Wow! What a story! I couldn't put it down because I had to know what happened next. Beware, controlling men everywhere, you might be about to get your comeuppance!

I had high hopes for this book because I LOVED Bad Men, which is by the same author. Sadly for me, this one wasn’t quite up there with Bad Men, but still an enjoyable read.

The books follows three women - Opal, Marina and Lilah. Opal is a fifty something fitness influencer who tracks down divorced mother Marina and shy librarian Lilah, when she realises that all three of them have been conned by the same man. To Marina and Lilah, he’s charming and protective and the best thing that’s ever happened to them. But Opal, having once being married to him, knows the truth. He’s lying to them and he’s taking or planning to take all their money. And even worse, he will kill for it.

The ladies take matters into their own hands when one evening, Marina pushes him down the steps into her basement. And when Lilah finds out the truth about his involvement in her father’s death, things get even worse for the man captured in the basement. There are very grisly parts, which I actually enjoyed 😅 I think the reason some of the book felt a bit flat was because the drama didn’t really amp up until 60% and too much time was spent setting the scene and delving into the women’s backgrounds.

The themes of female friendship, empowerment and slaying the patriarchy are very prominent, which I did like.

I didn’t like the main characters as much as I had hoped I would and I found them lacking in depth and almost a bit stereotypical. They did all have great journeys throughout the book but I almost found myself not really that bothered about what happened to them because I hadn’t related to them/warmed to them.

Overall, a fun yet dark read, but not my favourite and nowhere near the brilliance of Bad Men (in my opinion!)

Thanks to Bonnier books and Netgalley for this ARC. Due to be published 24/10/24.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Not sure if I took too much delight in the 'mischief' Lilah, Marina and Opal were getting up to buy this was a great book!

It gives off First Wives Club vibes in the sense that 3 very different women come together as a sisterhood not only to seek revenge but to embrace sisterhood. They're joined by the common theme of being mistreated and being made vulnerable and I love that they find strength and companionship as part of their journey.

Not all men are bad but the ones featured in this story do deserve some bad karma and you won't be disappointed by some of the things that the women get up to!!

This was a fun read. I love books with this particular theme (no spoilers!) and this was a good example. The female friendships in this book were great, loved the different personality types of the women and how they were well fleshed out characters. Wasn’t expecting the ending but really enjoyed it. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for the ARC

A hilariously good thriller that also explore the strength of women friendship. The book was witty and fast paced. I liked all the POVs and had fun with all the characters. It was cleverly plotted had a shocking end.

Marina, Lilah and Opal are strangers and have almost nothing in common, apart from a man who’s been lying to them all. Will friendship form and revenge sought?

I was initially drawn to the bright cover and reading the description I thought this sounded like a fun read. I can say after reading that my initial thoughts were correct. The story is very entertaining and dark in places, but also manages to have humorous vibes running alongside.

It is told in the three character’s points of view and I enjoyed them all. You could clearly make out their individual personalities, while rooting for them and watching them rediscover themselves. I liked the themes of female friendship and the ending was satisfying also. I haven’t read Bad Men by this author yet but I’ll certainly be checking it out now. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

A fast paced, murder mystery laced with a dark humour. Three very different women connected to a deceitful man leads to murder. The characters were very well written and believable except for "Zach/Zander" who was slightly a pantomime villain. I enjoyed the story, the theme of female empowerment emotive and authentic.

Really enjoyable read! I always favour multiple POV’s in books because I feel like it captures my attention more and keeps it interesting. I adored the character development throughout and seeing the change in each of the women as the story progressed. Nothing I love more than seeing women realise their strength!!!
The only slight negative (it’s not really a negative) is that I would have liked a bit more background on Xavier/Zachary just to improve the immersion overall.
But I really liked this, and I would re-read and recommend!

I needed this
A fun dark humour masterpiece
I couldn’t love it more
It was hard to put down
The characters were so well written
I laughed I cried I enjoyed it so much
Loved the friendship between the characters it was beautiful

This was such a great book, thank you to netgalley and the publisher! I loved the characters and loved how they came together to get the job done. Such a dark funny and great read. Defiantly recommend this one!

This book is quite the romp and be ready for murder and shenanigans when three strangers are unexpectedly brought together over one charming but not quite whom he seems man.

This was a fast read and I galloped through it, keen to know what was going to be become of the three main characters, each with an individual story to tell. It wrapped up well and showed the power of friendship and knowing who to call when things come crashing down around you. It was a fun book and I'd certainly read more by this author.

Wow, this book was a hoot but a very dark one! Three very interesting women, three experiences with the same man. What could go wrong? Nothing, unless they found out about each other and of course, by implication, the man. Needless to say, they are not happy and one was married to him. What follows next is weirdly plausible and a definite page turner.
I won't ruin it by giving anything else away unless of course you count my recommendation.

