Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ mostly comedic unaliving
KU AUS: Yes!

Love & Others Killers - @brynne_weaver 🌸🩷

A huge thank you to both @netgalley and @brynne_weaver for giving me access to this incredible Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.

And honestly I am addicted to everything Brynne writes so there is no surprise that I loved this short and sweet catch up with some of my favourite characters. This novella was the perfect piece of unaliving sunshine to bridge the gap waiting for Tourist Season to release.

I loved Butcher & Blackbird so much which is why I was absolutely delighted to step back into Sloane's shoes in this book. It was a quick novella of brilliance following along with the gang, our three Kane brothers and their gorgeous Sticker Bitch Crew. Oh and don't forget about Brenda 🦝 during their Annual August Showdown. The call backs to Rowan and Sloane's best (and most disgusting) moments was so fun and nostalgic. It felt like you were reading along as some in on a secret. I really enjoyed seeing the whole gang get together, and watching the brothers bounce off each other, while the rest of the family tries to navigate their messing murdering abilities. I don't think I'll ever be able to look at chickens the same but I do anything to read Sloane, Lark and Rose creating art and causing trouble together

If you haven't read Blackbird and Butcher, I highly recommend it!!

I really enjoyed this quick novella continuation of the butcher and blackbird series

Not really long enough to have an in-depth review but it was a nice continuation

Got an arc of this book on NetGalley. It was my first time reading this series and author and I wasn’t quite sure if it would be up my alley but I LOVED it. It’s just a novella so it was pretty short but it still had me invested from start to finish. Very much “Dexter” vibes but with incredibly lovable characters (and raccoons) and just the sweetest little found family. Cannot wait to go back and read every couple’s individual story and see how this family developed from the start!

I thought this was so funny and a good point to bring everyone together for the tournament. I did feel like this was just an additional epilogue and didn't seem super necessary. I did still thoroughly enjoy this though.

I am absolutely giddy we have a glimpse into a family hunting trip, and the take down slayed me! I missed my sweet twisted couples!

4 Stars

This was a super cute and fun novella, with my fav multiple deleters from the ruinous love trilogy. This novella mainly focused on Sloane and Rowan, which I loved, because we get to revisit the couple who started it all! This is a perfect book for those looking to up their reading goal for the year!

(4.75 stars) What an absolute joy it was to be back with these characters!!! I’ve missed them all dearly since finishing Scythe & Sparrow (especially Barbara, if we’re being honest), so it was incredible to go on another ~adventure~ with them. The Ruinous Love Trilogy will always hold such a special place in my heart, and it is a trilogy that I will go back to time and time again. Brynne’s brain is one of my favorites, and I’m so glad she graced us with this novella!

A huge thank you to Montlake/Amazon, NetGalley, and Brynne for allowing me to read and review an early copy of this novella! <3

This felt so unneeded. It could have been a bonus chapter AT MOST. It was okay, but mostly just felt unnecessary. Not really worth the time.

Thanks to NetGalley I was able to get an advanced copy of Love and Other Killers by Brynne Weaver, author of NYT bestselling The Ruinous Love Trilogy.

I was a huge fan of all three of The Ruinous Love books and when I found out that this book is a bridge between that series and her new series, the Seasons of Carnage Trilogy, I was desperate to get my hands on it!

I was so excited to find out that all six characters from the previous three books would be coming back in this novella. The story centers around the annual August showdown that is previously seen in the other books, and this time, it’s the boys against the girls!

If you are familiar with Weaver‘s writing, then you know, there is no shortage of dark humor and witty banter, toe-curling spice, and absolute maniacal carnage. Love and Other Killers is no exception and is the perfect appetizer to what I’m sure will be an amazing second series.

As always, be sure to check those trigger warnings because Weaver sure likes to keep things interesting. Oh and I almost forgot, we even get to see our beloved Barbara, the faithful trash panda again. We even got a short playlist to enjoy while we follow along on yet another Dark and hilarious adventure. If you’re a fan of Rowan, Lachlan, Finn, Sloane, Lark, and Rose then do yourself a favor and get your hands on this before diving into the new series!

This Novella was such a great quick read. Returning back in the world of the Ruinous Love trilogy was so much fun!

It was so good to see all these characters again at yet another showdown, but family style. Whilst it isn’t a must to read the trilogy to understand this book it adds so much substance. No food was ruined during this book, just maybe chickens.

Thank you for this Arc!!! I will read absolutely anything Brynne Weaver writes at this point because I love the writing

↠ 4 stars ⭐️

This novella is quite short—only 48 pages—but definitely packs a punch. It’s the Annual August Showdown, and the gangs all here!

As expected, this was a jolly ole murdery time. I loved seeing the Kane brothers and gals all together again. And our favorite feral girl Barbara makes an appearance too. There’s murder (duh), a bit of spice, and quite a few laugh out loud moments. We even get references to a few memorable moments from the trilogy.. which may or may not be unfortunate depending on how you look at it hahah.

