How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates

by Shailee Thompson

A humorous, swoony, and downright terrifying horror romance in which a young woman gets caught in the middle of a murder spree at a speed-dating event and must use her encyclopedic knowledge of the horror genre to make it as a real-life Final Girl.

When Jamie Prescott and her best friend Laurie attend a speed-dating event, Jamie expects to meet a roster of mediocre men and indulge in some street food afterwards. She doesn’t expect one of her dates to have his throat slit at their table during a blackout. When the lights come back on and there are more bodies on the floor, it becomes clear that speed dating can be a very dangerous pastime.

Armed with makeshift weapons and Jamie’s extensive knowledge of what NOT to do in a horror movie, the remaining speed daters try to find an exit while the killer adds to their body count. As the night progresses and Jamie comes face-to-mask with the murderer, she begins to suspect he is committing the slayings to woo one of the daters and turn her into his real-life Final Girl. But Jamie has a different love story in mind, and as she fights for her life, she can’t help but find herself ensconced in a love triangle with two of the other speed-daters. Will she survive the bloodshed to find her happily ever after? Or does this machete-wielding psychopath have another Final Girl in mind?

For fans of Love in the Time of Serial Killers and Butcher & Blackbird, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates is one killer love story.

Genres: Romance, Horror, Thriller, Mystery, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Fiction

First published February 3, 2026

About the author

Shailee Thompson is an author who writes women with smart mouths, soft hearts and strong wills... then she puts them in the deepest of sh*t. Her debut novel, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates (Out February 2026!), is a Slasher Rom-Com that proves all is fair in love and gore.

When not writing or talking about her characters like they’re real people, you can find her kidnapping her friends' dogs or competing with the person next to her at the gym (...yes, Pilates can be competitive).

Reviews

[Lala BooksandLala · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Literally Dead Book Club read of the year was a success! Wouldn't recommend to everyone, but for me this was the perfect balance of campy thriller x horny romance. So silly and fun, wish it was a little more intentional crafted with unexpected twists and turns. Could have been an all time favourite.

Here's the liveshow link

[Chloe Pryor · Rating 2 out of 5]

sometimes i think if i was a taylor swift, girlboss, millennial i would enjoy things more

[ClaudiaTalksFilm · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a slasher romcom YES a SLASHER is taking place while two people fall in LOVE amidst a KILLER HUNTING THEM DOWN and it’s fucking hot and addictive and I thoroughly enjoyed it this shit HITTTTT

[Alina ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson was such a strong and impressive debut. It’s always exciting to discover a new author who confidently delivers on both concept and execution, and this book absolutely did that for me.

The balance between slasher and romance was handled really well. The darker, thriller elements had enough tension to keep me hooked, while the romantic storyline added heart and emotional stakes without feeling out of place. It’s not easy to blend those two genres seamlessly, but this felt intentional and well-paced.

I genuinely liked most of the main characters and found myself invested in their arcs. The dynamics were engaging, and the emotional beats landed. That said, one small thing that didn’t work for me was Jamie and Laurie calling each other “Baby Girl.” For me, that nickname didn’t quite match the tone of the story. It pulled me out of the moment a few times, and I feel like almost any other term of endearment would have fit better.

I listened to the audiobook, which overall was a really engaging experience. The narration brought a lot of life to the story. However, I struggled a bit with the male narrator’s voice—it was very low, and at the speed I tend to listen, I sometimes had trouble understanding what was being said. That may very well be a “me problem,” but it did affect my listening experience slightly.

Overall, this was a fantastic debut that confidently blends romance and slasher elements into a fun, gripping read. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on whatever Shailee Thompson writes next.

[Floren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slasher meets rom-com??? I had so many reasons why this shouldn't work… but somehow, it did. It REALLY did. I'm literally obsessed.

[Sara (sarawithoutanH) · Rating 2 out of 5]

the fmc was way too horny.. girl ur gonna die stop thinking about his abs

[megan ◡̈ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ish???? this was fine. fun in some parts, mostly entertaining and also simultaneously boring

[Meags · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 bloody awesome Stars

Apparently, the slasher rom-com is EXACTLY the dual genre I’ve been missing my whole bookish life. Who knew?!

As someone who considers Scream to be squarely in her top 4 films (Letterboxd fanatic here), has watched every romantic-comedy I could ever lay my eyes on, and agrees with the author that 90s era Bill Pullman is THE GOAT, I knew IMMEDIATELY upon meeting movie buff FMC Jamie and her bestie Laurie that I was going to love this story.

