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The Unwilling Plus One
A fake boyfriend.
A killer family.
And a deadly wedding.
Maggie Hamilton comes from a long line of people paid to dish out death. Unfortunately, Maggie is a family failure. Age? Twenty-nine. Kill count? Zero. When her father decides to marry her off to her psychotic ex at thirty, Maggie panics and hatches the world’s worst fake a relationship to buy herself some time.
Enter Roman Ellis. Maggie's hot, grumpy neighbour and internet-famous 'celibacy' influencer. Little does he know that Maggie knows all about his secret life. She hears it all through her bedroom wall. He’s gorgeous, insufferable, and wouldn't look at her twice given the chance.
But Maggie isn't giving him the chance; she's taking him home whether he likes it or not.
They just need to make it through an eleven-hour drive to the Highlands for her father’s wedding. With Roman tied to the passenger seat, a suspicious stepmother-to-be who may or may not be poisoning the groom, and a stalker ex lurking in the wings.
All Maggie has to do is survive the week without dying, killing anyone, or falling in love.
Unfortunately, Roman has a talent for making her want to do all three.
Darkly funny, spicy and unhinged, The Unwilling Plus One is a rom-com for truly unconditional love.
A killer family.
And a deadly wedding.
Maggie Hamilton comes from a long line of people paid to dish out death. Unfortunately, Maggie is a family failure. Age? Twenty-nine. Kill count? Zero. When her father decides to marry her off to her psychotic ex at thirty, Maggie panics and hatches the world’s worst fake a relationship to buy herself some time.
Enter Roman Ellis. Maggie's hot, grumpy neighbour and internet-famous 'celibacy' influencer. Little does he know that Maggie knows all about his secret life. She hears it all through her bedroom wall. He’s gorgeous, insufferable, and wouldn't look at her twice given the chance.
But Maggie isn't giving him the chance; she's taking him home whether he likes it or not.
They just need to make it through an eleven-hour drive to the Highlands for her father’s wedding. With Roman tied to the passenger seat, a suspicious stepmother-to-be who may or may not be poisoning the groom, and a stalker ex lurking in the wings.
All Maggie has to do is survive the week without dying, killing anyone, or falling in love.
Unfortunately, Roman has a talent for making her want to do all three.
Darkly funny, spicy and unhinged, The Unwilling Plus One is a rom-com for truly unconditional love.
- GenresDark RomanceFake Dating
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2026
33 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
February 2, 2026
I really enjoyed Roman and Maggies story. They’re an opposite attracts, but are good for each other - kind of couple.
You always need one morally gray person in a relationship and Maggie takes the title, even though she’s not in the family business of killing. Whilst, Roman isn’t entirely an honest person, it’s more that he’s gone down a rabbit hole and doesn’t know how to get out. I really like how Roman supports Maggie in the story, and that causes him to have some reflections of his own.
This book spoke to my dark sense of British humour. I will be coming back for book number 2 in the series.
Also, Roman’s Gran needs 5⭐️ all of her own.
You always need one morally gray person in a relationship and Maggie takes the title, even though she’s not in the family business of killing. Whilst, Roman isn’t entirely an honest person, it’s more that he’s gone down a rabbit hole and doesn’t know how to get out. I really like how Roman supports Maggie in the story, and that causes him to have some reflections of his own.
This book spoke to my dark sense of British humour. I will be coming back for book number 2 in the series.
Also, Roman’s Gran needs 5⭐️ all of her own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review
This book is wild. Imagine this: You get drugged to be taken as a plus one to a wedding by, I kid you not, a failed contract killer!
Maggie is our failed contract killer, that needs to go home, to Scotland, to attend a whole series of wedding activities. She knows she will be forced to wed someone she doesn't want. So in order to avoid this she drugs, kidnaps and basically forces her neighbor, Roman, to be her fake boyfriend.
The story that follows is hilarious and the banter in it is sharp and sarcastic. Exactly how I like it.
The book is relatively short (not a bad thing), so I do feel we could have a little bit more insight in the family written in the book. Also the 180 Roman did considering his behavior towards Maggie could have been dragged out a bit more.
This book is wild. Imagine this: You get drugged to be taken as a plus one to a wedding by, I kid you not, a failed contract killer!
Maggie is our failed contract killer, that needs to go home, to Scotland, to attend a whole series of wedding activities. She knows she will be forced to wed someone she doesn't want. So in order to avoid this she drugs, kidnaps and basically forces her neighbor, Roman, to be her fake boyfriend.
The story that follows is hilarious and the banter in it is sharp and sarcastic. Exactly how I like it.
The book is relatively short (not a bad thing), so I do feel we could have a little bit more insight in the family written in the book. Also the 180 Roman did considering his behavior towards Maggie could have been dragged out a bit more.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating 3.5 ⭐️
First Effie Campbell book and it did not disappoint! This was such a good dark rom-com. It's funny, a little dark and very chaotic...and I loved it! Can't wait for Eliza's story!
Actual rating 3.5 ⭐️
First Effie Campbell book and it did not disappoint! This was such a good dark rom-com. It's funny, a little dark and very chaotic...and I loved it! Can't wait for Eliza's story!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was my first Effie Campbell book and I am hooked. It had the right amount of fun and banter plus a serious side and spice. Maggie is the black sheep of her contract assassin family. She's the eldest and has never been able to finish a job. Roman is her neighbor and she is sure he doesn't know she exists. She decides to kidnap him and blackmail into being her fate for her father's wedding. Their banter and chemistry was so fun. Roman helps her see she's more than the family disappointment and helps her stick up to them.
Review of advance copy received from Author
“The Unwilling Plus One” brings us a heartfelt and hilarious romance between Maggie, a failed h!twoman and Roman, a celibacy influencer, who practises anything but! Maggie needs to bring a boyfriend to his father’s wedding and Roman is the perfect guy for that! K!dnapping, blac*mail and a lot of this-can’t-be-good-for-you dr*gs, Maggie realizes she doesn’t fit in the family, especially when Roman seems to be killing it! Ok… so not literally, but everyone in the family is loving Roman and Maggie still feels like she doesn’t fit in.
I love Maggie! She' just wants to live her life peacefully, baking cookies with the most boring office job ever, but the pressure to inherit the family’s business drives her to constantly question herself. She’s really easygoing and a fun person to be around, and she’s kind. It was an absolute joy to read her POV, and my heart broke for her several times. She’s got spirit and a very weak stomach!
Roman was completely out of his element, but as soon as he saw how Maggie was treated and how she accepted being “weak” when she was just a regular person made him feel like he needed to defend her. Go Roman! It’s not that Maggie needed someone defending her, she was born into that family, she was expected something, and they still loved her, but the constant jabs were something that, while she dealt with, hurt her in the end. She talked about herself with some self-deprecation, and Roman, my boy, he was not having it! There’s nothing better than a man who accepts you for who you are, faults and all, and still does everything in his power to protect you from the world! The world is mean and sometimes women can be fierce and independent but TIRING! The universe, living is TIRING! So yeah, we just want a guy to hold us against the world.
Roman and Maggie are such cuties, Roman is usually battling his conflicted feelings, but he’s the best abductee ever! Maggie is always trying to make the situation better. Together their chemistry is amazing and the side characters are also a riot!
