Sunsets & Other Dangerous Things

by Dani Frank

A sunshine vampire who can't help falling in love, a grumpy grad student who's followed by bad luck, and a cure that could bring them together or end them forever.

Ashley, a jobless millennial, thought becoming a vampire sounded romantic in the mid-aughts. Now she’s dodging vampire-hunting witches and student loans while trying to regain some of the security she lost years ago when her girlfriend vanished shortly after changing her. The join an established vampire family. All they want is for Ashley to first complete one year of undergrad without giving away her undead status. This proves challenging as, despite her lack of heartbeat, Ashley's romantic tendencies are alive and well as she finds herself falling head over feet for her class’s cute but prickly graduate assistant.

Esther just wants to finish her master’s program and never talk to people again. As a walking bad luck charm, she finds solace in following the rules and regulations of her archive internship and graduate assistant duties. Until she’s paired for a school project with the girl in class whose smile inexplicably makes her knees weak... and also happens to be a vampire. Hoping to figure out what these warm, fuzzy feelings are about, Esther agrees to help Ashley navigate Christmas with her family as her fake girlfriend.

But the witches have their own plan brewing. They’ve created a cure for vampires that will give Esther a chance at a new life with Ashley by releasing Ashley from the forever-life she regrets. All Esther has to do is betray Ashley by giving the witches what they need to complete the spell, leaving Ashley to choose between the stability of the vampire family or a happily ever after that will only last a few decades.

Genres: Lesbian, Romance, Fantasy, Vampires, Paranormal, LGBT, Queer

364 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 19, 2024

About the author

Dani Frank is doing her best. Her writing tends toward the humorous side of millennial angst, be it paranormal vampires or small-town contemporary romance. She is the "small-town girl moves to big city" trope where she lives with her husband and fluffy cat. She is still trying to visit every museum in the area and has visited four sites where Edgar Allan Poe lived, but knows of one more she still needs to hit up. She is still salty to have not been voted the friend "most likely to have touched a human bone."

For more updates visit my website:
www.Dani-Frank.com

Reviews

[Juniper L.H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it. So many different reasons. Being similar in age to the protagonist likely helped as I got all of the references and have personally experienced a lot of the disconnect with people just that bit younger, without being a vampire myself! This novel was fun and also serious, dumb but also clever. There was a solid plotline running through it, and a sweet and satisfying romance, wrapped up with some paranormal fun times. Highly recommend!

This doesn’t really mean anything, but I am a sucker for that title and titles structured like that in general.

My Rating: "A-"
GoodReads: 5-stars

Highlights:
-Millennial vampire? I love it. The novel had a lot of fun playing around with this detail and so did I. its true that you only think of ancient or brand-new vampires, not someone who essentially just looks a bit younger than they are. I loved how the “vampire can’t relate to modern people” trope was present, but it was only as strong as a millennial communicating with someone 7ish years younger. Very relatable, specifically as my age is similar to the protagonists.
-The worldbuilding was very thorough and clear, yet the author avoided infodumps quite successfully. Masterclass!
-The protagonist is an absolute disaster of a “human”, and I adore it. Very well done.
-The scene where they were sitting on the log and Ashley “tried” to reference Twilight. Amazing.
-The details of Ashley turning into a vampire and her previous relationship was a fun touch. I feel like you don’t normally see someone turning play out in quite this way, but it seemed perfectly on brand for the time period.
-I LOVED how they handled Esther figuring out her sexuality and how respectful Ashley was about the whole thing. I have read a lot of sapphic romance novels and I haven’t seen one play out quite like this, it was refreshing.
-Really solid found family vibes.
-Both protagonists had a nice character arc and some noticeable development as a person, independent of the relationship arc. I always like this and feel it is important to have a fuller and more well rounded novel.
-I was surprised at how much old-school vampire lore was used, and it was interesting to see in such a modern setting. I liked it!.

Nitpicks:
-I expected Esther’s “unlucky nature” to be more of a plot point. Given how much it was set up and how big of a deal it was for her, it somewhat just went away without much fuss. I also found that the description of the issue didn’t align with her reaction.
-Ashley is incredibly dumb and bad at keeping secrets and doesn’t act like she understands the stakes. I obviously realize that this is literally the point, but I still found myself slightly disconnected when she was blatantly doing things she knows she shouldn’t (with high stakes) and didn’t seem to be concerned about it herself.

