Moth Manager: A Nerdy Mothman Romance

Cryptid Billionaires #2

by Luna Cantrip, Rouge Fox (illustrator)

It's a bird, it's a plane, no wait, it's true love.

Pontius Pleasant is a Mothman who's never been lucky in love, so he has no idea what to do when he meets his fated-mate.

Piper Hamilton is recently single and looking for a quick hookup. But things are quick to get a lot more complicated when the Mothman of her dreams turns out to be a bit obsessed.

These two nerds are meant to be together, if they can just make it to the light at the end of the tunnel of love.

Genres: Monster Romance, Romance, Monsters, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Cryptids, Queer

309 pages, Paperback

Published December 3, 2024

Reviews

[spidermse · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A guy can't be too bad if he had a childhood crush on Brenden Fraiser, right?"

Cute and adorable Mothman romance! I loved Bigfoot Boss and as soon as we met Pontius in that one I was hoping he would get a book. Nerdy, reclusive, rich, stalkerish, AND he purrs? GIMME. And the mouth on that monster? FILTHY. I love it.

I know Piper has some trauma she's working through and the laughing is a response to that but I feel like it was a bit overdone. It was A LOT. And I felt myself going "yes we get it!" while reading. And I don't mean "a lot" as like her personality was too much. It was just mentioned it seems every other page.

Loved that characters from book 1 had a part in this story. Bailey is the friend we all need!

Footnotes were hilarious. I looked forward to those throughout the whole book.

And Tiffany can step on Legos.

[Kelspar · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up because I love mothmen but this was absolutely terrible!!!!

Simply one of the most horrendously obnoxious FMC I have ever read. Awful book.

If you search for the word laugh/ed/s/ing, kindle says it was used 212 times!?!?!!!!!! The book is 272 pages!!!!! She laughed almost every single fucking page!!!!!!! It was horrible!!!!! Does this author not have an editor???? TWO HUNDRED AND TWELVE TIMES. Any way you slice it, that's fucking excessive. And she was soooooo dumbbbbb, tied soooo hard to be one of those "not like other girls" who turnout more to be even horrendous and basic.

Absolutely nothing, nothing redeemable about this. Flat, uninspired, basic, insipid drivel. Do not recommend even a little. Hot garbage. Do not read.

212 times!!!!!! 212!!!!!

[Sam VanSantvoord · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review!

Okay, fun little read. Had a nice time can't complain really. Mothman is super cute and nerdy but a lil bossypants in the sack. Good stuff.
However, there were some glaringly obvious editing issues - chapter 8 heading is wonky as hell. There are quite a few grammar and spelling mistakes that would polish this book up and make a 5 star. A bigger beta pool with copyedit ask would really help and be free if the issue is paying an editor, do not hesitate to ask more people to beta read imo. If anyone cares, Sacha is spelled Sasha at least once.
While I know the laughing is a trauma response, there were times it was overdone and tiresome. Found myself skimming these laughing laughter laughable paragraphs.
I liked the tie in with the previous book having just enough explanation (I didn't read book 1before this) while also not being too detailed. The humour was well done. Overall fun read and I am interested to read more.
Please see the below real time read notes - with SPOILERS, okay byeeeee 👏🏻



Lol somehow was not expecting the first act breakup to be between MMC and not the FMC 😆

Bahaha a Birkin 😆😆😆 TIFFANY WOULD

I love this term Decrypting

TAMMY AND THE TREX, GET OUT OF HERE 😂

Little stalker mothman  😏

He wants to drop the boyfriend into the ocean ~ how romantic 😆

Love the footnotes

I'm wheezing, of course this mothnerd is a Trekkie

Yes Piper, you should *always* shove your boobs up to your neck!!!

I love girls nights
"One night of sex" NOT IN THIS TROPE BABY GOIL. In fact, break out the Morgan Freeman voice: "it was in fact, not one night of sex"

Okay, warm wool and vanilla sounds like a really nice candle I want

PUUURRRRRRR

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT

I just had a thought, did our mothman fandangle the job, leading to the breakup, for whatshisnuts?

