Stay Sexy & Don't Get Murdered: The Definitive How-To Guide

by Karen Kilgariff, Georgia Hardstark

The instant #1 New York Times and USA Today best seller by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, the voices behind the hit podcast My Favorite Murder now available in paperback. Includes special bonus material!

Sharing never-before-heard stories ranging from their struggles with depression, eating disorders, and addiction, Karen and Georgia irreverently recount their biggest mistakes and deepest fears, reflecting on the formative life events that shaped them into two of the most followed voices in the nation.

In Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered, Karen and Georgia focus on the importance of self-advocating and valuing personal safety over being ‘nice’ or ‘helpful.’ They delve into their own pasts, true crime stories, and beyond to discuss meaningful cultural and societal issues with fierce empathy and unapologetic frankness.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, True Crime, Audiobook, Humor, Biography, Self Help

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 28, 2019

About the author

Karen Kilgariff is an American writer, comedian, singer, author, actress, television producer, and podcast host. Since 2016 she has co-hosted the true crime comedy podcast My Favorite Murder along with Georgia Hardstark. In 2018 she and Hardstark co-founded the podcast network Exactly Right.

Known for her biting wit and musical prowess, Karen Kilgariff has been a staple in the comedy world for decades. As a performer, she has appeared on Mr. Show, The Book Group and Conan. She was the head writer for the first five years of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, then transitioned to scripted, writing for shows like Other Space, Portlandia, and Baskets. Her musical comedy album Live At The Bootleg was included in Vulture's Top 9 of 2014 and in Stitcher's Top 11 of 2014.

Reviews

[caroline vericker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will always be a little bit heartbroken, I think, that I don't get to actually be best friends with Karen and Georgia

[Kat]

therapy is expensive and hard, but reading this book is easy and (based on my ingenious move to temporarily steal it from my sister’s friend’s apartment) free.

[donna backshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know I'm in the minority, but Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered: The Definitive How-To Guide didn't resonate with me.

I much prefer the podcasts, with discussions of true crime and impromptu jokes and antics. Not that Karen and Georgia's how-I-got-here stories weren't interesting, it's more that they simply weren't what I wanted from this comedic duo. It seemed like they were trying to "get real", but I could have done without the feel of the written, almost bloggy, stories.

Oh well. I couldn't relate even though I desperately wanted to. Back to the outrageous you-never-know-what-they'll-say-next podcasts for me.

[Brandon Forsyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here’s what you do. You make a thousand signs.

You put them up on street corners and community bulletin boards. You hang them from ornate balconies and make them look like the flag of a new country. Drag them behind planes and make them circle the cities of the world like you’re announcing a new global superpower. You turn the signs into clothing like those weird toilet paper ads.

The signs read “KAREN KILGARIFF AND GEORGIA HARDSTARK HAVE WRITTEN THE GREATEST DUAL MEMOIR / COLLECTION OF HUMOUROUS ESSAYS / SOCIAL STUDY / FEMINIST MANIFESTO / ADVICE BOOK / TRUE CRIME ANALYSIS EVER AND SURE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A QUALIFIED STATEMENT BUT IT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE MY FAVOURITE BOOK OF THE YEAR YES EVEN THOUGH IT’S ONLY FEBRUARY” or something to that effect that might be catchier.

I am overwhelmed with enthusiasm for this book. It is actually, to use a clichéd word, brilliant.

[Deanna ✰ ☾ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hate to say this but... I didn't really enjoy this book. I have listened to K&G's podcast for a couple of years now and love it, but I didn't feel like their speaking voices translated well to writing. Unfortunately, that really is how this book was written; it's very informal and sounds like something you would read on a blog, not in a book. I know that many people do enjoy that type of writing style (which is fine), but it's not my cup of tea. One other disappointing thing about the writing was that the humor aspect didn't seem to stick the landing as well as it does in the podcast. Karen, for example, typically makes me laugh out loud whenever I listen to an episode. Reading her jokes on paper, however, made me cringe. (Example: In the introduction to the book, Karen begins by thanking the readers for being supportive of K&G, but about a paragraph into the thank-you states: "Bless us all, but mostly the people who actually spent money...quit getting your finger grease all over our beautiful, pristine publication and just buy it. In fact, buy three.") Yuck, that just rubs me the wrong way (and I did buy it!).

