Julie Mae Cohen has done it again! Another, surefire hit about female friendship and determination.
The tagline is fantastic, "A friend will help you move on. A best friend will help you move his body", and it sums up the storyline nicely when Opal, Marina and Lilah, find themselves coming together to deal with a troublesome male in their lives.
This story is fast-paced and very funny - admittedly, in a darkly humorous way, for example, this gem of a conversation, "The best revenge is violence,’...’But that’s illegal, so the second-best revenge is living well." Just brilliant.
I enjoyed reading the various PoV and also how the novel moved back and forth in the weeks leading to the 'event' but, also kept the pace moving swiftly.

Well, I've been looking forward to reading this for quite some time and I loved it! (I mean, it has a librarian in it, a mention of Anne of Green Gables and a hamster, so what's not to love?!)

But seriously, I loved that it brings together Julie's awesome, funny, smart way of writing about women's lives and mashes it all into a pretty gory thriller. I had no idea where it was going to go, and I was gripped, with these three women who, initially, I wasn't particularly drawn but who gradually became three wonderful, dear people who I was totally rooting for. I loved the biting child, and the matter-of-factness of the women and everything that they deal with. And the dead grandma! It manages to encompass huge issues alongside day to day issues covering everything from coercive control, domestic abuse, adultery, fraud, Patriarchy, feminism, MLM/pyramid schemes, childcare, hamsters, friendship, cooking...

I started to read faster and faster the closer I got to the end, as I was so eager to see what would happen - it was worth it, the whole ending upon ending is fabulous.

With thanks to Net Galley for my copy.

Who didn't absolutely love Julie's previous book Bad Men? It was phenomenal.

It is so much fun. I wanted this review to be quite long, but it's hard to review because it's such a great book that when you're reading it, I didn't really make a lot of notes at the time. So this will probably be briefer than I'd like.

It takes a good book to keep me from my bed, but I was completely hooked on this that before I knew it, I'd read a quarter of it and it was getting late. It's so much fun and Julie has such a knack for writing humerous, slightly quirky thrillers.

Kidnapping, hostages etc. and comedy shouldn't go hand in hand so well, but it really does. It doesn't shy away from the gore and morbidity but it is also packed full of humour.

I read the first quarter in about an hour, it was so addictive, and I'd finished it in less than a day.

I can sometimes be a little iffy about multiple points-of-views, because I can end up forgetting who is who, but this one was instantly recognisable because the three main characters are so well created.

We have Opal, the fitness freak, who appears benevolent and caring towards the other women but also comes across as hard and cold - she had the biggest journey throughout the book, for me. Then we have Marina, the single mum who is struggling to manage three young children and this unfortunate situation she finds herself in. She was great, and a real laugh. And finally there's Lilah, the grieving rich lady, who I really felt for frrom the off. She was a bit timid but there was definite strength underneath.

It finishes well and you're satisfied but in my opinion there's definitely room for a sequel, or even an additional novella.

I know that Julie writes books other than thrillers under Julie Cohen, but I have only read the two thrillers under Julie Mae Cohen. I will definitely keep my eye out for her other genres, as her writing is so well crafted that I'm sure it'll do well with anything. But I do hope she has more thrillers up her sleeve because I could read them forever. She's only two books in for me and she's already become a go-to author and one I would gladly recommend.

Yes it is about murder and whatnot, deception, lies, thievery, coerciveness, violence. But it's also about friendship and sisterhood and trust. Going against the patriarchy, standing up for yourself, love, what you'd do to protect your family and your friends, about finding yourself, coping with life being a modern woman, as a single woman, as a single mother.

It's got absolutely everything and it's told so expertly. Definitely one of my books of the year.

I was thrilled to discover that Julie Mae Cohen had written a new book. I loved Bad Men and wondered if the latest novel would be as good. It is!
Likeable and relatable female characters, laugh out loud moments, tension and trouble, and a lot of friendship and loyaly. It hits the spot. A fast paced and easy read, that I totally recommend.
While this is a book about and largely for women, I made my male partner read it, and he thought it was excellent (even if he looked a little bit scared on occasion.)
It would make an entertaining book club pick - with a lot of points of views to discuss.
I have no hesitation in giving this 5 stars.

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.

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 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!

Marina is a former chef and divorced mother of three. Lilah is a shy, grieving librarian. Opal is an over 50 years old, difficult to work with, close to bankruptcy fitness guru. These three women should have nothing in common but they do. The same man has lied to all three of them. And they now have him tied up in a basement. Where do they go from here?

There is a delicious dark humor to this in-your-face with its honesty, revenge story. The narrative grabs you from the first intriguing chapter and keeps you hostage as the three women are introduced to us each in their own distinctly voiced POV. Three women who are different but each is pressured in various ways to live up to others' expectations. Manipulation is unfortunately key in each circumstance.

It is a cleverly structured story, even with the back and forths in the timeline. There is a quiet intensity to it. Presenting an inviting, matter-of-fact language it leads us to the point of Chapter One in a captivating manner. Then things take an unexpected turn as the story goes into uncharted, more brutal waters thanks to the original twists and reveals.

It was refreshing that after the 'main event' and where you might expect the story to end, we get to see more of their lives and what happens next. You will never believe what happens next. I do not think I have ever applauded the posting of a video so much before. The wrapping up of everything is also genius. I practically squealed in delight.

This book is not about hating men but about loving women and championing friendship. It is about standing up for yourself and not being defined by others. Finding your power. There are sideplots that are let's call them pointers in female empowerment. It also shows the murkiness of human behavior and how through it we can find the light.

Such an utterly readable and entertaining book is simultaneously so insightful and thought-provoking. The best empowering revenge and friendship story you will read this decade.