“The Unwilling Plus One” is Effie more comical side in dark romance, more of a very light rom-com, but it feels amazing to read something so adorable within the dark aspects. It’s very heart warming and I hope to see these two again!
I love Maggie! She' just wants to live her life peacefully, baking cookies with the most boring office job ever, but the pressure to inherit the family’s business drives her to constantly question herself. She’s really easygoing and a fun person to be around, and she’s kind. It was an absolute joy to read her POV, and my heart broke for her several times. She’s got spirit and a very weak stomach!
Roman was completely out of his element, but as soon as he saw how Maggie was treated and how she accepted being “weak” when she was just a regular person made him feel like he needed to defend her. Go Roman! It’s not that Maggie needed someone defending her, she was born into that family, she was expected something, and they still loved her, but the constant jabs were something that, while she dealt with, hurt her in the end. She talked about herself with some self-deprecation, and Roman, my boy, he was not having it! There’s nothing better than a man who accepts you for who you are, faults and all, and still does everything in his power to protect you from the world! The world is mean and sometimes women can be fierce and independent but TIRING! The universe, living is TIRING! So yeah, we just want a guy to hold us against the world.
Roman and Maggie are such cuties, Roman is usually battling his conflicted feelings, but he’s the best abductee ever! Maggie is always trying to make the situation better. Together their chemistry is amazing and the side characters are also a riot!
“The Unwilling Plus One” is Effie more comical side in dark romance, more of a very light rom-com, but it feels amazing to read something so adorable within the dark aspects. It’s very heart warming and I hope to see these two again!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
This book was like a lovechild between 'Lights Out' and 'Butcher and Blackbird', it was so funny, messed up and oddly romantic at the most inconvenient of times (who said feeding pigs a deleted body wasn't cute?!)
Both the characters Maggie and Roman were so well written, they both had some things they needed to deal with, and throughout the book we get to see them come to terms with their pasts and struggles. Maggie was absolutely hilarious and so relatable honestly, her family, The Hamiltons, are so interesting too, especially her bloodthirsty sister Eliza- I can't wait for her book! Roman was such a golden retriever, he fell head over heels for Maggie despite being kidnapped and dragged to a wedding filled with contract killers.
The plot was fairly straightforward, I kind of hoped there'd be more mystery and drama unfolding within the family, especially with the hints we get that someone is possibly harming Maggie's dad, but it never led to anything, so the brief hints feel kind of misleading and anti-climatic. Nonetheless, the pacing and comedic timing make this book a blast, and the spice was so well written, plus the romance was sweet and full of banter. Maggie and Roman had serious chemistry.
Overall, this definitely lives up to the dark romcom expectations, with a great mix of humour, gore and a heated, forced proximity, opposites attract, strangers to lovers romance!
This book was like a lovechild between 'Lights Out' and 'Butcher and Blackbird', it was so funny, messed up and oddly romantic at the most inconvenient of times (who said feeding pigs a deleted body wasn't cute?!)
Both the characters Maggie and Roman were so well written, they both had some things they needed to deal with, and throughout the book we get to see them come to terms with their pasts and struggles. Maggie was absolutely hilarious and so relatable honestly, her family, The Hamiltons, are so interesting too, especially her bloodthirsty sister Eliza- I can't wait for her book! Roman was such a golden retriever, he fell head over heels for Maggie despite being kidnapped and dragged to a wedding filled with contract killers.
The plot was fairly straightforward, I kind of hoped there'd be more mystery and drama unfolding within the family, especially with the hints we get that someone is possibly harming Maggie's dad, but it never led to anything, so the brief hints feel kind of misleading and anti-climatic. Nonetheless, the pacing and comedic timing make this book a blast, and the spice was so well written, plus the romance was sweet and full of banter. Maggie and Roman had serious chemistry.
Overall, this definitely lives up to the dark romcom expectations, with a great mix of humour, gore and a heated, forced proximity, opposites attract, strangers to lovers romance!
January 31, 2026
*contains some spoilers*
I’d give this book a solid 4.5 stars. Simply put, I am obsessed. I read this book in a day. I could not put it down!! The writing was so funny, every page had me laughing, and it flowed beautifully. The setting is super toxic - the fmc’s career and the whole kidnapping situation, and normally it would’ve annoyed me but I loved every second.
The world, the characters, the plot… it was all so unique and beautifully crafted.
The first chapter had me hooked. I highlighted so many quotes, and smiled throughout.
However, I think there was a bit too much spice for my liking - the fmc getting off to the sound of the mmc hooking up with another girl gave me a bit of the ick. That being said, the plot was still prominent and it all fit in nicely.
Chapter 41… when he started talking about proposing, I groaned - I am so sick of books ending with a proposal as the happy ever after, and I thought the scene with the Gran was the perfect way to end the book. However, the detour and bit with the sister was a nice, unexpected addition and that made me like the chosen ending.
Overall, I loved this so much and I’m definitely going to check out the authors other books and recommend this one!
I’d give this book a solid 4.5 stars. Simply put, I am obsessed. I read this book in a day. I could not put it down!! The writing was so funny, every page had me laughing, and it flowed beautifully. The setting is super toxic - the fmc’s career and the whole kidnapping situation, and normally it would’ve annoyed me but I loved every second.
The world, the characters, the plot… it was all so unique and beautifully crafted.
The first chapter had me hooked. I highlighted so many quotes, and smiled throughout.
However, I think there was a bit too much spice for my liking - the fmc getting off to the sound of the mmc hooking up with another girl gave me a bit of the ick. That being said, the plot was still prominent and it all fit in nicely.
Chapter 41… when he started talking about proposing, I groaned - I am so sick of books ending with a proposal as the happy ever after, and I thought the scene with the Gran was the perfect way to end the book. However, the detour and bit with the sister was a nice, unexpected addition and that made me like the chosen ending.
Overall, I loved this so much and I’m definitely going to check out the authors other books and recommend this one!
February 1, 2026
The Unwilling Plus One was such a fun, and amusing read!
Maggie is from a family of assassins and is supposed to take over the family business. The problem? She's never made a single kill. On top of that, her father is getting married, and she needs a date to take home - otherwise she'll be married off to her psychotic ex. What else is a girl to do but "borrow" her really hot neighbor...with the help of some sedatives and zip ties?..
I absolutely love Maggie and Roman so much. They're both in situations that aren't ideal... but when Maggie adultnaps Roman, forcing him to be her fake boyfriend for her father's wedding, things start to change.
Watching Maggie's plan to kidnap Roman unfold was very entertaining. Plus the 11 hour car ride with Roman zip tied to the car door was very interesting.
Maggie and Romans time at her family home for the wedding was absolutely insane. I never knew what was going to happen next, and it definitely kept me on my toes!
The Unwilling Plus One is one of my favorite reads. The banter between Roman and Maggie was fantastic. I loved watching both Maggie and Roman changing throughout the book, and I loved the ending!
The spice was incredible and Roman is SO hot!
