Berries and Greed

Deep Earth Dating #1

by Lily Mayne

Greid
I may hate everyone, but you can only take being alone for so long. Sooner or later, you get desperate enough to visit a human cult that worships your species as greater beings in the hope of finding a new roommate to fill the lonely void. We’ve all been there… right?

I swear I was only looking for a roommate. Just someone to watch TV and eat dinner with. Nothing… romantic. No way. But when I see all these humans gazing at me with open adoration and blatant lust and other things that make me wildly uncomfortable, I realise what a terrible mistake this is.

Until I spot the one human woman in the group who is definitely not pleased to see me. In fact, she’s scowling at me. She looks really, really annoyed.

I’m kind of into it.

Beryl
I’m not a true follower of The Order of the Greater Beings. I don’t worship the demiurgus—the monstrous species that lives alongside humans. I definitely do not want to become a demiurgus mate.

So when one shows up at the cult’s compound—the first in the entire twenty-five years I’ve been flying under the radar here—I want to make sure he knows that I think he’s a total creep for taking advantage of worryingly adoring humans this way.

Until I realise… I don’t think that’s why he’s here. He’s kind of awkward. And anxious. And wildly out of his depth. And when he offers me the chance to finally escape the cult—to go out into the real world for the first time, to create a life for myself—all for the low, low cost of an easy, platonic friendship… I take it.

Now I’m navigating the outside world, and I’m roommates with a big, awkward demiurgus called Greid who lives in his pyjamas, watches a ridiculous amount of TV and is high most of the time. He’s also the sweetest guy I’ve ever met, and he’s funny and generous and easy to talk to.

But I’ve spent my entire life making sure I didn’t get sucked in to the cult’s fervent worship of the demiurgus—there’s no way I’m going to fall in love with him.

Right?

Berries and Greed is a MF monster/human romcom and is the first in the series Deep Earth Dating, which features a range of diverse pairings and is for an adult audience only. A full list of CWs can be found at the front of the book, but include explicit content, a non-human love interest (with non-human anatomy), an MC initially involved in a cult, recreational use of a fictional drug, and mentions of childhood neglect.

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Monsters, Paranormal, Monster Romance, Friends To Lovers, BDSM

552 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 30, 2023

About the author

Lily Mayne writes what she loves to read: achingly sweet yet gritty romances against unusual backdrops—dark, futuristic, dystopian and more. She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several fluffballs, who like to make a lot of noise while she’s writing.

Reviews

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berries and Greed is the stoner soft femdom monster romance that I didn't know I needed.

I mean... wow. If you've read Lily Mayne in the past, you're going to have to adjust your expectations with this one. It is nothing like her other books, except for... well... hot. Plus, I honestly want a trip into Lily Mayne's mind because she comes up with the most unique storylines.

I was excited to read this story because I regularly read all romantic pairings in my romances, but I'd say you should try this one even if you are dedicated M/M reader. It really worked for me, and it made me smile the whole way through.

I'd say this book is lighter and fluffier than other Lily Mayne's books. This is a fairly out of the box story, but it really has a lot of page time with these two getting stoned and eating and watching TV. It's like a whole story that embodies a paranormal "Netflix and Chill."

Where this book really blew my mind was the light femdom and the no apologies, no female penetration smoking hot sex. I mean, WOW. Woman really need this book, and woman who aren't able to have penetrative sex will feel seen (well, plus monsters, so maybe it isn't exactly true to life). I loved how Lily Mayne wrote such strong, unique characters and really trusted her gut with this one. She also includes somewhat taboo things, like sex on your period, so I was here for it all.

A surprisingly fluffy, fun book from Lily Mayne, and hopefully a taste of all of the great stuff she has in store for readers in the future with this series.

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[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would’ve been so much more enjoyable if his ex hadn’t been mentioned 64TIMES. That’s insane, it was so fucking annoying it actually made me want to stop reading. “Agma did this” and “Agma did that” and “Agma didn’t like when I….” AGMAAGMAAGMA SHUT THE HELL UP ABOUT AGMA. If you’re over her, why do you say her name every other sentence and compare literally everything you do with Beryl to her?
I really liked Beryl but I just couldn’t rate this higher with the sheer amount of times his ex was mentioned it was so unnecessary. Then right after she blows him, he begins thinking about how he experimented with a guy in college, to which he then proceeds to say “Wait, why was I thinking about my foray into bicurious experimentation when there was still a naked Beryl in front of me?” Well that’s a good fucking question.
I’m not sure what the author was trying to do with bringing up his exes all the time but it was just annoying.
I was also shocked when I learned Gried was 42 he acted like he was 19-22. I literally thought he was younger than Beryl, when she said he was 42 I about fell out of my bed

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think there is a really good story in here. I loved the world building, the set up, the characters and the funny romcom vibes.