I also wasn't a fan of how this book felt more like a self-help advice column than a memoir. I knew the true crime aspect was going to be toned down a lot, which I honestly didn't mind, but something about K&G's "guidance" kind of bothered me. Maybe I just didn't know what to expect and was hoping I would be satisfied with whatever this book would end up being. Oh well... it's a good thing I got a preorder discount I guess!

(For all the MFM fans out there, I'm a fan too! I'm sorry to burst your bubble with my book review.)

[Miranda Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

...you can’t “stay out of the forest” because the world is a forest. And it’s filled with predators

True crime addicts Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark run a hugely successful crime podcast, and for the first time they have published a book.

We barely get any time on this planet. Do not spend it pleasing other people. Fuck politeness.

This book is more like a collection of essays - it covers difficult times in both their lives - from eating disorders to addiction to depression.

No matter the topic, they always find a way to circle back to their obsession - true crime.

I feel like a lot of times, people who discuss true crime can rub others the wrong way - after all, this is someone's tragedy that you are consuming for your enjoyment.

BUT that never happens with Karen and Georgia - they always respectful when discussing difficult topics.

They keep it real, but also throw in a bit of humor.

Why does everyone think whistling indicates relaxation? It’s literally one of the weirdest things you can do in public without breaking the law.

I also loved the advice they gave about how to avoid getting murdered.

I think its good to just say what you're thinking out loud. Some guy comes up to you on the street and starts asking a bunch of personal questions, you can say 'Whoa, this is weird behavior, I don't know you. You seem like a predator.' If he gets mad and calls you a "bitch", it doesn't mean you're a bitch, it just means you were right.

I do wish I had taken the time to get to know them before I picked up this book.

While it was an entertaining read, there were definite moments and references that didn't quite land on me but if I had a bit more background, I think I would've loved.

All in all, I did enjoy this book! Also, gave me my new favorite motto:

Don't be a dick and do good things.

YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads

[JanB · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I bought the hardback knowing I would want to share it with my (adult) daughter after I finished. We entertained ourselves on a 7 hour road trip last year listening to My Favorite Murder (MFM) podcast episodes. It's billed as a true crime comedy show which sounds like an oxymoron, but they make it work and are always respectful of victims.

As soon as my daughter saw the book on my coffee table it disappeared. Knowing I’d never see it again (lol), I downloaded the audio. Am I ever glad I did! Hearing Karen and Georgia’s essays read by them, in their voice, and with their timing was perfect. Paul Giamatti also made an appearance a couple of times which was fun.

Unlike their true crime podcast, there’s no true crime here. It’s part memoir, part advice column on a variety of topics. They are open, honest, and vulnerable. For anyone who has ever struggled with low self-esteem, family dysfunction, eating disorders, depression, addiction….or know people who have the same struggles….you will find a lot to relate to in this book. There were moments where I laughed and moments that made me cry. They have both overcome a lot in their lives and their success story is inspiring. They remain humble and grateful.

If you’re a MFM fan you will enjoy this book. If you’re not a MFM fan you will enjoy this book. Recommended!

*edited to add the awesome book title is their tag line and they end every podcast with those words

*If you’re not a listener of their podcast be aware there’s strong language.

[emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, so I read a book about a podcast even though I had never listened to that podcast before. Sue me.

But actually don't, because the universe already sued me, essentially, with a very meh reading experience. A spiritual lawsuit.

I thought I would like this book even though I have no concept of the podcast because I do, at the very least, know the podcast is true crime-y, and I know that I like true crime.

However, this was more like a celebrity memoir of the two hosts of said podcast, and considering I could not have named them if you paid me one thousand million dollars previous to this, that was not something I necessarily Needed in my life.

Great title, though.

Bottom line: I should know better!!! But unfailingly, I do not know better.

------------

i probably should've listened to like 6 episodes of this podcast instead.

review to come / 3 stars

------------

someone please stop me from adding every vaguely halloween-y book to my currently reading shelf

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best nonfiction books I have ever read. It was so good I kind of want to immediately reread it. I listened to the audiobook and it’s easily one of the best audiobooks I’ve ever listened to, at times I was cracking up laughing and other times I was trying not to cry and nodding my head in agreement. Here are some notes I took while reading this:

-Love that they are always saying they aren’t the experts, and you’re only the expert in your own experiences so their advice won’t woe for everyone
-Freaking hysterical, these ladies have a hilarious way of story telling and I was laughing out loud so many times listening it this audiobook
-There are so many great points in this book though, and it’s so important for women to read this: I love in the beginning the whole section on learning to “fuck politeness” like stop being so nice to everyone and putting yourself in a dangerous situation and you have to learn how to say no
-I love that this book is half stories about true crime and half just stories about their lives and the struggles of growing up with anxiety and depression and addiction and how being a 13 year old girl is the worst thing in the world it was all just so relatable
-I also loved the bit about how reading helped her escape her life and she fell in love with Ray Bradbury and Stephen King novels at a young age
-I don’t usually listen to podcasts but I loved this book so much I’m actually considering listening to their podcast because I feel like I’m going to miss their sense of humor after I finish this book
-I loved the conversation about how we need to stop blaming the victims and recognizing the sick men who are doing these things: you can’t avoid being a victim because the world is a dangerous place to live in and how we talk about “violence against women” a lot with statistic like how many women get raped each year but we don’t talk about how many men raped women that year

This was just so so so surprised and great and I think this is something everyone should read. I literally had zero expectations going into this book, I just thought the title sounded funny and interesting so I checked out the audiobook from my library, and I am genuinely so in love with it. I might start listening to their podcast now.

[Livia Linhares Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

soooo.

I have a love/hate relationship with these girls. I love their podcast and normally enjoy listening to them, I love how casual the whole thing feels and I think they’re intelligent and hilarious.

but, I must say: I hate how problematic, eye-rolling, cringeworthy and privileged some of their comments are.

with that being said, I wanted to love this book SO BAD. but did I? no, I did not. I somewhat liked it, at best.

I enjoyed some of the chapters (and shed a tear when Karen described her experience with her mom’s alzheimers), but mostly this book just felt like one really long award acceptance speech.

there was so much more they could have done with this. they could have inserted more true crime, more interesting stories (gosh, some of them were lame) and I still don’t understand how “being a 13 year old girl is worse than cancer”...

all in all, 3 stars. one for karen’s chapter about alzheimer’s, another one for karen’s chapter about paul bernardo and one more for karen’s chapter about heloise.

sadly, none for georgia (and her lack of self-awareness, hatred for her mom, lame vespa stories, etc etc etc).

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Karen and Georgia but this book was mediocre at best.

[Johann (jobis89) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The epitome of ‘fucking politeness’ is learning how to act in the moment, instead of wishing you had later.”

If you’re a fan of the My Favorite Murder podcast, then there’s a good chance of you enjoying this part memoir/part self-help book. Lacking in true crime itself (which totally works!), it shines a light on the other topics and discussions that come up regularly on the show, such as mental health issues, self-care and addiction.

For each of the catchphrases or slogans that the show has created, eg Fuck Politeness or Stay Out of the Forest, there’s essays from Karen and Georgia discussing their own life experiences or what that slogan truly means to them. I have heard the audiobook is fantastic as it is just like listening to the podcast, so I’ll have to check that out at some point too!

I laughed, I cried and I fangirled immensely over Georgia’s chapter on how Ray Bradbury’s writing effectively saved her life. One of the hardest essays to read was one where Karen writes about her late mother and her battle with Alzheimer’s. She describes a moment where their mother “came back” to tell her sister that she truly loved the two of them and I actually thought my heart was going to split in two.

But amongst all the tears and emotion, there’s so much humour, as to be expected from these two! Karen’s guide on how to be a latchkey kid is hilarious, as is her analogy that being an alcoholic is like shitting in a hot tub ie killing the buzz of everyone around you! LOL. And there were quite a few Stephen King references as well, which I particularly enjoyed... I feel like the story of how Georgia got into true crime is something that a lot of us murderinos can relate to.

This is everything I thought it would be - empowering, uplifting and honest. However, I would mostly recommend this to those who listen to the podcast, otherwise you’d be left scratching your head as to how the title fits and where all the gruesome, gory details are! Unless of course, you just like reading the memoirs of strong, funny women... then it could be right up your street! 5 stars!

[Natasha Niezgoda · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO STOKED THIS MADE THE ANNUAL CHOICE AWARDS LIST!

A MUST READ FOR ALL - 5 “I really needed to hear that” stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered!



Words cannot describe how perfectly pertinent this book was to my present life. And if I can get real with you, it’s kinda like walking into a deeply personal therapy session. And I know the word “therapy” is weird and scary and defeating, but it shouldn’t be. I’ve gone. For 6 years in fact. And it changed my life. And this book makes you realize that life is messy and hard and you need an advocate to help you get back on track. You need “clutch-friends” and you need to forgive yourself.

