Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!

I feel like the synopsis should not have mentioned that Dot dies. Rather than hitting the ground running, we spend the first quarter of the book slowly working our way through what the reader already knows. Had Dot dying been a surprise, there would be less time spent waiting for the book to get going.

Otherwise, though, it was an all right book. No glaring issues but nothing terribly stand out about it, either. Personally, I didn't really feel much romantic chemistry between Wes and Nadine. As individuals, I really liked them and I wish we had gotten more development in their personal lives outside of their relationship with each other. Their respective family dynamics were interesting! As friends, I could really see them keeping that competitive but now respectful energy they had. I liked the friendly banter they had going. As lovers? They found each other physically attractive, which we are reminded of over and over and over again. They banged. Several times and off page. I don't think they're a bad couple but I just wasn't feeling sparks. Which could very well be a me thing. I tend to gravitate more toward romances that start emotional and then turn physical, with the rare exception. That being said, the epilogue is incredibly cute!

Actual rating: 2.5 stars

As a huge fan of Lily Chu's I was so excited to read this especially when I saw it was a mystery. Sadly, I did not enjoy this book as much as I was expecting to.

This was different than I was expecting and sadly not in a good way. I was thinking this was a murder mystery but it was just a romance with a mystery (and not quite what’d you expect when you think of a mystery).

The romance was kinda meh honestly. It just seemed very robotic, as if they were just kind of going through the motions. I didn't find their relationship very exciting. The miscommunication part was also not it sadly. I’m a huge fan of the miscommunication trope and it fell flat for me in this book.

Both Nadine and Wes had character growth throughout the book which was nice. I also loved Dot's character.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an entertaining book with an interesting premise. I liked the characters and the plot progressed at a good pace.

I wanted to love this, but it just fell a little flat to me. I only read up to 60% and DNF’d because the storyline was too slow for me. I’d love to try reading it again, maybe it was a mood thing.

Drop Dead was an unexpected delight—and I devoured it. This book was everything I didn’t know I needed: a smart, warm, engaging blend of cozy mystery, romantic tension, and personal growth, all wrapped up in an enemies-to-lovers package that felt refreshingly sincere.

The story follows rival journalists Nadine and Wes, who are thrown together to interview a reclusive mystery author. When she unexpectedly dies mid-interview, her heir gives them a month to solve a mystery hidden in her chaotic, cat-filled house. What unfolds is a heartwarming, often hilarious, and deeply emotional journey of personal reckoning, grief, ambition, and—of course—romantic sparks.

What truly stood out was how author Lily Chu balanced heavier themes (racism, sexism, family trauma, and toxic expectations) with a light, enjoyable tone. Nadine and Wes are richly layered characters, and their emotional self-reflection and growth were deeply satisfying to read. I appreciated how their rivalry was rooted in mutual respect and how their banter never strayed into mean-spirited territory.

One of my favorite things? No third-act breakup. Despite plenty of moments where it could have happened, the story instead leaned into mature communication and vulnerability. It was such a relief to see two characters who genuinely want to understand each other—and who do.

The romantic arc felt realistic and earned. Wes and Nadine grew both as individuals and as a couple, and their forced proximity setup gave us plenty of memorable (and cat-filled!) moments. Wes especially got unfair criticism from some readers, but I loved how Chu explored his sense of familial obligation through a cultural lens. He’s not a “mama’s boy”—he’s navigating the complex role of eldest son in an immigrant household, and he does it with quiet strength and growing clarity.

The mystery element was surprisingly compelling and fun without overshadowing the romance. And Dot—what a firecracker of a character. I loved the way she was posthumously brought to life through clues, memories, and the chaos she left behind.

Also worth noting: the narration is stellar. Both narrators brought so much heart and personality to their roles. I could picture every scene, feel every shift in tone, and got completely swept up in the world.

This is a clean romance (no explicit scenes), which surprised me—but in the best way. The intimacy and emotional closeness more than made up for it, and honestly, anything more wouldn’t have matched the tone of the story.