[Desirée Niccoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dani Frank’s character work *sparkles.* Can I be a part of Esther, Ashley, Uther, and August’s friend group? There’s lots of popular vampire media references, millennial nostalgia, cheeky humor, and warm, cozy soft moments between characters that feel like the warmth of the sun. This book revels in all the things the world looks down its nose at and considers “frivolous” because they’re “girly” — it embraces these things without irony. Without shame. Glitter, pink lava lamps, and my favorite…earrings as weapons and cheerleading as a combat style.

[Poppy || Monster Lover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ashley was a sunshiny, impulsive, and hopeless romantic vampire pining after the the hot TA/GA. Esther was a gloomy, introverted, goth girl with decision paralysis (which, same on the decision paralysis) who had her lil bi awakening. There were sooo many Twilight jokes and references in this book. There was also a sweet found family arc. Overall, a cute story, with some dark moments, and an unexpected end.

Spice: 2/5

Triggers: violence, blood, some body horror (not too detailed), discussion of homophobia, divorce (past, parents), past murders (vague), faked death, sexual harassment, drowning, death, burns, religious discussion, philosophical discussion of cannibalism

[Brend]

A sunshine vampire who can't help falling in love, a grumpy grad student who's followed by bad luck.


I'm simply too seated.

[Queer Quill Enthusiast · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve historically struggled with sapphic paranormal books, often finding the stories monotonous and losing interest. This book, however, was such a fun read! It didn’t take itself too seriously, and I loved how quirky it was. Found family is one of my favorite themes, and this book delivered in spades with a fantastic cast of characters, each with fleshed-out personalities and distinct voices.

Ashley and Esther were absolutely adorable together. Their chemistry was undeniable, and the slow-burn romance was executed deliciously. On top of that, I really enjoyed Ashley’s internal thoughts. Not only were they hilarious, but their scattered, all-over-the-place nature resonated deeply with how my own brain works.

This book had me laughing out loud so many times that my wife gave me more than a few raised eyebrows. It struck all the right chords for me, from the humor to the heartfelt moments. You could tell the author truly enjoyed writing it, and that joy translated beautifully onto the page.

I’m officially a Dani Frank fan—give me more, please!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book. Most vampire fiction I’ve read has been so serious, dark & brooding and this was a new take on a paranormal favorite. Loved the found family aspect, I’m a sucker for fake dating a Millennial vampire making her way through the world - loved it!! The authors voice is so fresh, unique & I can’t wait for more Dani Frank books.

[lauraღ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Esther’s heart beat at her chest, and her entire being channeled a forward motion. She was the sea and Ashley the moon.

I liked this quite a bit! An extremely cute paranormal romance that, unfortunately, sorta lost me in the third act, as a lot of romances tend to do. Pretty subjective stuff, things that I personally don't like, so I'd still recommend this to anyone looking for a paranormal read that's mostly light-hearted and fun. Ashley is a young vampire, only ten-ish years turned, trying to earn her way into a vampire family that will offer her protection. In order to do so, she has to make her way through undergrad (again) without making any waves, but trouble comes in the form of an irresistible grad assistant in one of her classes.

First the good! Like, I said, it's really cute, very clearly trying to be fun and quirky, but in a way that works. Ashley doesn't fall into any of the typical stereotypes for vampires, and is really struggling with the idea of the isolation ahead of her, being separated from her family etc. But she's doing her best, and it makes her a really fun character to follow. I love how she's so upbeat and excitable, but really intense when it comes to romance. Esther is more on the introverted side, a little dry, and makes the perfect foil/complement to Ashley. They have a classic meet cute in class, some really cute banter, the typical setup of having to work together on a project. I loved everything about their burgeoning chemistry. The entire coming home for dinner chapters, and talking about poetry after, were some of my favourite. (Especially when they were quoting Poe. It might make me a basic bitch but idc, I love that weird dude's poetry.) There were some pretty funny moments and references. I do kinda wish it was more slow burn, but it was almost slow enough for me, and really sexy. Ashley especially is soooooo swoony. <3 There's a secondary romance with their friends that I thought was so cute, and some sorta found family vibes?

