So much fun! I could not put this down. I did not see all of the twists coming which made this book a lot of fun. I empathized with her struggles and rooted for her growth and healing. Will definitely read more by this author!

˙₊➴ ꒰ 4-stars★ ꒱ ꒷⊹࣪˖

📜┆ ARC ⤿ Sourcebooks Landmark & NetGalley
✒️┆Author ⤿ Sienna Sharpe
💌┆ Pub. Date ⤿ 08/12/25

I went into this wanting a FMC vigilante killer story as my last read lacked that factor and I never would have expected that I would be reading a book that had more than what I was looking for. For starters I like a thriller mystery yet this book had a reverse murder mystery to it which made me question if it would pull me in as we are already introduced to who kills and what has happened at Riovan in the past 5 years, and oh was I wrong when I thought I knew where it was going. This was not just Lily’s yearly Riovan k*ll*ng escapade, this was a raw and emotional journey that opened us to grief, body image, moral dilemmas, and complex relationships.

The writing was beautifully crafted and deeply literary which adds a layer of authenticity to the characters making their thoughts and feelings feel more impactful. As I already mentioned how much I loved and enjoyed Lily’s character and no words can express how much I was intrigued by her as a person. Her relationship/romance with Daniel also added an element that made the story more exciting to follow as they navigated their attraction/connection despite their differences. That latter part and ending of the book pulled something deep within me that I started to tear up with how emotional it was.

❝ I was lucky to get one great life. And I’m starting to think that maybe, just maybe, I’ll be lucky enough to have two. ❞

In the end, this was far more than just a typical FMC k*ll*r wanting to make the world a better place. It was a slow but steady journey of justice, vulnerability, self-discovery, reflection, and confronting the harsh truths of life. So glad that I took the time to scroll Netgalley for this book and downloaded it asap! Finally happy to say that I have an ARC that delivered and gave me more than what I had expected. I hope you/everyone should give this one a try as this is in the “Read now” section for titles in Netgalley. Solid 4-star and am excited to read more of Sienna Sharpe’s works in the future.

➳ Huge thanks to the publisher & author — Sourcebooks Landmark, Sienna Sharpe & NetGalley — for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

╴╴╴╴╴⋅˚₊‧ ୨ Full and more detailed review is on Goodreads & Fable! ୧ ‧₊˚⋅ ╴╴╴╴╴

This was fun! I thought this was a very unique way to do a pretty classic kind of story, a murder mystery.

The characters were likable and felt realistic, especially with the conversations they had and the depth of character that those conversations showed within the characters. I really did like that, I thought that was very well-done and was a clever way to tell us a lot about the characters.

I would definitely categorize this as more of a cozy mystery/cozy thriller. So if you're looking for a more summery cozy mystery, I would definitely recommend looking into this! And I feel like you don't see a lot of summery cozy mysteries, they tend to be more wintery (at least, in my experience).

This did feel a bit slow at times, which feels weird to say about a book that makes you quite a bit sympathetic towards a serial killer, but I think it was the timeline thing for me.

And I feel like a lot of conversations can be had about this book due to its content, like toxic wellness culture (and the whole can of worms that opens up) and so much more. And I like being able to tell that you can talk about a book. I think that speaks highly of it and how it can be interpreted.

Overall, this was a fun, quick and easy read! Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

What a fun book! I enjoyed the main character and the plot. Not every day you get to read about a female serial killer and have it be a dark comedy.

The writing slows nicely and is addictive, which made this unputdownable.

A great summer read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC. I DNFed at 29%.

I support women’s rights and women’s wrongs, so surely this would be the book for me, right? While this was a miss for me, I think it’ll find its intended audience.

I loved the premise! The prologue failed to reel me in, and I didn’t find myself invested in the FMC’s serial killer streak.

A romance where I wasn’t sure the ending? Love. Fast paced, character development, valid critiques of “wellness culture,” swoon worth mmc, self-aware fmc. Not normally into thrillers, but enjoyed every second.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love books after women serial killers so I knew immediately I would like this one. It was about a woman who goes on a revenge killing spree at a resort but it was more than that... it was also about body image and depression. It had some serious themes that were handled thoughtfully. I know the book was marketed as a romance but I probably could have done without that part. I felt the love and romance between Lily and Jess but not so much with Daniel. It seemed forced and it was never truly honest. I also was not a huge fan of the ending. I know Daniel wanted to do the right thing but I am not so sure I could forgive him so quickly as Lily did especially after she spent so much time regretting that her mom was sent to prison. However, I did really like this book and I am eager to read more from this author. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

I went into this completely blind and ate every bit of this up! This was such a cute story even though it involved murder (not like scary murder, more like ridiculous, juvenile murder, if that’s a thing). I loved Lily and Daniel and everything they stood for! I appreciate how the author tied it all together. Throughout the story, she gave you bits and pieces leaving questions unanswered, and the reader hungry for more! I am giving 5 stars because the story was captivating and fulfilling. The style of writing did not disappoint and I loved the MC's. What more could you ask for?

“Maybe loving someone doesn’t always mean you can save them”

So before I talk about the book, be aware that this is not a romantic comedy. I don't know if it is the illustrated cover or the pink and blue color scheme, but the cover had me expecting a fun serial killer rom com. This book is really heavy on grief and a commentary on beauty, wellness, and fad dieting.

