Trains have played pivotal roles in many mysteries and thrillers, from Patricia Highsmith’s intense STRANGERS ON A TRAIN, to James Bond’s life and death battle with hired assassin Donald Grant in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, to Agatha Christie's iconic mystery MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS. Though moving, trains can be claustrophobic settings, the proverbial locked room. This is true for Eliza Jane Brazier’s excellent thriller IT HAD TO BE YOU. When hired assassin Jonathan boards a train while nursing a gunshot wound, he did not expect to meet the sexy and intriguing Eva. Nor did he expect their relationship would quickly become white hot. And probably the last thing on his mind was that Eva was also an assassin and her target was him. What follows is a dark and humorous romantic thriller that has too many plot twists to keep up with. Will the lovers end up together, or kill each other, or join forces against a common enemy? These questions remain until the very end. Jonathan and Eva are unique and compelling characters that draw the reader in. It is hard not to root for each of them. If I have any criticisms of the story, they revolve around two things. The story is told entirely in first person point of view, moving back and forth between the two characters. Though it works well, there are times when you have to stop and think about who is the point of view character in the scene. Second, the internal angst that each of these characters faces sometimes becomes melodramatic and repetitious. These minor criticisms aside, this remains a compelling story and a fun read. Highly recommended.

DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly and Cain/Harper thriller series

Me gustó que fue algo diferente.

Con la sinopsis me imagine una historia fácil, con comedia, sin complicaciones más que son asesinos, pero resulta ser más que eso. Eve y Jonathan no son personajes sencillos son complejos y dañados, muy dañados.

Se que a muchos no les gustará la escena de la espada y la inyección, pero a mi me pareció excelente porque demuestra el nivel de locura que manejan, pero también muestra la lucha por sus sentimientos.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for and honest review.

It Had to Be You by Eliza Jane Brazier was a very fun romance/mystery/thriller.

This definitely had a slower start and I wasn't sure I was going to be able to finish it - I'm glad I stuck with it.

Told in first person, dual POVs, the structure of the book is very engaging. The chapters are short and broken up into several parts. Just as the beginning started to lull, we jumped to the next part and started off another engaging leg of the story.

Both of our Main characters are assassins and (obviously) mortally grey. I don't think this qualifies as a "dark" novel (think Butcher and Blackbird) and I am grateful for that. I often think dark stories go a bit too far and this was the perfect amount for me.

There was a little too much insta love but I actually think it fit the characters well. I really liked their dynamic together and I ended up quickly rooting for the little psychopaths.

Rated 4 stars. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC ebook.

This book was a cute mystery. I enjoyed the banter and the thrilling moments equally. I really enjoyed the mix of characters and the ending!

What a wild, deranged romp of a book! Eva and Jonathan share a steamy moment on a train, never to meet again- until Eva is assigned to kill him. What follows is a supremely fun, unhinged ride through the cities of Europe, providing a backdrop to their romance unfolding, despite their best efforts to shove their emotions to the backburner. I loved their internal monologues, the dramatic twists, and the real laughs. Brazier's writing lends itself well to characters who always feel a little off-kilter, which keeps them unpredictable. If you like your romance a little dark, for your hero AND heroine to be a little unstable, and an action-packed plot, this is the book for you. For fans of Butcher and Blackbird.

This is a fun, funny at times, insightful at others about two hired killers who fall in love. And love might be the most dangerous adventure of their lives, if they survive it.

I attempted to read Butcher & Blackbird earlier this year and this is the better take on killers falling in love. I was hooked! 86 chapters are broken into 14 parts across 384 pages, so we're moving at a fairly clippity-clop pace as Eva and Jonathan evaluate and re-evaluate the life of an assassin. It's sexy, fast, furious, and full of twists!

The writing is by turns humorous, ironic, and a little too real ("I have this horrible feeling that everyone else is ordinary, everyone is normal, everyone is happy, except for me."). In fact, much of this novel—the emotion, the thematic questions, the love story—really took me off guard. I didn't expect such an uplifting, desperately romantic story about two intensely lonely people searching for connection. But it's what I got.

And, FINALLY, for once, dual first person POVs came through for me! Both MCs are oddly endearing, with distinct narrative voices. I'm not sure, but I feel it's implied that Jonathan is neurodivergent; among other examples, his chapters are factual and concise without a single contraction word used, while Eva's chapters flow in a more typical description style. There's so much nuance in their characterizations.

All in all, this was time well spent in Europe!

"It Had to Be You" by Eliza Jane Brazie promises readers an electrifying blend of romance, suspense, and danger as two contract killers find themselves irresistibly drawn to each other while facing off in a deadly game across Western Europe.

The premise of the novel is undeniably intriguing, offering a fresh twist on the classic enemies-to-lovers trope. Eva and Jonathan's initial encounter on a sleeper train sets the stage for a thrilling and unpredictable journey filled with twists, turns, and unexpected sparks of passion.

Brazie's writing is fast-paced and dynamic, propelling readers forward with adrenaline-fueled action and sizzling chemistry between the two protagonists. The tension between Eva and Jonathan crackles with intensity, as they grapple with their conflicting desires and the dangerous circumstances that threaten to tear them apart.

However, while the premise holds promise, the execution falls short in several key areas. The characters, while engaging, lack the depth and development needed to fully invest readers in their journey. Eva and Jonathan's motivations and backstories feel thinly sketched, making it difficult to fully understand or empathize with their actions.

Additionally, the novel's reliance on clichés and predictable plot twists undermines its potential for originality and impact. The romance between Eva and Jonathan unfolds in a formulaic manner, following familiar tropes and conventions without offering any meaningful surprises or revelations.

