My Thoughts: Love at First Kill by Mary E. Roach

*I received a copy of this book from Firefly Books Ltd in exchange for an honest review.

Love at First Kill

by Mary E. Roach

March 31, 2026

Goodreads Summary:

He’s a hitman. She’s a grumpy ex-librarian.

And they’re both gunning for the same billionaire.

Jack O’Sullivan is good at what he does. He’s meticulous, thorough, and he always finishes a job. He’s a professional—at murdering people for money.

Ava Cavalcante has a grudge, a cute red dress, and limited impulse control. When she disrupts Jack’s hit—by trying to get there first—everything falls apart.

Forced to work together if they have any hope of finishing this job (or getting revenge, depending on who you ask), Ava and Jack reluctantly team up. Between planning a murder, running for their lives, and hooking up in shady motels, they might end up with more than they bargained for… and they also just might be one kill<*s> kiss away from their own happily ever after.

Review

Love at First Kill was a gritty and spicy romance. Given the novel's relatively short length, I enjoyed how the story brought the characters together.

From the very first chapter, Love at First Kill moved quickly. The story was predictable, but I was curious to see what kind of sparks Ava and Jack would ignite. And they did not disappoint! Ava and Jack had quite the escapade! The story’s full circle moment was satisfying even if the targets were easily dealt with and the getaway trouble-free.

Ava was singular in her focus on achieving her goal. She was impulsive as hell and rarely serious. “Silliness was a good mask…” (p.148) Normally those wouldn't be commendable traits, but I loved it within the context of Love at First Kill. Cool and collected, Jack was the opposite of Ava. His methodical ways resonated with me. I was exasperated on Jack's behalf when Ava kept ruining his plans. Yet they were exactly what the other needed.

Despite Ava and Jack’s first meeting being messy and unsettling, their relationship progressed far in Love at First Kill. Because of how different they were, it was delightful watching their attempts at outsmarting each other. Ava and Jack's unapologetic lust led to some delicious and gentle moments. Furthermore, their similar painful pasts brought understanding and comfort to them both. Ava and Jack was an unlikely yet well-matched pair.

Love at First Kill wasn’t a very deep story but it was thorough and entertaining. The characters killed their roles ;)

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not affected in any way. Any quotes included in my review were taken from the copy I received.