Group Buddy Read (First in a Series) - Finlay Donovan Is Killing It (Finlay Donovan #1) by Elle Cosimano - Starting May 1, 2022

[Dee Dee, Head Nuisance in Charge]

Finlay Donovan is killing it...except, she’s really not. A stressed-out single mom of two and struggling novelist, Finlay’s life is in chaos: The new book she promised her literary agent isn’t written; her ex-husband fired the nanny without telling her; and this morning she had to send her four-year-old to school with hair duct-taped to her head after an incident with scissors.

When Finlay is overheard discussing the plot of her new suspense novel with her agent over lunch, she’s mistaken for a contract killer and inadvertently accepts an offer to dispose of a problem husband in order to make ends meet. She soon discovers that crime in real life is a lot more difficult than its fictional counterpart, as she becomes tangled in a real-life murder investigation.

Fast-paced, deliciously witty, and wholeheartedly authentic in depicting the frustrations and triumphs of motherhood in all its messiness, hilarity, and heartfelt moments, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It is the first in a brilliant new series from award-winning Elle Cosimano.

[Ellie, Mod]

Quotes:

"I pasted on a strained smile. Steven knew how to break things, too. Like dreams and wedding vows. But I didn’t say that. Instead, I gritted my teeth, because child psychologists say it’s not healthy to bash your ex in front of your children."

Lol I would not have this kind of self control

"My scissors were buried under a pile of dirty breakfast dishes, so I drew a knife from the block on the counter instead. The tape peeled away from the roll with a loud shriek, and I held the strands of clipped hair against the side of Delia’s head while wrapping the tape around her like a hideous silver crown until the hair was (mostly) secured in place. The knife was dull, barely sharp enough to hack the tape from the roll."

EXCUSE ME WHAT?!

"In my more virtuous moments, I imagined him as a Hugh Jackman look-alike—too charming and attractive to possibly fend off the countless women who must be throwing themselves at him, the poor victim of a jealous wife who would probably benefit from his life insurance policy."

Very much not virtuous thinking. Because women "throw themselves" on men does not make their cheating okay.

"This is going to be my home. Daddy said so.” The words cut like a
knife through my heart. I bit back a wince as I scooped up Zachary with his blanket and paci and grabbed Delia’s hand, careful to take every last trace of my children with me. And as I locked my ex’s house tightly behind me, I couldn’t help wondering what kind of custody lawyer fifty thousand dollars could buy."

Horrible child honestly. Let's just throw the father in the garbage.

[Dee Dee, Head Nuisance in Charge]

I'm still waiting for my library hold to come in for this one :'(

[Dee Dee, Head Nuisance in Charge]

Starting

[Dee Dee, Head Nuisance in Charge]

Ugh this guy is a d!ck

[Dee Dee, Head Nuisance in Charge]

Lol this conversation happening in the middle of a (view spoiler)[Panera explains why Finlay ended up in the predicament she's in<\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[Dee Dee, Head Nuisance in Charge]

Eliza wrote: "Quotes:

"I pasted on a strained smile. Steven knew how to break things, too. Like dreams and wedding vows. But I didn’t say that. Instead, I gritted my teeth, because child psychologists say it’s..."

He's so horrible! And he does some very unsafe things with the kids in the name of being the more liked parent. Ugh

[Dee Dee, Head Nuisance in Charge]

Ch 9 (view spoiler)[the deed is done, accidentally, and now that she decides that she's going to turn herself in she's being blackmailed by the very lady that hired her??? And her nanny?? Finlay, you have the world's worst luck with people. It's like she's a magnet for people that want to take advantage of her. (hide spoiler)]

[Dee Dee, Head Nuisance in Charge]

Ch 16 (view spoiler)[she didn't shut the garage door! So now there's someone out there who actually killed him and is framing Finlay for the murder! (hide spoiler)]

[Dee Dee, Head Nuisance in Charge]

Ch 21 - Vera...

[Dee Dee, Head Nuisance in Charge]

Up to ch 39

So much has happened since I last checked in but now there is a time crunch for (view spoiler)[Finlay and Vero to move the body, we finally have an idea of who really killed old dude, and now her inside man is suspended so she doesn't have any more advanced notice for the case<\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[Ellie, Mod]

Just finished Chapter 39 and things are so nerve wracking. This story has been WILD

[Dee Dee, Head Nuisance in Charge]

Wild is an understatement haha

[Ellie, Mod]

End of Chapter 43 after that scene at the bar (view spoiler)[Finlay just told Julien the whole story and at the end he calls out to his boss that he is heading out for the day. But Finlay had said the bar was empty? I know nothing will come of it but boss man could have overheard everything! (hide spoiler)]

[Dee Dee, Head Nuisance in Charge]

Eliza wrote: "End of Chapter 43 after that scene at the bar [spoilers removed]"

Yh, Finlay is really wreckless here if we think about it.

[Ellie, Mod]

THAT ENDING HOLY HECK
I didn't think I would want to continue in this series but I am now intrigued

[Dee Dee, Head Nuisance in Charge]

That was exactly my reaction!

[Ellie, Mod]

I feel like we got no closure on the (view spoiler)[murder. I don't believe for one second that the police did not find evidence that Harris was not murdered by Andrei like everyone else. There is just no way Finlay made it out okay especially since Nick knows that she was the one at the bar with Harris not Theresa (hide spoiler)]

[Dee Dee, Head Nuisance in Charge]

Eliza wrote: "I feel like we got no closure on the [spoilers removed]"

It was definitely (view spoiler)[too conveniently wrapped up. So I have no doubt that she's going to have some sort of problems in book 2 when her book is released. (hide spoiler)]