I was lured in by the title and cover, but it did not live up to my expectations. It was a quick read, but I felt my time could have been spent better elsewhere

I knew enough not to expect a rom-com, but there wasn’t romance or comedy in this one at all. You kind of only kept reading because you wanted awful men to get their comeuppance. It reminded me of the movie Promising Young Woman, but that movie hit the high notes better and more poignantly.

On a side note - I felt like the actual crimes described in this novel were a bit sloppy/easy to solve but everyone got away with them every time?

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I struggled to get into this one a bit. It was definitely different. Wasn't entirely what I was expecting.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“When Sally Killed Harry” by Lucy Roth is a wild ride that catches you off guard right from the get-go! Imagine waking up in a city as vibrant as New York with a splitting headache, an empty wallet, and a sense of despair that makes you question every decision you've ever made. That’s exactly where Sally, our protagonist, finds herself after a night she’s all too eager to forget. But instead of wallowing in self-pity, she finds herself at the centre of a revenge plot that veers ever so gloriously off the rails.
Sally is relatable, flawed, and deeply human—the kind of character you root for even when you’re cringing in disbelief at her choices. After being charmed and swindled by the deliciously phoney Harry, I couldn’t help but get invested in her quest for revenge. Harry is the epitome of the term "dreamboat" turned nightmare. His charisma is irresistible, but it becomes clear that he’s a master manipulator with a long history of deceiving women. Through Sally's eyes, you feel that painful mixture of anger, betrayal, and a completely understandable desire for some serious payback.
As Sally rallies a group of women who have also fallen prey to the likes of men like Harry, the narrative shifts into high gear—these women are fighting back, and their determination is both empowering and thrilling. The formation of their group, “Some Women,” is a brilliant touch. It’s a weird but captivating support group that meets weekly in a church hall to pool resources and share their experiences of being wronged. As their vengeance becomes increasingly severe, it’s fascinating to watch how the dynamic between them evolves while they navigate their traumas together.
Admittedly, the pacing can be a bit jarring at times. It all escalates quickly, and while the revenge theme is compelling, I found myself wishing for more depth regarding the other women. Each has a rich backstory that pretty much gets left in the shadows as the plot barrels forward. I think the narrative's decision to focus on Sally's experience makes the story feel somewhat one-dimensional at points, especially since we only scratch the surface of their collective pain.
What truly captivated me, though, was Sally’s complex relationship with Harry. Even after everything he inflicted upon her, there’s an undeniable pull between them. It’s a perplexing and intriguing component of the story, as it calls into question how we can unwittingly cling to those who’ve hurt us. I personally found the exploration of Sally's past trauma to be straightforward, almost too simplistic, and I wondered if sprinkling in more mystery about her history might have added a richer layer to the narrative.
One of my biggest critiques is the lack of humour. I was expecting a rom-com gone rogue to possess a sarcastic bite or dark wit. Instead, the tone skews more seriously and lacks that levity that could have made the revenge even sweeter. Yet, even without the laughs, I couldn’t put the book down. There’s an addictive quality to the plot; it’s a revenge thriller that kept my heart racing, even if the ending felt a bit too neatly tied up.
“When Sally Killed Harry” is a thrilling read that dares to tread where few romances do. It’s not just a story of revenge but also a testament to the strength of female bonds in the face of trauma. If you’re looking for a narrative that fuses empowerment with suspense in a refreshing way, this one’s for you. Just prepare yourself—you might end up accidentally rooting for a bunch of wannabe serial killers!

