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Love & Other Monsters
All love stories are ghost stories waiting to happen…
Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet meets Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice in this intense and propulsive story of love, lust, art and betrayal, based on the important—and forgotten—life of eighteen-year-old Claire Clairmont.
In the bizarrely cold, scandalous summer of 1816, a group of famous young writers gathered at a mansion on the shores of Lake Geneva, Switzerland. Brilliant Mary Wollstonecraft Shelly, her fiery fiancé Percy Shelly, the famously promiscuous Lord Byron, and his sexually tormented personal physician all sheltered together during the storms of what would become known as The Year Without Summer. But they were not alone. Claire Clairmont, Mary’s impressionable, clever, and dangerously loyal step-sister joined them. That summer of sex, betrayal, and creative passion gave the world the works of Frankenstein, the modern vampire legend, and the mythic image of these Romantic literary giants.
When a global climate catastrophe wreaks havoc, Claire tries to separate from Mary and Percy Shelley, finding strength in her individuality. Yet Claire is also caught up in romance, fueled by Jane Austen’s novels, as she pursues Lord Byron whose celebrity status—and the paparazzi lurking nearby—threatens them all. As the connections between each member of the group grow more complex, Claire tries to find purpose in a world built by and created for men.
While those around her write what will become some of the most famous works in literature, Claire must ask herself just how far she will go for love. With dramatic weather threatening the food supply, Claire proves her worth by learning to forage for food, all the while documenting everything in her journal. As the summer progresses, passions rise and secrets refuse to stay hidden in Claire’s pages.
Love and Other Monsters offers a deep look into the loyalty of siblings, the commitment required to make meaningful art, the role of fame, and the creation of monsters—both those on the page and those who walk among us.
Claire Clairmont poured her love, life and razor-sharp wit into the pages of her now-missing journal, a document which everyone present had reason to destroy in order to protect themselves. Now Claire, all but forgotten in her famous sister’s shadow, will tell her story.
Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet meets Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice in this intense and propulsive story of love, lust, art and betrayal, based on the important—and forgotten—life of eighteen-year-old Claire Clairmont.
In the bizarrely cold, scandalous summer of 1816, a group of famous young writers gathered at a mansion on the shores of Lake Geneva, Switzerland. Brilliant Mary Wollstonecraft Shelly, her fiery fiancé Percy Shelly, the famously promiscuous Lord Byron, and his sexually tormented personal physician all sheltered together during the storms of what would become known as The Year Without Summer. But they were not alone. Claire Clairmont, Mary’s impressionable, clever, and dangerously loyal step-sister joined them. That summer of sex, betrayal, and creative passion gave the world the works of Frankenstein, the modern vampire legend, and the mythic image of these Romantic literary giants.
When a global climate catastrophe wreaks havoc, Claire tries to separate from Mary and Percy Shelley, finding strength in her individuality. Yet Claire is also caught up in romance, fueled by Jane Austen’s novels, as she pursues Lord Byron whose celebrity status—and the paparazzi lurking nearby—threatens them all. As the connections between each member of the group grow more complex, Claire tries to find purpose in a world built by and created for men.
While those around her write what will become some of the most famous works in literature, Claire must ask herself just how far she will go for love. With dramatic weather threatening the food supply, Claire proves her worth by learning to forage for food, all the while documenting everything in her journal. As the summer progresses, passions rise and secrets refuse to stay hidden in Claire’s pages.
Love and Other Monsters offers a deep look into the loyalty of siblings, the commitment required to make meaningful art, the role of fame, and the creation of monsters—both those on the page and those who walk among us.
Claire Clairmont poured her love, life and razor-sharp wit into the pages of her now-missing journal, a document which everyone present had reason to destroy in order to protect themselves. Now Claire, all but forgotten in her famous sister’s shadow, will tell her story.
464 pages, Hardcover
First published April 7, 2026
27 people are currently reading
883 people want to read
About the author
Emily Franklin
35 books156 followersGrowing up, Emily Franklin wanted to be “a singing, tap-dancing doctor who writes books.”
Having learned early on that she has little to no dancing ability, she left the tap world behind, studied at Oxford University, and received an undergraduate degree concentrating in writing and neuroscience from Sarah Lawrence College. Though she gave serious thought to a career in medicine, eventually that career followed her dancing dreams.
After extensive travel, some “character-building” relationships, and a stint as a chef, Emily went back to school at Dartmouth where she skied (or fished, depending on the season) daily, wrote a few screenplays, and earned her Master’s Degree in writing and media studies.
While editing medical texts and dreaming about writing a novel, Emily went to Martha’s Vineyard on a whim and met her future husband who is, of course, a doctor. And a pianist. He plays. They sing. They get married. He finishes medical school, they have a child, she writes a novel. Emily’s dreams are realized. She writes books.
Emily Franklin is the author of two adult novels, The Girls' Almanac and Liner Notes and more than a dozen books for young adults including the critically-acclaimed seven book fiction series for teens, The Principles of Love. Other young adult books include The Other Half of Me the Chalet Girls series, and At Face Value, a retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac (coming in September 2008).
She edited the anthologies It's a Wonderful Lie: 26 Truths about Life in Your Twenties and How to Spell Chanukah: 18 Writers Celebrate 8 Nights of Lights. She is co-editor of Before: Short Stories about Pregnancy from Our Top Writers.
Her book of essays and recipes, Too Many Cooks: Kitchen Adventures with 1 Mom, 4 Kids, 102 New Recipes ~ A Memoir of Tasting, Testing, and Discovery in the Kitchen will be published by Hyperion.
Emily’s work has appeared in The Boston Globe and the Mississippi Review as well as in many anthologies including Don't You Forget About Me: Contemporary Writers on the Films of John Hughes, When I Was a Loser: True Stories of (Barely) Surviving High School by Today's Top Writers, and Because I Love Her: 34 Women Writers on the Mother-Daughter Bond. Emily writes regularly about food and parenting for national magazines and newspapers. She travels, teaches writing seminars, and speaks on panels, but does not tap dance. Emily Franklin lives outside of Boston with her husband and their four young children.
Having learned early on that she has little to no dancing ability, she left the tap world behind, studied at Oxford University, and received an undergraduate degree concentrating in writing and neuroscience from Sarah Lawrence College. Though she gave serious thought to a career in medicine, eventually that career followed her dancing dreams.
After extensive travel, some “character-building” relationships, and a stint as a chef, Emily went back to school at Dartmouth where she skied (or fished, depending on the season) daily, wrote a few screenplays, and earned her Master’s Degree in writing and media studies.
While editing medical texts and dreaming about writing a novel, Emily went to Martha’s Vineyard on a whim and met her future husband who is, of course, a doctor. And a pianist. He plays. They sing. They get married. He finishes medical school, they have a child, she writes a novel. Emily’s dreams are realized. She writes books.
Emily Franklin is the author of two adult novels, The Girls' Almanac and Liner Notes and more than a dozen books for young adults including the critically-acclaimed seven book fiction series for teens, The Principles of Love. Other young adult books include The Other Half of Me the Chalet Girls series, and At Face Value, a retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac (coming in September 2008).
She edited the anthologies It's a Wonderful Lie: 26 Truths about Life in Your Twenties and How to Spell Chanukah: 18 Writers Celebrate 8 Nights of Lights. She is co-editor of Before: Short Stories about Pregnancy from Our Top Writers.
Her book of essays and recipes, Too Many Cooks: Kitchen Adventures with 1 Mom, 4 Kids, 102 New Recipes ~ A Memoir of Tasting, Testing, and Discovery in the Kitchen will be published by Hyperion.