I was beyond excited to dive into “Eat Slay Love” after devouring Julie Mae Cohen’s previous work, “Bad Men”. I wondered if her new novel could match the excitement and wit of the first—and boy, did it surpass my expectations!
The story begins with three seemingly unrelated women—Opal, Marina, and Lilah—who find themselves entangled in a wild situation involving a man who has been deceiving them all. Their shared circumstance? They’ve discovered that he’s been lying to them and are now holding him hostage in a basement. Cohen beautifully balances humour with darker themes, creating an engaging and thought-provoking narrative.
From the outset, I was captivated by the unique setup. Three women, three lives, and one deceitful man—Cohen spins a tale that is at once absurd and thrilling. As they navigated their predicament, I laughed out loud at their banter and the outrageousness of their situation. It’s so enjoyable to watch these characters, each with their distinct personality, bond over their shared plight while embarking on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment.
The characters are wonderfully crafted and relatable. I particularly enjoyed Opal, the fitness enthusiast, whose icy exterior hides a complex emotional journey. Her character arc resonated with me, as she evolves throughout the chaos. Marina, the overwhelmed single mother, brought so much humour to the mix, especially in her desperate attempts to juggle her children with the madness unfolding around her. And then there’s Lilah, the grieving rich woman, whose quiet strength and depth tugged at my heartstrings. Cohen’s ability to give each character a voice that feels distinct and authentic made it easy to keep track of who was who, despite my occasional apprehension about multiple points of view.
The pacing of this book is fantastic. Cohen masterfully intertwines humour with darker subjects like abusive relationships and female empowerment, successfully showing that comedy and morbidity can coexist beautifully. Who knew that a tale of kidnapping could be so engagingly funny?
I particularly appreciated how this novel dives beyond the absurd situational comedy, exploring themes of friendship, loyalty, and personal growth. Each woman’s journey reflects the challenges of modern womanhood, touching on the struggles of single parenting, societal expectations, and the importance of standing up for oneself.
As I reached the end, I felt a satisfying closure, but I also couldn’t help but wish for more. There’s undoubtedly room for a sequel, or even a novella exploring the characters further—I'm here for it!
In closing, “Eat Slay Love” is a delightful thrill ride that mixes laughter with substantial themes, and it easily earns a place among my favourite reads of the year. Julie Mae Cohen continues to impress me with her unique storytelling, and I’m eagerly anticipating her next book. If you’re looking for a smart, funny, and refreshingly daring read, look no further!

This is a fun, enjoyable read. This is the second book I've read by this author and I like her writing style and sense of humour.
Opal, Lilah and Marina are three very different women joined together by one horrible man. Opal and Lilah started off as quite unlikeable characters but by the end they were new women and much more relatable.
If you're after a believable story then this isn't for you. If though you want a funny, crazy and kinda gory read then you'll love this.

Thank you for my copy of this book to read and review.

I loved everything about this book. The characters were likeable and enjoyable to read about, the story was dark but funny with some good twists, I thought the plot was entertaining and original. and it had me hooked from the first chapter.

I couldn't put this book down, yet I didn't want to get to the end.

I've already recommended this to friends to look out for.

A fun, funny, feisty story that kept me turning the pages. Lilah, Marina and Opal are three women who discover that they have been 'sharing' the same bloke. He goes by various different names, and has been fleecing them all. But then, the tables are turned...and the novel takes a rather dark turn. 'Eat, Slay, Love' by Julie Mae Cohen is an easy read, but it addresses deep themes, including abusive relationships, control, female friendship and revenge. Great stuff.

I loved loved loved this book. These women were incredible to read about, they were so well written, so well developed, I felt like I was with them on this wild rollercoaster of a ride. The story twisted and turned in directions I wasn't expecting, and I really enjoyed it.

Absolutely loved this story and the twists and turns that came along the way!!!

These women have been written so well and I want them as my new besties!!

I loved this book - I didn’t want to put it down and devoured it in just two sittings. The tale does cover some very real, and very serious topics: betrayal, deception, coercive control and violence, however, there are plenty of laugh out loud moments too, which are a welcome addition. We have three very different lead characters, all of whom are well-developed, well-written and likeable. Female friendships, ‘the sisterhood’, trust, and what women can achieve, both individually and when they work together, is examined – at times with gory results! Very highly recommended.

4.5 stars rounded up. Chicklit with a comical criminal twist, this was an entertaining read. For most of it I was genuinely sure it was going to be 4.75 or maybe even 5 stars outright, but I nudged it down a bit based on two things at the end - we don’t find out what happened to Opal, and without spoilering anyone… Marina’s actions right at the very end, which I felt were unnecessary and out of character. By all means make a point with the man, but *that*?

Anyway, I loved the characters, and although this fell into an almost improv comedy exercise of “…and then…” where unlikely events keep happening in quick succession, it was a fast and fun read. Would definitely recommend!

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.