I don't know what style I was expecting going into this book, but I found myself kind of surprised by what I found. Honestly, if the description speaks to you, you should pick it up and check it out.

2.5

I have some thoughts about this one. This was one of my most anticipated reads and I'm sad to say that it felt like a little bit of a letdown. Usually, thrillers that involve serial killers or the "do they have the right guy" trope are really fun... and right up my alley. This one, however, felt quite bland and repetitive. In addition to that, it was incredibly predictable and I had the entire plot figured out the second someone other than the main characters was introduced.

Diving in a little bit deeper now: I actually enjoyed a bit of this book. I liked the delusional main character to an extent - though her shtick got old very fast. I really liked the unreliable feeling that I got from reading her perspective... it just felt very surface level and I think it would've been fun to see that aspect of the story expand past what it was. The delusion was repetitive and really didn't add as much to this story as I was hoping it would.

I also found the vocabulary usage in this book to be quite pretentious. I don't think I have ever looked up the definition of SO many words for one book. While I know there is supposed to be an air of sophistication in parts of this book, the main character (who happens to be the one narrating this entire book), makes it a point to show us that she is clearly not of that level of sophistication. So the usage of such vocabulary seems very out of place.

Aside from that, there are three things that really sunk my rating:

1. the "thriller" aspect, or lack-thereof: This felt like more of an attempt at dark romance more than anything else. While yes, there was mystery involved at some points, it seemed a lot more focused on dark and sexual obsession with murder/being murdered. I don't mind a little bit of smut in my reads, this one just seemed to have a bit too much for a book whose genres were listed as "general adult fiction" and "mystery/thriller."

2. the pacing: Why does everything of any importance happen within the last 30 minutes of this book? It kind of felt like everything and nothing was happening at the same time. I wouldn't say this book was slow, but I was worried toward the end that it wasn't going to wrap up as nicely as I would like it to... and I was correct in that assumption. It was rushed and last minute.

3. the twist and ending: As I stated earlier, this was incredibly predictable. You could see the twist coming a mile away even if you are not an avid thriller reader. Everything about it felt lackluster and bland - with the smut thrown in just to give some sort of shock factor.

Unfortunately this one was just not for me. Which is a bummer because the premise was so good... until it wasn't.

Thank you to Berkley, Tasha Coryell, and Netgalley for the gifted copy of this book.

This was a slow start read but toward the end it picked up speed. It was an interesting premise - an inside look at a girl who writes letters to an accused serial killer. When I read, I like to be absorbed in the story the author has created. This requires a smooth, well-constructed plot with compelling characters and captivating descriptions. In that regard, this book was a bit uneven. There were points in the plot that literally made me roll my eyes (although some of that could have just been the fact that I really didn’t like the main character). But there were other points where I was completely sucked in. The ending, though, was pretty predictable.

In short, this book had a lot of potential that wasn’t quite fully realized.

3.5 ⭐️ rounded to 4.

Love Letter to a Serial Killer by Tessa Coyrell presents a unique exploration of self-worth and obsession, blurring the lines between fascination and horror. The main character, Hannah, is working at a job she is not happy with and has just gotten dumped by a man that treated her like dirt but she is still obsessing over. Hannah's cringeworthy demeanor, while intentional for the narrative, can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. Her extreme lack of confidence leads her down a path of seeking validation from a serial killer, despite the warnings from her best friend and coworker. I found myself wanting to only read this book during the day due to the anxiety of all of her choices.

The relationship between Hannah and William felt extremely superficial, but I've never had a relationship with an accused serial killer... so maybe that was the point. There were some spicy-ish scenes described for those sensitive to reading those (although it's a book about falling in love with an accused serial killer, so sex scenes are probably not the risqué parts of this book).

While the premise was intriguing, the ending fell short for me. It felt rushed and the last few pages were cliché. The overall book does offer an interesting perspective on obsession and self-worth, so I would recommend it.

Many thanks to @netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group @berkleypub for allowing me to read this eARC. The opinions presented in this review are my own.
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⭐ 4 / 5
🌶️ 2 / 5

I made myself take a few days before writing my review. I needed time to separate my feelings about the protagonist from my feelings regarding the story as whole.

I think it’s reasonable to assume that most authors hope to evoke strong emotions in their readers, hopefully, the kinds that stick with them long after they turn the last page. In this endeavor, Tasha Coryell, was quite successful. A well-written protagonist is not obligated to make us adore her and Hannah definitely left me with….feelings - cringey, ick-ick, second-hand embarrassment, feel like I need to take a shower, feelings. I haven’t experienced that level of ‘uncomfortable cringe’ since the Scott’s Tots episode of The Office (Season 6, Episode 12). If you know, you know, am I right?

