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Happily Ever Homicide #1
Juniper Bean Resorts to Murder
Juniper Bean has big plans for her writing career. Swoony kisses, sigh-inducing happily ever afters—she’s going to write them all.
There’s just one problem: she can’t seem to stop killing off her main characters.
After accepting that a genre change is in order, Juniper sets out to do some research. What’s the best way to carry a dead body? How exactly does one pick a lock? Juniper is going to find out—with the unwilling help of her new roommate, Aiden.
But Juniper’s plans go haywire when she stumbles across an actual, real-life dead body—and before she knows it, she and Aiden are thrust into the middle of a murder mystery that seems suspiciously tied to Juniper’s past.
Who killed the girl in the woods? Can Juniper ever get the hang of mystery writing? And, perhaps the biggest question of all: Why the heck does Aiden look so good in a tweed jacket?
There’s just one problem: she can’t seem to stop killing off her main characters.
After accepting that a genre change is in order, Juniper sets out to do some research. What’s the best way to carry a dead body? How exactly does one pick a lock? Juniper is going to find out—with the unwilling help of her new roommate, Aiden.
But Juniper’s plans go haywire when she stumbles across an actual, real-life dead body—and before she knows it, she and Aiden are thrust into the middle of a murder mystery that seems suspiciously tied to Juniper’s past.
Who killed the girl in the woods? Can Juniper ever get the hang of mystery writing? And, perhaps the biggest question of all: Why the heck does Aiden look so good in a tweed jacket?
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2023
About the author
Gracie Ruth Mitchell
17 books536 followersGracie lives in a tiny town in Idaho, where she subsists on a diet of chocolate, romance novels, and kisses from her cute family. She may or may not have a cheesecake addiction, as well as an addiction to scribbling story ideas on whatever flat surfaces happen to be nearby. Clean romance, romantic comedy, and mystery rom coms are her passion.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 968 reviews
April 5, 2023
Can I give a book more than 5 stars? Is that possible? I make the rules now, so I’m going to say yes. I give this book ALL the stars! AL OF THEM!
The premise of this book was so unique and it worked 100%!! It was the perfect mix of murder mystery & sizzling rom-com.
It was hilarious and haunting all at the same time! (If you’re looking for a perfect mix of Pepper Basham & Jaime Jo Wright I totally think this fits the bill!)
Juniper was a spitfire! She made me smile and giggle, and stressed me out all at the same time. She had a terrible childhood, but she didn’t let that dim her sunshine and I just loved her spunky spirit so much!
Aiden was perfectly poised, and brooding, and stubborn, and sweet, and and and he was just perfect! (Even with his imperfections)
Juniper & Aiden just worked! Their chemistry! THEIR HISTORY!!!!!! Their communication! Their teamwork! *chefs kiss* I SIMPLY ADORED THEM!!
There was a pretty large cast of characters to this story, but I enjoyed the part that each one played and I really liked the mystery aspect of the story! (As sad as it was)
But it totally felt plausible & very “sleepy town has more secrets than you think” (which are always my favorites!)
I really love what Gracie Ruth did with this story! And I have a feeling I will be rereading this story at some point. She had me laughing out loud. Swooning! Nodding my head, and highlighting quotes that were just deep and applicable to life.
Seriously loved this! I stayed up until 3am to finish because I could not put it down!! I really hope Gracie dabbles in this genre again! She’d KILL it! (Pun 100% intended)
5/5 stars
*not cf - clean read*
There was a “higher power” discussed briefly a few times, and mention of evolution (though this could’ve been tongue in cheek), and mentions of fate. But again, this is NOT a marketed Christian book — it is just a clean, closed door, sweet read!!
*I received this book from the author**All opinions are my own*
The premise of this book was so unique and it worked 100%!! It was the perfect mix of murder mystery & sizzling rom-com.
It was hilarious and haunting all at the same time! (If you’re looking for a perfect mix of Pepper Basham & Jaime Jo Wright I totally think this fits the bill!)
Juniper was a spitfire! She made me smile and giggle, and stressed me out all at the same time. She had a terrible childhood, but she didn’t let that dim her sunshine and I just loved her spunky spirit so much!
Aiden was perfectly poised, and brooding, and stubborn, and sweet, and and and he was just perfect! (Even with his imperfections)
Juniper & Aiden just worked! Their chemistry! THEIR HISTORY!!!!!! Their communication! Their teamwork! *chefs kiss* I SIMPLY ADORED THEM!!
There was a pretty large cast of characters to this story, but I enjoyed the part that each one played and I really liked the mystery aspect of the story! (As sad as it was)
But it totally felt plausible & very “sleepy town has more secrets than you think” (which are always my favorites!)
I really love what Gracie Ruth did with this story! And I have a feeling I will be rereading this story at some point. She had me laughing out loud. Swooning! Nodding my head, and highlighting quotes that were just deep and applicable to life.
Seriously loved this! I stayed up until 3am to finish because I could not put it down!! I really hope Gracie dabbles in this genre again! She’d KILL it! (Pun 100% intended)
5/5 stars
*not cf - clean read*
There was a “higher power” discussed briefly a few times, and mention of evolution (though this could’ve been tongue in cheek), and mentions of fate. But again, this is NOT a marketed Christian book — it is just a clean, closed door, sweet read!!
