**Many thanks to Berkley and Tasha Coryell for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley!**

Can you imagine if Hallmark had a section with cards that read "From one psychopath to another"...and that message actually SOLD?

Such is the foundation and thought process behind "Better Love", a matchmaking service with a very unusual specialty: they find soulmates for those that seem un-dateable because they're uh, MORE than a bit unhinged. Lexie is proud to work for this company and also excited: today is her birthday and she's ready to meet her handsome boyfriend (and hopefully soon, fiance!) Noah for a perfect evening out. But when said fiance arrives with her friend Molly, and a guilty look on his face, the night takes an UGLY turn...and you can probably guess where this is going. The sordid affair between the two people she thought she could trust most leaves Lexie broken...and it's not too surprising that she ends up looking for solace in another man's arms. The man from this one night stand, Zach, seems to get her on a deeper level from the jump...but does he REALLY get her? Or was their meeting no coincidence?

Lexie's predisposition to help people find their soul (or perhaps soulLESS) mates all started when she was young. Growing up with two serial killer parents was unconventional to say the least, but she's trying to work through it in the healthiest way she knows how: therapy. And when she happens to follow her matchmaking client Rebecca into The Children of Murdered Parents group, she quickly sees a different kind of soulmate: a Galentine of her very own. The two hit it off and begin talking more and more, swapping stories and giggling over reality TV shows together...just like her FORMER friend Molly used to do with her too. But when BODY PARTS arrive at Lexie's house...and she finds out Noah is MISSING...a much grimmer picture begins to form in her mind...and Lexie wonders if her latest entanglements might have something to do with it. Or are the missing gaps of time in her mind evidence that perhaps serial killer behavior runs in the family after all?

Genre mashups are always tricky, and this one is nothing if not a BIT messy. Unfamiliar with Tasha Coryell after skipping yet ANOTHER book about serial killers and their ilk (Love Letters to a Serial Killer, Coryell's first effort), I didn't know whether to expect comedy with a bit of horror, romance with a side of horror-comedy...or some other wild and woolly amalgam of the three. It's true, there ARE elements of each present in this one, but to be honest, this book's predisposition to try to be everything to everyone kind of reminded me a bit of Lexie herself in terms of people-pleasing behavior....and consequently, as the saying goes: "You can satisfy some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot satisfy all of the people all of the time." (John Lydgate)

Meaning that while this book immediately drew me in and had a lot of fun moments, its premise relying on such a dramatic suspension of disbelief while also sort of masquerading as 'you can believe this, it's TOTALLY plausible' led to a sort of cognitive dissonance that got harder and harder to ignore. While I found Lexie relatable (and certainly likable!) from the jump, I'm not sure why we had to spend SO many pages talking about why she loved reality TV and more specifically, why she loved reality TV watching with her former friend Molly. After a while, I just felt like I was supposed to be feeling sorry for her rather than relating to her...and that sort of removed some of the inherent lightness of the story itself. This is also one of those books where GIANT red flags keep popping up that the narrator has developed some sort of color blindness toward, because while life is full of coincidences...there just aren't THAT many. ESPECIALLY in such a short span of time.

Perhaps what frustrated me most of all was figuring out parts of the plot...and finding them underwhelming at that. I WANTED to get swept away by this one so much more than I did, but because there was no TRUE love story to root for and no 'pure' friendship at its core, it was more of a struggle than I would have liked. I wanted surprise, drama, intrigue...heck, even Lexie resolving her FAMILY trauma would have been fine by me. Instead, I got little glimpses of things I liked, but nothing I could fully sink my teeth into (yes, I realize this wasn't exactly a vampire novel, but you know what I mean!) I also think this book could have VASTLY benefited from a bit of a retooling and a Valentine's Day release. At its core, I think it wanted to be more of a romance novel with an edge and having a bit of a lackluster thriller reveal, would have probably been better off leaning into this aspect rather than its complicated genre-bending permutations. I felt like I got a bunch of samples that were tasty, but what I wanted was a complete, three-course meal.

And while Better Love DID seem like a better matchmaking option than let's say, Tinder...I think in the words of Alice Deejay, this protagonist would have been Better OFF alone.

3.5 stars, rounded down from 4

Matchmaking for Psychopaths was such a fun book about a woman, the daughter of serial killers, who works for matchmaking firm, setting up psychopaths on dates. Because for obvious reasons, they seem to struggle. I don’t want to give spoilers but the book is bonkers but also hilarious. I loved how she lived her life as if everything was normal when really things were off the wall. So many had decisions and wild antics, and yet you can’t help but love the protagonist and feel for her.

