Favorite Quotes:

Shame wasn’t a color that existed in Theresa’s wardrobe.

...certain things about motherhood had always eluded me, and cooking had been one of them. Apparently, marriage had been the other.

My Review:

I gleefully bounced in my chair and frequently laughed aloud while I inhaled this amusing and cleverly penned series. I loved every well-chosen arrangement of words. Elle Cosimano is absolutely brilliant, and her Finaly Donovan creation is a gift. Poor Finaly, she was a semi-successful writer who had an ex-husband who couldn’t keep it in his pants and a toddler who refused to keep his pants on, or toilet train. Finaly was a hot mess.

Her adventures started with an inadvertent slip of paper on a Panera tray, which eventually led her to helping various women living in difficult situations who were “seeking a specialist with a certain skill set.” Finaly didn’t actually have the skill set, but she and Vero, her ever helpful nanny, kept managing to accidentally kill bad people, some they were supposed to, others just had the bad luck to die in their vicinity.

The engaging storylines were active, eventful, smartly plotted, and populated with a colorful cast of oddly compelling characters, many of whom were unlikable, yet quirkily and knowingly drawn. I downed six in a row and finished the last one hoping there are more to come.

Woow, I didn’t expect to love this book so much!!
This book is from the P.O.V. of a recently divorced mother who is trying to navigate being a single mother while attempting to be the next loved author. The way Finlay kept finding herself in the worst-case scenarios but somehow managing to dig herself out is just crazy. It had me constantly yelling “why would you do that” at the pages to put some common sense back into that girl. What made me loved this book even more was the cliffhanger!!! I will definitely be picking the next book in the series. I have to know why is his name on there.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this book!

So much fun! This book was a wild ride with a goofy protagonist who’s kind of a mess and her ride or die sidekick. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book and just read it on a whim because it looked interesting, and I immediately wanted to read the next one as soon as I put this down. Sure, it’s a little silly and they make a lot of questionable decisions, but that’s what makes it such a fun read. I thoroughly enjoyed the weird characters and Finlay’s family dynamic. She’s someone you can simultaneously facepalm at and root for, and I’m pretty sure I would read any book that includes her.

This book is a big ball of fun! It reminds me of a modern take on the Stephanie Plum series. I mean seriously it kept me in stitches the entire time. A mom trying to make it through the day is confused for a hitman.

It's hilarious and still puts forth a truth. It's entertaining and mysterious. It's quirky with relatable characters. I loved the banter between everyone and how it can just not take itself too seriously.

I highly recommend this on audio. The material lends well to it and Angela Dawe was a great choice to be the voice of the series. She nails the brevity and the seriousness. She narrates the kids as well as the adults. It was the whole package of a listen.

I really liked the style of this book. It made me feel like I knew the main character. This is a fun read. It has humor, mystery and some absurdity which made me laugh. I think this would be a good beach read. It is about a woman who is married to a cheater and how she has to deal with issues that he is involved with too. I love the fact that there are more books in the series and look forward to having another adventure with Finlay Donovan in the near future. I recommend this book for anyone who likes a funny mystery with a strong woman at the core.

Much thanks to Elle Cosimano, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this! A brilliantly written novel. The mystery had so many layers; every time I thought we'd finally figured it out, a plot twist would peel back another layer. Involving the Russian mob might be rather trite, but it really took things up a notch.

I love that Finlay's an Everywoman, though I've always thought it was lazy for authors to make their characters authors. But Cosimano really put that cliche to work, so I'd say she earned it. Vero I didn't like as much as I wanted to; I'm not really sure why. Something just rubbed me wrong about her. Maybe her willingness to pursue a career as an assassin.

I thought it was really interesting that Cosimano inverted expectations when it came to the love interest; Nick was a little too sure of success, maybe a little too full of himself, and while he was kind and charming, I also got the feeling he wasn't listening to Finn. Julien listened, but he also didn't feel like someone who'd want to take on kids; he has a lot of hard learning and debt ahead of him, and a bartender's schedule doesn't line up well with kids's. Julien felt like the impossible love Finlay will only get a taste of and forever remember fondly while in a much more practical match with Nick. I'm curious to see where the romance goes.

This is such a fun, easy read! Very unrealistic, but an enjoyable take of a “crime” novel. Recommend it for a vacation or beach read, or anytime you need something light.

3.5 for this one.
I enjoyed reading about the shenanigans Finlay got up to. It was a quick read. I would continue reading the series to see if they improve and what else Finlay will get into.
Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for a free and unbiased review.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

I have read my fair share of books in the mystery/thriller genre, so I don’t come across books with storylines often that I haven’t already seen once or twice, but this was so original! I loved this so much! I was laughing out loud. I absolutely loved how all of this played out. I’m so mad at myself for not reading this earlier and I can’t wait to continue with this series. Well done Elle Cosimano!!