In short: if you love rivals-to-lovers, forced proximity, meaningful character arcs, a dash of cozy mystery, and a romance that makes you feel, this is absolutely the book for you. It’s charming, witty, heartfelt, and refreshingly thoughtful. Lily Chu nailed it with this one, and I can’t wait to read more from her.

When obituary writer Nadine Barbault discovers that famous reclusive writer Dot Voline is dead, she runs the obituary only to discover she's alive. Her screw up brings her rival Wes Chen much joy until they have to work together on a scandal related to Dot Voline. When Dot ironically dies before telling her story, the estate's executor allows Wes and Nadine three weeks at the mansion to find answers.

Nadine's work was interesting. An area that is normally overlooked was brought to light and its importance emphasized. I loved how she came to accept it as she and Wes tried to unearth Dot's past life for answers.

I loved their developing romance as they went from rivals to reluctant partners, housemates and cat parents 😂 The healthy communication between them was amazing. They encouraged each other with their work and family life and I loved seeing that.

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. It's out tomorrow.

Rating: 4.5⭐
Steam level: 2🌶️ Fade to black

A genre-bending rom-com that tries to balance charm, wit, and a hint of existential drama. The premise? Fresh, fun, and just weird enough to hook you.

But let’s be real: it’s long. Like need-a-snack-and-a-nap long. The pacing gets bloated in the middle, where scenes feel more like filler than plot. Some chapters could’ve easily been chopped without losing anything major. It’s not boring, just... stretched thin.

Now the male main character? Oof. We’re looking at a full-on mama’s boy. At first, it’s kinda sweet—he respects his mom, family matters, etc.—but then it tips into “Sir, therapy might help.” His emotional dependence gets a little much, especially when it starts messing with the romantic tension. You want a dark, mysterious, slightly broody man—but you get “I need to ask my mom first” energy. LOL!!

All that said, if you’re into strong female leads, quirky dialogue, and don’t mind a romance that’s a little on the slow side (and a man who maybe should be in a support group), Drop Dead has its moments.

It’s imperfect, but still entertaining.

Sinopsis en español:

A la escritora de obituarios a Nadine Barbault no le importa que la llamen "Lady Death". Se adapta a la personalidad de reina del hielo que ha cultivado para sobrevivir al trepidante Toronto Herald. Así que cuando Nadine se entera de que el famoso (y solitario) autor Dot Voline ha muerto, no duda en publicar el obituario... solo para descubrir que Dot está muy vivo.

El error de Nadine ha traído a Wesley Chen del rival Spear sin fin de alegría: ella ha sido una espina en su costado extremadamente ambicioso durante años. Pero el renovado interés en Dot también surgió la charla sobre un misterioso escándalo pasado. Intrigado, Wes va a la fuente para aprender más, solo para descubrir que Nadine tenía exactamente la misma idea... y la exasperante mujer no está dispuesta a respetar a Dibs. Típico.

Al principio, Dot se niega a hablar con cualquiera de las parejas que se pelean, pero luego reciben una solicitud inusual: trabajar juntos, y Dot compartirá todo. La oferta parece demasiado buena para ser verdad... y, por supuesto, lo es: en un amargo giro de ironía, Dot muere de verdad antes de que pueda terminar de contar su historia. Sin embargo, no todo está perdido. El albacea de la finca permite a Wes y Nadine acceder al extenso país de las maravillas de Dot de una mansión durante tres semanas para encontrar su respuesta. Eso son tres semanas de trabajo juntos... tres semanas de sofocante interminable en espacios reducidos... tres semanas de aprendizaje, podría haber algo más entre ellos que un deseo de ganar a cualquier precio.

Y tal vez, solo tal vez, bajo los escombros de todos esos que podrían haber sido, descubrirán más que el secreto del escándalo de Dot Voline hace mucho tiempo, y Lady Death finalmente abrazará lo que ha querido de la vida todo el tiempo.


