It took a little while for me to get into If Looks Could Kill (publication day September 16, 2025) by Julie Berry, but once I did, I was hooked! I had a hard time figuring out how the storylines could come together, but they did, in spectacular fashion! Fiction about true crime/ historical events mixed with Greek mythology seems like a strange combination, but it works well.
The primary storyline follows two young girls in New York City in 1888 who have come to spread the “good news” of the Salvation Army. Primarily told from her perspective, Tabitha is an upstate city girl who wanted to go to the City for adventure, and this was an acceptable way to do that. She can always go back home, though. Pearl, her roommate, is a true believer who is supporting her mother on her meager earnings. They get along, but their relationship is often prickly. When they realize a young girl they gave directions to is now in an infamous brothel, they team up with a young Jewish reporter to try to “rescue” her.
The other storyline starts in London, and is from the perspective of Jack the Ripper as he kills–it seems he’s looking for immortality. But he’s found by someone else–one of the women who can turn their attackers to stone like Medusa, so he’s unable to kill her. But he somehow survives, as well and decides it’s time that he flees London to go back to the States.
And then, in New York, Tabitha and Pearl are dealing with trying to find both the first girl they wanted to save, but also their reporter friend is now in trouble. And what is wrong with Pearl? Why are there snakes in her hair?
Tabitha does an amazing job investigating what is going on and getting Pearl the help she needs, with the help of her Irish barkeeper friend. While there is some discussion of Pearl’s beauty compared to Tabitha’s assessment of herself as merely plain, there is no discussion of body size or shape, so I consider it weight neutral.
Reading While Fat 