*I received this book from the author**All opinions are my own*
September 16, 2023
A romantic comedy with a side of murder mystery? Why not! The contrast of the two was incredibly fun and unique.
Juniper was quirky, snarky, and simply a delight. I loved the fate-like way her life was entwined with Aiden, her new roommate. Their romance was such an enjoyably tortuous slow burn filled with lingering gazes and soft touches.
Described as dark academia personified, Aiden was a gem with his tweed blazers and love of Shakespeare. And let me tell you, Juniper knew exactly how to pester him. Their witty interactions combined with solving a mystery was a great time!
And what a fun whodunnit it was! Not only is Juniper writing her own mystery novel (with hilarious scene enactments along the way), the two literally stumble across a dead body in their small town of Autumn Grove—leading to all sorts of uncovered secrets and twists.
I liked the additional tension it brought to the story. It was really well done and the big reveal wasn't glaringly obvious, at least for me! Woo!
(heat level: kissing only)
Juniper was quirky, snarky, and simply a delight. I loved the fate-like way her life was entwined with Aiden, her new roommate. Their romance was such an enjoyably tortuous slow burn filled with lingering gazes and soft touches.
Described as dark academia personified, Aiden was a gem with his tweed blazers and love of Shakespeare. And let me tell you, Juniper knew exactly how to pester him. Their witty interactions combined with solving a mystery was a great time!
And what a fun whodunnit it was! Not only is Juniper writing her own mystery novel (with hilarious scene enactments along the way), the two literally stumble across a dead body in their small town of Autumn Grove—leading to all sorts of uncovered secrets and twists.
I liked the additional tension it brought to the story. It was really well done and the big reveal wasn't glaringly obvious, at least for me! Woo!
(heat level: kissing only)
January 27, 2024
ohhhhhh yeah this book >>> murder mystery romcom’s make me so happy
October 23, 2023
Juniper Bean Resorts to Murder - Gracie Ruth Mitchell - 4.5 Stars - What a GREAT clean rom-com cozy mystery all in one!
WOW - I loved this book so much! It truly was GREAT! The audiobook was FANTASTIC with a male and female narrator and that truly added to my experience while listening. This has so much I love in books - a cozy mystery with a rom-com twist - AMAZING.
AIDIPER/JUNIPAIDE FO EVA. (Loved those couple names in this!)
We have Juniper Bean who is a fun, pink-haired quirky author with an awesome yellow car who has been through a LOT over the last 10+ years of her life. Her mother passed away several years ago, she never knew her father, she was in foster care due to her mother's neglect - it's been a tough time for our girl here. Her life was completely changed because she met Aiden - and let me just say -- HE IS THE BEST BOOK BOYFRIENDDDD! I truly loved his character. He is 5 years older than Juniper and they have quite the past together. They haven't seen each other in years when it turns out, they are actually going to be roommates! (Forced proximity trope, but completely clean romance!) Aiden doesn't want anything to do with this new living situation because he never saw himself being romantically involved with Juniper after their past together and just how different they are. He's definitely grumpy and she's the sunshine! But things change quickly as they are forced to be around each other, get to know one another and work to solve the murder of the person who was supposed to tell Juniper about her real father she never knew. Aiden is a teacher at the local high school and he is helping Juniper figure everything out surrounding her father and the murder of this missing girl.
The story takes off here.
This book made me laugh, feel all the emotions, and Aiden stole my heart! I loved how he was truly a caring guy and involved in the food bank organization, and his past with Juniper was so beautiful. Juniper and him have so much fun back and forth banter - it really reminded me of my husband and myself! I cracked up a lot!
The mystery element comes in around the 20% mark when we have gotten to know our characters pretty well and I was like WHAT with the ending. I did NOT guess who it was! GREAT ending. I can't wait to read more of Gracie's books. I will be thinking about AIDIPER for a long time! One of my favorite couples now.
The only reason this is not quite a 5 star read is there were some things I didn't love in regards to the fate discussions, higher power, yoga stuff mentioned but it really didn't impact my reading experience and in a secular read it wasn't something I really discredit the book for. Just a personal preference in content. I am rounding the star rating up to 5 stars because of the overall enjoyment of the story but wanted to mention this general content for those interested.
Overall, I highly recommend this for my rom-com cozy mystery lovers!
Here are some trigger warnings and content information:
This is a cozy mystery technically, but it did have a bit more intensity, specifically in the end, then some others may have. I would say it was very minor gore related to a murder / attempted murder. I was fine with it personally, but want to mention. There are mentions of grief, visiting her mother's grave, parental death, parental neglect, alcoholism, mentions of a previous sexual assault and food-hoarding. The sexual content is completely clean - the characters do live together but nothing happens other than kisses. No language that I recall.
WOW - I loved this book so much! It truly was GREAT! The audiobook was FANTASTIC with a male and female narrator and that truly added to my experience while listening. This has so much I love in books - a cozy mystery with a rom-com twist - AMAZING.
AIDIPER/JUNIPAIDE FO EVA. (Loved those couple names in this!)