Tasha Coryell’s Matchmaking for Psychopaths has the bones of a stylish Netflix thriller, sharp premise, messy relationships, and a protagonist whose life unravels just as suspicious deaths begin stacking up. The mix of dark humor, psychological tension, and the hook of a dating service for people on the psychopathy scale would translate neatly into a pulpy, bingeable movie with shades of You. On the page, though, the execution doesn’t always rise to the promise: Alex is compelling but not consistently fleshed out, the twists are more predictable than shocking, and the pacing sometimes drags in the middle. As a book, it’s an uneven but entertaining three stars. As a Netflix adaptation, however, its lurid setup, dramatic betrayals, and morally murky characters could easily be streamlined into a sleek, fast-paced thriller perfect for a Saturday night watch.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
🔪 1st person POV
🔪 single POV
🔪 single timeline
🔪 slow burn
🔪 true crime
🔪 The Real Housewives

I did not initially realize that this was the same author that wrote Love Letters to a Serial Killer, which I really enjoyed. This book was absolutely perfect for me, with all the true crime, The Real Housewives and even VANDERPUMP RULES!! This book includes every one of my favourite things 🤪🤪
This one was definitely a slowwww burn. It did not hook me right away and actually required some commitment before it got going, but once it did I was absolutely HOOKED and I could not get enough!
There was a teeny little bit of spice 🌶️ in here, which is kinda fun for a crime book 🤪
The ending was so silly and satisfying 🤪🤪 I did not see the ending coming!! I loved it 🩷
I loved all the psychopaths in this one 🤪🤪 I love a found family trope, and this one definitely had it!
Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing and Tasha Coryell for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review 💕💕

This book was FUN! I didn't know what to expect going into it, but it was a wild ride and I loved it! There was a lot of dark humor, a little gore, a little romance, and good twists. I loved our MC, Lexie, and wonder if we may see her in another book at some point?

This book gave me all the creepy feelings. Lexie is a matchmaker for psychopaths, as the title claims. Lexie has a secret: her parents were murderers, and her father was also murdered, and her mother is in prison. She tries to keep this information private, as people's opinions change when they learn this. She works for a company that provides matchmaking and she is engaged to Noah - that is, until her best friend and Noah admit to an affair.
She meets a new best friend, Rebecca, and a man, Aidan. She also tries to lure Noah back to her, and succeeds one night. As the story unfolds, Lexie starts receiving body parts. Yes, human body parts are sent to her - YUCK.
Lexie rails against being like her parents, but can she? And can she find her true soulmate and best friend.
CREEPY.

4.25 stars

This was such a fast paced and fun read! I loved the dark humor and the subtle simmer of the unhinged just below Lexie's surface that you just knew was going to come out sooner or later. It is a known truth about Alexandras, after all. After a traumatic childhood being raised by serial killer parents, Lexie is now trying to have a normal life with a new name, a stable if not dull doctor fiancé in Noah, and a job as a successful matchmaker. Her specialty? Matching psychopaths together. Her perfectly constructed world comes crashing down when her fiancé leaves her for her best friend, and then soon shows up piece by piece on her doorstep. With all the new psychopaths in her life, handsome Aidan who knows her darkest secrets, and new client turned replacement best friend Rebecca, Lexie can't be sure exactly who is behind Noah's disappearance and death. Was this over the top and far fetched? Of course it was. Did I care? I did not. Put another one in the "oh snap, this is more relatable than it should be" category. Dark rom-coms are quickly becoming a favorite of mine, perfect for a cynic who can't quite deprogram from their 90s movies upbringing.

I love a mystery-type book where the main character (and all the other characters) are a little bit crazy! This was a lot of fun... part quirky romance, part twisty and slightly disturbing murder mystery, this was just as fun as the title implies. I really enjoyed every pages of this book!

First of all, props to Tasha Coryell for having the coolest covers and book titles. When I saw Matchmaking for Psychopaths I knew it was a book I needed to read as soon as possible. This book was highly improbable, super ridiculous, and just so much fun!

Lexie thinks she has it all figured out. She’s thriving at work as a matchmaker, finally has a best friend she would do anything for, and she’s about to marry Noah, the man of her dreams. But then one night - on her birthday no less - the life she has worked for hard for blows up when her bestie Molly reveals she’s been having an affair with Noah! Lexie knows Noah is the one for her and she’s determined to get him back. But then she starts receiving mysterious little “offerings” and while she knows Noah is a “part” of it, she doesn’t know who is responsible for the deliveries. Could it be Rebecca, the stunning new client she has a connection with? Or possibly Aidan, the handsome stranger she drunkenly hooked up with and always seems to just be there?

