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)

2.5 stars rounded up 3

The reverse timeline in the book was interesting. It took a bit to get used to. We learn about Thom and Wendy who have been married for 25 years. Starting with most recent events in their marriage, we learn what led to the breakdown of their love story and the secrets they hold. While the ending was well done, the slow burn with one dimensional characters made it difficult to maintain interest in the story.

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

Interesting book about a married couple told backwards. I really enjoyed the story but it wasn't a standout for me. Pretty enjoyable read though!

Thank you William Morrow for my gifted copy!

“I guess in the end, you start thinking about the beginning.” - Brad Pitt, Mr. And Mrs. Smith

What a unique book from the great Peter Swanson. I’ve only read one book before that essentially counts down from the beginning, (All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda) and I loved it. So Kill Your Darlings was a refreshing change of pace.

Separate from the Miranda book, Kill Your Darlings starts out with a bang, a fall, a death, and we slow step backwards through decades to the very beginning. It was sweet this way. I found it endearing, already knowing what was to come 40 years in the future.

And the gasp I let out at the end sent my mind roaring back to the beginning - to that very minute moment where this book snowballs - and feeling as if I had been slapped. An absolutely brilliant reveal that makes you envision the messy and fraught future that comes after the final page of this book. I absolutely loved it.

The story starts in the present but quickly pulls you back in time, peeling away layers of the past to reveal what really shaped everything. It’s like watching a puzzle come together in reverse—each chapter uncovers a new piece of history that changes how you see the characters and their choices. This backward journey adds a tense, almost haunting atmosphere, making every moment feel heavy with meaning.

The characters don’t just live their emotions—they carry them quietly, in ways that feel authentic and raw. Their struggles, fears, and moments of despair aren’t always obvious, but they simmer beneath the surface, making you feel the weight of their experiences without needing everything spelled out. It’s a subtle but powerful way to connect with their pain.

The way the past unravels makes the story linger in your mind. You realize how much the characters are shaped by what’s behind them, and how understanding that past is key to understanding everything. It’s a slow reveal, but one that grips you emotionally and keeps you hooked until the very end.

I just recently rewatched Memento, the creative and brilliant movie by Christopher Nolan told in reverse, so I thought it only fitting to read Kill Your Darlings, a book told in reverse by another creative genius.

Kill Your Darlings is about the unraveling of a marriage, told in reverse

Peter Swanson does an excellent job developing his characters. By the end of chapter one, I had a clear picture of our MCs Wendy and Thom.

This was a character study, focusing on a marriage full of secrets that have the ability to destroy a relationship. It makes you think about what you would do for love, for a promise of forever.

I was expecting some shock factor, but there was none, which did leave me a bit disappointed. Regardless this was a good story, well written, and one that kept pulling me back.

Thom and Wendy are Middle school sweethearts who meet up later in life and end up married. There are secrets that bind them. The story is told in reverse, Memento style. It takes a bit of effort to get used to the backwards way of comprehending but by the end it finally comes together with a clever moral of the story. This is a slow burn novel laden with murder and alcohol filled characters. It raises some interesting questions regarding death and playing God. Someone is always watching...

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

Thom and Wendy have been married twenty five years. Wendy now wants kill Thom. Understanding why requires to understand the past.

I have loved all Swanson’s books. While I did enjoy it, not quite as much as his others. The timeline jumped around a lot. If I had known, I would have kept track of the years to better place myself each chapter. I realize now it was going backwards, which I which I caught earlier. I did really like the ending. I also loved that it featured the exorcist steps because I love visiting them in georgetown.

“We live, we die, and in between we need to protect the people we love.”

Kill Your Darlings comes out 6/10.

2.5 Stars

I thought this was a unique way to tell a story — chronologically in reverse — but I was a little underwhelmed by it as a whole. The ending, which I imagine is supposed to be a shock or reveal, wasn’t surprising to me. The characters are unlikable, and I do love a good unlikable character, but I wish they would have been fleshed out and not so two-dimensional.