If you’re craving more of the Ruinous Love trilogy, this is the perfect little fix! It’s also a nice bridge into Brynne’s upcoming release, Tourist Season, and I’m excited to see what crazy ride Brynne takes us on in The Seasons of Carnage trilogy!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Brynne Weaver for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Was this at all necessary? No. It didn’t add anything new to what we already know of these characters. Was it still a fun little on-brand get together with some good laughs and reminiscing? Yes.

This is told from Sloane’s POV. Her and Rowan are the couple leading the charge here despite it being a family affair, which worked fine for me as they’re my favorite couple of the trilogy. It seemed a little imbalanced, though, if the intent was to spread the love amongst the group. Having POVs from each of them would’ve been cool!

4.5 Stars Such a fun novella and perfect if you loved the Ruinous Love series! It’s a bonus novella for the series featuring all three couples on the Annual August Showdown that Sloane and Rowan started in the first book. Love and Other Killers is the perfect cherry on top of the Ruinous Love series!

This was a fun, quick novella! I thought that it worked pretty well as a novella, and it didn’t feel too rushed. I haven’t finished the original trilogy yet, but this makes me excited to do so. I did however wish there were POVs from the other characters, instead of just Sloane’s.

Brynne Weaver said this novella is meant to be a bridge to connect the Ruinous Love trilogy to the Season Of Carnage and I think her idea was brilliant. Love And Other Killers is the ultimate hype man to get readers amped up for the next series to come. This novella is a fun little 48 page treat where we get to revisit all of our beloved, fucked up, found family members. Written strictly in Sloane’s POV, this novella took me back to the couple who started it all. The writing is full of Weaver’s signature morbidly dark humor that we have all come to know and love.

Another thing I really love about this novella is that it worked as a little refresher for the last three books. There were things from the last three books that were mentioned in this story that I had completely forgotten about. I honestly wish that more authors would offer fun little recap novellas so that I don’t have to go back and reread serval books in order to move on to the newest one.

In the past I have only ever listened to Weaver’s books on audio so this was a bit of a switch up reading it. The entire time I was reading it I kept thinking, “man I wish this novella could be offered on audio” because it just isn’t the same without Joe Arden’s sexy voice saying “feckin” but with it only being a 48 paged novella I figured it probably wouldn’t be an option… so imagine my complete surprise when I saw they are also offering an audio ARC as well!!!

This was a really quick read, less than 40 pages. It follows all the couples the Ruinous Love series, with Sloane as the narrator.

My favorite thing about the series was the annual game and I loved that she revived it for this short story. I definitely think you need to have read at least the first book in the Ruinous Love series before starting this as there are some characters that show up and you kinda need the content.

Overall, this story still has all the magic we know and love.

Love and Other Killers was such a fun, twisted read! I loved being back with all my favorite characters from the Ruinous Love trilogy. Brynne Weaver totally nailed the dark, addictive vibe again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for a honest review!

4 / 5 Stars
I am truly licking up crumbs with this novella and I am not mad about it. This book is super short (under an hour to read) and features all three couples as they compete in the annual serial killing games. It's takes place during the first prologue of Scythe & Sparrow (with a still green Rowan) and as we meet April (from the next series). We get all of our favorite references (Budget Batman, the doilies, the drugged muffins) and we even get Barbara (the true star of the show).

Because it could technically be read as a standalone, we do spend some time being reminded of basic plot points from past books which is a tad frustrating for folks who read all three books because new information is precious, but I am also greedy.

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for providing this eARC. All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: August 12, 2025

This is the Ruinous Love Trilogy’s version of a Christmas special. It’s quick and heartwarming (if murder can be heartwarming?) and a nice reflection on the characters from the past three books — including Barbara (yesss!!). Based on this, I’m also thinking we’ll see Autumn again soon in the Brynne Weaver world.

5 stars

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've never embraced the idea of a warm hug from a group of serial killers with such rapid vigor. I couldn't wait to visit some of my favorite couples again. This novella was everything I wanted it to be with the bonus of getting a glimpse of the new FMC from Cape Carnage. I love these couples and laughed out loud so many times. Who knew that a murder game could make my kick my feet with delight. At this point I can't even decide which couple is my favorite. I read this in one sitting and it reminded me of all the reasons I fell in love with the Ruinous Love trilogy. I have already read Tourist Season (the first in the Seasons of Carnage Trilogy) and recommend reading this novella first (it won't really make a difference, but I think it will remind the reader where they met the FMC originally.) I'm such a selfish reader because I already want more. I will always be grateful for what Brynne gives us, but I will never get enough of the Kane brothers and the Sticker Bitch Crew.