i had so much fun with this one!! read it very quickly and enjoyed deitch's writing and our narrator evie's snarky voice. sapphic thelma and louise and what else could you want?

it wasn't perfect though: a few bits strained credulity, the romantic relationship needed a bit more development, and and the road tripping got a bit repetitive after a while (just for a section until we got to the next big event)

looking forward to more from deitch for sure

Killer Potential is an extremely unique, edge-of-your-seat thriller that follows a young SAT tutor as she flees a murder scene and begins life as a fugitive. Upon discovering her employers gruesomely murdered in their mansion, Evie is completely shocked and in the midst of calling local law enforcement when she makes another terrible discovery. Under the stairs of the posh luxury home is a woman who has clearly been trapped there for some time. In a split-second decision, Evie flees with the unknown woman. Now, they're both on the run, and the entire country is looking for them. How can Evie prove her innocence? Who is this stranger? How are they going to survive!?

Killer Potential is definitely a gripping, can't-put-down, survival thriller. I thoroughly enjoyed the amount of time and details spent on how Evie and her accomplice(?) survive from city to village to beach town to country to woods. While there is definitely an overarching thriller/mystery to the whole book, the story of their developing relationship and their survival is just as important and exciting. I also really appreciated the brief flashbacks to Evie's past. I liked getting to know her as the straight A student who had her whole future already planned. It shows how life can always throw you a curveball. There were at least one or two twists that I absolutely did not see coming, which was a great surprise! Finally, I liked how the ending wasn't some happily-ever-after. It made the characters and what they went through so much more believable. I'll for sure be recommending Killer Potential. It is unique, exciting, and something to talk about!

Before I begin my review, I would like to thank Hannah Deitch, NetGalley, and William Morrow for the opportunity to read an ARC of "Killer Potential."

Killer Potential starts with Evie Gordon thinking it's just another monotonous Sunday tutoring rich-kid Serena Victor. However, upon her arrival to the Victor House, her Sunday becomes anything but. This book had so many layers and twists & turns that it was hard to put down. Every time I thought I knew something, more questions would arise. I was able to predict the ending fairly early on, but the way it played out was so beautifully crafted, I wasn't even upset. Great book and I'm very excited to see more from Hannah Deitch.

Overall: 4/5 stars

I expected this to be a thriller but it was much more of a mystery who-dunnit kind of book. It started off strong in the middle of a super chaotic course of events. I was intrigued to find out the details that our main characters were also trying to find out. Te grand reveal was shocking to me but I was honestly surprised to see how much of the book was left at that point. There were so many plot points that popped up at the very end of the book and just never got a conclusion. I’m not sure if this was intentional so that it could set up for a second book or not. But all the unanswered questions made me dislike the book more than I liked the first half.

This thriller, Killer Potential, takes a detour from the women are victims trope and turns it on its head as Evie, and the terrified young woman she's rescued go on the lam after a triple homicide that Evie finds herself in the middle of. Skillful misdirection and subtle nods to class differentials and what truths lie unsaid render this book a deeper take than normal. Well done!

In *Killer Potential*, the author delivers a razor-sharp debut that combines dark humor, edge-of-your-seat suspense, and a poignant exploration of class and ambition. The story follows Evie Gordon, a gifted SAT tutor whose life takes a dramatic turn when she discovers a gruesome crime scene at the estate of her wealthy clients. Instead of a typical tutoring session, she finds herself thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse, paired with an enigmatic woman she rescues from a closet.

Evie’s character is both relatable and compelling; her aspirations juxtaposed against the harsh realities of her financial burdens create a dynamic portrait of a young woman searching for her identity in a world obsessed with status. The author's keen observations about social mobility and the American Dream provide thoughtful commentary throughout the narrative. One memorable quote encapsulates this theme: “We all believe we’re destined for greatness, but what happens when the world decides otherwise?”

The tension escalates as Evie and her silent companion become fugitives, navigating a landscape filled with danger and media frenzy. The author deftly balances moments of humor with high-stakes action, making for a thrilling reading experience. Evie’s transformation from a struggling tutor to a headline-making suspect is both exhilarating and darkly ironic, as she grapples with her newfound notoriety. A standout line that captures this transformation is: “Suddenly, I wasn’t just a footnote in someone else’s story; I was the headline.”

The chemistry between Evie and her companion adds an intriguing layer to the plot, with their dynamic evolving as they journey across the U.S. in search of the real killer. The tension of unlocking the mysteries surrounding her companion’s silence creates additional suspense, driving the narrative forward with momentum and intrigue.

