This was a dnf for me about 50% through. I just could not get into the story and the pacing was agonizing for me. I don't know if it picks up further on, but the plot just zigged around and lots me a few times. I also struggled liking the characters.

Wow—a lot was going on in this book. Mystery, romance, a private island setting, reclusive families, old feuds—it packed in just about everything. That made it fast-paced and entertaining at times, but also a little overwhelming. I often felt like the story was trying to do too much in 325 pages instead of digging deeper into fewer threads.

Some of the relationships didn’t quite land for me. They felt a little forced, as though we needed more backstory to fully buy into them. Still, the mix of melodrama, family dysfunction, and over-the-top arguments between people with far too much money did have its own kind of entertainment value.

All in all, I don’t regret reading it—it was fun, fast, and dramatic. But I think it could have been stronger if it had chosen one or two directions and stuck with them instead of trying to be everything at once. In the end, maybe the title is fitting: at times, the reader doesn’t quite have a clue either.

The premise of She Doesn’t Have a Clue had a lot of potential—teen sleuthing, secrets, and a playful nod to classic mystery tropes. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite land. The pacing is uneven, with long stretches that feel predictable, and the twists don’t deliver the surprise or tension you’d expect from this kind of story.

The main character is likable enough, but her development often feels shallow, and many of the supporting characters fall into clichés rather than becoming memorable or distinct. Dialogue sometimes feels forced, which pulls away from the immersion. While there are a few fun moments and flashes of charm, they’re not enough to carry the book through its weaker sections.

Overall, She Doesn’t Have a Clue is a light, quick read, but it misses the spark needed to make it stand out in the YA mystery genre. A bit too forgettable to recommend strongly.

The premise of She Doesn’t Have a Clue had a lot of potential—teen sleuthing, secrets, and a playful nod to classic mystery tropes. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite land. The pacing is uneven, with long stretches that feel predictable, and the twists don’t deliver the surprise or tension you’d expect from this kind of story.

The main character is likable enough, but her development often feels shallow, and many of the supporting characters fall into clichés rather than becoming memorable or distinct. Dialogue sometimes feels forced, which pulls away from the immersion. While there are a few fun moments and flashes of charm, they’re not enough to carry the book through its weaker sections.

Overall, She Doesn’t Have a Clue is a light, quick read, but it misses the spark needed to make it stand out in the YA mystery genre. A bit too forgettable to recommend strongly.

She Doesn't Have a Clue is a charming cozy mystery that follows Kate, a mystery author, who decides to attend her ex's wedding. She runs into her ex-best friend,Jake, the one who got away. When real life emulates her books, she decides to channel the main character in her books to solve the murder mystery along with Jake's help. This book blends humor, romance, and a bit of mystery in a delightful way. The story is a lighthearted and fun read that is perfect for a lazy afternoon.

The author does a great job of creating a fun and whimsical world. The characters are witty and likable, and the plot is a clever blend of clues and red herrings that will keep you guessing. The pacing is a little slow in the beginning, but it picks up as the mystery unfolds.

While the book is good I felt that some of the plot points could have been a bit more developed. A few of the reveals felt a little rushed, and I was left wanting more. However, this is a minor critique of an otherwise very strong book.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I had a really fun time with both the mystery and the romance in this book! I love a cozy mystery so this was perfect for me. The dynamic between Jake and Kate was so fun. It was so cute to watch them pining and I was very excited to see them get together. My favorite part was watching Kate learn more about herself in the process of looking for clues. Her growth journey was a delight to read about. I love a setting where the characters are trapped in a secluded area so this book really worked for me. If you're looking for a cozy romcom with some sleuthing hijinks this is the book for you!

✨️ Ｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ ✨️

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞:She Doesn’t Have a Clue
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Jenny Edler Moke
𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬: 325

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐡𝐚𝐬:
• Book About Books
• Exotic Island Wedding
• Forced Proximity
• One Bed
• Fake Dating
• Second Chance
• Great Banter
• Fantastic Side Characters
• Cozy Mystery

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: WOW! This book was filled with so many twists and turns, I didn’t even see it coming with the who dun 'it! This is the first book that I have read by Jenny Edler Moke and I am hooked! I love books about books and adding in not only cozy mystery but romance too - I was obsessed!

Kate is an amateur sleuth writing novelist who is mysteriously invited to her ex-fiancés wedding. To make matters even stickier, Jake the “Hostralian” ex-pro surfer, Kate's former crush/co-author of surfing books is attending too…as her fake boyfriend. Sharing one bed. Who also becomes her sidekick when the dead bodies start appearing! This book has strong Clue vibes that truly keeps you guessing! I absolutely adored this gem!

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves cozy mysteries with a splash of romance!

I'm not usually drawn to cozy mysteries, but the synopsis sounded really cute, and the cover sold me on it.

This book was playful and fun. I enjoyed the characters and felt like the MCs had good chemistry. I loved their banter and enjoyed the humor the author brought to the book. It also brought some steam, which is always fun.

I will admit that it took me a little bit to get into this book, but once I was in, I was in. The setting was great and added to the overall vibe of the book.

Overall, this was a fun read.

Rating: 3.5

When author Kate Valentine is invited to the wedding of Spencer, her ex-fiance, who is also her agent, she’s not sure what to expect at the high end event being held on a private island. Jake, the one that got away, is also a guest.

When the bride is poisoned and then her aunt dies, Kate is on the job to try and figure out whodunit and why. Drawing on the main character from her mystery series, Kate sets out to follow the clues and wander the hidden passages in the mansion.