But there were, alas, some things that brought the rating down for me. The third act conflict being one of them! I say this all the time: I really dislike miscommunication or lack of communication, but it isn't automatically a bad trope. Sometimes it's totally believable that a couple won't communicate, or that they'll misunderstand each other, because of the particular circumstance that they find themselves in. But I do think that a lot of writers DEFAULT to miscommunication as a source of conflict, even when it doesn't make sense for the couple. And IMO this was one of those cases, and it was really annoying. Part of Esther's baggage is that she doesn't like to give people advice or offer her opinion, because things always seem to turn out for the worse. Something about how this scenario was laid out made it seem very silly, with how seriously she took it. Like, I expected it to be a legit curse or have some sort of supernatural cause, the way she talked about it. Anyway, that's not the point. She hates giving advice. So in the last third, when she gets the information about the cure, why doesn't she just tell Ashley about it? She doesn't want to make the decision, she's scared her decision will be a bad one. This is what we've been told over and over. So why in the world wouldn't she just tell Ashley about it? Why would she keep it a secret??? Give herself that burden?? And the answer is, of course, that the author needed to have Ashley find out about it on that scene on the beach, think that Esther betrayed her, and be the catalyst for the third act breakup. It just made no sense to me, after the book kept emphasising how Esther didn't want to make decisions/give advice. She could have taken the situation out of her own hands at any time!! But she didn't. And alas, a contrived third act conflict always deflates me. Also, as much as I liked the references, all the Twilight stuff etc, it did get to be a bit much after a while. IMO there's a sweet spot in book when it comes to pop culture references, and you just can't have too many of them, or else it gets cheesy. This was cheesy.

But my least favourite thing, and my biggest gripe (surprisingly) is the resolution. You sell me on a paranormal vampire romance... and then I get hit with the curable, reversible vampirism?? Nooooo!!!! Reversible vampirism got to be the biggest cop out in the world and I hate it. And look, hear me out. Romance is my favourite genre. I care about my HEAs more than I care about most things. 8 times out of 10, I'm okay with good things happening, as opposed to interesting things happening. I WANT love to save the day etc etc. It's truly very sad that Ashley got turned into a vampire for a girlfriend who turned out to be terrible, and years down the line, she ends up regretting her choice to change. But it would be so much more interesting for her to have to live with that change!! Like, part of me respects the book for not doing the completely expected thing, which is to have Esther turn as well. Esther doesn't really wanna be a vampire, and I can't blame her. But IMO, in that case, it would have been so much more meaningful, so much more satisfying, if they had the type of HEA that's open-ended, with Ashley as a vampire, Esther as a human, knowing that Ashley will live on while Esther has 60-odd more years to live. There could have been like, idk, a melancholy call-back to them quoting 'Annabel Lee'! AND SO ALL THE NIGHT TIDE I LAY DOWN BY THE SIDE -- But instead we get a barely coherent plot where some witches figure out a cure in the background, and Ashley becomes human again. I really didn't like that, haha. I can see how it might be cathartic for some readers? Like, Ashley made an impulsive, bad decision in the past, and now she gets the chance to turn things around? It's all hopeful and sweet. But to me, it's so unsatisfying. I wanted her to fall head over heels in love AND deal with her vampire nature. Instead we get deus ex witches.

Speaking of the witches, while I really liked August and Uther, they didn't appear on page enough to have the kind of impact the author wanted, I fear. I think we were GOING for a found family vibe, but didn't get there. Like, you can't convince me that August and Ashley are friends. We barely saw development for that. August, tbh, got really annoying, and something about the way he was written kept making me think he was gonna backstab them. And the fact that he faces no consequences for getting Hannah killed? Wow, lol. Makes it all seem even sillier. 

I gotta stop thinking about this before I talk myself into a 2 star, lol.

(ETA: I've been thinking about this some more, and I think the reason the 'oh let's just reverse the vampirism and do away with that hurdle!' thing bothered me so much is because I recently read another romance where the characters have huge lifespan angst, and it still ends happily. I'm talking about he Monstrous series, and specifically Edin, which I loved. The ending did have a slightly bittersweet, melancholic edge, when Edin thinks about how long his life span is, and how short Hunter's is, and he knows their time together will be limited. But he's determined to savour it while it lasts! And that was STILL an HEA. Now, I mean, there are still lots of books in that series, and maybe I'll end up eating my foot. Maybe there'll be a plot where all the monsters find a way to turn themselves human, or make their human boyfriends immortal, or something. I hope not, lol. But the point is, you CAN have an HEA even with lifespan angst! A little bitter doesn't cancel out the sweet! It still feels like SUCH a cop out that Ashley could reverse her undeadness. LOL.)

