The Ex Girlfriends Murder Blub is a fun comic mystery about the exes of a cheating guy who get accused of his murder and have to solve it. Lots of wacky escapades, female bonding, and cozy mystery vibes.

I don't always love a podcast element, but in this book it was part of the hilarity, with the podcasters reporting all kinds of salacious rumors about the trio.

Perfect for fans of Elle Cosimano and Jesse Q. Sutanto

Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!

The audio was fantastic for this book and I really enjoyed the narrator as well!
This book was such a fun exploration of found friendship in the worst of circumstances and I really enjoyed all of the hijinks the girls ended up in. There was a lot go growth for Kat throughout the book and learning to faces her issues. Overall, this was a fun cozy mystery that had me chucking during my morning commute. I also thoroughly enjoyed learning the meaning to a lot of common phrases.
My one negative takeaway is that our main FMC, Kat reads as younger than she is and very naive to the world which was slightly annoying to me, however, I did enjoy that the chapter headers featured her unlucky or lucky "stats".

Thank you to netgalley, Harlequin Audio, Harlequin trade publishing and the author for the E-arc and ALC.

great story with lots of twists and turns. very low stakes. although i didn’t feel any emotional connection to any of the characters

This is a fun and lighthearted murder mystery about three jilted women going to get revenge on their cheating boyfriend just to find his body instead. They were very bad at being criminals and I enjoyed their shenanigans as they tried to clear their names. The romance didn't have much focus, but I thought it was cute. The book was a good time, I just wish there weren't SO many mentions of urine and feces

A chemist, a lawyer and a writer walk into a bar and hash out a plan for revenge. After discovering they’re all dating the same man, Kathryn, Olivia and Elle have reasonable cause to think, “I’m going to kill him” — but they’ll settle for some podcast-worthy pranks, instead. When the trio stumbles upon the dead body of their ex-boyfriend Tucker, they must find his killer if they hope to clear their own names. This charming Boston-based whodunnit has as many hijinks as it does motivated suspects. Author Gloria Chao grew up outside Boston and went to MIT and became a dentist before turning to writing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ — The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club is a twisty, fast-paced read perfect for fans of Finlay Donovan and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. With a fresh blend of dark humor and amateur sleuthing, it delivers a fun, if slightly over-the-top, ride through murder and messy relationships.

While the premise was intriguing and the characters had great banter, some of the plot points stretched believability, and a few twists felt more chaotic than clever. Still, it’s an entertaining pick if you’re in the mood for a sassy, crime-filled romp with bite.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

What do Kathryn (a geeky scientist), Olivia (an attorney), and Elle (a writer) have in common? 🧪⚖️📚 Tucker Jones — their cheating, no-good ex-boyfriend. 🙄 They band together to confront him… only to find him already dead. Now it’s a race to prove they didn’t do it and figure out who did.

This book was seriously hilarious — I was laughing out loud more than once but also completely pulled into the mystery! If you’re into revenge plots with a side of chaos and clue-hunting, this is for you. 👀

It’s witty, wild, and full of girl gang energy. A perfect mix of humor and murder mystery — and yes, I devoured it.

I’m not the target audience for this book. The content is juvenile, and I had no respect for the characters given their immature and malicious behavior. DNF ~25%.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

This had the vibes of John Tucker must die but with a murder mystery. I loved the way the plot was fun but also twisty. I did not see the ending coming the way it did. I was shocked on how the murdered was but I love the way it was discovered. This was a good light hearted murder mystery. It had the perfect amount of tension for a book of this romcom murder mystery.

This review will contain spoilers. I do try to look at the message behind the story.

It was interesting to see the three friends come together and build a bond over the dislike of the ex. I'm sure the podcast segments will be so much fun in an audio version of this book and I kinda wish we had a real podcast, similar.

I did not love how the girls sometimes acted like they do anything and expect there to be no consequences over it. The twist however was interesting, and I wasn't expecting that.

However, the thoughts coming to my mind about how we can make blessings come from bad situations was beautiful. Two new immediate friends over the bonding of trauma. How they both realized that they found someone who helped them accept who they were and be able to improve upon but learning that they could do that for themselves. Also, that acting impulsively for revenge isn't an easy clean up. It can have life altering consequences.

I plan to share this title on my instagram at www.instagram.com/robinashleyreads just before publication.

This one was an interesting read. It gave me vibes similar to Finlay Donovan. The writing was a little bit goofy and over the top at times (it enhanced the vibe of the story). You also have to extend disbelief while reading because some of the events that transpire are not the most believable.
There are a lot of laugh outloud moments that happen in this book. I was constantly giggling at the goofy situations that they found themselves in.
One thing I felt like the story didn't need was the podcast element. I did like it at first, but the more that it was incorporated into the story the less I enjoyed that aspect.
I also really liked the bond that formed between all of the girls. They had such a fun dynamic with each other. Nothing like being cheated on, and trying to escape murder charges to bring people together. I will say that I wish there was a little bit more character growth for all of them individually. I just wanted a little bit more depth overall. They felt pretty surface level at times.
Like mentioned above, the plot of the story gets a little goofy at times. It is one of those things where you just need to sit back, enjoy the ride, and not look at the details too closely. I had a fun time while reading it. I would recommend it to others, but I don't know if I am going to continue with the series.