LOVE the classic mothman visual under a streetlight

He's got a mouth y'all WATCH OUT

COME ON JUST PUT IT IN ALREADY

For a second I thought he named his peen aedeagus 😂

I 😂 can't 😂 prehensile 😂 I've died 💀

I'm sorry, so they just lay still and the prober bit does all the work 😂

"Splashing heat fills" always makes me think of a cave when the tide is coming in.

Whoa chapter 8 has some weird editing issue with the header

Dusty scent. mothmen always be havin that *dust*

🏆#1 BJ

Omgomgomogmmgmgmgmg she's found *the drawer* RUH ROH oh fuck I'm cringing so hard. AYYEEE BRO WHY WOULD YOU LEAVE THAT STUFF THERE.

This stuff is totally not going to storage or it is but either way It's going elsewhere courtesy of Mothman.

Ope! Bailey is clutch

Still loving the footnotes

Oops meddling 😏

Now who's the stalker!!!!

I love Anam, she's so funny

Haha stupid Colin. Fuck you douche. OMG LOOOOOSERRRR

Called Colins garbage going to storage 😏

Oh god the term Pooh Bearing it was *shudder*

Would an egg come out 😂😂😂 (but seriously, would it???)

Assss yoooooouuuu wiiiisssshhhhh

Awww "that's boyfriend stuff"

Okay let's just bang in the sky in front of the world Yeesh 😂😂 YOU ARE SO NOT GOING BACK TO THAT PARTY ALL MESSED UP AND NASTY 😂 yep okay, phew they aren't cause that's just yuck lol

We bang 2 1/2 times. Very specific ha

Ive never had a landlord break that rule, wow.

Monsta fuckaaaaaaaa  ooooo what an insult bro 🙄🙄🙄 LOOOSSAAA (also everyone loves fox Robin Hood, fuck you Colin)

KILL HIM MUAHAHAHAHA
He finally got his wish (albeit not an ocean but a duck pond)

Alright decent end (but bébé just ain't it for me fam)

[Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was privileged enough to be an ARC for this wonderful book. I am not a regular monster romance girly, but this book went above and beyond all of my expectations! In real life I am terrified of bugs and I’ve come out of this swooning for a Mothman whilst questioning my life. His purring? Had me MELTING! His praise to her? His communication skills? Yes. Yes. YES.

I love how the monsters in this don’t have to hide from society because let’s be for real 6ft beasts with zero humanoid features aren’t blending in so let’s bffr for once.

My heart hurt for Pontius so much for his trauma and self worth, he deserves the absolute world. Piper is fiery and kind. The entire story is wholesome.

I loved the authors writing and because I’m a nerd and I love weird things, I loved how the author used language sometimes that isn’t common like the word “paramours” “akimbo” “epithet” I absolutely cannot wait to read more from Luna. 🖤


RATE - 4/5 stars

🌶️ - 3.5/5
🖤 - 4/5

[ashley and the never ending TBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLD THE PHONE, I AM OBSESSED.

I finished this book a few days ago and am still thinking about it. I want to go back in time and reread it again for the first time. It was THAT good.

This book will have you giggling and smiling one minute then sweating the next. You’re welcome in advance.

[Katlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun and silly book! Definitely liked Bigfoot Boss more, surprisingly, but Mothman was a fun character.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review

It's such a great read. Long time mothman fan here. I was in love with Ant from the get-go. Super sweet.

[Biblio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying- NERDY MOTHMAN. Yes. Luna's Bigfoot Boss stole my heart but Pontius stole my soul. This is such a sweet and HOTTT story. Luna writes the most fun cryptid men and real FMCs. Piper is such a fun FMC that I think we all can relate to. Cryptid Rom Coms have quickly climbed to my fave genres to read thanks to Luna. Mothman anatomy gets WILDDDD and I really appreciate the detail Luna gives us here. This is one of my favorite mothman reads and you are totally going to flip for our sweet nerdy Pontius.

*pre release review

[Sherry Moyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pontius is a billionaire who not only owns a huge converted warehouse apartment, but also the local watering hole and a few other properties in town. He has a successful tech company with a couple of friends. In other words, he seems to have it all.

The only problem? He’s lonely. He’s tried dating, but he’s not found the right woman. He’s self conscious, plagued by body issues. He just wants to meet a sweet girl he can build a life with.

Enter Piper.