I still did mostly like this! But those things bugged me. I'm pretty sure other readers probably wouldn't care as much, which is why I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this. This has a lot of glowing reviews, all well deserved. I would definitely try this author again. And I have to say: love love love LOVE the cover art. In a world of shitty genAI, it's always nice to see lovely art in books like this.

[Alex (HEABookNerd) · Rating 4 out of 5]

SUNSETS & OTHER DANGEROUS THINGS was such a fun paranormal sapphic romance and I loved the way it played off traditional vampire tropes. Ashley and Esther were a great couple and the epitome of golden retriever/black cat energy. Their dynamic was entertaining and I really enjoyed seeing Esther come out of her self-imposed isolation to accept not just Ashley but also build a friendship with Uther and Austin.

This had plenty of millennial humor, funny Twilight jokes, and a perfect blend of silly and serious. There were a few moments where you had to suspend a bit of disbelief but for a debut book this was really creative, well written, and cute. And the spice was totally on point! The found family elements were also great and I loved how Ashley and Austin continued to pretend like they disliked each other even after they started to build a friendship.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Favorite Quotes:

Should she say the line? No, it was too cheesy. But this might be the only chance anyone in the history of time had to use the quote properly.

“Say it,” Ashley said, trying her best to keep a serious face. “Out loud.”

[fierce.shieldmaiden_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
🌶️🌶️

This cute and spicy rom com about vampires, witches, and finding yourself, has given me such a belly laugh !

I definitely loved how fun and flirty this book is! With the Twilight jokes, and TVD reference, I was genuinely giggling and highlighting everything it seems😅
It’s just so real and funny !

I def see Ashley as Caroline Forbes…

I loved the theme of finding your identity or just what you like, and how understanding and supportive it was about labels and even some possible neurodiverse characters.
Uther being willing to talk Esther through her thoughts and anxiety and be a real friend!? It really warmed my heart.

The spice was amazing omg. Ashley and Esther are just so hot together and that scene was amazing.
Overall this cute, lighthearted and funny, sapphic vampire story is perfect for the season!
Available on KU!


*thank you so much to the author for allowing me to read as an ARC ! This is my honest opinion!

[Misha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit of a mixed bag for me.

It's fun and has many little references to vampire media (a great change from most media, which pretends they have never heard of the subject, such as zombie shows, where they have never heard of a zombie before). There's a cute little grumpy/sunshine dynamic, two cute queer couples as the main friendship group, and a bit of an adventure and some problems to worth through in a light but fast-paced plot.

Now, the parts I did not enjoy. The first thing was the characterization being all over the place. People have personality traits that are just conveniently ignored later or just fade away because of plot convenience. The main conflict presented near the end makes zero sense why do the witches care about turning one random baby vampire without a family back to human anyway? Why don't we, I don't know, ask the actual person to make a decision about whether they are interested in taking the risk and being human again? Why would we simply pass over an extremely personal item (a vampire's blood) to their sworn enemies, random witches anyway? What was the plan for the witches if Ashley simply was gone or chose not to drink the potion herself? Why is August, who we are told loves Ashley now platonically, forcing this choice onto Esther instead of talking to Ashley about the possibility and trying to convince her? Literally, what are the stakes (heh) here for this absolutely dumb conflict for anyone since it makes no difference to the witches or the older vampires? It all goes to hell in a handbasket in the last quarter, I think.

Anyway, TL;DR: a fun little story with a lot of humor, a lot of telling not showing, but a fun ride if you just want a light and fluffy little romance with vampires.

[MJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an ARC read and I’m so glad I got the chance to read it! I really really enjoyed it.
It was a cute story between Esther and Ashley (can you call vampires cute? 😂) I really enjoyed the banter, storyline and the characters! And that spicy scene! Well worth the wait 🥵 we love a vampire that can take charge!
I highly recommend you give this a read is Sapphic Vampires are your thing. You won’t regret it 😁

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the author for an eARC!