Maggie is from a family of assassins and is supposed to take over the family business. The problem? She's never made a single kill. On top of that, her father is getting married, and she needs a date to take home - otherwise she'll be married off to her psychotic ex. What else is a girl to do but "borrow" her really hot neighbor...with the help of some sedatives and zip ties?..
I absolutely love Maggie and Roman so much. They're both in situations that aren't ideal... but when Maggie adultnaps Roman, forcing him to be her fake boyfriend for her father's wedding, things start to change.
Watching Maggie's plan to kidnap Roman unfold was very entertaining. Plus the 11 hour car ride with Roman zip tied to the car door was very interesting.
Maggie and Romans time at her family home for the wedding was absolutely insane. I never knew what was going to happen next, and it definitely kept me on my toes!
The Unwilling Plus One is one of my favorite reads. The banter between Roman and Maggie was fantastic. I loved watching both Maggie and Roman changing throughout the book, and I loved the ending!
The spice was incredible and Roman is SO hot!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Unwilling Plus One is a dark romcom, along the lines of Light Out or The Ruinous Love series. It's a fun, spicy and quick read, and I sped right through it! FMC Maggie is quirky and a bit chaotic, and MMC Roman is living a very public lie, which Maggie uses to blackmail him into going along with her fake dating plot. Roman's feelings for Maggie do change quite quickly, and I think I would have liked to spend a bit more time in that transition period. It looks like this series is going to continue with other members of Maggie's immediate family as the main characters, and I'm sure they'll have fun storylines too!
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.
February 2, 2026
4⭐️ This was such a fun, chaotic rom-com 😂 Fake dating, a grumpy neighbor turned unwilling plus one, and an absolutely unhinged road trip? I was entertained the whole time. Maggie is messy, relatable, and trying so hard to escape her family’s expectations, and Roman’s grumpy-to-soft transformation was chef’s kiss.
The banter and chemistry were great, though I wished a few parts (especially the family chaos) were explored a bit more, which kept it from being a 5⭐️ for me. Still, it was fast, funny, and easy to devour. Perfect if you’re in the mood for a light, quirky romance with laughs and heart
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝘼𝙍𝘾. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙮.
The banter and chemistry were great, though I wished a few parts (especially the family chaos) were explored a bit more, which kept it from being a 5⭐️ for me. Still, it was fast, funny, and easy to devour. Perfect if you’re in the mood for a light, quirky romance with laughs and heart
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝘼𝙍𝘾. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙮.
February 1, 2026
✨The Unwilling Plus One ✨
Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️.5
Tropes: Fake Dating , Family Drama, Failed Assassin, Oddball FMC, Blogger MMC, Pet Crow , Dark RomCom ,Banter with a bit of spice.
This is the first time i ever read a story where the FMC was the one doing the napping and i am here for it 👏🏼 ! She was really awkward but that awkwardness made her funny. This story is full of banter between Maggie and Roman that i just couldn't get enough of it. I found myself laughing throughout the entire time Maggie was trying to get Roman down the stairs. His inner thoughts throughout that time were hilarious. 😂 I just love how these two kind of just fell for each other and even though they are opposites they make it work. Overall i enjoyed this book and i cant wait for everyone else to pick this one up!
Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️.5
Tropes: Fake Dating , Family Drama, Failed Assassin, Oddball FMC, Blogger MMC, Pet Crow , Dark RomCom ,Banter with a bit of spice.
This is the first time i ever read a story where the FMC was the one doing the napping and i am here for it 👏🏼 ! She was really awkward but that awkwardness made her funny. This story is full of banter between Maggie and Roman that i just couldn't get enough of it. I found myself laughing throughout the entire time Maggie was trying to get Roman down the stairs. His inner thoughts throughout that time were hilarious. 😂 I just love how these two kind of just fell for each other and even though they are opposites they make it work. Overall i enjoyed this book and i cant wait for everyone else to pick this one up!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review - omg I love. Maggie 💜
This is my first book by this author and I will hands down be reading more by them!
This book has humour, witty, relatability (yes it was relatable even if the family as a bunch on contract killers).
I loved Maggie's spur of the moment decisions and Romans vulnerability which in this book kinda had reverse positions to the usual "dark romance".
This was such a quick and fun read, defo recommend.
This is my first book by this author and I will hands down be reading more by them!
This book has humour, witty, relatability (yes it was relatable even if the family as a bunch on contract killers).
I loved Maggie's spur of the moment decisions and Romans vulnerability which in this book kinda had reverse positions to the usual "dark romance".
This was such a quick and fun read, defo recommend.
February 1, 2026
This book was a fun cute read! Quirky Maggie is definitely a train wreck from start to finish but who doesn’t like a love a good train wreck! Poor Roman being the hot neighbor was an innocent bystander but he ended up catching feelings for the quirky neighbor girl! I loved the elements of this book that made it into a dark romcom! Definitely check out this book today!
February 1, 2026
This was so much fun to read!Love the clumsy of Maggie in the troubles she gets into. And Roman I just can’t imagine a big guy taking down by a little lass. But he definitely was and from there on forward was adventure after another. This was a great beginning to the killer kin series I’m looking forward to new adventures from some of this characters that we met here!
February 1, 2026
The Unwilling Plus One is a dark RomCom that deeply moved me emotionally. Maggie broke my heart, constantly trying to please her family, yet always feeling like a side character in her own life. Even though she is loved, she often feels lonely inside, and that’s what makes her story so incredibly relatable.
Roman knows that he suppresses his feelings. He lives a controlled, distant life until Maggie enters it with all her quirks, her vulnerability, and her chaos. Somewhere between dark humor, dangerous circumstances, and almost Stockholm-syndrome vibes, he falls in love with her, not despite everything, but because of it. With Maggie, closeness suddenly doesn’t feel threatening anymore, but like coming home, and Roman consciously decides not to push those feelings away any longer.
Together, they piece together a new life, somewhere between a murderous family, highly efficient pig farming, and pitch-black humor. Despite all the darkness, the story never loses its heart. Dark, funny, and surprisingly warm, this book shows that even amid chaos, blood, and absurd circumstances, you can find someone with whom you finally stop denying yourself. 🖤🐖✨
The Unwilling Plus One ist eine Dark RomCom, die mich emotional sehr berührt hat. Maggie hat mein Herz gebrochen, dieses ständige Versuchen, es der Familie recht zu machen, dabei aber selbst immer das Gefühl zu haben, nur ein Side Character im eigenen Leben zu sein. Obwohl sie geliebt wird, fühlt sich ihr Inneres oft einsam an, und genau das macht ihre Geschichte so nahbar.
Roman weiß, dass er seine Gefühle unterdrückt. Er lebt kontrolliert und distanziert, bis Maggie mit all ihren Eigenheiten, ihrer Verletzlichkeit und ihrem Chaos in sein Leben tritt. Irgendwo zwischen dunklem Humor, gefährlichen Umständen und fast schon Stockholm-Syndrom-Vibes verliebt er sich in sie, nicht trotz allem, sondern genau deshalb. Mit Maggie fühlt sich Nähe plötzlich nicht mehr bedrohlich an, sondern wie Ankommen, und Roman entscheidet sich bewusst dafür, diese Gefühle nicht länger zu verdrängen.
