Huh. This one was not quite what I was expecting based on the blurb. Didn’t read satire to me. More zany premise with some less zany underpinnings. Not a favorite for me didn’t quite know what it wanted to be.

Omg was this fun. I loved books centered around novelists and the publishing industry. Add some murder into that and you've got yourself a perfect book! The agent character was great. This book was fun and thrilling and filled with hijinks reminiscent of Finley Donovan. Highly recommend this book to anyone wanting a good time. I finished this book in a day because I couldn't put it down. Can't wait to read more from this author.

I think there was a bit of a misalignment between what I thought this book was (a sort of madcap adventure where two friends turn some bad luck into inspiration) and what it actually is (more of an introspective meditation on success and creating art with stressful felonies on top). This probably dampened my overall enjoyment since I went in looking for something light and got something much heavier and serious instead.

This is all to say that this wasn't the right book for me at the time, but I think it will work for anyone looking for a protagonist to cheer on after they make some truly bad decisions.

The novel follows David Alvarez, a once-successful writer whose debut novel was a hit, but his second book flopped. Now struggling with loneliness and financial pressure, David seeks inspiration for his third manuscript. After a night out with a stranger he met on a dating app, David wakes up to find his date dead beside him. Panicked and confused, he turns to his literary agent, Stacey, for help. Together, they navigate the aftermath of the night's events, attempting to cover their tracks while considering how this misadventure could become David's next big story.

This is a twisty, darkly humorous ride that kept me hooked from start to finish. The friendship between Sheila and David was a standout, providing plenty of laughs amid the chaos. I was on the edge of my seat during the scenes where they were dragging a dead body across NYC—it was equal parts nerve-wracking and hilarious! The story wraps up beautifully, and I’m still rooting for a future between David and Jeremy. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves sharp humor and unexpected twists.

I have recommended this to friends but I wasn't the biggest fan, mostly due to the sex. I don't care that it was gay sex, I don't want to read about ANY sex in books.

I Might Be in Trouble by Daniel Aleman is a hilarious and wild ride from start to finish. The story follows David Alvarez, a struggling writer who went from being super successful to completely stuck after his second book flopped. Things get crazy when he has a one-night stand with a guy he meets on a dating app, only to wake up and find the guy dead in his bed. David freaks out and calls his agent, Stacey, to help cover up the mess. As they try to figure out what happened, David also tries to come up with a great idea for his next book. The book mixes comedy, mystery, and drama in a way that makes it really fun to read. David’s panic and the friendship between him and Stacey keep things light and funny, even when the situation is seriously messed up. It’s a quick, entertaining read that’s hard to put down.

Thank you to Daniel Aleman, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Fueled by a hilarious premise and just bursting with hearbreak, I MIGHT BE IN TROUBLE is a deeply successful debut author with a unique POV on modern dating, success, and family.

David Alvarez is somehow both a literary bestseller and, subsequently, a flop by the time he's 30. Now broke, and broken-up with, the young rudderless writer ends up in a chance encounter with the man of his dreams. Only for that man to be dead in his bed the morning after they met. As David learns more about the man who he loved and lost in just 24 hours, he turns to the only confidant he has left--his agent, desperate for him to write another hit. Armed with nothing but gumption and desperation, the two team together to solve the problem of the dead body and, in the process, help David figure out where he must head next if he wants to find love or fame in his writing once more.

No matter how you try and sell this novel, you're bound to underset it: I MIGHT BE IN TROUBLE has the pacing (and some strong plot points) of a thriller, but it's so much more expansive than that genre. It's a thoughtful meditation on how young artists value their success and worth within their art. And, perhaps most successfully, it deeply captures the insecurities of dating and mating, particularly in queer communities. It's wholly funny throughout, though, which makes the ride all the more enjoyable. As Daniel Aleman transitions into writing for adult audiences, he's done something that many aspire to do: He's truly carved his own lane, and it's one that I, and I suspect many of you, will want to ride down with him.

What an interesting blend of genres this book turned out to be. A literary thriller of sorts, with a lot of heart and humor to boot. I must say, this was an engaging and thoroughly entertaining read from start to finish. I found the main character, David, to be an interesting character to focus on; unlike the protagonists of many of the LGBTQ books I've read in recent years. Though there were many bad decisions made by the characters in this book, each choice led me to become more engaged with the story. A true page-turner.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am so thankful to Grand Central Publishing, Daniel Aleman, and Netgalley for granting me advanced access to this gem before it hit shelves on December 3, 2024. I really enjoyed this one and am thankful for the opportunity.