Attending a speed dating event, at a since-repurposed old clubbing haunt, was meant to tick Jamie’s “attempt to be social” card for the month, but before the ten-date speed-round is even over, the lights go out, the doors get locked, and a serial killer begins one harrowing and bloody murder spree across the three-level maze of a building.

What follows is one heart-racing, jump-scare galore, laugh-out-loud, gory thrill ride of a read, as survivors start to drop in horrific manners, while Jamie implements her rules for surviving a horror film and her romantic comedy know-how to save as many lives as possible, with the hopes of both becoming a final girl AND a leading lady before the night’s through.

The romance and the friendship arcs, which played out within the meta-awesomeness of the bloody plot, were my personal favourite elements of the story. I won’t spoil anything by naming names, but the ultimate love interest was a solid 10 on the book boyfriend scale, and bestie Laurie was such a queen of a side kick and badass heroine in her own right that I would do unspeakable things to get this woman a spin-off book.

As is probably obvious by now, I had an absolute ripper of a time reading this impressive debut book. The genre blending was a trip but it worked an absolute treat for me and my personal tastes. The character names and movie references were particularly ELITE, at least to this self-proclaimed movie buff. If you, like me, are a huge cinephile AND reader, and are particularly well-versed in both rom-coms and slashers, this story is sure to be a nostalgic, smile-inducing, blast of a reading experience.

This is an instant new favourite for me. I already look forward to buying my own hard-copy (as I read an ebook through my library app) and hope to get my hands (ears?) on the audiobook before long. Honestly, when I've loved a book this much, my theory is the more bookish formats owned, the happier Meags will be!!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! <3

[&#x1f33a; Hannah &#x1f33a; (very busy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

🚨 VERY MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD 🚨
‼️ AGAIN! SMALL SPOILERS ‼️

Can’t you see? You belong to me ♥️🩸🔪

How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates is the perfect romcom/thriller to add to your TBR! This was a 4/5 stars ✨ read for me.

I haven’t read a ton of thrillers, but this one had me HOOKED. It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I will say it definitely leans more thriller than romcom, which I was totally okay with. There are a few gory moments (or maybe I’m just sensitive 😅), but nothing that was too gruesome or gory to read (can also def skim these parts).

We follow a mix of characters who all play major roles in this speed dating event that quickly turns into something much darker. Jamie, Laurie, and Wes are our main characters. Jamie and Laurie are best friends attending the event hoping to find love… but instead, they find chaos, danger, and a literal murderer on the loose 🫣

Wes is another attendee, and honestly, it made total sense that he’s a cop with how calm and knowledgeable he was during everything going down. But also… Wes and Jamie… was it REALLY the time to be hooking up in a closet while there’s a killer running around?! 😭

This book kept me guessing the entire time, I genuinely didn’t figure out who the masked murderer was until the end, which made it even more fun.

Overall, this is such a solid, fast paced read, and would be absolutely perfect for spooky season 🔪🩸🖤


—————————————————————————————


March book club read with bb girls Megan and Sara 🤭♥️🔪

[joni ౨ৎ - hiatus · Rating 4 out of 5]

𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── 4.25 stars
this kept me hooked!!

↪ started jan 18
↪ finished jan 21

i think this was such a fun, and unique book! i've never watched a horror movie so don't count me on that part - romcoms tho 🙂‍↕️ our fmc, jamie is a huge horror/slasher - romcom nerd. she's literally writing her thesis on slashers.

this was such a different take on the romance genre and i had a blast! i can't look at meat cleavers the same anymore 🥲

i was literally suspicious of everyone, considering the gaps where we'd see one characters and not another made everyone possibly be the killer. in the end i was kind of shocked considering prior events regarding everything.

if you love thrillers & romance give this a try! it does have horror elements (like people dying .... a lot of people) but it was so fun and fresh!

out feb 3 2025!

thanks simon & schuster canada for the ARC!

