Book Review By Reedsy Discovery Book Reviewer Marissa Owens

Loved it! 😍

Once a cheater always a cheater. Once a serial killer...always the perfect boyfriend behind bars? Avoid toxic men and protect your sanity.

SYNOPSIS

Why do we fall for the wrong people? Killer Love Hacks™: How to Protect Your Heart from Liars, Cheaters, and Love Killers takes readers on a riveting journey into the psychology of attraction, manipulation, and toxic relationships. Blending true crime intrigue with practical self-help strategies, this book reveals the hidden tactics of emotional manipulators and provides actionable love hacks to break free and build healthier connections.

Through real-life stories, from serial killers to everyday heartbreakers, Killer Love Hacks™ uncovers the warning signs of toxic relationships and equips readers with tools to protect their hearts. Whether it’s recognizing red flags, escaping toxic cycles, or rebuilding self-worth, this book provides the knowledge and empowerment needed to navigate today’s complex dating world.

Written by Oprah-endorsed author Joy Krause, with over 15 years of research into emotional manipulation and attraction, Killer Love Hacks™ is the perfect blend of true crime intrigue and relationship insight. If you’ve ever been drawn to the wrong person—or want to ensure you never fall for another manipulator again—this book is your ultimate survival guide.

Based solely on the title, I mistakenly assumed this book was a kitschy and cheeky self-help book on how to make the most of your love relationships. Reader, when I tell you I was wrong. This book is fascinatingly so much more than what I expected.

Krause has gone through and analyzed why some women are attracted to and even end up falling in love with men that are incarcerated - most for pretty gruesome crimes. How are these convicted serial killers able to romance and manipulate so many women? What is it about love relationships that makes people do things that people outside the relationship are shocked by?

But most importantly how did Krause come by this data, information, evidence? She sent letters to over 300 incarcerated men asking them about love. This book is the culmination of their stories, with each chapter ending in a list of dos and don'ts for your love life.

For example, how can you tell you are in a committed relationship? You need to trust actions (not words), steer clear from love bombing, remember that commitment should be an ongoing action, etc. Just because someone is locked behind bars does not necessarily mean they are committed to the relationship.

I know what you're thinking. Surely in all her research, Krause must have come across reasons for why these people end up in relationships with convicted killers, right? The thing is, the reasons that these people have found themselves in these insane situations are all the same reasons that could happen to anyone. These people (at least initially) aren't any more crazy or ill or desperate than anyone else. Instead they found themselves in a situation that quickly spiraled out of control.

So how do you make sure your next relationship isn't the levels of toxic that involve serial murderers? Aside from steering clear from prisons and contacting dangerous killers, the next best thing would be to avoid people that only act a certain way around you - whether you know the real them or not, they are still lying to someone - and chances are it's you.

REVIEWED BY

Marissa Owens

“Reading is my passion. It's my favorite thing to do. I spent years pursuing a PhD where all I did was read journal articles. I spent years working as a training specialist where all I did was read courseware and other training materials. Now I spend my time reading the most interesting things.”

"This book helped me recognize that I deserve a healthy relationship with romance and without manipulation."

Erin Meyers, Pine Knoll Shores NC

“Wow, I didn’t know love advice could be so fun!”

Megan Hurt, Cedar Hill, TN