This book is an absolute gem its funny, emotional, and so gripping. At its heart, it’s a revenge story that really taps into the anger and frustration many women feel when dealing with men who think they can do whatever they want without facing any consequences. It’s the perfect mix of thriller and dark humour, showing how revenge can bring women together and help them form real connections as they heal from shared experiences.
From the very first page, I was hooked by Sally’s voice. She’s witty, relatable, and instantly likable. But as the story unfolds, it’s a shock to see just how far she’s willing to go to get her revenge. Her backstory, which is heartbreaking and a little haunting, is revealed bit by bit, and by the end, you really feel for everything she’s been through. Her journey from being cynical and angry to finding strength is both tough and empowering.
What I loved most about this book is how it blends humour with real, raw emotion. It’s funny, but it’s also deeply sad at times, especially when we hear the stories of the other women. Each of them is carrying their own hurt, but together, they find strength in each other. The side characters are just as interesting as Sally, and I found myself just as invested in their journeys of revenge and healing.
The way the story is told makes you feel like you’re right inside Sally’s head, experiencing everything with her. It’s a fun, fierce, and totally unforgettable ride. If you’re looking for something that’s both light-hearted and deeply moving, this is must-read.

This was unlike most thrillers- I wasn’t sure of our protagonist’s motivation until almost halfway through the story, and once it was revealed the story really picked up. I loved the vigilante theme throughout- and I loved the strong women characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon books for the arc!

I wanted to love this one. It's such a cute name and a fun premise, but ultimately the characters all fell a bit flat for me and it just tried to do too much. Instead of nailing the femme fatale storyline, it tried to blend strangers on a train and promising young woman and cat and mouse....just too much and everything wrapped too neatly and quickly to get to the next bit. There were some fun scenes and a great deal of enjoyable elements, but overall it did not work for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
I'm not sure whether to love or hate this book so I've gone for "like". I liked this book.

The beginning I must admit I struggled with. Just wasn't really on board with the MC. She's incredibly whiny and annoying. However, as we got into the middle of the book and Harry showed his true colours I began to enjoy it more. A lot more.

A big twist at the end took me by surprise but is it just me or were there a lot of skips in the book? As in ... it felt like huge portions were left out so it seemed super rushed.

Overall, I did enjoy this. Who doesn't like a bit of female rage but there was just something a bit lacking for me. However I'd still recommend to those who enjoy female rage and revenge stories.

When Sally Killed Harry is a razor-sharp crime novel that blends high-stakes revenge with a scathing critique of misogyny and violence against women. It’s fast-paced, utterly absorbing, and laced with a simmering rage that feels all too real.

As someone who loves a good revenge narrative (especially one featuring a morally ambiguous female serial killer), this book checked a lot of boxes for me. Sally is a fascinating protagonist, and her story is as compelling as it is brutal. But while I was hooked from start to finish, I did have a few gripes. The first-person perspective keeps us locked in Sally’s head, which makes the other women in her orbit feel a bit underdeveloped. The decision to withhold key details about Sally’s past felt unnecessary—her trauma is a driving force, so why not lay it all out upfront? And while I can suspend disbelief for a good revenge fantasy, the ease with which everyone avoids consequences made the ending feel a little too neat. A few moments of levity might have added some contrast to all the darkness, but this book is relentless in its tone.

That said, I absolutely devoured it. If you love a dark, vengeful heroine and stories that push moral boundaries, When Sally Killed Harry is a must-read.

A huge thank you to Lucy Roth, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley for the advanced copy! When Sally Killed Harry hits shelves on March 27, 2025—don’t miss it!

Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me. I was expecting a rom-com, but this was nothing like that. Too much hatred of men for me. Too focused on revenge and just kind of the same story every time with the men. This was definitely marketed wrong.

Unfortunately this book wasn’t my cup of tea. The whole “this is a romcom gone rough” marketing is a bit of a sham, not gonna lie. There is no romance, nor comedy. This is actually classified as a thriller but it lacks most aspects of the genre. This feels like a thriller-less revenge thriller.

The plot revolves around Sally, an East End 🇬🇧 girl, who has recently moved to NYC to escape a tormented past, only to find more drama on and off the NYC dating scene. Queue Harry, a dream of a guy, who turns out to be a con artist extraordinaire. Sally ends up joining a group of women intent on revenge against the men who have wronged them.