I absolutely adored this one, exactly what I've been craving.

Cheesy, adorable, sexy, with a smattering of danger. Twilight but it's gay!

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 rounded up

This book was a sweet and silly coming-of-age romance, what a treat for a first time author. This was a story about prejudice, finding yourself, and choosing the life you want again and again. The banter and spice were very well done, I loved getting a sense of the personality of each character. And some assumed neurodiversity rep, hell yeah! Parts of this story did feel surface level, I wanted more richness and depth from the story and characters. There were a couple scenes that had me confused (characters moving location without explaining that, bits that felt discordant with the whole).

That said, it was a fun read and I'm so thankful to have received an ARC.

[3DKing]

DNF 41%
It's a confusing mess with weird pacing, terrible characters having unfulfilling dialogue.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars!
I wasn't sure what I was going to think of this one, but it wasn't too bad! It was actually very close to being a 4 star book for me, but what took off just a little bit of my rating is that the dialogue reads like the characters are 16 years old at most despite them all being fully grown adults. Because of this, the book is kinda at war with itself as to whether it wants to be a YA book or an adult book, which makes it hard to take seriously. I will say I did really like the ending and the author took the story in directions I wasn't expecting, so I definitely appreciated that. But overall, this was a fun popcorn kind of read and not a new favorite.

[Marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book.

It was a sweet sapphic love story with a bi awakening. I liked the found family arc. This book was easy to read, and I enjoyed it. It had good references from Twilight and The Vampire Diaries. There were many funny moments and a great love/hate friendship between August and Ashley. Generally, it was a cute book and definitely a good one to read if u like vampires and witches tropes.

[Kylee Bump · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A millennial vampire, passing as a regular human college student, accidentally entangles her school crush in an ancient feud between vampires and witches."

Wow! "Sunsets and Other Dangerous Things," by first-time author Dani Frank, is a modern-day twist on vampire lore and relationships. The book is written from the points of view from the two main female characters, Ashley and Esther. These two randomly meet, and both hold romantic feelings for the other. One is afraid to scare the other away with her assertiveness and bubbly personality, and the other is afraid to explore these new feelings.

I love that we get inside both characters' heads and hear the self-doubt they are struggling with. Their thoughts while around one another are so relatable when mingling into a new social setting and are ones that I believe most people have.

While same sex relationships are not my cup of tea, I enjoyed the chemistry of the couples in this book.

I suggest giving this book a read, and I look forward to more tales from this author.

[Sabi.Nhe · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 44 pages in.

This was..so boring. Absolutely boring. Ashley internally ranted about kinda dumb shit for close to 90% of those 44 pages. And I really tried, because this is the type of thing I would love, but unfortunately..I was too bored. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Em-Skye ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it, can't say I got all of the references but I got a fair few. The characters are all written well and I loved them
Cute sapphic vampire book 🦇📚🔮

[Shannon&#x1f47b; · Rating 3 out of 5]

MASSIVE SPOILRR!!!!!





I am utterly disappointed that Ashley changed back into a human.
But other than that, I liked it.

[Miranda Benson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfectly fine paranormal romance with plenty of fluff and smut. With a bit more editing and worldbuilding, I could easily see this going up a star, but it’s more tell than show in its current state.

[Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5

As someone who is a borderline millennial (‘96 baby) I can appreciate some early 2000’s nostalgia but my god was this so cringey. The millennial humor throughout was NOT done well at all. The constant twilight references, holes, and Uther being the epitome of “don’t talk to me til I’ve had my coffee” is giving tell me you peaked in high school without telling me you peaked in high school…

And this story had so much potential but it was not executed well. The writing felt very flat along with no substantial descriptions of emotion. I was left wanting more constantly. Not to be mean but this took me so long to read because I kept falling asleep…

Ashley was an extremely immature FMC. Idk if it was mentioned if emotional development also pauses when becoming a vampire but she for sure did. You’ve had 12 years to mature and try to move forward with this new life but you’re still acting like a child and not taking things seriously. Like I get it partially because she regretted her choice and just wanted to be human but you have to live with your choices and work with what you’ve got. The scene at her parent’s house where she was whining to her dad was almost unbearable. You’re supposed to be a 30 something PhD student, act like it. Also the fact her dream job was to be a cheerleader… please be so fr.

