Kate Valentine, a bestselling mystery author who finds herself at her ex-fiancé’s destination wedding. (Yes, you read that right.) There’s champagne, tension, unresolved feelings, and a dead body. Oh, and her ex-crush, Jake, just so happens to be there too. The setup is great, but the delivery is more Hallmark-channel-meets-summer-beach-read than true crime podcast. This book sounded like it had all the makings of a juicy, page-turning mystery: Isolated private island, Wedding drama, and a body turning up where it definitely shouldn’t be

And yet… instead of the high-stakes thriller I was expecting, I got something closer to a cozy romcom with slight murdery vibes. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, it just wasn’t what I was craving when I picked this up.

While I loved the banter, quirky characters, and the romantic tension between Kate and Jake , the actual mystery fell a bit flat for me. I never felt the “can’t put it down” urgency I look for. The pacing was a little slow, and the tension never fully built to the payoff I hoped for.

That said, if you’re looking for something fun, light, and perfect for reading poolside, this definitely fits the bill. The writing is charming, the dialogue sparkles, and the island setting gives it major escapist vibes. Ideal for fans of cozy mysteries, enemies-to-lovers tension, and a bit of humor with their homicide.

AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKSHOP | ★★★★★

She Doesn’t Have a Clue is out now. Huge thank you to Minotaur Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.  If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.