It doesn't help that she's low-key convinced that her new neighbour, Sam Dennings, is a serial killer (he may dress business casual by day, but at night he's clearly up to something). But it's not long before Phoebe realises that Sam might be something much scarier - a genuinely nice guy who can pierce her armour to reach her vulnerable heart. Unique, sexy, hilarious, charming... the perfect beach read for anyone who loves witty banter, intelligent plotting, and compelling characters... The true crime is NOT reading this novel! Ali Hazelwood, author of The Love Hypothesis PDF / EPUB File Name: Love_in_the_Time_of_Serial_Killers_-_Alicia_Thompson.pdf, Love_in_the_Time_of_Serial_Killers_-_Alicia_Thompson.epub My bra was half-askew by now, one strap falling down my arm. "If my boobs are out, you're contractually obligated to say that.” Turns out that reading nothing but true crime isn’t exactly conducive to modern dating–and one woman is going to have to learn how to give love a chance when she’s used to suspecting the worst. PhD candidate Phoebe Walsh has always been obsessed with true crime. She’s even analyzing the genre in her dissertation–if she can manage to finish writing it. It’s hard to find the time while she spends the summer in Florida, cleaning out her childhood home, dealing with her obnoxiously good-natured younger brother, and grappling with the complicated feelings of mourning a father she hadn’t had a relationship with for years. It doesn’t help that she’s low-key convinced that her new neighbor, Sam Dennings, is a serial killer (he may dress business casual by day, but at night he’s clearly up to something). It’s not long before Phoebe realizes that Sam might be something much scarier–a genuinely nice guy who can pierce her armor to reach her vulnerable heart. Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson – eBook Details

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Phoebe is complicated. She’s sensitive and insecure but also an abrasive asshole, all because she has impenetrable walls around her heart and doesn’t know how to be vulnerable. And poor Sam, she makes things so hard for him. She pulls him towards her and then pushes him away, time and again. But it’s all part of their connection and the chemistry between them. This would have been more interesting had he actually turned out to be a serial killer in the end ha. I would go as far as to call this book a cozy romance. There is no high drama here. Phoebe falls in love, reconnects with her brother and an old friend, also gets a cat. The only conflict is that Phoebe is a bit of a cynic and is not entirely ready to open up to other people. Her voice, dry and funny, is what drives the story, and I enjoyed it (and her) quite a bit. I also love a kind, emotionally secure love interest. There is one here. Love in the Time of Serial Killers is a heartwarming rom-com brimming with smart, snappy dialogue, sizzling chemistry, and lovable side characters. Fans of Christina Lauren and Rachel Lynn Solomon will adore this ode to true crime and its poignant message of opening your heart to love, even when that's the scariest thing of all." --Amy Lea, author of Set on You However, seeing her once best friend Allyson around is making her discover that she misses having a girlfriend she can count on. In addition, meeting her young neighbor Sam who is nice to look at, and spending time with her brother and his girlfriend are all causing her heart to thaw. Especially, when a feral cat enters her life too.

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I'd never admit this out loud, but sometimes I was grateful to people who were automatic huggers. It took the pressure off me to initiate anything, and it felt nice, being embraced even for a few seconds by someone you cared about. The problem was that my list of people I wanted a hug from was pretty short.” This is ultimately an entertaining book for those who enjoy romances with an academic bent and a side of true crime. OMG! Phoebe and Sam might be one of the most adorable quirkiest, unconventional and extremely lovable couple! Shh," Sam said against my ear, less a command to be quiet and more a soft sound of indulgence. "We have time. We have all night.” The last half of the book definitely felt more like a romance to me and it is ultimately why I gave the book the extra half star. Her groveling was heartfelt and earned and the relationship was super cute. I loved how Sam didn’t place Phoebe on a towering pedestal where she could do no wrong. He had some lines in there—reading her to filth—that made me clutch my pearls and reach for a fan. That’s hot. I don’t mind the third act breakup when it’s needed to help a character shape up or grow and it definitely worked here. Phoebe just wasn’t able to understand that she could love Sam until she figured some shit out on her own. Sam wouldn’t accept less than he deserved. That’s hot.

Love in the Time of Serial Killers - Libby Love in the Time of Serial Killers - Libby

The only thing that would make me not call this a romance is that Sam (our hero) is simply not flawed. He doesn’t really have an arc besides fixing up a guitar. He doesn’t have family issues or personal woes and barely even has a bad romantic past. He’s a straight up good guy. Having a romance hero (and main character) be pretty one-dimensional makes the book feel more like a personal arc and self-growth contemporary fiction than a true romance. Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. It was well-written with good diversity and representation among the characters. It touches on deeper themes of childhood trauma, family dysfunction, grief, body positivity and overcoming emotional obstacles to intimacy, and does so with the humor and balance you'd expect from the genre. Initially, I really disliked Phoebe and her occasional needless mention of certain political views, (not a good sign for a ROM COM, where you must like both leads and root for them to get together) but as the book goes on, you realize that a lot of what she says and does is because she has a protective wall up around her. The whole serial killer thing is definitely contained to her writing about them in her dissertation and making references to them. It’s not a mystery or a thriller. It’s funny without being a comedy and a bit morbid without being morose. It has first person narration and only one POV from Phoebe. There’s an HEA and I can see arguments for this being either contemporary fiction or contemporary romance. It is definitely character driven and focused on Phoebe reconciling her past with the future that she ultimately wants (which she surprisingly hasn’t figured out at the start of the book).

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The fast-paced plot is alternately hilarious and touching, and readers won't be able to put it down. True crime is an incredibly popular genre, and this book is a must-read for crossover romance fans.-- Library Journal (starred review) But now here he was, although even in the dark I felt like I could see the color slant across his cheeks. I hoped he never lost that." Sam just fell flat. He is that overly nice and supportive guy and that for some reason made Phoebe think he was a serial killer (which obviously from early on- he wasn’t) but he and Phoebe were together for maybe a few weeks? And he brings up marriage. Maybe, let’s slow down there.