Emily’s work has appeared in The Boston Globe and the Mississippi Review as well as in many anthologies including Don't You Forget About Me: Contemporary Writers on the Films of John Hughes, When I Was a Loser: True Stories of (Barely) Surviving High School by Today's Top Writers, and Because I Love Her: 34 Women Writers on the Mother-Daughter Bond. Emily writes regularly about food and parenting for national magazines and newspapers. She travels, teaches writing seminars, and speaks on panels, but does not tap dance. Emily Franklin lives outside of Boston with her husband and their four young children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
October 10, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Love & Other Monsters” by Emily Franklin — A Review
At first glance, Love & Other Monsters felt a little slow to me. The early chapters moved with a gentle deliberateness, and I confess I wasn’t entirely sure I would wind up enjoying it. But I’m so glad I kept going. By the time I passed the midpoint, I was fully invested. I felt like a fly on the wall in Claire’s world, rooting for her, anguishing with her, watching her try to carve some autonomy in a time and place that allowed her so few.
Emily Franklin sets the story during the ominous “Year Without Summer,” when climate disruption and cold weather across Europe exacerbated scarcity and desperation. We follow young Claire Clairmont who left her family home to follow her sister Mary on her elopement with Percy Shelley. This life changing decision led her to spending a summer with literary giants (Mary, Shelley, Lord Byron and Polidori) and being caught amid romantic, intellectual, and social tensions.
What I loved:
- My early uncertainty gave way to deep emotional connection. I found myself rooting for Claire’s survival and self-definition.
- The dynamics between Claire and Mary are heartbreaking. From early on I sensed that Mary’s relationship with Claire was selfish and one sided.
- Shelley was never the nurturing caregiver Claire deserved, reading the truth when it finally emerged made my stomach sink and my heart break in tandem even though my gut knew early on what was happening - I just desperately hoped I was wrong.
- The historical setting is vivid: the stakes of ownership, control, silences, and erasure are sharply drawn. Even though it’s the 1800s, the power imbalances over women’s bodies and autonomy that Claire contends with still feel resonant today.
Some small reservations:
- Because the story opens gently, for readers wanting immediate drama the first half may feel a bit slow.
- At times the narrative leans a little heavily on Claire’s internal tension without pushing the plot forward.
Still, these small points never derailed my overall experience. By the end, I felt that Claire’s voice, sharp, wounded and searching earned its full claim. And the themes of the power of voice, the weight of erasure, the cost of love, and the monster-making that occurs when people hide secrets echo long after the last page.
I rate this 4 out of 5 stars. It’s a book I’d recommend to readers who don’t mind a slow burn, appreciate historical fiction with moral and emotional rigor, and who want to see a hidden figure, in this story, Claire, finally be given her story.
At first glance, Love & Other Monsters felt a little slow to me. The early chapters moved with a gentle deliberateness, and I confess I wasn’t entirely sure I would wind up enjoying it. But I’m so glad I kept going. By the time I passed the midpoint, I was fully invested. I felt like a fly on the wall in Claire’s world, rooting for her, anguishing with her, watching her try to carve some autonomy in a time and place that allowed her so few.
Emily Franklin sets the story during the ominous “Year Without Summer,” when climate disruption and cold weather across Europe exacerbated scarcity and desperation. We follow young Claire Clairmont who left her family home to follow her sister Mary on her elopement with Percy Shelley. This life changing decision led her to spending a summer with literary giants (Mary, Shelley, Lord Byron and Polidori) and being caught amid romantic, intellectual, and social tensions.
What I loved:
- My early uncertainty gave way to deep emotional connection. I found myself rooting for Claire’s survival and self-definition.
- The dynamics between Claire and Mary are heartbreaking. From early on I sensed that Mary’s relationship with Claire was selfish and one sided.
- Shelley was never the nurturing caregiver Claire deserved, reading the truth when it finally emerged made my stomach sink and my heart break in tandem even though my gut knew early on what was happening - I just desperately hoped I was wrong.
- The historical setting is vivid: the stakes of ownership, control, silences, and erasure are sharply drawn. Even though it’s the 1800s, the power imbalances over women’s bodies and autonomy that Claire contends with still feel resonant today.
Some small reservations:
- Because the story opens gently, for readers wanting immediate drama the first half may feel a bit slow.
- At times the narrative leans a little heavily on Claire’s internal tension without pushing the plot forward.
Still, these small points never derailed my overall experience. By the end, I felt that Claire’s voice, sharp, wounded and searching earned its full claim. And the themes of the power of voice, the weight of erasure, the cost of love, and the monster-making that occurs when people hide secrets echo long after the last page.
I rate this 4 out of 5 stars. It’s a book I’d recommend to readers who don’t mind a slow burn, appreciate historical fiction with moral and emotional rigor, and who want to see a hidden figure, in this story, Claire, finally be given her story.
September 24, 2025
I found this book made me feel sad, terrified and at times haunted. The story evolves gradually and without lots of dramatic moments but there are real moments of significant emotion which seemed subtle at the time. I confess that I don't know a great deal about Byron or Shelley other than the ones which are hard not to miss. Byron's estate was Newstead Abbey in Nottinghamshire, his notorious celebrity and Shelley's death by drowning. I have not read Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and although I did have some awareness of her step-sister joining her on her elopement there ends my knowledge of Claire Clairmont.
I wasn't sure what the novel held in its pages and therefore I began reading with a sense of trepidation. From the outset, there are sinister undertones which definitely made the opening line "All love stories are ghost stories waiting to happen" pertinent.
This novel made me realise how much younger people got involved in romantic relationships. Claire is in her late teens when she writes to Byron for career advice. When they meet and the relationship begins, Byron is almost a decade older. The character of Claire is both naïve and tenacious. As her relationships untangle; or perhaps emerge as not being particularly strong, I had the sense that she was beginning to learn about herself and better understand the world in which she lived. I felt frustrated for all the women in the story for their lack of agency and the manner in which they were treated by the male characters. There are a few likeable characters in this novel and for me, this is the kind Housekeeper and at times, Byron's personal physician. Overall though the characters add to the ghoulish nature of the story and there is an undercurrent of horror throughout. At times the novel felt like it jumped from one memory to the next but on reflection this makes sense in relation to the use of a journal for memories and looking back on the past.
The title is definitely apt and if you like historic novels and particularly ones that tell the story from a female perspective then I would definitely recommend this.
I was gifted a free copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an objective review.
I wasn't sure what the novel held in its pages and therefore I began reading with a sense of trepidation. From the outset, there are sinister undertones which definitely made the opening line "All love stories are ghost stories waiting to happen" pertinent.
This novel made me realise how much younger people got involved in romantic relationships. Claire is in her late teens when she writes to Byron for career advice. When they meet and the relationship begins, Byron is almost a decade older. The character of Claire is both naïve and tenacious. As her relationships untangle; or perhaps emerge as not being particularly strong, I had the sense that she was beginning to learn about herself and better understand the world in which she lived. I felt frustrated for all the women in the story for their lack of agency and the manner in which they were treated by the male characters. There are a few likeable characters in this novel and for me, this is the kind Housekeeper and at times, Byron's personal physician. Overall though the characters add to the ghoulish nature of the story and there is an undercurrent of horror throughout. At times the novel felt like it jumped from one memory to the next but on reflection this makes sense in relation to the use of a journal for memories and looking back on the past.
The title is definitely apt and if you like historic novels and particularly ones that tell the story from a female perspective then I would definitely recommend this.
I was gifted a free copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an objective review.
January 8, 2026
This is a quiet, haunting, deeply atmospheric novel that lingered with me long after I finished it.
Love & Other Monsters gives voice to Claire Clairmont,a woman historically overshadowed by the literary giants around her,and in doing so, Emily Franklin delivers a moving meditation on love, erasure, ambition, and the cost of being a woman in a world built for men. Set during the infamous “Year Without Summer,” the novel unfolds slowly and deliberately, mirroring the oppressive weather, the claustrophobic social dynamics, and Claire’s own internal unrest.
