This story of unlikely friends trying to solve a crime that they are accused of had me laughing out loud, screaming “no, no, don’t do it!” , and feeling for the main characters. Chemistry graduate student Kathryn (Kat) Hu, lawyer Olivia (Liv), and aspiring writer Elle should not be friends, the only thing they have in common is their boyfriend Tucker Jones. Inspired by a revenge podcast they decide to work together to exact a little revenge on Tucker Jones. But things don’t go as planned and now Kat is a suspect in Tucker’s murder. With the McHottie Detective watching her every move, can they figure out who really did it before it is too late? Kat is a character that I enjoyed. Socially awkward and living with parental expectations I liked the way she began to evolve and start to figure out the person she wants to be. Plus the gifts from her Mom, they made me giggle. Olivia is the perfect counterpart to Kat and appears to be everything Kat is not and watching them form a friendship was the heart of the book. Elle was Elle and added her own uniqueness to the Ex-Girlfriends Murder Club. I did not see the end coming and can’t wait to read the next one. I recommend the book to readers that enjoy mysteries with unlikely amateur detectives filled with outlandish situations.

This book delves into powerful themes of female friendship and empowerment, while also exploring deceit, manipulation, and emotional control. Each character challenges readers to reflect on their own fears and how they would react in similar situations. Their complex, flawed personalities drive the story forward with unexpected decisions and courageous actions.

The novel takes a close look at parenting and the lasting impact rejection can have on a child, carrying through into adulthood. It also skillfully unravels the traits of emotional manipulators and chronic liars, keeping readers on edge as they try to predict what will happen next. Chao shines with her unpredictability and clever use of humor, offering both comic relief and a way for her characters to process their grief. The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club: A Feminist Murder Mystery of Three Women Teaming Up to Solve a Crime and Get Revenge on a Cheating Ex is a powerful and empowering read, inspiring women to embrace their value and come together for a common cause.

Three women all discover they’re dating the same man. So they do what any woman would do in this situation, plan the ultimate revenge. When they show up at his condo they don’t expect to find him dead. Now they have to figure out who killed their cheating boyfriend before they all go down for his murder.
I’m not sure what I expected but this book was so much better than I thought it would be! I will say, the beginning didn’t suck me in immediately but once Tucker was caught cheating, the story really picked up and I couldn’t put it down!! The twist was somewhat predictable but it did take me a little while to figure it out. I enjoyed all of the characters and the dialogue. I really hope there’s a sequel so I can find out what’s next for these three women! Overall I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to anyone who likes a light hearted murder mystery.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

This is like John Tucker Must Die meets the Finlay Donovan series. Is it unrealistic? Yes. But that’s ok. The twist is pretty easy to figure out but it was still an entertaining book. It gave a lot of girl power vibes and that was a lot of fun. It was entertaining for sure.

Loved this book!! It was giving John Tucker Must Die vibes but definitely took a different turn. Hilarious and well written with fun characters and the moral that’s your girls always come before any man, I really enjoyed all of the characters!

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you for the ARC!

This was the funnest read of 2025! It is a humorous murder mystery. A fun adventure of friends working together to solve a murder. It was witty and enjoyable. I would reccomend this to anyone.

Okay, let me start this oft by saying this book hopped straight into the drama and mess as soon as it started. The mmc in this book not only had 2 women but a white on the side as well?! Messy, messy, messy boots!! I think with the way
The book started, it was easy to dive into the story and get wrapped up in these girls’ lives. While I feel like the plot fell through a little bit around the 50% mark, I will say that I was not expecting the twist to be what it was in the end!!

This was a quick and easy read for me. If you liked the movies John Tucker Must Die or The Other Woman, you will absolutely love this book. It is full of mystery, twists and a lot of laughs along the way.

When Kat accidentally walks in on her boyfriend, Tucker, proposing to another woman, the two of them become close friends due to their new hatred for the same man. When they take a weekend trip that Kat had planned with Tucker, the girls find that Tucker beat them to it and has yet another woman with him.