Esther was a much better FMC. She seemed more mature despite being younger than Ashley. I did really like how insightful she was regarding her friends and how hardworking she is. Esther acts how Ashley should by actually taking her future seriously. Ashley and Esthers relationship was cute, I guess. Slightly insta-lovey but bearable. The few intimate moments between them were pretty well written, but a bit rushed. Those are the only times I actually felt ANY emotion besides annoyance.

August and Uther were decent side characters. The first moment Uther called August his boyfriend on the phone to the girls was actually so cute. August was so fucking annoying overall though. Especially at the end with the freak out over Uther “disappearing” and being the sole reason for the break up/argument between the girls annoyed me so bad. Esther also annoyed me at the end too like yeah, why didn’t you tell Ashley about the cure as soon as you found out about it??? Also the classic miscommunication trope is my least favorite thing ever and of course that’s what happened on the beach. The whole conflict and break up could’ve been easily avoided by August or Esther literally saying just one goddamn word to Ashley after she overheard the witches comments and saw Esther give them the vial. But no, they stayed silent and let her leave. Infuriating.

The whole plot line of Ashley and Konstantine was unnecessary and added nothing at all. I literally don’t care…

I liked the different approach to curing vampirism. Where it’s basically a freezing spell and curing it ages you all the years you’ve lived rapidly. That was interesting but logically how would Ashley now explain her different appearance suddenly aging 12 years and now looking in her 30’s? I guess that’s me being picky now lol.

The last fight scene/climax with her and John was very lackluster. Any written tension was so flat I. felt. nothing. Overall, the ending was so lame. Reminder… they’ve been together like what 2-3 months? And now it’s forever? Please. I was happy for Ashley being human again since she truly regretted becoming a vampire and yay for life and new opportunities but again I don’t care because the writing didn’t allow me to have any connection to the characters. I hope they live happily ever after lol.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many tropes - fake dating, only one bed - and all the millennial nostalgia - skinny jeans, Lisa Frank, Buffy - weave together to create such a cute, fun, and steamy love story between a reclusive goth girl who might not be as grumpy as she seems and the upbeat outgoing vampire you didn’t know you’d been missing, who brightens every room she enters like the sun she can never see again (but hey, she’s living every millennial Twilight girlie’s dream, right?).

Ashley and Esther are perfect MCs - both unhinged in the most relatable ways - with two delightful BFFs and a whole host of quirky vampires that hopefully we’ll get to bite into one day. I would love to find out how many wild stories Claribel has told and whether any of them are true! Did she kill Edgar Allen Poe? Is she Emily Dickinson’s Nobody?? She’s like a dark and dramatic Forrest Gump, who may or may not have been present at every macabre moment in American art history.

If you’re looking for a romcom that’s perfect for spooky season (or the holiday season 👀), Sunsets and Other Dangerous Things by Dani Frank is the perfect read for you!

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sunsets and Other Dangerous Things" by Dani Frank

This book was a wild ride—a mix of heart, humor, and a bit of that spooky vibe. Ashley, our jobless millennial vampire, thought life as a creature of the night would be a breeze. Turns out, it's more about dodging witches, hiding your fangs in class, and navigating a *very* confusing crush on a grumpy grad assistant, Esther. Ashley's undead life may lack a heartbeat, but it’s definitely not short on feels.

Esther, on the other hand, is all about rules, regulations, and avoiding any kind of emotional entanglement—until she meets Ashley. Their awkward, yet adorable, interactions had me rooting for them from the start. The story takes a twist when witches offer a cure for Ashley’s vampirism, and suddenly, the stakes (pun totally intended) get a lot higher.

Thank you to the author for the ARC opportunity 🖤

For anyone who’s into quirky, offbeat romance with a dash of the supernatural, "Sunsets and Other Dangerous Things" is a must-read. Grab your garlic (just in case), settle in, and enjoy the ride!

[Lindsay Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vampires are back, and Dani Frank has delivered THE sapphic vampire romance of fall 2024 with her debut, SUNSETS AND OTHER DANGEROUS THINGS.

