I love the title of this book and it's main character Kathryn, the scientist. I enjoyed the premise and thought it was well written except for the podcasts. I didn't think they fit well with the story. I think the story could have been better without them. I was intrigued by so much of the book but I got halfway through and stopped reading due to the podcasts.

I really enjoyed this unhinged and humorous revenge story! I had recently finished the entire Finlay Donavon series and was craving more books with the same vibe and this one did not disappoint! The humor was great and I loved the twist at the end, I definitely did not see that coming!

Three scorned women plan revenge on their cheating ex—only to find him dead. Now the prime suspects, they must team up to solve the murder, clear their names, and dodge a dangerously handsome detective… all while realizing everyone had a motive.

What a clever and cozy twist on the ultimate 2006 throwback John Tucker Must Die! Chao delivered a mystery that was equal parts hilarious and heartwarming, packed with just the right dose of women supporting women—and I am here for it! I loved how quickly these women bonded through shared chaos (as we do) and genuinely had each other’s backs. The little glimpses into each ex-girlfriend’s background were such a nice touch, showing how their upbringings shaped their personalities and their choices in subpar men—because let’s be real, haven’t we all been there? I really enjoyed this one and will definitely be continuing the series to see what kind of trouble we stumble into next.

If you want a cozy mystery filled with Hell Yes Queen vibes, check this one out! Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin Trade for the ARC! Remember me for the next one!
3.5 stars!

Book: The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club
Author: Gloria Chao
Rating: 4/5 stars

Kathryn Hu’s day can’t get any worse. That is until she finds out that her “faithful” and “wonderful” boyfriend, Tucker Jones, isn’t just cheating on her with one other girl - but two. Through bonding from their collective heartbreak, Kathryn, Olivia, and Elle try to plan how to get back at Tucker - although revenge can’t be served to someone who is dead. And they end up finding Tucker Jones dead.
It’s up to the three girls working together and forming what they call “The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club” to clear their name, prove themselves innocent, and find the real killer before it’s too late. That may be more difficult than they first thought possible though, when they realize that Tucker was involved in some shady business and had more than one person out to get him. Can they do what needs to be done before time runs out?

I thought this story was a fun read that had me flipping the pages and laughing along as I was doing so! It was fast-paced and held my attention.
Along with the mystery, there were humorous elements woven throughout - especially those that were Kathryn’s inner thoughts since she was the narrator. I thought a unique element to the story was reading about Kathryn sharing the origins of different sayings used throughout the book. It was a quality of her character that she prided herself in knowing, and I learned a few new things along the way.

I thought that the humorous elements were balanced out well with emotional chapters where the three main characters reflected on their lives, dating experiences, and how this shared experience had shaped them as people. Although some elements and things the girls did were far-fetched, their feelings weren’t, and it was nice to see both the silly and serious sides of the characters.
The mystery in the story kept me guessing until the very end, and the last two chapters contained a plot twist that I didn’t expect!

The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club is the first book in the new Hu Done It mystery series - and I am looking very forward to reading the rest of the books as they are released. Hopefully Kathryn will have better luck during the future stories!

Thank you to Gloria Chao, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for the chance to read an eARC of The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club by Gloria Chao.

The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club? More like murder me for reading this not-so-laugh-out-loud murder mystery to completion.

The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club is the first installment in the Hu Done It series. Tucker Jones is discovered dead by his ex-girlfriends-Kat, Olivia, and Elle. Being caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, they're now the prime suspects in a murder that they didn't commit. Can they work together to uncover the real killer and clear their names in the process?

While reading you could definitely tell the author was inspired by the romcom movies "John Tucker Must Die" and "The Other Woman." However, it wasn't as entertaining. Here's why:

The main character, Kathryn Hu, a chemist was intolerable. I'd imagined the author found out what "beta-mercaptoethanol" was just so she could mention it 17 times in her book. Yes, I keyword searched my Kindle.

"Kathryn's Hypothesis/Law of Luck" and the "Dish Served Hot Podcast Transcript" were significant towards the storyline but felt insignificant at the same time. It felt like the author had a word limit that she needed to complete. This book should've been 50 pages shorter.

The writing was amateur and needed additional editing before publication. Here are some examples:

"We figured all this out," Olivia said, "when we went to see Lauren's mom. Who's okay but is pretty broken up."

"It's not only lasses before asses, but lass before your own ass." Girl, HUH? You chose that line to close off this book?

"Right after we parted, I drove straight to the police station. Where I walked up to Adrian's desk and kissed him." Kathryn and her love interest's lack of chemistry and build up was unsatisfying to read. She went from being mad at him, not trusting him, to kissing him out of nowhere.

I was disappointed to say the least, and will not be planning to read the rest of the series. Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

3 women forge a friendship after deciding to get revenge on the man that was dating all three of them at the same time, until something goes horribly wrong.
I liked this book, it was a quick and easy read. Some of the parts were pretty comical but the fmc did make me just want me to shake some sense into her at times. She was very nieve. The ending was good. Wrapped it up nicely and wasn't something I had figured out

I loved the cover art and title of this book. The story was a bit oddly paced, wrapping up quite quickly and abruptly. I did see this will be a series, so perhaps that was intentional. I do feel it could’ve been wrapped up a bit better and set up the future of the series.
If you are a fan of the Finlay Donovan series, you will probably like this book.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for this ARC!
3/5 rounded up

I loved reading the Ex Girlfriends Club and am recommending it to everyone I know. It is a surprising story with twists and turns that I did not expect. I loved the characters and was surprised by the ending as I didn't guess who the murderer was. Well done, look forward to reading more books by Gloria Chao!!