Pontius first sees Piper at the bar with two friends, a girls’ night out to help Piper get over her recent breakup. Her friends encourage her to let off some steam, let herself live a little, have a one night stand.

Pontius flies in, quick to buy them a round a drinks, walk the ladies to the local food trucks when one of the girls gets a little too drunk and needs some food. Yanno, a real gentleman.

He’s also a cryptid. A Mothman.

And Piper, his fated mate.

But after coming on a little too strongly following a weekend of debauchery, Piper flees his stalking ways.

Listen there’s something for everyone here: good writing, a decent romance, cryptids, and humor (his best friend is a Bigfoot named Sasha Kwatch FFS), the spiciest spice, toss in a little touch her and die and a vibrator, and what else could you want?

If you subscribe to Storytime with Sherry™️ you know I was initially hooked, but toward the middle it felt like a little too much was happening and things got a bit convoluted. Also, I think it was a little too long for that endeavor.

But listen, who doesn’t love to dig into something a little different? Something out of the ordinary? And I won’t lie, I’m a little curious about the Bigfoot story.

[Madeline Paige Fornes · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Bigfoot Boss, and knowing that there would be more books in the series coming, I was so unbelievably ready. Especially knowing that there was a Mothman book coming.

I WAS NOT READY. I WAS NOT PREPARED. NOTHING COULD HAVE PREPARED ME.

Pontius Pleasant has completely stolen my heart. My boyfriend might have competition, and it might be a nerdy Mothman who plays video games. Just kidding. I will absolutely not be getting in the middle of the perfect romance that has blossomed between Ant and Piper. They are the most wonderful pair, a dream come true.

However, I will say that Luna hit the nail on the head with what she said on her thank you page at the end of the book, and I'm going to add that bit right here for every one to see. "I hope we can all find the perfect hairy beast to curl up next to at night, who will make us tea, read us a good book, and rip our enemies in half if we ask them to very nicely." I've definitely found mine, and he might not be a Mothman but he's everything I've dreamed of still.

Pontius captured my heart from the very beginning when he was talking about how hard it is to date as a Mothman. "It's all I've ever wanted, someone who will accept me no matter what I look like. They who won't flinch away when they see my glowing red eyes, or my fur, or wings, or mandibles." Isn't that we all want? Someone who will accept us no matter what? But in a world with cryptids, they are still treated as an oddity, and he deserves more than that.

Piper encountered him during a rocky period of her life and a one night stand turns into the rest of her life, but I don't think any of us would have been able to turn him down or only give him one night. Not with how attentive, and loving he is. Even when he realizes how he messes up, he gives her space, and does the right thing - even when his meddling friends intervene. You'll see what I mean.

Sacha makes an appearance too, and it's in the cutest way at one point, not just from a business standpoint! I loved this little cameo so much.

I love the Cryptid Billionaires series so much, and I can't wait for the next books.

[Michelle Lebron · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Mothman ever!! Ant is so cute; I absolutely loved his character. I’ll keep Ant in my heart as my first Mothman crush! This is the first book I’ve read in the series; I haven’t read the Bigfoot one yet, which I plan to because the appearances of past characters seemed super cute and amazing. We have two huge nerds who are the most adorable together—they’re made for each other with their geeky jokes and love for video games. Pontius is such a cinnamon roll, a little shy and really sexy—a good boy. The story is super hot! From beginning to end, I was surprised by the anatomy of the Mothman—so sexy and attractive. This book is also super funny. Piper has a unique way of making the best jokes at not-so-opportune moments, which had me cracking of laughter. Plus, our Piper would laugh at the most random times, giving off such a vibe. There’s so much detail in this book that I loved the descriptions of everything, and the footnotes were a hit—especially super funny. Cute, funny, and spicy read—I can’t wait to see what the next book in the series will bring!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading "Bigfoot Boss", I was absolutely enamoured with the concepts and characters introduced in that story. When the author requested ARC readers, I had to jump on it immediately. "Moth Manager" did not disappoint!

It took me a minute to get my head around the different anatomy involved in some scenes, but once I got past that I loved seeing the progression of Pontius and Piper's relationship. The earnest connection they shared amongst challenges in social etiquette and communication was so sweet and gave me the warm and fuzzy feelings that I was hoping for. The cameos of Bailey and Sasha from "Bigfoot Boss" were so fun and just added to the fondness for this universe that the first book set off for me.