3.25

This is an interesting mix between literary fiction and a thriller; NetGalley labeled it as a satire, but those notes didn't come through as much as I was expecting. Which feels weird to say, because the premise is absurd. David got his first book deal in his early 20s and his debut novel was a smashing success. His second book? Not so much. Now he's desperate for a new idea, recovering from a bad breakup, and questioning who he is if he's not a boyfriend and a successful author. In an attempt to drown his sorrows, he meets up with a stranger from a dating app for a night of debauchery, but instead of a meaningless hookup, it seems like this could be the beginning of something new and important. Until David wakes up the next morning to find his date dead in bed next to him. In a panic, he calls his literary agent, Stacey, instead of the police, and what follows is a series of "Weekend at Bernie's"-eqsue hijinks.

The writing in this was great, and I highlighted a bunch of lines, but overall the story felt a bit meandering, which makes sense since so is David. I didn't end up overly invested in any of the characters, but I did have a good time reading it, and I always find books about books to be interesting, so I enjoyed the bits about publishing and writing. The depiction of a queer 20-something creative trying to find themselves is very thoughtful and well-done, and I think for the right audience this could be a new favorite. For me, it was enjoyable but not life-changing. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I finished this one a while ago, but I needed to think about it before reviewing. This starts out as one of those "thrillers" where the main character makes a series of terrible decisions, then compounds them by making a bunch more terrible decisions. Along the way, however, this turned into another sort of book. There were still a LOT of terrible decisions, and what felt like an awful lot of coincidences (which were revealed later as part of the plot, thank goodness) but somewhere this turned into an exploration of the writing life. I found myself quite engrossed once the story turned to the main character's writing process, I feel like I gained some insight into the creative process, and why writers are so often portrayed as being a bit of a mess. There is a bit more to this one then meets the eye. Stick with it.
Recommend.

I don't think I am the target audience for this book. I had a hard time figuring out if it was trying to be playful, serious or quirky and it seemed to take on all of those moods at times.

It had a great premise and so many things I like. It's about an author and has a book in a book. The idea of waking up next to a dead body and not knowing what happened really hooked me. It even had a weekend at Bernies moment. But then it was also filled with the main character's neurosis of not being good enough in every part of his life, at work, in love, with his family. It might have been a win for me if it practiced the CoCo Chanel saying of when you are finished, take one thing off. It was just a little much for me.

I'm sure there is an audience that will really appreciate this one.

I Might Be In Trouble was one of my most anticipated books of 2024. I had loved Indivisible, and while a completely different genre and mood, it has permanently made Aleman an author to watch.

I Might Be In Trouble follows David, an author with a meteoric debut novel but a sophomore novel that tanked. Out of money and time to find compelling and buzzy story ideas, he goes out for a night on the town and meets Robert. A dizzying, unforgettable night ends with Robert dead in David’s bed. Terrified of the consequences, he calls his only friend: his publishing agent. What follows is a darkly funny series of capers to prevent discovery and write the next great novel.

My Thoughts
The novel provided a peek into one writer’s process, into the publishing world, and into the struggle of writers everywhere to stay relevant in order to keep doing what they love. This was one of my favorite aspects of the novel. The struggle is indeed real.

I related to David’s struggle to find his place within his family, and the conversations he had with his dad were emotionally charged and wrenching.

I would have enjoyed it more if the dark comedy had landed for me, however, the main character’s perspective was tense and anxious and skewed the novel much more serious. Thank goodness for the agent! I also would have liked to see a more pronounced character arc from David as someone who let others make decisions for him that affected him to someone who took charge of his life.

Overall, if this one interests you, I recommend picking it up!

3.5/5 stars (rounded up to four)

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Divas, I LOVE a good comedy of errors. When they’re well done, that alone warrants at least three stars from me, bye I also fell in love with these characters, laughed out loud, and got a little teary eyed.

We’re all lonely and a little bit weird in our own ways, so David was a lovely character to follow through the story. His fear that he’s not good enough for ANY good thing in his life despite having what so many want is so relatable.

Not just a silly romp, but a lot of heart AND a silly romp!

4.5⭐️

What starts out as a lighthearted book about a mysterious death turns into dark comedy of errors and ends as a heartbreaking introspective story about life, family, and loneliness.

