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Kill to Love: A dark rom-com
Not yet published
Expected 14 Feb 26**Special Pre-order Price**
Kill to Love is for fans of dark romantic comedies like "Lights Out," and "Butcher and Blackbird."
Good girl Delphine has waited all her life to find her Soulmate, only to find out that he is a... notorious serial killer.
Delphine De Astor has never cried. She doesn't feel much of anything and has hidden her lack of emotion all her life for fear of being outed as Soulless – evil and unlovable.
Unfortunately, Delphine has also never felt her heart search for her Soulmate. Deemed Soulless, she is thrown into an Execution Battle where she must fight to the death against other Soulless for ten days (with advertisement breaks for stain remover). Pant-less, and armed with only sunscreen, Delphine runs into cannibals, psychopaths who are probably just Gemini’s, incestuous lovers, a madman in a pink sequined crop top and…Dig Graves.
Dig is a notorious, dark haired serial killer who hides his eyes behind heart shaped sunglasses. Long ago he had tried to kidnap Delphine and tenaciously hunts her down in the Battle.
And when they meet? Delphine’s heart finally beats.
Kill to Love is for fans of dark romantic comedies like "Lights Out," and "Butcher and Blackbird."
Good girl Delphine has waited all her life to find her Soulmate, only to find out that he is a... notorious serial killer.
Delphine De Astor has never cried. She doesn't feel much of anything and has hidden her lack of emotion all her life for fear of being outed as Soulless – evil and unlovable.
Unfortunately, Delphine has also never felt her heart search for her Soulmate. Deemed Soulless, she is thrown into an Execution Battle where she must fight to the death against other Soulless for ten days (with advertisement breaks for stain remover). Pant-less, and armed with only sunscreen, Delphine runs into cannibals, psychopaths who are probably just Gemini’s, incestuous lovers, a madman in a pink sequined crop top and…Dig Graves.
Dig is a notorious, dark haired serial killer who hides his eyes behind heart shaped sunglasses. Long ago he had tried to kidnap Delphine and tenaciously hunts her down in the Battle.
And when they meet? Delphine’s heart finally beats.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 14, 2026
10 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
About the author
Penny Sunday
2 books9 followersPenny Sunday is an Australian author who studied creative writing at the University of Newcastle. She regularly travels through fantasy worlds to provide readers with realistic stories.
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Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Kill to Love by Penny Sunday
★★★
Deemed Soulless, Delphine is thrown into a brutal, televised Execution Battle where she finally feels her heart beat upon meeting Dig Graves, the serial killer who once hunted her. Their encounter upends everything she’s been condemned to die for.
Hunger Games meets The Never King. I was so intrigued by the concept of this book. I will always say hell yeah to reading an unhinged book. But I felt like the writing style was letting down the reading experience. Especially during dialogue. Often it was one worded back and forth responses between Delphine and Dig Graves.
I did enjoy the second half the book more than the first half. The spicy scenes were elite. We finally saw some character development behind Dig which peaked m interest again.
I appreciate the risks taken to write a book that pushes boundaries and blurs the lines of romance. I felt a little disconnected from the character development while reading.
I’m sure the unhinged girls would love this, but it was a little too derailed for me.
◦: key tropes :◦
✧ Dark romantic satire
✧ Enemies to lovers
✧ Soulmates / Fated Mates
💭 Do you love Morally grey MMC’s?
Thank you @theberryagency for the opportunity to review this book.
✨BOOK1 OF 2026✨
Follow my reading journey here on:
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★★★
Deemed Soulless, Delphine is thrown into a brutal, televised Execution Battle where she finally feels her heart beat upon meeting Dig Graves, the serial killer who once hunted her. Their encounter upends everything she’s been condemned to die for.
Hunger Games meets The Never King. I was so intrigued by the concept of this book. I will always say hell yeah to reading an unhinged book. But I felt like the writing style was letting down the reading experience. Especially during dialogue. Often it was one worded back and forth responses between Delphine and Dig Graves.
I did enjoy the second half the book more than the first half. The spicy scenes were elite. We finally saw some character development behind Dig which peaked m interest again.
I appreciate the risks taken to write a book that pushes boundaries and blurs the lines of romance. I felt a little disconnected from the character development while reading.
I’m sure the unhinged girls would love this, but it was a little too derailed for me.
◦: key tropes :◦
✧ Dark romantic satire
✧ Enemies to lovers
✧ Soulmates / Fated Mates
💭 Do you love Morally grey MMC’s?
Thank you @theberryagency for the opportunity to review this book.
✨BOOK1 OF 2026✨
Follow my reading journey here on:
TikTok
January 29, 2026
This was absurd and chaotic, with a fun and unique concept. I was expecting to love it a lot more than I actually did..
There's nothing I love more than an unhinged book, but I didn't connect with Delphine, which lessened my enjoyment..
Everyone has a soulmate, but if you don't have, you're Soulless, evil and unloved. They are imprisoned and once a year they battle to the death for ten days where cameras are filming and everything is allowed.. Delphine hasn't found her soulmate, so she enters the game, but Dig Graves has been waiting seven years for her and he's not letting her escape this time.. She tries to run, he always finds her. There's a connection there, maybe there's more to him than she though..
I really liked Dig, he was a great character, unhinged, with scars and struggles. I loved how obsessed he was and how he did everything to protect her. He might be a notorious killer, but he was so sweet.
Delphine was always different, she was unhinged and a little strange and she did have her moments, but I just couldn't connect to her.. I'm someone whose mood of the book heavily relies on the characters, so me not connecting with her impacted my enjoyment.. I really tried, but I kept being annoyed by her, instead of entertained..
I did enjoy the battles and we encountered some really strange characters, which was fun. Such a colourful bunch.
The spicy scenes were okay, a little underwhelming or maybe I was expecting more, I don't know. I did enjoy the sunglasses, though.. I think I generally expected more, more craziness, more fun, more emotional depth.. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't enough. I needed more.
The pace was a little inconsistent and dialogue a little clipped at times, which I personally didn't like. Also, while some scenes were funny, there were also some that simply didn't land for me.
I did love the final scene in the battle, that was a winner!!
That scene after the battle, I wasn't expecting it to take that specific turn, but I'm not surprised.. He got exactly what he deserved.
Overall, I think this was a great debut! I'll absolutely read more of her books.
*Thank you to Netgalley and to Victory Editing for providing me with an ARC.*
There's nothing I love more than an unhinged book, but I didn't connect with Delphine, which lessened my enjoyment..
Everyone has a soulmate, but if you don't have, you're Soulless, evil and unloved. They are imprisoned and once a year they battle to the death for ten days where cameras are filming and everything is allowed.. Delphine hasn't found her soulmate, so she enters the game, but Dig Graves has been waiting seven years for her and he's not letting her escape this time.. She tries to run, he always finds her. There's a connection there, maybe there's more to him than she though..
I really liked Dig, he was a great character, unhinged, with scars and struggles. I loved how obsessed he was and how he did everything to protect her. He might be a notorious killer, but he was so sweet.
Delphine was always different, she was unhinged and a little strange and she did have her moments, but I just couldn't connect to her.. I'm someone whose mood of the book heavily relies on the characters, so me not connecting with her impacted my enjoyment.. I really tried, but I kept being annoyed by her, instead of entertained..
I did enjoy the battles and we encountered some really strange characters, which was fun. Such a colourful bunch.
The spicy scenes were okay, a little underwhelming or maybe I was expecting more, I don't know. I did enjoy the sunglasses, though.. I think I generally expected more, more craziness, more fun, more emotional depth.. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't enough. I needed more.
The pace was a little inconsistent and dialogue a little clipped at times, which I personally didn't like. Also, while some scenes were funny, there were also some that simply didn't land for me.
I did love the final scene in the battle, that was a winner!!
That scene after the battle, I wasn't expecting it to take that specific turn, but I'm not surprised.. He got exactly what he deserved.
Overall, I think this was a great debut! I'll absolutely read more of her books.
