The cover of this book led me to think that the story would be light and whimsical. But I found that the husband and wife, Fox and Haze, were actually serial killers, and had an incredible need to kill bad people. Married and with a baby girl, they had to control their killer instincts. But I could not relate to them at all. The F word fills their thoughts a lot. And though some found this story humorous, I found it "off putting". I only got through the first 20%, and I had to stop. I gave it 3 stars because it is well written, from the POV of both Fox and Haze, which allows readers to see into the minds of both.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage.

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage can be added to your feminine rage TBR if you’re into stories about women who enact revenge on men who do bad things. Haze is a serial killer who believes she is doing the world a service by ridding society of vile men who abuse women. She finds her perfect match in Fox, who also has a taste for killing wrongful people. They travel throughout Europe, living luxuriously and leaving a trail of the bodies of men who they feel deserved it. Then they marry, they have a baby, and they swear off killing to protect their family’s future. This book chronicles the downward spiral of their marriage post-baby and how resentment builds between the couple. Haze wants to go back to their pre-baby habits and satisfy her penchant for murder while Fox wants a normal life for their family. In an attempt to be normal, Haze befriends Jenny who turns out to be a criminal detective on maternity leave. Their friendship blossoms, but so does Jenny’s theory about a local serial killer after a body turns up in their neighborhood…In a marriage full of secrets and lies, Fox and Haze have to figure out how to manage their bloodlust while doing what is right for their child without getting caught.

I liked the premise of this story and found the first and last quarter of the book really intriguing. However, much of the middle felt slow and sometimes boring. It didn’t feel like a page-turner until the last ~20% of the book. The climax fell a little short for me, as I was interested in a more shocking twist. Much of the conflict between the married couple could have just been resolved with communication. I gave it ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay releases on January 13, 2025!

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage was a surprising delight. I wasn't sure what to expect, but actually liking, and sometimes agreeing with, the main character wasn't it. I never thought I'd be able to relate to a faux serial killer, but Asia Mackay's writing not only made her relatable, but likeable. You find yourself rooting for the main female character throughout the book, even as she finds herself fighting the urge to kill or not kill. I also enjoyed the insights into marriage itself and how easily trust can break down. As someone who will be getting married next year, it was a reminder of how important it is to communicate and be honest with your partner. Not only can almost married couples learn this lesson, it can be a reminder to already married couples. I'd absolutely recommend this book to my fellow readers, as it can easily be enjoyed by a wide audience.

I liked the concept of this, but it was just so slow at the beginning and the twist and ending just didn't line up for me. I wish the drama started earlier I think it would have left more room to create a better twist.

Couples that kill together, stay together? I loved the playfulness about a couple who are both serial killers working together. I was actually rooting for them the whole time. When they got their groove back towards the end, I was really excited.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bantam for this arc. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.

Hazel and Fox are a married couple that are also a serial killer team. Hazel and Fox met in Europe and fell in love with each over their murderous tendencies. Hazel and Fox only kill people who deserve to die (rapists and very bad people). Hazel and Fox are married and have a two year old daughter named Bibi (Sabrina is her actual name). Hazel is feeling restless because she hasn’t been able to kill anyone since being pregnant. Fox suggests that she should make a mom friend and befriends Julie who she later finds out is a police officer who is obsessed with finding the Backpack Butcher who happens to be Hazel and Fox. Hazel gets her off the trail by trying to get her to pursue a sex offender who owns nightclubs where men can meet underage girls that they film. Hazel kills someone and tries to fix it and thinks she got away with it until Fox figured things out. Hazel and Fox start fighting and Fox even kidnaps Julie since she knows to much. Hazel and Fox bring her into the fold and after she is reinstated to the force she helps keep their kills under the radar and Hazel and Fox’s relationship is better than ever. This book was so funny and very good.