Reseña:

Me gustó y lo disfruté.


Gracias NetGalley por el ARC.

I absolutely adored this sweet and slightly morbid rom-com! Drop Dead has a completely unique and absurd premise, as it’s a love story but also layered with death and mystery, family dynamics, mental health, and adventure. Chu writes in the POVs of Nadine and Wes, incredibly realistic sweethearts of characters, with delightful banter but also tender and nuanced emotional scenes. I love the care that Chu put into building these characters, including their cultural heritage and emotional backstories. The rivals-to-lovers dynamic is funny and sweet, with the just right amount of yearning. I appreciate driven yet humble characters, and especially a MMC that’s not arrogant, but is sensitive and prioritizes family.
I would even go to say romance isn’t the utmost priority in this novel, as it’s low spice and that Chu really digs into the complexity of each character as they navigate family conflicts, friendship dynamics, career trajectories and their own insecurities. Drop Dead not simply a rom com, it’s two people becoming best friends to support each other in difficult times and collaborate to solve a mystery and unearth corruption together. I love their relationship, and I loved our quirky Dot Voline and her wild home, our literary cats, and our characters ultimately finding strength and love throughout the story.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! Posted on goodreads

In this humorous and refreshing take on a rom-com, rival journalists, Nadine and Wes, compete to gain the inside scoop on a legendary author after Nadine accidentally publishes an obituary on the very-much-alive author. While this dual POV romance contains classic (and well-loved) tropes, such as enemies to lovers and forced proximity, Nadine being an obituary writer helped add a unique element to her character and humour. I enjoyed the banter between Wes and Nadine while they competed for the job and the romantic development (low-spice) between them was sweet. Both characters have their various drama/issues to overcome, which added depth to the characters. While I thought that some of these dramatic plot points could have been better resolved, and that the pace in the last roughly quarter of the book dropped somewhat (making it more 3.5 stars than 4 for me), it was, on the whole, an enjoyable, often funny and fresh read.

cute and sweet premise, but it started out very slow and tbh if i didnt have an ARC for it i think i would've just given up. also i hate third person pov and i found myself skipping through a lot of the "mystery" and "scandal" details

3.5⭐️

I’d like to preface this review by saying that I had read “Great Big Beautiful Life” at the same time I was reading “Drop Dead” and these plots are SO similar that you can’t help but compare the two. And unfortunately, this book just couldn’t hold its weight in competition. I wavered between granting this 3 vs 3.5 stars, but ultimately decided on the extra half star as I think I’d have enjoyed this more at another time.

Two rival newspaper journalist have to join forces to tell the story of an author with a secret she has been harboring for 40+ years. The secret they work together to uncover didn’t really hold my attention, but I did enjoy the quirky house with secret rooms and the four cats and their “cat daddy”. I also enjoyed the take on obituaries to reclaim them from sad, lifeless blurbs to make them biographies that feel lively.

I read this as an ebook, so have nothing to say regarding audio format in which it was originally published.

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

After reading Ana Haung's "King of Pride" I was excited to find another book that had both MMC and FMC of Asian heritage. Like give me another Kai Young leading man, I am all here from it. Sadly Wes Chen is not that leading man. Wes was an insufferable mama's boy. I don't know if that was suppose to be a commentary on the "Asian Helicopter Parent" stereotype but that isn't a man I could see romantically. I wondered if this book would have fit better if instead of enemies to lovers romance each character focused more on the character's struggles with their careers and families. This book is a half romance half fiction. I was also not aware this was suppose to be a "spooky" read. I didn't get that from what I read. Yeah death is creepy but "spooky"?

When Nadine Barbault, an obituary writer, accidental publishes the obit of a women who is not dead yet (Named Dot) this brings her rival Wes Chen into the picture as the two dive into a sandal about the not dead women. Each wants to publish the story before the other. When they both go to her house and she hears them auguring over her intercom she tells them she'll only give them the scoop they want if they work together. The agree and Dot starts to tell them her story. Then when Dot, does pass and Nadine and Wes never got the full story, so the two get access to Dot's house to find the truth together. While doing this Nadine and Wes start to rethink their lives and feelings for each other.