We have Juniper Bean who is a fun, pink-haired quirky author with an awesome yellow car who has been through a LOT over the last 10+ years of her life. Her mother passed away several years ago, she never knew her father, she was in foster care due to her mother's neglect - it's been a tough time for our girl here. Her life was completely changed because she met Aiden - and let me just say -- HE IS THE BEST BOOK BOYFRIENDDDD! I truly loved his character. He is 5 years older than Juniper and they have quite the past together. They haven't seen each other in years when it turns out, they are actually going to be roommates! (Forced proximity trope, but completely clean romance!) Aiden doesn't want anything to do with this new living situation because he never saw himself being romantically involved with Juniper after their past together and just how different they are. He's definitely grumpy and she's the sunshine! But things change quickly as they are forced to be around each other, get to know one another and work to solve the murder of the person who was supposed to tell Juniper about her real father she never knew. Aiden is a teacher at the local high school and he is helping Juniper figure everything out surrounding her father and the murder of this missing girl.
The story takes off here.
This book made me laugh, feel all the emotions, and Aiden stole my heart! I loved how he was truly a caring guy and involved in the food bank organization, and his past with Juniper was so beautiful. Juniper and him have so much fun back and forth banter - it really reminded me of my husband and myself! I cracked up a lot!
The mystery element comes in around the 20% mark when we have gotten to know our characters pretty well and I was like WHAT with the ending. I did NOT guess who it was! GREAT ending. I can't wait to read more of Gracie's books. I will be thinking about AIDIPER for a long time! One of my favorite couples now.
The only reason this is not quite a 5 star read is there were some things I didn't love in regards to the fate discussions, higher power, yoga stuff mentioned but it really didn't impact my reading experience and in a secular read it wasn't something I really discredit the book for. Just a personal preference in content. I am rounding the star rating up to 5 stars because of the overall enjoyment of the story but wanted to mention this general content for those interested.
Overall, I highly recommend this for my rom-com cozy mystery lovers!
Here are some trigger warnings and content information:
This is a cozy mystery technically, but it did have a bit more intensity, specifically in the end, then some others may have. I would say it was very minor gore related to a murder / attempted murder. I was fine with it personally, but want to mention. There are mentions of grief, visiting her mother's grave, parental death, parental neglect, alcoholism, mentions of a previous sexual assault and food-hoarding. The sexual content is completely clean - the characters do live together but nothing happens other than kisses. No language that I recall.
July 22, 2023
Largely forgettable, which is a shame considering the high rating that it has. The characters said “meh” way too much for being 30 and 35, the writing was juvenile, and they acted how weeaboo’s would, minus the obsession with Japanese culture.
Juniper was very much working through trauma (not that that’s a bad thing) but the way she was written was cringe. Aiden was all like “oh I’m not like other dudes. I have to know a woman mentally before I like her physically” shut the fuck up oh my GOD!!!!! It felt like nothing happened for so much of the book and then BOOM it all happened. But even when it did happen, it still felt like nothing happened. This book is riddled with things that don’t push the plot further and so much that COULD’VE that was unfortunately left unsaid.
Also it’s a “killer romantic comedy,” yet everything could’ve been a subplot: the killing, the romance, and the comedy. Shame I wasted a $10 off Barnes & Noble reward on this book. Also: where the hell is the alleged “dark academia,” because it’s not this.
Juniper was very much working through trauma (not that that’s a bad thing) but the way she was written was cringe. Aiden was all like “oh I’m not like other dudes. I have to know a woman mentally before I like her physically” shut the fuck up oh my GOD!!!!! It felt like nothing happened for so much of the book and then BOOM it all happened. But even when it did happen, it still felt like nothing happened. This book is riddled with things that don’t push the plot further and so much that COULD’VE that was unfortunately left unsaid.
Also it’s a “killer romantic comedy,” yet everything could’ve been a subplot: the killing, the romance, and the comedy. Shame I wasted a $10 off Barnes & Noble reward on this book. Also: where the hell is the alleged “dark academia,” because it’s not this.
November 19, 2023
Two very quirky people flirt and try to solve a mystery/murder while running around town saying and doing quirky things.
(For the record, licking a bit of the remnants of a school cafeteria food fight off someone's FACE after he's come home is NOT QUIRKY. IT'S GROSS.)
(For the record, licking a bit of the remnants of a school cafeteria food fight off someone's FACE after he's come home is NOT QUIRKY. IT'S GROSS.)
September 6, 2024
The cover was the first thing to catch my eye — it’s beautiful!
It took me several chapters to warm up to the story as I wasn’t totally sure how I felt about it. Mainly because I’m not overly keen on the guy-girl flat share trope where they always set up boundaries and then proceed to break them. It’s never seemed a smart course of action, but that’s my personal preference.
I will say though that Aiden & Juniper’s banter was my favourite part! That and their shared history as it lends to some super sweet moments. They’re adorable. 🥰
The murder mystery angle was both prominent… and yet not. The book reads like a Hallmark mystery. Not in a bad way, just in how isn’t super creepy and is interspersed with the romantic comedy. Did the killer surprise me? Nope, but the big reveal at the end felt a little odd to me. (The second time I read it, I caught more details & things ironed out better in my brain. So that’s a me thing 😉)
Small town Idaho is charming. I loved the academic-creative pairing of Aiden and Juniper, plus they’re both in their 30s & we didn’t have any crazy miscommunication!
