I loved this book! Let me repeat that. I loved this book!!
A few main points:
* Monster romance,
* m/f - mothman/human
* Book with spice, on page, some details, but not overly explicit
* HFN, but can be read as standalone HEA without issues; though the couple’s story continues in book 2
* There is a hook at the end, but not a cliffhanger.
To start, I adored how Heather embraced frivolity, loved dresses, and was altogether whimsical. Parts of this felt like a coming of age, the adult version, and i really appreciated it. Not many people address the Quarter Life Crisis, but it can be a very real thing!! I loved seeing her try new things, as she was feeling herself out, almost trying on this new life. It was an incredibly relatable journey for me, as I have also run away from my life and everything I knew, not once, but twice, in order to figure out who I was. I just moved to different continents for a while rather than buying a remote cabin and falling in love with a cryptid. Not to say that isn’t very on brand.
Moth was darling! He was prickly and bewildered by Heather, but who hasn’t been confused by cottage core girlies? The fact that Heather just responded by feeding him soup and giving him blankets was probably even more confounding. The way his outer walls started cracking and he could be the little marshmallow cryptid we all knew Mothman would be was wonderful.
Heather and Moth’s relationship felt very sweet, and it was as beautiful seeing two lonely creatures find each other. They fit each other so well.
I appreciated that we were dropped into Heather’s crisis near the end of her breaking point. And the author did a great job demonstrating how alone she was, even with her network. She had no one to have a real conversation with, including her mom, who was also wrapped up in branding. I could sense the love between mother and daughter, but there was a wall. Or a screen (lol see what i did there). The complexity of a loving mother daughter relationship that is also toxic is not always well done but I felt it was done well here.
My Highlights (minor spoilers)
* Clear & enthusiastic consent! From both parties + BC discussion!
* Bi main characters, lesbian/wlw secondary characters. & bi rep where the MC actually notes attraction to both genders!
* Chronic illness rep, dealing with it day to day
* Moth was such a beautiful example of masculinity. He was able to display strength & possessiveness, even jealousy, but was never toxic. Perfection.
* The slow revelation of Chris as a whole character felt very true to reality; you don’t always know everything, but little things are picked up.
* The tree book reading scene & the meadow scene (twilight wishes it had a cryptid)
We better get the dreamed about chase seen in book 2!!!!
Content Warnings:
Kidnapping, gunshot, problematic parental relationship/expectations, hunting, online bullying, burnout
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair and unbiased review