Chock full of pop culture and Twilight references, this book was simply *fun,* and I mean that as the highest compliment. Fresh in all the right ways with amazing voice in both POVs--what an utter delight! This is modern vampire fiction at it's finest, with a millennial, sunshine-y vamp FMC at the helm as opposed to the stereotypical dry and dusty Victorian male. Dani nailed what a modern vampire (and a modern vampire love story) should look like. Turns out it's flirty, funny, sexy ... and unapologetically sapphic!

Readers who love tropes and mainstays like grump-sunshine, college romances, found family, "I want you to drink from me," only one bed, and soooo much more should add this one to their TBR immediately.

"Ester was a galaxy, and Ashley couldn't take her eyes off her."

5 stars, highly recommend!

Bonus note: bff Uther is a goddamn ride in and of himself. Absolutely adored him and desperately hoping to see more in a sequel!

[Devin Riane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunsets and Other Dangerous Things by Dani Frank is an absolute delight! This sapphic vampire romance took everything I expected (moody, Gothic vibes) and turned it on its head with sweetness, humor, and charm.

Meet Ashley, the former cheerleader turned vampire, stuck forever as a 20-year-old elder millennial awkwardly navigating Gen Z college life. Her love interest, Esther, is the anxious, wallflower TA in one of her classes. Together, they’re the ultimate opposites-attract couple, and their dynamic is pure magic.

The story had me laughing, swooning, and grinning like a fool almost the entire time. The witty banter and unexpected twists kept me glued to the pages.

Yes, there were a few loose ends that I would’ve loved tied up, but they didn’t take away from the main story. The love between Ashley and Esther is so wonderfully written, I’m already thinking about rereading this gem.

If you’re looking for a lighthearted, romantic, and wholly unexpected vampire tale, this is it. Five stars and an honorary cheer for Ashley and Esther!

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sunsets and Dangerous things is a sapphic vampire romance that takes place in upstate New York. This was my first sapphic novel and I loved the grumpy sunshine pairing. I liked how the author dove into both characters emotions and feelings. Especially, Esther's hesitancy and struggle to come to terms with her sexuality. The author made the reader feel like these feelings are okay.
I particularly enjoyed the millennial angst throughout this book and the 90's references. This seems perfect for fans of Twilight, Buffy, and other 90's nostalgia within the modern world.

The book is a bit hard to get into in the beginning. I believe the writing style is different from what I am accustomed to and I did not prefer this type of writing style. The real action begins 3/4 of the way into the book; However, once the action starts it does not disappoint. I was not prepared for that twist and ending!

[꣑ৎ sue (hatter-pendragon version) ꣑ৎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

a very cute, and surprisingly deep book about finding a place in the world to call home. i loved ashley and esther’s relationship because of how easy and seamless it was. i think the idea to make ashley, the perpetual sunshine as the vampire, instead of the recluse esther, was a smart one.

the reason for the three stars are two things: first, i don’t think i could forgive august and esther for betraying ashley like that. especially august—i thought it was incredibly selfish of him to force esther to make that decision, justlike that. it makes me feel like he would throw ashley and esther under the bus if it meant he and uther could run off into the sunset. fuck that.

second, the taylor swift references were too cringy for my taste, even if i’m a casual taylor swift listener.

[Danni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grumpy/sunshine? Vampires AND witches? So many millenial pop culture references? Yes, please!

This was a quick romance read with a lot of moments that made me chuckle. "Have fun storming the castle"? I totally giggled at this well placed princess bride quote.

All of our MCs were incredibly likeable; I'm kind of bummed that I'm not a part of this friend group.

The story moved at a quick pace and the heart eyes happen pretty quickly, so this is definitely not one for people who long for a slow burn. That said, the relationships are lovely and the spice is pretty excellent.

A perfect read to kick off my spookier autumn reading.

Thank you to the author for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Rach at Monstrous.LoveBites · Rating 5 out of 5]

🦇🩷 ARC review 🩷🦇

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶

Absolutely obsessed.
Sapphic, vampires, spicyy, and chock-full of Twilight references and Millennial humor. I was solddddd. This was such a fun and refreshing modern take on vampire romance, and I loved every second of it. I absolutely loved the build of Ashley and Esther's relationship, and it was sooooo worth it. 🥵

Dani Frank absolutely crushed it with her debut book, and I'm so excited to see what the future holds!

Expect:
🦇 All the Twilight references
🩷 Millennial nostalgia
🦇 Travel issues
🩷 Ripped tights
🦇 The cutest found family