Content: mild innuendo; brief mention of a sexual assault on a side character offscreen; mild language; mentions of one-night stands & rumoured relationships; mention of a teen being in a relationship & sleeping with a teacher; Juniper & Aiden fall asleep in a bed together — nothing happens
It took me several chapters to warm up to the story as I wasn’t totally sure how I felt about it. Mainly because I’m not overly keen on the guy-girl flat share trope where they always set up boundaries and then proceed to break them. It’s never seemed a smart course of action, but that’s my personal preference.
I will say though that Aiden & Juniper’s banter was my favourite part! That and their shared history as it lends to some super sweet moments. They’re adorable. 🥰
The murder mystery angle was both prominent… and yet not. The book reads like a Hallmark mystery. Not in a bad way, just in how isn’t super creepy and is interspersed with the romantic comedy. Did the killer surprise me? Nope, but the big reveal at the end felt a little odd to me. (The second time I read it, I caught more details & things ironed out better in my brain. So that’s a me thing 😉)
Small town Idaho is charming. I loved the academic-creative pairing of Aiden and Juniper, plus they’re both in their 30s & we didn’t have any crazy miscommunication!
Content: mild innuendo; brief mention of a sexual assault on a side character offscreen; mild language; mentions of one-night stands & rumoured relationships; mention of a teen being in a relationship & sleeping with a teacher; Juniper & Aiden fall asleep in a bed together — nothing happens
April 4, 2023
Cozy and unique
With a stunning cover like that, how could I resist checking this out? I openly admit that it was the cover that drew me in, and I was intrigued once I read the blurb. But it only took a few pages before I was hooked - the premise is unique, the characters are compelling, and the humor had me smiling right away. It's an interesting mix of romance and cozy murder mystery, pairing up a pink-haired firecracker of a heroine and a sweet, sexy professor-esque hero. I love a good roommates to lovers romance, and adding in the unexpected history between this couple made the story even richer. I loved how vibrant our heroine is, and I also loved the one-of-a-kind hero. He's a genuinely kind and compassionate man, one who falls for a woman's personality before her body, and he's got just enough grumpiness to him to spark plenty of banter. Add in the murder mystery, and this was such a fresh and enjoyable read.
The story follows Aiden (35), a teacher who devotes much of his time to helping others. He volunteers at the local food bank, and inevitably ends up donating goods each month. That's part of the reason why he still lives with a roommate, and he's about to get a new one. Except Aiden's new roommate is sure to be trouble - Juniper (30) is one of the students Aiden tutored when he was in college. At the time, Juniper admitted that she had a huge crush on Aiden, but he made it clear that was not okay. So living together - and seeing what a beautiful, interesting woman Juniper has become - is sure to be trouble. And when the two find a dead body together, well, things get even more complicated. Teaming up to solve the mystery, Juniper and Aiden realize they've got all kinds of trouble on their hands.
I went into this without knowing much about the story or the vibe, and I quickly discovered that it was all working for me. It's equalparts romance and murder mystery, with soft, small town vibes and a slow-burning love story. The lighthearted romance, humor, and playful bickering balance out the heaviness of the murder mystery and Juniper's backstory. I really enjoyed both pieces. It was easy to get drawn in, because both Aiden and Juniper make great characters, and I loved learning more about their pasts. The romance definitely has a soft, sweet feel to it - it's very much a slow burn, and there are only a few kisses. I personally think a little bit of spice would've upped the intensity in a good way, but I also enjoyed the cozy murder mystery vibes. It's a layered story with a nice amount of depth, and I loved that it remained so easygoing while still delving into heavier topics. All in all, this was a breath of fresh air in a lot of ways, and I had a great time with the experience.
With a stunning cover like that, how could I resist checking this out? I openly admit that it was the cover that drew me in, and I was intrigued once I read the blurb. But it only took a few pages before I was hooked - the premise is unique, the characters are compelling, and the humor had me smiling right away. It's an interesting mix of romance and cozy murder mystery, pairing up a pink-haired firecracker of a heroine and a sweet, sexy professor-esque hero. I love a good roommates to lovers romance, and adding in the unexpected history between this couple made the story even richer. I loved how vibrant our heroine is, and I also loved the one-of-a-kind hero. He's a genuinely kind and compassionate man, one who falls for a woman's personality before her body, and he's got just enough grumpiness to him to spark plenty of banter. Add in the murder mystery, and this was such a fresh and enjoyable read.
The story follows Aiden (35), a teacher who devotes much of his time to helping others. He volunteers at the local food bank, and inevitably ends up donating goods each month. That's part of the reason why he still lives with a roommate, and he's about to get a new one. Except Aiden's new roommate is sure to be trouble - Juniper (30) is one of the students Aiden tutored when he was in college. At the time, Juniper admitted that she had a huge crush on Aiden, but he made it clear that was not okay. So living together - and seeing what a beautiful, interesting woman Juniper has become - is sure to be trouble. And when the two find a dead body together, well, things get even more complicated. Teaming up to solve the mystery, Juniper and Aiden realize they've got all kinds of trouble on their hands.
I went into this without knowing much about the story or the vibe, and I quickly discovered that it was all working for me. It's equalparts romance and murder mystery, with soft, small town vibes and a slow-burning love story. The lighthearted romance, humor, and playful bickering balance out the heaviness of the murder mystery and Juniper's backstory. I really enjoyed both pieces. It was easy to get drawn in, because both Aiden and Juniper make great characters, and I loved learning more about their pasts. The romance definitely has a soft, sweet feel to it - it's very much a slow burn, and there are only a few kisses. I personally think a little bit of spice would've upped the intensity in a good way, but I also enjoyed the cozy murder mystery vibes. It's a layered story with a nice amount of depth, and I loved that it remained so easygoing while still delving into heavier topics. All in all, this was a breath of fresh air in a lot of ways, and I had a great time with the experience.