God, I cried so hard during the first two chapters. And then some more in chapter 5. I LAUGHED MY ASS OFF throughout all of chapter 4 because THAT WAS MY LIFE. And I was totally moved when both Karen and Georgia admitted that we’re always making mistakes and learning from them and that’s “OKAY”.



This book is a collection of essays. The topics range from eating disorders, alcoholism, being the product of a broken home, anxiety, true crime (obviously), a love for reading, and friendship.

It’s so relevant that it’s almost BIG BROTHER nuts. But the bottom line is this “ ‘We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out’ - Ray Bradbury”.

YOU ALL ARE SWEET BABY ANGELS. Thank you for taking the time to read this. I LOVE YOU.

Elvis, want a cookie? BYEEEEEEEE

[viktoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I love MFM. While you normally can't bribe me enough to leave my house to go to a simple movie, I've literally paid money to go to several live shows of the podcast, even though it meant combining three of my least favorite, anxiety inducing things, crowds, heights, and stadium seating with death seats. MFM isn't perfect, but it's more than just a podcast I enjoy—it's something my bff and I bond over, a funny way to feel less alone about some of my anxieties, and it's one of my current favorite things.

So, in all likelihood, I was going to either: 1) love this book, or 2) find it disappointing but lie about it for the sake of my love for the podcast.

Thankfully, it's the first case. I didn't necessarily read it in one sitting (I actually ended up reading it split up, because I switched to the audiobook after originally starting on the ebook and flipping through the hardback I brought my bff), and overall, I'd call it more of a 4.25 to a 4.5, but still, general love.

I'm going to break this for the two audiences:

If you are a fan of the podcast already: There's a good chance you'll love it. They do talk about things they've discussed on the podcast, but they go into more detail and depth in a heartbreaking, hilarious matter. They also talk about stories and situations they've never talked about on the show. Obviously, the tone's different; it's more demonstrative and narrative. With MFM, it's like you're sitting at a table next to/with Karen and Georgia (and Steven!) as they're talking. With SS&DGM, it's more like they're talking to you, the reader, directly in a one-on-one long phone conversation. The book had its awkward, clunky parts—I think they were trying to keep the podcast vibe going too strongly and the tone didn't translate well in parts—but overall, I still loved it.

If you've never listened to or are only a little familiar with the podcast: I don't think you'd necessarily be lost. They explain the background behind what they're saying and some of the inside jokes. In fact, in some ways, this book would be great to recommend to people to explain the kind hearts behind a true crime comedy podcast (e.g., we are not horrible people laughing at murder; we are people with anxiety who talk about terrible things because they happen and the only way we can deal with anything is to be sarcastic while we do it) and it reveals the people and motivations behind the podcast. But it's definitely not a true crime read whatsoever, and I don't think a general reader would want to read it if they didn't have any interest in the podcast.

tl;dr: SSDGM. Read it when you get the chance. <3



pre-read 8/14/18: I've deeply suspected and profoundly hoped that this (no doubt) beautiful ode to true crime, anxiety, and the freedom of how to stop worrying and learning to love your weird self would happen. I was so very pleased—and proud with absolutely no foundation—to hear them announce the publication date. I will be stalking all the sites for an ARC as well as pre-ordering.

Yay murderinos!

[Laurie (barksbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I HIGHLY recommend you listen to the audiobook version of this book because it is narrated by the writers and you'll miss a lot of the emotion in the words if you don't hear them tell it. I also suggest that you only pick it up only if you are a fan of the My Favorite Murder podcast - otherwise you might not get what it is all about and you'll probably be very disappointed and will be left scratching your head at the title. It's not a guidebook instructing you how to "Stay Sexy & Don't Murdered" (that's the tagline of the true-crime comedy show), it's a book about the podcasters very personal, very intimate struggles with family, mental health and their careers. As a fan of the show, I found it both interesting, painful and funny - just like the weekly podcast.

Recommended to fans of the podcast only, especially if you're super nosy like myself.

[myo ✧༺ ༘♡ ༻∞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

as much as i love these girls.. this book is just proof that self help books are useless to me. other than giving me the idea to go to therapy, this book didn’t teach me a single thing i didn’t already know. i was very interested in hearing about their life and how they got to where they are now but as far as self help? useless. would’ve been better off as a book of essays in my opinion.

