Without the much needed levity in the novel, this would otherwise be a gruesome and frightening thriller. In chronicling this whirlwind of one mother’s 180-degree shift in duties, Cosimano strikes a balance between humor and tragedy. This talent of understanding characters, and a keen attention to detail, allow Finn to prevent the fatal path of where this stranger’s mistake takes her. While her parents and ex-husband thought her writing was a waste of time, Finn knows that her mastery over narratives has given her an arsenal of experience no one would expect. Writing, though, is one personal asset she cannot have stripped away. Trying to pick up the pieces from a messy divorce (involving her husband, Steven, cheating with a real estate agent Theresa Hall) and a custody battle, Finn has a lot on the line and not much guaranteed. Partially a story of self-advocacy and determination, Finlay champions a particular feminist strength. Under pressure from her agent Sylvia for the next breakout book, Finlay experiences an unexpected surprise: these new time-sensitive, and potentially life-threatening challenges of a once mundane life become source material for her new, mesmerizing novel. Somehow, though, this crazy task seems more manageable for Finlay than trying to always appear like the perfect mother and most accomplished author simultaneously. She is given her most insurmountable assignment yet, by a woman she has never met. This momentary misunderstanding by a stranger complicates Finn’s status as a struggling creator.

After being confused for a contract killer over a conversation with her agent about the best way to write a murder story, Finn’s role becomes confounded with a much more sinister occupation. Romance novelist and mother-of-two Finlay Donovan, who writes under the pen name Fiona Donohue, finds herself caught in a story she wishes were fiction.

This debut adult novel, from an author previously dedicated to essays and the young adult book scene, showcases the feats female protagonists must accomplish to avoid the most frightening repercussions. Much like “Dead to Me,” which will soon return for a third and final season, Elle Cosimano’s “Finlay Donovan is Killing It” is a story of charming disaster. Often labeled ‘beach reads’ or ‘vacation books,’ these standalone novels or series are the perfect treasures to enjoy curled up on the couch or on a plane traveling miles away from home. I am sure you can think of some titles that fit the bill. I do, however, find myself gravitating toward particular kinds of content in the summer that I otherwise would not. Both ‘summer shows’ and ‘summer reads’ do not have to be reserved for the season. Summer is a time when we often try to pause and enjoy stories that take us on an adventure without enormous effort on our part.

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