Lexie is such a little weirdo, but I guess you would have to be to knowingly work with psychopaths on a daily basis. Her reactions were definitely over the top and I questioned her own sanity more than once, but I still thought she was an easy main character to get behind and root for. I didn’t expect this book to get as dark as it did, but I was here for it to be honest. This was the perfect blend of dark humor, mystery, and romance. I would also recommend Coryell’s debut Love Letters to a Serial Killer as that is just as fun!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a review copy.

From the first chapter, Matchmaking for Psychopaths grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. The plot weaves a maze of secrets, betrayals, and shocking revelations that kept me guessing until the very last sentence. The writing is razor-sharp, pulling you into scenes so vivid they play out like a movie in your mind. Every twist landed with perfect timing, raising the stakes higher and higher. It’s an absolutely unputdownable ride from start to finish.

Quirky, satirical and unique are the first three words I can think describe this one.

It took me a little while to adjust to the tongue in cheek, but once I did, it was a lot of fun. Who knew thriller and fun could both describe a book, right? And I could throw in romance. It’s a mash up for genres that is definitely unlike anything else you’ve read.

It’s very much character driven and for as odd as they are, they are relatable.

Don’t expect to take anything too seriously and just roll with the wild ride. It is bound to keep you on your toes.

Sarah Mollo Christensen Was a great choice as narrator for the audiobook. She really made the eye rolling story come across as normal. She really brought an extra something to this listen.

The title and cover of this book hooked me before I even read the blurb, and I was not disappointed!

Alexandra (Lexie) is a matchmaker for a very specific type of clientele… psychopaths. Some might call that unusual, but hey, every other part of her life is picture-perfect. At least, until she shows up to her birthday dinner expecting a proposal from her doctor boyfriend, only to learn he’s leaving her for her best friend. What follows is a genre-bending tale that’s wildly entertaining, spectacularly unhinged, and downright hilarious.

What makes this book so great is that it’s told entirely from Lexie’s POV, letting us witness every spiraling, derailed thought she has along the way. She’s full of sass and sage wisdom like, “Murder isn’t a love language!” She is also surprisingly insightful, delving into the nuances of love and the lasting effects of childhood trauma.

This is also my kind of romance. It’s witty, twisted, and coupled with a page-turning murder mystery that gives big Dexter vibes. I did guess the “who,” but not the “why” or basically anything else (and even if I had, the story was so good I wouldn’t have cared). Simply put, I devoured every word.

If you’re looking for a bingeable read that’s a little deranged and full of dark humor, look no further! Finally, something I rarely recommend: skip the blurb, skip the spoilers, and go in blind. You can thank me later!

Big thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for the gifted ARC!

Lexi gets dumped by her fiancé for her best friend on her birthday. This is especially humiliating since she had no idea and because she’s a matchmaker. No worries, Lexi has a plan to get him back and to serve up some justice to her ex-best friend. However, things go a bit wonky when her ex is murdered and the murderer starts sending her gifts. The messages included send a chill up Lexi’s spine since the culprit knows things about Lexi’s origins that she’d rather not come out.

Lexi is a matchmaker for psychopaths! Yep, it’s nuts, but she has a knack for it given her history which is slowly revealed. I was riveted from the first page as Lexi tried to find out who’s behind everything and as her past is slowly revealed. I had my ideas but was also surprised.

I loved Matchmaking for Psychopaths! It was a little unhinged and darkly funny! I liked Lexi and rooted for her to prevail and for her new romance! A definite recommend!

Ty Berkley Pub for a copy!

Love is a dangerous game when your clients are killers…

It's a bit weird picking this up right after watching The Materialist because how did I consume two forms of media with matchmaking as a central plot back to back?? This book did go off the rails though, but in a beautiful way. A romance-thriller, sad girl novel all rolled into one! The writing was fresh and easy to read in one sitting -- I was invested and found myself rooting for the MC (Lexie) and hoping she just lives the "normal" life she craves.

ALSO, please dive into this blind. I feel like the synopsis on StoryGraph/Goodreads spoil the twists a bit.

Perfect for fans of You Season 2!

3.5 stars, rounded up
It took me a while to get invested in this story, and I did figure some of it out but not all. In the end, this is a really twisted story.

Basically, this is the story of Lexie, who works as a matchmaker for those whose personality tests indicate that they have psychopathic tendencies. Lexie has a troubled, traumatic past and keeps a very tight lid on that information. When she arrives at her birthday dinner expecting her boyfriend Noah to propose, she finds her best friend there with him. They say they are in love with each other. Lexie is reeling...what is she supposed to do?

