This was a fun one! Phoebe is an English PhD student specializing in true crime who has been called back to Florida to clean out her deceased father’s house. Her first night there she runs across her dad’s neighbor Sam and takes an instant suspicious disliking to him (it may have something to do with her area of research). As she and her brother work on cleaning their father’s house and Phoebe works on her dissertation, Sam and Phoebe’s relationship flourishes.

Things I liked:
Fat heroine where self esteem wasn’t a thing! Academic/nerdy background. Non-binary side character.

Things I didn’t like:
I wish Phoebe’s relationship/thoughts about her parents were a little more developed. I know that’s not what the book was about but it just felt a little left out for me.

I would definitely recommend this to a customer for some fun rom com with an edge!

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Out August 16, 2022 [Thank you so much to Love ARCtually Book Club and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!]

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Graduate student and true crime scholar Phoebe Walsh isn’t looking for a relationship when she returns to her childhood home in Florida after her father’s death. But when she begins to suspect her neighbor of being a serial killer, she just might find that love can be even scarier than murder.

This has been one of my most anticipated reads of the year for a while now, so I was ecstatic to get the chance to read it as part of Love Arctually book club! Fortunately, it lived up to all of my expectations. First, it’s possibly the funniest rom-com I will read all year, even though it also manages to tackle some deep and meaningful topics along the way. Second, all the characters are great, but there is a cat named Lenore who has my *entire* heart. And finally, framing everything through true crime was brilliant and so unique. If you told me Alicia Thompson has an ACTUAL PhD in the topic I would 100% believe you—I want to read Phoebe’s dissertation, honestly.

Of course, you can’t review a rom-com without mentioning the romance, and I thought this one was pitch perfect strangers-to-lovers/he-falls-first vibes. Sam is an adorable sweetheart and I love him. In short, if you like rom-coms you need to read this one, and if you also love thrillers/true crime you are destined to love this even more.

Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: true crime but make it romance; guy-falls-first romance; cats as supporting cast.

CW: Death of a loved one; suggestions of domestic abuse/emotional abuse; mentions of suicidal thoughts; discussions of serial killers/murder (all off-page).

This book features a fat protagonist studying true crime for her doctoral thesis; a dorky, attractive neighbor; a rekindled childhood friendship; and the rescue of a street cat (later named Lenore)... but without all of the true crime facts Phoebe can recite from memory, the driving plot of the novel just fell flat. Phoebe realizing her father was a three-dimensional human was expected. The third-act upset that broke apart our lovers felt true-to-life, but then only served to springboard Phoebe's change of heart and her inevitable reunion with Sam. While I enjoyed the book, I kept having to think, "would I even be reading this if the novel was pitched as anything other than 'romance for people who love true crime'?" The answer was no.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was a weird one for me. I really liked the summary and honestly, the cover and the title alone are eye-catching and worthy of your attention, at least enough to pick this book up and see what it is about. I just don't think I liked Phoebe enough as a character for me to truly enjoy this book. I understand where Phoebe's paranoia comes from, the way that she analyzes and perceives strangers due to her studies and work, but the unjustified rudeness to Sam, in the beginning, was just jarring. especially because then it's supposed to become some kind of "enemies to lovers" romance when there was really no real reason for them to be "enemies" in the first place.

That being said, there is no real plot, even as far as romance books go. It's great for people who love true crime junkies and slow-burn romance. I could see its attempt at being almost satirical and not taking itself too seriously, and while it had its funny moments, I think it got lost trying to determine what kind of book it wanted to be. I still enjoyed the book, though, and I would recommend it to only a select number of people—particularly romance readers who like romance just for the fun of it.

3 stars.

The more I read, the less I enjoyed it. Phoebe, the main character, is so dark and unlikable. The premise is cute, but there is that special something that’s missing. And once the inevitable happens, at around 60%, the rest is just really boring. F bombs and other vulgarities strewn around too. I get this is a contemporary romance, but it’s disappointing.

3.5/5
This story follows Phoebe, a closed-off Ph.D. candidate working on her dissertation paper that feeds her obsession with true crime. After her father passes away months prior, it becomes Phoebe and her brother Conner's responsibility to get his house ready to sell. Phoebe decides to move into the home for the time being, where she meets her neighbor Sam, an elementary school music teacher. Phoebe automatically thinks he's some serial killer for no apparent reasoning besides her vast true crime knowledge and paranoia. After She gets to know Sam, Phoebe and he quickly forms a bond that is only meant to end in heartbreak after the summer ends.

This was such a cute romance that gives relatable characters and feelings. Phoebe is known to be cold and closed off due to her parent's bitter marriage and ultimate divorce in her childhood. Sam is a very shy and sweet golden-retriever MC that is so enjoyable to read about.

