received an ARC of this from Netgalley, and I voluntarily leave my review.

I can honestly say, hand on heart, I have NEVER read a book quite like this.
When I read the description it sounded interesting and had me wanting to read more and so here we are..I never actually expected it to be what it was though, it was so much more than I thought it was going to be.
Sally has had a heartbreaking childhood which in turn made her angry and cynical. When Sally is wronged once again by a man, she teams up with other wronged women to form a group to rally behind each other.
Sally doesn’t just want what he took back she wants revenge and won’t stop until she’s gotten it but revenge for Sally is so much more than you’d expect.
Can’t say I was a big fan of the obsession she seemed to have with Harry, her every thought seemed to go to him and her revenge towards him was completely over the top in my opinion.
Other than that I quite enjoyed reading this. It was thrilling to see what these women were going to do next.
It was funny and heartbreaking all at the same time. Hearing those women’s stories and their hurt was so sad.
When Sally Killed Harry is a revenge thriller focused on women getting revenge on men who have taken advantage and hurt them. It’s about women empowering women and standing by each other no matter what. It’s a touch dark but all around an interesting, fast paced read.

Londoner Sally is a survivor. Now living in New York, she's seen her share of the damage caused by some men and is wise to their moves. When she meets Harry on a dating app, it's all going so well. Until after the third date, when she wakes up realising she's been spiked and all her savings are gone.
Not one to take this lying down, she is determined to get payback. To not only get her money back but to make sure Harry doesn't pull this on anyone again.
While the main story is about title characters Sally and Harry, they're a catalyst for other women taking back control of their narratives. Along the way, Sally ends up forming a group with other wronged women waiting to reclaim their own lives and deal out justice that has long evaded the men causing the damage. Seeing the strength that the women gain from opening up to each other and sharing their stories makes the novel an enjoyable read. Each of the women are from different backgrounds, but find a commonality in how they've been treated, and as a reader, it's easy to root for all of them.
I don't know if Sally would normally be a character I could relate to. She's bold and brash and uncompromising and outwardly confident; sassy and snarky, occasionally reckless. As Roth peels back the layers, we see begin to see why she is the way she is, making her more likeable than she maybe ought to be. Roth is excellent at writing flawed characters with heart; no one is perfect and we're all fighting unknown battles, and shouldn't be judged for them.
What I did like was Sally's empathy. She's focussed on taking her own revenge, but in forming the support group, she doesn't take over as "Leader" prioritising her own problems. Sally's confidence and determination to get even is contagious, emboldening the others in the group to take their own futures in their hands and to no longer be defined by the things done to them.
If you read this, and I hope you do, try to be around soft, unbreakable things because some of the women's experiences will make you want to scream and throw things. It's even worse because nothing the women in the novel have gone through is far-fetched. It's all too believable and relatable. And even when the media focusses on these types of stories, the focus is often on the male perpetrators. As Roth notes, "Like, we're nobody in our own stories". Sally knows this has to change and she's determined to be the one to spark this change.
This is a sharp, brilliantly written, addictive revenge thriller that is so easy to get hooked on.
Thank you to the author, the publisher Avon and NetGalley for an advance copy of this novel for review.

I do love a book about female rage and women taking back their power, so I knew this one was going to be a hit.
It wasn’t super pacy, but that worked for the plot. The mystery surrounding Sally’s past was a great way to keep the intrigue going through the book and I thought that was going to be the only big reveal…
**** spoiler alert! ****
Did I suspect there was something up with Priya? Not until nearer the end, but I did think hmm there’s more to this Steve story than meets the eye.
I liked how the women each represented different kinds of abuse, it really shows that it’s not just about the physical harm people can cause.
Overall, thoroughly enjoyed and will defo recommend! Especially to fans of Katy Brent’s How to Kill Men and Get Away With It and Eve Kellman’s How to Kill a Guy in 10 Ways.

Loved it (rounded up)
Okay, I'm not quite sure how to write this review. There was a lot I liked and some I didn't, so I think I'll just break it down that way.
What I liked:
-Never underestimate a group of women with a central cause. All of the women in this story have been wronged by men in some way and band together to get revenge on their man together. They work together and while not all of their revenge tactics work out the way they hope, they don't back down or stop trying. Women looking out for women and supporting other women is always great.
-The internal monologue and banter/dry wit of Sally the FMC. She keeps chalking it up to being British, but, honestly, I'm the same way and I'm not British. So, that kind of dry humor is right in the sweet spot for me. I found the book to be quite hilarious.
-How each of the women didn't just "lie down and take it." They did something about it. Granted, I don't condone some of the things they did, but knowing your worth and realizing you don't have to stand by and be a doormat for anyone while also realizing it's not weakness to ask for help from those around you is great.
What I didn't like:
-If you're going to use a title like this, then there *𝓱𝓪𝓼* to be some sort of WHMS-ness to the book. There's literally 1 line when Harry and Sally are on their first date where they have a laugh about it and that's it!
-How obsessive Sally was with Harry. I mean, he conned her and and got her revenge but even after she got back what he took from her, she was like a dog with a bone and kept at him. She also kept coming back to this 𝒸𝑜𝓃𝓃𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 that they had, when she was just a mark and he was just a con. One night of good sex a connection does not make.
Thank you, Lucy Roth and Netgalley for the ARC.

