REVIEW: Love You to Death by Jenna Levine

Love You to Death by Jenna Levine: A grumpy, immortal reaper who has forgotten what makes life worth living. A woman who refuses to let a terrible day—or even death itself—have the final say. And a romance with a literal expiration date. Sign me up!

LOVE YOU TO DEATH took the grim reaper trope and made it unexpectedly charming. There was something delightfully ridiculous about the idea of death being managed by an actual agency, complete with departments, policies, and enough bureaucracy to make anyone reconsider their career choices. Jenna Levine brought humor to a premise that could easily have gone dark, while Lucy’s messy life and Daniel’s deadpan reactions gave the story plenty of personality.

A man who has gone centuries without the kind of connection that makes him feel alive, and a woman who crashes into his carefully detached existence—literally and figuratively? I was here for that. Daniel’s dry, death-related humor paired with Lucy’s chaotic energy gave their interactions so much potential for banter, and I’m a sucker for a grumpy hero who starts discovering that one particular person can get under his skin in ways nobody else ever has. Add the fact that he’s supposed to be responsible for collecting her soul, and the whole falling for the person you’re meant to let go of situation becomes deliciously complicated. The countdown made their time together all the more poignant, because six weeks is a very short time to discover you might have finally found something worth holding on to.

LOVE YOU TO DEATH brought together a wonderfully unconventional couple and a romance that made me smile. The humor, the grumpy-meets-chaotic dynamic, and the romance complicated by the very job Daniel was supposed to do all added to the appeal. And underneath all that supernatural silliness was a sweeter reminder not to put off living until everything is finally figured out.

TROPES & VIBES
☠️ Grim Reaper x Human
🌤️ Grumpy x Sunshine
🔒 Forbidden Romance
⏳ Limited Time Together
💘 He Falls First
🖤 Touch-Starved Hero
🔗 Forced Proximity
⚡ Opposites Attract
😂 Paranormal Rom-Com
📋 Afterlife Bureaucracy

Book Info:

Publication: October 13, 2026 | Berkley |

A jaded grim reaper and a woman who wants another chance at life give ‘til death do us part a new meaning in this paranormal romance from bestselling author Jenna Levine.

Lucy McKenzie’s life has always been a disaster. So it should come as no surprise when one day she’s hit by an inconveniently-timed bus—and dies. Unfortunately for the handsome grim reaper who shows up to take her to the afterlife, Lucy is not about to go quietly.

Daniel is tired of his job collecting souls. While working for the Agency beats the heck out of going to Hell, he’s been doing this for literal ages. The drudgery has him yearning for more. Touched by Lucy’s plea for more time on earth, he convinces the Agency to make a deal: Lucy can have six more weeks of life if Daniel can observe her and report back on humanity.

But as Lucy and Daniel navigate the chaos of life and afterlife together, they discover that a second chance at living might be their real chance at love.