Some of my favourite quotes were:
- "I love watching humans. I love their culture, their music, their movies, their activities. They are fascinating, lively, entertaining, and completely exhausting."
- ""Piper, you are..." He pauses. "Ridiculous?" I suggest with a grin. "Outrageous? Silly?" "Soul-shatteringly, breath-catchingly, word- stealingly, gorgeous," he finally finishes."
- "His hand wraps around the back of my neck to hold me in place. My body is too relaxed and weak to do anything but succumb to him. I wouldn't move even if I could. I love the way he fills me, the way he claims me. I love the way he says my name, like I am the only thing in the world. I love the way he praises me and provides for me. The way he gives me everything I could ever want."

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ARC REVIEW⭐️
Nerdy Mothman who is obsessed with his mate, SAY LESS. "Ant" had me stressing for the first half like, can you not stalk and take her things my guy because you aren't starting off on the right foot. He was trying to play it cool so hard and then failed right at the finish line. But it made for some excellent groveling on his part. Also, both of their exes could just f*ck right off because my goodness they kept showing up when you never wanted them there. But it did make for some fun situations that pushed our two dumb-dumbs together.

These two were also prime examples of chaotic bi energy, it was hysterical to read while also yelling at them to figure out their hang ups to be with each other. Ant's low self-esteem about his appearance and Piper's issues with her outgoing laugh and personality broke my heart for them both, they deserved to be loved by someone who accepted them fully-and they found it in each other. (I did wish those issues were resolved a little sooner in the timeline) Overall, this is a fantastically fun read I highly recommend.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I don’t even know where to start with this review so here are the basics:

•MF pairing, bi4bi
•they’re both nerdy
•some light stalking
•fated mates
•hurt/comfort
•a one night stand that leads to more
•mentions of adoption
•there’s voyeurism, spicy flying, he has claspers and a fancy, prehensile peen
•the love interest has some body image and self esteem problems but that’s just because he dated some money hungry absolute nightmares in the past

Okay so yeah, basically… I loved this book.

The mc Piper is a badass woman in STEM (which I love) and the love interest Pontius is the most cinnamon roll hero with wings. They have so many sweet, tender moments that just made me swoon and the author included little footnotes in almost every chapter that were hilarious.

Thank you to the author for letting me read an ARC of this book.

[Liv - Livslibrarylabyrinth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ rounded up

This is the first book I read from this series and I enjoyed it! I don’t think you need to read the Bigfoot one to understand this.

Quick thoughts:
💡 I think it’s kind of cute that mothman lurks at your window and keeps your trash. On character for him and I’m into it.
💡Why does Piper laugh so much? It got pretty annoying by the middle of the book, having to read that she’s constantly barking a laugh no matter the situation.
💡I really liked all of the side characters and it made me want to read the Bigfoot book!

Overall I had a good time reading this. I think there were certain parts that were far too repetitive (like the laughing which was mentioned over 200 times in the book), but it’s still a cute and fluffy romance.

[Ashley Trent · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book absolutely was a nerdy monster romance. Hit all the marks. This can be read as a standalone even though it is book 2 in the Cryptid Billionaires series.

I enjoy the take that Cryptids coexist with humans in society. This book is cute and full of the spice. Art and Piper are adorable and you can't help but fall in love with their story. Mothman is my favorite cryptid and this was a joy to read.

I did not read the first book in this series, and while some of the characters that show up were most likely in the first, I was not lost at all.

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this book! These opinions are my own and given freely.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received and ARC of this for review!

Too cute! I wasn’t a huge fan of the first book in this series but this one was really great. I loved Piper she was smart and independent but also loved when Ant called her “good girl”.

I felt so bad for Ant people were kind of ass holes to him especially Tiffany. I’m so glad he found Piper.

Yay Mercurio!! I love that Piper got to adopt a kitty from Bailey’s cat cafe.

Overall this was just super cute and heartwarming but with some good spicy scenes mixed in.