I had to give myself a few days after reading this before reviewing because my expectations were so wildly inaccurate that it was skewing my rating. I think this is my first serial killer book where the MC is not an ultra-confident character. Lily annoyed me from page one, but again, at that point, I didn't know the tone of the book. Basically, everyone is terrible, so I can understand other reviews that have compared it to White Lotus, but without the comedic relief. I didn't love how wishy-washy Lily was in the first half of the book, but it started making more sense as the author kept leaving breadcrumbs. I absolutely did not see the twist coming at the end, and that honestly is what made me give this 4 stars instead of 3 stars. The twist explained so much of Lily's thoughts and actions, and it made for a great end. I love an ending that isn't a stereotypical HEA, and I get frustrated when no one suffers any consequences. I feel like I got a satisfactory ending with the HEA being up to interpretation.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Sienna Sharpe for the free ARC.

A less gruesome version of the Ruinous Love series. Lily is a complicated female serial killer who is hurt and grieving after something happens to her girlfriend. She goes back to where it all started, Riovan Wellness Center, year after year to pick someone to kill. This time, journalist Daniel Black (who's super attractive) seems to be onto her.

I thought Lily was a very sympathetic character, despite all the killing. She has a lot of trauma stemming from her mom and experiences in the foster system. In the place that brings up a lot of bad memories for Lily, Daniel is a source of safety and calm for her, despite the fact that he is there to dig up the truth about her previous victims. Even though they have different moral codes, they still understand each other's motives and drives. I didn't know how it was going to ultimately end, but I thought it was a good ending and tied everything up, allowing Lily to move on with her life.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC!

Everything about this should be my vibe, a serial killer FMC who falls in love? I should love that! The writing style just didn't work for me, constantly breaking the fourth wall just didn't do it for me. I do think that this would be a perfect book for people who watch a lot of crime shows/tiktok.

really enjoyed this romance and that she goes every year to this resort and finds someone to kill. she doesn't like the company and what they stand for. she ends up falling for a reporter who is podcaster and they have some good banter and he really see's her. loved this romance.

I'll be honest this went way more down not my genre than i was expecting. I think people will love it if you're into serial killers, but it wasn't for me.

4.5⭐️

I really enjoyed this book! I felt like the ambiguity was done really well and stayed consistent throughout the entire story until just the right moment for the final reveal. The little twists and tidbits fed to the reader throughout were great and kept the flow going smoothly while giving just enough to continue to advance the story.

I love the morally grey FMC and although sometimes
I felt like a piece of her and the MMC’s relationship was missing, overall I liked their dynamic and especially their ultimate ending.

There were some times during the book that I was internally yelling at Lily for some of her decisions but the ending tied everything together really nicely for me and I genuinely felt emotional at the ending. The messages within this book are important ones and I believe the author did them justice.

4.5/5 stars, would recommend

A serial killer as the FMC? Yes please! I feel like I’ve not read anything like this before. I was giggling, kicking my feet during the romance and gripping my seat during the mysterious parts. Ever chapter left me wanting more. I devoured this book so quick!

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC! The provision of this digital review copy for free does not impact my review for the book.

This book was amazing? The twists, the unpredictability, the blessing of thriller and reverse murder mystery is some something rare to see and is amazing! The writing style had me hooked the entire time! I was super intrigued to continue reading and could NOT put the book down!

What I loved most about this book was its unpredictability - a rare find in romance novels. In fact, I'd argue that this book defies traditional romance genre boundaries, blending elements of thriller and reverse murder mystery (a fascinating subgenre).

The author's writing is impeccable, weaving a captivating narrative that's both intriguing and unique. Lily's backstory is heartbreaking, providing a thought-provoking exploration of her motivations, even if they don't entirely justify her actions.

The dynamic between Lily and Daniel is electric, reminiscent of the iconic Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Their relationship is a volatile mix of passion, danger, and unpredictability. While it showed great potential, I felt it could have benefited from deeper emotional exploration, delving into the moral complexities and turbulent emotions that made their connection so compelling.

The romance is electric, laced with tension that builds until you’re practically begging for that next charged moment, and the writing is captivating. It’s the kind of story that leaves you breathless, caught between wanting to see justice served and hoping Lily gets away with it all.

Thank you NetGallery for the opportunity to read and review this eARC!

Every year Lily Lennox takes a month from her very successful business and goes to a Caribbean five star wellness center resort to be a cheaply paid lifeguard. Every year that she has gone there’s been a mysterious death that occurred. It’s not a coincidence though, because it’s Lily’s plan every year. This year is different because the hot swooning journalist Daniel Black catches her attention and complicates things as he starts snooping around about the deaths that have occurred.

You’re given a backstory on why Lily is a serial killer and it kinda makes you sympathize with her a little, but at the same time it’s still wrong. I had no idea what was gonna happen next in the book and didn’t predict the ending. Lily and Daniel’s romance was sizzling though and enjoyable to read.

I really liked that the book explores the toxic wellness culture of needing to look good on the outside no matter what it costs. As well as what guilt and grief can do to someone mentally.

Was overall a good thriller romance book! A quick and easy read.

🏝️- Beach setting
🔪- Female serial killer FMC
🏝️- Romance
🔪- Bisexual representation
🏝️- Thrilling