Twists and turns that keep you guessing throughout. 3.5 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

David Alvarez takes a date home one night and wakes up to find him dead in his bed. Thus begins the dark comedy thriller, I Might Be in Trouble. David is a writer who is stuck writing his follow-up novel after the first was a big hit. Between that and breaking up with his ex-boyfriend, David is both bankrupt, emotionally and financially. Along with Stacy, his literary agent, David must figure out what to do with the body, while simultaneously realizing that this was a great story idea for his next book.
Primarily, this novel is about David’s loneliness and neuroses that he is just not good enough for his ex or the fame of being a popular author. The book is fun as a quick romp while the two move the body around New York City and the following repercussions. The reader does feel for David’s despair. And the satirical take on the publishing world is worth the read.
There was to my mind too much of the book devoted to David’s inner struggle with self-worth, but the laugh out loud moments somewhat balanced out those slow sections. Of course, the mystery is obvious throughout so do not expect a true thriller in that regard. I found the story predictable, but it is a fast and fun read. Daniel Aleman has written other books, but in the YA genre, so that might explain some of the less than realistic moments. Overall, I Might Be in Trouble begins and ends strong, but the middle drags with over-sharing of the narrator’s emotional journey.
My rating: 3 of 5
This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review. I Might Be in Trouble was published on Dec. 3, 2024.

This was hilarious and silly and so unique but so emotional! Finding someone dead in your bed after your first meeting is WILD. This book was really well done.

I cackled WAY too much while reading this. Absolutely brilliant. Loved the tongue-in-cheek sense of humor combined with a suspenseful premise.

Best selling author David, is failing. His first book is a hit, his second, a failure, and now his third, his publisher won’t even touch. Then there’s his love life, a Jeremy he can’t seem to forget about. His financial troubles; and the family he can’t quite feel a part of anymore. Oh, and that obnoxious dead body in his bed.

I FLEW through this novel. I can’t decide if it was because it was good. Or because it was written so simple. The main character is charming, if a bit overdramatic. The storyline of this was a bit laughable, like what we want to do with the body, choosing not such good options. But if they had taken the better solution, probably wouldn’t have made for much of a story. So suspend your reality and don’t overthink it.

Man, I had no idea the lengths a literary agent will go for their author. This gave me vibes of the Flight Attendant meets Weekend at Bernie’s idea with a lighter tales from the Crypt episode. The humor wasn’t laugh out loud funny but the author took a darker subject and was able to spin it into a lighter tone. It was a fun read but I can tell it’s not one I would pick up again or stuck with me. If you’re looking for an easy mystery read, this could be a good pick.

My Selling Pitch:
Ew, David.

On my do not read list.

Pre-reading:
Say it with me kids, I love a pink cover! Also, tell me that's not Jonathan Bailey and Gillian Anderson on the cover. (Like it's not, but like if you squint-)

(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
The dedication? I smell a banger. (I don’t have a sense of smell.)

That seems like a play on the author’s own name. Is this a self-insert? (Hard yes.)

You’re going on a date with stained khakis?

You’re willingly going on a first date to a place called the gloryhole.

Ew, David.

So we’re actually all suffering the same dating hell and all have the same desire to have that storybook connection. But also, he’s got a J name. Get a grip.

I have never been so glad I didn’t start a book at work. The audiobook for this was wi-hild. Oh no. 😂

Hating on doggy style? My dude, we are not the same.

That’s a shit opener.

I don’t like the hate that’s going on for Sheila. You’re mad that she’s a curvy blonde? That’s ridiculous. You’re mad that she has hobbies? That’s ridiculous. You’re mad that she went into labor on the day you moved into college? She literally couldn’t help that.

OK, when does this pick up? We’re 12% in. Let’s get it going. (Never. It never picks up.)

me when I’m feeling self-destructive and bored 😂
no, the little voice is literally always correct.

I’m kind of bored. I feel like this is the guy that’s gonna wake up dead so the plot might pick up after this, but it’s really slow so far.

I don’t think you can call it the best sex of your life if you don’t come. (And if you can, that’s fuckin’ miserable.)

I don’t know if that emptiness is something you say you love. That’s kind of a really, really sad part about modern dating. That’s kind of toxic masculinity at its finest. That’s kind of they don’t view you as a person, and that’s really fucking sad.

See, I’m not built for this kind of life because I would be like No. I don’t know your last name. We are, in fact, still strangers. I need to know more about you, buddy.

Ayyy Mass

Boy, you met this man not even an hour ago. Pump the brakes.

Bet on it, bet on it🎶

I'm bored.

Dude, how many drinks have you had? Also, how are you upright if you’ve had that many?

I think finance is probably one of the easier industries to be in. It’s all dudes.

OK, I’m not a Taylor Swift girly and even I feel like this book keeps dropping her lyrics.

We got a body on the floor- er bed, and I’m still bored.

There’s a lot wrong morally with that. Why can’t you just take responsibility for your actions? The whole beginning of this book was how he’s refusing to do that and now he’s just continuing to refuse to do that.

I mean, like fuck the justice system always, but also you genuinely could’ve killed this man. I don’t think he did. I’m sure that’s part of the plot and there’s some conspiracy thing going on because he’s in financing. Sean was in tech sales and maybe there’s some overlap there?
I also wanna know why her clients are jumping ship. I’m sure that has to be a thing. (LMAO the way I thought this book would have even a single twist.)