What I appreciated most was the intimacy of Claire’s perspective. Told through the lens of her journal, the narrative feels confessional and restrained, filled with longing, observation, and quiet ache. Claire is not rewritten as a loud or sensational heroine; instead, she is perceptive, loyal to a fault, and painfully human. Her devotion to Mary, to Percy, to Lord Byron, and to the idea of love itself is both tender and devastating to witness.
Franklin’s prose is elegant and period-appropriate without feeling inaccessible. The Lake Geneva setting is rendered with a gothic softness: cold skies, violent storms, creative fervor, and simmering resentment all coexist beautifully. While literary legends like Mary Shelley and Lord Byron loom large, the novel resists mythmaking. These figures are flawed, selfish, charismatic, and often cruel, especially to Claire and that imbalance of power is one of the book’s most effective themes.
The pacing is undeniably slow, but for me, it worked. This is not a plot-driven novel; it’s a character study, a psychological portrait of a young woman trying to matter in proximity to greatness. The emotional payoff lies not in dramatic twists but in Claire’s gradual reckoning with herself—what she has sacrificed, what has been taken from her, and what stories are allowed to survive.
Ultimately, Love & Other Monsters feels like an act of literary reclamation. It asks who gets remembered, who gets erased, and how many brilliant, complicated women were relegated to the margins of history simply because they loved too openly or existed too close to famous men.
A quietly powerful read for fans of historical fiction, feminist retellings, and novels that privilege voice, mood, and emotional truth over spectacle.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Love & Other Monsters gives voice to Claire Clairmont,a woman historically overshadowed by the literary giants around her,and in doing so, Emily Franklin delivers a moving meditation on love, erasure, ambition, and the cost of being a woman in a world built for men. Set during the infamous “Year Without Summer,” the novel unfolds slowly and deliberately, mirroring the oppressive weather, the claustrophobic social dynamics, and Claire’s own internal unrest.
What I appreciated most was the intimacy of Claire’s perspective. Told through the lens of her journal, the narrative feels confessional and restrained, filled with longing, observation, and quiet ache. Claire is not rewritten as a loud or sensational heroine; instead, she is perceptive, loyal to a fault, and painfully human. Her devotion to Mary, to Percy, to Lord Byron, and to the idea of love itself is both tender and devastating to witness.
Franklin’s prose is elegant and period-appropriate without feeling inaccessible. The Lake Geneva setting is rendered with a gothic softness: cold skies, violent storms, creative fervor, and simmering resentment all coexist beautifully. While literary legends like Mary Shelley and Lord Byron loom large, the novel resists mythmaking. These figures are flawed, selfish, charismatic, and often cruel, especially to Claire and that imbalance of power is one of the book’s most effective themes.
The pacing is undeniably slow, but for me, it worked. This is not a plot-driven novel; it’s a character study, a psychological portrait of a young woman trying to matter in proximity to greatness. The emotional payoff lies not in dramatic twists but in Claire’s gradual reckoning with herself—what she has sacrificed, what has been taken from her, and what stories are allowed to survive.
Ultimately, Love & Other Monsters feels like an act of literary reclamation. It asks who gets remembered, who gets erased, and how many brilliant, complicated women were relegated to the margins of history simply because they loved too openly or existed too close to famous men.
A quietly powerful read for fans of historical fiction, feminist retellings, and novels that privilege voice, mood, and emotional truth over spectacle.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
November 11, 2025
Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.
The impact it had on me was mixed. I appreciated the fact that the writing style matched the one in use at the time when the action took place - given the fact that the book is written like a diary.
It shows the thoughts and experiences of Claire Clairmont, Mary Shelley's 'sister', retelling the events that marked her life before and during her stay in Switzerland with Lord Byron, Percy and Mary Shelley, and Dr Polidori.
As I mentioned, the book is beautifully written. However, it's too long and slow-paced, which made me lose interest despite the fact that I grew up reading Victorian literature.
The impact it had on me was mixed. I appreciated the fact that the writing style matched the one in use at the time when the action took place - given the fact that the book is written like a diary.
It shows the thoughts and experiences of Claire Clairmont, Mary Shelley's 'sister', retelling the events that marked her life before and during her stay in Switzerland with Lord Byron, Percy and Mary Shelley, and Dr Polidori.
As I mentioned, the book is beautifully written. However, it's too long and slow-paced, which made me lose interest despite the fact that I grew up reading Victorian literature.
Currently Reading
April 20, 2026Much more captivating than a merely factual biography of Claire Clairmont - sister of Mary Shelley and lover of Lord Byron - Franklin here offers an imaginative recreation of the most effaced of the commune of Romantics that spawned Childe Harold, Don Juan, Frankenstein, "Ozymandias", "To a Skylark", "Ode to the West Wind."
April 21, 2026
A historical fiction following Clair Clairmont during her late teens and early 20s. Love and Other Monsters highlights her time with Mary Shelly, Percy Shelly, and Lord Bryon. Its a great representation on the romanticism of the time
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September 24, 2025Thank you netgalley for this copy!
This is my first netgalley review, and I was super excited, as I adore Mary Shelley and reading about her sister and their relationship sounded like something just up my alley. However, I was greatly disappointed with the book.
With the way the author goes about, in every page, endlessly justifying her main character's existence, you would think she was an original character and not a public figure. It reminded me more of an original character sibling fanfiction, than it did to a historical novel. She is endlessly compared to the more famous Mary, never quite standing on her own in her narrative. While this is part of her arc, it does not work, especially as so often, it is done negatively towards Mary, whom we already know and love. Especially in the first chapter, the weird way it tries to prove her worth by having her take more menial tasks out of Mary's hands left a bad taste in my mouth that I can't fully put into words, but felt very anti-feminist (Claire can do _real work, while Mary reads, Claire is helping Shelley with his projects_.)
In each page, we get another analysis of their closeness, all of them slightly contradictory. Not in a 'imperfect narrator' kind of way, but more in a 'hitting you over the head with information'.
When Byron shows up, it was a let-down. Which is not a sentence I thought I would write. On one hand, we know her infatuation with him is because of his public persona, but the text tries so hard to add more depth, that it feels like it is trying to fix the actions of an imperfect woman, instead of examining her and letting her breath. No, her actions must be laid out. Must be the result of others, if there is any negative connotation.
Also... the very specific historic details, which make no sense in first-person pov were tiring. And felt, at times, ahistorical and took you away from the narrative.
At the end, I could not finish the book. I was not enjoying it, as you can see, and lasted about 20%.
As I was in a petty mood before posting this, I went to the author's previous books and one review caught my eye -- and every famous man thought she was amazing and special immediately. The same could be said for the main character of this book, which does not bode well for the rest of the narrative.
This is my first netgalley review, and I was super excited, as I adore Mary Shelley and reading about her sister and their relationship sounded like something just up my alley. However, I was greatly disappointed with the book.
With the way the author goes about, in every page, endlessly justifying her main character's existence, you would think she was an original character and not a public figure. It reminded me more of an original character sibling fanfiction, than it did to a historical novel. She is endlessly compared to the more famous Mary, never quite standing on her own in her narrative. While this is part of her arc, it does not work, especially as so often, it is done negatively towards Mary, whom we already know and love. Especially in the first chapter, the weird way it tries to prove her worth by having her take more menial tasks out of Mary's hands left a bad taste in my mouth that I can't fully put into words, but felt very anti-feminist (Claire can do _real work, while Mary reads, Claire is helping Shelley with his projects_.)
In each page, we get another analysis of their closeness, all of them slightly contradictory. Not in a 'imperfect narrator' kind of way, but more in a 'hitting you over the head with information'.
When Byron shows up, it was a let-down. Which is not a sentence I thought I would write. On one hand, we know her infatuation with him is because of his public persona, but the text tries so hard to add more depth, that it feels like it is trying to fix the actions of an imperfect woman, instead of examining her and letting her breath. No, her actions must be laid out. Must be the result of others, if there is any negative connotation.
Also... the very specific historic details, which make no sense in first-person pov were tiring. And felt, at times, ahistorical and took you away from the narrative.