[Caity · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK! Ah, Okay, Ant was just a big ball of adorable, anxious, nerdy stalker, and I LOVED IT. He was just really precious. I know he made a lot of questionable choices in the beginning but he just so wanted to be loved and to love :(

I really liked Piper; I liked the way she reacted. It was so accurate, haha. I liked that it didn't get just brushed aside because she liked him; she had every reason to be upset. But the slow flirting of their first night together was SO CUTE. Them bonding over all the nerdy things they love, their costumes. I ate it up.

This whole book was just really adorable and I loved getting to see Sacha and Bailey. Im so excited for the next in this series! Cryptid businessmen, yasss.

[Cati · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Luna Cantrip for sending me an ARC in exchange for honest review! It was so good! It was sweet and nerdy with a little hurt/comfort but with plenty of fluff to balance it out! I loved seeing other characters from Bigfoot Boss make an appearance and definitely loved learning more about Pontius and meeting Piper!

I adored Piper! She was nerdy and loud and proud of those parts of herself even if others don’t think she should. She is funny and so smart!

Pontius deserves the world! We don’t learn a lot about him in Bigfoot Boss so it was great to see more of his personality and learn about his past. He just wants to be loved and have a family.

I loved seeing Pontius and Piper fall in love and figure out how to be mates. I seriously can’t get over how nerdy this is. I love when books have tons of references so it you do too then you are in for a treat. Highly recommend!

[Gleeful Goblin Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gleeful Goblin Review: The author is a genius for how quickly they made me LOATHE Tiffany, Ant's ex-girlfriend from the very beginning of the book. Tiffany tries to pour all this emotional poison on Ant so she can get expensive gifts and it made me so angry and protective over this fluffy cinnamon roll Mothman I could hardly stand it. "Dating as a Mothman can be difficult. Most humans aren’t willing to see me almost exclusively after sunset, and asking a stranger you match on an app to meet a monster in a dark quiet place isn’t usually received well. Tiffany sticks out her bottom lip in an exaggerated pout—the way she does when she’s trying to get her way. It doesn't help tonight. She can’t compare to the perfect woman waiting somewhere in this room. Now that I’ve found my real m@te, even Tiffany's smell is artificially saccharine. “You’re serious? You are dropping me for someone you haven’t met yet?” “Yes,” I hesitate before adding. “I’m sorry it’s so abrupt⁠—“ Tiffany interrupts me with a loud sigh and sinks back to her seat. “Am I still going to get the Burkin?” “The bag? Sure.” What do I care about a bag? She smirks and begins scrolling through her phone at lightning speed. I might expect a different person to cry or yell. I know Tiffany better at this point. “Will you text me when it comes in? The associate has my number. It’s under your name on the list, so they might call you first.” Her expression changes to pity and her voice drops to a breathy whisper. “You know this doesn’t have to be the end, Pontius. You’re a real peach. An awkward, hairy peach with a lot of weird quirks that are hard for most humans to accept.” “She’ll like me,” I protest. I know humans are put off by my odd features: my face, my fur, my wings. So many parts of my appearance have been called ‘creepy’. My mate will be different. She has to be different. “Of course she’ll like you. But being with a Mothman isn't easy. Not everyone is as open-minded as I am. Don’t be surprised if this new girl isn’t willing to indulge you the way I do.” She shifts her legs, drawing her skirt a little higher up her thigh. “You know, plenty of rich men don’t limit themselves to only one woman. I’m okay if you want to keep our relationship—private.” “No!” I recoil instantly. Even if, like a lot of humans, she finds the idea of touching me appalling, I would never cheat on my m@te. “Well, if she rejects you, you know how to reach me.” She mimes holding a phone up to her ear. “She won’t reject me,” I say, more to convince myself than Tiffany." So right away I'm emotionally invested and that's before we even get to the meet cute discussion between our main characters about one of the greatest bi-awakening movies ever; The Mummy. And I adore the way that the author doesn't just have that moment be a one off, throw away mention of Piper being bi either! There's layers and nuance that happens on page that makes my queerdo-weirdo heart sing. Both main characters are the exact kind of adorkable weirdo that I lose my mind over in the best kind of way so watching them be silly, sweet, steamy, awkward, earnest, and so very lovely towards each other is endlessly satisfying for me. Both Piper and Ant have been told, explicitly and implicitly that they're too much to love and accept. That is so very familiar for me and so seeing this love story play out hurts and heals my heart at the same time. The way consent and íntimacy are showcased so beautifully made me giddy with joy and I literally can't say more without major spoilers but OMG!!! If you are a fan of praise for instance, this book will blow your mind. The author also does these rad little footnotes that for my neurospicy self add SO MUCH and make the read that much more immersive and conversational because it feels so similar to how I think. The road to Happily Ever After for these two is not without its bumps but oh wow the momentary discomforts are so worth it in the end. This book has definitely joined my Comfort Reads list for the rest of time. 5/5 Stars

[SaraJaneReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a few moth-man books lately but “Moth Manager” takes the cake! It was such a pleasant surprise.