*Thank you to Netgalley and to Victory Editing for providing me with an ARC.*
Review of advance copy
This was honestly so unhinged and I loved it. I cackled at Delphine's seemingly clueless/heartless encounters and sighed at Dig's obsessive deranged yet sweet gestures.
-1 star for Del constantly trying to get away from Dig while she 100% would have been safer with him. Stay with your psycho, girlllllllll
"I'm not everyone's cup of tea."
"Don't be tea." His lips pressed against my ear. "Be petrol. Set the world on fire."
-1 star for Del constantly trying to get away from Dig while she 100% would have been safer with him. Stay with your psycho, girlllllllll
"I'm not everyone's cup of tea."
"Don't be tea." His lips pressed against my ear. "Be petrol. Set the world on fire."
January 4, 2026
Holy sh*t balls I freaking loved this book.
I genuinely messaged all my group chats talking about the unhinged masterpiece I was reading and absolutely BRAGGING about the fact it was an arc and they were missing out.
Was it a perfect literary masterpiece? No. WAS IT A GREAT TIME?! Absolutely. I snort laughed, out loud! A lot!
My absolute favourite thing about this book was the dialogue. The prim, proper vernacular paired with the most despicable acts and depraved humans was chefs kiss.
Also, CONSENT IS SO HOT!!! The way consent was approached throughout the story was both hilarious and comforting.
I genuinely fear I will never read another dark rom-com that satisfied me in the way this did. I will be chasing this high for the rest of my life.
Thank you to the Berry Agency for the arc of this book and to Penny Sunday for whatever exists in her brain that created this.
I genuinely messaged all my group chats talking about the unhinged masterpiece I was reading and absolutely BRAGGING about the fact it was an arc and they were missing out.
Was it a perfect literary masterpiece? No. WAS IT A GREAT TIME?! Absolutely. I snort laughed, out loud! A lot!
My absolute favourite thing about this book was the dialogue. The prim, proper vernacular paired with the most despicable acts and depraved humans was chefs kiss.
Also, CONSENT IS SO HOT!!! The way consent was approached throughout the story was both hilarious and comforting.
I genuinely fear I will never read another dark rom-com that satisfied me in the way this did. I will be chasing this high for the rest of my life.
Thank you to the Berry Agency for the arc of this book and to Penny Sunday for whatever exists in her brain that created this.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I honestly cannot tell you a thing about this book except it was a wild ride i did not want to get off of. I have never laughed so much, I was full cackling at some points at just the audacity of these characters. Delphine and Digs are brilliant and I want to live in this world forever.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC copy of this book from the author and I'm leaving a written review because more people NEED to read this book is bloody brilliant and a good time!!
Kill To Love is a twisted dystopian dark comedy romance with many laugh out loud moments as well as spice and romance!
Kill To Love is a twisted dystopian dark comedy romance with many laugh out loud moments as well as spice and romance!
January 5, 2026
This book is by far everything I’ve ever wanted in a dark rom com. The banter was absolutely hilarious and the dialogue between Delphine and every other character was to die for. She was so strong willed and completely oblivious to everything that was going on, and everytime I read a “my sweet Aunty Beatrice just died” line I was done for. The way that was her strategy and plan to avoid practically everything was way too funny.
Dig is such an amazing, supportive character for his princess too. I love that he always asked her for consent, knowing it’s a big thing because of what his father did to several other women. Dig is so innocent throughout this entire book and you can tell that all he wants is to be loved after being abandoned his whole life. Yes he is a psychotic killer, but everyone needs a hobby. (I thought this scene was also hilarious). His love for Delph and his persistence for 7 years, and the way he speaks about her shows his undeniable love for her.
I also loved the concept of Soulless and Soulmates and how both Dig and Delphine proved that at the end of the day they’re all just people and showed how there were so many other innocent people out there who needed to be loved but had a Soulless label slapped on them. The fact that Delphine despite being labelled “Soulless” at the time could also see the amount of poor behaviour being acted on such innocent souls shows that despite being labelled “Soulless” she still could differentiate between the good and the bad. Similarly to the line of “aunty Beatrice just died” and then the person bringing harm would feel remorse because they’d all known family who had died at some point. Overall, the book showed the message that not everyone is Soulless and many of the innocent people did deserve to find love.
I’ve never really had a thing for dark rom coms but this book hit every point perfectly. Hilarious banter and dark satire. Check. A plot where I had no idea what was going to happen next. Check. A strong FMC who could hold her own ground. Check. And a MMC who had so much love for her and still understood consent. Check.
This wasn’t a literary masterpiece but it hit every nail on the head for me that I expect in a dark rom com, and this is definitely one of the best I’ve read.
Thankyou Berryagency for giving me the opportunity to review this book!
And I hope to read more amazing books to come by Penny Sunday!!
Dig is such an amazing, supportive character for his princess too. I love that he always asked her for consent, knowing it’s a big thing because of what his father did to several other women. Dig is so innocent throughout this entire book and you can tell that all he wants is to be loved after being abandoned his whole life. Yes he is a psychotic killer, but everyone needs a hobby. (I thought this scene was also hilarious). His love for Delph and his persistence for 7 years, and the way he speaks about her shows his undeniable love for her.
I also loved the concept of Soulless and Soulmates and how both Dig and Delphine proved that at the end of the day they’re all just people and showed how there were so many other innocent people out there who needed to be loved but had a Soulless label slapped on them. The fact that Delphine despite being labelled “Soulless” at the time could also see the amount of poor behaviour being acted on such innocent souls shows that despite being labelled “Soulless” she still could differentiate between the good and the bad. Similarly to the line of “aunty Beatrice just died” and then the person bringing harm would feel remorse because they’d all known family who had died at some point. Overall, the book showed the message that not everyone is Soulless and many of the innocent people did deserve to find love.
I’ve never really had a thing for dark rom coms but this book hit every point perfectly. Hilarious banter and dark satire. Check. A plot where I had no idea what was going to happen next. Check. A strong FMC who could hold her own ground. Check. And a MMC who had so much love for her and still understood consent. Check.
This wasn’t a literary masterpiece but it hit every nail on the head for me that I expect in a dark rom com, and this is definitely one of the best I’ve read.
Thankyou Berryagency for giving me the opportunity to review this book!
And I hope to read more amazing books to come by Penny Sunday!!
January 20, 2026
Thank you to the Berry Agency and the author for the free eARC - out February 14! [Join me on Instagram @savvyrosereads for an IG Live with the author on Feb. 16 at 4pm PT!]
Rating: 4/5 stars
Delphine De Astor lives in a society where you need to find your Soulmate by the age of twenty-five. When she’s deemed Soulless and thrown into the annual Execution Battle, she thinks all is lost…until she meets killer (and her former attempted kidnapper) Dig Graves, and her heart starts to beat.
This was such a fun and entertaining and slightly unhinged read, and I think fans of dark rom-coms (think BUTCHER AND BLACKBIRD) will really enjoy it! The author’s note at the beginning says the book doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s definitely true—but it does grapple with some really nuanced concepts, like what it actually means to be a “good” person, and I loved the dichotomy between off-the-wall insanity and thought-provoking seriousness.
This book is also genuinely funny, and I loved the banter and sometimes-absurd back and forth between Delphine and the characters around her. Dig also makes for a great dark hero, and there are definitely a few swoony lines. All in all, this is a super fun debut, and if you enjoy this genre I think you’ll enjoy this read!
CW: All kinds of murder/blood/gore/violence; mentions of pedophilia, cannibalism, and incest
Rating: 4/5 stars
Delphine De Astor lives in a society where you need to find your Soulmate by the age of twenty-five. When she’s deemed Soulless and thrown into the annual Execution Battle, she thinks all is lost…until she meets killer (and her former attempted kidnapper) Dig Graves, and her heart starts to beat.
This was such a fun and entertaining and slightly unhinged read, and I think fans of dark rom-coms (think BUTCHER AND BLACKBIRD) will really enjoy it! The author’s note at the beginning says the book doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s definitely true—but it does grapple with some really nuanced concepts, like what it actually means to be a “good” person, and I loved the dichotomy between off-the-wall insanity and thought-provoking seriousness.