But- this author went into way too much detail with long detailed descriptions of every little thing.
Characters watch a show- long detailed description of the characters, actors, and plot
Character goes shopping- detailed description of the store, the worker, various items she sees displayed
Character cooks - detailed description about finding the slow cooker, washing it, preparing the vegetables

Had to skim through a bunch of details. This amount of descriptive detail might make sense for a sci fi or fantasy book but not a low conflict low angst rom com?

[buket · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sure laziness would annoy a lot of people, but I found it kind of endearing.

i am people😌

Apparently I was “antisocial” and “practically a hermit”, and wanting to stay in and get high and watch shitty TV was “immature”.

her ex said those things about him and i mean she's not wrong😶 he was a man child(42 but acting like 19) with drug issues and bad eating habits and i wouldn't want to be with someone like him but he was also shy, sweet and caring so it confused me because i wasn't sure if i liked him or not. for example when he had to get her first time he was late because he was so high he couldn't wake up 😠

•anyways he looks for a companion because he feels lonely(cute) and then he accidentally finds a human sex cult and they're worshipping his kind 😧 but of course there's a girl ✨who is not like the others✨ that doesn't worship them. he chooses her and she's like yeah bye loserssss💅🏼 . it's roommates to friends to lovers 😌

• her character didn't make sense to me sometimes. she doesn't have a phone, never drank coffee/alcohol, never even eat a burger, they only watch educational TV and she didn't get a proper education before or after cult. SO how was she this socially intelligent? i'm not saying that she had to be brainwashed like the others but how did she know so many things? i know she felt nervous about her background and doing regular things like getting a job, ordering coffee but other than that i wouldn't think she was sheltered in a cult for 25 years 🤔

BUT it was actually nice seeing in a monster romance that they can't have penetrative sex. authors usually just give the monster a big dick and call it a day but she created a unique thing🤭(which we didn't learn what it is for a long time😡)i thought they were going to work on her vaginismus but it was nice that it wasn't the main focus, since she didn't enjoy penetration they just focused on other things 😋

Call me a good boy again. Call me your little slut and tie me up and do whatever you want to me.

×soft femdom, edging, pegging, praise kink

no third act. no owd/omd. his ex mentioned like a million times but it was because she made him self-conscious and he felt like he shouldn't want some things. the heroine confronts with the ex towards to end but she doesn't create any drama between characters.
i liked his family and can't wait to read their books!🤍

also i love lily mayne's writing. this had so many details which i find boring sometimes but also the world she created is always so interesting. i was even interested in the TV shows they were watching

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so precious.

I am so excited to read a new world from Lily Mayne. I have previously enjoyed her Monstrous series and the Fae series she has started. This new monster series is MF, and that had me super excited to see how she would right a new type of romance.

It had everything I have come to love from her style. Mutual pining, a marshmallow hero, great communication, intimate exploring and kinky delights. It was glorious. I couldn't stop reading and I can't wait for whatever comes next.

The only slight detriment for me was the length. I was reading an advanced copy, so I couldn't tell the page length... but I could FEEL it. I know this author has gotten longer with her titles lately, While I enjoy everything she has done, the fatigue can make it hard to get to the finish line.

But overall, most fans of her previous works will be very happy.

4.5 stars
4 on the spice scale

CW: cults, group think, vaginismus, previous partner emotional abuse

Sexy CW: Lily has a full list on the first page, but it gets nice and spicy. Haha!

[nikki | ཐི༏ཋྀ​​݁ ₊ ݁ . · Rating 4 out of 5]

as much as i love lily's incredibly angsty monstrous and folk series, this was a wonderful change of pace into a low angst, slice of life romance (well, as slice of life as someone leaving a cult that worships underground sentient monsters that are now living in society among us can be lol).

i loved that this had vaginismus rep that the character didn't care to "fix" or treat it, and a relationship that had a totally different approach to sex (i.e. no typical PIV). beryl was really fun and optimistic, esp for someone w her background of being ditched at a weird cult. greid was pretty adorable as well, and their dynamic was very sweet. this was a great cozy, feel-good romance read.

i'm very excited for the next book following greid's brother nuni from lily's tidbit about it being not-so-friends w benefits and seeing how a flashy, rich corporate brat would be living lol.

[dd · Rating 1 out of 5]

i’m typically very skilled at knowing whether or not i’m going to like a book, and although i occasionally choose to read something for some other reason besides the expectation of loving it—for example, i feel it is one of those books that simply must be read, or everyone is reading it and i feel i must add my opinion to those already piling up—i feel as though i have mastered my tastes in books, down to whatever specific mood i happen to be in when it comes time to pick a book (as i am not picky when it comes to genres).

i am ashamed to say that was not the case here.

i fully expected to love this, or at the very least love it as one loves an objectively mediocre romcom—i was endeared by the description, excited about the tropes, and looking forward to having something nice, short, fun, and fluffy to read.


what i was not expecting was something almost 600
pages long and unbearably melodramatic.