At the end, I could not finish the book. I was not enjoying it, as you can see, and lasted about 20%.
As I was in a petty mood before posting this, I went to the author's previous books and one review caught my eye -- and every famous man thought she was amazing and special immediately. The same could be said for the main character of this book, which does not bode well for the rest of the narrative.
December 5, 2025
The deeply introspective, nostalgic tone of Emily Franklin’s probing historical fiction, Love and Other Monsters, lulls the reader with profound intimacy as Claire Clairmont, now eighty years old, casts eyes on her long-lost journal documenting the most pivotal summer of her life. “We are all stories of before and after,” Claire says, “That was the summer of my first life.”
The catalyst for the summer of 1816 is the result of seventeen-year-old Claire’s fervent wish, when she braves to write a fan letter to the widely celebrated poet, Lord Byron, hoping against all odds for a response that, surprisingly, swiftly arrives.
The inexperienced Claire keeps her initial meeting and subsequent dalliance with Lord Byron secret to avoid gossip and scandal, yet she has another motive: Claire lives in the shadow of her elder stepsister, Mary Godwin, an erudite, serious writer in possession of a fragile beauty, and living as wife to the rising poet, Percy Shelley. Mary Godwin is the daughter of famed feminist, Mary Wollstonecraft, and she and Claire become stepsisters when Mary’s father marries Claire’s mother. Theirs is a devoted alliance devoid of sibling rivalry, though it’s maintained by Mary’s authoritative demeanor, and Claire’s agreeable nature. When Claire develops a relationship with Lord Byron, who is widely known to be a womanizer, it is an act of independence that Claire withholds her secret from Mary.
What begins behind closed doors as an exhilarating introduction to her own femininity soon turns into Claire’s confusion, when Lord Byron, in a manner that feels dismissive, announces his planned departure to Lake Geneva for the summer. But Claire is new in the ways of love and quickly arranges for herself and the Shelleys to take their summer break in close proximity to Lord Byron, who has rented a lake front villa named Via Diodati.
The Lake Geneva setting of Diodati is viscerally enchanting, and the summer’s unseasonably moody weather sets the stage for this deftly drawn, character intensive novel. The story takes hold in period-appropriate, elegant language, with character driven drama finely rendered and telling of characters who achieve world-wide recognition. Against this ambitious backdrop, it is all the more glaring that narrator Claire Clairmont remains unheralded in the annals of literary history.
Franklin keeps Claire’s emotional cauldron seething, as Claire struggles with her position among her summer companions. She is innocent but fearless, unschooled but self-confident. Her journal reads like the coming-of-age musings of a star-struck young woman in the act of exploring her own identity.
Though Claire is a writer, she’s not taken seriously by Mary and Percy Shelley, who are both on the cusp of making their mark on the world. Lord Byron is already widely known, and, rounding out the summer group, a young physician named John Polidori has been hired by a regional tabloid to document the goings on at Via Diodati for public consumption. The group dynamic is rife with issues of admiration versus jealousy, inspiration versus competition, and romantic attraction versus the loyalties and boundaries of friendship.
The initial draw of Love and Other Monsters is the story of infamous literary figures, and yet Claire Clairmont’s story rises from the shadows and enthralls the reader. On the one hand, it’s a story of love and infatuation; on the other hand, it’s the unfolding story of a young woman coming into her own that is equally as interesting.
Love and Other Monsters is character-driven world building at its finest. It’s a gorgeous treatise on the method to the madness details behind the art of writing, as told from the point of view of literary giants that matter. The historical novel’s fluid prose is an experience best savored, as it measures stratospheric fame against a deserving, but unsung hero.
The catalyst for the summer of 1816 is the result of seventeen-year-old Claire’s fervent wish, when she braves to write a fan letter to the widely celebrated poet, Lord Byron, hoping against all odds for a response that, surprisingly, swiftly arrives.
The inexperienced Claire keeps her initial meeting and subsequent dalliance with Lord Byron secret to avoid gossip and scandal, yet she has another motive: Claire lives in the shadow of her elder stepsister, Mary Godwin, an erudite, serious writer in possession of a fragile beauty, and living as wife to the rising poet, Percy Shelley. Mary Godwin is the daughter of famed feminist, Mary Wollstonecraft, and she and Claire become stepsisters when Mary’s father marries Claire’s mother. Theirs is a devoted alliance devoid of sibling rivalry, though it’s maintained by Mary’s authoritative demeanor, and Claire’s agreeable nature. When Claire develops a relationship with Lord Byron, who is widely known to be a womanizer, it is an act of independence that Claire withholds her secret from Mary.
What begins behind closed doors as an exhilarating introduction to her own femininity soon turns into Claire’s confusion, when Lord Byron, in a manner that feels dismissive, announces his planned departure to Lake Geneva for the summer. But Claire is new in the ways of love and quickly arranges for herself and the Shelleys to take their summer break in close proximity to Lord Byron, who has rented a lake front villa named Via Diodati.
The Lake Geneva setting of Diodati is viscerally enchanting, and the summer’s unseasonably moody weather sets the stage for this deftly drawn, character intensive novel. The story takes hold in period-appropriate, elegant language, with character driven drama finely rendered and telling of characters who achieve world-wide recognition. Against this ambitious backdrop, it is all the more glaring that narrator Claire Clairmont remains unheralded in the annals of literary history.
Franklin keeps Claire’s emotional cauldron seething, as Claire struggles with her position among her summer companions. She is innocent but fearless, unschooled but self-confident. Her journal reads like the coming-of-age musings of a star-struck young woman in the act of exploring her own identity.
Though Claire is a writer, she’s not taken seriously by Mary and Percy Shelley, who are both on the cusp of making their mark on the world. Lord Byron is already widely known, and, rounding out the summer group, a young physician named John Polidori has been hired by a regional tabloid to document the goings on at Via Diodati for public consumption. The group dynamic is rife with issues of admiration versus jealousy, inspiration versus competition, and romantic attraction versus the loyalties and boundaries of friendship.
The initial draw of Love and Other Monsters is the story of infamous literary figures, and yet Claire Clairmont’s story rises from the shadows and enthralls the reader. On the one hand, it’s a story of love and infatuation; on the other hand, it’s the unfolding story of a young woman coming into her own that is equally as interesting.
Love and Other Monsters is character-driven world building at its finest. It’s a gorgeous treatise on the method to the madness details behind the art of writing, as told from the point of view of literary giants that matter. The historical novel’s fluid prose is an experience best savored, as it measures stratospheric fame against a deserving, but unsung hero.
November 15, 2025
📚Love & Other Monsters
✍🏻Emily Franklin
Blurb:
All love stories are ghost stories waiting to happen…
Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet meets Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice in this intense and propulsive story of love, lust, art and betrayal, based on the important—and forgotten—life of eighteen-year-old Claire Clairmont.
In the bizarrely cold, scandalous summer of 1816, a group of famous young writers gathered at a mansion on the shores of Lake Geneva, Switzerland. Brilliant Mary Wollstonecraft Shelly, her fiery fiancé Percy Shelly, the famously promiscuous Lord Byron, and his sexually tormented personal physician all sheltered together during the storms of what would become known as The Year Without Summer. But they were not alone. Claire Clairmont, Mary’s impressionable, clever, and dangerously loyal step-sister joined them. That summer of sex, betrayal, and creative passion gave the world the works of Frankenstein, the modern vampire legend, and the mythic image of these Romantic literary giants.
When a global climate catastrophe wreaks havoc, Claire tries to separate from Mary and Percy Shelley, finding strength in her individuality. Yet Claire is also caught up in romance, fueled by Jane Austen’s novels, as she pursues Lord Byron whose celebrity status—and the paparazzi lurking nearby—threatens them all. As the connections between each member of the group grow more complex, Claire tries to find purpose in a world built by and created for men.