Gemeinsam raufen sie sich in ein neues Leben, irgendwo zwischen mordender Familie, sehr effektiver Schweinehaltung und schwarzem Humor. Trotz aller Dunkelheit verliert die Geschichte nie ihr Herz. Düster, witzig und überraschend warm erzählt, zeigt das Buch, dass man selbst im Chaos, Blut und absurden Umständen jemanden finden kann, mit dem man endlich aufhört, sich selbst zu verleugnen. 🖤🐖✨
Roman knows that he suppresses his feelings. He lives a controlled, distant life until Maggie enters it with all her quirks, her vulnerability, and her chaos. Somewhere between dark humor, dangerous circumstances, and almost Stockholm-syndrome vibes, he falls in love with her, not despite everything, but because of it. With Maggie, closeness suddenly doesn’t feel threatening anymore, but like coming home, and Roman consciously decides not to push those feelings away any longer.
Together, they piece together a new life, somewhere between a murderous family, highly efficient pig farming, and pitch-black humor. Despite all the darkness, the story never loses its heart. Dark, funny, and surprisingly warm, this book shows that even amid chaos, blood, and absurd circumstances, you can find someone with whom you finally stop denying yourself. 🖤🐖✨
The Unwilling Plus One ist eine Dark RomCom, die mich emotional sehr berührt hat. Maggie hat mein Herz gebrochen, dieses ständige Versuchen, es der Familie recht zu machen, dabei aber selbst immer das Gefühl zu haben, nur ein Side Character im eigenen Leben zu sein. Obwohl sie geliebt wird, fühlt sich ihr Inneres oft einsam an, und genau das macht ihre Geschichte so nahbar.
Roman weiß, dass er seine Gefühle unterdrückt. Er lebt kontrolliert und distanziert, bis Maggie mit all ihren Eigenheiten, ihrer Verletzlichkeit und ihrem Chaos in sein Leben tritt. Irgendwo zwischen dunklem Humor, gefährlichen Umständen und fast schon Stockholm-Syndrom-Vibes verliebt er sich in sie, nicht trotz allem, sondern genau deshalb. Mit Maggie fühlt sich Nähe plötzlich nicht mehr bedrohlich an, sondern wie Ankommen, und Roman entscheidet sich bewusst dafür, diese Gefühle nicht länger zu verdrängen.
Gemeinsam raufen sie sich in ein neues Leben, irgendwo zwischen mordender Familie, sehr effektiver Schweinehaltung und schwarzem Humor. Trotz aller Dunkelheit verliert die Geschichte nie ihr Herz. Düster, witzig und überraschend warm erzählt, zeigt das Buch, dass man selbst im Chaos, Blut und absurden Umständen jemanden finden kann, mit dem man endlich aufhört, sich selbst zu verleugnen. 🖤🐖✨
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Unwilling Plus One: A Dark RomCom (The Killer Kin Series, Book 1) by Effie Campbell is, in one word, a masterpiece. Okay, technically that’s two words—but I couldn’t leave off the "a".
This romcom is absolutely fantastic, and I flew through it because I simply could not put it down. The characters are pure perfection. Roman Ellis is an celibacy influencer who secretly indulges in one-night stands—not because he set out to deceive anyone, but because of past experiences that left him struggling to feel worthy of love. He’s genuinely a good guy with a huge heart, and his relationship with his gran—the only family he has left—is incredibly endearing.
Maggie, on the other hand, has plenty of family… unfortunately, they’re in the killing business. Her family doesn’t just want her to take over the business—as the eldest, they require it. She’s tried, but she’s really, truly terrible at it. To make matters worse, her father expects her to marry someone “in the biz,” preferably her ex–douchebag boyfriend who is currently doing some impressive levels of butt-kissing to win Dad’s approval. Maggie wants no part of that.
So when she needs to show up to her dad’s wedding with a date—and can’t exactly bring just anyone around a family of killers—she does the only logical thing: she kidnaps one. Conveniently, her neighbor Roman turns out to be the perfect candidate.
I am completely obsessed with this novel. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, spicy, and hits every note I love in a romcom—with a dark twist that makes it even better. Thank you to Effie Campbell, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for this ARC. I was so honored to receive it, and it absolutely made my week. I’ve already ordered the paperback for my personal library. Total home run—and I cannot wait for Eliza’s book!
This romcom is absolutely fantastic, and I flew through it because I simply could not put it down. The characters are pure perfection. Roman Ellis is an celibacy influencer who secretly indulges in one-night stands—not because he set out to deceive anyone, but because of past experiences that left him struggling to feel worthy of love. He’s genuinely a good guy with a huge heart, and his relationship with his gran—the only family he has left—is incredibly endearing.
Maggie, on the other hand, has plenty of family… unfortunately, they’re in the killing business. Her family doesn’t just want her to take over the business—as the eldest, they require it. She’s tried, but she’s really, truly terrible at it. To make matters worse, her father expects her to marry someone “in the biz,” preferably her ex–douchebag boyfriend who is currently doing some impressive levels of butt-kissing to win Dad’s approval. Maggie wants no part of that.
So when she needs to show up to her dad’s wedding with a date—and can’t exactly bring just anyone around a family of killers—she does the only logical thing: she kidnaps one. Conveniently, her neighbor Roman turns out to be the perfect candidate.
I am completely obsessed with this novel. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, spicy, and hits every note I love in a romcom—with a dark twist that makes it even better. Thank you to Effie Campbell, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for this ARC. I was so honored to receive it, and it absolutely made my week. I’ve already ordered the paperback for my personal library. Total home run—and I cannot wait for Eliza’s book!
February 1, 2026
So this book gets more of a 3.5 from me. It was an interesting story and written fine.
This story starts with our main girl Maggie who falls for her neighbor Roman. He likes his "adult" time and takes new girls home all the time to have a "one and done" night. He is an influencer who talks about selecting himself and being celibate. Maggies dad has a wedding coming up where she is going to be forced to be with Eddie or marry him for family business. She has taken contracts to kill people but has never been able to follow through with them. So she kidnaps her neighbor Roman as her "boyfriend". One thing leads to another and some sexy time happens between them even after being kidnapped by her and drugged. He is thrown into this life he never chose but chooses Maggie.
Overall, I think this story could have some parts that were talked more in depth. Example would be with her sister and relationship with her family vs her having "fun" time with her pillow fantasizing about her neighbor Roman. If you want kinda a sappy romance book with spicy scenes, then this might be your book. I was hoping when I read the description that it was more about the fact that she is a killer or something on that lines vs what this was. It wasn't bad just could have certain details to show more of this connection between them. If you want more of a he falls for her after being kidnapped and dragged into a world of chaos with spice, then this would be your book. Also the last chapter, it’s in the future. I would have liked to see a timeline of how far in the future.
Thank you to the author for working with me and providing me with a copy of this book. I hope it finds the readers that love this type of story.
This story starts with our main girl Maggie who falls for her neighbor Roman. He likes his "adult" time and takes new girls home all the time to have a "one and done" night. He is an influencer who talks about selecting himself and being celibate. Maggies dad has a wedding coming up where she is going to be forced to be with Eddie or marry him for family business. She has taken contracts to kill people but has never been able to follow through with them. So she kidnaps her neighbor Roman as her "boyfriend". One thing leads to another and some sexy time happens between them even after being kidnapped by her and drugged. He is thrown into this life he never chose but chooses Maggie.