While the pacing is generally captivating, there are moments where the narrative could have benefitted from tighter editing, particularly during transitions between action scenes. A bit more depth in exploring the backstory of Evie’s companion could have further enriched the emotional stakes of their journey together.

Overall, *Killer Potential* is a bold and disarming debut that masterfully blends humor with thriller elements, inviting readers to consider deeper questions about identity, ambition, and societal expectations. I highly recommend it to fans of literary thrillers that deliver both suspense and sharp social commentary. It’s a captivating reminder that the search for greatness can lead us down the most unexpected—and dangerous—paths.

This is a debut novel, and I’m all about finding new authors! It didn’t kick off with a bang, but I was totally hooked once Evie stumbled upon the dead bodies. And let me tell you, Evie's dark humor and sarcasm? It's absolutely one of my favorite parts of the book! I can’t get enough of characters like her!

Evie is an intelligent young woman who’s had some chances in life, even though she didn’t come from money. Unfortunately, she takes those chances for granted and finds herself as an SAT tutor drowning in student debt. Her clients? Spoiled rich kids in fancy neighborhoods. That’s how she ends up at the Victor's house at the worst possible moment—only to discover their dead bodies. Things get even wilder when she runs off with a girl she finds tied up and hidden in the house. This kicks off a series of bad decisions that send them down a crazy “Thelma-and-Louise” adventure!

"Killer Potential" is dark and fast-paced, showcasing two intricate female characters with wit and street smarts—so entertaining!

This debut author nails the adrenaline of the chase and the heart-pounding fear of the unknown. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

Thanks to Willam Morrow, Harper Audio, NetGalley, and Libro.fm for providing this ARC's digital book and audiobook. All opinions are my own and left voluntarily.

The audiobook features fantastic narration, which enhanced my reading experience, allowing me to listen to the audio while reading the ebook!

And let’s not forget all the themes packed into this novel:
Media sensationalism
Morally gray characters
Class divisions
Strong and complex female protagonists
Murder investigations
LGBTQIA representation
Dark humor
It's a wild ride!

#KillerPotential #HannahDeitch #DebutThriller LibroFM #WilliamMorrow #ARC #capcut #lefttoread #reader #read #honestreview #thriller #bookreviewer #thrillerbooklovers #thepulse #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerobsessedbookishclub #lovetoread #lovebooks #booknerd #readaholic #bookstagrammer #booktok #bookish

So. Much. Fun.

Deitch masterfully crafts a fast-paced, suspenseful plot, enriched by Evie's introspective and often darkly humorous inner monologue, which delves into themes of social mobility and the constructs of potential. The evolving relationship between Evie and Jae adds depth to the story, culminating in unexpected twists that challenge perceptions and keep readers engaged until the final page.

I was going back and forth about this book. At first, I had only given it three stars, but as it sat with me, I felt that it was deserving of 4. The story was written in a way that the ending came as a surprise to me, and I felt like I had been played for a fool. I felt the writing was done in a way that allowed me to feel what Evie might have felt there towards the end.

This was such a wild ride of a book! I loved it! Thelma and Louise meets burnt out SAT tutor -- sign me up. I was absolutely hooked from page one and could not have predicted all of the incredible turns this book took.

The premise of this one sounded too good to pass up, and although it wasn’t my favorite read of the year, it still had a lot to offer and I enjoyed the ride. This reads like a queer Thelma & Louise with two women on the run from the law after both end up in circumstances beyond their control at a murder scene. I will say that this book requires the reader to really suspend belief for the amount of time these women evade capture, particularly with some of the decisions they make. But it is overall a really fun ride!

This reads like a more literary thriller where for much of the novel you are really in the head of our protagonist, Evie. She is a really relatable character in her early 20s having graduated college and now trying to figure out her next step. I really related to her in how she describes school being easy and something she could understand but real life being this enigma that she can’t quite figure out. The real world can be a harsh slap in the face after being told how smart and special you are in your school years, and this leads her like many to taking a temporary job. But this job of SAT tutor ends up disrupting her entire life.

Our other main lead, Jae, is very mysterious and kind of an enigma for both the reader and Evie when the journey first starts. With her street savviness and silence, it is hard to figure out her motivations and feelings at first. But as we get to know her, we realize there is so much trauma and hurt in her past that all of her questionable moves begin to make sense. I really loved the chemistry between these two and loved the romance that begins to blossom when they are on the road.