April 1, 2024
something about a romance/murder mystery book just hits every time
April 20, 2023
“And is love more than the sum of its parts? If you lose all the parts of yourself that someone fell in love with, will they still love you? Is there a love that says simply I love you because you exist?
JUNIPER BEAN RESORTS TO MURDER by @authorgracieruth
Well this was a CUTIE. Sweet rom com meets Murder mystery? Color me intrigued…cue the best opening line!
Then add a grumpy bookish school teacher as a love interest and your girl was sold.
Juniper Bean is quirky, original and embraces a tune all her own. She’s a down and out romance writer looking for a new edge and she might just find that in…MURDER…muah ha ha.
Such a fun mystery with cute romance moments (yes kissing) in between. Throw in some forced proximity….hello ROOMMATES, and you’ve got a one of a kind story with one of the cutest cover I’ve ever seen.
I always love when a book contains opposites. This had enough backstory and depth to balance out the silliness and I felt like Gracie did a fabulous job tackling some harder topics of child abuse/neglect.
Can’t wait to see what she does next!!
JUNIPER BEAN RESORTS TO MURDER by @authorgracieruth
Well this was a CUTIE. Sweet rom com meets Murder mystery? Color me intrigued…cue the best opening line!
Then add a grumpy bookish school teacher as a love interest and your girl was sold.
Juniper Bean is quirky, original and embraces a tune all her own. She’s a down and out romance writer looking for a new edge and she might just find that in…MURDER…muah ha ha.
Such a fun mystery with cute romance moments (yes kissing) in between. Throw in some forced proximity….hello ROOMMATES, and you’ve got a one of a kind story with one of the cutest cover I’ve ever seen.
I always love when a book contains opposites. This had enough backstory and depth to balance out the silliness and I felt like Gracie did a fabulous job tackling some harder topics of child abuse/neglect.
Can’t wait to see what she does next!!
November 27, 2023
Juniper Bean is the perfect combination of a quirky, clean rom-com and a cozy murder mystery. If you love both of these genres, this may well be the book for you!
This is a dual POV, forced proximity, minor age gap (5 years), grumpy/sunshine romance book with equal amounts of laugh out loud and heartwarming/heartbreaking moments.
Juniper and Aiden are just precious. I don't know how else to describe them. Juniper comes from a lot of hardship, but she is so full of joy. Aiden is a bit of a grump at first, but he ends up being a pretty perfect man (especially if you like the scholarly and charitable type)! They each have a history together that you see unravel throughout the story. I loved the little flashbacks we got of that. And, of course, we have our murder mystery that ties both to present day events as well as Juniper's past. I did anticipate "who-done-it," so that wasn't much of a surprise to me, but it didn't dampen my enjoyment of the story.
There were a couple of things that made me lower my rating a bit - the aftermath of the food fight scene (IYKYK, ick) and the pacing of the book felt off at times. It felt a little slow in the middle, and I do think the book could have been about 50-100 pages shorter. But, overall, this was a great 4.5 star read for me. I'll definitely be picking up more from this author!
*Highly recommend listening to the audiobook, as you get both a male and female narrator for each character.
*Content Warning: small mention of sexual assault, child neglect, parent death/ grief, one short, descriptive image of an animal death (chicken), and minor mentions of alcoholism.
This is a dual POV, forced proximity, minor age gap (5 years), grumpy/sunshine romance book with equal amounts of laugh out loud and heartwarming/heartbreaking moments.
Juniper and Aiden are just precious. I don't know how else to describe them. Juniper comes from a lot of hardship, but she is so full of joy. Aiden is a bit of a grump at first, but he ends up being a pretty perfect man (especially if you like the scholarly and charitable type)! They each have a history together that you see unravel throughout the story. I loved the little flashbacks we got of that. And, of course, we have our murder mystery that ties both to present day events as well as Juniper's past. I did anticipate "who-done-it," so that wasn't much of a surprise to me, but it didn't dampen my enjoyment of the story.
There were a couple of things that made me lower my rating a bit - the aftermath of the food fight scene (IYKYK, ick) and the pacing of the book felt off at times. It felt a little slow in the middle, and I do think the book could have been about 50-100 pages shorter. But, overall, this was a great 4.5 star read for me. I'll definitely be picking up more from this author!
*Highly recommend listening to the audiobook, as you get both a male and female narrator for each character.
*Content Warning: small mention of sexual assault, child neglect, parent death/ grief, one short, descriptive image of an animal death (chicken), and minor mentions of alcoholism.
July 9, 2023
this was absolutely DELIGHTFUL my heart is so FULL
February 9, 2024
4.5 ⭐️! This book made me laugh out loud twice. I have never been so entertained when a killer shows up. 😂
AND this book made me want to help fight hunger.
Clean rom-com cozy mystery with a gorgeous cover. 👏 Junipade/Adiper forever ❤️
“Show me the most beautiful woman in the world and I’ll acknowledge that she’s pretty, but show me a beautiful mind if you want that prettiness to really affect me.”