melodramatic is entirely the wrong word, when i come to think of it, because i find that what i often love about romances is their melodrama, their ability to unapologetically sweep you into an deliciously unrealistic, stupidly dramatic, tension-filled world that is ultimately comforting and compelling in the same breath.

what i do not like is for a romance (and god forbid a romcom) to be so serious.

the main issue with this book is that it tried to do everything so annoyingly right. the characters would go on internal monologues about their moral reasoning about everything which, as a reader, i frankly do not care about as i believe that romances can be granted a lenience of immorality that would (and should) not be accepted in the real world.

this book tried to be so perfect, so romantic, so considerate, that it lost all of its charm along the way. it was too deliberate in its intention and did not allow for any of the true comedy or romance that comes with a lack of such production.

or maybe i just don’t like fluff.


another issue i had was that this was simply too long (like this review oops), and i might’ve granted it more generosity with my rating if it had been about 400
pages shorter. but as it is, it was packed so full of nonsense and mundane activities that i have no generous spirit left in me.



the characters, their relationship, and their lives were so overly saturated and overdone that they became caricatures and what started out as possibly charming and sweet relationship and character development quickly morphed into something so boring to read through that i had to force my eyes to move as fast as they could across the page just to get it over and done with.


in conclusion: i’m not trusting my gut ever again.

[SnooRegrets · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This story had good bone structure, but the execution was severely lacking for me. There were some great themes, that intrigued me in the first place: consent, soft femme dome, anxiety and vaginismus rep, low angst, pegging and so on.

Sounded good in theory, reality unfortunately looked different. First off, the book was about 260 pages too long. I like slice of life, I like slow books, but pages upon pages about an infomercial about scrub shoes and the description of made up alien soap operas really tested my patience and ultimately lead to me skimming whole passages.
This time easily and importantly could have been used for character development, something the two MCs needed pretty severely, but especially Beryl IMO. There were so many things about her and her story that didn’t make sense to me and simply felt like they weren’t thought through enough.

I also got the feeling, that the author tried rely damn hard to convince us Greid only had a “slightly addictive” personality and normalized a lot of things I personally find rather problematic. I don’t mind weed (shade) use, I don’t mind stoners, some of my best friends are, for whatever ever reason. But here It felt he had a full blown addiction and nothing about that was harmless. A Buddy Read Partner of mine suggested therapy and I heftily agree. Both of them. ASAP.
They also both behaved more like the were in their early twenties and not 35 and 42.

All in all it is a Monster Romance … and it ain’t that deep. Still I could see all the potential and it was hard not to be disappointed in the lack of depth and missed opportunities.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author for providing an advanced copy of this! All thoughts and opinions are still my own.

This book was set up to be a new favorite. It had some of my all time favorite tropes - roommates to lovers, submissive/bottom hero, and monsters.

And this book definitely delivered on those aspects. I loved the discussions around the characters' sexual preferences, the soft hero, and a heroine in her 30s trying to start over.

However, where this book fell short for me was in the length.

This book follows Beryl who grew up in a monster worshiping cult and was never exposed to any aspects of a normal life. When Greid comes looking for a new roommate, the 2 of them strike a bargain and live together.

The rest of the story is literally the 2 main characters living their lives. There is no plot. No goal. This book is building towards absolutely nothing. It is simply the day by day activities of these 2 and they go from platonic roommates to more.

I'm totally fine with a low angst, steamy, character focused story. But at 530 pages, it was just too long to have zero plot driving the story forward.

I think the world Lily Mayne created was really unique and I loved the monsters & Greid's family. I just hope that the next books are far shorter.

[Chloë · Rating 5 out of 5]

O.M.G you guys!!! This is so sugary sweet and lovely and just one big warm hug of a book. Fans of Lily’s will not be disappointed.

It is no secret how much I love Lily's Monstrous series, so when word got out that she was starting starting a new series that included multiple relationship types, my excitement was immeasurable and my expectations exceeded!

Regardless of being monsters, there is just something so ultimately human about the characters she writes. The anxieties, feelings, self-doubt, joy, and everything emotion in-between, Lily has a way of writing that is just so relatable, and this latest entry is no different (if not the most!).

Now, I must say...demiurgus did not flow easily off the tongue at the start, but that was quickly forgotten with the introduction of our monstrous MMC Greid. Our self-described "socially anxious goblin" is an absolute cinnamon roll of the highest order.

Apparently I was 'antisocial' and 'practically a hermit', and wanting to stay in and get high and watch shitty TV was 'immature'. How was that immature? I was old enough to buy legal drugs, so technically getting high was the most mature thing I could do.

When the loneliness gets to be a bit too much, Greid puts on a brave face and ventures to The Order (aka cult) with the hopes of finding a suitable companion and meets the absolutely lovely Beryl, another lost soul determined to break out of her stasis. While their introduction gets off on the wrong foot due to misconceptions of one another, these two are such a perfect match. Their mutual development as the story progresses, both as a couple and as individuals, was a delight to read.

