Book Review: Drop Dead by Lily Chu

‘Drop Dead’ by Lily Chu is an Audible Original story that was released in 2024. It is a split narrative rivals-to-lovers romance novel with fade-to-black bedroom scenes. The events of the book focus on two journalists who are both esteemed in their individual careers, whose lives keep crashing together in bouts of competition until one makes a potentially career-ending choice that sends their paths on a collision course with renowned author, Dot Valleen, and the secrets she held close to her chest, even as she neared the end of her life.

‘Drop Dead’ is the first of Chu’s books I have read, and established her as an author I would have to keep an eye out for – her command of distinct, powerful characters was incredible. All three of the main characters came to life, and felt so real and three-dimensional, with a variety of problems that they couldn’t always leave at the door.

The female lead, Nadine, once had a promising career in the politics team of The Herald, until her workplace established they didn’t care about her safety when she received death threats and had a man appear on her doorstep, threatening her life. Due to the anxiety and fear for her life, she was moved from the high-stakes role in politics, where hard-hitting stories were dished out on the daily, to Obituaries. And when she sees a notice that famous and esteemed author Dot Valeen has passed away, she runs the pre-written obituary, desperate to establish The Herald as the first news outlet to run the story.

Only for it to be trolls.

With her career in shambles, Nadine is determined to rectify the situation. Meanwhile, at The Spear, an online-only publication, Nadine’s university rival, Wes Chen is reveling in her misfortune, and determined to get a comment from Valeen.

What starts as rivals squabbling and attempting to outdo each other in winning Valeen’s favour, turns into an alliance, and then more.

I loved this book. It was quickly one of my favourite reads of last year. I fell in love with Dot’s character and her eclectic personality, from her eccentric and sometimes garish decor to her poignant use of prose to tell the world things they may not be ready to hear. I loved her lust for life, and how infectious it was, inspiring joy and love from Wes and Nadine in a number of different ways.

The rivals-to-lovers dynamic was fantastic. I loved how Wes and Nadine were absolutely determined to outdo one another, and how what started as petty point collecting, evolved into their romance, and while they quarreled, they were clearly falling for one another.

The character development was fantastic, from Wes coming to like cats, to Nadine letting her walls down and learning not to second-guess every decision she makes, and living in fear. Being assertive can help you get somewhere, and sometimes, trying to out-scoop and out-perform others, take credit, and be malicious in undercutting people will turn around and bite you in the ass. Karma is a bitch, and Nadine and Wes gain a healthy respect for it by the end, which was refreshing.

The twists in this story were heartbreaking. I felt terrible for the characters as the dominoes fell, and circumstances and mistakes meant opportunities were stolen and livelihoods were snatched away. I was so angry on behalf of everyone, you could understand why Nadine felt so sure in running the obituary, and how Wes ended up in the situation he found himself in later.

I’d argue the conclusion of events felt a bit too neat, where events were perfectly tied up in a bow like many are in romance novels, but perhaps I am being too critical because there were breadcrumbs laid to justify them all. Perhaps it is pedantic to criticise it when the ethos of the story is going through hell and back to end up on the right path.

Ultimately, I have few qualms and complaints about the events of ‘Drop Dead’, it was absolutely fantastic, very compelling, and immersive, and is a story that has, and likely will continue to, stick around in my mind long after I finished reading. I would wholeheartedly recommend reading it!