This book is also genuinely funny, and I loved the banter and sometimes-absurd back and forth between Delphine and the characters around her. Dig also makes for a great dark hero, and there are definitely a few swoony lines. All in all, this is a super fun debut, and if you enjoy this genre I think you’ll enjoy this read!
CW: All kinds of murder/blood/gore/violence; mentions of pedophilia, cannibalism, and incest
Review of advance copy
Okay let me start you off with some of my favorite lines from this book
💚"Now I have your germs. 'I've had your cunt in my mouth'."
💙 "'I want an audition to you sucking my cock.' He paused and pulled his fingers from out of my mouth. I'm sorry...do you want to suck my cock? 'Put your fingers back in my mouth!"
🧡 "He couldn't die. Not yet. He still had three months left on his gym membership."
I feel like this should sell you on its own but this book had lots of good plot, SO much good banter, spice, i honestly don't know what else I could want. This book had everything I would want in a romcom. Dig is a super supportive king and calling her princess didnt make me cringe!! Del is unhinged but i was super down for it. Honestly if you enjoy unhinged, this will do it for you I am sure. Spice in this book was also top notch, 10 out of 10 for me. 🌶 I enjoyed all the side characters as well and the second half of the book didn't disappoint!!
I AM LITERALLY OBSESSED.
💚"Now I have your germs. 'I've had your cunt in my mouth'."
💙 "'I want an audition to you sucking my cock.' He paused and pulled his fingers from out of my mouth. I'm sorry...do you want to suck my cock? 'Put your fingers back in my mouth!"
🧡 "He couldn't die. Not yet. He still had three months left on his gym membership."
I feel like this should sell you on its own but this book had lots of good plot, SO much good banter, spice, i honestly don't know what else I could want. This book had everything I would want in a romcom. Dig is a super supportive king and calling her princess didnt make me cringe!! Del is unhinged but i was super down for it. Honestly if you enjoy unhinged, this will do it for you I am sure. Spice in this book was also top notch, 10 out of 10 for me. 🌶 I enjoyed all the side characters as well and the second half of the book didn't disappoint!!
I AM LITERALLY OBSESSED.
January 10, 2026
❤️ ARC REVIEW ❤️
This book was pure unadulterated, unhinged chaos in all the best ways!
I absolutely loved Delphine. She was dry and sarcastic and entirely nonchalant with it. I snort laughed at almost every single thing she did or said. And the way Dig was completely head over heels for her exactly how she was made me love him even more.
Also, we LOVE a consent king, and Dig Graves certainly was! It was an aspect I wasn’t expecting but absolutely LOVED 🌶️
The plot line for this book was also really cool, I loved the concept and how the fated mates trope worked without being set in a “fantasy” world. I also did NOT see the little plot twist coming and the gasp that ripped out of me was crazy!
I really enjoyed this book and if you’re looking for a silly little fun time, a boat load of humour and a guy that would do ANYTHING (including setting skin care bundle traps) to get his girl, then this book is for you!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was pure unadulterated, unhinged chaos in all the best ways!
I absolutely loved Delphine. She was dry and sarcastic and entirely nonchalant with it. I snort laughed at almost every single thing she did or said. And the way Dig was completely head over heels for her exactly how she was made me love him even more.
Also, we LOVE a consent king, and Dig Graves certainly was! It was an aspect I wasn’t expecting but absolutely LOVED 🌶️
The plot line for this book was also really cool, I loved the concept and how the fated mates trope worked without being set in a “fantasy” world. I also did NOT see the little plot twist coming and the gasp that ripped out of me was crazy!
I really enjoyed this book and if you’re looking for a silly little fun time, a boat load of humour and a guy that would do ANYTHING (including setting skin care bundle traps) to get his girl, then this book is for you!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 31, 2026
Utterly unhinged + I am here for it 😮💨👏🏽♥️♥️
Kill to Love by Penny Sunday is a chaotic, messy & hilarious dark rom-com & it just kept on giving 🤌🏽
It was dark, violent & quirky af. The banter was top notch & the spice was spicing 🌶️
It took me a second to ‘get it’ but once I did I enjoyed the shit outta this book. This was an adventure & I really enjoyed this take on fated mates. It was giving dystopian Max Max vibes with a modern twist. The characters were chaotic, unhinged & incredibly endearing ♥️
This was a 5 ⭐️ read for me.
Thank you to the author & The Berry Agency for the opportunity to read & review this ARC ♥️
It was a fun time 👏🏽
Kill to Love by Penny Sunday is a chaotic, messy & hilarious dark rom-com & it just kept on giving 🤌🏽
It was dark, violent & quirky af. The banter was top notch & the spice was spicing 🌶️
It took me a second to ‘get it’ but once I did I enjoyed the shit outta this book. This was an adventure & I really enjoyed this take on fated mates. It was giving dystopian Max Max vibes with a modern twist. The characters were chaotic, unhinged & incredibly endearing ♥️
This was a 5 ⭐️ read for me.
Thank you to the author & The Berry Agency for the opportunity to read & review this ARC ♥️
It was a fun time 👏🏽
January 13, 2026
3.5/5
I received this book as an ARC from the Berry Agency.
This book was so funny. I was laughing all the way through. I did have a guess of why the person did what they did and I was correct (but not for the additional reason). I absolutely love Dig, he can do no wrong. I basically read this in one sitting (if you exclude having dinner and all that). I did not want to put it down. I needed to know what was going to happen next. I will definitely be reading more by this author
I received this book as an ARC from the Berry Agency.
This book was so funny. I was laughing all the way through. I did have a guess of why the person did what they did and I was correct (but not for the additional reason). I absolutely love Dig, he can do no wrong. I basically read this in one sitting (if you exclude having dinner and all that). I did not want to put it down. I needed to know what was going to happen next. I will definitely be reading more by this author
January 26, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. And I’m a here for the vibes kinda girl. But for me this honesty was more than just good vibes. But for pennys first book she really did well.
It had a decent plot. World building was easy to follow. Couple of twists and a lot of freaking laughs. Few snort laughs that caught me by surprise with some pretty original lines.
I very much look forward to her next book!
Well done Penny, a well deserved 5 star rating.
It had a decent plot. World building was easy to follow. Couple of twists and a lot of freaking laughs. Few snort laughs that caught me by surprise with some pretty original lines.
I very much look forward to her next book!
Well done Penny, a well deserved 5 star rating.
January 27, 2026
First, shoutout to NetGalley and BookSirens for the ARC.
Going in, the blurb and first chapter did not prepare me for what this story actually was. This is a soulmates / fated mates dark romcom satire with a mystical-magical bond tying the characters together—not at all what I initially expected.
I’m honestly a bit torn on it.
The concept itself was interesting enough to keep me reading, but I struggled with the writing style. Since it’s written by an Australian author, some of the language choices and sentence structures felt off to my American ear, which made the flow feel choppy at times. That said, I stuck with it because I wanted to see how everything played out. *** the author states this in the notes. I’m not using this as a contributing factor to my start rating. Just a heads up for those who choose to skip that note it’s something that should be considered when reading.
The MMC was easily the standout for me—he was the most compelling and likable character. His backstory added depth, and the tragedy layered into his character made him feel fully formed. The FMC, on the other hand, was harder to connect with. Her personality gave me a bit of whiplash: sometimes childlike, sometimes sarcastic, and at other times the dialogue between them veered into territory that felt more unsettling than romantic. She came off a bit loony. I didn’t really feel strong chemistry between them, which made it difficult to fully invest in their relationship.
That said… the spice? Surprisingly good. Very creative. The sunglasses, the setup—I’ll give credit where it’s due, those scenes were fun. Side note: if you love a “consent king” you’ll appreciate this story a bit more.
I did notice a few plot holes that pulled me out of the story and left me questioning why certain things were the way they were. I also wish there had been more actual battling, especially given the setup. And as for the subplot involving her brother—I clocked what was going on almost immediately during his first private scene, so none of that came as a surprise in the end.