I really appreciated that they were older MCs (both 35+) yet still were figuring their sh!t out. I also liked that this was quite a slow burn (for Lily 😉) before their friendship turned to something more romantic. It really allowed each of them time to break out of their respective shells and progress naturally into something with a solid foundation. And their time between the sheets? 🔥🔥🔥🔥 & creative! But what I most appreciated was just how much the overall theme of this book was about acceptance.

As strange as some people might think your choices in life are, they're your choices to make...[you] don't deserve to be shamed for that.

It was just a lovely, soft blanket of sweet emotion with very little angst, and I found myself smiling throughout. I can't wait to see what the rest of the series brings!

I received a free copy of this book from the author and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Book 1: Berries and Greed - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Book 2: Shots and Barbs - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Laurie (barksbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really cute no angst, no conflict monster romance about two roommates from two different species who are meant for each other. But it’s too long for what it is. I love these kind of sweet/sexy stories and the two are adorable together but it needed a little conflict or maybe 100 less pages. It took me nearly a month to finish this one in-between review books and other commitments and though I liked it I didn’t feel an undying urge to stay up all night to finish it because the pace is so meandering as they go about their daily lives, watch tv shows which almost become secondary characters for a bit 😳, get high and eat like starving teenagers while wearing onesies and giant slippers. It’s cozy and sweet and spicy but damn that word count nearly did me in.

[Stillbelieveinnightmares (busy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

I loved spending time with them as a couple. The characters are awesome. I loved Beryl's and Greid's individual background, their range of emotions and layers. The pacing was so good; I've suffered through sweet yearning and got my dose of couple content just at the right time.

[Tare · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is so hard for me to rate.

Firstly, I am not a huge fan of fluffy, romcom stories - I love me some angst and pain okay?! But since I adore Lily’s writing and everything she has ever published I was of course interested. Then - I saw that this book was almost 570 pages long - and truthfully, I would’ve instantly chosen to not read it (for my own personal tastes - I can handle sweet, lighthearted goodness to an extent and that is probably roughly 200 pages max). But again, I was going to give these characters and their story a go.

So yes, my main complaint is the length… I know some people adore low-angst, fluffy romances, but to me - with a lack of basically any conflict it just felt really repetitive. And it is also a slow burn. So combine length, slow burn with a lack of a strong external plotline…I just struggled. There are about 250 pages before they even kiss and start exploring their romantic connection. That is a lot of page time to them becoming friends and essentially just chilling, watching TV, eating, and smoking nightshade.

Now, the characters - I really did adore Greid. He was awkward and dorky and sweet. Sometimes, while in his POV, I was laughing out loud at his thought processes. I struggled with Beryl - I wanted to really like her but I also found such a major disconnect with her character and still cannot pinpoint exactly why 🙈

As for the sexual dynamic - Beryl has vaginismus and therefore is unable (and uninterested in) any form of penetration. Greid is naturally much more interested in being submissive (very uncommon for the demiurgus and something seen fairly negatively) as well as very interested in being penetrated himself (valid and probably not even uncommon in males of his kind). I found this all really intriguing as I have not read this dynamic before nor anything with someone who has vaginismus.

What I loved:
- all the “good boy” vibes and praise kink 🙌
- mutual pining (always)
- Gried’s family was so realistic (bickering and embarrassing and all)
- the WORLD BUILDING was, as always, was fantastic (the entire demiurgus lifestyle and pop culture 👌)

This was a cute and fluffy romance. I would potentially be interested in more in this world (based on the world building alone) but the page count would have to be drastically shorter for me to want to pick up.

[Kelspar · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

As an introverted hermit stoner, I related so deeply to Greid, just swap out his tv for reading. And Beryl is a woman after my own heart and desires. Absolutely loved both characters. And when they go thrifting for mushroom statues, I've never felt so seen in a book lol

This story was a big, warm comfy blanket (or onesie). There is no drama, no big conflict or break-up, just two lonely people trying to figure out their lives and each other. It felt real and authentic. I enjoyed the slow pacing of friends to lovers, and am left with a warm fuzzy glow knowing how happy they make each other

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars- This was so sweet, cute characters and fun plot.

[Dara · Rating 5 out of 5]

What up? One cool demiurgus looking for another cool person to hang out at his cool house. Nothing sexual. 420 friendly. Membership in demiurgus worshipping sex cult okay. Again, nothing sexual.

Greid's a lonely, introverted, socially anxious demiurgus who decides he needs a roommate and what better place to find one than that weird cult up on the hill that worships his kind? His absolute shock and horror at discovering 'worship his kind' doesn't just mean 'is super interested in demiurgus culture and history' is hilarious. Beryl has lived with the cult since she was ten as a ward of her aunt. Both of them are essentially pulling a long con on the cult, by which they pretend to be into the cult's beliefs and in return get food, lodging, and don't have to deal with the real world. After all, it's not like a demiurgus is really going to show up looking for a mate, right? One hasn't even stopped by in like, forty years. Right?

