I picked Til Death Do Us Part because it was a little different from my usual books, and I’m so glad I did. I absolutely loved it!

It’s also the first book in a while that I would happily give five stars to.

The internal monologue from the main character was one of my favourite things about the book. She was genuinely funny, and some of the thoughts about what she would like to do had me cracking up. It gave her such a strong personality and made me feel really connected to her.

I also thought all the characters worked really well together. Everyone had their part to play, and I really enjoyed getting to know them as the story unfolded. The backstory was particularly well done, with little pieces being revealed gradually and building towards a twist that I really enjoyed.

Most importantly, I cared about what happened. I wanted to keep reading to find out how everything would end, and thankfully I really liked the ending. I finished the book wanting more of this character, which is always a good sign!

Funny, different and fast-paced would be my three words to describe it. Definitely a book that took me outside my usual choices and reminded me that sometimes it’s good to try something completely different. I’d happily read more from Helen Fellman and, especially, more of this character.

I absolutely loved this. ’Til Death Do Us Part is one of those books that takes an utterly ridiculous premise and somehow makes you completely believe in it. A wedding planner whose services extend to permanently removing unsuitable grooms? Of course. Why wouldn’t they?

Ava Vaughn is such a brilliant character, and I was completely invested in her increasingly chaotic world. The whole idea of offering desperate brides a rather more permanent kind of annulment is wonderfully unhinged, but beneath all the murder, mayhem and increasingly precarious situations, there’s a surprising amount of heart. That was probably what I loved most: it’s outrageously funny without ever feeling empty.

This genuinely made me laugh out loud. It’s witty, sharp and wonderfully dark, with characters and relationships that somehow feel completely real even while everything happening around them becomes more and more ridiculous. And just when I thought I knew where it was going, it went somewhere else entirely. I loved how unpredictable it was.

I adored every word. Funny, clever, warm, murderous and gloriously bonkers - I didn’t want to put it down, and when I reached the end, I genuinely didn’t want it to be over.

An easy five stars. One of my favourite reads in a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for this ARC.

Ava Vaughn, 31, is a wedding planner in Manchester and serial killer of bad grooms. She tells us in first person POV flashbacks how she got here and why she does it. The combination of wedding and murder seems to be a gap in the market and while it's lucrative, Ava doesn't do it for the money but to help abused women.

Her latest bride Jessica Holmes, 23, needs help rescuing from groom Jeremy, a rich snob who killed a former partner. However, things suddenly go south and Ava doesn't just kill Jeremy but also an intruder. The police gets involved and Detective Daniel Reid doesn't like Ava but can't place her.

He's however enthralled by Jessica, and when a gangster comes calling requesting the £300,000 that Jeremy owed him, the situation gets very complicated, involving another Bridezilla, and Jessica suddenly developing murderous tendencies she never knew she had, whilst making eyes at the detective.

I thoroughly enjoyed this dark tale. There is a lot about abuse and violence that drives women to defend themselves but also the sweet friendship that develops between Ava and Jessica, who are as chalk and cheese as it gets. I think the ending is perfect and the detective is right to still be wary! Read if you like tense and pacy vigilante thrillers.

4.5 stars

Ava Vaughn is a wedding planner, so far so normal… except her packages also include permanently making the groom ‘disappear’ for any bride doomed to an unhappy marriage, as well as the cake and flowers, of course. Enter Jessica Holmes. Jessica’s fiancé is like a dream… a BAD dream, so she enlists Ava’s help. But Detective Daniel Reid is getting close to finding out the truth of Ava’s little side quest, will I do mean a life or death sentence?

The Pros:
1) Ava is an absolute badass!
2) The friendship between Ava and Jessica is surprisingly sweet
3) There is suspense, thrills and action. The ending in particular, is gripping.
4) Who’d have thought weddings and murder go together so well, lol

The Cons:
1) I feel like the story could have been a bit shorter, it lulled slightly in the middle section for me.
2) There are many dark themes - please check trigger warnings if you feel you need to.

The Quotes:

1) I don’t like drunk men. A man with no inhibitions is the most dangerous kind.

2) I don’t like blood. Not that I’m squeamish, it just makes such a dreadful mess.

3) In my opinion, all sitting on the fence does is give you splinters.

4) ‘Murder is cheaper than therapy.’

The Summary:
Listen, I love a bit of feminine rage all right? lol. Ava is such a badass (I want her on my side please!) and I loved the premise of her offering the additional extra of permanently getting rid of the groom. You have suspense, thrills and action - plus a sub-plot of romance. The friendship between Ava and Jessica is actually really sweet as well. I did feel maybe the story would have benefitted from being a bit shorter - the middle section lulled slightly for me, but the ending was just really cool and I was on the edge of my seat. Check trigger warnings if you need to, as there are dark themes. Fantastic book, highly recommend!

Summed up in a sentence?:
Ava Vaughn is a wedding planner with a difference - she offers to kill the groom, for a price

I rated the book 4.75 stars, rounded up to 5!

A big thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.