Typically moth-man are written as shy creatures that are simple and don’t really take what they want. Meeting Pontious Pleasant or “Ant” just honestly took my breath away and made me so much more obsessed with the mysterious flying cryptid.

The story opens with “Ant” finding his fated mate, Piper, but realizing she is already with someone. But he does what any sane person/creature does… he kinda stalks her a bit to get to know her. How endearing right?! Not creepy. It’s very demure. He is however infinitely patient and waits it out for Piper to become single so that he may woo her!

Piper and Ant hit it off and it is a match made in heaven. They both have so much in common. What more could one ask for. It’s literally FATED! Two nerds falling in love and the beauty of it all is that they can be themselves with one another. Where Piper was told to hide her laugh and be more quiet Ant embraces it and tells her it’s his part of her. Ant is ashamed of his monstrous body and different anatomy and Piper tells him he is sexy and he is the only one that works for her. The balance for them is fireworks! Pure perfection and chefs kiss. Oh I forgot to mention Ant has the most dominant filthy bedroom talk ever which was surprising for the “typical” moth-man but worked so well for his personality still. I just loved it!!!

This was such a great read. I loved it so much. I will be reading the first book in the series as well and really look forward to the next book. Luna Cantrip did such a great job developing the characters and telling such a wonderful story. I was not able to put this book down at all. This is an easy 5 stars to give. I will re-read this book again I’m sure!

[Kat Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I want you to have everything you want, Piper. I would give you anything you ask for…
…let me give you the entire world.”

Pointius Pleasant (Ant) is a billionaire Mothman, part owner of a successful tech company and owner of a nightclub. It’s here that he runs into Piper Hamilton, out for a night with friends after being left by her long-term boyfriend. She’s not looking for long-term, just Mr. Right Now to have a little fun and get her mind off her break up. Ant knows immediately that Piper is his fated mate, and he’ll do anything to win her affection.

Ant is so adorable and has the filthiest mouth in the bedroom. He has such a heartbreaking back story and is completely taken advantage of by his off and on girlfriend Tiffany. She is the worst person, and I just wanted to reach into the pages and strangle her for the way she talked to him and about him. The way he treats Piper is as if she’s his Queen. He wants everything for her to be perfect and make her happy, and he’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen.

Piper has been through a terrible break up, and Ant basically takes all her past with her ex and throws it out the window. She is lucky to have found him, but she rightfully gets scared off easily after her finding out Ant’s secret.

The two main characters, being nerdy and all the pop culture references, really resonated with me. I really felt like Piper and I could have been besties. Ant just seems like a dream, and I absolutely adored him. Sweet, cuddly, cinnamon roll in the streets, hot, sexy, filthy mouth in the sheets. I went through the gamut of emotions with this story. I was laughing, crying, angry, happy, in suspense and shock throughout. After reading "My Bigfoot Boss," I was happy to see Pointus' story. It was an amazing ride, and if you’re a nerdy Mothman fan, I think you’ll love it.

[Nora Ellen (Nbbookery) · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the insistence of her friends, newly single Piper decides to try having a one night stand. Mothman Pontius just so happens to catch her attention in the cryptid bar. Their date lasts all night and well into the weekend. Everything is going great until Piper discovers Pontius has been "observing" her in a creepy way. Pontius tries to explain that mothmen get obsessive over their fated mates, but Piper leaves him, not believing his claims. As he respects her wishes and keeps his distance, her company gets a sponsorship, which unknowingly is given by Pontius' tech company. Despite their meddling friends and magnetic attraction, it's going to take a lot for Piper to trust Pontius again. When her aggressive ex comes back into the picture and goes to extreme lengths to bring her down, Piper might just need a savior with wings and the means to protect her.