“How do I tell her I’m slowly learning that it’s ok to feel grateful rather than guilty that I grew up with so much.”
“Drug-addled Juniper is not the brightest crayon in the box, but I’ll give her this, she’s fearless.”
Content: some suggestive flirting/compromising situations but still mostly clean if you’re willing to skip ahead occasionally, loss of parent, reference to sexual assault, child hunger
AND this book made me want to help fight hunger.
Clean rom-com cozy mystery with a gorgeous cover. 👏 Junipade/Adiper forever ❤️
“Show me the most beautiful woman in the world and I’ll acknowledge that she’s pretty, but show me a beautiful mind if you want that prettiness to really affect me.”
“How do I tell her I’m slowly learning that it’s ok to feel grateful rather than guilty that I grew up with so much.”
“Drug-addled Juniper is not the brightest crayon in the box, but I’ll give her this, she’s fearless.”
Content: some suggestive flirting/compromising situations but still mostly clean if you’re willing to skip ahead occasionally, loss of parent, reference to sexual assault, child hunger
June 21, 2023
This is probably not a 4-star book but it gave me 4 stars of enjoyment reading it. Two of my favorite escape read genres are romance and mystery and this one is a combo. The MCs were agreeable and likable and had good chemistry. Secondaries were suitably supportive of the MCs or suitably bad (murders, ya know). Back story for Juniper was touching. Writing was better than your average contemporary romance. (Except, gosh darn it anyway, does nobody know the difference between laid and lain nowadays?)
June 29, 2023
This book was a breath of fresh air! No cursing, no sex - just a good mystery story and great fun characters!
I loved the main character, Juniper! She was funny and exciting!! I’m really excited for the next book!
I loved the main character, Juniper! She was funny and exciting!! I’m really excited for the next book!
October 28, 2023
Ok, who gave this book the permission to be THIS good??
Aiden + Juniper 4 lyfe 👏🏼👏🏼
4.5 🌟
What a perfect combination of rom com and cozy mystery! Gracie Ruth Mitchell has my number because I’m so sold on what she’s doing here. Most cozies I read are mainly mystery with a fun side romance, and I do truly love that but this is a great rom com with a fun side of mystery. The chemistry between Aiden and Juniper is so gripping and had me rooting for them from page one!! Oh! And there were so many times I laughed out loud while reading.
This story wasn’t only a fun ride, but it also had deep themes. Juniper is a fun and quirky author who ends up becoming roommates with her long time crush and former tutor, Aiden. Juniper has lived a haaaaard life full of loss and hardship, yet she lives with joy. That joy and strength pulls Aiden in and he finds himself unable to resist catching feelings for her. One day Aiden and Juniper stumble upon the dead body and find themselves in the middle of a real life murder mystery that has close ties to Juniper and her past.
💕 forced proximity
💕 age gap (5 years)
💕 grump + sunshine
💕 great banter
💕 character depth
Content rating: PG, completely clean of explicit content, mystery is a tiny bit more detailed than your typical cozy, possible triggers- themes of S.A., child neglect/abuse, and parent death
Aiden + Juniper 4 lyfe 👏🏼👏🏼
4.5 🌟
What a perfect combination of rom com and cozy mystery! Gracie Ruth Mitchell has my number because I’m so sold on what she’s doing here. Most cozies I read are mainly mystery with a fun side romance, and I do truly love that but this is a great rom com with a fun side of mystery. The chemistry between Aiden and Juniper is so gripping and had me rooting for them from page one!! Oh! And there were so many times I laughed out loud while reading.
This story wasn’t only a fun ride, but it also had deep themes. Juniper is a fun and quirky author who ends up becoming roommates with her long time crush and former tutor, Aiden. Juniper has lived a haaaaard life full of loss and hardship, yet she lives with joy. That joy and strength pulls Aiden in and he finds himself unable to resist catching feelings for her. One day Aiden and Juniper stumble upon the dead body and find themselves in the middle of a real life murder mystery that has close ties to Juniper and her past.
💕 forced proximity
💕 age gap (5 years)
💕 grump + sunshine
💕 great banter
💕 character depth
Content rating: PG, completely clean of explicit content, mystery is a tiny bit more detailed than your typical cozy, possible triggers- themes of S.A., child neglect/abuse, and parent death
October 13, 2023
3.5/5
cute🥹
cute🥹
March 14, 2023
GRM, you did it again!
Have you read a murder mystery romance before? I'm not sure I have but this one was delightful (which feel like and inappropriate way to describe it, because, you know, murder)
Juniper was goofy and spunky and sweet and good and so many things and pieces that made up a lovely whole. Aiden was smart and grumpy and stubborn and kind and soft hearted and caring and good and really, so stubborn. I know I said it twice but read it and then you'll get it.
If you like Mysteries, romance, Shakespeare, slightly off kilter heroines, forced proximity, enemies to friends to more, second chances, fate, awkward encounters, small towns, and potato mascots, you gotta read this one. Plus, it's by Gracie Ruth Mitchell who I absolutely adore. (Said in MK Olsen's voice from It Takes Two. By the way)
Have you read a murder mystery romance before? I'm not sure I have but this one was delightful (which feel like and inappropriate way to describe it, because, you know, murder)
Juniper was goofy and spunky and sweet and good and so many things and pieces that made up a lovely whole. Aiden was smart and grumpy and stubborn and kind and soft hearted and caring and good and really, so stubborn. I know I said it twice but read it and then you'll get it.