The best way to describe this would be a "no plot, just vibes" book but make it romance. The story got a little repetitive sometimes; I wanted to see more relationship development. It felt the romance between Phoebe and Sam came out of nowhere at the climax. However, I did enjoy reading this story as it was still a solid romance due to the individual characters and writing style displayed.

This title drew me in from the get-go. What's the saying--men fear being rejected, women fear being killed? Unfortunately, a true statement in this day and age, and heroine Phoebe's general distrust of men, bordering on paranoia, is a remarkably relatable trait. But Phoebe has more reason to be wary than most; she's a PhD student studying true crime. And nothing scares you off dating like true crime. So she's pretty sure her new neighbor Sam is a serial killer... or maybe he's just a really nice guy who's into her. Hard to say.

I'm not sure that description made clear this is a romantic comedy, but I promise it is. Phoebe's paranoia is humorous, and her ultimate connection with Sam is palpable. I loved the in-depth look we got at Phoebe's dissertation and dissertation process. Beneath the true crime veneer, this is really just a charming love story in modern times, and I enjoyed it immensely.

Thanks to Berkley for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

A contemporary romance with some spunky, sweet characters!

A different spin on meeting the neighbor!

I'm not a big romance reader, but I wanted to meet the true-crime obsessed character of PhD candidate Phoebe Walsh.

Phoebe is mourning her father who she had a disconnected relationship with, moving into her childhood home for the summer to get it ready to sell, while side eyeing all the neighbors. She is so often reading about grisley murders and serial killers that she can't help feeling a bit paranoid about strangers!

Recommend if you enjoy eccentric love stories, true crime obsession and loveable characters!

If you love true crime and romance, this one is for you. All the characters in this story are loveable and relatable, especially Pheobe. Her vulnerability and "hard inside" are something I can relate to, including thinking a friendly man who is up in the middle of the night to help her might be a serial killer... until she gets to know him better!

In the wise words of the author (via annotated ARC) Phoebe goes on an endearing journey to discover “not everything has to be turned into a monster.”

Love in the time of serial killers was an absolutely hilarious and charming read. I loved the witty banter, true crime references, and intriguing characters. Phoebe and Sam are a quirky and lovable couple, with such great chemistry, that had me giddy everytime they were together. I found Phoebe to be such a relatable character, she carries emotional scars from her childhood traumas that has her self sabotaging her relationships. Something like that is such a relatable aspect that some of us do in our lives when we are scared and to have it a driving force in a book makes it such an important and complex plot. LITTOSK is a perfect book for readers who love romance, love true crime, and want a complex and heartwarming plot.

Topes:
grumpy sarcastic girl/ shy loveable guy
Forced proximity

Absolutely loved this book! Please check it out when it comes out August 16!

This story was different than I thought it would be based on the title but it was definitely enjoyable. The main character, Phoebe, is writing her dissertation on true crime and thus has a focus on serial killers. Her father has passed away and she is venturing back home to help clear out his house. An encounter with their next door neighbor, Sam, at 2am makes her wondering if he might be a serial killer. She quickly realizes this probably is not the case. However, it is very clear that Phoebe is not the best at maintaining relationships of any kind and has essentially closed herself off. I thoroughly enjoyed the friendship she has with her brother and I liked seeing Phoebe evolve as a character.

I listened to a podcast recently about how the obsession with true crime podcasts has caused an uptick in paranoia, especially in young women (a big portion of true crime listenership) and nothing makes that more obvious than this novel.

Within the first section of the book (before Phoebe mentally lowers the likelihood that Sam is a murdered down from 80% to a cool 45%), I was consistently annoyed by how rude she was to him. I get that it's the point -- she's paranoid because of all of the true crime reading -- but I've recently discovered that I'm not a huge fan of enemies-to-lovers style romance.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this for someone who loves true crime *and* romance, or for someone who just enjoys a little bit of a slower burn romance with a protagonist who is still learning to understand herself and her relationship to others.

this book started off really fun and interesting but then i got kinda bored because there wasn’t really a plot. i liked phoebe and sam together they were so funny and the book was funny i just couldn’t find myself staying interested.

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!

I am a big fan of true crime, and I was so excited to read “Love in the Time of Serial Killers.” Ms. Thompson’s creative storyline was funny, emotional and full of surprises. Phoebe is witty, brilliant and made me laugh with her in your face attitude. I loved the family dynamics she has with her brother Conner, and Sam’s shyness made their romance even more enjoyable. Phoebe was her own person whose sole focus was finishing her dissertation and securing a teaching position. She tends to guard her heart when it comes to commitment, but meeting Sam definitely changed her mind about love.