I wouldn’t classify this as particularly heavy despite the darker elements. At its core, this is a dark romcom satire with a quirky FMC and an MMC who’s been labeled a “soulless” after a lifetime of tragedy. It’s fun, but the writing style takes some getting used to, and the pacing can feel uneven. Honestly, this would probably make a good TV series or movie if it was fleshed out and polished more.
Overall, it’s worth a read—but for me, this lands firmly in “maybe” territory.
Going in, the blurb and first chapter did not prepare me for what this story actually was. This is a soulmates / fated mates dark romcom satire with a mystical-magical bond tying the characters together—not at all what I initially expected.
I’m honestly a bit torn on it.
The concept itself was interesting enough to keep me reading, but I struggled with the writing style. Since it’s written by an Australian author, some of the language choices and sentence structures felt off to my American ear, which made the flow feel choppy at times. That said, I stuck with it because I wanted to see how everything played out. *** the author states this in the notes. I’m not using this as a contributing factor to my start rating. Just a heads up for those who choose to skip that note it’s something that should be considered when reading.
The MMC was easily the standout for me—he was the most compelling and likable character. His backstory added depth, and the tragedy layered into his character made him feel fully formed. The FMC, on the other hand, was harder to connect with. Her personality gave me a bit of whiplash: sometimes childlike, sometimes sarcastic, and at other times the dialogue between them veered into territory that felt more unsettling than romantic. She came off a bit loony. I didn’t really feel strong chemistry between them, which made it difficult to fully invest in their relationship.
That said… the spice? Surprisingly good. Very creative. The sunglasses, the setup—I’ll give credit where it’s due, those scenes were fun. Side note: if you love a “consent king” you’ll appreciate this story a bit more.
I did notice a few plot holes that pulled me out of the story and left me questioning why certain things were the way they were. I also wish there had been more actual battling, especially given the setup. And as for the subplot involving her brother—I clocked what was going on almost immediately during his first private scene, so none of that came as a surprise in the end.
I wouldn’t classify this as particularly heavy despite the darker elements. At its core, this is a dark romcom satire with a quirky FMC and an MMC who’s been labeled a “soulless” after a lifetime of tragedy. It’s fun, but the writing style takes some getting used to, and the pacing can feel uneven. Honestly, this would probably make a good TV series or movie if it was fleshed out and polished more.
Overall, it’s worth a read—but for me, this lands firmly in “maybe” territory.
Review of advance copy
What a way to start 2026, this was the perfect first read of the year.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
ARC Review
Delphine De Astor has never cried, never truly felt, and has spent her life hiding her lack of emotion to avoid being labeled Soulless - evil, unlovable, disposable. When she’s deemed exactly that and thrown into the Execution Battle, she’s forced to fight for survival in a dystopian spectacle that’s as brutal as it is absurd (yes, complete with ad breaks). Pant-less, armed with sunscreen, and surrounded by cannibals, unhinged psychopaths (probably Geminis), incestuous lovers, and a man in a pink sequined crop top, Delphine’s world is pure chaos.
Enter Dig Graves.
A notorious serial killer with dark hair, heart-shaped sunglasses, and major golden retriever energy. He once tried to kidnap Delphine and now relentlessly hunts her through the Battle.
The banter was epic. From the very first chapter, I knew Delphine was not going to be a damsel-in-distress FMC. She’s sharp, sarcastic, and resilient, and Penny Sunday does such a good job of handling her trauma, especially her inability to be intimate, without ever losing sight of the fact that this is still a soulmate story. Even when her heart wasn’t thumping, everything about this connection felt intentional and fated.
And Dig? I love him. He is an absolute badass who will literally do anything...and I mean anything (Jane Austen fans, you’ll get it)...for Delphine… except take her without consent. His insistence on consent makes complete sense once you learn his backstory, and even when he loses control passionate moments, he refuses to let his past define him. That alone made his character hit so much harder.
There were a few moments where the banter went on a bit too long and could’ve been trimmed, and the Slash storyline felt slightly hastily wrapped up. But honestly? None of that stopped me from devouring this book in one sitting. I could not put it down.
Gritty, gory, darkly funny, wildly spicy, and emotionally satisfying. Kill to Love is feral soulmate romance done right, and I’m still thinking about it.
Thank you to Penny Sunday and Chloe Berry at the The Berry Agency for the opportunity to review this ARC before release.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
ARC Review
Delphine De Astor has never cried, never truly felt, and has spent her life hiding her lack of emotion to avoid being labeled Soulless - evil, unlovable, disposable. When she’s deemed exactly that and thrown into the Execution Battle, she’s forced to fight for survival in a dystopian spectacle that’s as brutal as it is absurd (yes, complete with ad breaks). Pant-less, armed with sunscreen, and surrounded by cannibals, unhinged psychopaths (probably Geminis), incestuous lovers, and a man in a pink sequined crop top, Delphine’s world is pure chaos.
Enter Dig Graves.
A notorious serial killer with dark hair, heart-shaped sunglasses, and major golden retriever energy. He once tried to kidnap Delphine and now relentlessly hunts her through the Battle.
The banter was epic. From the very first chapter, I knew Delphine was not going to be a damsel-in-distress FMC. She’s sharp, sarcastic, and resilient, and Penny Sunday does such a good job of handling her trauma, especially her inability to be intimate, without ever losing sight of the fact that this is still a soulmate story. Even when her heart wasn’t thumping, everything about this connection felt intentional and fated.
And Dig? I love him. He is an absolute badass who will literally do anything...and I mean anything (Jane Austen fans, you’ll get it)...for Delphine… except take her without consent. His insistence on consent makes complete sense once you learn his backstory, and even when he loses control passionate moments, he refuses to let his past define him. That alone made his character hit so much harder.
There were a few moments where the banter went on a bit too long and could’ve been trimmed, and the Slash storyline felt slightly hastily wrapped up. But honestly? None of that stopped me from devouring this book in one sitting. I could not put it down.
Gritty, gory, darkly funny, wildly spicy, and emotionally satisfying. Kill to Love is feral soulmate romance done right, and I’m still thinking about it.
Thank you to Penny Sunday and Chloe Berry at the The Berry Agency for the opportunity to review this ARC before release.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC Review of Kill To Love by Penny Sunday
* * * * *
A bloody-fun dark romantic comedy that was twisted, sweet, hilarious, delicious, chaotic, mind-blowing and so many other adjectives it could fill a book.
Delphine was Soulless...though she disagrees. She's a good person. Obviously. A little different but all-in-all a smashing individual.
However, even well respected young women of society like her must face the consequences of not finding her soulmate by the deadline. Now, she was part of the Execution Battle with the other unfortunate and questionable Soulless individuals...including the heart-glasses wearing psycho who tried to kidnap her years ago.
The only man that has ever made her silent heart skip a beat.
She must survive the battle avoiding cannibals, crazy lesbians, panty-sniffing perverts, murderers...basically everyone...to discover more about herself and what secrets in her life led her here and depending on the one man she shouldn't.
I am so happy I was given the chance to read this masterpiece. I haven't laughed so hard at a book while fanning myself from the naughty sexiness at same time for so long!
I thought Digs with his quickly-changing honesty, devotion and constant sneezing was going to be the star of comedy in this book, but I was trully thrown by Delphine. She was not only a totally strong badass woman in heels hellbent on following her strict personal healthcare regime, she was a funny weirdo with a somewhat sociopathathic personality determined in showing everyone around her that she has a soul...even if some of the things she says clearly say otherwise.
The coversations are amazing, and the things that come out of her mouth had me giggling. The chemistry and banter between Delphine and Digs is what made the book bloody gold.
Plus Aunt Beatrice.
5 stars!
* * * * *
A bloody-fun dark romantic comedy that was twisted, sweet, hilarious, delicious, chaotic, mind-blowing and so many other adjectives it could fill a book.
Delphine was Soulless...though she disagrees. She's a good person. Obviously. A little different but all-in-all a smashing individual.