The main character does seem to develop and become more confident in herself and even in her own fiction writing as the story progresses, which is well done. The rest of the characters are less dimensional and you’ll know just what to expect from most of them.

This story didn’t seem to fit a genre…it tries to be a cozy mystery, adventure, rom-com. For me, it jarred as it moved from one to another. I found the insertions of Kate’s book heroine grating and disruptive to the flow of the story. It was spicier than your typical rom-com, but there was the second chance romance trope that worked and the solving of the mystery was satisfying, if not drawn out.

This book did not have me wanting to pick it up as soon as I had to set it down.

3.5 bumped to 4

This book was such a fun surprise! It gave me exactly the reset I needed—light mystery, flirty banter, and just enough chaos to keep things moving. I didn’t expect to enjoy the romantic suspense combo as much as I did, but now I’m fully hooked on these kinds of stories.
Kate was such a relatable character—real, quirky, and the kind of FMC you can easily imagine reacting just like you would in her shoes. And Jake… yeah, the charming, sandy-haired Aussie? Instantly swoon-worthy.

While I was hoping for a little more tension in the mystery side of things, I still found myself enjoying the ride. It felt more like a romcom with a body count than a traditional thriller—but that’s what made it so entertaining.

My only small gripe? A certain moment with Jake that felt off and never really got addressed. It didn’t ruin anything, but it did leave me wishing for a bit more emotional depth.

Still, I flew through this and could definitely see myself picking it up again in the future. It was clever, flirty, and just the right amount of messy.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the ARC! 🌸

A super cute book!

Thank you Netgalley and the author for a chance to read She Doesn't Have a Clue.

This one was a bit of a mixed bag for me. The mystery/rom-com combo had its moments, and I did enjoy the second chance romance (always a sucker for that trope), but wow… Kate really tested my patience.

She constantly second-guessed herself and let people walk all over her, and that made it hard for me to root for her at times. The chemistry with her love interest was definitely there, but that post-elevator spider scene? No. Just no. Who’s getting hot and heavy immediately after that kind of chaos? I couldn’t suspend disbelief for that one.

On the plus side, I liked the mystery element! Kate was sharp when it came to clue-hunting and piecing things together, and the pacing of the whodunnit kept me invested. But the big reveal? Her reaction left me blinking. Like… why would anyone willingly risk their life for someone like that? It just didn’t make sense and pulled me out of the story.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC—I read this voluntarily and these thoughts are all mine!

Super easy, quick read. I enjoyed it. I thought it was nicely written and the characters were nice. It wasn't mind-blowing but it was good.

DNF @ 33%

I tried listening to this one on audio and while it’s not bad I really don’t find myself trying to pick it up when I put it down

I'm sorry this may not be fair judge of the book since it's been a few months since Inread it 😅
But....I just remember not enjoying it. I kept zoning out while reading and the characters annoyed me quite a bit 🙈
Apparently its a pretty forgettable story as, I dont remember any of the plot😶
But again, while it wasnt MY cup if tea, others might enjoy it 😊
The mystery part kept me interested enough to finish and give it 3 stars so it couldn't have been THAT bad haha

"She Doesn't Have a Clue" is a fun mix of mystery and romance.

I think Jenny Elder Moke did a great job of creating this cozy mystery world filled with a second chance romance and I am incredibly hopeful that this will be the start of a series. I found Kate to be a charming lead character and would love to see more from her someday.

Thank you to Minotaur for selecting me for this ARC. It was such a fun read.

This one had all the ingredients I usually enjoy but the final product didn’t totally click for me. The second-chance romance with Jake had potential, but the emotional payoff didn’t get there for me. I also wanted more from Kate. she’s funny and chaotic in ways I liked, but I never fully connected with her.

This book has some salty language, spicy romance, and a very entertaining mystery.

Mystery writer Kate Valentine is invited to her book agent's/ex-finance's wedding, AKWARD, right? Add in the hunky guy who surf/sailed away two years before leaving behind Kate and her unresolved feelings. It is no surprise that the book is titled "She Doesn't Have a Clue." Now if she can just figure out who is trying to kill the bride and implicate our gal Kate, because we know that it isn't Kate. How hard can it be to conduct a little sleuthing especially with all the experience that Kate has with her Loretta Starling book series.

Kate is sure that she can make use of her "Loretta" senses, like spidey senses. A slight side effect of channeling Loretta is that Kate also finds herself in the world of Loretta at any given moment, which can be great for getting writing ideas but not so much when standing over the unconscious body of the bride. Channeling Loretta is probably going to be the only way that Kate is able to make it through the weekend, through her writer's block, and through her emotional turmoil regarding Jake.

There are several suspects from disgruntled authors, jealous co-workers, greedy relatives, and the unknown suspect. I even had the wedding planner's assistant John Pierre on my suspect list. The clues are well placed, the red herrings are plenty, the romance is steamy and full of emotion to the point where my throat felt constricted and tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. Not to worry, this is a great rom-com mystery with a happy ending.

3.5 stars:

The cover made me think it would be more YA than it was, and there was more spice than I expected, or than was really necessary for a cozy mystery. Outside of those things, it was a fun locked-room mystery with a bumbling novelist FMC who was trying to solve a real life murder. The narrator did a good job with a variety of voices and accents. Read if you enjoy cozy mysteries.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one! The banter, sexy and otherwise, between the two main characters was great. I loved the will they, oh surely they will, build and chemistry with the leads. And it was all weaved so seamlessly into a Murder mystery with great side character.