3.5 stars rounded up for an unusual book about two serial killers. The book alternates between two narrators, Haze and Fox. They stopped killing when Haze became pregnant. There are flashbacks which demonstrate how they started killing people. When reading this book I thought of my wife, who has been known to mutter to herself "Some people just need killing" when she encounters a particularly evil person in a book that she is reading. She told me that phrase was the title of a book by Jinx Schwartz which she enjoyed.
These two killers only kill bad people and think of themselves as good serial killers. How they decide to go back to killing occupies most of the book.
One quote by Haze: "We all had secrets, so who was I to judge?
Especially as my secrets were fourteen dead men.
Yes, you read that right.
Fourteen.
But you know what?
They all deserved it."
Thanks to Vanessa Duque at Ballantine Bantam Dell | Random House Group for sending me this eARC through NetGalley. #ASerialKillersGuidetoMarriage #NetGalley

Pub Date Jan 14 2025 |

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage - Asia Mackay
Pub Date - 1/14/25
Rating - 2/5 (DNF)

Thoughts - Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Unfortunately this one was a miss for me. I made it to the end of part one (barely) because I was SO bored. I had read through 32% of the book and all it contained was complaining, whining, and how sad it was that this husband wife who got married and had a child so they can't kill anyone anymore. Literally nothing happens....and I found myself skipping pages, so decided to stop.

This book was a fast read, it hooked me in and never let go. They made the characters of the story loved and hated. I found myself consistently going between hating and loving them. The story was suspenseful and yet relatable to many people. I believe this book is good for a large or wide range of different readers.

Wow! This is my first read by Asia Mackay and I will definitely be reading more of her works. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC. This was an excellent read that reeled me in from the prologue. I found myself eager to see what was to happen next. Haze and Fox have what some would equate as the perfect marriage, sans the serial killing and all haha. This connects them on a deep level, though. Having their baby in the midst of it all threw a wrench in plans and set up the scenario for boredom to sink in, but that doesn’t last for long!

I found the characters in the book to be very relatable. They’re “down to earth” and practical, not polished edge perfectionists. I think that’s what makes the book so great! It incorporates the humor and personalities of typical people. While the book did seem to be a bit unnecessarily detailed at times, I think this added to the overall appeal as well.

I would definitely recommend this read to others and can’t wait to delve further into her other compositions!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this amazing book. It was funny, suspenseful, and oddly relatable. Haze and Fox are a power couple whose closeness comes from their love of serial killing as a couple. They stop killing after their daughter is born and the resulting boredom is taking a toll on Haze. I love the characters in the story. Haze is quick witted and very funny.
I was hooked on this book from the first paragraph. It was such an enjoyable read. I will definitely read Asia Mackay’s books the second they come out!
I highly recommend this book!

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

This was a well-paced fast read. The characters weren't exactly likeable, but they were interesting and had more depth than I was expecting. The story managed to have suspense while still maintaining humour throughout without taking away from the main storyline. The main character reminded me of the one in Bad Men by Julie Mae Cohen. At first, it felt like it was going to go in a predictable direction, but it managed to add in mystery even while having dual POV. This had kind of a Mr. and Mrs. Smith vibe except they both went into the marriage knowing what was going on and they weren't being paid to go after each other.

Oh my gosh what can I saw this book is amazing and I would recommend to anyone. It have me hooked and shook.

This is a new author to me, and I am glad I took the chance on this book.

Hazel and Fox have a past full of killings, and on that they are kindred spirits. Having a baby in the middle of all of it definitely derailed some of their connection.

I found Hazel to be difficult and a bit "why me". I had an easier time connecting to Fox, but even then, it was not exactly what I wanted from this couple. I'm sure this is a "me" problem. I would suggest this book to others, as it was an okay read, I just wanted more.

My ARC came from Netgalley, and I voluntarily leave my review.

Okay that title alone grabbed me but I have to say it didn't fall flat once in I opened the book. I loved it.

The serial killer couple stuck in suburban hell, I was worried at first the characters would be too shallow but they evolve as the story moves along. I found myself rooting for these crazy kids. It also has a few fun twists that make the story more interesting. On top of being serial killers this book really covers everything - how hard it is to make friends and be social when you move as an adult, work struggles and artist block, maintaining relationships through parenthood, and difficult family dynamics. I really can't recommend this book enough if you like a dark comedy, this is for you.

