Love in the Time of Serial Killers is a witty rom-com focused on Phoebe Walsh- a PHD candidate who is a bit too obsessed with serial killers. So it’s no surprise when she immediately takes her new neighbor for a potential serial killer… 

It’s not that Sam Dennings really gives off serial killer vibes, so much as Phoebe has forgone all types of relationships in her pursuit of academia. 

However, lovable and sweet Sam eventually wins Phoebe over and she’s got to confront something far scarier- that love might be in the cards for her.

I don’t know about you, but I love rom-coms that read a little bit like crack fan-fic. You know, slightly over the top, a little bit ridiculous… the kind that make you laugh hysterically alone in your bedroom at 9pm on a Saturday. Those. Yeah, I love those. 

This book delivered that with a side of emotional growth.

You see, Phoebe and her goofy brother Conner were separated as children when her parents were divorced. Before that, her father often made her walk on eggshells for fear of inciting one of his moods. And this impacted Phoebe throughout her entire life.

We get to see Phoebe blossom from someone protecting her heart (this, combined with her witty references often reminded me of Lorelei Gilmore) to someone who makes big, bold moves. 

And we get to thank Sam Dennings for that.

I really enjoyed Sam’s character- he’s admittedly shy, but a sweet guy who teaches children and plays music. He’s always there to help out his neighbors and he quickly finds himself hopelessly in love with Phoebe. He’s got a bit of ‘Golden Retriever BF’ vibes and it’s a super refreshing departure from the typical alpha male. 

This isn’t necessarily a spice filled book, but the scenes we do get are pretty solid. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it! It’s a great pool-side read with plenty of laughs, characters you grow attached to, and a great MMC who brings out the best in our FMC. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this E-ARC!

“She posted a picture at midnight last night to act like she doesn’t care about peak engagement times, but she knows that a picture with several tagged people will do well regardless. It’s an illusion of indifference.”

Attempting to categorize this book into one genre feels wrong, much like attempting this review so soon after reading because- whoa. There is a lot going on here despite the first half of the book feeling like a casual dip into two disturbed minds.

Remy and Alicia are obsessed with Remy’s old coworker, Jen, to the point she is a constant in their day-to-day lives. They check her social media together, regularly discuss her, and incorporate her into their sex lives through role play.

All the while Remy holds a significant amount of disdain for Alicia who he thinks should be more like Jen.

Only, the Jen he reunites with doesn’t quite live up to the Jen living in his head.

And so begins a story of self actualization.

“You think that because I act one way around you and a different way around other people that one of those is more authentic?”

If you’re looking for a straight horror book, this isn’t for you. You spend a lot of time inside the minds of a couple that most of the world doesn’t pay attention to- though their minds are often quite disturbing.

There are sprinkles of something other throughout the book, but the real horror doesn’t start until later in the game. We go from some psychological spooks to sci-fi esque horror VERY 

Still, the first half of the book was VERY enjoyable to me and quite uncomfy. This is a book I would’ve read in one sitting if I hadn’t been to tired to stay awake any longer! 

Still, I wish the two parts of the book had connected better than they did. And so for that I will go with four stars!