However, even well respected young women of society like her must face the consequences of not finding her soulmate by the deadline. Now, she was part of the Execution Battle with the other unfortunate and questionable Soulless individuals...including the heart-glasses wearing psycho who tried to kidnap her years ago.
The only man that has ever made her silent heart skip a beat.
She must survive the battle avoiding cannibals, crazy lesbians, panty-sniffing perverts, murderers...basically everyone...to discover more about herself and what secrets in her life led her here and depending on the one man she shouldn't.
I am so happy I was given the chance to read this masterpiece. I haven't laughed so hard at a book while fanning myself from the naughty sexiness at same time for so long!
I thought Digs with his quickly-changing honesty, devotion and constant sneezing was going to be the star of comedy in this book, but I was trully thrown by Delphine. She was not only a totally strong badass woman in heels hellbent on following her strict personal healthcare regime, she was a funny weirdo with a somewhat sociopathathic personality determined in showing everyone around her that she has a soul...even if some of the things she says clearly say otherwise.
The coversations are amazing, and the things that come out of her mouth had me giggling. The chemistry and banter between Delphine and Digs is what made the book bloody gold.
Plus Aunt Beatrice.
5 stars!
Review of advance copy
Absolutely fantastic book. I went the full range of emotions with ‘Kill to Love’—the most prominent being laughter. Along with the laughs, you can expect lots of blood, guts, & gore type action, sad back stories, evil villains, surprise twists, and spice to curl your toes. Good stuff. Really good stuff.
Penny Sunday’s wordplay is witty, satirical, and outrageously fun. Here’s just two tiny samples:
🗣️I grimaced. “I’m not attracted to you in that way.”
🗣️“I’ll get plastic surgery.”
🗣️“I can’t be doing this. I have a lot on my plate right now.”
🗣️“I can eat for two.”
🗣️“I think we’re better off as friends.”
🗣️“Yeah, boyfriend and girlfriend.”
🗣️“I’m seeing someone else right now.”
🗣️“Yeah, you’re seeing me.”
__________
🗣️“I can’t believe you’re safe,” I said to Fiona.
🗣️“I can’t believe you’re safe,” Fiona said back. “I’m a trained hunter, you’re an idiot.”
__________
*** Recommended ***
MMC:
✨Dig
FMC:
✨Delphine
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨HEA
Series:
✨Book 1 of Kill to Love
Epilogue:
🌗yes
Tropes:
👉serial killer romance
👉dark romcom
👉he falls first
👉touch her and ☠️
👉ott obsessive
👉soulmates
👉opposites attract
Triggers: *It is always in your best interest to see the author’s page for detailed content warnings.
💥18+
💥sex, graphic, necrophilia, bondage
💥profanity
💥violence, abuse, beatings, fighting, cannibalism
💥death, murder
💥psychological - stalking, manipulation, control, betrayal, really disturbing family dynamics, incest-not between main characters
Burn Speed:
✨fast for 3 chilis, medium -ish for 4 chilis
Spice Level:
✨🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨MF
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Penny Sunday’s wordplay is witty, satirical, and outrageously fun. Here’s just two tiny samples:
🗣️I grimaced. “I’m not attracted to you in that way.”
🗣️“I’ll get plastic surgery.”
🗣️“I can’t be doing this. I have a lot on my plate right now.”
🗣️“I can eat for two.”
🗣️“I think we’re better off as friends.”
🗣️“Yeah, boyfriend and girlfriend.”
🗣️“I’m seeing someone else right now.”
🗣️“Yeah, you’re seeing me.”
__________
🗣️“I can’t believe you’re safe,” I said to Fiona.
🗣️“I can’t believe you’re safe,” Fiona said back. “I’m a trained hunter, you’re an idiot.”
__________
*** Recommended ***
MMC:
✨Dig
FMC:
✨Delphine
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨HEA
Series:
✨Book 1 of Kill to Love
Epilogue:
🌗yes
Tropes:
👉serial killer romance
👉dark romcom
👉he falls first
👉touch her and ☠️
👉ott obsessive
👉soulmates
👉opposites attract
Triggers: *It is always in your best interest to see the author’s page for detailed content warnings.
💥18+
💥sex, graphic, necrophilia, bondage
💥profanity
💥violence, abuse, beatings, fighting, cannibalism
💥death, murder
💥psychological - stalking, manipulation, control, betrayal, really disturbing family dynamics, incest-not between main characters
Burn Speed:
✨fast for 3 chilis, medium -ish for 4 chilis
Spice Level:
✨🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨MF
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 20, 2026
Reading Kill to Love before its release felt like hearing the juiciest gossip way before everyone else. This book will be big, mark my words. If Penny Sunday isn’t the next huge dark rom-com thing, I’ll eat my sunscreen.
What I liked:
- The pure hilariousness of Penny’s writing. It gave dry British comedy and I absolutely loved it. The whole book is fast-paced, to the point, witty, and ridiculous. I am a slave and will read everything else this woman writes. It’s a good sign when I lightly cyberstalk a new-to-me author while still reading their book.
- Interesting work with repetition and the lack of descriptions like “he said” in dialogue. It made everything even funnier and oddly left a lot of room for imagination, for the things left unsaid. This won’t be for everyone (definitely not for enjoyers of flowery prose), but it absolutely was for me.
- For a silly little unhinged rom-com, it hit deep with some of its themes. Class divide, living in your parents’ shadow, the distinction between good and evil, and mainly the sense of not belonging. There’s one quote stuck in my mind so hard I’ve already considered tattooing it on myself.
"What I mean is, I'm not everyone's cup of tea"
"Don't be tea. Be petrol. Set the world on fire"
- Delphine is an absolute legend of a character. She hyperfixates on the most random stuff and I related way too hard. Cue the Tommy montage. She can’t cry and generally doesn’t feel much, which I found really unique for an FMC and genuinely refreshing.
- Dig Graves is the most derpy MMC I’ve read in a while. He’s not the sharpest pencil, but wow did I root for him. He would develop a food fetish for Delphine (his words, not mine) and I’m here for it. He doesn’t take no for an answer, yet somehow still manages to include consent in a sweet and cute way. This is what I want to see in every book.
"I'm not fucking dying." Everything he spoke was poetry.
- MVP of this book is Aunty Beatrice and she's not even in it.
What I didn't like:
- Honestly, I can’t think of anything. This book should be featured in the encyclopedia under “my cup of tea.”
ARC via Booksirens
I am leaving this review voluntarily
I swear the review is not biassed, I just really loved the book.
What I liked:
- The pure hilariousness of Penny’s writing. It gave dry British comedy and I absolutely loved it. The whole book is fast-paced, to the point, witty, and ridiculous. I am a slave and will read everything else this woman writes. It’s a good sign when I lightly cyberstalk a new-to-me author while still reading their book.
- Interesting work with repetition and the lack of descriptions like “he said” in dialogue. It made everything even funnier and oddly left a lot of room for imagination, for the things left unsaid. This won’t be for everyone (definitely not for enjoyers of flowery prose), but it absolutely was for me.
- For a silly little unhinged rom-com, it hit deep with some of its themes. Class divide, living in your parents’ shadow, the distinction between good and evil, and mainly the sense of not belonging. There’s one quote stuck in my mind so hard I’ve already considered tattooing it on myself.
"What I mean is, I'm not everyone's cup of tea"
"Don't be tea. Be petrol. Set the world on fire"
- Delphine is an absolute legend of a character. She hyperfixates on the most random stuff and I related way too hard. Cue the Tommy montage. She can’t cry and generally doesn’t feel much, which I found really unique for an FMC and genuinely refreshing.
- Dig Graves is the most derpy MMC I’ve read in a while. He’s not the sharpest pencil, but wow did I root for him. He would develop a food fetish for Delphine (his words, not mine) and I’m here for it. He doesn’t take no for an answer, yet somehow still manages to include consent in a sweet and cute way. This is what I want to see in every book.