Hannah is unsatisfied with her life - her career, her romantic relationships, her friends who seem to keep getting married and fading away. She feels stuck and is wondering how exactly she got here. Then she catches the true crime bug, she finds an online community forum discussing and trying to solve the case of several murdered women in Atlanta. When a lawyer is arrested for the crimes, Hannah channels her dissatisfaction and anger by writing letters to the accused serial killer and is surprised when he writes back. They begin regular correspondence. When they begin to develop feelings for each other, Hannah decides to leave everything behind and travel to Atlanta to support him during his trial.

The concept of this story is interesting and I don’t think I have read anything with this perspective before. There were a couple parts where the pacing seemed to drag a little but overall the flow kept my attention. I guess you could call it a mystery, I felt like the “big reveal” was obvious pretty early on. I agree with many other reviewers, I wish certain details weren’t included in the blub because they gave away things that could otherwise have been little surprises along the way. Thriller? It is unsettling to be sure. I had so much anxiety being in Hannah’s head and experiencing her decisions and consequences that it gave me heart palpitations. So, I think that probably counts as thriller material.

Do I find Hannah insufferable? Yes. Hypocritical? Yes. Do I kind of understand where she is coming from…maybe just a little? Also, yes. Feeling stagnant or lost without direction in your own life sucks. I am willing to bet nearly all of us have had some experience with this at some point in our lives. As I read, I began to ponder why exactly I had such strong feelings about Hannah. What about her or her actions made me the most uncomfortable? What internal biases am I bringing to my interpretation and judgement of her?

The novel openly examines the polarizing discussion behind “those women” who fall in love with serial killers. I think it also opens a broader dialog on many issues including societal expectations of women and femmes, unrealistic and harmful beauty standards, patriarchal attitudes toward sex and relationship roles, violence against women and femmes, internalized sexism, and how women and femmes judge and treat other women and femmes.

Tasha Coryell took a unique spin on the mystery/thriller with a side of romance. She created an antihero-type character who I anticipate will generate some strong, opposing opinions in readers. I cornered many of my friends and family to tell them my feelings on this book, so I would call Love Letters to a Serial Killer: P.S. Please Don’t Kill Me a successful debut novel, even if it did make me want to shrink down into my sweatshirt like a turtle.

P.S. I strongly support Hannah finding herself a really good therapist. There is at least a 65% chance I will be discussing this book with mine 😉

3.5 ⭐️
Tell me you have ADHD without telling me you have ADHD. Meet Hannah the walking symptom checker for ADHD who finds herself literally in the arms of a serial killer. Hannah settled for a job after completing college with a degree her parents told her would never land her a job. She struggles to build and maintain relationships because she clearly struggles with rejection sensitive dysphoria. She’s constantly worried about meeting the right guy yet constantly questions her self worth and wrestles with her self-esteem. She forces herself into whatever her partner wants her to be. After discovering a series of women have been murdered she becomes hyper focused, losing all sense of time and responsibility, on trying to solve these murders with other online sluthers. When the killer is caught Hannah can’t give up her fixation with the man who is charged with these killings. Hannah falls into a spiral of impulsivity when she loses her job, uproots her life and moves across the country to pursue her dream man. Is he truly the man of her dreams or just a serial killer she can’t let go? She makes it her mission to find out everything there is to know about him and his family as she strives to find all the answers she desperately needs before it’s too late. Will she be the next victim or ride off in the sunset with her Prince Charming? Truly an out of the box love story with a dash of murder.

Main character Hannah has a dead-end job, money struggles, and weakening relationships with her parents, friends, and the men in her life. When she stumbles on a true crime forum dedicated to discussions and speculations surrounding the 4 dead bodies recently discovered in a nearby ravine and the man accused of killing them, Hannah finds purpose. Using all of her spare time (and even some work time…), Hannah becomes obsessed with the case - the victims AND the accused killer, William. She begins to write William in prison - what starts as hate mail and an outlet for her emotions turns into something else entirely when William replies, and the two start to become close. When William is acquitted and released, him and Hannah try to navigate the world as a “regular couple” - except Hannah can’t let go of the investigation and the twisted feelings that originally attracted her to William. She’s out to find the truth, even if it will result in her as the next victim.
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Okay honestly loved this! Disclaimer: I fully realize that main character Hannah is very flawed and messed up… but that’s the point. It’s such a unique story and clever take on the obsession with true crime & attraction to serial killers in America (yuck). I did guess the twist pretty early, but it still held my interest. There are definitely some things that had me rolling my eyes a bit, but if you just take it for what it is and can put aside some unrealistic aspects, it’s a really fun read.

An interesting story that kept my attention throughout. The main character is truly insufferable, but she's meant to be and it works well with the structure and plotlines.