The three of them join forces and decide to get revenge on him. They break into his apartment and mess with his personal belongings, as well as smear poop around his whole apartment(this had me dying). During their shenanigans, Kat smells something that resembles rotten eggs and rotten meat. When she follows the scent to the closet, she discovers Tuckers dead body in there.

Kat, being a chemist, returns to the apartment to clean it and get rid of their DNA. While she is there, a detective just so happens to show up and find the body, making Kat the prime suspect.

Will she be blamed for the murder, or can her and her newfound friends prove her innocence? You definitely want to give this one a read to find out!

Thank you @htp_hive for the early e-copy🖤

I loved the mystery, the camaraderie, and the twist was great. This one was the best kind of quirky.

The Ex Girlfriend Murder Club by Gloria Chao is a clever, twisty mystery with sharp humor and a fierce female cast. It perfectly blends suspense with heart and just the right amount of chaos. A super fun and satisfying read!

The premise of this book is perhaps one of the most unique and eye-catching ones I’ve come across, and the title drew me to it immediately. Katherine Hu, our narrator, feels so genuine in her fears, interactions, intentions, and insecurities that it’s quite easy to sympathize with her and get hooked into the story.

The first few chapters are very fun to read; I found the whole situation outrageous and the man behind it all a ridiculous and pathetic human being. But Olivia and Kat coming together to solve the mystery was something I enjoyed far more than I initially expected. Their dynamic is so fun and well-balanced, and it brought me great joy to see these women bonding over their shared tragedy. Add in Elle, who brings an unexpected spice to the mix, and you’ve got a murder-solving trio like no other.

I also want to give a special shoutout to Kat’s parents (and Kat’s perception of them)—Mr. and Mrs. Hu were so cute and hilarious in their protective gestures and words toward Kat that I couldn’t help but smile every time they appeared in the story. And Detective McHottie—I mean, Detective Birch—was another standout. I loved his character arc and how shy he would get around Kat.

I will say that, unfortunately, I found the podcast snippets a bit annoying at times, but I guess they did add some much-needed comedic relief and ridiculousness throughout the story.

As for the ending, I did not see the twist coming the way it did, and I absolutely loved that it caught me by surprise. I would’ve liked a couple more chapters—perhaps another epilogue—as I still had a few unanswered questions, but overall, I was satisfied with the way things wrapped up, even if it felt a little abrupt.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Hilarious crime novel. Three women team up to find the killer of the man they were all dating! I recommend this fun book!

Definitely Finley Donovan series vibes.

I will say with the name Tucker I thought of John Tucker must die a few times!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

There’s something undeniably charming about cozy, somewhat silly murder mysteries that can brighten up an otherwise mundane day. While the premise may not be profound and the mystery won’t keep you on the edge of your seat, you’ll likely find yourself laughing out loud at some of the protagonist’s antics. It’s hard not to!

Kathryn Hu is a genius, yet she struggles in social situations. She lacks the art of subtlety and, unfortunately, is quite gullible when it comes to love. You might say she’s a veritable ingenue. Luckily, she’s not alone in her misadventures of the heart.

Tucker Jones has been juggling three different women, Kathryn, Olivia, and Elle, each for different nights of the week. Now that his deception has been exposed, the women are seeking revenge, but not blood. Unfortunately, while they’re executing an elaborate prank, Tucker unexpectedly is found dead in his closet. Now Kathryn and the other two women risk being accused of murder unless they can solve the mystery in time.

As the women work through the clues and Tucker’s complicated financial past, they become increasingly entangled in a suspenseful game of cat and mouse.

This novel strikes the right balance of silliness to keep it fun and lighthearted, making it a great contrast to heavier reads. Don’t approach it expecting anything profound; just sit back and enjoy the ride!

Fun to see Gloria bring her sense of humor to the adult mystery space! So enjoyed the characters and friendships in this book, and the mystery itself was very satisfying.