[Lindsay Olivera · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I loved the concept! Speed dating, a blackout, and a murder right at the table. I was immediately intrigued, and as someone who loves slashers and scary movies, this premise felt made for me.
The book absolutely delivers on its concept: a slasher romcom packed with genre awareness, horror tropes, and pop culture references. Jamie, our main character, is a cinephile with encyclopedic knowledge of romcoms and horror films, and that knowledge plays a major role in how the story unfolds. Unfortunately, for me, this became one of the book’s biggest drawbacks. The constant references to real life movies and repeated explanations of “what happens in slashers” quickly felt overwhelming and repetitive rather than clever. At a certain point, it pulled me out of the story instead of enhancing it.
Another challenge was the pacing and structure. The entire novel takes place inside the same nightclub as the characters attempt to escape the killer. A single setting stretched across nearly 370 pages. What initially felt tense and claustrophobic eventually became exhausting. The club itself is so maze like and complex that it grew difficult to visualize, and even with a map included, I stopped trying to fully understand the layout. The tension dulled as the story continued to circle the same space without enough progression to justify the length.
Tonally, the book felt conflicted. It starts off playful and fun, leaning into its slasher romcom identity, but then shifts into something more serious and intense. That blend didn’t quite work for me, especially when romantic elements were layered in while characters were actively running for their lives. The romance and supposed love triangle never fully landed, and instead felt awkwardly placed given the circumstances.
That said, the concept itself is strong, and I appreciate the ambition behind combining horror, romance, and humor into one story. The setup is genuinely clever, and I can see how this book could work for readers who love heavy pop culture commentary and meta takes on horror tropes. While the execution wasn’t for me, the idea at the heart of the story is creative and memorable.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun read. I loved how it combined our main character's love for romcoms and slashers. I also loved at the beginning of each chapter started with a quote from a romcom but made it slasher style.
If you want a fun horror book that feels like a movie be sure to check this out!

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an accidental find shortly before Valentines Day and it was glorious!
For those who don't know: I hate Valentine's Day - it's not a real holiday but treated as such and the fakeness of it is on another level! I mean, if your partner doesn't think of doing something nice for you the other 364 days of a year, he/she doesn't need to on this one day out of peer pressure (this goes for both people in a partnership). Not to mention that too many people are way too focused on how much the "nice thing" costs which should NEVER be the motivation. Thus, every year, I like to put a little - usually very bloody - twist on it, which is why a story about a killer at a speed-dating event was so perfect.
It got even better because my bestie bought the same book and we've been reading in parallel, dissecting all of the red flags and shit men pull on women, and the horrible idea that is speed-dating. *lol*
(And yes, we're doing that while watching rom-coms, too, just like the MCs in this book.)

A short summary:
Best friends and roommates Laurie and Jamie are opposites: Laurie loved documentaries while Jamie is obsessed with romances and slasher movies / how much they have in common. Putting themselves out there more is a sort of pact they made and this time, Laurie got to choose. Thus, the two dress up and go on a speed-dating event. However, the "love fest" soon turns into a bloodbath.

I happen to not enjoy romances. Romcoms CAN work but there are precious few that do. Instead, as I said above, I usually dissect and trash-talk them with my best friend. I do prefer slasher movies. No, I don't have the MC's encyclopedic knowledge, I haven't seen all there are, but I've seen my fair share. Which means I also got to enjoy all the little nods and hints, and would definitely have known all the "rules", just like Jamie.

And I was wondering just how much the author was gonna play with our expectations. I mean, one possible twist COULD have been Laurie being the killer. Bwahahahahahahahahaha. But even without that, there were a number of twists and turns and I'm convinced the author put a lot of herself into Jamie.

Best of all were the action and atmosphere in this book, which were both absolutely delightful! I loved getting the perfect and appropriate amount of blood and gore (though some descriptions could have been more detailed - a fact the audio production made up for with delicious sound effects), but also snide remarks and dark humour. Oh, and the people in this weren't unrealistic. Well, maybe just a tad. I blame the romance-side of this story. ;P

The audiobook also had two narrators (one for the women, one for the men) and they worked perfectly together. Yes, that IS important. Especially considering some of the leading men. *fans herself*

So yes, an absolute success. My bestie isn't on GR so I can tell you in this review that she enjoyed the same bits, was also slightly disappointed about the almost tame ending, but agrees that this is a keeper!

P.S.: If I could get the special edition with the cover shown for the audio, I would absolutely have this book on my shelf. Alas, the available editions look atrocious so I shan't. Damn you, Australia, for not sharing! *shakes fist*

[₊ ˚ ale ࿓ ♡ ⋆｡˚]

── 🔪🐈‍⬛ ᝰ .ᐟ pre-read.
okay, the concept seems pretty interesting. let's see how it goes 👀

[sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ Rating: 4⭐️
🫧 Vibes: slasher meets romcom
🎶 Song: still alive - demi lovato
📖 Favourite Quote: "Because final Final Girls and Leading Ladies aren't born. They're made."
📚 Would I recommend? yes!
💬 tldr thoughts: a FUN read!

