A fun read that was oddly compelling and stresses the importance of communication in a marriage. A nice beach read for those that prefer some darkness in their rom coms.

This was an okay read. Haze wasn't the most likable character and certain parts of this books were rather stale. I would not recommend this to anyone as the storyline is rather dull and forgettable. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Random House/Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC of A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay. I thoroughly enjoyed this dark, satirical take on marriage told through the lenses of two serial killers. They have a passionate connection, and work well as a team (of murderers) and then are suddenly forced into retirement in order to protect themselves and their family. While it shared themes of the movies Mr. and Mrs. Smith and True Lies, I feel like it went deeper than that if you were open to it. Often times, marriages that start out strong stagnate due to circumstances as people change as they age, have kids, grow apart rather than together, keep secrets, etc. And, being a mom and balancing it with work or giving up your career completely can be incredibly tough especially because one loves their child so much. A Serial Killer’s Guide tells those stories too which makes it almost wholesome, if it wasn’t for the murders . . .

I would love to see this as a miniseries on HBO or Netflix. The characters of Haze and Fox seemed to be complete opposites and it didn't make sense how they would end up together. As the story evolved, it became clearer. Haze had a great voice that roared with fury and I loved the angle of her using evidence in her artworks. Fox was the quiet New England elite type who was more calculating than he let on. Add the adorable daughter Bibi and you have a formula for miscommunication galore. Jenny had the best story arc. The pacing at times was slowed down by the fighting and lack of actual conversation, but the climax tied it all together in a nice (albeit bloody) bow.


Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Can even a marriage between two serial killers get stale and boring? Haze and Fox met under the most extreme circumstances but left their wild life for a steady one after their daughter’s birth. Haze is bored in suburbia, so she goes rogue and slips back into her old vigilante persona…only to find law enforcement on her heels. As her life implodes, she must face some decisions regarding not only her marriage but also what truly fulfills her spirit. A solid read, although it could’ve been edited to be shorter in the middle.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #ASerialKillersGuideToMarriage #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Two serial killers with the need for blood lust create a life, literally, which in turn creates the death of their ambitions. This novel had wonderful potential but parts did fall flat for me. There were many moments in the novel that seemed like filler or just slowed down the meat and bones of the story. For instance, digging into the past of both of the main characters I enjoyed most, but I did not feel like those moments got to their full potential in the end. I did enjoy the last 20% of the book and how it wrapped things up nicely. Everyone loves a good twist right? Overall, I rated this novel a 3. Some of the writing was humorous and kept me hooked while other parts were boring and unnecessary.

Loved the premise, but I felt like I spent most of the book hating Hazel and bored with her own boredom. It had what felt like four false endings, but I do feel like all my questions were answered. I did however enjoy reading about this couple. I’d say 3.75 rounded to 4.

Thank you NetGalley and Bantam for this advanced copy!

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage follows Hazel and Fox, who have ceased their serial killing for the sake of their toddler. The couple have made a pact to live a "normal" life however Hazel is struggling to hold back on her urge to kill. In an act of self defense, she accidentally kills a man and breaks this pact and the rest of the story moves from there.

I really wanted to love this book - it had so many things that draw my interest and keep me turning the pages nonstop. However for me personally, I found the main character Hazel very unlikeable. The lack of communication between her and her husband was driving me crazy, and so many issues they had could've been easily resolved via just talking.

This was still a fun book, so it's a good 3 star! I just wish it drew me in more and got me more invested with the characters.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I wanted to love this book. The description made me so excited to read it. And while it wasn't a bad work at all. I just wanted more. It's the story of 2 vigilantes for lack of a better word. Trying to make the world a better place by getting rid as the bad men., both on their journeys to make the world. A better place our main characters meet in a Paris alleyway they fall in love. Get married, continue their crusade of Justice all through Europe. Until life changes with two lines like many women - this is where story picks up living a suburban life. In England trying to forget. Their past and move forward and do the picket fence life (boring to hazel) but we all know sometimes you can't bury what is beneath that in here lies the story - can you shut down your primal urges? Can you change for the one you love? Can you make the world a better place? This is Fox and Hazel's story- along with Hazel's new friend Jenny that she meets at a Mommy class.
I could see this becoming a series. I would like to read the next one, see what our band of misfits is up to next

*This was an ARC provided to me free of charge for an honest review of the book*

The description of this book had me really intrigued. From that alone you knew this was going to be one of those page turners that you can just breeze your way through. The issue with this was the main character…Haze. Morally grey in the truest sense of the word. A wife and mother, but also a serial killer. She’s raising a toddler, but she still has the thirst for killing, even though her and her husband made a pact agreeing to put the killings on hold now that they are parents. The issue is, she just isn’t really likable. I don’t know how to describe it…she just rubbed me the wrong way. All of her problems in the book could have been solved by just having a conversation with him. Her husband, Fox was definitely more likable.