This was an entertaining mystery that starts off a new series featuring a newly-divorced, mom of two author, Finlay, and her nanny/assistant/partner in crime, Vero.

Long Story Short
Finlay is an author with writer's block. During a meeting with her agent, she accidentally gets mistaken for a hit man and is inadvertently "hired" by a woman who wants to get rid of her dirtbag husband. When said husband is killed, Finlay and Vero have to work to keep themselves off of the suspects list.

The Good
I enjoy a good low-stakes murder mystery. Finlay and Vero are likeable and I really enjoyed their relationship.

The Bad
It took me a while to connect with Finlay. Her money woes at the beginning stressed me out. As a mom, it was frustrating that she had let herself get to the point where she couldn't take care of her children.

Overall Takeaway
I honestly didn't like this quite as much as I anticipated, but it was still an enjoyable read and I thought this book set up the series quite well. I'm looking forward to reading the next book. I give it a C+.

Finlay's trying her best to keep it all together. Recently divorced from her philandering husband, she's trying to hold down the fort and work on her upcoming romantic novel. During a meeting with her agent at the local Panera, a desperate woman overhears Finlay's conversation, sees a knive and duct tape in her bag, and immediately assumes she's a hitwoman. And she wants her husband dead.

I am so picky with my cozy mysteries, but Finlay Donovan is truly something special. This series is so much to read and I've read book one a few times now since I enjoy it so much. I love Finlay and Vero, and will always root for them, even when they make the most questionable of decisions.

(#TeamJulian)

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a review copy. I can't wait to continue on my reread!

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It sets the scene for this series, which is popular with fans for a reason. Several reasons. First, it's fun. Finlay Donovan is a hot but lovable and very relatable mess. She's a mother, a struggling writer, and is in the throes of divorce from an icky ex with an ickier new fiancée. She can't seem to catch a break. Until she does. Over lunch at Panera, of all places, a woman overhears Finlay discussing plot points of her latest book and mistakes the author for a contract killer -- the kind who will relieve a beleaguered wife of her beleaguering husband. A comedy of errors ensues, as does a twisty mystery and a couple of romantic situations with hunky and sympathetic dudes. Finlay's children's nanny, All the while, Vero Ruiz is willing to lend the misunderstood Finlay a hand. The Donovan children's nanny, Vero is a very fun supporting character. I'm looking forward to reading Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank, the novella in which her backstory features.

[Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an opportunity to read and share my opinion of this book.]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback

While at times it's slow , I can definitely see why a lot of people like this series and I can definitely see myself going on with the rest of the series ,in fact thanks to netgalley as well as to the publisher I have the rest of the series to read . Overall I did have an enjoyable time reading this .

I was so hopeful for this one given how much hype it’s received. It wasn’t funny enough or “thriller” enough to keep me engaged and the main character annoyed me a lot of the time. I’m terribly disappointed to be leaving this type of review. I don’t think this is a bad book. I just don’t think it’s for me.

This was funny for a murder mystery and I didn't know what to expect next. I really enjoyed reading it and look forward to the next book.

*Provided a DRC (digital review copy) from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.

Loved this book!! Such a different idea & I’ve never read anything like it before. Finlay was so relatable especially as a mom, but overall her character was hilarious! The dynamic with her and Vero was so funny. I loved the story & it even surprised me towards the end. Can’t wait to continue the series!

I heard so many great things about this series, so I finally pushed it up my tbr and I'm so glad I did! This cozy dark-ish mystery was instantly my cup of tea. Finlay, a single mom and a struggling writer, and her sidekick nanny, Veronica Ruiz, are a quirky unbeatable duo who accidentally keep getting themselves into some serious, deadly trouble.

Book one was a great start to the series and the story grabbed my attention from page one! I could instantly relate to stressed out Finlay who was juggling two little kids, was feeling pressure from her literary agent and was dealing with her ex's shinanigans. Vero is a life-saver to Finlay with her organized, quick-thinking approach, and these two characters complemented each other so well in the book! I thought the story concept was quite unique and engaging. The series of unfortunate events that followed these two heroines were both hilarious and terrifying, and that's what made this book soooo good!!

İ absolutely loved the characters, the humor, the writing style and the story itself. I couldn't wait to pick up book two. The audiobook was fantastic! The unique voices narrator created for each character truly brought them to life.

Thank you so much for this copy to review! I knew I was very entertained when I first read Finlay's story but I was glad for the refresher. I thought this was such a fun read that didn't take itself too seriously. I enjoyed Finlay's antics, her romantic problems and reading Vero making her ex-husband uncomfortable. On to the next!

Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this eARC! I really enjoyed the storyline and found myself super invested in the characters. It’s a great pace and keeps you interested while not rushing through things. I look forward to reading the rest of them!