It's been too long since I read a good monster romance, and this one was utterly perfection. I loved absolutely everything about it. From Pontius' awkward and eager personality, to her meddlesome family, to their kindred nerdiness over video games and pop culture, there were no flaws. Pontius is packing some prehensile packaging, and despite initial hesitation, he figures it out pretty fast. That moth has a mouth on him, and I was living for it. Piper is a great character, from her loveable awkwardness to her empathetic attitude. Together, they were explosive in and out of the bedroom. Plus, Pontius has some wings and is not above hosting airborne *activities*.

[R✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you know me in real life no you don’t and also message me your username so i can block you.

the copy i had of this was still undergoing some proof-reading and editing. there were some sentences that i had to interpret, but i really enjoyed it over all! thank you to luna cantrip for the arc!

starting off strong with a playlist from the author that had quite a few BANGERS on it.
💥lucy dacus💥phoebe bridgers💥barns courtney💥chappell roan💥and more!

pontius is such a shy little sweetie pie
piper is so exuberant and fun and silly
nerds, the both of them. i love it.

he sees her one (1) time and immediately says he’s drawn to her like a moth to a flame like please shut up that is so precious

the exes are annoying but not in like a “this is drawn out and overplayed” kind of way… instead it’s like a “i want to have two minutes of uninterrupted kickboxing practice with their faces” way. i mean that. like, can tiffany fight? bc i want to fight her.

i just really loved the way pontius was written. shy and awkward and introverted and needs the dark and the quiet and wants her to be herself and just doing what he thinks is best and being precious for 200-something pages. and listening to her. and also flying. and when he ✨talks✨… hot.

there were a couple moments where i was like “this seems a bit of a leap” but honestly i had such a fun time with this book that it was not that deep.

[volatilisanguis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book even better than the first one, but then again sweet pairs + fated mates is one of my favorite tropes.

Pontius is shy, bordering on reclusive. He's not even a cinnamon roll. He's a bowl of your favorite ice cream, soft and sweet. He throws money around like it's candy but it never seems like he's buying affection. I would read him as a "highly sensitive person" who needs a lot of quiet and low light -- but somehow he finds himself frequently in overstimulating places!

Piper is a blast. She's been told she's too loud and too much, but she pretty much ignores the haters and does it anyway. Not without baggage, of course. I appreciate that kind of confidence in a FMC. I think all time favorite part is Piper's use of footnotes. It's not stated, and I'm not even sure it's intentional, but it gives her a distinct overachieving ADHD woman in her late 20s vibe. That seems particularly true when you realize she's also a software developer for her own accessibility software company!

The plot is truly cozy. There isn't much conflict beyond what is necessary to help the characters grow. There really isn't a "big bad," just misunderstanding and friends sticking their noses (or necks, in this case) where they shouldn't. Lots of friends and family, including a cameo from Bailey. It's a great read for getting away.

[Lexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an ARC of this book without obligation to review. I actually accepted the ARC before I read the book before this in the series, and I might not have done so had I read that book first, so know I went into this with mediocre expectations and was beyond pleasantly surprised (and no, I don't mean that as a pun on Mr. Pleasant).

Pontius/Ant was absolutely adorable. He's a bit obsessive, sure, in a collect-her-trash kind of way, but what would you expect from a mothman? Mostly, he was overly respectful; he didn't approach her until she was single, he went along with the pace and activities she desired, and when she told him to leave her alone, he took great measures to give her that. He was sweet and protective, he was grateful every second his affections were returned, and he was very, very hot.

This novel had a lot of content devoted to sex with a mothman and it went into exactly as much detail as I wanted during those scenes, which was a lot of fun and, ah, I was definitely here for it. A great execution of a failed ONS.

The writing style of this was fun and flowed pretty well; it kept me engaged and there was no time when I put this book down that I did so without being dragged away from it by life obligations. I particularly enjoyed the use of footnotes -- I wish all authors adapted their books to be appropriate for their characters like this.

