I was really excited to read this but at time it seemed to drag. I thought it was overall a cute book!

I did not love this as much as I'd hoped. The premise was interesting and the mystery was fun (I'd love to explore that house!), but I found the beats predictable and that the story dragged on too long for what it was.

A forced-proximity/enemies-to-lovers light romance with a touch of mystery, Drop Dead was easy to breeze through and perfect for those who enjoy closed-door romances. The pacing was a bit rough, with characters having to almost sprint to catch up with the rest of the story. More background on each of the main characters from the start would have helped endear them to the reader. By the end, when they're both standing up for themselves and their future, I found it hard to care. The mystery was fun, if a bit unbelievable. However, the descriptions that went into the mansion were worth the trip. Oh, plus the cats. For the right romance reader, this will be a hit. Just not for me.

I’m so conflicted about this, Lily Chu is one of the most reliable authors I read, but this was just fine. It was just okay and it felt too long. Way too long. It felt so different from what she usually writes but maybe not in the best way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A spirited romp with undeniable charm, this enemies-to-lovers tale follows two rival journalists caught in a literary scavenger hunt that’s equal parts clever and captivating. Their witty banter crackles with energy, the cast bursts with quirky charisma, and the feline companions add an irresistible dose of heart.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablance for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this book with different expectations. Initially, I thought it might lean into a fantasy element, especially with a lead nicknamed “Lady Death.” That twist would have added a unique edge, but instead, the story stayed firmly grounded in a contemporary rivals to lovers setup, which unfortunately didn’t work for me.

The plot had potential, with its mysterious mansion and a long buried literary scandal, but the pacing felt slow, and the characters didn’t really draw me in. I found the female lead difficult to connect with, and the romantic chemistry between the two main characters felt more forced than compelling. While some readers might enjoy the tension between the characters, I personally found it predictable and lacking emotional depth.

Overall, this book just didn’t hold my attention. It took me much longer than usual to finish, which is rare for me. While the premise had promise, the execution fell flat in terms of engagement and character development.

i love love loved this book! the bickering and the back and forth between the fmc and mmc. and then them finally acknowledging their feelings? top tier! i also loved how they were both journalists researching the same thing which forced them to be together!

another good read and something im most likely to recommend!

I really liked this book. First of all I love the cover of this book! It is so cute! I also loved the mix of romance and mystery.

I really enjoyed this book! Drop Dead is a cute workplace enemies to lovers story with a fun mystery woven throughout.

This book was a little slow to start and the ending felt a little rushed. I love romance books with some mystery in them, but in this one I was more interested in the mystery as the romance fell a little short for me.

Lily Chu’s Drop Dead is a charming, genre-blending gem that delivers humor, heart, and just the right touch of mystery. Set against the backdrop of a mysterious mansion and a decades-old literary scandal, the story follows Nadine Barbault, a sharp-tongued obituary writer nicknamed “Lady Death,” and her longtime rival, Wesley Chen, as they’re forced to work together to uncover the truth behind a reclusive author’s past.

What makes this book shine is Chu’s signature blend of snappy dialogue, emotional depth, and quirky plotlines. Nadine and Wes’s enemies-to-lovers dynamic is electric, filled with banter, tension, and genuine growth. Their reluctant partnership evolves beautifully, and watching them navigate grief, ambition, and unexpected attraction is both hilarious and touching.

The secret-filled mansion is practically a character in itself, adding a cozy, slightly spooky atmosphere that perfectly complements the story’s themes of legacy and reinvention.

If you’re looking for a smart, funny, and emotionally resonant rom-com with a dash of ghostly intrigue, Drop Dead is a must-read. Lily Chu once again proves she’s a master of heartfelt storytelling with a twist.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book! The title and this beautiful cover drew me in and i was excited to read this book! I will be recommending this book to others for readers advisory.

"For the first time in his life, Wes understood how it was possible to love someone so much that home was no longer a where but a who."
3.5 ☆ (rounded up to 4☆)
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Drop Dead follows journalists Nadine Barbault and Wes Chen, whom have been rivals ever since they tied on their first assignment in Introduction to Journalism. Currently the two work, for competing companies. When Nadine makes a mistake and prematurely runs author, Dot Voline's obituary, it causes both Nadine and Wes to be curious about the scandal revolving around Voline's breakout book, Thirty Pieces of Silver. The pair are then forced to work together on a story about Voline and with her actual death they try uncover her secrets.

The banter between Nadine and Wes really added to their competitive dynamic. The petty moments where they are competing at the start, with getting Dot Voline to talk them was funny and fun to read. Then seeing the shift in their relationship with them getting to know each other and opening up emotionally, was satisfying. I really liked their raw emotional talk in the diner, it's the moment in which the pair truly start to understand each other on a personal level especially when it comes to their frustrations and prejudices they face at work. Even when there is miscommunication between them, they simply talked it out and expressed their feelings, rather than dragging it out for the sake of drama. Bonus there was no third act breakup!

The cats in this book were so cute! I liked the way they would subtly help Wes and Nadine find clues.

The one downside of Drop Dead is the pacing. It starts off strong, but the book hits a lull after the beginning. It doesn't ever really pick up in pace. Additionally, the mystery aspect wasn't that engaging or interesting. It just felt a bit basic at times with them uncovering a political scandal. Another downside, is there are some predictable elements like the third act conflict.

Drop Dead did make me reflect more on the craft of obituary writing and its impact. Overall, it was a pretty light and casual romcom read. I didn't find it to be addicting, but it had its moments and I liked the relationship between Nadine and Wes. The ending was the highlight of the book, it was very cute and satisfying. It wrapped up the story well.

Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I really wanted to love this one... but just, nope. I absolutely hated Wes; The big mama's boy angle got old really, really fast and just really made it hard to keep reading this one. I wanted to smack Wes upside the head and lead him to therapy, lock him in the room with a therapist and then just walk away.

Drop Dead had a fun premise and some unique twists, but overall it was a mixed read for me. Lily Chu blends rom-com charm with a supernatural angle, which kept things interesting, but I didn’t fully connect with the characters or the emotional stakes.

There were moments of clever dialogue and a few surprises I didn’t see coming, but the pacing felt uneven, and some parts of the story dragged a bit. I also found myself wanting more depth from the main character and her relationships—especially given the paranormal elements at play.

That said, it’s a creative and entertaining read that might appeal more to fans of light speculative fiction or those looking for something a little different in the rom-com genre.

I read this courtesy Sourcebooks and NetGalley. This was an unexpected delight. It’s a romcom with serious themes and more! Nadine is an obituary editor who makes a mistake in jumping the gun and running reclusive author Dot Voline’s obit while she’s alive—and it’s an embarrassing situation for both Nadine and her newspaper. But there’s an upside—sort of—to the kerfuffle: there’s a scandal attached to the author’s first book, something that’s never been brought out into the open. Intrigued, Nadine goes to apologize to Voline, only to run into her old college frenemy and rival, Wesley, who works for a rival newspaper and after the answers to the same story. Dot Voline won’t talk to them at first, but changes her mind, only to actually die. Nadine and Wes are told, however, that they will be allowed free rein of the massive, quirky mansion for three weeks to see if they can find their answer, but only if they work together. This charming story is more than a simple romance in that it combines enemies-to-lovers, family issues (with both Nadine and Wes), a mystery to be solved, and careers in trouble. Well worth the read and reread.
#DropDead #NetGalley

I've been reading this one slowly so as to savor each morsel. Such an intriguing book through every step of the plot. Loved the characters, the details of the setting, all of it!

3/5 Stars
Content:
One mysterious mansion. Two rival journalists. Three weeks to uncover the story—and love—of a lifetime.
Obituary writer Nadine Barbault doesn't mind being called "Lady Death." It suits the ice queen persona she's cultivated to survive the fast-paced Toronto Herald. So when Nadine learns that famous (and reclusive) author Dot Voline has died, she doesn't hesitate to run the obituary…only to discover that Dot is very much alive.
Nadine's screw-up has brought Wesley Chen of the rival Spear no end of joy—she's been a thorn in his extremely ambitious side for years. But the renewed interest in Dot also surfaced chatter about a mysterious past scandal. Intrigued, Wes goes to the source to learn more—only to discover Nadine had the exact same idea…and the infuriating woman isn't willing to respect dibs. Typical.
At first, Dot refuses to speak to either of the squabbling pair, but then they receive an unusual request—work together, and Dot will share everything. The offer seems too good to be true…and of course, it is: in a bitter twist of irony, Dot dies for real before she can finish recounting her story. Not all is lost, however. The estate's executor allows Wes and Nadine access to Dot's sprawling wonderland of a mansion for three weeks to find their answer. That's three weeks of working together…three weeks of endless sweltering in tight spaces…three weeks of learning there could be something more between them than a desire to win at any cost.
And maybe, just maybe, under the rubble of all those could-have-beens they'll uncover more than the secret of Dot Voline's long-ago scandal—and Lady Death will finally embrace what she's wanted from life all along.

Review:
I liked the premiss of the book. When I started reading it, it was quit slow and I think its just a little to long. I think this book would be better if you listen to the audiobook especially with a male and female narrator.

The Good: The Cover! (Omg the cover) It is so good. I also really liked that it tackled real world issues
- burn out, family expectations, safety - in a really well done way. I loved Dot, she was the linchpin of the story and very likable. The ending made me happy.

The Less Good: I felt like the pacing was off, with a slow moving start and an ending that went quickly. I wasn't super invested in the love story. I was more invested in the mystery, who's ending was medium satisfying.

Three and a half stars.

Nadine Barbault and Wes Chen were on the same journalism course at college, always rivals for everything, but somewhere along the way the competitiveness turned bad.

Nadine works for the Toronto Herald, she was on the politics desk until a reader objected to some of her articles, sent her abusive and violent messages and crowned it all by turning up at her apartment. After that, although the paper was (sort of) supportive, she moved to the recently vacated role of Obituaries Editor until one night, in her eagerness to be the first paper to publish the news, she ran the obituary of Dot Voline, a world-famous author, only to later discover the news of her death was, as they say, greatly exaggerated.

Wes works for the Spear, an online newspaper. He really wants to be on the Investigations desk, but after a six month internship he was transferred to the Sunday supplement style desk. His transfer may be because the online newspaper is losing money and his writing gets the most attention. When glorying in Nadine's error, he notices a comment online which references a past scandal involving Dot and decides to follow up in person with the elusive author. Nadine has seen the same comment (before the obituary was removed from the website) and has the same idea.

Although Dot initially refuses to speak to either of them, they eventually win her over - but she will only tell her story to the two of them together - they are going to have to collaborate to break the story. Week after week they visit her OTT mansion, getting ever closer to discovering what the scandal was about, but when Dot dies unexpectedly it seems the story might die with her, until her heir offers them three weeks to search for evidence/clues.

Of course, as they search the mansion the enforced proximity forces the two of them to look beyond their rivalry and discover they have more in common than they thought. But when they uncover a decades old scandal will they fight to break the story?

After a slow start this was a fun read, sweet, funny, full of cats, secret basements, and hidden rooms.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.