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.  

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