[♥ WishfulMiss ♥ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick thoughts:
For the most part this was okay but there were times I honestly just skimmed through it. Some of it was less of a How-to Guide and more like a sounding board to their success and personal achievements. Seriously, whole chapters were dedicated to them basically patting themselves on the back. Which is great, more power to them for making it in this cutthroat world, it just was not what I wanted the majority of the book to be about. I wanted more MFM talk and less about how great they are and how lucky they are they are finally financially stable. And I get it, you all suffer from some serious f@cking anxiety, no need to repeat like a broken record. I'm happy your in a happier place now and I get that you love therapy/your therapist but is there any chance we can move on from that?

*sigh*

Another hyped up book that totally missed it's mark for me.

What I liked:

>I loved Chapter One: Fuck Politeness. (If your a murderino, this concept it old news but I loved how they expand on this) and this chapter alone would be why I would recommend checking this one out. Seriously.

Life Lesson
"Learning to act in the moment, instead of wishing you had later."

>The TED Talk mentioned in Chapter 8

> Karen's chapters were my favorite, by far. But both tended to veer towards Debbie Downer territory. Was it wrong of me to expect more humor and comedy from them?

What I learned after reading this:
>My Sweet Baby Angel phase lasted a looooong time! (Hi thirteen year old self *waves* You might think your innocently naive life is too boring and the most exciting thing you did was cut class in middle school to go home and watch that one telenovella but your welcome! Your childhood pretty much rocked.)

> I still like MFM, but I'll stick to the podcast from now on. The tone of the book was so different then their podcast. Sometimes I felt like they were only speaking to a certain audience, an audience that had to fit a certain mold and if you didn't check all the boxes you pretty much didn't matter.

> I don't do non-stop ramblings. When these two got on a roll about something or other, nothing stopped them. Not even the fact that they were repeating themselves to a cringe worthy level that got annoying fast.

> The constant and sometimes aggressive advice giving was off putting.

Anyways . . . still a fan of the podcast just not of this book.

[Elyse Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook.... read by Karen
Kilgariff, Georgia Hardstark, and Paul Giamatti.

Parts were recorded in front of a live audience. The energy from the people in the room during the ‘live’ sections were explosive... adding a contagious - “I HEAR YA” & “WOMEN ROCK”, energy.

I enjoyed these women... and their life stories about being young- scared - insecure with themselves - confused- depressed - and dealings with anxiety.

If Karen heard her parents fighting or felt the stress from their divorce she grabbed her books and her blanket and crawled under the stairway to read for hours. Reading was her lifeline. Loved hearing about her favorite childhood books.

Lots of therapy - and growing up put these ladies in the drivers seat. They eventually grew hair on their chest and kicked some ass if needed.
It was refreshing to hear about how these ladies learned to defend themselves from assholes ...
And grow confident in their own skin.
Karen said:
“We barely get enough time on this planet, so it’s crazy spending that time pleasing others at the cost ourselves”.

Paul Giamatti’s voice of wisdom - between
the dynamite female duo - was a treasure as well.

Karen and Georgia are un-guarded... down-to-earth real & raunchy.
They offer some great advice...from real experiences.
Their lunatic - crazy- years offers a ‘warning contribution’..... to young women. Personally - I think young adult women - ( daughters in college years), could benefit from this book: the Audiobook being the perfect vehicle.

Note to sexy beautiful young women:
Do not get into the car with a strange guy you’ve only known from the diner where you work.
Do not even consider
posing photos for the guy.
And never drive off into the mountains - without cell phone reception.
Ha... lots more ‘words-of-wisdom’ from where that came from. Eye-rolling cringing stories of “are you kidding me?”

It’s not that I needed the advice given from this book ( I’m an old fart).... but I grew up in the 70s- like Karen did.
I related to some of ‘those’ crazy years myself. Although I never was into the ‘party-till-you-drop’ and ‘tequila sunrise’ bar days.
But I - too - was a latchkey kid.
We never used that word - latchkey, at the time- we simply had little parental supervision.
Karen’s latchkey stories were hilarious. I laughed at her after-school food choices of powered lemonade and cheese toast stories.

Georgia shared about working on the weekends - a crazy ex-girlfriend- camping vacations with her divorced father - and meeting a dude on a makeout website.

Humor, self-reflection, open wounds and honesty fill these pages.

Readers who enjoyed “Tiny Beautiful Things’....advice on love and life by Cheryl Strayed might enjoy this one too.

