Julie Mae Cohen

A fast-paced, twisty dark comedy thriller about friendship, sisterhood, and revenge. This had me laughing out loud even in scenes where I probably shouldn’t have been laughing! What a wildly chaotic and entertaining read!

Let’s talk about the main female characters: Opal is a 50+ wellness influencer trying to keep it all together; Lilah is a 26-year-old lottery winner who works at a library while grieving her dad’s death; and Marina is a divorced mom of three who just inherited a massive house from her Nana Sylvia (my favorite character whose feisty presence lingers throughout the story even though she's dead).

What do these women have in common? A man. Who is currently bound and unconscious in a basement, as they figure out what to do with him. Yes, it's all dark and crazy, but the book does explore heavy themes like gaslighting, coercive control, cheating, and pyramid schemes. I do think Cohen handled these topics with care, showing just how manipulative relationships can trap women. Also, the story never felt heavy. In fact, it’s uplifting in a hilariously twisted way!

I like how flawed yet somehow lovable these characters are. These women are messy, funny, and just trying to survive, and their journey from total strangers to friends is so delightful. The ending was satisfying as well. The last scene reminded me of a revenge scene in GOT!

Sure, some moments are a little over the top, but that’s the whole point! Suspend disbelief, embrace the absurdity, and just enjoy the ride. If you’re into strong female leads, dark humor, and thrillers with a bit of chaos, Eat Slay Love should be on your list. It’s empowering, escapist fun, and I loved every minute of it!… (more)

Saffy is a serial killer that hunts - you guessed it - bad men. She loves killing and otherwise lives a normal life with family who have no idea about her secret hobby.

Jonathan is a true crime podcaster who recently helped get a serial killer imprisoned, but it was at the cost of his marriage. He ends up going on a date with Saffy, and they joke about murder and trume crime, he having no idea she is in fact, a murderer. After moving out of his home, he finds a dead body on his doorstep and instantly becomes the main suspect. Saffy is pretty sure that Jonathan is a good man and definitely not a killer, and she decides to help him prove his innocence.

This is a surprisingly light hearted mystery with some romance. 3.5 stars rounded up. I'm extremely late with this review. Thank you RB media for giving me a copy of this audiobook.… (more)

I didn't expect to like this contemporary mystery thriller as much as I did. I’m not a fan of vigilantism and I hate books that usually glorify those types of killings such as Dexter and others. But for some reason, this was fun and entertaining, and I enjoyed it. Rated 3.5 stars, rounded up.

Saffy Huntley-Oliver is rich and beautiful, runs a couple of charities, and is a fashionista. She also has a secret hobby -- hunting down and killing bad men. The pedophiles, abusers, rapists, etc. This makes dating and finding a mate difficult when you can't find a good guy. But finally, Saffy is in with a chance after meeting true-crime podcaster Jonathan Desrosiers. When the police name him as a suspect in a murder he did not commit, Saffy is determined to help Jon seek out the real killer and give her the opportunity to have her own romance and fairy tale ever after.

This was darkly humorous and fast-paced making it a great one-sitting read. Saffy is meant to be a feminist but she's not a man-hater per se, she's just not been exposed to many good guys that aren't super boring. She does do something that I didn't like (trigger for animal mistreatment) and she is fairly intolerant of most people so she's not going to be anyone's BFF. She does love her younger sister and is very protective of her. Once you get past the fact that she loves her hobby and is a stone-cold serial killer, she's kind of likeable. Or at least you understand part of why she's who she is. The narrative is told from the points of view of both Saffy and Jonathan (Jon). Suspend any disbelief and go along for the crazy ride.

I listened to the audio while reading along in the e-book ARC (both provided by the publishers) and I enjoyed the experience although I must say that I prefer the book to the audio. Quite a bit of vocabulary was changed using American expressions in the book compared to more typically English phrases or terms in the audio. The narrator had a British accent as well.… (more)

I loved this book! Despite the disturbing prologue, "Bad Men" was a very entertaining and funny read. It made me smile all the way through and I absolutely adored Saffy, a stylish heiress who freely admits (to herself) that she is a sociopath and an efficient serial killer. However, she only kills bad men, thus helping to make the world a better place.

Life is lonely for Saffy as she attempts to keep her secret and it becomes harder for her when she falls in love with Jon, an author and podcaster who has made money from exploring murders. Girl, the dog Saffy, rescued from a shelter was a character in herself and her antics, especially towards Saffy, were humorous.

I had no idea what to expect when I picked up this book, except my colleague said she loved it. I was hooked from the first page and binged on it until I reached the end.

With twists and turns, romance, likeable characters and dark humour, "Bad Men" has become one of my favourite reads for 2023.… (more)