While those around her write what will become some of the most famous works in literature, Claire must ask herself just how far she will go for love. With dramatic weather threatening the food supply, Claire proves her worth by learning to forage for food, all the while documenting everything in her journal. As the summer progresses, passions rise and secrets refuse to stay hidden in Claire’s pages.
Love and Other Monsters offers a deep look into the loyalty of siblings, the commitment required to make meaningful art, the role of fame, and the creation of monsters—both those on the page and those who walk among us.
Claire Clairmont poured her love, life and razor-sharp wit into the pages of her now-missing journal, a document which everyone present had reason to destroy in order to protect themselves. Now Claire, all but forgotten in her famous sister’s shadow, will tell her story.
My Thoughts:
Love & Other Monsters is tale of loss, depression, family wounds… Claire is a young woman lost, she has so many wounds but doesn’t see how much they affect her, probably because the people around her underestimate her. She and the others think her wound lesser than everyone else’s because they seem not as important as one might think they should be. This work of fiction is so well done that you lose yourself thinking it’s real. Claire deserved better, as does every woman who’s ever felt the way she did. Emily Franklin sets the story during the ominous “Year Without Summer,” when climate disruption and cold weather across Europe exacerbated scarcity and desperation. We follow young Claire Clairmont who left her family home to follow her sister Mary on her elopement with Percy Shelley. This life changing decision led her to spending a summer with literary giants (Mary, Shelley, Lord Byron and Polidori) and being caught amid romantic, intellectual, and social tensions. I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend to those that enjoy emotional, Hopeful, sad., funny and inspiring then add this to your TBR list.
Thanks NetGalley, David R. Godine, Publisher and Author Emily Franklin for the complimentary copy of "Love & Other Monsters, I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#DavidRl.GodinePublisher
#EmilyFranklin
#Love&OtherMonsters
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍🏻Emily Franklin
Blurb:
All love stories are ghost stories waiting to happen…
Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet meets Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice in this intense and propulsive story of love, lust, art and betrayal, based on the important—and forgotten—life of eighteen-year-old Claire Clairmont.
In the bizarrely cold, scandalous summer of 1816, a group of famous young writers gathered at a mansion on the shores of Lake Geneva, Switzerland. Brilliant Mary Wollstonecraft Shelly, her fiery fiancé Percy Shelly, the famously promiscuous Lord Byron, and his sexually tormented personal physician all sheltered together during the storms of what would become known as The Year Without Summer. But they were not alone. Claire Clairmont, Mary’s impressionable, clever, and dangerously loyal step-sister joined them. That summer of sex, betrayal, and creative passion gave the world the works of Frankenstein, the modern vampire legend, and the mythic image of these Romantic literary giants.
When a global climate catastrophe wreaks havoc, Claire tries to separate from Mary and Percy Shelley, finding strength in her individuality. Yet Claire is also caught up in romance, fueled by Jane Austen’s novels, as she pursues Lord Byron whose celebrity status—and the paparazzi lurking nearby—threatens them all. As the connections between each member of the group grow more complex, Claire tries to find purpose in a world built by and created for men.
While those around her write what will become some of the most famous works in literature, Claire must ask herself just how far she will go for love. With dramatic weather threatening the food supply, Claire proves her worth by learning to forage for food, all the while documenting everything in her journal. As the summer progresses, passions rise and secrets refuse to stay hidden in Claire’s pages.
Love and Other Monsters offers a deep look into the loyalty of siblings, the commitment required to make meaningful art, the role of fame, and the creation of monsters—both those on the page and those who walk among us.
Claire Clairmont poured her love, life and razor-sharp wit into the pages of her now-missing journal, a document which everyone present had reason to destroy in order to protect themselves. Now Claire, all but forgotten in her famous sister’s shadow, will tell her story.
My Thoughts:
Love & Other Monsters is tale of loss, depression, family wounds… Claire is a young woman lost, she has so many wounds but doesn’t see how much they affect her, probably because the people around her underestimate her. She and the others think her wound lesser than everyone else’s because they seem not as important as one might think they should be. This work of fiction is so well done that you lose yourself thinking it’s real. Claire deserved better, as does every woman who’s ever felt the way she did. Emily Franklin sets the story during the ominous “Year Without Summer,” when climate disruption and cold weather across Europe exacerbated scarcity and desperation. We follow young Claire Clairmont who left her family home to follow her sister Mary on her elopement with Percy Shelley. This life changing decision led her to spending a summer with literary giants (Mary, Shelley, Lord Byron and Polidori) and being caught amid romantic, intellectual, and social tensions. I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend to those that enjoy emotional, Hopeful, sad., funny and inspiring then add this to your TBR list.
Thanks NetGalley, David R. Godine, Publisher and Author Emily Franklin for the complimentary copy of "Love & Other Monsters, I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#DavidRl.GodinePublisher
#EmilyFranklin
#Love&OtherMonsters
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 22, 2025
Emily Franklin demonstrates both courage and depth of talent as she takes on this well researched historical novel based on a summer shared by Percy Shelley, his fiancée Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, John Polidori, and Lord Byron. “Love and Other Monsters” uses the device of a journal penned by Claire Clairmont, Marry Wollstoncraft’s stepsister, to tell the story. Claire was there the summer these literary greats came together. She served as witness, helper, and so much more. She saw “Frankenstein” and “The Vampyre” take shape. She copied and made small edits in many of the writings. She isn’t renowned like the others in attendance, but she was there, playing a part in all that was created.
This is Claire’s coming of age story, and she came into an age and a situation to be reckoned with. There is nothing simple or straightforward about this novel. It is as complex and interwoven as its characters. In Claire, Emily Franklin found a perfect witness and voice to describe what was occurring inside that summer. I found myself underlining passages for the beauty of the writing and the choice of phrase. This served me well as I was able to refer to the specifics in the text as meanings layered themselves, building both the plot and my understanding of the people being portrayed. It is the clarity and depth of writing that are the strength and core of this work.
The novel starts by telling us that all love stories are ghost stories waiting to happen. This novel is a love story to writing, and a ghost story dedicated to the parts of us that are lost, misplaced, or murdered along the way. “Love and Other Monsters” is dark and tortured and romantic in ways that would be appreciated by the Romantic Poets, should they be alive today. I recommend this book to those who love the literature of that time and who seek to imagine what it would have been like to a woman coming of age amongst writers who were such titans in their time that they are still known and appreciated today.
Thank you to NetGalley and Godine for access to this ARC.
This is Claire’s coming of age story, and she came into an age and a situation to be reckoned with. There is nothing simple or straightforward about this novel. It is as complex and interwoven as its characters. In Claire, Emily Franklin found a perfect witness and voice to describe what was occurring inside that summer. I found myself underlining passages for the beauty of the writing and the choice of phrase. This served me well as I was able to refer to the specifics in the text as meanings layered themselves, building both the plot and my understanding of the people being portrayed. It is the clarity and depth of writing that are the strength and core of this work.
The novel starts by telling us that all love stories are ghost stories waiting to happen. This novel is a love story to writing, and a ghost story dedicated to the parts of us that are lost, misplaced, or murdered along the way. “Love and Other Monsters” is dark and tortured and romantic in ways that would be appreciated by the Romantic Poets, should they be alive today. I recommend this book to those who love the literature of that time and who seek to imagine what it would have been like to a woman coming of age amongst writers who were such titans in their time that they are still known and appreciated today.
Thank you to NetGalley and Godine for access to this ARC.