"I'm not fucking dying." Everything he spoke was poetry.
- MVP of this book is Aunty Beatrice and she's not even in it.
What I didn't like:
- Honestly, I can’t think of anything. This book should be featured in the encyclopedia under “my cup of tea.”
ARC via Booksirens
I am leaving this review voluntarily
I swear the review is not biassed, I just really loved the book.
Review of advance copy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Not a shelf trophy, but absolutely a five-star read
This book had no business getting its hooks into me the way it did—and yet, here we are.
Yes, it’s messy. Yes, there are noticeable typos and consistency errors that pulled me out of the story more than once. And no, this is not a “polished, pristine, put-it-on-a-pedestal” kind of novel.
But.
The emotional arc? Delivered.
The concept? Dark, original, and compelling.
The romance? Earned in blood, grief, humor, and choice—not destiny alone.
What starts as a grim, almost chaotic read evolves into something unexpectedly tender. The exploration of connection, morality, and what it means to feel—especially for characters labeled as monsters—lands harder than it has any right to. The soulmate mechanics are twisted in a way that feels fresh, the MMC is unsettling yet deeply human, and the FMC’s emotional awakening is slow, awkward, and painfully sincere.
The banter oscillates between darkly funny and unhinged in a way that works more often than it doesn’t. And when the emotional payoff hits, it hits. There are moments of genuine softness, intimacy, and relief that reframe everything that came before them.
That said: the editing matters. Repeated typos, name inconsistencies, and rough phrasing keep this from being a true “shelf trophy” read. I wouldn’t recommend it to someone who needs technical perfection—but I would recommend it to anyone who reads for feeling first and polish second.
Final verdict:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for impact, emotion, and originality
❌ Not a shelf trophy due to errors
✅ Would absolutely read more from this author
Sometimes a book doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to work. And this one does.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Not a shelf trophy, but absolutely a five-star read
This book had no business getting its hooks into me the way it did—and yet, here we are.
Yes, it’s messy. Yes, there are noticeable typos and consistency errors that pulled me out of the story more than once. And no, this is not a “polished, pristine, put-it-on-a-pedestal” kind of novel.
But.
The emotional arc? Delivered.
The concept? Dark, original, and compelling.
The romance? Earned in blood, grief, humor, and choice—not destiny alone.
What starts as a grim, almost chaotic read evolves into something unexpectedly tender. The exploration of connection, morality, and what it means to feel—especially for characters labeled as monsters—lands harder than it has any right to. The soulmate mechanics are twisted in a way that feels fresh, the MMC is unsettling yet deeply human, and the FMC’s emotional awakening is slow, awkward, and painfully sincere.
The banter oscillates between darkly funny and unhinged in a way that works more often than it doesn’t. And when the emotional payoff hits, it hits. There are moments of genuine softness, intimacy, and relief that reframe everything that came before them.
That said: the editing matters. Repeated typos, name inconsistencies, and rough phrasing keep this from being a true “shelf trophy” read. I wouldn’t recommend it to someone who needs technical perfection—but I would recommend it to anyone who reads for feeling first and polish second.
Final verdict:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for impact, emotion, and originality
❌ Not a shelf trophy due to errors
✅ Would absolutely read more from this author
Sometimes a book doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to work. And this one does.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I just finished Kill To Love, and I have to say, it was an absolute delight — dark, witty, and incredibly fun. I found myself laughing out loud multiple times; it’s a dark romance that effortlessly combines humor with a fresh, original storyline. It’s the kind of book I can see myself returning to again and again, each time discovering new layers of cleverness and charm. 📖✨
Fans of dark romantic comedies like Lights Out or Butcher and Blackbird will find this to be a perfect fit. The story is cleverly crafted with a unique premise that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. Delphine De Astor is a compelling protagonist — a seemingly emotionless girl who’s spent her life hiding her lack of feeling, only to be thrust into a bizarre and dangerous competition where her heart unexpectedly begins to stir. 💔🖤
The narrative takes us through a chaotic, darkly humorous world filled with cannibals, psychopaths, and eccentric characters — including a serial killer with heart-shaped sunglasses and a penchant for pink sequins. The chemistry between Delphine and Dig is unexpectedly tender amidst the madness, culminating in moments that are both darkly hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt. 🔪💖
Overall, Kill To Love is a brilliantly entertaining blend of darkness and humor, with a distinctive voice and a captivating plot. It’s a witty, edgy read that defies conventions and offers a truly refreshing take on dark romance. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a mature, witty, and engaging story that will keep you hooked from beginning to end.
Fans of dark romantic comedies like Lights Out or Butcher and Blackbird will find this to be a perfect fit. The story is cleverly crafted with a unique premise that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. Delphine De Astor is a compelling protagonist — a seemingly emotionless girl who’s spent her life hiding her lack of feeling, only to be thrust into a bizarre and dangerous competition where her heart unexpectedly begins to stir. 💔🖤
The narrative takes us through a chaotic, darkly humorous world filled with cannibals, psychopaths, and eccentric characters — including a serial killer with heart-shaped sunglasses and a penchant for pink sequins. The chemistry between Delphine and Dig is unexpectedly tender amidst the madness, culminating in moments that are both darkly hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt. 🔪💖
Overall, Kill To Love is a brilliantly entertaining blend of darkness and humor, with a distinctive voice and a captivating plot. It’s a witty, edgy read that defies conventions and offers a truly refreshing take on dark romance. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a mature, witty, and engaging story that will keep you hooked from beginning to end.
Review of advance copy
"Kill to Love" is a sea of humor, sharp banter, and fierce love. 💘 To be honest, I’m a huge fan of the dark rom-com genre, and this book has officially joined my list of all-time favorites! 🤭
Delfina is hands down my favorite character. She has such a sharp tongue, an effortless vibe, and her skincare routine is top-tier! (I actually took quite a few notes on her tips).
Dig also stands out from your typical book boyfriends. I loved his approach to Delfina. It was especially touching how much he wanted her to get to know him as a person, rather than just the legacy of his assassin father. He’s actually quite sweet, and I couldn't stop smiling while reading their dialogues.
I absolutely loved the concept! If the world-building had been different (with confusing hierarchies, magic systems, etc.), I probably wouldn't have picked it up since I’m not a big fantasy fan. Но эта книга — полный восторг! A battle for survival... I could practically see myself right there in the middle of that bloodbath! 🔥
Oh, and the side characters had me giggling so much. Dig’s brother is something else entirely—honestly, I’d probably read his story too if it existed! 😂
Penny, please, I’m begging you to keep writing! I will officially be your number one fan. ✨😍
I have to run now, my Aunt Beatrice has unfortunately passed away... 👀
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Delfina is hands down my favorite character. She has such a sharp tongue, an effortless vibe, and her skincare routine is top-tier! (I actually took quite a few notes on her tips).
Dig also stands out from your typical book boyfriends. I loved his approach to Delfina. It was especially touching how much he wanted her to get to know him as a person, rather than just the legacy of his assassin father. He’s actually quite sweet, and I couldn't stop smiling while reading their dialogues.
I absolutely loved the concept! If the world-building had been different (with confusing hierarchies, magic systems, etc.), I probably wouldn't have picked it up since I’m not a big fantasy fan. Но эта книга — полный восторг! A battle for survival... I could practically see myself right there in the middle of that bloodbath! 🔥
Oh, and the side characters had me giggling so much. Dig’s brother is something else entirely—honestly, I’d probably read his story too if it existed! 😂
Penny, please, I’m begging you to keep writing! I will officially be your number one fan. ✨😍
I have to run now, my Aunt Beatrice has unfortunately passed away... 👀
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy
This book is going to be one of my standouts for the year, even though I’m reading it in January.
An adult Hunger Games style arena set in fantasy -paranormal Europe. Very funny from trigger warnings to the end acknowledgements. Quick dry wit on every page, multi faceted and lovable characters with depth that shared the best banter. I just had a great time reading it. By reading, I mean I unhinged my brain and swallowed this book whole. I loved it. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily, but separately I will also be purchasing myself a physical copy for my trophy shelf.
