I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Brief Summary: Returning home after the death of her grandmother, Cassie is trying to figure out how to move on with her life. Uneasy in a place that left her with so many emotional scars she is not sure if she should keep the house that has always felt like her safe space or move on. However, when her ex-best friend shows up looking for her grandmother, Cassie is pulled into a world she's only ever dreamed about.   

Thoughts: I want to start with this, I love Steins' writing. She creates engrossing plots and makes the characters feel complex and real. She also writes witty banter in a novel way. If she has written a book I will recommend that you read it. 

Now that I have gotten that out of the way...this book has one of the worst third-act break-ups I have ever read. It completely undid Cassie's emotional work throughout the book. I understand that insecurities are real and can come up in many ways. However, the whole thing felt forced and not in line with all the character development. 

We also spent way too much time at the bookstore. Nora and Cassie weren't friends before the book neither do they appear to be friends during the story. Cassie actively tries to hide things from Nora about her possible relationship with Seth. So, why does Nora keep popping up? Is she under a spell of some kind that is going to be dealt with in a later book? Is Nora cursed in some way? Also, why does Cassie need Nora's help with the picture when Cassie has never had an issue developing a potion solution before this point in the story? 

Also, we cannot sell this book as having a raccoon familiar. He does not appear until 68% into the book and when he does it's not anything other than some light comedic relief. There is a whole scene where Cassie is trapped somewhere and I expected the raccoon to come and rescue her as he's waiting in the car. That is not what happens.  

The steamy scenes in the book were good, but it still felt like a slow-burn romance. It was frustrating at one point because it was unclear where things were going. I understand that it's a childhood best friends to enemies to best friends to lovers romance, but there were so many points where I was like please do something! Miscommunication is not my favorite troupe but it felt like it was beaten to death and then into non-existence. At one point I found myself wishing there would be a therapy session occuring in the middle of the book. 

If you enjoy vivid world building you will like this book. If you like spicy scenes this book has its highlights. If you are easily frustrated by characters who avoid emotional issues and conversations I recommend you not read this book.  

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** 

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.

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!

Cassie moves into her grandmother’s home after her passing, which is when she finds her former best friend turned bully, Seth, trying to break in. Turns out he’s a werewolf, she’s a witch, and they both can’t keep their hands off each other. 

I wasn’t totally into this book. At first I just didn’t love Seth’s version of a werewolf (more monster/creature, less wolf shifter), but then I just couldn’t get into the characters. I just didn’t vibe with them and it made it hard for me to get into the story. 

I also wasn’t expecting the plot to mainly be horniness. I thought there would be more issues with the Jerks (group of bullies) or something bigger but honestly the main storyline was dealing with the horniness. 

If you’re looking for something that’s pretty much all spicy scenes in the second half, you can give this one a try. It just wasn’t quite for me. There was too much I wanted more of - Seth apologizing, more grandmother stories/background/investigating, actual villains and not just high school bullies turned adults. 

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for a chance to read and review this ARC. 

This is a witchy small-town romance with friends to lovers and mating bonds. It really had the set up to be a cute story, but I really couldn't get into it. The characters were meant to be almost 30 but communicated like teenagers. Also, the author continually started sentences with and/or which was frustrating. It made whole sections seem like they were starting and stopping. Just stuttering along, it was awful. 

The plot would have been great for just the enemies-friends-lovers plot, but adding in the confrontation of Cassie and Seth's high school bullies just felt bloated. I think the story would have been way more interesting if it was about Cassie and Seth forgiving each other and discovering the magical world together. Instead, it just felt like a bad improv where the author kept yes anding the plot.

I did enjoy Cassie's foray into becoming a witch and discovering herself. I thought her enthusiasm and wonder were well done and fleshed her character. I also liked the dirty talk in the book. It was definitely spicy. But a lot of the actual communication between Cassie and Seth seemed like they were still in high school. The story would have worked a lot better if the characters were in their early 20s instead of late 20s.

Look, I didn't like this book. I thought it was messy and overall, it just wasn't for me. 

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy. All opinions are mine.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy!!! 
Sexy, fun, trauma healing, and even better enemies to friends to lovers. We've got spice, rife, toil and trouble. Hunky hunks and curvaceous witches. You don't have to read this, but you know, you should.

I loved this ridiculous book. You have to suspend your disbelief in a big way, and you can’t take it too seriously, but as long as that’s okay with you, it’s a goofy, absurd, delightful, and pretty steamy romance. 

As always, I love a plus sized female protagonist who isn’t ashamed of her body. Even better that she’s a powerful witch. 

Be warned that there is bullying of the female main character, including by the male main character. His actions are sort of explained, but if I were the FMC I would have demanded more of an explanation. It didn’t seem sufficient for the pain he caused her. The only reason I still loved the story and romance is because he did work incredibly hard to make up for his teenage behavior and clearly felt very real remorse. 

It’s a silly, fun, supernatural book. If that’s your thing, I think you’ll enjoy it. 

*thank you NetGalley for advance access to the ebook.*