I think the twist in this one is pretty predictable, but that didn’t ruin the story for me because I don’t think the twist was really the point. I think this was almost more of a love story about two women who could have really had a great relationship had they met under different circumstances. So it is kind of a tragic love story. I know this definitely won’t be for everyone, but I had a really good time reading about these two characters and the many close calls they encounter on the run.

I couldn't put this down, it was like watching a car accident. I was just along for the ride on this one, and went in pretty blind. I loved that I wasn't trying to guess the ending or trying to figure out what happened. The author did a great job at pulling your attention to other things, which made the ending so shocking for me. There was definitely some filler subject matter in the middle of the book that I more skimmed than read, it just didn't feel relevant to the story and felt a little too deep.into the backstories of the characters. I usually hate an open ended ending, but with this book, I didn't mind it. It left a lot up to your imagination, which was fun.

Such a twisted novel about lose of innocence and trust.
Evie was an SAT tutor that got caught up in the wrong place, wrong time and believing she was rescuing a person in trouble. A lot of assumptions and beliefs that turn on her at any given time.

Killer Potential by Hannah Deitch is full of twists and surprises. Two SAT tutors are on the run together, but what one doesn't know is that she travels with a killer. Deitch writes well and does a good job of creating an interesting story.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

Killer potential was a fun and surprisingly deeper thriller than I was expecting. Evie is an SAT tutor for a wealthy family in LA. She shows up for her shift as usual to find the parents brutally murdered and a strange woman locked up in the closet unable to speak. Afraid that she will be accused of being a murderer, evie flees the scene with the unknown woman. A fugitive with no where to go, evie can only trust this mystery woman as she tries to beat the clock to clear her name.

A fast paced thriller, deitch keeps readers turning the pages as the relationship between evie and her companion grows as they evade detection from law enforcement. What seems to be a thriller on the surface does have deeper themes of trauma, sex trafficking, and abuse that may trigger some readers.

I found this overall to be an enjoyable fast read and I couldn’t stop turning the pages to find out what was going on and who was behind the murders. Deitch is one to watch in the thriller genre.

Thanks to the publisher for providing this arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A fun and twisty thriller! The novel certainly kept me on my toes and continually guessing what may come next. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC - it's much appreciated!

Did you watch "Drive Away Dolls"? Then you really don't need to read this.

When a book promises to be 'twisty', 85% of the time, the twist is very obvious. This plot line falls in that 85%.

Evie, the deeply annoying main character, is still bitter about not being the success she thought she deserved to be. She's an SAT tutor to the ultra rich. She acts like she's 22, 23 at most. She is, in fact, staring down the barrel of 30. Throughout this entire book, she makes the DUMBEST decisions. How someone can think they will be charged with a crime with zero evidence pointing to you, in a highly secure neighborhood full of cameras, and proof that you were not on the scene at the time of the crime...is beyond insane. It's really a REACH to try and push the two women together for an 'unlikely' pair.

I feel like this book doesn't know what it wants to be. Is it a fun gay romance/thriller/adventure story, or is it a commentary on student loans and the economy? There are ways to tie both into a ploy, but this wasn't it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review.

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Willian Morrow for the ARC of this novel.

I really enjoyed this book. Honestly a lot more than I was expecting. I loved the author’s writing style and I also really enjoyed how fast-paced this book was. I was just along for the ride and trying to figure out how the two girls were going to get out of them mess they put themselves in. So I was pleasantly surprised when we hit the twist in the book. I didn’t see it coming.

I will say I’m not sure how I felt about the last 15-20% of the book. It definitely took a turn and didn’t go where I was expecting. But I do love an ambitious ending and this one was well done.

Overall, I really enjoyed this debut authors work and I can’t wait to read more from her.

4.25/5 stars rounded down to 4 for this review.

This book definitely hooked me and kept my interest. I’m not sure why, because it was a glorified train wreck of a serial killer crime spree that pointed out how much the media influences our daily thoughts and opinions. There was nothing different or outstanding about it, but I still couldn’t put it down. The characters were well developed and the writing was great, but I think I couldn’t give it five stars because the main character was just so stupid and did not act as smart as her education should allow her.

This book follows Evie a Sat tutor who winds up discovering a murder scene when other discoveries come to light Evie makes a run for it and her life is about to change forever. This one was not for me I figured out the twist pretty early on and the rest of the book felt a little slow to me once you get to around the halfway point. I kept having to force myself to pick this one back up instead of other books I was reading. The writing was unique and good I just was not a fan of this story but would give this author another chance. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.