As Penny Sunday says, “To all publishing houses – Please believe in this book the way my agent does.” I double down and say please believe in it so she will write more to this series.
“When was a monster no longer a monster? When you love it, I think.”
Spoilers! Below are the tags I included in my personal tracking that other users may find relevant: choking, dark, dystopian, fantasy, fated mates, fmc-delphine, game show, government, knife, mental health, mmc-dig, primal, spanking, United Kingdom
Fiction, fantasy, horror, romance, adventurous, dark, funny, fast paced
Plot or Character Driven: a mix
Strong character development: yes
Lovable characters: yes
Diverse cast of characters: no
Flaws of characters a main focus: yes
An adult Hunger Games style arena set in fantasy -paranormal Europe. Very funny from trigger warnings to the end acknowledgements. Quick dry wit on every page, multi faceted and lovable characters with depth that shared the best banter. I just had a great time reading it. By reading, I mean I unhinged my brain and swallowed this book whole. I loved it. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily, but separately I will also be purchasing myself a physical copy for my trophy shelf.
As Penny Sunday says, “To all publishing houses – Please believe in this book the way my agent does.” I double down and say please believe in it so she will write more to this series.
“When was a monster no longer a monster? When you love it, I think.”
Spoilers! Below are the tags I included in my personal tracking that other users may find relevant: choking, dark, dystopian, fantasy, fated mates, fmc-delphine, game show, government, knife, mental health, mmc-dig, primal, spanking, United Kingdom
Fiction, fantasy, horror, romance, adventurous, dark, funny, fast paced
Plot or Character Driven: a mix
Strong character development: yes
Lovable characters: yes
Diverse cast of characters: no
Flaws of characters a main focus: yes
January 29, 2026
Delphine is labelled “Soulless” and thrown into a televised execution battle (with ad breaks for stain remover) choosing sunscreen as her weapon and no pants only to discover her soulmate is Dig Graves a serial killer in heart-shaped sunglasses who once, naturally, tried to kidnap her.
Delphine’s voice was great she approaches life or death chaos with the energy of someone running errands and her commentary/retorts genuinely made me laugh. Not to mention her poor sweet Aunty Beatrice. The banter was chaotic and entertaining even if a couple of moments had me shaking my head.
I really liked Dig as a character and his POV adds some depth around consent, trauma and how deeply devoted he is to Delphine. Their dynamic is chaotic and he absolutely matches her brand of crazy.
The Soulless/Soulmate concept and the Execution Battle lean into satire but there’s more thoughtfulness here than I anticipated, particularly around who gets labelled good or bad and who is considered worthy of love.
Is it repetitive in places? Yes.
Did I want more actual killing? Also yes.
Did I still read it in one sitting and enjoy myself? Absolutely.
Rating for the vibes!
Thank you ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC!
Bookstagram <3
Delphine’s voice was great she approaches life or death chaos with the energy of someone running errands and her commentary/retorts genuinely made me laugh. Not to mention her poor sweet Aunty Beatrice. The banter was chaotic and entertaining even if a couple of moments had me shaking my head.
I really liked Dig as a character and his POV adds some depth around consent, trauma and how deeply devoted he is to Delphine. Their dynamic is chaotic and he absolutely matches her brand of crazy.
The Soulless/Soulmate concept and the Execution Battle lean into satire but there’s more thoughtfulness here than I anticipated, particularly around who gets labelled good or bad and who is considered worthy of love.
Is it repetitive in places? Yes.
Did I want more actual killing? Also yes.
Did I still read it in one sitting and enjoy myself? Absolutely.
Rating for the vibes!
Thank you ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC!
Bookstagram <3
Review of advance copy received from Author
Kill to Love is for readers who like their romance dark, absurd, and wildly unhinged. Think Lights Out meets Butcher and Blackbird with a rom-com edge.
Delphine De Astor is a “good girl” who’s spent her life hiding that she doesn’t feel emotions the way she’s supposed to. Labeled Soulless, she’s thrown into an Execution Battle where society profits off her fight for survival.
Enter Dig Graves, a notorious serial killer with heart-shaped sunglasses 👀 and the man who once tried to kidnap her.
And yes… he’s her soulmate.
An attempted kidnapping as part of the meet-cute? Say less. It perfectly sets the tone for how chaotic and funny this book is. While the premise is dark, the execution leans more rom-com, I wouldn’t have minded it going a little darker, but the humour absolutely carries it.
Delphine and Dig are equally unhinged in the best way. Their banter is sharp, ridiculous, and packed with laugh-out-loud moments, including this absolute gem:
“When you first went to prison, I paid inmates to beat you and filmed it so I could pleasure myself to it.”
“…You what?”
If you want a chaotic, funny, morally questionable romance that doesn’t take itself too seriously, Kill to Love delivers.
Thanks so much to The Berry Agency for the ARC
Delphine De Astor is a “good girl” who’s spent her life hiding that she doesn’t feel emotions the way she’s supposed to. Labeled Soulless, she’s thrown into an Execution Battle where society profits off her fight for survival.
Enter Dig Graves, a notorious serial killer with heart-shaped sunglasses 👀 and the man who once tried to kidnap her.
And yes… he’s her soulmate.
An attempted kidnapping as part of the meet-cute? Say less. It perfectly sets the tone for how chaotic and funny this book is. While the premise is dark, the execution leans more rom-com, I wouldn’t have minded it going a little darker, but the humour absolutely carries it.
Delphine and Dig are equally unhinged in the best way. Their banter is sharp, ridiculous, and packed with laugh-out-loud moments, including this absolute gem:
“When you first went to prison, I paid inmates to beat you and filmed it so I could pleasure myself to it.”
“…You what?”
If you want a chaotic, funny, morally questionable romance that doesn’t take itself too seriously, Kill to Love delivers.
Thanks so much to The Berry Agency for the ARC
January 29, 2026
As a fan of other dark romcom books, I was excited and intrigued to get a copy of Kill to Love as an ARC. I wanted to love this book so bad… during the read I had mixed feelings, by the end, I will concede I had a good time.
This book is incredibly chaotic and erotic, however I felt the writing kind of let this book down a little as it felt super disjointed. There is not a lot of character development or structure leaving me feeling like the characters were a bit flat. I will say there is interesting development in Dig’s story in the second half, but it was not enough to salvage him for me.
The dialogue was a mix between hilarity, and missed opportunities. There are some moments where I found myself laughing out loud. There was also a lot of others where I felt like there was missed opportunities where single word answers could have been changed to make the banter really clever and witty. Delphine’s internal dialogue was probably the most entertaining; she definitely comes across as a bit of a ditz but it makes for hilarious moments.
The chaotic and erotic vibes were high for this book. Literary masterpiece, no… Great time, yes.
Fast paced, crazy, entertaining 3.75 star read.
This book is incredibly chaotic and erotic, however I felt the writing kind of let this book down a little as it felt super disjointed. There is not a lot of character development or structure leaving me feeling like the characters were a bit flat. I will say there is interesting development in Dig’s story in the second half, but it was not enough to salvage him for me.
The dialogue was a mix between hilarity, and missed opportunities. There are some moments where I found myself laughing out loud. There was also a lot of others where I felt like there was missed opportunities where single word answers could have been changed to make the banter really clever and witty. Delphine’s internal dialogue was probably the most entertaining; she definitely comes across as a bit of a ditz but it makes for hilarious moments.
The chaotic and erotic vibes were high for this book. Literary masterpiece, no… Great time, yes.
Fast paced, crazy, entertaining 3.75 star read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
WTF did I just read? I mean this in the best possible way 😂 Kill to Love was so delightfully unhinged.
Everybody is born with half a soul and is desperately searching for their soulmate. If your heart doesn't beat for someone else you are deemed Soulless and chucked into prison. Every few years the Soulless in the prisons get thrown into a death battle.
Delphine our FMC is deemed Soulless and ends up in the death battle with a heap of Soulless who already hate her and Dig Graves who seems obsessed with getting her. I need more Delphine and Dig banter please!