So yeah, Beryl moves in with Greid as totally platonic roommates and at age 35 has to start learning all the stuff she missed growing up. Like what coffee tastes like, how to get a job, and what to do when you start crushing on your hot stoner roommate.

I loved how even though they were ostensibly incompatible--Beryl has vaginismus and doesn't ever want penetrative sex, while Greid has, uh, a monster dong with painful barbs that would hurt any human--they didn't even once view either issue as an obstacle to their sex life. There's plenty of fulfilling and delightful things to do other than putting the P in the V, man. Besides, they're ultra compatible in other ways.

Such a sweet slow burn friends to lovers warm Snuggie of a novel. Maybe it was a bit overlong and could have used some trimming up, but I liked the world and the characters so much I appreciated spending more time with them. I just want to order takeout, wrap myself in a Slanket, smoke a bowl, and watch monster sitcoms on Greid's couch.

[Poppy || Monster Lover · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cutest dorkiest MMC

How was Gried so cute? He was awkward AF, high a lot, and a gentle recluse. He and Beryl were too precious together. The femme dom dynamic worked great.
This was so cozy, especially after reading Soulless a while ago. I’m usually not the biggest fan of super cozy books, but you can’t not adore Gried. And the leaving a cult behind thing? Resonated on quite a few levels.

Spice: 4/5

Triggers: cult, child neglect (off page), drug use

[D.L. Howe · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

BR with my girl Cass!

Let’s start with the good shall we?

Beryl and Greid aka berry and greedy are phenomenal characters. The character development for Greid alone is amazing, LM is top notch at creating interesting, original monsters. I love how bashful, sweet, cuddly and self deprecating they are. Every time Greid called himself, a lanky goblin, I chuckled.

And together they were smutastic. This is a definite case of sheep on the streets and tigers in the sheets. I loved that Beryl was a soft Domme and she took Greid in hand perfectly with bondage, praise and topping. And Greid was her perfect good boy and his neediness had me on my knees for more.

Plus the surrounding cast was just as great! From the cult weirdos to Greid’s family to Beryl’s friend and co-workers. Even the villain, though her part was small was entertaining as hell.

That’s the good and now a lil bit of the ugly.

I don’t mind a long book as long as it’s relevant and necessary to the storyline. But a long one for the sake of being long? Yeah not my thing. And while I don’t think that’s necessarily true for this one, I do think a good 200 pages could’ve shaved off with less repetition.

But all in all it was an awesome story about opposites attracting. It had you intrigued and curious about all kinds of things. And all those questions were answered to my total fulfillment.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh boy, do I have thoughts.

So, this was wayyyyyyy too long. I'm not sure what's up with Lily's writing lately but it's been dragging. Seraph, Lor, and now this has been way too long for the content inside. It makes me feel like the books are being written long on purpose for the sake of Kindle Unlimited payout. There's half a chapter spent just reading about our MMC cleaning his house...

Greid is an awful character. "I was a loner introvert who was high fifty percent of the time and did nothing but watch TV and eat." His entire personality is that he's anxious, smokes weed, and is submissive. He has a severe problem with TV home shopping, to the point where he has an entire room filled with stuff he bought off TV. His ex has apparently traumatized him and is mentioned the entire book. It's annoying. He's a wet rag. A doormat. Which, I guess is fine if you're into that thing, but it sounds more like he has severe mental health problems that need to be addressed. And since this was supposed to be a fluffy story, it totally missed the mark for me.

Beryl doesn't make any sense to me. She's from a cult, but the cult isn't really a cult to me. She's 35 and has been in this cult since she was a child but hasn't been indoctrinated even in the slightest? I don't find that believable. Especially since she didn't want to leave the cult and stuck around.

The cult aspect was really half-assed to me. Apparently only people who are 21+ can join. You can also just leave at any point. The leader doesn't even know why they exist. In fact, NO ONE knows why this cult exists. Greid asks and the answer is something along the lines of "they came from the deep earth so they're special." I would have liked any other answer better than "just cuz."

I don't think you even find out how Greid learned about the cult. I guess the creepy sex cult on the hill is just common knowledge? But then, why is no one doing anything to stop it?

You also don't get any closure with Beryl and her aunt. There's a bunch of talk about figuring out how Beryl can see her aunt after leaving the cult. But Berly never sees her aunt, despite figuring out a way to do it.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read and I already know it’ll be a comfort reread in the future. It’s just the cozies, sweetest, fluffiest, most low angst story. With the length of the book (500+ pages) and the low angst, you’d think it would drag at times, but I never felt like it did. I was completely enraptured by these two from the very beginning and couldn’t put it down.