Overall, I think this story could have some parts that were talked more in depth. Example would be with her sister and relationship with her family vs her having "fun" time with her pillow fantasizing about her neighbor Roman. If you want kinda a sappy romance book with spicy scenes, then this might be your book. I was hoping when I read the description that it was more about the fact that she is a killer or something on that lines vs what this was. It wasn't bad just could have certain details to show more of this connection between them. If you want more of a he falls for her after being kidnapped and dragged into a world of chaos with spice, then this would be your book. Also the last chapter, it’s in the future. I would have liked to see a timeline of how far in the future.
Thank you to the author for working with me and providing me with a copy of this book. I hope it finds the readers that love this type of story.
February 3, 2026
The Unwilling Plus One was a pleasant surprise. The description is pretty accurate; this is indeed a romcom, and it’s dark because of what Maggie’s family business is (they’re hired assassins in modern UK) and the resulting gory deaths and mentions of death. It’s wacky and fun and lighthearted, with a touch of mystery and a compelling romance.
You wouldn’t necessarily think it would work, but I found Roman’s changing feelings for Maggie to be believable enough, since it’s clear that Maggie isn’t much like her family. I liked that he saw who she was at heart and stood up for her in front of her family because he wanted to and believed that she deserved better, despite the circumstances (of him having been kidnapped by her lol). And Maggie helped to show Roman that he too is worthy of love, that his past trauma doesn’t have to define his future, just by her being her sweet self. The wedding shenanigans are kind of crazy (especially her terrifyingly unhinged ex), but we get to see Maggie and Roman really get to know each other and fall in love, and it’s so precious. The ease they have with each other and the trust made me feel all soft inside. I especially loved that at the end where Maggie goes through the ways Roman shows his love. They’re adorable. Roman’s gran is the best; she wants what’s best for her grandson, whom she raised, and she gives it to him straight.
The premise is so interesting and different on its own, and Maggie’s siblings seem like quite the characters themselves. I’m curious to see how Eliza’s story goes (I’m assuming it’s with James, her rival). This one was a relatively quick read but didn’t feel rushed, and I think I’ll want to reread it at some point!
Thank you to Netgalley/Effie Campbell for the ARC.
You wouldn’t necessarily think it would work, but I found Roman’s changing feelings for Maggie to be believable enough, since it’s clear that Maggie isn’t much like her family. I liked that he saw who she was at heart and stood up for her in front of her family because he wanted to and believed that she deserved better, despite the circumstances (of him having been kidnapped by her lol). And Maggie helped to show Roman that he too is worthy of love, that his past trauma doesn’t have to define his future, just by her being her sweet self. The wedding shenanigans are kind of crazy (especially her terrifyingly unhinged ex), but we get to see Maggie and Roman really get to know each other and fall in love, and it’s so precious. The ease they have with each other and the trust made me feel all soft inside. I especially loved that at the end where Maggie goes through the ways Roman shows his love. They’re adorable. Roman’s gran is the best; she wants what’s best for her grandson, whom she raised, and she gives it to him straight.
The premise is so interesting and different on its own, and Maggie’s siblings seem like quite the characters themselves. I’m curious to see how Eliza’s story goes (I’m assuming it’s with James, her rival). This one was a relatively quick read but didn’t feel rushed, and I think I’ll want to reread it at some point!
Thank you to Netgalley/Effie Campbell for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was absurd in the best way. I had no idea what was going to happen next because not a single character was sane and no one followed a logical thought path.
Maggie comes from a long dynasty of contract killers, except she can't kill. No matter how many times she tries, she just can't bring herself to end a life, even if they deserve it. In a last ditch effort to stop her father from marrying her off to keep the dynasty going, Maggie decides to kidnap and coerce her neighbor into attending her father's wedding with her.
What I loved most about this book is that it brought up every single issue I've had with other FMC murdered books. Maggie and Eliza do a baby wipe shower before going into a bar covered in blood. Maggie drugs Roman and he doesn't miraculously end up in her car. She's dragging him down stairs and grunting because he is too heavy and reassessing her life choices. Eliza having to make a phone call because her chainsaw ran out of battery and the body is now too big to shove down a hole. Effie Campbell really leaned into the humor of ridiculous situations.
I didn't connect with Roman because his character really just exists to boost Maggie's self-confidence. His influencer storyline didn't make sense to me within the overall plot and his only personality that comes out is when he is defending Maggie or flirting with her.
I enjoyed reading this book, but Maggie isn't my preferred type of FMC. That being said, I am really excited to read Eliza's book because I loved her the second she appeared on the page.
Thank you to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, and Effie Campbell for the free eARC.
Maggie comes from a long dynasty of contract killers, except she can't kill. No matter how many times she tries, she just can't bring herself to end a life, even if they deserve it. In a last ditch effort to stop her father from marrying her off to keep the dynasty going, Maggie decides to kidnap and coerce her neighbor into attending her father's wedding with her.
What I loved most about this book is that it brought up every single issue I've had with other FMC murdered books. Maggie and Eliza do a baby wipe shower before going into a bar covered in blood. Maggie drugs Roman and he doesn't miraculously end up in her car. She's dragging him down stairs and grunting because he is too heavy and reassessing her life choices. Eliza having to make a phone call because her chainsaw ran out of battery and the body is now too big to shove down a hole. Effie Campbell really leaned into the humor of ridiculous situations.
I didn't connect with Roman because his character really just exists to boost Maggie's self-confidence. His influencer storyline didn't make sense to me within the overall plot and his only personality that comes out is when he is defending Maggie or flirting with her.
I enjoyed reading this book, but Maggie isn't my preferred type of FMC. That being said, I am really excited to read Eliza's book because I loved her the second she appeared on the page.
Thank you to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, and Effie Campbell for the free eARC.
January 29, 2026
This book had me cackling from start to finish😂 Effie most certainly took us on a great journey with Maggie and Roman.
I think a reason I liked this book so much was I related to Maggie quite a bit. Maggie embraces her weirdness, has quite a bit of self inner monologue to hype herself up. Now Maggies entire family is involved in the family business and this is something that Maggie has tried to embrace over the years but long story short it’s most certainly not for her. And what would this family business be might you ask? Oh well removing terrible people from the chess board if you catch my drift👀 This is a reason why Maggie feels pressured and distant from her family and bless it breaks my heart.
Our MMC Roman is Maggie’s neighbour and similar to Maggie he has his own issues. After watching what his mother leaving did to his father he renounced ever falling in love. He developed a whole online persona and had quite a following, but again that’s all it was a persona.
With her father’s wedding looming Maggie needs a date and stat so she decides that her neighbour Roman. will be the lucky person who will be her date- he just won’t know about it until they are on the road to Scotland. Yep, Roman didn’t so much have a say in the matter. Even though the family business ain’t her thing, Maggie was quite good at kidnapping her neighbour😂 after discovering who exactly Maggies family are Roman now discovers it’s no ordinary wedding and his main focus is on surviving the trip.