This book was FUN! I loved the exploration of female friendship and actually really enjoyed the somewhat whacky premise that three women who unknowingly dated the same man would band together to save themselves and solve his murder. I also really loved the plot twist/ending in this one - however, I did feel like it was a bit underdeveloped and wanted more from the killer's perspective to really bring it all home. Ultimately, I really enjoyed the ride and would still recommend this book - but also am left feeling like a couple of tweaks would have really elevated it and made it a 5 star read.

I really loved these characters and the friendship they forge. The ending felt very rushed and the fact that the police on the case was so willing to let Kat do whatever she wanted essentially was very unrealistic. A cozy mystery but fairly basic.

A fun mystery about three women who find out they are dating the same man. They plan to prank him and instead end up finding his body…

This was such a great read! Kathryn Hu doesn't have the best job or the best luck, but she has Tucker. He's caring and thoughtful and a perfect boyfriend.

It turns out he's the perfect boyfriend to a lot of people though. Kathryn and his other girlfriends turn together to seek revenge on their ex. Unfortunately, he's dead, and they find him.

The antics are silly, but the female friendships are worth it. It shows many insecurities of the women. Then, it shows how a solid group of friends can show up for each other and help with the insecurities. It shows intelligent women making mistakes. It also has a hot cop and a decent mystery.

I was honestly pleasantly surprised by this book. Thanks for the ARC!

A murderous beginning to friendship.
What a fun read. Katherine was great. Totally likable and such a dorky person. The whole situation is totally nuts and entertaining. Love how they all meet and against the odds form a wild friendship. Solving a murder together is bound to bond you together. They were all so different and distinctive that they helped bring out boisterous personalities in each other. It was funny. It was fun. It was mysterious. I can’t wait for another one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I had high hopes for this book, and while it delivered on some fronts, it left me wanting more in others.

What I Loved:
The friendship between the three women—tied together by the fact that they all dated the same man—was unexpectedly heartwarming and layered. It was refreshing to see a story that didn’t lean into cattiness or competition, but instead explored solidarity, healing, and the surprising ways people can connect through shared history.

What Fell Flat:
Mandy’s character, though not a main lead, plays a key role in moving the plot forward. Unfortunately, she’s written as so over-the-top silly and ditsy that it became distracting and hard to take seriously.

Kat’s flirtation and budding relationship with the detective also felt surface level. There wasn’t enough emotional depth or chemistry to make it feel compelling, especially against the backdrop of a murder investigation.

And the big plot twist—Elle being the wife—had so much promise. But with only one chapter from her perspective, it felt underdeveloped. Rather than giving her depth or emotional motivation, that chapter made her come off as unhinged, which weakened the impact of the twist.

Final Thoughts:
This book had some standout moments, particularly in the exploration of unexpected female friendship. But it didn’t quite stick the landing when it came to the characters and emotional arcs that could have elevated it. An entertaining read with strong themes, but left me wanting more.

THE EX-GIRLFRIEND MURDER CLUB - Ienjoyed this relaxing, easy to read, lighthearted story with its interesting and immersing story lines and wonderful characters. Hard to put down and intriguing. Source: Netgalley. 5*

A book that is exactly what you think it is: a revenge plot with little background and a lot of investment in version of Newton’s Laws of Physics mixed with a Murder/Revenge podcast. The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club opens with Katherine “Kat” Hu rationalizing all her bad luck to the hyper fixation of a coffee stain in the shape of an egg (which is also the easiest way to describe a chemical change for the layman). Just as the plot, there are lots of details tossed in the presumably have a purpose but lacks the transition, background, and pacing to make things work.

Written similarly to Chao’s book “Boyfriend for Rent,” this novel has an interesting lure but a small payout. There’s something about the heavy investment in details that stunt its pacing and makes it difficult to follow. If you stick with it, it can be a fun, cozy mystery.

Thank you NetGalley for and Mira Publishing for an advanced copy.

This book had John Tucker Must Die energy 💅 with a side of “if you go down, I’m going down too” loyalty 🤝—aka, absolute chaos in the best way.

Kathryn is a hot mess of a main character 🙃 but she’s got a system: her own personal laws of luck 🍀. Spoiler: they’re not exactly foolproof. When her ex dies and she becomes suspect #1 🔪, the only people who have her back? The other exes. What follows is a wild, hilarious, and surprisingly heartwarming ride of girls supporting girls 👯‍♀️… while also trying to solve a murder.

I was laughing out loud 😂 and genuinely didn’t want to put it down. Gloria Chao nailed the blend of humor, tension, and friendship-fueled mayhem 🎭.

🎯 Perfect for fans of: murder with a side of memes 💻, chaotic girl squads 👩‍👩‍👧, and stories where loyalty runs deep—even if it’s messy.

💬 Would you join a club with your ex’s other exes… if it meant solving a murder?