The main character, Hannah, is a train wreck that you can’t look away from. Hannah does not make one single good decision in this book, and I couldn’t put it down. I was enthralled in the story and had to know what was going to happen.

It is amazing how Hannah attempts to rationalize the decisions she is making. Write letters to an accused serial killer? Sure! And that’s just the start.

The book really does paint a picture about how obsessed people can be with true crime and what could happen when they take it to an extreme.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This was an interesting book that did not disappoint. This books follows Hannah and William. One letter changed everything for Hannah when she thought she wouldn't receive a letter back. It was very intriguing to see the different twists and turns that took place in the book. I haven't read anything like this before which drew me more into the book. If you are looking for a thriller that isn't like your typical thriller then check this book out!

This was a fun read that had a fun pacing to it. I can see this become big on Tik Tok among slasher and romance audiences.

With the comps to Promising Young Woman, I was looking forward to a nuanced story of revenge, but I couldn't help being distracted by the intense, awkward objectification of women (especially bartenders?) that was everywhere in this story. Maybe I am missing something and this is more feminist than I thought it was, but the way women were talked about fell flat for me.

Thank you to netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for allowing me to read this book. My dark heart enjoyed this book.

Darkly funny and delightfully twisted, Love Letters to a Serial Killer is a different kind of thriller. Our narrator, Hannah, is self-involved and voyeuristic in the way that we often pretend not to be in the event of a salacious crime. Spurned by her latest situationship and feeling adrift, Hannah decides to shake up her aimless millennial existence by writing to the man accused of murdering several women in town. She is surprised when he ends up responding with the level of interest and vulnerability she had been looking for from her previous dates (don’t we all want to be asked about our favorite candle scents and Taylor Swift song?) However, it appears that the more she learns about this man and his family, the less she actually knows.

I am pretty sure this is gonna be the next big mini series. I've done zero googling but I would be very surprised if this stays in book format - It has all the elements needed for an engaging and interesting story.

I don't think the point is for Hannah to be likeable or relatable. The reason she finds herself in this situation (obsessed with an accused serial killer, writing him letters, attending his trial) is precisely because she is a deeply troubled person. She is not very self aware and there seems to be hints that we as readers are seeing through some of her one sided narrative by the descriptions and actions of those surrounding her. At times, I almost had the sense that the author was winking at us, in a this-girl-is-cra sort of way.

While reading, I described the book as akin to a car crash where you are compelled to stare and see what happens. A very addictive story with good writing, although it was hard to be in Hannah's mess of anxious thoughts for any length of time. And phew, what a finale.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Tasha Coryell for this ARC.

This was an interesting read, I picked it up because of the title. The storyline kept me on edge, I was constantly trying to figure out what would happen next. I did not expect the plot twists, or the direction the story was heading at all, which I loved!!

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves their romance with a side of mystery and characters with wonderfully questionable intentions.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this. I was so excited for this read. The description fit right into what I like and I had high expectations. Unfortunately this was a DNF at about 54%. I just could not get into it. The main character was completely boring and the first half of this book just dragged on with nothing exciting happening.

2.5/2.75 - writing a book where the main character kinda sucks is a bold decision, as it’s a fine line to tow. the main character is enthralled by the idea of dating a serial killer, and honestly she’s utterly insufferable. however, this book has to be satire… right? It doesn’t take itself seriously, so thankfully you know she’s supposed to suck but it just didnt hit in the way i was hoping. I will say, it’s a unique premise and I give the author props for venturing into the mind of a chronically online, unhinged, “I can fix him” type woman but ultimately the book just wasn’t for me

thank you NetGalley and Berkeley for the eARC

This was a good book overall. The main female character to me was unlikeable but still a well rounded character. The twist at the end was a good surprise.

Title: A Gripping Tale of Obsession: Love Letters to a Serial Killer

Love Letters to a Serial Killer by Tasha Coryell is a captivating story that kept me hooked from start to finish. It's all about Hannah, who gets really obsessed with a serial killer.

Right from the beginning, Coryell pulls you into Hannah's world. She's totally fixated on this killer guy, and it's kind of scary but also really fascinating to see how deep her obsession goes.

What makes this book special is how Coryell shows us Hannah's feelings in such a real way. You can't help but get caught up in her messed-up emotions as she gets more and more wrapped up in this dangerous crush.

As the story goes on, Coryell keeps you guessing and feeling tense. You're always wondering what's going to happen next between Hannah and the killer. It's like you're right there with them, feeling all the drama and suspense.

And Coryell's writing is just really good. She paints a picture of this creepy world where obsession rules everything. It feels like you're right there, experiencing it all alongside Hannah.

Overall, Love Letters to a Serial Killer is a gripping book that'll keep you on the edge of your seat. If you like stories about obsession and dark twists, you won't want to miss this one. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good, intense read.