If you like Mysteries, romance, Shakespeare, slightly off kilter heroines, forced proximity, enemies to friends to more, second chances, fate, awkward encounters, small towns, and potato mascots, you gotta read this one. Plus, it's by Gracie Ruth Mitchell who I absolutely adore. (Said in MK Olsen's voice from It Takes Two. By the way)
April 2, 2023
Thank you to the author for an eARC.
WHAT A COMBINATION.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
I increasingly became obsessed with this story the more I read. It was a beautiful combination of romance, mystery, vulnerability and humor. My new favorite book by Gracie Ruth Mitchell.
This romance was off the charts tender. With a dash of second chance and a feeling of fate playing a role, Juniper and Aiden found each other [again]. I loved the way they bounced off of each other and how you could really see the growth in their bond as they worked together to solve a murder mystery. There were incredibly vulnerable moments from both Aiden and Juniper about how they perceive themselves and things they knew they needed to work on and it had me all misty-eyed at the end. I felt all the feels.
The mystery played out well!! It was woven in behind the romance (without overshadowing) and I was still very much intensely involved in solving the crimes. Those more intense ending scenes were exactly what I was hoping for and all of the grand reveals simultaneously broke my heart and gave me relief for the characters involved.
A really great read. I could keep gushing about all of the tiny moments I absolutely adored that came together to make this book huggable. I know this was a mix-up in what GRM usually writes and she NAILED IT.
Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance + Mystery
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: moderate
- Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, knife violence, alludes to sexual assault and rape (of a side character), loss of a mother, lack of food resources
WHAT A COMBINATION.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
I increasingly became obsessed with this story the more I read. It was a beautiful combination of romance, mystery, vulnerability and humor. My new favorite book by Gracie Ruth Mitchell.
This romance was off the charts tender. With a dash of second chance and a feeling of fate playing a role, Juniper and Aiden found each other [again]. I loved the way they bounced off of each other and how you could really see the growth in their bond as they worked together to solve a murder mystery. There were incredibly vulnerable moments from both Aiden and Juniper about how they perceive themselves and things they knew they needed to work on and it had me all misty-eyed at the end. I felt all the feels.
The mystery played out well!! It was woven in behind the romance (without overshadowing) and I was still very much intensely involved in solving the crimes. Those more intense ending scenes were exactly what I was hoping for and all of the grand reveals simultaneously broke my heart and gave me relief for the characters involved.
A really great read. I could keep gushing about all of the tiny moments I absolutely adored that came together to make this book huggable. I know this was a mix-up in what GRM usually writes and she NAILED IT.
Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance + Mystery
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: moderate
- Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, knife violence, alludes to sexual assault and rape (of a side character), loss of a mother, lack of food resources
April 10, 2023
This one took a minute for me to fully get into, but once I did I was hooked!
✨ 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 ✨ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
If you liked Finlay Donovan is Killing It but struggled *just the tiniest bit* at suspending your disbelief at some of the hijinks Finlay got herself into (especially as the series progressed), I would highly recommend this book!
It's not a perfect novel (her entire career as a writer, while mentioned often, just seems to hover in the background?) but if you're looking to turn off your brain and get lost in a mix between (slightly heavier) cozy mystery + romance, then this is a solid book to check out.
I surprised myself by liking the romance more than I thought I was going to initially (some of the protests for how long things took to come together annoyed me in the beginning) and I thought everything wrapped up quite nicely at the end!
If there was a sequel featuring these characters again, I would most definitely read it. It didn't end on a cliffhanger in any way (and I don't know if a sequel is planned), but there are so many opportunities to expand these characters!
Content Warnings:
✨ 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 ✨ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
If you liked Finlay Donovan is Killing It but struggled *just the tiniest bit* at suspending your disbelief at some of the hijinks Finlay got herself into (especially as the series progressed), I would highly recommend this book!
It's not a perfect novel (her entire career as a writer, while mentioned often, just seems to hover in the background?) but if you're looking to turn off your brain and get lost in a mix between (slightly heavier) cozy mystery + romance, then this is a solid book to check out.
I surprised myself by liking the romance more than I thought I was going to initially (some of the protests for how long things took to come together annoyed me in the beginning) and I thought everything wrapped up quite nicely at the end!
If there was a sequel featuring these characters again, I would most definitely read it. It didn't end on a cliffhanger in any way (and I don't know if a sequel is planned), but there are so many opportunities to expand these characters!
Content Warnings:
May 8, 2023
I’ve wanted to read this book since it releases a month or so ago. I thought the idea of a romcom with a side of murder mystery just sounded so stinking fun! Throw in a grumpy love interest to the spunky heroine and it was perfect!
But…BUT!
This book has so much more!
• Spunky author heroine with pink hair, a yellow BMW Volkswagen, and a troubled past.
•Grumpy guidance counselor/literature teacher who likes classic books and helping hurting people.
• A murder mystery!!!
• What love truly is.
• Not being defined by our past.
• Grieving
• Fighting for what’s right!
