“My dad is a cynocephalus and my mom is a siren,” I blurted the words out as quickly as possible. Heat suffused my cheeks and I knew I was turning bright red. “What?”

No, like Kai, you didn’t mishear that mythological mashup. Monsters-in-Law by Jeannin Counts is a delightfully weird, heartfelt, and utterly charming MM romance that manages to balance genuine emotional beats with gleeful absurdity. It’s the kind of story that makes you grin and tear up in equal measure… and then laugh when it’s revealed that Mothman is a secret tech guru.

The novella starts off with a sweet and simple office romance but shifts toward something more whimsical and tender as we’re thrust into The Vale, a Halloweentown-like world where mythical beings coexist. Though characters like Itsa and Cabbas aren’t human, the story never loses its very human heart. It’s a fun, affectionate, and occasionally funny story that explores how love can be both messy and transformative at the same time… Even if you’re unfortunate enough to get your mom’s top half and your dad’s bottom. (Because I agree with Huck that having a fin would have been so cool. You know how young humans play mermaids at the pool? I wonder if young residents of The Vale play humans at the pool.)

If you like your romances queer, clever, and full of unexpected magic, Counts’ latest story absolutely delivers. It’s an easy TBR add!

Read if you love: Cozy fantasy, Halloween and autumn vibes, and M/M Romance

The post Indie Book Spotlight: Monsters-in-Law by Jeannin Counts first appeared on Nikki Elizabeth.