[Grave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest ARC review:
A shy and nerdy mothman discovers his fated mate—but there’s a catch. She’s still in a relationship with someone else. A little bit of stalking and a breakup later, the two come together for what’s supposed to be a one-night stand... except one night changes the future of these two nerds.
I’m an absolute sucker for stories where the overlooked or nerdy characters get their happy endings, and this book delivered on that front for both main characters! It was such a delight to see them get the love and admiration they deserve. I found myself really enjoying the build-up of the story, and once the spice hit—dang, I was all in.

I’ll admit, I was a little nervous when light miscommunication and breakup vibes came into play midway, but the way the author handled it won me over. What really stood out to me was how our mothman felt that deep, undeniable mate bond but didn’t rush or pressure his human mate. Instead, he gave her space to figure things out in her own way, which allowed their connection to blossom into not just a romance, but a real friendship too. I loved that dynamic!

This book was everything I wanted: cute, heartwarming, spicy, and lovely all at once! The world of cryptids and humans finding love and friendship together was so fun to dive into. Definitely recommend it if you're in the mood for something unique and full of heart!

[Alex S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this!
Curvy and nerdy FMC, nerdy and lovable MC. Their story didn’t start out perfect but honestly, I’d be okay being stalked by a handsome moth man. Ant always thinks of Pipers feelings, respects her wishes and always asks for consent! Plus he can be a bit of a daddy dom when he want to!
It’s definitely a different kind of spice scene but I’m an open reader so if you are too, then you’ll like it!

But the nerdy aspect was really cute, I love that they can game together and talk about movies. The Mummy sure was a bi-awakening for us all wasnt it? But the different references too! As you wish 🥹
I also appreciate the names of all the cryptids, Pointius Pleasant, I see what you did there!

We hate Colin! Even the name, I’ve never met a nice Colin (sorry nice Colin’s if you exist). But what does he think abandoning Piper for greener pastures and then coming crawling back when he doesn’t find them! And trying tp steal her success?! 100% trash!

I liked the friendship aspect too. Piper’s friends were always with her and had her back! I wish I could meet friends as easily as Piper and Bailey’s friendship happened!

I would also like to note that I loved that Ant’s sister was from Alberta, Canada because THAT’S WHERE I LIVE! I’ll keep an eye out for her at night

[Kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Piper and Pontius sitting in a tree (flying), k-i-s-s-i-n-g (doing things that would get them arrested for public indecency if anyone saw).
Boy howdy. What a fantastic addition to the world of monster romance.
I love a strong woman who knows what she wants, so imagine how thrilled I was to meet Piper. Sweet, nerdy, and a straight up boss, not to mention sexy as hell. You know what else I love? Mothman. It’s a whole thing; I��m going to get cut off by the character limit.
Piper does not tolerate bs. Absolutely not. She is the queen of FAFO. Pontius, my guy, you’re finding out.
I don’t know who in their right mind would think [redacted] would ever not bite them in their furry moth butt. I do know who in their little cryptid, mate focused mind would, though. The fool.
…A fool I wish would stalk me, okay? It’s a huge problem; don’t tell my therapist. Even with the stalking, he’s incredibly kind and caring (and sexy as sin).
These two nerds are so freaking cute. The things they bond over are just precious. I don’t want to tell you the things because it feels like it would spoil a lot of the fun, but just know it’s really stinking cute.
I adore the Cryptid Billionaires series. I’m definitely the target audience, sure, but I know y’all are going to love it, too.

[Lorai · Rating 5 out of 5]

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.75 stars)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🦋

Moth Manager by Luna Cantrip is an absolutely delightful rom-com that’s perfect for monster lovers. It’s a fun, original take on romance, combining nerdy charm with just the right amount of (very original) spice. The chemistry between Pontius, a lovably awkward Mothman, and Piper, who’s recently single and looking for something casual, is both heartwarming and hilarious. Watching these two adorable nerds fumble their way toward love feels incredibly relatable and easy to root for.

Luna's writing style is charming and warmly descriptive, easily pulling the reader into scenes and making it almost simple to fall in love with her characters, no matter how out-there they are. The alternate universe is a super original and interesting one where Cryptids now walk among humans.

What I especially enjoyed is how well the book balances being both cute and hot, all while keeping things lighthearted and fun. It’s a quick, enjoyable read that flies by in the best way possible. Plus, it’s part of an interconnected standalone series, so there’s even more to look forward to in the future. If you’re looking for a monster romance with charm and spice, Moth Manager is a great pick!