Love In The Time Of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson
This was a cute rom-com read for the Valentine holiday! This story follows Phoebe as she moves into her father’s house for the summer after his untimely passing. She then has to juggle getting the house ready to sell, writing her dissertation, and figuring out if her handsome neighbor is a serial killer.
This book was a really good and just super cute read! It had plus size representation, which can be hard to find sometimes. I love how Alicia Thompson didn’t make it a major plot point, it was more of a natural addition to the story. She was able to truly add certain thought processes or experiences that can be very common for women who are plus sized. I have read plus sized romances before that had more of an undertone of “he likes me despite…” and that just makes me sick to my stomach to imagine someone thinking they need to find someone who can look past a part of themself instead of loving all of them. Alicia writes this relationship with the characters each having a tone of pure adoration for the other and both accepting and seeing them for who they truly are. There are scenes through the book where Sam picks up on some of Phoebes insecurities and he quickly puts them to rest while explaining to her how he sees her.
Ones of the things that truly drew me into the story was Phoebes love/fascination of true crime. As someone who is always eager to watch the newest true crime documentary available, I couldn’t help but connect with how Phoebes mind processes certain situations. There were moments when Phoebes inner monologue had a line of thought that I have similarly had in the real world. I’m one to always be suspicious of someone who approaches, even when they are just trying to help. Which can cause difficulty when trying to make connections with others, which I think was beautifully highlighted and detailed throughout the book.
As the story continues we learn more about Phoebes relationship with her late father. Which was seemingly far from perfect, but can anyone truly say their family is perfect? Her parents divorce and past interactions from her childhood seem to have stuck with her through the years and almost tainted her belief and view of love. That was until she met Sam, the ‘possibly a serial killer’ neighbor. Sam seemingly falls fast for her, in spite of her social awkwardness that has her brining up facts on serial killers any time she is uncomfortable. He has his work cut out for him though as she adamantly acts as though she is incapable of love or being loved.
There were plenty breaks of humor through out, Phoebes inner monologue had me laughing the most with how she overanalyzes things along with her hilarious metaphors. Not to mention her awkwardness in social situations, that were both so funny and relatable. I couldn’t help but laugh numerous times while reading this book. There were so many hidden references that made Phoebe relatable for me that ranged from comments on punk/goth music, superhero’s, true crime, etc. but don’t worry, this book wasn’t all laughs! Between the laughs and the what could be deemed as ‘psychoanalysis’ there was also plenty of romance and a smidgen of smut. Overall, this was a great and fun read that I would highly recommend. I believe this would be a good weekend read for someone who is looking for something sweet, funny, and enjoyable.
QUOTES THAT MADE ME EMOTE:
“This is the exact scenario two post-Evanescence goth podcasters will one day use for their cold open.”
“Fuck that. I'd rather be seen as a little rude than risk being taken to a second location.”
“The pulsing heartbeat of true crime, of all human stories when you got right down to it, was we all wanted and hoped and dreamed and loved, but we had no control over what happened in the end.”
“I don't regret any of it... Not the last few weeks not today... I don't regret giving you my heart, Phoebe. I just wish you'd taken more care with it.”
“It made me dream, for one night at least, of something I hadn't even dared to as a young girl lying in this same bed--- that all the pink heart valentine, sappy love song stuff might be real, and be something I could have.”
“It was wild, that someone could be a complete stranger, and then just weeks later be one of the most important people in your life.”
“To love someone was to need them, to open yourself up to pain and rejection and loss.”
“The truth was that I had been alone, for a while. But it had always been the way I liked it, where i called all the shots and I was responsible only to myself. It never felt lonely. Now, suddenly it did.”