Greid is my kindred spirit who is anxious, hates leaving the house, loves infomercials, and lives his best life snuggled up under a mountain of blankets. Beryl is finally enjoying her freedom from a cult within the safety of her friendship-turned-more with Greid. I loved seeing her grow into herself and find her confidence after leaving the confines of her sheltered past.

Most of all, I just loved how easy these two fell in love with each other and accepted each other for who they were. Reading all of the domestic scenes of them just hanging out on the couch and watching TV made me so happy.

[Sreberko]

DNF at 55%.

First of all, I want to make it clear that it's entirely my opinion about fictional characters. I am not a doctor, and while I may have strong views, they are only my opinions regarding people who don't exist. I was reading their POVs, being in their minds, and I didn't like it.
But let's start on a positive note.

The good:
x Lily's writing is always pleasing to the eyes and the mind. It's like reading your best friend's or SO's thoughts. All warm, fuzzy, hot, sexy and so pleasant.
x Beryl was very cute. I liked her, she looked like a person perfect for hugs, always supportive, and in general, very happy with her life. She looked pretty and unique, and her outside fitter her inside. That was very cute, and I wish I could play with her hair.
x I liked how much thought and effort went into creating all the tv series, commercials, telenovelas, and just in general creating a unique but also very relatable pop culture of demiurgus & humans.
x Greid's cleaning man. He is precious.

The "oh boy oh boy":
x First of all, Beryl was growing up in a cult. She didn't have actual education, she didn't have access to books/movies/series that were "improper", she didn't know how the internet works, and she didn't even have a phone. She didn't have friends, and only because of her aunt she grew up as a semi-normal person.
And I'm sorry, but it doesn't make sense. Don't get me wrong, she is the sweetest human being in history, but she has no right to be that smart, self-aware, understanding so deeply human behaviors, and adapting so easily to the new world. Especially because she CHOSE to stay in the cult. From time to time it's mentioned how she still struggles with unhealthy food, with waking up late, with adjusting to being "independent" (which she is NOT) - but it's just not enough to sell the whole "growing sheltered in a cult where people are NOT normal". I won't say how she should behave, because people are different and I am not a specialist - but it felt off, so off was one of the reasons I couldn't finish the book. I wish there were sensitive readers involved to make it more realistic. She was just... too healthy and normal, without a long journey of working on herself with other people, therapists, etc.
x On that topic: what kind of education did she get in the cult? She is not well-versed in being a perfect wife to anyone, she doesn't know that much about sex (which, if it was a sex cult... would make sense to teach people how to satisfy your future monster spouse, no?)... what do they even DO there? I find it hard to believe that she doesn't know close-to-everything about demiurgus' kind if that was the only thing they were allowed to read, watch, etc. She should be like a walking encyclopedia and compare that knowledge to how Greid and all the neighbors behave, especially because it's her first time meeting that species. But no, she basically treats them like other humans, in which case... Really, what they did do in that cult?
x Greid is described as someone who isn't addicted to shade (some kind of monster-weed) or to shopping. And I'm sorry, but I'm calling it bullshit. There is a difference between finding help with managing your anxiety and thinking ALL.THE.TIME. about shade. There is not even one moment in time when he doesn't reach for shade or doesn't wish he had smoked shade. Being close to Beryl is awesome, but do you know what would be even better? Being close to Beryl WHILE smoking shade. If it's not full-on addiction, it's at least a disorder. This is not quirky, and it's something I definitely didn't expect from the book, even after checking and double-checking the TWs. I was expecting something closer to smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol - more like "it sometimes happens", but it's not present all the time.
And about shopping while being "floaty" with shade, and then forgetting about what you have bought? Having a whole ROOM with unopen packages from delivery? Yeah, "maybe you just have a little addictive personality". Mhm.
x Greid has problems. He IS lazy, filthy, tries to run away from decision-making, is antisocial, has some addiction/disorders, and has anxiety. It's very clearly written and described. He has to "wind down" with shade and silly tv series after making jewelry for the whole day. With my whole sympathy towards precise and creative work... It's not something after you need to wind down in a way connected to responsibilities, mental labor, and heavy emotional weights. There is no instance when his work makes him anxious - why would he need shade to relax afterward, every day? Social responsibilities drain him, and if that was the case I could understand the need to shut off your brain, but... it's not.
He is presented as quirky and funny, but... I don't see the appeal. Maybe if we didn't spend time in his POV it wouldn't look like that - we could come up with reasons for his behavior by ourselves. But when I read someone's POV and they mention shade 7-10 times in around one hour of book-time...? Yeah. He has problems and I couldn't like him or feel connected to him.
x Their first smexy time happens on the first day of Beryl's period after she has been curled on the couch from pain for the whole evening. I won't go into details, but it didn't make me feel invested in their new dynamic. I can't say for sure that no person with periods will relate to that experience, but I wasn't convinced. The switch from "pain" to "horny" was fast, and looked forced.
x And, last thing: this book is too long. I really don't need to read the same information a couple of times in one-two chapters. If it's something important, I should remember it after the first time. Repetition, especially in the same POV, made the writing more clumsy. People don't just go through their day repeating in their memory "Oh yes, I have vaginismus and thus I can't do that". Part of good editing is catching that repetition, catching the paragraphs that don't add anything to the story or... that make the character look like he is an addict because he has to mention shade on every other page.