In the package:
📦 murder mystery
📦 love triangle
📦 final girl/leading lady
📦 slasher/romcom references

Plot: Jamie Prescott is a slasher and romcom film buff. She and her best friend Laurie attend a speed-dating event, when halfway through, one of Jamie's dates gets murdered during a blackout. When the lights come back on and there are more bodies on the floor. With Jamie’s extensive knowledge of what NOT to do in a horror movie, they try to survive the night and find an exit. But who is the suspect?

Thoughts: this one's for the girlies that love slasher films, romcoms and watch true crime documentaries before bed. I'm obsessed with scream and I adore romcoms (we need more of them) so this was the best of both worlds. People being murdered while trapped in an enclosed space while falling in love? OBSESSED WITH THIS CONCEPT. Some parts dragged a little which is my only complaint. I'd love to see this turned into a movie. I don't want to go into too many details so I don't spoil the book but I loved the romance plot too 🤭

I think one of my favourite parts of this book is that at the beginning of each chapter, there's a quote from famous romcoms that have been edited to fit the "slasher" narrative. It was such a fun little treat and this book felt like a love letter to slasher films and romcoms. I also adored Jamie's relationship with her bestie, Laurie. Their bond was really sweet, we love female friendships!!

✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩

[❋ Booked Out Today ❋ · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson
★★★★

Jamie and her best friend Laurie are trapped in a locked speed-dating event turned murder spree and must use her horror-movie know-how to survive as a real-life Final Girl. A swoony, darkly funny horror romance where flirting can be fatal.

This was a lot of fun to read. I was especially loved the beginning of this book. It was extremely captivating. I must say the momentum of the story dropped off mid way through. The setting of this book was the same place the whole way through which I found challenging. It would have been interesting to get an insight to what was happening on the outside or even get a POV from Laurie.

I really liked Shailee’s writing style and wouldn’t hesitate to pick up another book from her in the future. This was overall a great read but just missed the mark for me at the end.

💭 Have you been on a speed date before?

Thank you @netgalley and @simonschusterau for the opportunity to review this book.

[Steph Cook · Rating 1 out of 5]

Let’s stop writing books like they’re movies please. This heroine is so aggressively quirky it circles back to pick‑me energy. Zero charm, just constant performance. I finished it, but honestly? I shouldn’t have.

[hailee · Rating 4 out of 5]

as a huge fan of both slashers & romance, this was a lot of fun

[Dallas Strawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

How To Kill A Guy in Ten Dates is set to blast onto the scene and firmly establish Shailee Thompson as a writer to watch. This debut novel, a slasher rom-com (yes, you read that right) is one of the most unique and refreshingly told stories I’ve read in quite some time. Thompson’s voice is sharp, clever, and utterly original; I’ve truly never read anything quite like it.

The story follows certified movie lover Jamie and her best friend Laurie as they reluctantly sign up for a speed-dating experiment. Jamie, a devoted fan of both romantic comedies and horror films, expects an awkward night of small talk — not a blood-soaked mystery. But when the lights suddenly go out and the man across from her ends up with his throat slashed, Jamie finds herself living out a twisted mash-up of her favorite genres.

As the surviving daters realize they’re trapped inside with a killer, alliances form, tensions rise, and even a spark of romance flickers amid the chaos. Jamie might just find her perfect match… if she can make it out alive!

How To Kill A Guy in Ten Dates is a bloody good time; a smart, fast-paced, and wickedly fun read that will delight movie lovers and anyone looking for a Valentine’s story with a killer twist. Don’t miss this one when it hits shelves from Gallery Books in February!

Thanks to Gallery Books for an ARC!

[Kelly Stella · Rating 1 out of 5]

The premise of this book immediately got me. A girl is at a speed dating event and the situation turns into a slasher movie in which she has to find a way to escape and figure out who the killer is. The book was also marketed as a genre bending story (horror mixed with romance), so that also got me interested to read something fresh.

Unfortunately, I ended up really disliking it 🫣 It is way too long. Basic things are explained for you that are easily inferred and the directions on how to survive a horror movie situation are repeated over and over again. There are also a bajillion pop culture references, mostly about romcoms and horror movies….and of course Taylor Swift. Each chapter starts with a quote from a romantic movie, but the quote has been rewritten to replace the romantic words with murder words. It comes across cute at the beginning but after 39 chapters of this, you’re kind of done 🙄

I really should have DNF’d this book. I wasn’t really enjoying it, especially by the halfway mark. I also guessed the ending pretty easily. I think the only reason I kept reading was I wanted to prove that I guessed the ending correctly (I did). Because the author explains everything in so much detail I feel like she was waving a neon sign at the reader about who the killer was throughout the story. It was super obvious.