Delphine is one of a kind. I've never encountered a character like her and I'm all for it. She had me cackling.
Kill to Love was funny from the trigger warnings which include a swear count, testicular torture, offence to the flat earth community, side character cannibalism and incest to name a few.
The spice was top notch and just as wacky at times as the rest of the book.
I want to thank NetGalley and Penny Sunday for providing me with advanced copies to read. I loved it and I fear I will never look at heart shaped sunglasses the same again.
Everybody is born with half a soul and is desperately searching for their soulmate. If your heart doesn't beat for someone else you are deemed Soulless and chucked into prison. Every few years the Soulless in the prisons get thrown into a death battle.
Delphine our FMC is deemed Soulless and ends up in the death battle with a heap of Soulless who already hate her and Dig Graves who seems obsessed with getting her. I need more Delphine and Dig banter please!
Delphine is one of a kind. I've never encountered a character like her and I'm all for it. She had me cackling.
Kill to Love was funny from the trigger warnings which include a swear count, testicular torture, offence to the flat earth community, side character cannibalism and incest to name a few.
The spice was top notch and just as wacky at times as the rest of the book.
I want to thank NetGalley and Penny Sunday for providing me with advanced copies to read. I loved it and I fear I will never look at heart shaped sunglasses the same again.
January 28, 2026
OH FRECKLES 5 BLOODY STARS‼️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
an incredible debut from penny, and honestly one of those books that hooks you from the first page and refuses to let go. it had me ugly cackling, jaw on the floor, and swooning like no tomorrow, and sometimes all within the same chapter. the writing is incredibly witty, and i was truly astounded by penny’s dry humour and sharp thought process, from the creative (and genuinely clever) name choices to delphine’s unapologetic bluntness, which quickly became one of my favourite parts of the story!
the narrative itself is so intriguing and well-paced, hooking me from the very first page and keeping me fully invested the entire way through. every moment felt intentional, every line packed with personality, and there’s such a strong, confident voice behind the writing that’s rare in a debut. this book feels fresh, WILD, and effortlessly entertaining in a way that’s hard to pull off.
i genuinely can’t wait to see what else penny brings out! if this is just the beginning, i’ll be reading everything she writes 🫦
a few notable mentions that had me giggling and swooning
💀 the pantie snatcher
💀 sweet aunty beatrice
💀 and of course THE dig graves
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
an incredible debut from penny, and honestly one of those books that hooks you from the first page and refuses to let go. it had me ugly cackling, jaw on the floor, and swooning like no tomorrow, and sometimes all within the same chapter. the writing is incredibly witty, and i was truly astounded by penny’s dry humour and sharp thought process, from the creative (and genuinely clever) name choices to delphine’s unapologetic bluntness, which quickly became one of my favourite parts of the story!
the narrative itself is so intriguing and well-paced, hooking me from the very first page and keeping me fully invested the entire way through. every moment felt intentional, every line packed with personality, and there’s such a strong, confident voice behind the writing that’s rare in a debut. this book feels fresh, WILD, and effortlessly entertaining in a way that’s hard to pull off.
i genuinely can’t wait to see what else penny brings out! if this is just the beginning, i’ll be reading everything she writes 🫦
a few notable mentions that had me giggling and swooning
💀 the pantie snatcher
💀 sweet aunty beatrice
💀 and of course THE dig graves
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC gifted in exchange for review
Please please please pay attention to the trigger warnings
This was some unhinged madness like the hunger games meets butcher and blackbird. The concept of being deemed soulless because you didn’t find you soulmate by your 25th birthday really struck a chord with me because I’m 31 and the most single I’ve ever been. Delphine is strange, there is no other way to put it, and I found her a little difficult to understand for the first 40% of the book but I think that was the point. Dig was an unhinged lunatic but I was somehow immediately attached to him and those damn sunglasses. I was suspicious as hell of her brother, and he just never sat right with me. The further into the book I went, the more you saw that Delphine was unhinged as hell but her unhinged heart was in the right place. This book was also surprisingly funny, and I laughed out loud more times that I thought I would. The spice was top tier and honestly, I did side eye myself a little but this is a judgement free space. Genuinely, if you loved the Ruinous Love trilogy, you will eat this up.
Please please please pay attention to the trigger warnings
This was some unhinged madness like the hunger games meets butcher and blackbird. The concept of being deemed soulless because you didn’t find you soulmate by your 25th birthday really struck a chord with me because I’m 31 and the most single I’ve ever been. Delphine is strange, there is no other way to put it, and I found her a little difficult to understand for the first 40% of the book but I think that was the point. Dig was an unhinged lunatic but I was somehow immediately attached to him and those damn sunglasses. I was suspicious as hell of her brother, and he just never sat right with me. The further into the book I went, the more you saw that Delphine was unhinged as hell but her unhinged heart was in the right place. This book was also surprisingly funny, and I laughed out loud more times that I thought I would. The spice was top tier and honestly, I did side eye myself a little but this is a judgement free space. Genuinely, if you loved the Ruinous Love trilogy, you will eat this up.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was probably one of the most absurd, ridiculous, and unique books I've ever read. Delphine was a very frank character and while pretty one-dimensional and not likeable, she was VERY entertaining and had great comedic timing. The dialogue between characters was very absurd as well. I feel like this book was a xxx Hunger Games/Battle Royale dystopian dark romance. It was a lot of things all at once. Actually, it reminded me a little of Match by Allie Condie but for people who grew up and started liking books like Butcher & Blackbird and Lights Out. I was definitely the target audience for this book and it delivered.
It only lost a star because formatting was a little rough on the flow of reading and I do wish we had more insight on soulmates and soulless. Were perfecting matches with the feeling of having a major cardiac event always a thing in this world? Why are the characters mindlessly have sex during a battle royale? How does clode work? I have so many questions.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penny Sunday for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I hope this book makes it into the mainstream but I also hope my parents never read this one.
It only lost a star because formatting was a little rough on the flow of reading and I do wish we had more insight on soulmates and soulless. Were perfecting matches with the feeling of having a major cardiac event always a thing in this world? Why are the characters mindlessly have sex during a battle royale? How does clode work? I have so many questions.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penny Sunday for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I hope this book makes it into the mainstream but I also hope my parents never read this one.
December 25, 2025
Kill to Love
This book was like Hunger Games and Butcher and Blackbird had a baby and i’m not complaining!
Delphine wakes up at 2am to man dressed in heart shaped sunglasses stating that he is her soulmate, but she is more worried about him tracking mud on her antique rug. He was caught but her rug was ruined.
Her heart didn’t beat at all, so she’s worried she’s going to be part of the Soulless. A group of people who turn evil because they haven’t found their soulmate. To combat the evil they hold annual Execution Battles so the Soulless can slaughter each other. Which Dig Graves has won every year, who just so happens to be sunglasses guy.
Delphine is considered Soulless and thrown into the Execution Battle alongside Dig Graves, who still claims she’d hid soulmate.
I liked this book, and was laugh out loud funny at some moments but i did also find it very repetitive, would still recommend though!
Thank you Booksirens for an Arc of this book in exchange for a honest review!
This book was like Hunger Games and Butcher and Blackbird had a baby and i’m not complaining!
Delphine wakes up at 2am to man dressed in heart shaped sunglasses stating that he is her soulmate, but she is more worried about him tracking mud on her antique rug. He was caught but her rug was ruined.
Her heart didn’t beat at all, so she’s worried she’s going to be part of the Soulless. A group of people who turn evil because they haven’t found their soulmate. To combat the evil they hold annual Execution Battles so the Soulless can slaughter each other. Which Dig Graves has won every year, who just so happens to be sunglasses guy.
Delphine is considered Soulless and thrown into the Execution Battle alongside Dig Graves, who still claims she’d hid soulmate.
I liked this book, and was laugh out loud funny at some moments but i did also find it very repetitive, would still recommend though!
Thank you Booksirens for an Arc of this book in exchange for a honest review!
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