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.

Ever owned or driven an old car?

Takes time to start, right?
Then it appears to gain traction, speed up even.
But then it stalls or sputters out.

Reading this book was akin to that.

Set in Canada, Nadine and Wesley had been competing since their days in college. Trying to outwit, outsmart, and outmaneuver each other with their initial physical contact (after years) to happen in front of Dot's house.

The subsequent back and forth was cute. The description of Dot's home with its outlandish exterior and cluttered interior with its inquisitive cats is captured in detail. The author also does a good job in drawing out Wes's frustrations with his mother and Nadine's with the poor treatment at the hands of her editorial staff. So what's the problem? The plot time seemed to stall out at times.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca | Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This novel combined two of my favorite genres: romance and mystery. I love how both the romance and the mystery unfold by way of the humble obituary (I was once on the obits desk as a journalism intern), and it felt pretty satisfying seeing the characters redeem and transform the genre of the obituary into something more meaningful.

Nadine and Wes were likable characters with complex families and stories. (Wes's mother seemed a bit overdone at times, although I can certainly appreciate this particular typology of the Chinese mother.) I occasionally found myself wondering about practical issues, such as how Wes can afford to send his sister to Italy on a journalist's salary and how he has time to spend hours in the gym with his family and work commitments. But I was willing to suspend disbelief for the sake of the larger plot.

The unraveling of the Dot Voline mystery was slow but fun. I could certainly detect shades of real political scandals, although it's slightly depressing to think that this particular scandal has become so common that it has practically become a legitimated form of violence. Dot's character initially seemed designed to provide comic relief, but she really came into her own later on. It was refreshing to see a novelist appear in the thick of the plot without the narrative itself becoming overly meta.

I was ambivalent about Nadine's one-quarter Asian heritage. Her racial identity seemed to exist for its own sake without really moving the plot OR adding to her character. Wes's family story felt more alive to me, although, like I hinted at earlier, the figure of his mother came to seem increasingly overwrought and unlikely.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC of Drop Dead!

This book was average in just about every way. The premise of the book sounded interesting, but ultimately fell flat upon execution. The characters were forgettable and lacked depth. Additionally, the main characters lacked chemistry despite their communication being fairly decent towards the halfway mark of the book. Overall, this wasn’t my cup of tea hence the two star rating.

Nadine es una editora de obituarios en el prestigioso Herald, está atravesando una crisis personal y profesional tras publicar por error un obituario prematuro de una autora famosa, Dot Voline. Esta equivocación, provoca su degradación y la obliga a replantearse su identidad profesional.

Wes, por su parte, es periodista de estilo de vida en el medio digital Spear, y desea con ansias regresar al periodismo de investigación serio. Aunque sus enfrentamientos con Nadine siempre han tenido una carga de tensión competitiva, una nueva coincidencia los une: ambos intentan entrevistar a la misma escritora (Voline), lo que desata una batalla de ingenios y resentimientos acumulados.

La trama gira en torno al escándalo que rodea la figura de Voline, una escritora excéntrica. Nadine y Wes comienzan a indagar por separado en una posible controversia olvidada relacionada con su obra, lo que los obliga a colaborar a regañadientes. A medida que escarban en el pasado de la autora, también deben enfrentarse a su historia compartida, a sus prejuicios mutuos y a una atracción que han reprimido durante años.



--
Solo esperaba la parte en donde Wes se alejara de su madre.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest

Thank you to Netgalley and Lily Chu for an ebook an exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 3/5 Stars

I do typically love this author’s writing and books, but this one fell a bit flat for me. It still was an easy book to get through, but just not my favorite by this author.

Thank you so much to Lily Chu and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca | Sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC of this book. This was a great paced book. Had great cozy romance/mystery vibes. It sadly wasn't a favorite of mine, but still worth a read.