Romance with a twist! This was fun -- while the romance wasn't the sole focus of the story, it didn't fully take a backseat, either. This was part-romance, part regular ol' contemporary fiction. The FMC did get on my nerves a bit occasionally, but I think that was sort of the point -- that her true crime obsession doesn't really make her the easiest person to be around (or read about) at times.

A serial killer reference laden romance with a plus size heroine who lives next door to a hot (and suspicious) neighbor.

Phoebe has so much to unpack - her estranged fathers death, a broken friendship with her childhood bestie and a lot of commitment issues. But it’s all done so delicately and with a lot of amazing laughs and spicy moments.

Delightful!

If you like your rom-coms with a twist of true crime paranoia -- this just might be the book for you! Witty, charming, a (somewhat) prickly main character and hijinks. Definitely not for everyone -- didn't quite hit for me, but certainly the perfect book for someone!

Phoebe comes back to her childhood house after her father’s sudden passing away to clean the home to sell it. While staying at her childhood home, she encounters her neighbor Sam who offers to help her out with minor tasks. Phoebe is writing her dissertation on the relationship between people and true crime so OBVIOUSLY her first thought goes to that he is a serial killer. But as she spends more time with him, she realizes he’s something more dangerous than a killer… he may just be the person to steal her heart.

Ok I loved Love in the Time of Serial Killers. It was adorable, witty, funny, and romantic all in one. And it had serial killer references (score!). As a person who is fascinated by true crime, this book was right up my alley. I loved the little references that were talked about throughout the book. It was great.

The references sometimes felt like a lot. In that if you didn’t know them, you would have to look them up and it would take you out of the story. I didn’t really have this problem (as I am a true crime fan), but I could see how many people could need to pause their reading to look something up.

This was a very typical rom-com, which was nice. There were no surprises and I could just sit back and enjoy the story. If you’re into that, you’ll love Love in the Time of Serial Killers. If not, this one may not be for you.

All the characters are very relatable and the author brings in real life experiences in this story, which made it feel really authentic. I never felt that this story was outlandish or unbelievable, which I absolutely loved.

Phoebe and Sam’s relationship was adorable. I love how different they were from each other. Phoebe is this awesome PhD candidate who was obsessed with serial killers and only dated casually. Sam is a music teacher with a heart of gold who wanted real romance.

I love how much Phoebe and Sam respected each other and focused on getting to know each other. If you prefer books where the characters get to know each other for a while before hopping in bed (a.k.a. Slow burn) this is the book for you!

The thing I loved most about Sam and Pheobe though was how mature they were. This made me feel like I was reading a real romance. I love mature, self-aware characters. And the author did a GREAT job at writing realistic and mature adults.

in conclusion

Overall, if you like rom-cons and true crime, you MUST read this book. I highly highly recommend. It was a very fun read and I can’t wait to read other books by this author!

This book was fantastic. Phoebe was one of those main characters that I got really attached to and am sad the book is over because I will miss them! I love stories about coming home and healing.

I'm so excited to moderate a panel with Alicia on it at the Tucson Festival of Books!

Didn't know how much I needed this but I did and I loved it.

It was a good start, but the family stuff lost me a bit in the middle. I think overall the book was funny and had good representation. Often times the main character was unlikeable. It was easy to finish though. Strong rom-com.

A witty and charming romcom starring a woman with way too much true crime in her brain, and a suspicious neighbor... hijinks are abound.

I am an Alicia Thompson fangirl for life! I adored this smart, wry, romantic story, and absolutely loved watching it all unfold through Phoebe's point of view. A truly gorgeous book.

Love in the time of Serial Killers features Phoebe, a North Carolina graduate student, who is summoned to Florida to help her younger brother empty their deceased father's house. Phoebe is finishing her dissertation on true crime and plans to spend free time in Florida working on the final chapters. Phoebe, soon develops a crush on her father's next door neighbor, Sam, an elementary music teacher. Fighting her commitment issues, her work load, and the piles of stuff in her father's house, Phoebe begins a romance with Sam. The novel is about the impact of divorce on relationships, with the backdrop Phoebe's interest in serial killers. The novel is set in Florida with mention of Sarasota, Sunrise, and Disneyworld, but there is little more to classify this novel as a Florida book. Recommended for a long weekend read.

"Love in the Time of Serial Killers" takes a unique spin on the complexities of love and obsession, blending true crime with a contemporary romance narrative. Phoebe Walsh, a true crime enthusiast, finds herself navigating the challenges of modern dating while grappling with personal and familial issues. The novel cleverly weaves humor and heart, exploring Phoebe's idiosyncrasies and her unconventional suspicions about her neighbor, Sam Dennings. The character dynamics, especially Phoebe's interactions with her younger brother and her evolving relationship with Sam, add depth and authenticity to the story. While the premise is quirky, the novel manages to deliver a delightful and heartwarming exploration of love in unexpected places.

This romcom is a must read for everyone who lives in the cross section of romance and true crime! I felt seen by the heroine's anxieties around being a serial killer's next victim and the banter between the two leads was so fun!