Phoebe loves shocking people with her vast knowledge of true crime statistics. Not everyone has the stomach for Ted Bundy photos or crime scene diagrams. Phoebe’s love of true crime keeps her mind occupied with the macabre, dark alleys and strangers in the night, and I found it hilarious that Phoebe thought Sam was a serial killer.
Sam may be as shy as Phoebe, but that didn’t stop him from confessing his feelings and pouring his heart out to her. Sam would do anything or go anywhere for Phoebe, but did she feel the same way about him? Phoebe desperately wanted to find her place in the world. Was it in Florida with Sam, so she could also be close to her brother? Will Phoebe receive an offer she can’t refuse and put her desk back on the roof of her Camry, and ride off into the sunset?

➜ next-door neighbors/forced proximity
➜ slow burn
➜ rom-com
➜ sunshine/grump where SHE’S the grump
➜ pop-culture references
➜ true crime references
➜ lovable side characters
➜ for fans of ‘Beach Read’ by Emily Henry

This was a fun twist on your regular ol’ contemporary romance. Boy meets girl. Boy goes about his life as usual. Girl is somehow convinced he’s a serial killer. A tale as old as time, you know?

This book was sweet and clever and a little bit morbid, and it was funny without being obnoxious about it. The true crime elements are contained to Phoebe’s PhD research, so this book is more about her struggles as she returns to her hometown in the wake of her father’s death and her slowly-blooming romance with her father’s neighbor, Sam. And honestly? I’d almost consider Sam to be a side character here. The romance arc is a total slow burn and isn’t necessarily even the main focus of the plot until the end of the book.

Phoebe’s character spoke to me. As someone who’s been consuming true crime media since I was admittedly way too young, I also oftentimes find myself paranoid and side-eyeing people for completely inane reasons, lest they catch me unaware and murder me, because I am NOT about to end up on a true crime podcast where a couple of middle-aged women with cutesy nicknames for their fans delve into the horrific details of my demise in between ads for Hello Fresh and Talkspace.

This was a fun take on the modern day contemporary romance. I love when we get something off the beaten path! I liked the little bit of unconventional we got both in the story and between the couple. The title is a little bit misleading because I did go into it with a different mindset than I think I needed to have. Also, while I think all of the pop culture references will really tickle some readers, it turned me off. I found that there were too many of them, far too often, and I think it will date this book quickly.

Loved the humor, the chemistry between Sam and Phoebe, and I saw a lot of myself in her. The hard-hearted, true-crime-obsessed, don't-let-anyone-too-close mentality is something I hide behind a lot too, so I found it refreshing to see that depicted on the page. There were so many lines I've thought myself, it was like looking in a mirror. Super cute, super realistic, highly recommend.

phoebe and sam? ENDGAME

First of all, I want to be friends with Phoebe. She has such a cool, take-no-shit personality with a soft side hidden somewhere in that big, beautiful and smart brain of hers. Honestly, the way she lets out all her thoughts without a care? TAKING NOTES. I LOVE HER. Also, the character development and the the way she deals with grief, along with all her personal and academic struggles was so reassuring to read. It was relatable on some levels and I appreciate how we can actually see her working through her emotions, untangling those bottled up feelings and becoming more open to the idea of love and just letting things happen.

Sam is just a doll. A music elementary teacher? Great with kids? Patient? An attentive listener? Caring? Genuine and kind? He is the blueprint. He was so gentle with Phoebe from the START and even after everything, he remained just as patient and caring as he has been.

This novel is perfect for true crime junkies and hopeless romantics (also capricons)

Thank you for this ARC, Netgalley and PRH International, in exchange for an honest review! #PRHInternationalPartner

This was a hilarious, slow burn, quirky romance with the perfect amount of steam, and all the true crime & pop culture refrences. This such a cozy romance & it’s the perfect read to curl up and read on a rainy day. I really loved how there is also a big focus on healing & self growth for the heroine, Phoebe. She travels to Florida after her estranged father passes away, & she is to help clean out his home with her estranged younger brother. Phoebe is obsessed with anything true crime & is a little paranoid at times, especially when her next door neighbor offers to help her carry the heavy furniture she was just asking google about how to carry. He could very well be another Zodiac Killer or a Ted Bundy for all she knew. Little did she know that Sam is actually the sweetest cinnamon roll of a man. & Although she doesn’t have to worry about protecting herself from the fact that he could be a serial killer, she does have to protect herself for falling for the sweetheart that will peel through all her layers, directly to her heart.

If you love true crime, dorky & witty romance, with some steam, this one is for you!


You can expect:

* Slow Burn
* Pop Culture References
* Witty Banter
* Cruvy Prickly Heroine
* Cinnamon Roll Hero
* Open Door Romance
* Neighbor Romance
* Lots of True Crime References
* Sunshine/Grump