Monday, September 19, 2022

Review: Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson

 

Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson
Publication Date: August 16th 2022 by Berkley
Pages: 352
Source: Publisher 
Rating: ½
Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:
Phoebe is back in Florida to clean out her estranged father’s house after his death. She also must finish her dissertation for her PhD with the subject of true crime, how the stories have been shaped based on reporting. Her studies and upbringing have taught her to be careful and suspicious of others, a view that isn’t a bad idea these days, IMO, but it’s also kept her from allowing anyone to get close. So, when her next-door neighbor, Sam, hot as he is, offers to help she immediately rebuffs him. However, after a bit of persistence on his part Phoebe gets to know him better, gets closer, and the mutual attraction they feel starts to grow.

I’m a Forensic Files/Dateline/true crime junkie as well so I appreciated all the references and I’m totally on board with being cautious. Phoebe had a lot of baggage from her parent’s ugly divorce, and the way her father treated her growing up. I did feel bad for Phoebe, but her prickliness got to me, and I had a hard time connecting to her. I adored Sam, he was a sweetheart and I wondered at times why he was interested. Phoebe’s brother, Connor, was a fun, nerdy, likeable character as well, and I was pleased how Phoebe was truly sweet to him. They had a great relationship despite the fact they were separated for a lot after the divorce.

Despite my issues with Phoebe and the fact I thought the story could’ve been edited down a bit, I did enjoy Love in the Time of Serial Killers overall. There was some fun, laugh-out-loud moments, and the romance was sweet and steamy.

3.5 Stars


Book Description:

Turns out that reading nothing but true crime isn’t exactly conducive to modern dating—and one woman is going to have to learn how to give love a chance when she’s used to suspecting the worst.

PhD candidate Phoebe Walsh has always been obsessed with true crime. She’s even analyzing the genre in her dissertation—if she can manage to finish writing it. It’s hard to find the time while she spends the summer in Florida, cleaning out her childhood home, dealing with her obnoxiously good-natured younger brother, and grappling with the complicated feelings of mourning a father she hadn’t had a relationship with for years.

It doesn’t help that she’s low-key convinced that her new neighbor, Sam Dennings, is a serial killer (he may dress business casual by day, but at night he’s clearly up to something). It’s not long before Phoebe realizes that Sam might be something much scarier—a genuinely nice guy who can pierce her armor to reach her vulnerable heart.



24 comments:

  1. This does look fun, and what a great cover!

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  2. I had my eye on this one because of the title and the blurb. Glad to see its pretty good even if Phoebe needed to lighten up sooner.

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    1. Thanks, Sophia. I was frustrated with Phoebe here and there, but I enjoyed the story overall.

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  3. I'm glad to hear you liked this one despite your issues with Phoebe; I've got this one on hold at my library and am waiting for it to come in. :)

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  4. I liked this book a lot more than you. I am very much into a character's journey and how they change, and I was very excited about the way Phoebe grew over the course of this book.

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  5. I liked this book a bit more than you did. I do agree that Sam was much easier to fall for in this one.

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    1. Yes, he was. I did have fun with the story over all. Just a few minor niggles. Glad to hear you enjoyed it, too, Carole!

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  6. I'm glad you enjoyed it overall. I read a couple other reviews, and they seemed to have similar issues with this book.

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  7. I am glad that you liked this one even if it didn't completely work out for you. I am not sure if its one I will pick up, but I know many are really loving it.

    Lovely review!

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    1. Yes, there were a lot that loved it and I did enjoy it with some minor niggles.

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  8. Despite not connecting with her, I am glad you enjoyed the true crime aspects. I admit, I am drawn to them as well.

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    1. True crime fascinates me. Not sure what that says about me, lol.

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  9. Even with the problems you had with her, it sounds like you liked this one.

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  10. Glad to see you enjoyed it despite the issues you encountered.

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  11. I tend to struggle with prickly characters, especially when it's the main character. I have a hard time relating to that kind of personality and it always keeps me from connecting to the character. Beyond that, I'm so glad you enjoyed the story overall!

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    1. It does make it tough to be in the main character's head when they're that type of personality. Thanks, Tanya!

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