Cosimano Kills It in First Finlay Donovan Book
I am woefully late on this review. I finished it ages (okay almost a fortnight ago, but that feels like ages) and haven’t posted about it. In my world that is so weird. Lately, it’s like I finish a book and within hours – 24 at the most – I’ve told you about it. So, here goes.
This book is so excellent! Every time you think it can get more absurd, the author pulls out another shocking twist in the ridiculous life of single #writermom Finlay Donovan.
About the Book
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/448Hx8H
Bookshop US: https://bookshop.org/a/25511/9781250830449
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53138099-finlay-donovan-is-killing-it
Author Website: https://www.ellecosimano.com/
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Finlay Donovan is killing it…except, she’s really not. A stressed-out single mom of two and struggling novelist, Finlay’s life is in chaos: The new book she promised her literary agent isn’t written; her ex-husband fired the nanny without telling her; and this morning she had to send her four-year-old to school with hair duct-taped to her head after an incident with scissors.
When Finlay is overheard discussing the plot of her new suspense novel with her agent over lunch, she’s mistaken for a contract killer and inadvertently accepts an offer to dispose of a problem husband in order to make ends meet. She soon discovers that crime in real life is a lot more difficult than its fictional counterpart, as she becomes tangled in a real-life murder investigation.
Fast-paced, deliciously witty, and wholeheartedly authentic in depicting the frustrations and triumphs of motherhood in all its messiness, hilarity, and heartfelt moments.
My Thoughts
I don’t think I’ve ever related more to a character in my life. Except maybe when I was a teenager and thought I related to Bridget Jones, which was absurd. But you could ask all my friends and they knew in my head I was soul-sisters with Bridget Jones. Sure, I’m happily married and only have one kid. But me and Finlay are both doing our best to keep our sh*t together. We have too much to do, too little time to do it, and can’t figure out how to get it done.
Sure, I’ve never accidentally been mistaken for a contract killer – but the whole series of accidental events felt like something that would happen to me. I’m a hot mess, and can I just say, how many of us would love a Vero in our life? Where can I get one? If I just hang out outside a bank, do we think I can find my own Vero? Yeah, I didn’t think so either.
The humor, the witty banter, the brilliance of this book is undeniable. Like, does anyone else wonder if these things actually happened to Elle Cosimano and she also accidentally sold a book at the last minute that made her famous? I’m super not judging. Don’t we all dream of that one idea? And like, Finlay needed to keep her kids away from her a**hole ex. Like, I don’t know if I’ve ever hated a guy that much! Any judge that would give that guy her kids should be disbarred!
This was one of the first hype books I’ve read in a long time, and it was absolutely worth the hype. And, that final line, whoa boy. That’s all I’m saying. I can’t wait until I get to read the next one. I did a hybrid of listening and reading, as I frequently do, and I’d be amiss to overlook the narrator for the book. I know when I went searching the Zon for the books the audiobooks came up most frequently. I don’t know if that’s because they were more popular or because I tend toward audio. But the narrator made Finlay come alive that much more!
We read this one as part of a month-long read-along with our LBTCrew, but it wasn’t like an official tour. Just something for fun, and I’m so glad I finally got the kick in the butt to read it because it was totally worth it! Will absolutely be reading the next one ASAP!
Who’s It For
If you love a good comedy of errors, strong female characters, some sexy – but clean – romantic intrigue, and just a lot of crime drama/mystery, this book is for you.
Content Warning: Death, Violence, Sexual Assault
About the Author
Elle Cosimano is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, an International Thriller Award winner, a Bram Stoker Award finalist, and an Edgar® Award nominee. Her acclaimed young adult novels include Nearly Gone, Holding Smoke, The Suffering Tree, and Seasons of the Storm. Elle’s debut novel for adults, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, kicked off a witty, fast-paced contemporary mystery series, which was a PEOPLE Magazine Pick and was named one of New York Public Library’s Best Books of 2021. In addition to writing novels for teens and adults, her essays have appeared in The Huffington Post and Time. Elle lives with her husband and two sons in Virginia.
You can learn more about Elle and her books here.
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