The “romance” was thin, felt awkward where it fell in the story line (girl you have bigger things to focus on like SURVIVING), and was based on instant attraction and lust 🤷‍♀️

I think this might have done better as a novella around 120 pages?? It just did not work well as a full length novel and felt very drawn out. The main character herself even talks about how nicely slasher movies are wrapped up in 90 minutes and how we skip over a lot of stuff at the end to just get to the future epilogue. But then the book goes on to show those boring scenes the movie usually skips 🫠

So the only real positive thing I can say about this is it has a good premise and may make a fun movie someday. But as a 368 page novel? I wouldn’t recommend it.

[Cortney - Bookworm & Vine · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 big bloody hearts!

I LOVED this book. Fun, funny, gory, suspenseful, with just a hint of romance, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates had it all! Definitely tops my list of favorite reads of the year. 💗🩸🔪☠️

[Blaiz Ferrel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this book,
Scream it from the rooftops loved it!

From the very first page, it had me hooked with the details: the map, the hilarious quotes, the clever play on names, Jamie, Billie, Stu, Wes, Prescott, Carpenter, Laurie… the list goes on.
Every reference felt like a wink to horror fans—Scream, She’s All That, and yes… frosting ourselves 💎 (IYKYK).
This wasn’t just fan service—it was a love letter to the greats, wrapped in blood, banter, and heart-pounding suspense.
This story is a genuinely intense slasher and a laugh out loud, root for true love rom-com.
One minute my heart was racing, the next I was grinning like an idiot. Shailee either did her homework or is a certified thriller/rom-com junkie—because the balance here is chef’s kiss.

When Jamie Prescott and her best friend Laurie attend a speed-dating event, they expect awkward conversations and late-night food—not a blackout, a murder at their table, and a masked killer stalking the room. Armed with slasher-movie knowledge and makeshift weapons, the surviving daters must escape while navigating mounting body counts, growing suspicion, and an unexpected love triangle.
Razor-sharp humor, relentless pacing, and espresso martinis 🍸 (my personal love language), and I was DONE for.

Did I write this book? Is Shailee Thompson my twin flame? I may never know—but what I do know is that this is one of the most fun, clever, and addictive reads I’ve had in a long time.

If you love slashers, rom-com chaos, Final Girls, and stories that don’t take themselves too seriously while still delivering real stakes—add this to your TBR immediately. 🔪🖤📚

[Brittany S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read Completed 2/4/26 | Book #19 of 2026

This book has an audience and that audience was definitely not me. On the surface, it seemed really fun. Rom com references with a slasher vibe? Fun! But the author just took everything way, way too far for my tastes. You'll get all that and more, and it was far too much for me.

We can't go two sentences without a horror movie reference, a romcom quote, or the main character talking about leading ladies and final girls. It was seriously just over the top and got super annoying super fast. A bit more subtlety and a plot that made sense would have gone a long way for me, but that's just not what this book was, so that's okay. It was just never going to work for me -- I only wish I had understood that before starting it. The constant pop culture references became such a crutch that I felt like we didn't have a book without them.

There are a couple little "twists", one I didn't care about, one was totally dumb. The killer reveal and motive is so stupid. The main character ran the show because she knows all about horror movies, but girl, this isn't a movie. It's supposed to be real life. I get it, I get it, it's supposed to be funny and silly, but I kind of just wanted her to get killed because she's following horror movie rules instead of being a rationally thinking person in a crisis situation.

The romance was not for me. The two main leads were fine, whatever, but I could not have cared less about being romantic in this type of setting. Let's see someone disemboweled and then bang in a closet, sure. Because that's not the most horrific moment of your life or anything.

It's my fault, I should have known better, but the title and cover were cute and I made a bad choice.

[The Pastel Bookshelf]

DNF @47%

[Nicola Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamie is a film buff who loves two very different genres: horror/slashers and rom-coms. She’s even writing a thesis on how the two are more similar than people think. So when a killer goes on a spree at a speed-dating event she’s attending, Jamie finds herself trapped inside the venue — and suddenly living out a real-life slasher and rom-com at the same time.

I really enjoyed this book. It was so different from anything I’ve read before. I never would’ve thought a slasher/rom-com could work, but it absolutely does.