This witty murder mystery had me laughing out loud one minute and flipping pages frantically the next. Chao perfectly balances the suspense of a murder plot with sharp humor and endearing characters. The sass is strong with this one—several characters bring a delightful awkwardness and snark that makes every interaction a treat.

But beyond the twists and sarcasm, what really shines is the heart. Sweet, unexpected friendships blossom throughout the chaos, and there's a strong theme of finding your voice (and yourself) even when things get messy—murderously messy, in this case.

This book is a clever, fresh take on the genre and an absolute joy to read. Fans of quirky mysteries and strong character dynamics will love it. Also if you're a fan of messy revenge at ex's then you will enjoy this. It give John Tucker Must Die vibes.

Book Review

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I struggled. The first part of the book was so far fetched it drove me crazy. Three girls, all dating the same guy and they join together to get revenge. Then they find him dead and decide to run and hide. What? Call the police.

The second part of the book was better, but this still wasn’t my jam.

Thank you to @netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this advanced readers copy. This one is out June 24, 2025!

#exgirlfriend

From the first page, The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club is funny and charming. As a milennial I will say that I immediately was reminded of John Tucker Must Die, and seeing that connection in the publisher’s summary makes so much sense.

First of all, I love the group of Kat, Olivia, and Elle. Each one of them is so different. Kat is a scientist, Olivia is a lawyer, and Elle is a writer. Not only do they have very different jobs, but their personalities are vasty different as well. There definitely is a sense that the three of them would never have become friends without realizing they were all dating the same man. They form a deep bond and pretty quickly are willing to do anything for one another.

I found Kat’s relationship with her mom so interesting as well. Her mom clearly cares about her and worries about her living alone as a single woman. She regularly sends Kat gifts including a life alert button and subscription. I loved that the Life Alert button actually came in handy during the investigation. I understand why Kat struggles with her relationship with her mom, but it is so clear how much her mom cares about her. She just has shows in a different way than Kat would prefer.

Kat’s obsession with the origin of idioms and aphorisms is so fun. Throughout the book, she explains the origins of all kinds of phrases like, “buttering someone up” and “no dice.” I didn’t know where they came from, so I also learned something while reading a fun book. It is also hilarious that Olivia starts intentionally mixing sayings because of Kat’s interest in them.

Without spoiling the ending, I have to say that I thought it was brilliant. I didn’t see it coming, which made it all the more fun. Once the killer is revealed, it makes so much sense. I almost want to read the book again knowing the ending, so I can pay attention to all of the clues. If you read this book, please let me know, so we can talk about the ending.

I totally agree with the publisher’s summary that recommends this book for fans of of Dial A for Aunties and Finlay Donovan is Killing It. I’ve read and enjoyed both of those series. They are both series of zany cozy mysteries like this one. They are all easy and fun reads that just happen to involve murder.

It looks like The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club is getting a sequel, and I can’t wait to read the next one in the series.

The cover and title caught my attention! Katherine, Olivia, and Elle team up to take revenge on their "ex-boyfriend," but instead, they end up solving his murder. Their friendship is heartwarming and filled with laughs! This book is hilarious and kept me guessing the whole time. It’s fast-paced, making it a perfect pick for a vacation or a summer read! I can totally see it being made into a movie!

Thank you, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley, for an early copy of this book!

This novel was so much fun to read! The humor and shenanigans filled every chapter along with the unlikely found friendships of Kat, Olivia, and Elle that grew and strengthened throughout. Although I figured out who was the guilty party well before the ladies did, I still didn't know the complete motivation, so I had to keep reading to find out.

Kat's parents, especially her mom, are adorable and added to the humor when her mom sent her gifts to keep her safe or to help her as a single woman.

There is a bit of romance too that added to the mystery and made me question if it was real or just part of the investigation.

The writing is excellent and the cliff hanger chapter endings always made me want to just read one more chapter despite the late hour. Thank you to Netgalley for my early e-copy for an honest review. This is one of my favorite authors.