Emma Simmerman's Debut Proves Fake Dating Can Be Deadly

Every time a guy breaks my heart, I write him a eulogy in my journal. It’s kind of my thing—closure through creative mourning. They don't actually die... or, at least, they didn't.

Now? These guys aren’t just dead to me, they’re dead to everyone. And I’m the prime suspect.

With my senior year at Pembroke College—and my entire future—on the line, I’ve got no choice but to play detective. Unfortunately, that means teaming up with my long-standing frenemy, Asher, who is insufferable and somehow always there when I need him the least. We bicker, we banter, we occasionally almost hook up, but with the body count rising and my name all over the suspect board, there’s no time to get distracted.

Between college parties, messy exes, suspicious deaths, and a murder investigation I never asked to be a part of—one thing’s for this is not how I thought my last year would go.

Here’s to hoping I can find out who the real killer is... before someone ends up writing my eulogy.

There's something especially fun about reading a mystery that constantly convinces you you've solved it—only to prove you wrong a chapter later. Emma Simmerman's debut novel does exactly that, weaving together fake dating, buried secrets, and murder into a suspenseful college thriller that kept me turning pages well into the night.

As someone who spent years at Kent State University, one of the novel's biggest strengths was its setting. While the story primarily takes place in Massachusetts, Simmerman peppers the novel with references to Kent, Ohio, and they never feel like they're included simply for authenticity. Instead, they're woven naturally into the narrative. If you've ever walked the streets of Kent, you'll probably have a few Leonardo DiCaprio pointing-at-the-TV moments as familiar landmarks and local culture make an appearance.

The college atmosphere also feels genuine. From the friendships to the campus dynamics, Simmerman captures both the excitement and the chaos of young adulthood. In a past life, my college radio show was called Bar Buddies, so seeing that phrase pop up in the novel made me laugh. It felt like Simmerman had reached directly into my own college memories.

Of course, this wouldn't be much of a thriller without the mystery.

The novel wastes little time establishing that Sloane has secrets—and plenty of people who could have a reason to hate her. Between a hidden summer fling with Wes, an affair with a professor, and mistakes from her past that slowly come to light, every revelation expands the suspect list instead of narrowing it.

As I read, my theories changed constantly.

Was the fake dating relationship between Asher and Sloane more than it seemed? Could it have been an elaborate alibi? Had Wes's girlfriend uncovered the affair? Was someone connected to Sloane's DUI seeking revenge? Every chapter introduced another possibility, and just when I thought I'd identified the obvious suspect, the story shifted again.

Then the bodies started piling up.

By the final act, I had completely given up trying to outsmart the novel. I wasn't interested in proving myself right anymore—I just needed answers.

The reveal is one of the book's strongest moments. Without spoiling the details, Simmerman delivers a finale that feels reminiscent of Scream: shocking enough to make you question everything that came before, yet carefully constructed enough that the clues were there all along.

Then came a second twist I genuinely didn't see coming.

It's the kind of ending that immediately makes you reconsider earlier conversations and seemingly insignificant moments throughout the novel.

If I have one criticism, it's the ending itself. Simmerman leaves readers with a deliberately open conclusion that feels designed to spark discussion—or perhaps set up another story. While some readers will appreciate the ambiguity, I found myself wanting just a bit more closure after such an intense finale.

Still, for a debut novel, this is an impressive showing. Simmerman successfully balances romance and suspense, crafts a mystery that's difficult to predict, and gives readers familiar with Northeast Ohio an extra layer of enjoyment through authentic Kent references.

If you're looking for a thriller that blends fake dating, college drama, and a murder mystery packed with twists, this one is well worth adding to your reading list. Just don't expect to guess the ending—or to put the book down once the final act begins.