I don't want to give too much plot information because this book is best just experienced for yourself. Let's just say that it is unhinged in the best possible way. Although I thought I knew where the story was going, I was somewhat right and somewhat wrong. And with this book, it's more the journey that matters more than the mysteries themselves. However, there are some doozy twists that really shocked me.

I liked Lexie and was rooting for her throughout the book. I wanted her to get her redemption, to overcome the intense trauma of her childhood, to find love and people who accepted her. As with the previous book I read by this author, Love Letters to a Serial Killer, this novel takes the reader down unexpected paths and never lets you get complacent about the story.

5/5
This is not my usual genre I read, but holy cow, this book INCREDIBLE. It had me guessing every chapter, my jaw was on the floor!! My brain was scrambling to figure it all out & when you think you had it, you were wrong! My jaw was on the floor in the end! Every page was just amazing.

Thank you @berkleypub and @prhaudio for the free book & audiobook. ‧₊˚⊹

♡ Even a villain deserves a happy ending…

Look, I don’t know if this is considered Horror (Lexie is the “final girl”) or Romance (a la Bonnie & Clyde) or a Mystery (“whodunnit”) and I loved that about this book.

Reminiscent of Rachel Harrison’s brand of horror, or Ashley Winstead’s brand of dark thriller, there’s no gore but a lot of murder, and a romance brewing.

I don’t want to give away the plot so I recommend going in mostly blind and letting the book take you for a ride. It’s not taking itself too seriously, there’s lots of humor, but there is also unexpected depth.

When you find yourself rooting for a villainous revenge and a psychopaths redemption arc… bravo @tashacoryell Tasha Coryell. 🙈

Like her debut, Love Letters to a Serial Killer, this was completely unhinged and I was here for it.

▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||။‌‌‌‌‌|• 🎧 Sarah Mollo Christensen gave voice to Lexie’s idiosyncrasies and nods to comedic reality tv confessionals.

🔪 Add this to your list for summerween! Out now.

4.5 rounded up

"Love is a dangerous game when your clients are killers."
Matchmaking for Psychopaths is a captivating read that had me turning pages until the very end. The author was new to me and I can not wait to read more books from this author. This was written well and was such a clever and twisty read. Every character in this one was so interesting and I liked Lexi the most. The book kept me guessing until the very end. I loved this book so much and would recommend it to every reader, especially to those who like thrillers or mysteries. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group/ Berkley for this amazing read in exchange of my honest review of Matchmaking for Psychopaths by Tasha Coryell.

Thank you for the free book @penguinrandomhouse and @berkleypub! #penguinrandomhousepartner #berkleyIG #BerkleyBookstagram. Thank you for the free audiobook, @prhaudio!

I think I love delulu POVs now 😂

You guys! This book was such a unique read with a very interesting lead and plot. It was so bingeable and fast paced and you’ll definitely finish this in one sitting!!! It’s from the same author who wrote Love Letters to a Serial Killer - which I also really enjoyed! Highly highly recommend!!!

I went into this blind so I really had a great time following the story along but if you need the plot, here it is!

Okay so our female lead (Alexandra) had a rough childhood. She’s the only daughter of two serial killers. When her parents finally got caught, she made sure that everything she does in life is perfect. She’s also very good at her job. She works at a matchmaking service but her expertise is matchmaking psychopaths. On her bday, what she thought was going to be a proposal turned out to be the day that her fiance and bestfriend told her that they were dating behind her back. Days after, she receives a box with a heart inside it. An actual human heart. Now she’s wondering who sent it and whose heart was it. Aaaand that’s how our story starts. I don’t want to give anything more than that 😅

I had the physical copy (thanks to Berkley) but because the main lead has such a unique pov and interesting personality, I tried the audiobook and omg it was perfection. The narrator did a good job bringing the character to life!

I dont even know which genre should we classify this as: it had dark humor, a thriller element to it, and a side of romance. Maybe fiction? 🤷‍♀️😂 But omg guys. Please read it if you want a definitely unique read. It was really good!!

4.5⭐️ A friend of mine said that this book was like if the movie “Materialists” had been horror instead and I said, say less I’m downloading it right now.

Should I have read this before going to bed? No. Did I get scared at times and have to lock my bedroom door? 100% yes and I’d do it again. Matchmaking for Psychopaths was so addicting and I had no clue where it was going and enjoyed the ride. There are so many details throughout the story that makes you question the characters’ motives and thought processes. And honestly I questioned myself if my guesses were correct…and I was so wrong, especially at that plot twist I didn’t see coming. It was very satisfying near the end when everything started to click in place. I need this to be a movie asap!! And I will definitely be picking up Tasha’s other book.

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the arc!