I finished this book in a day. That is very difficult for me to accomplish these days and yet this book had me hooked! This book was hilarious, out of the box, full of relatable moments, found family and girlish fun. I adored everything about the storyline, the action was packing a punch, the mystery was mysterious enough to keep me intrigued but it was all so funny. This reminded me of the Finlay Donovan series with a younger group of female characters. And that ending??? Did not see it coming but I loved that for the characters and the story. I don't know that it could have ended any other way now that I think about it, because that ending was perfect. I will be on the look out for more books from this author for sure.

I loved this book! If you are a fan of the Finlay Donovan series this book is for you! What starts as a plan for revenge when 3 women realize they have been dating the same man, quickly changes when they discover him dead in his closet! Their DNA and motives make them the perfect suspects. In order to clear their name, they must work together to find the actual killer. Filled with laugh out loud moments this book was the perfect cozy mystery! I was so excited to learn this was going to be a series. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was a cozy popcorn mystery. It was light, fun, and an easy read. I finished it in two days! I love how the story balanced playful shenanigans with more reflective moments about friendship and self-worth. I especially loved seeing the dynamic between the girls. That said, I’m giving it 3 stars because while it was enjoyable, it didn’t feel particularly memorable or impactful overall. Still, I didn’t see the ending coming, which was a nice surprise! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club is a fun, fast-paced mystery that balances emotional depth with lighthearted revenge-fueled chaos. After Kathryn discovers her boyfriend has been cheating on her with not one but two other women, the trio bands together to confront him, only to find themselves at the center of a murder investigation when he is found dead. What could’ve been a predictable setup turns into a refreshing blend of amateur sleuthing, female friendship, and surprising twists. Gloria Chao nails the dynamic between the women, giving each of them personality and growth rather than relying on stereotypes.

This is a cozy mystery with bite...never too dark, but never so fluffy it loses substance. The humor works, the pacing keeps things moving, and the emotional arcs are well-earned. I think if you enjoyed Finlay Donovan or Only Murders in the Building, you'll find the same blend of quirky crime and character-driven heart.

The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club was such a fun, chaotic ride. If you liked the movie John Tucker must die then you will love this book! In the book - three women find out they’re all dating the same guy—then he turns up dead. It’s fast, funny, and a little unhinged in the best way. Think true crime meets girl gang revenge, with a side of cozy mystery. Some twists were predictable, but I honestly didn’t care—I was too busy enjoying the drama and the writing!

This was entertaining on audio. Three women unite for revenge on their boyfriend. When he ends up murdered and they try to solve the crime.

I loved this one so much and am so excited that it is the first in a series! The story was hilarious and I loved the found family themes. The plot was engaging and the twist at the end was *chef’s kiss*!! The idiom explanations and the FMC’s list of rules scattered throughout were unique and interesting. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

This book was interesting. Not much fluff. The ending was weird..... I see how this is supposedly going to be a series, and I'm curious what the second book could even be about.

#TheExGirlfriendMurderClub #NetGalley

I thought the concept was cute. Didn't love the main character despite her being a stem queen 💔 There was also so much sub plot going on it didn't really feel like the light, campy mystery/thrillers I usually read. I liked it enough but wouldn't continue the series.

This book was one of the most enjoyable books i’ve read all year and easily is a 5 star read. The plot started off with the main character Kat who was having a horrible day at work and came home to her boyfriend Tucker’s house only to walk in on his proposal to his other girlfriend. The two girls unite against Tucker and decide to take a trip together on what Kat and Tucker would have gone on only for them to find his third girlfriend Elle. The plot was hilarious, one of my favourite scenes being when Olivia puts Tucker’s toothbrush and floss up her buttcrack (if you cant tell my humour is broken but i was literally dying laughing it was too funny). The main plot of the book was so amazingly put together and as the mystery progressed, it truly had me at the edge of my seat. The ending plottwist was so unexpected (though I did figure it out when they saw the album and were shocked). This book was an amazing mystery with a side plot of romance based on found family and finding friends in the most unexpected relationships. I seriously loved this book and could not thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.

The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club
by Gloria Chao
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

This book was heartwarming, laugh out loud funny and a great story about unexpected friendship!! I absolutely loved it!

Essentially the book is about 3 ladies who all are dating the same guy but had no idea about each other, plot some revenge while someone else actually killed him - whoops! Now they band together to solve the case before it gets pinned on them! The author does a great job of showing the vulnerability of each character and also makes you laugh on most every page! Pick this book up! The narrator was great - Carolyn Kang - such a wonderful and expressive voice!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio and Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for the digital advanced readers and listeners copy!! Add it to your TBR!!

I had so much fun reading this book. It's just the perfect, chaotic, campy murder mystery with a twist ending that I think everyone will enjoy!

The plot is straight out of a classic whodunnit type movie, three women dating the same guy find out about each other and decide that it's time for revenge. They plot the most outlandish pranks only to find the guy dead in the closet and their DNA all over the place.

Do they then go on to make good choices? Of course not. But that’s why we love this kind of book. If they were being logical, we wouldn’t have half the mayhem... and the mayhem was the best part.

The reason why it's 4 stars for me is because the story is full of puns which I love but they were overused, and the "bodily function" jokes became a little distracting at some points plus the side story of a little romance felt like an after-thought.

I did start to piece together the ending about halfway through when a few things weren’t adding up, but honestly? It was the perfect twist. Super satisfying. A solid 4 stars from me!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and MIRA for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.