Furthermore, the action-packed sequences and high-stakes encounters feel disjointed at times, lacking the cohesive narrative structure needed to sustain tension and momentum throughout the story. As a result, the pacing feels uneven, with moments of excitement punctuated by lulls in the plot that hinder the overall flow of the novel.

I WILL READ ANYTHING BRAZIER WRITES.

Ahem, sorry for yelling but it’s true. She’s a phenomenal writer. Her way of getting into her characters heads quickly needs to be studied. She uses words so well and so precisely. I’m in awe of her talent.

It Had to be You was my favorite so far. The two leads are so deeply flawed, such obviously terrible people yet I was rooting for both from the beginning. That barely makes sense since they were trying to kill each other for half the book, but such is Brazier’s skill. The story was action packed, with just enough intrigue to keep me guessing. Loved it! 4.5 stars.

Miss Eliza Jane Brazier is back with a bang! She has you rooting for Eva and Jonathan hit after hit!

Grosse Pointe Blank is one of my all-time favorite movies, so color me unsurprised that I absolutely loved this darkly funny, sexy, totally deranged book. I mean, the swords! The sparring! The train sex! Really just loved this book so much.

A fast paced sexy thriller with a lot of sex and a little substance. Two assassins meet on a train and the attraction is immediate. They run into each other again and the sex and thrills continue. A fun distraction.

Copy provided by the publisher and Netgalley

2.75 stars, rounded up. I was really disappointed in this book. The writing was super inconsistent to a point where I’d put the book down to go do something then come back and start a new chapter, feeling like I missed something. The pacing was engaging, but unfortunately instalove was pretty present, and not in a way that’s appropriate for the setting. It felt like the author couldn’t decide on making this book a satire or something more serious, and so all attempts at a more comic lenses felt disjointed. Not to mentions any attempts at including feminism in this fell short. For Eva to talk about how her failure makes it harder for other female assassins to succeed just feels weird, and almost like a mockery of women who do work really hard in their fields to make it easier for their successors. Also, considering that the majority of the story was set in France, I feel like there should have been someone who spoke French reviewing the language. So much of the allusions to characters speaking was disjointed, like a French character randomly peppering in English expletives into their native language, which came off stilted, especially as someone who had a pretty good grasp of both languages.
That all being said, there were a lot of good twists, even if they were predictable. I’m just very disappointed in this book; I wanted it to do a lot more than it did.

So many red flags and the most toxic of relationships… in all the best ways! This book was delightfully odd! One of the most unique books I have ever read, and I am not quite sure how to categorize it; romance, thriller/suspense, mystery, and a lot of murder! I absolutely could not put it down. I can see this becoming an instant best seller and one of the top recommended books on social media. It was romantic, intriguing, and suspenseful, with enough turns to be enthralled the entire length of the book. I will probably read this book again when it comes out in print. The intense love between the two main characters will live rent free in my head for the foreseeable future!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing a DRC of this title.

I can honestly say that I've never read another romance like this? The book is definitely more focused on plot than characterization (I never really felt like I knew either character very well), but, once you settle in to the writing style (short, staccato chapters; frequent changes in narration), it's a definite thrill-ride. I could see It Had to Be You being a love-it-or-hate-it book, but I was hooked until the final page. Would definitely recommend for a reader who loves Mr. and Mrs. Smith or a romantic thriller with morally-gray characters.

The book features Eva and Jonathan, deadly assassins facing threats on their lives, reminiscent of Mr & Mrs Smith. The alternating POVs and tense scenarios make for an engaging read. While not a typical thriller, it combines dark humor, action, and romance effectively.

The chemistry between Eva and Jonathan is palpable, and their banter adds a layer of depth to their characters. The action sequences are well-written and kept me on the edge of my seat, while the romantic moments provide a nice contrast to the violence. The unexpected twists and turns in the plot keep the reader guessing, and the resolution is satisfying. However, I found the lack of character development frustrating, as Eva and Jonathan remain somewhat one-dimensional throughout the story. Additionally, the repetitive nature of the plot kind of become tiresome for me, as the cat-and-mouse game between the assassins and their enemies drags on.

Despite these drawbacks, the book is a fun and entertaining read that will appeal to fans of dark humor and fast-paced thrillers. The unexpected spicy moments add an extra layer of excitement to the story, making it a recommended read for those looking for a mix of action, romance, and humor. Just be prepared for a bit of drawn-out angst towards the end.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher fore the arc!

I had absolutely no idea what I was in for when I began reading Brazier's book, but I LOVED every word. I've already been telling my librarian colleagues to request it, and I can't wait to tell my patrons about it. Bravo, Brazier!

Thoroughly entertaining read, fast-paced, and fun characters who threw in a bit of humor during darker scenes, which I appreciate. I want to be mad at the predictability of the ending, but it's the genre and I really can't fault it for that.

This was a fun book! I personally didn't feel as though this was a thriller, it felt more like a dark romantic comedy that was action packed. This is one of those story's where I could easily see it as an action film. Not just because it's very reminiscent of the Mr & Mrs Smith, but because some of the things that were happening were honestly so over the top that it made for great entertainment.

There was also quite a bit of spice which was unexpected but I'm glad that it fit in the story and never felt too out of place. This is definitely a book for people who like dark humor, characters that are emotionally tortured (even if by their own doing), and who love a good cat and mouse game. The only reason why this wasn't a 5 star read for me, was because I personally felt like some of the angst in our MMC Jonathan, was just a little too drawn out. It made the last few chapters of the book feel longer than it was because of his internal monologue and indecisiveness.

Very much a Mr. and Mrs. Smith vibe but with very little character development and a crazy far fetched story line. The inner monologue of Jonathan was over the top and it felt like Eva was always just down for whatever and chipper.

No matter what it was entertaining and very action packed which I enjoy. Not her best IMO but not a total plonker.