Meeeeehhh... I am not sure what to say about this! Parts of it I loved, and parts of it, I just didn't. Spoilers follow.

I did like Haze and Fox's relationship. I also liked the honesty portrayed in Haze's journey as a mother. She wasn't planning to have a child, got pregnant, her husband convinced her to keep the baby, and she ended up with a daughter. Who she loved, and was super cute! But she also missed her old life and it took her a little while to get into the swing of things. I really appreciated that honesty.

What I didn't like... the structure. The first act of a book typically ends with the first plot point at about 25% of the way through. This book's first plot point was at 35% (I read it on Kindle, so I could see percentages, go me), which made the first act DRAG SO MUCH. I was so bored. Then, when she kills the guy who attacks her, things really start get exciting.

Also, I think the title is somewhat of a misnomer. They aren't technically serial killers—they're vigilantes who kill bad men (because it's always men who are bad, right?!). Of course, it does appear that they're serial killers because the police don't know their reasoning behind the murders.

I mean, overall it's a decently entertaining book. But I will say this: Haze and Fox both tell the story from their own first person perspectives, and I thought they were indistinguishable. I would have liked more differentiation between them! It's also painfully obvious the author is British. Fox does NOT sound like an American man. (I'm American and have talked to a ton of American men my entire life, so I'd be happy to beta read for this author in the future, not even joking.)

verbal-humor, satire, thriller, mystery, romantic, suspense, suburban-boredom, contemporary, dual-perspectives, secrets, lies, cold-case, investigations*****

Like every other couple who have found themselves in the entrapment of parenthood, Hazel and Fox face the changes in themselves and don't like it at all. And that whole suburban posturing has each of them at wit's end. But there is one small thing that makes them different from others in their position: each of them is a serial killer on hiatus. He is trying to be a special husband, unaware that she just couldn't go without ending bad guys. Not laugh my sox off, but snort and guffaw funny!
I requested and received a free temporary uncorrected ebook file from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam via NetGalley. Thanks for the laughter!
Avail Jan 14, 2025 #ASerialKillersGuidetoMarriage by Asia Mackay #NetGalley #RandomHousePublishingGroup #Ballantine #Bantam

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay was a WILD ride—think Dexter meets Mr. & Mrs. Smith with a dash of dark humor and suburban chaos! Big thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for the ARC! The book drops on January 14, 2025, and it’s 352 pages of pure, chaotic brilliance! 🤩

Serial killer spouses 🗡️
Suburban chaos 🌼
Secret identities 🤐
Dark humor 😂
Domestic suspense 🏡
Past vs. present timelines ⏳
Morally grey characters ⚖️
Partners in crime 🖤
Power couple vibes 💕
Found family… kinda? 👨‍👩‍👧

Okay, so Hazel and Fox are your classic couple-next-door… except they used to kill bad guys for fun. 🔪 Talk about a killer relationship, am I right? They lived this glamorous, globe-trotting life of justice-by-murder, loving each other fiercely, until—SURPRISE—Hazel gets pregnant. Suddenly, it’s suburbia, baby Bibi, playdates, and PTA meetings. Fox? Living his best “dad” life. Hazel? Not so much. She’s itching to stab (literally) some excitement back into her world. 👀

When Hazel secretly kills someone (oops 😅) and Fox starts hiding secrets too, their “perfect” little family starts unraveling quicker than you can say “diaper genie.” 💥

Let’s talk about the humor—Hazel’s snarky wit is EVERYTHING. Her awkward attempts at making mom friends had me laughing out loud. 🤣 And the thriller part? Totally gripping, though I could’ve used a bit more of Hazel and Fox together—their chemistry and tension deserved more page time! The pacing dipped a bit in the middle, but Fox’s chaotic American family totally made up for it! They’re like a storm of dysfunction and hilarity wrapped in one big crazy package. 🌪️

Would I recommend it? HECK YES! It's funny, dark, and surprisingly relatable (because, c’mon, who doesn’t have a few secrets in their relationship, right?). 💁‍♀️

Release day can’t come soon enough—mark your calendars, this one is a must-read! 🎉