I'm sure this book will have many fans. It's an easy and cozy read, it doesn't describe the most complicated stories or human emotions. It doesn't go too deep, just enough for us to feel a connection (or not). The characters are made to look quirky, and if someone wants it in their book, they will find it here.
Maybe some of the things get explained more deeply in the next half of the book; it doesn't look that way though. It's written to be your comfort read, and while I totally understand the reasons behind it, it didn't work for me. It touched on topics that are heavy (addiction, anxiety disorder, social anxiety, growing up in a cult, vaginismus, finding your true self as a middle-age person, consent, and risk of preying over a vulnerable person) and treated them too lightly.

I received an ARC of this book from the author and I'm leaving an honest review.

[Chrissy Loves Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Cozy Vibes and Slow-Burn Perfection!

Oh wow, this book nailed it. The slow build-up was pure gold, and I loved every second of watching these two characters come into their own. You know those stories that make you feel all warm and fuzzy but still deliver the steam? Yup, this is one of those gems!

Each character gets their own voice in such a natural way, growing and figuring out who they are while falling in love, and it was just… chef's kiss. It’s rare to find a romance that perfectly balances the heat with cozy, comforting vibes, but this book manages to do just that. I mean, where else do you get butterflies and that “snuggle-up-with-a-cup-of-tea” feeling all in one?

If you're looking for a feel-good story with just the right amount of spice and a whole lot of heart, this one’s for you. Don’t be surprised if you stay up way too late reading—I sure did, and it was 100% worth it!

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A bit of an adorable mess!”



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 🩵🖤❤️💜💚
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌎
Character development: ☹️☺️😍😄😚
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration

The heroine: Beryl - she was dumped on her aunt’s doorstep as a child by a father that didn’t want her. Her aunt had at one time gone to jail for stealing and when she got out, her boyfriend had locked her out of the house. So, she showed up at the doorstep of a wealthy cult called the Order of Greater Beings, that worshipped the demiurgus. The demiurgus were monstrous beings that used to live in a subterranean world beneath the surface of the earth. They have since come above ground and now live side by side with humans. Beryl and her aunt live with the cult in their posh mansion and work at their successful winery, but they just pretend to worship the monsters, they really just like the lifestyle which is more than they could afford if they lived out in the world on their own.

The Hero: Greid - he is one of the demiurgus, he makes jewelry from his home. He has social anxiety and doesn’t usually mix with humans, or other demiurgus for that matter. He usually just stays at home, binge watching TV while stoned. Though he has been lonely for quite some time, so he decided to check out one of the many cults that worshipped his kind, hoping to find a friend, a roommate, someone he can hang out with, so he isn’t so lonely all the time. He had no interest in a romantic relationship with a human.

The Story: Greid has always felt like a weirdo. His father always put him down, his brother picked on him, and his former girlfriend treated him like a loser and said he was immature and antisocial. She made him a pariah by sharing stories about him with their social circle. In truth he was just a bit awkward and happened to like getting high (on a legal marijuana-like substance called shade) and watching tv. When he went to the Order of the Greater Beings, he was treated differently. He didn’t understand why, though his kind were stronger, faster, had claws, fangs and tails. Their true form was much larger than humans as well. He was disturbed to find that he was at a sex cult.

“But… higher beings? Really? We literally came from below them. And they were the ones who’d made all the good stuff. Pizza and TV and those little patches you could put on your pimples to make them practically vanish overnight.”

This was quite a long audiobook, 17+ hours, and had some pretty awesome reviews on Audible as well as on Amazon and Goodreads. Right from the start, I liked Greid, he was funny, self-depreciating, and so matter of fact that you couldn’t help but enjoy him. I also liked how Greid and Beryl started really getting to know each other from the start. They got along well and decided to become roommates. Beryl wanted to get away from the cult but had been afraid to strike out on her own since she had been there since she was a kid.

I love that Greid loved to veg out in front of his TV wearing his giant onesie, snuggling into a pile of blankets. Plus, the fact that he has a “room of shame” filled with all the things he bought from late-night infomercials while high. He was just so lovable. Additionally, I liked the fact that Greid was not just a stoner and a couch potato, he was actually a successful jeweler who made a lot of money and lived in the nice part of the city.

“Oh fuck, this was it. The big dramatic scene in every human romcom, the heartfelt confession where they declared their undying love for each other. I wasn’t prepared! There was sweet and sour sauce on the front of my onesie, for fuck’s sake. I wasn’t wearing any pants!”