I honestly loved these two together, their banter was top tier and they slowly but surely started to bring down each other’s walls.
Thank you so much to the author who provided this e-arc for my honest thoughts.
I think a reason I liked this book so much was I related to Maggie quite a bit. Maggie embraces her weirdness, has quite a bit of self inner monologue to hype herself up. Now Maggies entire family is involved in the family business and this is something that Maggie has tried to embrace over the years but long story short it’s most certainly not for her. And what would this family business be might you ask? Oh well removing terrible people from the chess board if you catch my drift👀 This is a reason why Maggie feels pressured and distant from her family and bless it breaks my heart.
Our MMC Roman is Maggie’s neighbour and similar to Maggie he has his own issues. After watching what his mother leaving did to his father he renounced ever falling in love. He developed a whole online persona and had quite a following, but again that’s all it was a persona.
With her father’s wedding looming Maggie needs a date and stat so she decides that her neighbour Roman. will be the lucky person who will be her date- he just won’t know about it until they are on the road to Scotland. Yep, Roman didn’t so much have a say in the matter. Even though the family business ain’t her thing, Maggie was quite good at kidnapping her neighbour😂 after discovering who exactly Maggies family are Roman now discovers it’s no ordinary wedding and his main focus is on surviving the trip.
I honestly loved these two together, their banter was top tier and they slowly but surely started to bring down each other’s walls.
Thank you so much to the author who provided this e-arc for my honest thoughts.
February 1, 2026
This story follows Maggie, a failed assassin from a family of elite killers, who ends up adultnapping the hottie next door to be her date for her father’s wedding. She’s the black sheep of the family and wants nothing more than a normal life as a PA instead of stepping up as the eldest and fulfilling her so-called duty. Calling this a “she fell first, he fell harder” situation is tricky because Maggie definitely does some questionable things in the beginning, so it’s not that clean-cut.
Roman, on the other hand, is a total contrast. He’s a manwhore by night and a nonsense-selling influencer by day, completely faking his online persona. Maggie knows this from the start, while Roman is quietly longing for someone to accept him for who he really is. The book is fast-paced, the banter is hilarious, and watching Roman slowly fall for her was genuinely cute, even when he was deep in denial about falling for his captor.
This is very much a dark rom-com, even though the MCs aren't the ones doing all the gory stuff, so definitely check the TW. Eliza honestly felt more like the eldest sibling to me, with Maggie giving youngest energy. I ended up liking Maggie’s father by the end, and special mention to Coffin the 🐦⬛, who reminded me so much of my Mephie 🥰. 'Caw Caw'. This wasn’t a 5 ⭐️ read for me because the spice was way too low and the book could’ve used more editing since it went a bit flat in places, but the ending was satisfying and I loved how Roman always had her back.
This is my honest opinion for the ARC I received, and thanks to Effie for the opportunity.
Roman, on the other hand, is a total contrast. He’s a manwhore by night and a nonsense-selling influencer by day, completely faking his online persona. Maggie knows this from the start, while Roman is quietly longing for someone to accept him for who he really is. The book is fast-paced, the banter is hilarious, and watching Roman slowly fall for her was genuinely cute, even when he was deep in denial about falling for his captor.
This is very much a dark rom-com, even though the MCs aren't the ones doing all the gory stuff, so definitely check the TW. Eliza honestly felt more like the eldest sibling to me, with Maggie giving youngest energy. I ended up liking Maggie’s father by the end, and special mention to Coffin the 🐦⬛, who reminded me so much of my Mephie 🥰. 'Caw Caw'. This wasn’t a 5 ⭐️ read for me because the spice was way too low and the book could’ve used more editing since it went a bit flat in places, but the ending was satisfying and I loved how Roman always had her back.
This is my honest opinion for the ARC I received, and thanks to Effie for the opportunity.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I cannot rave enough about Effie Campbell's writing style! The absolute beauty of her seamlessly spicy, funny, and charming moments in all her books has kept me a devoted reader for years. Few authors keep my adoration at this level, and she never ceases to amaze. "The Unwilling Plus One" features the quirkiness of the eldest daughter, who's a klutz who just wants to make her family proud, and the duality of a charming man next door who is a complete granny's boy but hates what he does for a living. Maggie's character is the weird type of sweet, nerdy person that has you rooting for her the whole way through the novel. Roman's character keeps revealing more and more each chapter as to why he thinks the way he does and how, despite all of Maggie's quirks and questionable choices, he begins to grow fond of her. The unlikely two must survive her family for a week as her dad marries his sweetheart Priscilla and play nice with Maggie's ex, Eddie, who thoroughly makes you feel icky and squirm with every leery smile Effie writes on his stupid face. She really knows how to write a villain; I love it! The sweet rush of the novel had me devour its pages in all of 2 days. Her book, once again, had me feeling all warm and fuzzy, then biting my lips as each chapter pulled me deeper and deeper into Maggie and Roman's world. If you adore romance, especially a darker yet sweeter style; this latest book by Effie Campbell will be my newest recommendation for a long while.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Unwilling Plus One, written by Effie Campbell, is a hilarious dark romcom. I knew I had to read this one as soon as I saw the cover and read the blurb! I am a fan of Effie’s, and I was delighted to jump right into this one!
Oh, Maggie Hamilton! Maggie is a nerd and a murder virgin. Wait, that's supposed to be a good thing, right?! Nope! Not when your family is in the business of offing people, and you are expected to take over the family business! What makes matters worse, her father is trying to marry her off to some douche canoe who has a few screws loose. To seem like less of a family failure, Maggie invents a fake boyfriend, only to be expected to invite him to a family event! Maggie must scramble and kidnap the perfect specimen - her neighbor, Roman Ellis. Roman Ellis, Maggie’s super-hot influencer neighbor, is not prepared for the wild ride ahead.
This book had me immediately! This book has everything I could want. Comedy, spice, a touch unhinged, and freakin awesome characters. Maggie and Roman’s unlikely pairing was sizzling hot, and their banter was hilarious. I would love to see a book about Maggie’s sister and the rest of the family!
Thanks to Effie Campbell for gifting me an eARC of The Unwilling Plus One. I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Oh, Maggie Hamilton! Maggie is a nerd and a murder virgin. Wait, that's supposed to be a good thing, right?! Nope! Not when your family is in the business of offing people, and you are expected to take over the family business! What makes matters worse, her father is trying to marry her off to some douche canoe who has a few screws loose. To seem like less of a family failure, Maggie invents a fake boyfriend, only to be expected to invite him to a family event! Maggie must scramble and kidnap the perfect specimen - her neighbor, Roman Ellis. Roman Ellis, Maggie’s super-hot influencer neighbor, is not prepared for the wild ride ahead.
This book had me immediately! This book has everything I could want. Comedy, spice, a touch unhinged, and freakin awesome characters. Maggie and Roman’s unlikely pairing was sizzling hot, and their banter was hilarious. I would love to see a book about Maggie’s sister and the rest of the family!
