The slow burn of this story is delicious and frustrating at the same time. While I wanted Cassie and Seth to clear the air from years ago and just kiss and makeup, I love that the author explored the depths of Cassie’s insecurities because of Seth. It has affected every aspect of her life, for good or bad. We only get Cassie’s POV, but the author made it very clear that Seth has had to wrestle with the incident that drove the final nail in their friendship. Cassie does not necessarily see this because she’s too in her head about their past.

I love the banter and genuine friendship that is obvious between these two. No matter how much Cassie tries to keep Seth at arm’s length, she cannot turn her back on him; even when he tells her to and tries to push her away! The depth of their friendship all those years ago never fully went away. It made Cassie’s discoveries and Seth’s cheerleading a joy to read.

It may take a long time for this couple to come together physically, but they have the art of dirty talk down pat. Especially Seth. They both spend so much time thinking they know what the other means with each small action and reaction, but sometimes their mouths don’t listen to their brains and what results is HOT!

I had a lot of fun with this book and hope to see more from this wacky and interesting world. Some characters are introduced but not used, but enough is known to make me intrigued.

**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely** 

I really liked a lot of the components of this book, but they never *quite* gelled for me. One thing I did appreciate was that this was a supernatural story with some genuinely gory/horror imagery, kudos for that!

I think it might have been nice if Cassie was already aware of her witchy heritage so there wasn't so much exposition. Also I thought Cassie and Seth's dynamic was sweet, but I kind of wish that he actually HAD made fun of her in high school to fit in with his new friends and either immediately or eventually regretted it. I think it would have rounded out the relationship more if he had genuine personal growth and she forgave him for making a mistake. The Big Misunderstanding is a common romance trope, which can work, but often I feel like makes the person who was hurt look paranoid and the person who did the hurting look like they're gaslighting.

This was not the book for me.  I have enjoyed several of Charlotte Stein's novels, both her indie romances and When Grumpy Met Sunshine. I loved WGMS. I was really excited to get an audio copy of How to Help a Hungry Werewolf as my first real audio ARC from #Netgalley . 

But I just did not love this like her other books. It felt incredibly wordy and drawn out. A super slow burn (not until about 80% mark) felt forced sometimes. And the overall tone felt immature. Like these characters were still the teens they used to be before their conflict. That they constantly referenced and obsessed over. (And which focus made their eventual super sexy times a little uncomfortable for me to read.) The magical world building was of the bonkers variety, with the main character becoming an overpowered insta-witch. Lots of silly elements (although I did get kind of attached to the talking microwave). At least there was a raccoon involved! 

However, I'm not sure how much of this dissatisfaction is simply a matter of taste.  I don't read this subgenre often. Are these normal approaches? Would I have enjoyed the book more if the setting were British (like When Grumpy Met Sunshine) instead of generic American? How much did the narration affect my perception? The racoon lines were very difficult to understand, for instance, and I didn't love the voice used for Seth, either.  

So overall, not for me, but your mileage may vary. I think I'll stick with Stein's contemporary romances instead.  Thanks anyway to Netgalley for an advanced audiobook copy of #HowToHelpAHungryWerewolf