For the month of February, my book club (Shoutout to the Moody Readers!) decided to read this book. We were excited for romance meets creepy, but most of us felt it didn't quite measure up to our hopes.

As far as the crime or the romance goes, it didn't deliver too much on either category - but there were a lot of laugh out loud funny moments. Phoebe was an interesting character, but kind of annoying and frustrating at times.

It was cute, but it wasn't my favorite. 3 stars.

*Gifted by Netgalley/Berkley - thank you! All opinions are my own.

A fresh take on the romcom genre, LITTOSK follows Phoebe who is ultra paranoid that her charming new neighbour is planning to kill her. Perfect for todays modern world obsession with true crime podcasts and shows. I didn’t like how insensitive Phoebe could be at times, but overall a great read with a wonderful romance at its core.

I love true crime as much as the next girl and when I saw this book I knew it was a must read. The pacing of it was well done, I was never bored and the story didn't drag on. Phoebe not trusting Sam and being on high alert from the beginning was relatable! It made me laugh and like her immediatly. It was fun going on the ride with her and not being able to tell if he was a killer and being suspicious but also really liking him!

Ok, I have some gripes with this book:
1) Phoebe clearly needs therapy. She is hysterical and paranoid and kind of insensitive and rude. For someone who does so much overthinking, she surely doesn't think before she speaks.
2) Sam deserves better. He was nothing but honest and vulnerable with her the entire time and she stomped all over his heart, only to <spoiler>find him waiting for her like an abandoned puppy</spoiler>.
3) Why was she so weird about the cat? Especially after admitting she WANTED a cat. Very strange for a 30 year old to be having their first cat interaction at 30, but ok?
4) There needed to be more suspense, or serial killers, for a book titled "Love in the Time of Serial Killers". Phoebe suspected Sam of being a serial killer for like, a few days. I thought that was going to be a much heavier plot point. It would've been more entertaining, for sure. Why wasn't there a side mystery? Or maybe she could've found out her dad was a serial killer or something? I don't know. It just needed... more.

Overall, it was an easy and addictive read and kept me engaged. Obviously with romance, you know what's going to happen in the end. But I do have to say, I was not rooting for Phoebe. She really needs to get her shiz together.

Quite frankly, the best thing about this book was the cover.
Not a terrible romance novel, but there was nothing innovative or original about it. The main character's obsession with serial killers and true crime gets repetitive to the point of being annoying and that's the novel's only point of difference with other romance books.

This was a fun read! I found myself cracking up often and really loved the brother/sister relationship in this book. I love the way Sam just lets phoebe be and tries to meet her more than halfway to understand how much she means to him! This was a quick read!!

I thought this book was meh at best. The main female lead was INSUFFERABLE. Her internal monologues went on and on. I just found her to be emotionally stunted and intentionally, emotionally unavailable. For a large portion of the book, Phoebe's dark outlook on life and romance was due to her unresolved trauma stemming from her parents' divorce. I understand that, but I could not bring myself to empathize with someone who does not acknowledge their trauma and expects a HEA. I do admire her persistence writing her dissertation and graduating from her grad program. The only things I did like were Sam, the love interest, and Lenore, the stray cat Phoebe takes in. Sam's character is not the typical one of contemporary romance. He's a bit on the shy side, emotionally mature, and a nice dude. I honestly wanted Sam with a different character with little emotionally baggage. While there was conflict, that could have been resolved with some communication, the ending was pretty much what I expected. There were some scenes that showed some character growth for Phoebe. However, the girl needs therapy. There was not much resolution of said trauma that satisfied me.

Talk about paranoid.

Phoebe Walsh is obsessed with all things true crime. It’s even the subject of her dissertation. The problem is, because of her obsession she suspects everyone she meets of being a serial killer. Which, of course, doesn’t bode well for romantic relationships.

So when her new neighbor, Sam, offers to help move a desk into her family home late one night, in his bare feet, Phoebe knows he’s up to no good and is probably out to kill her. And it doesn’t matter that he’s handsome, kind, or that her heart speeds up at the mere sight of him. In her mind, he’s a murderer – and no way will she cave into the attraction and be involved with the next Jack the Ripper.

Sure. Whatever you say, Phoebe.

Being a romance novel, there’s not a whole lot of surprises in the pages of Alicia Thompson’s "Love in the Time of Serial Killers." We know how the story will go. But the fact that I loved it as much as I did caught me unawares, along with the amount of depth there is to Phoebe’s character.

Phoebe is complicated. She’s sensitive and insecure but also an abrasive asshole, all because she has impenetrable walls around her heart and doesn’t know how to be vulnerable. And poor Sam, she makes things so hard for him. She pulls him towards her and then pushes him away, time and again. But it’s all part of their connection and the chemistry between them.

Speaking of chemistry, the love scenes are very, VERY open-door and graphic. I wouldn’t say the book is pornmance, but it comes close. Just a heads up.

Thompson’s next novel, "With Love, from Cold World," is set to publish in August 2023. Lucky for me, I already have a DRC, and you can bet I’ll be reading it. Thanks, Berkley!


My sincerest appreciation to Alicia Thompson, Berkley, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.