Thanks to Effie Campbell for gifting me an eARC of The Unwilling Plus One. I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Effie is one of my favourite dark romance authors. As soon as I heard she was writing a dark romcom, I knew I was going to fall in love. 4.5⭐️
This is a hilarious dark romance filled with secrets, lies, a Scottish wedding, unlikely pets, and a killer family 👀🔪Maggie is desperately trying to fit in with her family and join the family business, but she's struggling with this little thing called morals and it seems to be messing everything up 😩 The family wedding is her last chance, but she doesn't have a date! So obviously she does what any sensible person would do and decided to kidnap her next door neighbour. This does put some strain on their neighbourly relationship, but things start to change after spending some time together 🤭
Maggie is just so adorable and I love that she's a little weird and knows it. She doesn't shy away from it, and instead embraces who she is which I think is amazing. Add on the fact that Roman likes her for who she is and encourages her to be no one but herself just makes them the cutest couple 🥹 If there was one thing I wish there was more of, it would have been a little more resistance from Roman for a little longer, but other than that, I absolutely devoured this!
There is the perfect balance of banter and spice from start to finish, and this is a must if you love a romcom with a darker twist. Oh, and the language used throughout this book had me in stitches. Effie definitely needs to write her own dictionary 🤣
A huge thank you to the author for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.
This is a hilarious dark romance filled with secrets, lies, a Scottish wedding, unlikely pets, and a killer family 👀🔪Maggie is desperately trying to fit in with her family and join the family business, but she's struggling with this little thing called morals and it seems to be messing everything up 😩 The family wedding is her last chance, but she doesn't have a date! So obviously she does what any sensible person would do and decided to kidnap her next door neighbour. This does put some strain on their neighbourly relationship, but things start to change after spending some time together 🤭
Maggie is just so adorable and I love that she's a little weird and knows it. She doesn't shy away from it, and instead embraces who she is which I think is amazing. Add on the fact that Roman likes her for who she is and encourages her to be no one but herself just makes them the cutest couple 🥹 If there was one thing I wish there was more of, it would have been a little more resistance from Roman for a little longer, but other than that, I absolutely devoured this!
There is the perfect balance of banter and spice from start to finish, and this is a must if you love a romcom with a darker twist. Oh, and the language used throughout this book had me in stitches. Effie definitely needs to write her own dictionary 🤣
A huge thank you to the author for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for providing an advanced review copy.
The story was interesting. Maggie being the eldest daughter to a family legacy of contract killing, but unable to actually do it herself. With her father’s upcoming wedding, she has heard rumours that she is going to be married off to her crazy, murderous ex-boyfriend so he can carry on her family’s legacy in her place. Maggie, unwilling to risk this future, concocts a plan that her handsome next door neighbour will act as her boyfriend and join her at the family event to stave off this unwanted future. Even if she has to kidnap him to do it.
However, I feel like everything is just surface level with the emphasis being on the horny yearning and smut. Like I feel that there was so many places where the author could have went into more detail or expanded on events to make the background plot more interesting. Roman and Maggie certainly had chemistry together but it doesn’t seem to go any deeper than they think the other is hot and have masturbated whilst listening to each other through their walls. To truly enjoy a book I need to feel a deeper connection to the characters, but during this I just felt like I was ‘cruising’.
By no means is it not a good book, I did enjoy it. But I’m not going to stay up at night thinking about all the plot twists or how I think Maggie and Roman are the best couple ever. I enjoyed it; I’m glad I read it, and maybe I’ll even read it again if I’m in the mood. I am really interested in Eliza’s story because I think Eliza is a bad ass that tales no-one’s rubbish. That’s the kind of woman I personally like.
The story was interesting. Maggie being the eldest daughter to a family legacy of contract killing, but unable to actually do it herself. With her father’s upcoming wedding, she has heard rumours that she is going to be married off to her crazy, murderous ex-boyfriend so he can carry on her family’s legacy in her place. Maggie, unwilling to risk this future, concocts a plan that her handsome next door neighbour will act as her boyfriend and join her at the family event to stave off this unwanted future. Even if she has to kidnap him to do it.
However, I feel like everything is just surface level with the emphasis being on the horny yearning and smut. Like I feel that there was so many places where the author could have went into more detail or expanded on events to make the background plot more interesting. Roman and Maggie certainly had chemistry together but it doesn’t seem to go any deeper than they think the other is hot and have masturbated whilst listening to each other through their walls. To truly enjoy a book I need to feel a deeper connection to the characters, but during this I just felt like I was ‘cruising’.
By no means is it not a good book, I did enjoy it. But I’m not going to stay up at night thinking about all the plot twists or how I think Maggie and Roman are the best couple ever. I enjoyed it; I’m glad I read it, and maybe I’ll even read it again if I’m in the mood. I am really interested in Eliza’s story because I think Eliza is a bad ass that tales no-one’s rubbish. That’s the kind of woman I personally like.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This weird girl devoured Effie's foray into dark romcoms. It was a fantastic ride and had me cackling throughout. I personally could see myself in Maggie, the diabolical plotting, inner monologue, self doubt and eventually growing into it all and embracing your weird. I couldn't put this book down.
Maggie. Just a little unhinged and I love it. I mean she has family expectations to meet, that would make anyone want to kidnap and blackmail their hot neighbour...right? Maggie is giving me, Bridgette Jones if she was a failed assassin.
Rowen, unsuspecting neighbour who sees himself as unloveable. He feels abandoned, keeps himself hidden away and perpetuates his state of loneliness so no one else can leave him. Makes time for his Gran, who loves him, but still thinks he's a twat...well his livelihood.
This is the first in hopefully many books, in this Killer Kin Series. I would love Eliza with her rival Jame's turned step brother.
‘Jeez, you’re so fucking heavy,’ she complains.
Well, sorry, I haven’t built my physique to make kidnapping easy.
Oddball FMC
Influencer & Liar
One Bed
Forced to Fake Date
Smidgen of Kidnapping
And you know your limits, so read the author's content warnings.
I received a copy of this book from Effie Campbell, and this is my honest review.
Maggie. Just a little unhinged and I love it. I mean she has family expectations to meet, that would make anyone want to kidnap and blackmail their hot neighbour...right? Maggie is giving me, Bridgette Jones if she was a failed assassin.
Rowen, unsuspecting neighbour who sees himself as unloveable. He feels abandoned, keeps himself hidden away and perpetuates his state of loneliness so no one else can leave him. Makes time for his Gran, who loves him, but still thinks he's a twat...well his livelihood.
This is the first in hopefully many books, in this Killer Kin Series. I would love Eliza with her rival Jame's turned step brother.
‘Jeez, you’re so fucking heavy,’ she complains.
Well, sorry, I haven’t built my physique to make kidnapping easy.
Oddball FMC
Influencer & Liar
One Bed
Forced to Fake Date
Smidgen of Kidnapping
And you know your limits, so read the author's content warnings.
I received a copy of this book from Effie Campbell, and this is my honest review.
January 26, 2026
🩷🔪ARC Review🔪🩷
Thank you Effie Campbell for this ARC of The Unwilling Plus One, I devoured it!
This quirky cute dark and twisted story also gave off cute and cuddly rom com vibes too! I loved it!
I wanted to give Maggie a hug throughout most of the book. She always felt inadequate, especially around her family, and they tended to make fun of her quirks rather than embrace them!