One issue I had with this was that it teased the twist too much. It made it seem like you were reading for a twist, and not to see what happens next, or because you gave a crap about the characters.

This wasn’t a bad book by any means. It was a quick read, and was really entertaining. It dragged a little in the last third, but everything was tied together nicely, and the twist was there, and the story landed.

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 out of 5

#ASerialKillersGuidetoMarriage #NetGalley

This book was awesome!! I loved the badass duo of Haze and Fox. Jenny just tipped me over the edge. It was such an engaging read, I loved every minute of it! I was so entertained and didn’t see any of the plot coming. I love when I can’t tell what will happen , it’s so rare. Great story, great author!

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage is a darkly brilliant, addictive read that twists the thriller genre with humor, suspense, and an unconventional take on marriage! Mackay creates a unique blend of wit and tension, bringing to life a protagonist who is as dangerous as she is relatable. The storyline is full of unexpected turns, exploring the complexities of love and loyalty in the most unexpected of circumstances.

The writing is sharp, the pacing flawless, and the dark humor gives the book an edge that makes it hard to put down. For readers looking for a fresh, thrilling experience, this book is an absolute must-read. Five stars!

Hazel and Fox is your typical couple…. Except they kill for fun. When the birth of their child brings a cessation to their murdering spree, Hazel accidentally betrays their pact to stop killing when she stabs a man in self-defense. Hazel has to come up with a plan to cover her murder from the cops…. But also from her husband. The sneaking around in response causes more of a rift between the couple. But what Hazel doesn’t know is that Fox knows more than he is letting on.

This book was slightly confusing and hard for me to continue to read. While I did enjoy the comedic writing of the the book, it took me forever to finish reading it, as I could not get into the storyline.

Although I would classify this as a rom/com, and normally would not choose books from this genre, when offered to review it, I decided to give it a chance and was glad when I did. It's lighthearted, kind of a Dexter in Heels, and the protagonists have a good thing going in their attempts to make the world a better place. Also, they are devoted parents, and everyone should be so attentive. Not to say they are helicopter parents, but balance their childcare with their instincts. All that being said, having read this, it will be a long time before I dip my toe into anything similar since if I do, I may need an insulin shot.

After reading a dark horror novel previously, I needed something with some lighthearted humor. This book fit that description. I thoroughly enjoyed the timeline this book took me through in the lives of Hazel and Fox, retired (kind of) serial killers now forced to live a normal married but mediocre existence out of the best interest for their small daughter Bibi. I really enjoyed the dual timeline back and forth between the past and present as well as the dual points of view from both characters. While in the end I was entertained with the book overall, it was a bit of a slow burn for me but really picked up at about the halfway point and then things got entertaining. That being said, I enjoyed the lightheartedness and entertainment of this book ultimately in the end and I would recommend to a friend, I really enjoyed the shocking plot twists and turns.

The novel follows Fox and Haze as they navigate the complexities of marriage and parenthood while leading double lives as serial killers. This book was an entertaining read, featuring excellent character development and a light, creative tone that made it quite enjoyable.

The narrative suggests potential for continuation, and I’m eager to see if more stories will follow these characters. However, one aspect that felt lacking was the integration of Fox’s family into the storyline; their inclusion seemed necessary but somewhat underdeveloped, almost like an afterthought. Overall, it’s a fun and inventive book that takes an unconventional look at marital and familial dynamics.

I was excited to read this book but ultimately the characters felt flat to me - the writing is good but why is it so hard for authors to make characters even a little bit likeable? I don't need to agree with every decision a character makes, but it was really hard to listen to the lamenting of "not making friends with women" when all you do is judge and belittle the ones surrounding you. And not to mention just basically hating everything in your life because you can't just do whatever you want all the time? I wanted a little more growth from the characters, but that's a me wish. I also think maybe these serial killer but-make-them-good-serial killers (because they only kill men who deserve it) seem like odd anti heroes to root for. I really struggled with this one and I wanted to like it so much more!

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage is a fun ride. The dual POV really added to this book and I also liked the twist towards the end both of these things made this book enjoyable for me. What happens when you have the itch to go back to something you have given up for domestic life? A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage is the answer.

I adored this book. A couple who murder together?! This would be an epic TV series plot. For sure a winner. However, none of the characters felt likeable. Which is ok with me but something other readers should be aware of.

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage has a great premise and starts off really strong before it simply peters out. So much of the narrative is character introspection and backstory, and for most of the book, the pace is glacially slow. Though it is well written with some relatable insights into the realities of marriage and parenthood, I often found myself bored, wishing something interesting would happen and unable to read more than a few chapters at a time. It finally picked up in last 15% and felt more like a thriller, with a few good twists and big reveals, but overall, I would not put this book in that category.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary ARC.