December 8, 2025
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. A modern day classic. This book is written in a style that was true in the early 19th century. Claire Clairemont is a young woman living with her stepsister, Mary Shelley (author of Frankenstein) and her husband, Percy. From the beginning you understand their relationship is not conventional. Percy demands attention from both women and acts like he owns them. Claire also wants to be a writer herself and writes to Lord Byron and gets his attention. I wouldn’t say they fall in love but Byron got what he wanted, Claire did not. She wanted more and Byron did not. Byron decides to go to lake Geneva and Claire decides to trick her family to join him.. even though she wasn’t invited. It is clear when she gets there, Byron did not want her anymore. She does everything she can to get his attention, to little avail. During this time was also some strange weather happening at this time. Then the story just kinda is a “day in the life.” It loses the plot. You’re wondering where the story is going or if there is a point? Claire does end up being with child and is forced to give the child up but the child did not live for long. Byron never rekindled the relationship, Mary was a success and Percy died shortly after. The entire book you are questioning the true relationship between Percy and Claire and also, if Mary secretly hated her sister because of that. Everyone was cruel to Claire but Claire lacked boundaries. The lengths she went to for Byron’s attention is kind of crazy. This book is written beautifully but there was definitely times where I just wanted to skip ahead. It slows down dramatically without a whole lot of substance. I think this book could loose a couple hundred of pages and you would still get the idea. I appreciate the author remaining as close to the truth as possible. I also felt like the ending was very abrupt. Only a little of information given in the epilogue. I would have liked for the story to carry on a bit more.
Read
March 8, 2026Love & Other Monsters by Emily Franklin is an atmospheric and emotionally charged work of historical fiction that revisits one of the most legendary literary summers in history the gathering of young Romantic writers at Lake Geneva in 1816.
The novel centers on Claire Clairmont, the often overlooked step sister of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, whose perspective provides a fresh and compelling lens into a moment that shaped literary history. That summer brought together Mary, her fiancé Percy Bysshe Shelley, the notorious poet Lord Byron, and Byron’s physician John Polidori during the strange and storm filled period known as the Year Without a Summer.
Against this dramatic backdrop, Franklin explores the creative passions, romantic entanglements, and personal rivalries that fueled the creation of literary legends including Frankenstein and the origins of the modern vampire myth. Yet rather than focusing solely on the famous figures themselves, the novel highlights Claire’s struggle to define her identity within a world dominated by brilliant but powerful men.
Claire’s voice brings urgency and emotion to the narrative. Intelligent, passionate, and determined to be more than a footnote in history, she navigates love, betrayal, and ambition while documenting the events unfolding around her. Through her eyes, readers see not only the birth of iconic literature but also the personal cost of fame, artistic obsession, and romantic longing.
Franklin blends historical detail with psychological depth, creating a vivid portrait of the Romantic era while exploring themes of creativity, gender, loyalty, and the stories history chooses to remember or forget.
Overall, Love & Other Monsters promises to be a rich and immersive historical novel that gives voice to a fascinating yet overlooked figure while illuminating the human drama behind one of literature’s most mythic moments.
The novel centers on Claire Clairmont, the often overlooked step sister of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, whose perspective provides a fresh and compelling lens into a moment that shaped literary history. That summer brought together Mary, her fiancé Percy Bysshe Shelley, the notorious poet Lord Byron, and Byron’s physician John Polidori during the strange and storm filled period known as the Year Without a Summer.
Against this dramatic backdrop, Franklin explores the creative passions, romantic entanglements, and personal rivalries that fueled the creation of literary legends including Frankenstein and the origins of the modern vampire myth. Yet rather than focusing solely on the famous figures themselves, the novel highlights Claire’s struggle to define her identity within a world dominated by brilliant but powerful men.
Claire’s voice brings urgency and emotion to the narrative. Intelligent, passionate, and determined to be more than a footnote in history, she navigates love, betrayal, and ambition while documenting the events unfolding around her. Through her eyes, readers see not only the birth of iconic literature but also the personal cost of fame, artistic obsession, and romantic longing.
Franklin blends historical detail with psychological depth, creating a vivid portrait of the Romantic era while exploring themes of creativity, gender, loyalty, and the stories history chooses to remember or forget.
Overall, Love & Other Monsters promises to be a rich and immersive historical novel that gives voice to a fascinating yet overlooked figure while illuminating the human drama behind one of literature’s most mythic moments.
November 24, 2025
Love & Other Monsters offered a perspective I’ve long been curious about: Claire Clairmont finally speaking in her own voice. As someone who has always adored Mary Shelley — and who has spent time reflecting on the brilliance and contradictions of Percy Bysshe Shelley — I was eager to see how Claire’s story would unfold beyond the usual shadows of the more mythologised figures around her.
The novel succeeds in giving Claire emotional depth and a sense of agency she’s too often denied, and I appreciated its atmospheric, slightly gothic tone. The structure feels intimate, and at its best, it captures the turbulence and sharp longing of a young woman fighting to define herself within a circle dominated by towering personalities.
That said, there were moments when the pacing felt overly slow, and certain reflections became repetitive. At times, I wished the narrative had pushed further — embraced more complexity or risk — especially when dealing with Claire’s relationship to Mary Shelley, which has always fascinated me. Their dynamic here felt a bit restrained, almost softened, compared to the conflicted, brilliant intensity we know defined their shared history.
I would have welcomed a bit more tension between historical grounding and fictional interpretation.
Still, the novel remains a thoughtful and valuable contribution to re-centring women whose voices were historically sidelined. Claire’s evolution is the strongest part of the book and the one that stayed with me. Even with its flaws, it adds dimension to a circle I care deeply about and reminds me why the Shelleys and their orbit continue to fascinate me.
A compelling, atmospheric read — not without its limitations, but all the more interesting because of them.
Thanks, Netgalley, publisher and author for my ARC!
The novel succeeds in giving Claire emotional depth and a sense of agency she’s too often denied, and I appreciated its atmospheric, slightly gothic tone. The structure feels intimate, and at its best, it captures the turbulence and sharp longing of a young woman fighting to define herself within a circle dominated by towering personalities.
That said, there were moments when the pacing felt overly slow, and certain reflections became repetitive. At times, I wished the narrative had pushed further — embraced more complexity or risk — especially when dealing with Claire’s relationship to Mary Shelley, which has always fascinated me. Their dynamic here felt a bit restrained, almost softened, compared to the conflicted, brilliant intensity we know defined their shared history.
I would have welcomed a bit more tension between historical grounding and fictional interpretation.
Still, the novel remains a thoughtful and valuable contribution to re-centring women whose voices were historically sidelined. Claire’s evolution is the strongest part of the book and the one that stayed with me. Even with its flaws, it adds dimension to a circle I care deeply about and reminds me why the Shelleys and their orbit continue to fascinate me.
A compelling, atmospheric read — not without its limitations, but all the more interesting because of them.
Thanks, Netgalley, publisher and author for my ARC!
March 23, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
This has been an intense reading experience.
The beautiful prose was gripping and provided a full sensory immersion. I’ve never highlighted so many quotes in a book as I felt the need to revisit them as they were impactful.
It starts off quite slow but I am glad I persevered as I would have missed a beautiful book.
The description of the different settings, from the houses to the mountains, lake and gardens, allowed you to fully immerse yourself in the story and you felt as if you were right there with the narrator, as these places were an integral part of the story itself.
This book was dark, atmospheric and thought provoking.
It made me experience a whole range of emotions.
I felt sadness for Claire, as she spent most of her young life in the shadow of her sister and the other famous writers, without a real purpose, having to almost prove the reason for her existence.
I felt rage for the way she was treated by almost everyone, how they made her feel lesser than them and didn’t validate her contributions, both on an intellectual and literary level, and material, for her child minding, foraging, cooking, etc.
I felt pride for how, in the end, she managed to carve her own path without needing anyone else.
Finally, at the end I had an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for the author, Emily Franklin, for writing this book in an attempt to vindicate the erasure of Claire Clairmont from literary history.
This is a tale about growing up, loss, finding her voice and place in a world she didn’t quite understand and didn’t welcome her; a tale about how a decision by a young girl helped shape the future of the literary world.
I will be thinking about this book for quite some time as I continue to digest its contents.
Thank you Godine for the chance to read this beautiful book in advance.