As for women pleasing others and being polite ....it’s clearly over-rated.

Very Fun!!!

[Nenia ✨ I yeet my books back and forth ✨ Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

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So apparently this book is written by two ladies who have a podcast called My Favorite Murder which is devoted to their love of true crime. I haven't read the podcast and anyway, this book isn't even really about the podcast; it's about growing up and confronting trauma and overcoming addiction and seeking out therapy and learning to tell people where to get off when you, as a nice person, have been taken advantage of one too many times-- or maybe you're a user, and you need to learn how to tell yourself where to get off for your own bad behavior. This book is about all of those things. It's kind of like someone tossed a self-help book and a memoir into a blender and hit "Murderino."



Weirdly, I recently read another self-help book by a pair of podcasters, which was called HOW TO BE FINE. I did not like HOW TO BE FINE and after reading this book, I think I know why. HOW is like this Pinterest-perfect version of being flawed, carefully curated and, you know, aspirational-- but in a really conspicuous way that also makes you feel simultaneously attacked and annoyed. This book is like seeing the posts of one of your oversharing friends on Instagram, where they're as open about their struggles as they are their triumphs. Parts of it are aspirational but they also keep it real and when they give you advice, it feels like they're on the level, if you know what I mean.



I ended up really liking this book. Some people gave it negative reviews because it goes to some dark places but I think the authors talked about trauma and recovery in a really healthy way and gave good advice too. I loved the memoir portions, which alternated between devastating and hilarious (and weirdly, that worked-- maybe because of the gallows humor required to be entertaining in a true crime podcast), and thought their lives were fascinating. I loved hearing about their families. I thought the things they said about feminism and social awareness were totally on point. This was purely an impulse buy for me and I went into it highly skeptical but honestly, it is THE self-help book I would recommend to anyone seeking solace that comes couched in the jaded skepticism of the Gen X mentality.



So, basically, I'm considering myself an honorary Murderino.



3.5 to 4 stars

[Ashley Daviau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confession, I read this book without ever having listened to the podcast and I still fell absolutely in love with it. It’s just such a fabulous book to read as a woman, I felt like I was sitting down and chatting with two incredibly badass friends and I adored every second of it. In fact, I blew through it in one single sitting! It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me feel not so alone in the world, it made me feel empowered and it made me realize some truths about myself. And then add in all the awesome true crime references and it’s just the perfect recipe. What more could you want in a book?! Now excuse me while I go and binge listen to the podcast!

[Janelle Janson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to receive a partial early copy from Forge. I loved every single page I read and cried at the end. It’s that good. Full review to come.

[Lindsay Nixon · Rating 1 out of 5]

My first reaction was "This is another shitty memoir written by some 'popular' blogger who has dipped into narcissism and thinks she has "advice" for the rest of us (or s/he assumes we want to hear every last word about her life and childhood).

After a thoughtful pause, I thought maybe I'm just not the intended reader, as I had no clue who these people were or had ever heard of their podcast... Perhaps if I had already known and liked them I would want to hear their life story. For example, I met a new friend a couple of weeks ago (Stephany). I'm jonesing to learn more about her/get to know her better, and I would welcome any story she wanted to shared with me VS. you've never met Stephany so if she showed up at your house talking about her childhood and parents you'd probably yawn and tell her to get off your porch...

BUT THEN I thought about all the memoirs I've read about people I didn't know prior and how they were still outstanding, which brought me back to: this is just a shitty memoir/biography.

For me a 'good' memoir/biography is one where the person goes deep and says "this is the situation I was in, this is what I did, and here's how it worked out for me." aka when the author focuses on themselves rather than presume to know what's best for me or anyone else and give unsolicited advice. IF NOTHING ELSE, all I ask is that everything shared is tied around a central theme or purpose other than "I'm so glad there are fans because my life was just like yours before I had them!"

The authors DID say they were facts obsessed so if anything was wrong to please let them know... first chapter there is a comment "that's the price to pay in LA with 365 days of sunshine" LA gets 284 sunny days on average (a local beer company named a beer after this date so LA doesn't forget) but c'mon any reasonable person knows there is no place that has sun 365 days a year and YES I get she was "just making a point" but if you're super into facts... bleh

I felt stuck in a corner at a cocktail party with THAT person who won't stop talking about themselves and wasn't really going anywhere with it.... and every time I tried to excuse myself they grabbed my arm and said "just one more thing"

I skipped around in case the first few chapters were just a bummer but none of them really did anything for me and I found myself preferring to listen to the wind as I was driving. If you liked Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies about Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be you might like this one? (Dunno I def. didn't read that one)

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread in September 2020 and upping my rating from 4 to 5 stars. After reading SSDGM the first time, I fell down the rabbit hole of the My Favorite Murder podcast and count on these women to provide distraction and witty commentary whenever I need it most.