Hilariously funny and far too true for anyone who has experienced online dating. Revenge at its funniest.

“When Sally Killed Harry” by Lucy Roth is a wild ride that catches you off guard right from the get-go! Imagine waking up in a city as vibrant as New York with a splitting headache, an empty wallet, and a sense of despair that makes you question every decision you've ever made. That’s exactly where Sally, our protagonist, finds herself after a night she’s all too eager to forget. But instead of wallowing in self-pity, she finds herself at the centre of a revenge plot that veers ever so gloriously off the rails.
Sally is relatable, flawed, and deeply human—the kind of character you root for even when you’re cringing in disbelief at her choices. After being charmed and swindled by the deliciously phoney Harry, I couldn’t help but get invested in her quest for revenge. Harry is the epitome of the term "dreamboat" turned nightmare. His charisma is irresistible, but it becomes clear that he’s a master manipulator with a long history of deceiving women. Through Sally's eyes, you feel that painful mixture of anger, betrayal, and a completely understandable desire for some serious payback.
As Sally rallies a group of women who have also fallen prey to the likes of men like Harry, the narrative shifts into high gear—these women are fighting back, and their determination is both empowering and thrilling. The formation of their group, “Some Women,” is a brilliant touch. It’s a weird but captivating support group that meets weekly in a church hall to pool resources and share their experiences of being wronged. As their vengeance becomes increasingly severe, it’s fascinating to watch how the dynamic between them evolves while they navigate their traumas together.
Admittedly, the pacing can be a bit jarring at times. It all escalates quickly, and while the revenge theme is compelling, I found myself wishing for more depth regarding the other women. Each has a rich backstory that pretty much gets left in the shadows as the plot barrels forward. I think the narrative's decision to focus on Sally's experience makes the story feel somewhat one-dimensional at points, especially since we only scratch the surface of their collective pain.
What truly captivated me, though, was Sally’s complex relationship with Harry. Even after everything he inflicted upon her, there’s an undeniable pull between them. It’s a perplexing and intriguing component of the story, as it calls into question how we can unwittingly cling to those who’ve hurt us. I personally found the exploration of Sally's past trauma to be straightforward, almost too simplistic, and I wondered if sprinkling in more mystery about her history might have added a richer layer to the narrative.
One of my biggest critiques is the lack of humour. I was expecting a rom-com gone rogue to possess a sarcastic bite or dark wit. Instead, the tone skews more seriously and lacks that levity that could have made the revenge even sweeter. Yet, even without the laughs, I couldn’t put the book down. There’s an addictive quality to the plot; it’s a revenge thriller that kept my heart racing, even if the ending felt a bit too neatly tied up.
“When Sally Killed Harry” is a thrilling read that dares to tread where few romances do. It’s not just a story of revenge but also a testament to the strength of female bonds in the face of trauma. If you’re looking for a narrative that fuses empowerment with suspense in a refreshing way, this one’s for you. Just prepare yourself—you might end up accidentally rooting for a bunch of wannabe serial killers!

This book is an absolute gem its funny, emotional, and so gripping. At its heart, it’s a revenge story that really taps into the anger and frustration many women feel when dealing with men who think they can do whatever they want without facing any consequences. It’s the perfect mix of thriller and dark humour, showing how revenge can bring women together and help them form real connections as they heal from shared experiences.
From the very first page, I was hooked by Sally’s voice. She’s witty, relatable, and instantly likable. But as the story unfolds, it’s a shock to see just how far she’s willing to go to get her revenge. Her backstory, which is heartbreaking and a little haunting, is revealed bit by bit, and by the end, you really feel for everything she’s been through. Her journey from being cynical and angry to finding strength is both tough and empowering.
What I loved most about this book is how it blends humour with real, raw emotion. It’s funny, but it’s also deeply sad at times, especially when we hear the stories of the other women. Each of them is carrying their own hurt, but together, they find strength in each other. The side characters are just as interesting as Sally, and I found myself just as invested in their journeys of revenge and healing.
The way the story is told makes you feel like you’re right inside Sally’s head, experiencing everything with her. It’s a fun, fierce, and totally unforgettable ride. If you’re looking for something that’s both light-hearted and deeply moving, this is must-read.