This has been an intense reading experience.
The beautiful prose was gripping and provided a full sensory immersion. I’ve never highlighted so many quotes in a book as I felt the need to revisit them as they were impactful.
It starts off quite slow but I am glad I persevered as I would have missed a beautiful book.
The description of the different settings, from the houses to the mountains, lake and gardens, allowed you to fully immerse yourself in the story and you felt as if you were right there with the narrator, as these places were an integral part of the story itself.
This book was dark, atmospheric and thought provoking.
It made me experience a whole range of emotions.
I felt sadness for Claire, as she spent most of her young life in the shadow of her sister and the other famous writers, without a real purpose, having to almost prove the reason for her existence.
I felt rage for the way she was treated by almost everyone, how they made her feel lesser than them and didn’t validate her contributions, both on an intellectual and literary level, and material, for her child minding, foraging, cooking, etc.
I felt pride for how, in the end, she managed to carve her own path without needing anyone else.
Finally, at the end I had an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for the author, Emily Franklin, for writing this book in an attempt to vindicate the erasure of Claire Clairmont from literary history.
This is a tale about growing up, loss, finding her voice and place in a world she didn’t quite understand and didn’t welcome her; a tale about how a decision by a young girl helped shape the future of the literary world.
I will be thinking about this book for quite some time as I continue to digest its contents.
Thank you Godine for the chance to read this beautiful book in advance.
April 3, 2026
During the cold summer of 1816 at Lake Geneva, Mary Shelley, Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, his troubled physician, and Claire Clairmont are trapped together during the storms of the Year Without Summer, a season that sparks the birth of Frankenstein. As the season worsens, Claire attempts to step out of Mary and Percy’s shadow, pursuing independence while becoming dangerously entangled with Byron and her romantic ideals, discovering how far she will go for love.
Having read Frankenstein, I was really excited to pick up this historical fiction. This is a slow burn, but it works beautifully against the dramatic literary backdrop, exploring romantic and sexual entanglements, creative inspiration and obsession, jealousy, and rivalry. At the centre of it all is a young Claire, drawn to the famously promiscuous Lord Byron, while battling her internal struggle to find her own identity beyond the shadows of Mary and Percy.
I really enjoyed reading Claire’s story. She is naïve yet curious, led by her heart but also analytical and thoughtful, and her devotion to Mary is as strong as her devotion to her own creative passions.
This is also a novel that made me want to research the real history behind these events and Claire’s life, and it’s clear from the references that the author has done extensive research. I also found it interesting how Byron was portrayed with a touch of sympathy—though it didn’t change the fact that, historically, he was still an absolute ass. Even so, it added depth to Claire’s emotional experience and gave insight into what she may have felt, as well as what was to come.
If you enjoy historical fiction about women who were often the backbone of famous writers, this would be an ideal read. 4/5
Thanks to Godine and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Available on the 7th April 2026.
Having read Frankenstein, I was really excited to pick up this historical fiction. This is a slow burn, but it works beautifully against the dramatic literary backdrop, exploring romantic and sexual entanglements, creative inspiration and obsession, jealousy, and rivalry. At the centre of it all is a young Claire, drawn to the famously promiscuous Lord Byron, while battling her internal struggle to find her own identity beyond the shadows of Mary and Percy.
I really enjoyed reading Claire’s story. She is naïve yet curious, led by her heart but also analytical and thoughtful, and her devotion to Mary is as strong as her devotion to her own creative passions.
This is also a novel that made me want to research the real history behind these events and Claire’s life, and it’s clear from the references that the author has done extensive research. I also found it interesting how Byron was portrayed with a touch of sympathy—though it didn’t change the fact that, historically, he was still an absolute ass. Even so, it added depth to Claire’s emotional experience and gave insight into what she may have felt, as well as what was to come.
If you enjoy historical fiction about women who were often the backbone of famous writers, this would be an ideal read. 4/5
Thanks to Godine and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Available on the 7th April 2026.
September 19, 2025
Of most interest to me, and I would think for a fair number of other prospective readers of Emily Franklin’s “Love & Other Monsters,” was the promise it held out for providing an in-depth look at the composition of that perhaps most famous instance of Gothic horror, Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein.”
And indeed the promise is fulfilled to some extent, though not as much as I’d hoped, with Shelley’s creation not even rearing its head until a good while into the novel after its five principals are firmly established at the Swiss villa from where, as those familiar with the story’s genesis know, it came out of a challenge to the group from Lord Byron for each to compose a ghost story.
On hand of course was Mary, along with her husband, the poet Percy Shelley; their child, William; Byron, along with his personal physician, John Polidori, whose indignities at Byron’s hand are dutifully recorded (“Polly Dolly,” Byron nicknamed him); and the least known of the assemblage, Claire Clairmont, Mary’s stepsister and a writer in her own right whose relative obscurity author Franklin seeks in the novel to rectify, noting how she came to be an amanuensis for the group with even an indication that some of the members’ writing may have borne her stamp.
Principally, though, it’s her amorous relationship with Byron, detailed to tiresome extent to my mind, that’s most addressed in the novel, something female readers may find more compelling than I did, with my principal interest being the nuts and bolts of the composition of Mary’s famous Gothicism, which I’d have liked to have seen more of.
And indeed the promise is fulfilled to some extent, though not as much as I’d hoped, with Shelley’s creation not even rearing its head until a good while into the novel after its five principals are firmly established at the Swiss villa from where, as those familiar with the story’s genesis know, it came out of a challenge to the group from Lord Byron for each to compose a ghost story.
On hand of course was Mary, along with her husband, the poet Percy Shelley; their child, William; Byron, along with his personal physician, John Polidori, whose indignities at Byron’s hand are dutifully recorded (“Polly Dolly,” Byron nicknamed him); and the least known of the assemblage, Claire Clairmont, Mary’s stepsister and a writer in her own right whose relative obscurity author Franklin seeks in the novel to rectify, noting how she came to be an amanuensis for the group with even an indication that some of the members’ writing may have borne her stamp.
Principally, though, it’s her amorous relationship with Byron, detailed to tiresome extent to my mind, that’s most addressed in the novel, something female readers may find more compelling than I did, with my principal interest being the nuts and bolts of the composition of Mary’s famous Gothicism, which I’d have liked to have seen more of.
April 16, 2026
Such an interesting look at the famous sojourn where Mary Shelley, Percy Shelley, Lord Byron and Dr. Polidiri spent a unually cold summer season at Lake Geneva. The least known member of the group, Mary's step-sister Claire Clairmont tells this story —and what a rich narrative is spun. We see each character in their individual creative journey, and the interactions among the characters. This is not the accustomed prim prose of Jane Austen, but a dark and sexually charged convergence of talented people pursued by gossip and sightseers, entangled in their work and their personal relationships. It is so interesting to see the men who feel entitled by their talent, with less regard for their human interactions than how they will be remembered. At one point Byron makes this clear when he states: "We are measured by what we leave in the world. How one treats another one day to the next is only temporary." And so by following the least-remembered one of this group we see the brutal effects that these people have on one another. Claire's talents are practical and her love for the cook and housekeeper makes clear that her admiration does not always stay with the rich and famous. Kindness and empathy can also be important., and in a time of scarcity due to the climate, a simple talent like foraging for food, can be of greater value than the ability to write a poem. A sensitive and engrossing drama, beautifully conceived and written, and a closer look at the summer that spawned Frankenstein.
November 7, 2025
WOW. I was genuinely shocked at how much I enjoyed this book. If you love Gothic fiction, you’re in for a treat—this is the contemporary Gothic I’ve been dreaming of. Atmospheric and haunting, yet never so bogged down that it loses momentum.