This audiobook was done in dual points of view via dual narration and was narrated by Rebecca Woods and Michael Lesley. I quite liked both of these narrators in this book. Rebecca woods has a very expressive voice and is easy to listen to. Michael Leslie sounds like he is talking in a deeper voice than his normal speaking voice, but I really liked it for the character in this book, he did a terrific stoner voice. He also was great at doing different voices for different characters.

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[Alyssa (hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ "I've told you what I want, Greid. Now be a good boy, and lie back and fuck yourself with the dildo." ✨

When I first heard that Lily Mayne was writing a MF story, I was a bit disappointed because I don't usually read MF. But I should have known I'd like it because I enjoy everything she writes! She made the main characters so cute and likeable; I wanted to hug both of them and be their friend!

Reading Berries and Greed felt cozy and fluffy and comforting. The characters felt authentic and relatable with their quirks and flaws. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Beryl and Greid; it was my first time reading about a MF couple with a soft femdom top and a malesub bottom. It was great!

Now, this is a long book and not everyone will like reading about Beryl and Greid's everyday life in such detail, but I personally loved it! This new monster/human world is fun and it seems like the author really put a lot of thought into it. I can't wait to read more books from this series.

[Noah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sweet cozy F/M Monster book. The couple is perfect for each other and Greid really stole my heart. Beryl was an amazing girld too. Definitely a low angst, cozy sunday read. I don't typically read F/M much and I dont think it will ever be my favorite genre but due to the setup of this couple I could read it quite easily.

[kc · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good friends-to-lovers story. This was super cute and spicy. Greid was adorable.

[Alexandra Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book feels like a hug from your friends, like a warn blanket when it's cold, like that feeling you get after spending all day laughing with your friends... THAT!!

It's incredibly funny and sweet because we have Greid who is a sweet cinnamon roll whom you'll love at first sight and Beryl who is pure sunshine and hope and yes she can be feisty but also is very gentle and kind...

Greid is a Demiurgus and Beryl is a human

From the moment we meet them they grab our hearts and never let go...

We get to join them on their path towards self acceptance and personal growth

Their dynamic is wonderful as they are both very accepting of each other and their friendship feels genuine, their love is a generous and honest and so so HOT 🔥

I absolutely loved this book and can't wait to read the next one in the series 🤩

Berries and greed by Lily Mayne comes out on June 30th

Totally recommend it! 💯
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶
❤❤❤❤❤
This is an ARC review!

[Layla]

RTC

[Bizzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the idea of this book a lot more than the execution. I rarely read MF romance because it’s so often steeped in gender norms, but this book is refreshingly queer about gender and sexuality. Both characters struggle with who they want to be vs. who society tells them they should be, but not for reasons relating to gender, and at every opportunity the book rejects neat divisions between genders or biological sexes. Additionally, it’s wonderful to read a book where the female character does not want to have penetrative sex and it isn’t treated like a problem to be solved or a “gift” of vulnerability to be offered to prove her love. And the worldbuilding is fun (if a little shallow) and the book has a great sense of humor.

The problem is, this book is 564 pages long and that’s about 300 pages more than the story calls for. I was just so bored for so much of it because it feels like Mayne wanted to include absolutely every single detail she thought of while writing (like in-depth explanations of meals, TV show plots, infomercial products, etc.) but none of it adds anything to the story. It’s just there, taking up space, while more interesting things aren’t explored or get lost (like Beryl wanting to see her aunt again – they talk about how to make that happen and then never do). “Here’s a funny idea for a monster sitcom” is prime fodder for a free short sent to newsletters subscribers but tedious to read about in a 564-page romance that has no plot other than “characters slowly get to know each other.” I absolutely do not need to know, and do not care about, every takeout meal the characters get for two weeks straight, especially when the only thoughts they have about those meals are “wow, food is good!” and “haha, Greid sure can eat a lot.”

I also didn’t feel like Greid had much of a personality. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to just hang out at home and watch TV when you’re not working, and I appreciate how the book kept reinforcing that Greid isn’t lazy or a bad person for wanting to live his life this way. But I felt like most of the time we spend with him he’s either eating, watching infomercials, or getting stoned (or some combination of those), or feeling bad about doing those things, and that’s basically it. I never developed a strong sense of him as a person. Similarly, I didn’t think Beryl’s complete isolation from the rest of the world was well-developed and I didn’t buy that someone as sheltered as she was supposed to be would so easily adapt to leaving, but Mayne did a good-enough job exploring Beryl’s feelings around her life transition that it didn’t really bother me.

I honestly don’t know if I’d recommend this due to the plot to length ratio.

[Shelby | Spicy.booknook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the cutest, sweetest yet spiciest books I’ve ever read. I loved it so much. It gave me so many feels! Th love and respect that these two have for each other is just so on point. The world building and character development for both characters is wonderful. The whole story just left me with a happy, warm fuzzy feeling. Like a Snuggie 😂