***

I’m not a podcast fan, because listening to them gets in the way of all the audiobooks on my list. So I’d never even heard of “My Favorite Murder,” let alone its creators. Somehow their book caught my attention, and I downloaded it on audio to see what all the hype is about.

First of all, this isn’t a book about murder. It’s a memoir/essay collection. Second, those offended by language should “f&@k on out of here.” Third, I’m now fans of the authors and - gasp - already took time away from audiobooks to listen to a few of their podcast episodes.

There’s one chapter that Karen reads live in front of an audience that I listened to three times in a row, with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat each time. Who would expect that from a book called “Stay Sexy and Don’t Get Murdered?”

[Justin Tate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't listen to podcasts with any regularity, but I did check out a few "My Favorite Murder" episodes. They're cute. A nice blend of research and cozy chat between the hosts. I love a good murder mystery, and it is refreshing to see how the episodes have allowed murder case studies to branch out into discussions of modern anxiety and mental health. They share a lot from their personal life, and clearly that's the secret sauce that has made their winning formula even more winning.

This memoir is an extension of the podcasts, I suppose, although I suspect longtime listeners have heard most of the stories in this book already. It is truly only a memoir of the podcast hosts and has almost nothing to do with murder. They attempt to recreate their chatty personalities in the text and that occasionally translates well on the page. It does get old pretty quick, though. There's also an unevenness about the book, with some chapters being really well-presented, and others that appear to be first draft.

A little over halfway, I found myself struggling to keep the pages turning so I switched over to the audio version to see if that helped. It did. Unsurprisingly, podcast hosts perform well in their natural environment. However, I think the audiobook helped the most because, like podcasts, I could multi-task and not really care if I paid complete attention or not.

In the end, a wholly unnecessary book that may give hardcore fans more opportunity to bond with their favorite podcast. Still interesting and worth reading if only for its experiment at trying to recreate the podcast format on the written page.

[Olivia (Stories For Coffee) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karen and Georgia always know exactly what I need to hear. I love them

[Blaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Politeness doesn’t require actual humanity. It’s just cultural ritual. Kindness means you actually care and have good intentions toward a person. It means you think about them as much as you think about yourself. Politeness is fancy curtains in your front window. Kindness is the home-cooked meal on your dinner table.

I picked up Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered for a reading challenge. I’m probably not the target audience for this book, as I’m not a big fan of true crime stories, and I’ve never listened to the authors’ My Favorite Murder podcast. But I’ve heard good things about the podcast, so I went in optimistic.

Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered is part memoir and part self-help advice for women, with a sprinkling of true crime. But the book is not nearly long enough to do any of them well. There’s nothing wrong with the book exactly, but I didn’t think there was much here for someone who isn’t coming to it already a fan of the authors.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

One author’s essays I found entertaining, heartwarming and sometimes even inspiring. The other author, not so much.

[Malia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I know I'm in the minority of readers who didn't absolutely love this book, but it just wasn't quite what I hoped it would be. I heard great things and and was excited to read it, and though it's entertaining, it wasn't as engaging as I hoped it would be. I found the authors to be a little irritating, even as I wasn't left unaffected by their stories and what they went through. Obviously, this is a personal thing and many other readers will feel quite differently and really enjoy. If you give it a chance, I hope you do. Overall, not a standout, but entertaining enough and a good summer read.

Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com

[Laura Thalassa]

Loving this one so far!

[Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Little girls are taught to be polite, to smile pretty and sit up straight, to be nice and accommodating. And then those little girls turn into grown-ass women who've spent years being polite to the detriment of their own wants, needs, and safety."

This is a book I just inherently knew I would love, and it definitely delivered! I've been a murderino since I was a little girl, thanks to my mom who introduced me to true crime when I was like 8. I love this podcast and like many others that are part of the MFM community I love how open and honest about many facets of their lives Karen & Georgia are. This book is wonderful and is so relatable!

"We're all crazy and scared and searching. No one gets to use that against you. It's not proof you're broken, its proof you're human." 🖤