Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)

Hi Friends! Happy July. I spent my final days of this month with my nose in what I think will be a 5 star read you will add to your shelves when it releases this September. When I was gifted an advanced copy of Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver from NetGalley, I thought I knew what I was getting into. Murder, love, a long list of trigger warnings, and, honestly, I may never look at ground beef the same way again. In a lot of ways, this book delivered exactly what I expected, but it also surprised me, especially compared to Weaver’s previous series.

This is book one in a new series and this book, Tourist Season, is set in Cape Carnage, a seaside town with quirky shops, colorful houses, and a body count that would make any true crime fan’s head spin. Harper Starling is the grumpy, tough-as-nails gardener who will do anything to protect her new home, even if that means adding a few troublesome tourists to her compost heap with help from the cookie monster. Then comes Nolan Rhodes into town: this devilishly handsome tourist is skilled with a blade, a drone, and on a personal mission for revenge. He’s relentless, dangerous, and may be taking the “touch her and die” vibe to a whole new level. He’s determined to not let anyone else hurt his next victim.

What sets this book apart from Weaver’s last series, especially Butcher & Blackbird, is the tone. There’s less laugh-out-loud comedy here, but the dark humor still sneaks in, just in a sharper, more unsettling way. The banter is razor-edged, the tension is high, and the romance is slow-burn and deliciously twisted as we’ve come to expect from Weaver.

The content warnings are real, make sure you read them as their is a long list and this book doesn’t shy away from violence, trauma, or the messy side of love and obsession. But if you’re a fan of dark romantic comedies with a bit of horror and a lot of heart, this one’s for you. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic, forced proximity, and grumpy/grumpy pairing kept me hooked from the first page to the last.

I loved this book so much I had to preorder both the signed, spray-painted special edition and the audiobook. If her earlier novels are anything to go by, the audio experience is not something I want to miss. If you are wondering if you should grab this, let me scream YES! from the rooftops. It’s a must-read for fans of Brynne Weaver or anyone who loves their romance with a side of murder and mayhem. Five stars from me and a permanent spot on my shelf.

Tourist Season is set to release on September 23, 2025. Preorder yours now from your favorite local bookseller.