Cassie is back in her hometown where her childhood best friend turned high school nemesis, Seth Brubaker. Her grandmother has recently passed and Cassie is putting her house in order. Then Seth turns up with a very hairy problem that her grandmother was apparently helping her with: lycanthropy. Turns out Cassie's abilities far surpass that of her grandmother, and she needs a crash course in the supernatural. Something Seth is all too happy to provide if it means a chance at restoring her trust in him. 
I ADORED this book. It's fun and cute, emotional and gut wrenching. At times silly, at times serious, and at other times very very hot. I've seen people say "golden retriever" energy. "himbo" energy. Seth Brubaker IS GOLDEN RETRIEVER ENERGY, no one else has ever golden retrievered as hard as Seth. The banter between him and Cassie from beginning to end as their relationship shifts and heals is hysterical and honest. 
Cassie is amazing at being down to earth, realistic, and hopeful. She is constantly in awe of this new world around her, and even though she still has emotional scars, she hasn't allowed them to turn her into a world-weary scorned adult incapable of thinking she's lovable. Just not by the boy who broke her heart, which fair. The constant denial of their feelings and "this is totally fine, we're adults" was absurd but in the best way. 
My only negative is there should have been more Pog. I listened to the audiobook, and I will also say the way the narrator did male voices was not great, but I got over it quick when she succeeded so great at Pog. Whom I would die for. 
I'm excited for more world building and to actually meet more characters. That was admittedly another weak point, but I digress, there was so little interaction and what we did get was very interesting. I just wish, since these characters got the level of attention that they were also given a chance to do something to assist the story. 
That said, I have literally already reread my favorite scenes. And I can not wait to by it in physical. THAT's how much I loved it.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. This book had some incredible fall vibes and I loved the first half of the book. It was so interesting to see Cassie learn about herself and her magic and I had a great time with it. I didn’t love the second part of the book, specifically the

weird mating thing between Cassie and Seth. I wouldn’t have minded it as much except it went on for sooo long. I felt like we missed out on so much plot development and world building for something that could’ve been like 1-2 chapters. Charlotte Stein does do a great job at writing those scenes though.

.  I did love the characters though. They were so sweet, and I LOVED the childhood best friends to lovers dynamic. 

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

I have never met a more hornier pair of dumb dumbs ever! They were silly, funny, and honestly a great fun read. A bit more existential than Stein's earlier work, what with the supernatural revelation of fairies, werewolves, and demons (and the character's grips on the whole heaven/hell concept). But, the magical system was fascinating, the appliances were fun, and the raccoon was a lovely addition. There was a secondary storyline that I do not remember being completed but it did not matter to the central plot and does not take away from the book. 

It's a feel good-laugh out loud cozy small town paranormal romance. Great for readers who like badass independent witches and the goldest of golden retriever werewolf boys who are so horny and such Sweet Summer Children dumb dumbs!

Cry count: 2
Spice: at first it was fairly tame intimacy, but it escalated quickly. Open-door with roughly six to eight scenes total in the last 40-ish percent of the book. 

I liked this one. I liked this one a lot. While parts of the dialogue did come across as a little stilted, Stein really found her feet by the end and it was just a lot of the things I love about fall books in a cozy, low-stakes adventure that facilitates the romance while still addressing some of the heavier themes of bullying, fat phobia, and self worth.

This is a second chance, slow burn, bully-ish romance with friends to enemies to friends to lovers focused initially on the female main character’s weight. This is a topic that comes up fairly regularly in a way that’s relevant to the story while also being realistic and tactfully handled in relation to the story. I really like the way Stein incorporates these themes into her novels because too often you see a character described as curvy and then treated like they’re thin the whole time. So, having real representation that digs even when it’s uncomfortable is great! 

The story itself: when I say slow burn, I mean SLOW BURN. I made it to 57% and was questioning if this was actually a romance. This was almost immediately shot down two percent later, though. Not all the character motivations are super fleshed out as well, which means I do wish the villains were a smidge more villainous and had a better reason for it. However, I loved the shenanigans, the descriptions of the magical, and the sheer wonder and awe Cassie approached all of it with. Her familiar was the best, the fall vibes are there, and it’s deliciously quirky in all the best ways. 

Stein stayed true to herself as an author and, really, all of my notes for the book can be chalked up to exploring a new subgenre. 

Some of it was so beyond that it just felt fun and didn’t take itself too seriously, so my “complaints” really are things that didn’t take much away from the rest of the story. Other bits were so gorgeous and human and raw yet fit so well with the overall plot that I’m just impressed and cried a little. 

I will say, this book felt a little more “What We Do in the Shadows” than “Gilmore Girls,” but the comps aren’t too far off from what you get. Which is in line with Stein’s work and trying to fit into a new subgenre of romance. If you liked “When Grumpy Met Sunshine” or “Bride,” this one is definitely worth reading. 

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan for the chance to review an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. 

The banter was on point. The dirty talk was top tier. I really enjoyed the twist on the mating desire.