Unfortunately the characters fell quite flat and we don’t know much about them, aside from their trauma. We actually end up knowing more about the men in their lives.

Another thing that didn’t sit right with me was the constant and very casual mentions to mental health issues. Don’t get me wrong, as someone who has struggled with ED, anxiety and depression, I am a mental health advocate. In this novel there are so many mentions to mental health, therapy, medications etc but they are carelessly thrown left and right.

What would you do if Harry did to you what Harry did to Sally? Well, you might think about it but going ahead, well, I'm betting you wouldn't. How much you enjoy this might hang on how you feel about these women. They've been wronged but do they take revenge too far? Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This will make a good beach read.

This was a great book! The main FMC, Sally Parker, reminded me so much of Kitty Collins! This book covers trauma, abuse of women and the way some men can mistreat women. The women in this story all had the same goal - revenge from what they had been put through and how they had been treated! It was dark but funny! A couple of twists I didn’t see coming which is always good in a book! I’d definitely recommend this book!

DNF at 17%

While the premise definitely seems interesting and was enough to <i>get</i> my attention, it wasn't enough to <b>keep</b> it.

This is the perfect book to read if you need to feel empowered, want to read about women lifting women, or are sick of seeing men getting everything their own way.
I really enjoyed this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books Uk for the free copy in exchange for my personal opinion.

A quick read that I flew through over the space of two days.
There's humour, revenge and some dark subjects lurking underneath the preface of our main character Harry
If youre a fan of Katy Brents books, this ine gives off similar vibes.
There's women supporting and lifting up other women, whilst all tackling traumas and negative experiences from their own personal relationships with different males.
It was clearly evident that Sally has had a pretty difficult upbringing and I found the chapter that gives us the details as to just what happened quite emotional.
All in all a satisfying, easy read.

When I saw this book on NetGalley I was intrigued, I read the blurb and thought this is going to be interesting. Indeed the idea of the book was interesting however, I really struggled from start to end and it was unenjoyable to read at times. It felt like a rollercoaster ride throughout the whole thing, the story would really pick up, capturing my attention for a bit and then fall flat, then it would pick back up again and then fall flat again.

The story also seemed rushed sometimes as there’s no flow from one end of the chapter to another. It seemed to abruptly end and start somewhere else immediately. Also, I didn’t have any attachment to the characters at all even though, as a reader, we know what they all go through as their stories unfold.

I really liked the idea of Sally getting her revenge on Harry for drugging her and stealing all her money and along the way, she was gathering all females who went through similar experience with males and creating her own support group to get revenge for not only herself but for others too. I mean this clearly shows the definition of #girlpower! It was a nice touch that the author had portrayed the message of SA and how men get away with things through the experience of each female characters. However, it’s such a shame how the story didn’t capture much emotions because I think it could have done better.

Wish I could post a video of my facial expressions while reading this dark & twisty thriller! This book is for those that have been wronged, and wanted to take revenge....but only fantasized about it.

What to expect:
- LOL hilarious
- Dark humor
- Revenge
- Justifiable homicide?

Thank you Avon Books for granting me an ARC! All opinions are my own and not influenced by the publisher.

This sounded like a fun little story I could get behind. However, I ended up DNFing it at 33%. I did not connect with any of the characters or the story. While I know the title gives away the plot the it might have been better to keep us guessing rather than have the catchy title. I’m all for female rage but Sally’s rage after Harry wrk ged her felt childish to me and made it even harder to connect with her character.

Thank you to Netgally for providing this ARC.

When Sally Killed Harry
by Lucy Roth

4.5⭐️

Lucy Roth delivers a perfectly anti rom-com and I absolutely loved it. I was hooked from the very first page. The dark humor and likable characters made it all better. Meet the group Some Women who are justifiably sick of men taking advantage of them, now they’re ready to fight back. Whether it’s blackmailing or killing, they’re here for it and so am I!