Gracie Ruth Mitchell has written such a fun story and I’m excited for the sequel! Though it probably won’t have Aiden and Juniper in it, I’m sure I’ll laugh out loud just as much as I did with this lovely story!
5 out of 5!!! Loved every minute!
Content warning:
It’s a murder mystery, so there is a dead body described.
Guy/girl roommate situation, but nothing inappropriate happens.
A mention of sexual assault (which is mentioned at the very beginning of the book).
A face off with the baddie who attacks with a knife.
But…BUT!
This book has so much more!
• Spunky author heroine with pink hair, a yellow BMW Volkswagen, and a troubled past.
•Grumpy guidance counselor/literature teacher who likes classic books and helping hurting people.
• A murder mystery!!!
• What love truly is.
• Not being defined by our past.
• Grieving
• Fighting for what’s right!
Gracie Ruth Mitchell has written such a fun story and I’m excited for the sequel! Though it probably won’t have Aiden and Juniper in it, I’m sure I’ll laugh out loud just as much as I did with this lovely story!
5 out of 5!!! Loved every minute!
Content warning:
It’s a murder mystery, so there is a dead body described.
Guy/girl roommate situation, but nothing inappropriate happens.
A mention of sexual assault (which is mentioned at the very beginning of the book).
A face off with the baddie who attacks with a knife.
May 26, 2023
This book was so fun! I loved Juniper and Aiden, the romance was so sweet, and the mystery was really well done!
upon further reflection, I have updated this to 5 stars. at some point I'd like to get a full review up.♡
upon further reflection, I have updated this to 5 stars. at some point I'd like to get a full review up.♡
April 27, 2023
…..this….was a train wreck I couldn’t look away from. Was this supposed to be an attempt at dark academia? Genuinely confused
Want to read
April 10, 2023entering my cozy mystery era
March 7, 2023
Where to begin?
This isn’t like any other romantic comedy that I’ve read. It’s cute, quirky, original, funny, and an excellent mystery. I was seriously trying to figure it out (why can’t I just let things unravel without having so many speculations??) and there were lots of parts that surprised me! I honestly expected the murder mystery to go in a different direction and I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong.
If I’m reading or watching a mystery, I want to be surprised, I can’t have it be too easy otherwise it’s like “well, that’s cute, nice try” and Gracie Ruth Mitchell delivered a perfectly good mystery.
And the SWOON! Y’all. I’m pretty sure she wrote one of my favorite swoony scenes in a book. I mean, I was ready to grab a fan 😉😉 there’s a lot of sizzle with no spice. Perfectly sweet, killer romantic comedy. Just know you’re getting a romance with that mystery and Gracie DELIVERED it.
I won’t say any spoilers, because where’s the fun in that with a murder mystery. But! This isn’t one to miss!! I’m thinking I’ll need a reread during the fall.
**I keep coming back to add more to my review as I think more on the book (just finished it this morning). This book had all the small details that makes a book great. One of my favorite parts was the Chapter titles that were included. This book has character and I think it’s thanks to all the details that went into it.
What to expect:
Age gap
Forced proximity
Second chance
Grumpy/sunshine
No swearing
Romance level: Kissing
Murder off page
Addiction
Sexual assault (also off page)
This isn’t like any other romantic comedy that I’ve read. It’s cute, quirky, original, funny, and an excellent mystery. I was seriously trying to figure it out (why can’t I just let things unravel without having so many speculations??) and there were lots of parts that surprised me! I honestly expected the murder mystery to go in a different direction and I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong.
If I’m reading or watching a mystery, I want to be surprised, I can’t have it be too easy otherwise it’s like “well, that’s cute, nice try” and Gracie Ruth Mitchell delivered a perfectly good mystery.
And the SWOON! Y’all. I’m pretty sure she wrote one of my favorite swoony scenes in a book. I mean, I was ready to grab a fan 😉😉 there’s a lot of sizzle with no spice. Perfectly sweet, killer romantic comedy. Just know you’re getting a romance with that mystery and Gracie DELIVERED it.
I won’t say any spoilers, because where’s the fun in that with a murder mystery. But! This isn’t one to miss!! I’m thinking I’ll need a reread during the fall.
**I keep coming back to add more to my review as I think more on the book (just finished it this morning). This book had all the small details that makes a book great. One of my favorite parts was the Chapter titles that were included. This book has character and I think it’s thanks to all the details that went into it.
What to expect:
Age gap
Forced proximity
Second chance
Grumpy/sunshine
No swearing
Romance level: Kissing
Murder off page
Addiction
Sexual assault (also off page)
October 30, 2023
Well that was a fun one! I can definitely say this is the first time I’ve read a book like this—and I’m looking forward to the next one. I loved Juniper and Aiden’s dynamic! I loved their backstory. I appreciated the representation of poverty and hunger as well as the light that was shed on social work. There were so many heavy elements to this story, but the romance helped it to still feel light. I’d seen lots of great reviews and wasn’t sure how I’d feel about it, but I thoroughly enjoyed it!
April 30, 2023
”usually your eyes just skip over women. on juniper they linger.”
a murder mystery romance that didn’t necessarily impress but it was cute enough. probably suffered from having one too many things going on.
a murder mystery romance that didn’t necessarily impress but it was cute enough. probably suffered from having one too many things going on.
January 23, 2024
OOooooooOooo THIS WAS SO GOOD!!!!!!
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