The infatuation and lust that she had towards her sexy neighbor Roman, and how she believed it was all one sided that someone as hot as him could never truly “see” someone like her was 💔
So what’s a girl to do when she needs a date to her father’s wedding? Kidnap the hot guy that lives across the hall is the perfect plan!
Watching Roman fall for Maggie, was the sweetest thing. The fact that he had always seen her and just avoided getting to know her because he knew she was his brand of quirky cute and that if he got too close she could potentially break his heart.
I definitely want more of the Hamiltons and their family business! 🔪🩷
Tropes:
🩷Slow Burn
🔪Quirky FMC
🩷Hottie MMC
🔪She kidnaps him
🩷He stands up for her
🔪Her family are killers
🩷Forced Proximity
🔪Only One Bed
🩷She falls first
🔪He Falls harder
Thank you Effie Campbell for this ARC of The Unwilling Plus One, I devoured it!
This quirky cute dark and twisted story also gave off cute and cuddly rom com vibes too! I loved it!
I wanted to give Maggie a hug throughout most of the book. She always felt inadequate, especially around her family, and they tended to make fun of her quirks rather than embrace them!
The infatuation and lust that she had towards her sexy neighbor Roman, and how she believed it was all one sided that someone as hot as him could never truly “see” someone like her was 💔
So what’s a girl to do when she needs a date to her father’s wedding? Kidnap the hot guy that lives across the hall is the perfect plan!
Watching Roman fall for Maggie, was the sweetest thing. The fact that he had always seen her and just avoided getting to know her because he knew she was his brand of quirky cute and that if he got too close she could potentially break his heart.
I definitely want more of the Hamiltons and their family business! 🔪🩷
Tropes:
🩷Slow Burn
🔪Quirky FMC
🩷Hottie MMC
🔪She kidnaps him
🩷He stands up for her
🔪Her family are killers
🩷Forced Proximity
🔪Only One Bed
🩷She falls first
🔪He Falls harder
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was such a fun read, I love everything Effie writes but this dark Rom com was soooo good.
I was chuckling to myself throughout most of it.
Maggie comes from a family of contract k!llers and is expected to take over the family business one day, there’s just one problem…. Maggie has failed to complete any of her contracts. She’s not cut out for the family business and is constantly the butt of her family’s teasing and her dad is planning to marry her off to a man she hates. To try and get out of it Maggie has been telling her family she has a boyfriend in hopes her dad will drop the marriage talks.
So when she has to go home to Scotland for her dads wedding her family are expecting her to bring her boyfriend which leads to the most hilarious events as Maggie plans to kidnap her hot next door neighbour Roman and make him pretend to be her boyfriend.
She’s not above blackmail to get what she wants either.
I loved the banter between Maggie and Roman, she’s so awkward and weird it makes it all the more funnier.
This is one of my favourite opposites attract romances, you wouldn’t put them together but they just work and you will be rooting for them as they get to know each-other.
I was chuckling to myself throughout most of it.
Maggie comes from a family of contract k!llers and is expected to take over the family business one day, there’s just one problem…. Maggie has failed to complete any of her contracts. She’s not cut out for the family business and is constantly the butt of her family’s teasing and her dad is planning to marry her off to a man she hates. To try and get out of it Maggie has been telling her family she has a boyfriend in hopes her dad will drop the marriage talks.
So when she has to go home to Scotland for her dads wedding her family are expecting her to bring her boyfriend which leads to the most hilarious events as Maggie plans to kidnap her hot next door neighbour Roman and make him pretend to be her boyfriend.
She’s not above blackmail to get what she wants either.
I loved the banter between Maggie and Roman, she’s so awkward and weird it makes it all the more funnier.
This is one of my favourite opposites attract romances, you wouldn’t put them together but they just work and you will be rooting for them as they get to know each-other.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Effie Campbell’s The Unwilling Plus One is an absolutely hilarious rom-com that completely breaks away from the typical contemporary love story we’re used to-and I loved every second of it. The novel follows an adorable FMC who is the black sheep of a family of kill-for-hire assassins, not because she lacks skill, but because she simply can’t bring herself to become a killer like everyone expects her to be. She’s paired with a reluctant love interest: her grumpy yet undeniably attractive neighbor and internet “celibacy influencer,” and their dynamic is pure chaos in the best way.
Things go wildly off the rails when the FMC kidnaps the MMC and forces him to attend her father’s wedding as her fake date, sending the plot spiraling into absurdity. I lived for the inner monologues from both main characters- anxious, hilarious, and painfully adorable in their own ways. The story perfectly balances dark humor and romantic tension while also exploring themes of self-acceptance and belonging. Spicy, unhinged, and surprisingly heartfelt, The Unwilling Plus One was such a fun, unforgettable read and an absolute win for rom-com lovers.
Big thanks to Effie Campbell and BookFunnel for the eARC
Things go wildly off the rails when the FMC kidnaps the MMC and forces him to attend her father’s wedding as her fake date, sending the plot spiraling into absurdity. I lived for the inner monologues from both main characters- anxious, hilarious, and painfully adorable in their own ways. The story perfectly balances dark humor and romantic tension while also exploring themes of self-acceptance and belonging. Spicy, unhinged, and surprisingly heartfelt, The Unwilling Plus One was such a fun, unforgettable read and an absolute win for rom-com lovers.
Big thanks to Effie Campbell and BookFunnel for the eARC
January 25, 2026
This was downright hilarious.
If you are looking for a romcom with a touch of dark elements thats still going to have you giggling and kicking your feet Effie did it with this.
This follow Maggie who is born into a family of contract unalivers however at 29 Maggie still has yet to join the family business. While that may not seem like an issue to most its definitely and issue to her dad and with his upcoming wedding the pressure is definitely on, not only to join the business but also to bring someone to wedding to prevent a marriage that could drag her into the family business as well.
That’s where Maggie crafted her perfect plan. Roman lives next door and he’s an influencer of sorts. With his job being something he can do from home and the fact that he’s hiding secrets of his own. He’s the perfect person to adult nap to wedding as her plus one right?
Things you can expect:
🔪 Unaliving for business purposes
🍪 Adult napping
🔪 Games
🍪 Crows as friends
🔪 🌶️ times in a car
🍪 He gets on his knees for her
🔪 Conspiracies
This was so much fun to read and I hope theres more in this series
If you are looking for a romcom with a touch of dark elements thats still going to have you giggling and kicking your feet Effie did it with this.
This follow Maggie who is born into a family of contract unalivers however at 29 Maggie still has yet to join the family business. While that may not seem like an issue to most its definitely and issue to her dad and with his upcoming wedding the pressure is definitely on, not only to join the business but also to bring someone to wedding to prevent a marriage that could drag her into the family business as well.
That’s where Maggie crafted her perfect plan. Roman lives next door and he’s an influencer of sorts. With his job being something he can do from home and the fact that he’s hiding secrets of his own. He’s the perfect person to adult nap to wedding as her plus one right?
Things you can expect:
🔪 Unaliving for business purposes
🍪 Adult napping
🔪 Games
🍪 Crows as friends
🔪 🌶️ times in a car
🍪 He gets on his knees for her
🔪 Conspiracies
This was so much fun to read and I hope theres more in this series
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