A Capricorn in finance? Groundbreaking.

At least he’s a short king so they have a chance in hell of lifting his dead body. People are heavy.

I haven’t seen it, but I don’t think you can Weekend at Bernie’s it through New York City.

Dead bodies piss and shit themselves though. Like shouldn’t they have had to deal with that? Where was that in the book?

Also, women can do anything, but telling me she’s carrying a dead body up flights of stairs in a suit and heels is a little beyond. (It’s extremely written by a man behavior.)

That’s not a partner. That’s a caretaker. Like this is so annoying.

It reminds me of The Pairing. (Just in the disaster queer character element.)

It’s like a reward. (My brain is a hellscape.)

Does it disturb anyone else that he would throw drugs in a public fountain because I’m just like the poor little animals that are unknowingly gonna drink that and then die?

The audiobook narrator is good though.

This would make a funny TV show. (You know if there was any plot or stakes to it.)

But like it’s not Jeremy’s job to fix you???

But like any good coroner is gonna be able to show that the body was dead long before the phone timestamps.

But like they’re gonna have a phone record of you calling the Hilton and if they discover a dead body in that they’re definitely gonna remember that and pull the phone records for his room?

Pizza delivery? But there’d be a credit card and phone record and security cameras with a timestamp that wouldn’t match the time of death and-

This is really boring and slow.

I haven’t seen/read either, but I assume this is a lot like Only Murders in the Building and Yellowface.

So far it’s just reading as a masturbatory self-insert.

The latter. Def the latter.

How is begging your ex for money a better option than a sugar daddy?

More than halfway, still bored. Would dnf. I don’t see this book getting any better.

Maybe don’t fuck the rando who was rude to you, was bad at sex, and gave you an std?

Literally just say no.

So stable that he’s married to someone who’s cheating on him and doing drugs. OK.

Is the stranger the investigative journalist Jeremy is seeing? (Sigh.)

I think Sean broke in.

Fuck off, Sheila. OK, nothing he described at the beginning was worthy of hating on Sheila, but now she is being a cunt.

Look what you made me do 🎶 I don’t think I’m crazy anymore. I think he’s legitimately dropping Taylor Swift lyrics. Or like he made a playlist from like current songs and it included these Taylor songs and that “he knows” viral TikTok sound.

It was stupid the first time around.

What’s the point of making it ~almost~ this book cover? Just do the actual cover or do something different. This is just silly.

It’s almost a little boy mom coded where you’re just like oh her precious baby should be able to get away with anything and everything and never take responsibility for his actions! I’m like you refused to report a dead body and carried it around the city and kept it from someone so you hurt his parents and all his loved ones like that’s absolute shit.

Wow, that was BAD.

Holy loose ends, Batman!

Post-reading:
Omg ew, David.

You crack this book open and immediately get slapped in the face with this is a self-insert. And then you get to the end and learn it’s the book’s whole schtick.

And that had the opportunity to be campy and fun. It worked for Taylor Adam’s bookish thriller. But this book doesn’t work. Like at all. It’s full of plotholes and loose ends. There’s no stakes. There’s no suspense. There’s fundamental dead body logistics omitted that you’d find in even a cursory Google.

The romance and family drama subplots are half-baked at best and feel more like a microwave nuking that leaves the insides still ice cold. I don’t think this author understands what real love is. Your partner should be a partner, not a caretaker. They are not an ATM and free therapist.

There’s having flawed characters and then there’s identifying as a victim so you don’t have to take responsibility for your own actions. And David doesn’t grow the fuck up all book.

There was just nothing here for me, and I will not be picking up the author again.

Who should read this:
Queer thriller fans
Good for her fans (but it’s like good for him, and it’s not actually good for him because he’s a whiny bitch)

Ideal reading time:
Anytime

Do I want to reread this:
Nope. Wouldn’t pick the author up again either.

Would I buy this:
Fuck no, and that’s really saying something because I would love to have this cover on my shelves.

Similar books:
* Less by Andrew Sean Greer-queer lit fic bookish romance, coming of age but it’s a midlife crisis
* The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain-queer romance, character study, coming of age but it’s a midlife crisis
* None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell-domestic suspense, redemption arc for characters that don’t deserve to be redeemed
* No Home for Killers by E. A. Aymar-family drama, revenge thriller
* No One Knows Us Here by Rebecca Kelley-generic revenge thriller
* The Last Word by Taylor Adams-bookish thriller
* Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister-boy mom apologist, revenge thriller, time travel
* Verity by Colleen Hoover-bookish revenge thriller
* The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides-generic revenge thriller
* The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman-cozy mystery, older protagonists

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.