This is definitely a slow burn thriller. I initially thought the idea of telling the story in reverse sounded unique, but ultimately, I didn't enjoy it. I found that just when I was getting invested in a chapter and what was happening, it would end and jump ahead so far and then start building up to the section I just read. It just kept taking me out of the story and it didn't work for me. There is a lot of infidelity in this book, which I'm not a huge fan of, and I didn't really care for any of the characters. Overall, the story was pretty good, but it was just hard to keep track of everything.

Thank you NetGalley & William Morrow for an eARC of this book in exchange of my honest review. #NetGalley #KillYourDarlings

I’m a fan of Peter Swanson but I’m not a fan of slow burn thrillers. I liked the set up with the story being told in reverse but did not like the characters.

This is my first Peter Swanson book and it won't be the last! Kill Your Darlings is a slow-burn psychological mystery that is told in reverse; from 2025-1982. Wendy and Thom are a successful (seemingly) married couple in their 50s with one adult son, Jason. Thom is a professor at a local university in New England and Wendy is a published poet. Money is not a concern, as readers will find soon find out and not due to Thom's tenured salary. Wendy has started to almost loathe her husband (or at least worry he can't live with the secrets that tie them together) after half a lifetime together and has begun to fantasize about killing him, until it's no longer just a fantasy. What led to this pivotal moment in their marriage? With most characters pretty unlikeable Swanson has built a unique story told in chronological reverse-while the middle felt slower than the rest of the novel the last third really sped up. Readers will want to pay attention as certain characters and situations pop up that are very relevant in Wendy and Thom's early history. 3 stars rounded up to 3.5 for that clever ending!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Peter Swanson has become an auto-read for me! I loved how the story is told in reverse, however I didn’t love the characters in this one. It was a bit of a slow burn overall but everything was wrapped up nicely in the end.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such a unique and thrilling book! It was really interesting to dive into a book that works backwards to reveal the story and how things come to be.

This was a cleverly crafted slow burn thriller that's starts at the end and works its way back to reveal how things came to be. The destruction of a marriage lies in a shared secret, and a connected history together through the years. I enjoy Swanson's thrillers, overall. I was hoping for a faster paced twistier read, but can appreciate the artistry this one takes to craft. I will keep reading this author even if this wasn't my absolute favorite.

What did I just read? Such a unique and riveting thriller! A unhappy wife who just wants her husband un-alive. They were juvenile sweethearts and have gone through so many ups and downs. We see their POV's in this backwards telling drama filled love story. Fairytale or nightmare? I will let you decide. That ending? Standing ovation, clap until your hands hurt!
Thank you NetGalley, Peter Swanson and William Morrow for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you William Morrow and Netgalley for this ARC! This story tells of a couples life in reverse order from their 50th birthday they share to when they met as teenagers and the secrets held throughout their lives. This was a great perspective of telling a story without missing a beat with Incredible writing that you won’t be able to put down and sad to see it end! Fantastic!

As you know by now if you are a potential reader and have read the publishers blurb, the story is told in reverse, with a crime in the beginning and what led up to it in the upcoming chapters.

Firstly, I am a fan of this author and have enjoyed his previous works much more so than this one. I didn't like any of the characters here actually and that is important to me as a reader. I like the connection and relatability, which this didn't have for me. The entire novel is leading up to a secret that is shared by the main characters, a couple of many years who aren't happy together anymore but bound to each other by their past.

Many may like this more than I did and I do encourage Swanson's fans to give it a go, but this just wasn't for me. Three stars is the most I can award this with my personal opinion, but I thank publishers Morrow via NetGalley and author Peter Swanson for the opportunity to peruse the e-ARC and publish my review with my honest opinion.

This was fine with an interesting construction. I don't think it rises above other books in the genre to make it into your beach bag this summer.

Thom and Wendy have been married for 25 years and have a pretty good life. Their son is grown, Thom works at the local university, and Wendy…well…Wendy wants to kill her husband. Told in reverse time, this story follows along through Thom and Wendy’s relationship from present day to when they first met.

I really enjoyed this story told in reverse style. I thought it brought a unique twist to the story, and kept me wondering why Wendy wanted him dead, and how they had gotten to that point. I also couldn’t stop reading because I needed to know more about the secret they shared that Wendy didn’t want to get out. Pretty much every character in this one is hatable in some way which I always find to be super enjoyable!

Thank you to @williammorrowbooks for my gifted copy of this book!

I just finished a great thriller. Peter Swanson has a hit in his latest book, Kill Your Darlings. It's available in a few weeks.

Thom and Wendy Graves have been married for over twenty-five years. Wendy is a published poet and Thom teaches English literature at a nearby university. Their son, Jason, is all grown up. All is well…except that Wendy wants to murder her husband.

This one seems to have mixed reviews, but I really enjoyed it! At first I wasn’t sure the format, being told a story in reverse, would be for me but I surprisingly found it very intriguing. Definitely a slow burn, but I found it continued to hold my interest throughout. And that ending! So very clever. Can’t say much else without giving away spoilers but if you’re a fan of a fun, easy read, then this one is for you!

This was an interesting book by Peter Swanson. Kill Your Darlings is the story of Wendy and Thom and their 25-year marriage, but told backwards. I was not a fan of this style of reading.

I would like to start by giving this book a 3.5. Would I recommend this book - Yes! I could not stop reading it, I had to know how it all ended. The moving back in times was an interesting way of telling the story. One I am still thinking about. It can be hard for my brain to process when books skip and move back. But it will all get there in the end! Was I shocked at the secrets - Yes and I am sure you will be as well!

I found this to be a unique and new way to tell a story. The story actually starts out at the end and then moves in reverse to the “start” of the love-story between the two main characters. Kudos to the author on the ability to do something unconventional but still engage the readers and have a story that flows well. I found it so interesting to see the reveals first and then find out the “why” or “how” afterwards as that’s not usually how mysteries are written. Pay close attention to the ending as there’s a quick twist that you’ll easily miss that was such a good way to end the story. If you are looking for a fresh take on the thriller mystery genre check this one out. Thanks to NetGalley for early access!

When I read the description of this book I knew it was going to be good. I was not wrong in that thinking. I was hooked on this book when I first started it. I couldn't put it down at all.

This one started out very strong. The reverse timeline was intriguing. The ending was crazy clever! The middle really dragged for me though and that's the reason I'm not rating it higher.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

William Morrow provided an early galley for review.

I have reviewed other Swanson novels before, so seeing his new one coming out I was eager to read it.

The concept of a novel that tells the story in reverse (going from 2023 all the way back to 1982) is an interesting idea. I have to wonder if the author wrote it in reverse or if he wrote them in a chronological order then just reversed them. I imagine it would be hard to write the story in reverse. For me, as a reader, knowing how the story "ends" did have me feeling less engaged at times as we moved back in time. While curious about some aspects of their story, I also found it to less suspenseful in others.

The second thing that threw me off here is that both of the main characters are unlikable in several ways. They seem so casual about some of the questionable acts they each commit. Swanson does have a talent though in writing despicable lead characters. So, here too I found myself as a reader torn but as a writer intrigued. It definitely put me in a bit of quandary.

Still, I liked how Swanson layered in reoccurring themes and imagery. And the ending ties it all together in a full circle way. I definitely appreciated what he was trying to do with this book even if I didn't fully enjoy the execution.

I liked this one. The reverse set up was an interesting way to mix up the narrative. It could have been faster paced, but overall, I enjoyed it.

I'll be sharing a review on my Instagram account this week. (@stressiereads)