Jamie was such a fun, relatable main character. She’s down-to-earth, self-deprecating, and her thoughts on dating felt very real. I loved how she mentally runs everything that happens through her back catalogue of movies, using film tropes and references to make sense of the situation. Picking up on all the movie references made me feel even more connected to her — and as a long-time Swiftie, I also appreciated the Taylor Swift mentions.

I loved Jamie’s friendship with her best friend Laurie, and I couldn’t help noticing how many character names referenced well-known horror actors and characters, which was a fun extra layer.

The setting was great too — one night in an old nightclub with hidden VIP areas, dark corridors, and lots of places for things to go wrong. The map at the front really helped with visualising it all.

Clever, funny, and genuinely tense in the scarier moments. It was well paced, and the further I got, the harder it was to put down. It kept me guessing right until the end.

[Paige- TheBookandtheBoston · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are normally a horror girly but want to try a romance for Valentine’s Day, this is the perfect book for you. Or maybe you’re in a different boat, and you love romcoms but want to mix in some gore- this one is for you, too! Being a lover of most horrors, I didn’t think this book was too gory. It falls under the “slasher” subgenre, so you get your (seemingly) typical masked unaliver on the loose. But mashing this genre up with a romcom, and the murder and mayhem is balanced with a funny love story, too.

I loved our FMC Jaime, and her love of both horror movies and romantic comedies. This book had me laughing, swooning, and turning all the lights on in our house at night 😆. Each chapter starts with a quote from a romcom, but edited slightly to fit the horror genre instead. The most impressive thing about this book, too, was that it was a DEBUT! If this is Thompson’s first book, I CANNOT wait to see what she puts out next!

𝑾𝒉𝒐 𝑰'𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐:
Lovers of both horrors and romances alike! Thriller and mystery lovers will like this, too!

[Elle G. Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

How to Kill a Guy in 10 Dates seemed like the kind of book I would love. Unfortunately, I felt like the author was trying too hard with the slasher puns (even the chapter titles) and the book came off cheesier than anything. I also don’t think the “romance” in this slasher romcom worked because who in their right mind would be screwing around while people are getting murdered RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM!?! I know this genre can work but the way the author went out THIS one just didn’t feel right to me.

[EmG ReadsDaily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this entertaining cinematic slasher rom-com story!

I was so immersed in the clever story, that follows cinephile Jamie Prescott, who becomes trapped in the centre of a murder spree at a speed-dating event. Armed with her extensive knowledge of what not to do in a slasher, she is forced to figure out how to avoid becoming a Final Girl.

I love how each chapter begins with a misquote from a romantic comedy, with a horrifying meaning. The humour in the story is what makes it such an enjoyable read, as well as the many pop culture references. It also has a map, which I love!

'You have to decide how you want the movie to end. You have to decide what role you're going to take in it. Because Final Girls and Leading Ladies aren't born. They're made. They're a culmination of their choices.'

This was an immersive read for me, listening to the audio while following along in the book. I loved the audiobook narration by Stefanie Kay and Patrick Zellerand, as well as the quality audio production!

This is an incredible debut and I am very keen to read more from Aussie author Shailee Thompson.

With thanks to Simon & Schuster (Australia) for an ARC of the book, and Simon & Schuster Audio (Australia) for the audio listening copy, via NetGalley.

"If you find yourself in a situation where it seems like you are surrounded by an unusually high number of bitches, there's a really good chance you are probably being an asshole."

4.5 stars (rounded up)

[Roman Clodia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Women don't need flashy presents like intestine hearts and killing sprees; we just want somebody to make the effort. Cleaning a bleeding gash, fashioning a weapon out of a household item. It's simpler. More personal.

Heehee, this is a blast of meta fun as Thompson doesn't just mash up a slasher thriller with a rom-com, but also gives us a bright narrator in Jamie who is writing her doctoral thesis on precisely these film genres and uses her insider knowledge of the 'rules' to survive when a masked psychopathic murderer is hunting down a group in a locked building AND finds The One while dodging death! There is gore a-plenty, a And Then There Were None vibe, twists and reveals that reference what we know must happen but which still surprise and make us smile, and even a gorgeous love story that beats many a romance.

Hugely entertaining, nail-bitingly tense in places (the martini glass on the bar!), blood-soaked and swooningly romantic by turns, this is pure switch-off reading pleasure - may be a good choice if you've enjoyed postmodern genre mixers like Victorian Psycho.

[monica • · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was overall a very entertaining experience! it’s fun and intense and a lot of it shocked me. some of the references kind of took me out of the story and felt repetitive but I had a good time!