How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson
on February 3, 2026
Genres: Fiction / Romance / General, Fiction / Thrillers / General
Pages: 368
Format: Hardcover
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If you enjoy a little chaos mixed into your romance reads, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson might be exactly the kind of genre mashup you’re looking for. This horror rom-com blends speed dating, a serial killer, and a heroine determined to survive long enough to get her happily ever after.
Jamie Prescott heads to a speed-dating event with her best friend expecting nothing more than a lineup of mediocre men and maybe some street food afterward. Instead, the night takes a deadly turn when one of her dates has his throat slit during a blackout—and when the lights come back on, there are multiple bodies on the floor. Suddenly, the speed daters aren’t just awkward strangers trying to make conversation; they’re potential victims trying to escape a killer.
What follows is a fast-paced, darkly funny survival story where Jamie relies on her extensive knowledge of horror movie tropes to avoid becoming the next casualty. As the body count rises, Jamie starts to suspect the killer might be trying to create a real-life Final Girl, and she’s determined not to play by the script.
This was such a fun read and definitely gave me strong Butcher & Blackbird vibes. The premise alone hooked me right away—speed dating and a serial killer is such an interesting and chaotic setup. I also had a great time buddy reading this one and swapping theories back and forth about what was going to happen next.
While the story leans heavily into dark humor, it’s worth noting that it does get a bit gory at times, so it may not be for the faint of heart. That said, the balance between horror elements, rom-com moments, and the overall absurdity of the situation made it incredibly entertaining. The genre mashup really works here, creating a story that’s equal parts tense, funny, and swoony.
This ended up being a 4.5-star read for me (rounded up to 5). It was a total mood read, and it delivered exactly the kind of chaotic, darkly humorous story I was in the mood for. I could hardly put it down and had a blast from beginning to end.
If you enjoy horror romances, dark humor, and a heroine who knows exactly what not to do in a slasher movie, this one is definitely worth adding to your TBR.
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