The characters leap off the page: from Claire to her sometimes‑petulant sister Mary, the often‑flippant Percy Shelly, the mercurial Lord Byron, and his insecure, misogynist physician, Polidori. But what really stands out is Franklin’s writing. I found myself wanting to highlight so many passages—poetry, haunting imagery, philosophical musings—all woven beautifully together. This is historical fiction at its finest. I could see it joining the ranks of Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian, though (hot take) I personally thought the pacing here was much better and found it more accessible and enjoyable. Literary snobs will likely disagree with that, but I said what I said.
My only real concern? It’s a bit long‑winded. I think it could’ve been trimmed by 100+ pages and still retained its power. But if, like me, you love to luxuriate in a rich, evocative environment, then you’ll likely love it here.
The characters leap off the page: from Claire to her sometimes‑petulant sister Mary, the often‑flippant Percy Shelly, the mercurial Lord Byron, and his insecure, misogynist physician, Polidori. But what really stands out is Franklin’s writing. I found myself wanting to highlight so many passages—poetry, haunting imagery, philosophical musings—all woven beautifully together. This is historical fiction at its finest. I could see it joining the ranks of Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian, though (hot take) I personally thought the pacing here was much better and found it more accessible and enjoyable. Literary snobs will likely disagree with that, but I said what I said.
My only real concern? It’s a bit long‑winded. I think it could’ve been trimmed by 100+ pages and still retained its power. But if, like me, you love to luxuriate in a rich, evocative environment, then you’ll likely love it here.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book has an excellent premise but not a great execution.
I was originally attracted by the blurb which compares this novel to Hamnet and Pride & Prejudice, of which I find it quite misleading. Franklin tries to give Claire, our main character, a voice that’s been forgotten through time but unfortunately, leaves no lasting impression.
Claire fell very flat as a character for me, providing no depth and no real sense to remember her by, just like her real counterpart. She always compares herself to her sister and gave off self loathing vibes. She had such a deep insecurity about herself and it just made it hard to read and to continue with the novel.
Once you add the addition of a male character, Lord Byron, she immediately becomes self absorbed with him. Yes, she’s young and doesn’t know better, but also, it seemed incredibly unrealistic considering she has seen how Mary’s life has turned out when she abandoned her own family for a man. It was just too sad and depressing seeing how much she wanted someone to care for her and to notice her. There was too much self pity here.
Thank you to Godine publishing for the ARC.
I was originally attracted by the blurb which compares this novel to Hamnet and Pride & Prejudice, of which I find it quite misleading. Franklin tries to give Claire, our main character, a voice that’s been forgotten through time but unfortunately, leaves no lasting impression.
Claire fell very flat as a character for me, providing no depth and no real sense to remember her by, just like her real counterpart. She always compares herself to her sister and gave off self loathing vibes. She had such a deep insecurity about herself and it just made it hard to read and to continue with the novel.
Once you add the addition of a male character, Lord Byron, she immediately becomes self absorbed with him. Yes, she’s young and doesn’t know better, but also, it seemed incredibly unrealistic considering she has seen how Mary’s life has turned out when she abandoned her own family for a man. It was just too sad and depressing seeing how much she wanted someone to care for her and to notice her. There was too much self pity here.
Thank you to Godine publishing for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5 stars.
Thank you for the advance copy. I will recommend this book to my Year 11 and 12 students, who will likely lap it up—the coming-of-age narrative and accessible prose make it ideal for younger readers. That said, I won't be recommending it as a Book of the Month selection for my book club.
As a dyed-in-the-wool fan of Victorian Gothic literature, I eagerly anticipated this novel and found its concept intriguing. The author's notes attest to the depth of her painstaking research. However, it simply wasn't my cup of tea, and I never truly engaged. I found the story achingly slow, repetitive, and lacking in real psychological depth. I grew up relishing Jane Austen's dysfunctional families, Bathsheba's vanity and impulsiveness, Dorothea's blinkered idealism, Catherine’s selfishness, and Emma’s meddling self-deception. These flaws drive their narratives forward and keep readers engrossed. By contrast, this story lacked intensity and felt frustratingly static despite the author's worthy intentions.
Thank you for the advance copy. I will recommend this book to my Year 11 and 12 students, who will likely lap it up—the coming-of-age narrative and accessible prose make it ideal for younger readers. That said, I won't be recommending it as a Book of the Month selection for my book club.
As a dyed-in-the-wool fan of Victorian Gothic literature, I eagerly anticipated this novel and found its concept intriguing. The author's notes attest to the depth of her painstaking research. However, it simply wasn't my cup of tea, and I never truly engaged. I found the story achingly slow, repetitive, and lacking in real psychological depth. I grew up relishing Jane Austen's dysfunctional families, Bathsheba's vanity and impulsiveness, Dorothea's blinkered idealism, Catherine’s selfishness, and Emma’s meddling self-deception. These flaws drive their narratives forward and keep readers engrossed. By contrast, this story lacked intensity and felt frustratingly static despite the author's worthy intentions.
April 8, 2026
A historical fiction novel about a previously unknown woman is one of my particular cups of tea. This novel accurately described as haunting and atmospheric. The relationships are sometimes jarring and frustrating and one-sided and complicated, and for that feel all the more honest and real.
I always find myself wanting to understand so many things about the author’s process when it comes to historical fiction, and would particularly love to know how many plot points are pulled from real letters and journal entries here.
The narrative is pulled together very well, even as the plot feels sometimes mundane and trodding, it is also pulling you along with the compelling stories of these characters and their complicated relationships. The reality of the circumstances that brought this group together during a summer of bizarre weather seems stranger than fiction, and yet it is all too viscerally real.
The audiobook narration was also superb!
Thanks to David R. Godine and Edelweiss for the DRC, and Libro.fm for the ALC.
I always find myself wanting to understand so many things about the author’s process when it comes to historical fiction, and would particularly love to know how many plot points are pulled from real letters and journal entries here.
The narrative is pulled together very well, even as the plot feels sometimes mundane and trodding, it is also pulling you along with the compelling stories of these characters and their complicated relationships. The reality of the circumstances that brought this group together during a summer of bizarre weather seems stranger than fiction, and yet it is all too viscerally real.
The audiobook narration was also superb!
Thanks to David R. Godine and Edelweiss for the DRC, and Libro.fm for the ALC.
April 15, 2026
The author has crafted a haunting and exquisitely written piece of historical fiction that finally shines a light on Claire Clairmont, long overshadowed in the Frankenstein origin myth.
The strength of the book lies in its emotional honesty. Rather than glorifying the Romantic era, it exposes the vulnerability, insecurity, and longing behind the genius. Claire’s journey is not about fame but about being seen, loved and remembered.
However, this book leans heavily into introspection, which may not appeal to everyone. The emotional repetition and slower pacing can feel overwhelming at times, but they also reinforce the realism of Claire’s inner turmoil and the metaphorical “monsters” serve as a powerful device, reminding us that growth often comes from confronting the fears we least want to face.
Overall, this is a powerful and thought-provoking read if you are fan of literary fiction and historical narratives giving a poignant reminder that history's footnotes often hold the most human truths.
Rating:- 3/5
#LoveOtherMonsters #NetGalley
The strength of the book lies in its emotional honesty. Rather than glorifying the Romantic era, it exposes the vulnerability, insecurity, and longing behind the genius. Claire’s journey is not about fame but about being seen, loved and remembered.
However, this book leans heavily into introspection, which may not appeal to everyone. The emotional repetition and slower pacing can feel overwhelming at times, but they also reinforce the realism of Claire’s inner turmoil and the metaphorical “monsters” serve as a powerful device, reminding us that growth often comes from confronting the fears we least want to face.
Overall, this is a powerful and thought-provoking read if you are fan of literary fiction and historical narratives giving a poignant reminder that history's footnotes often hold the most human truths.
Rating:- 3/5
#LoveOtherMonsters #NetGalley
November 9, 2025
What a tour-de-force! After watching the movie, Mary Shelley, I was mesmerized by Claire’s role and relationship with Lord Byron, and possibly Percy Shelley. This book gives Claire the center stage and a rendering of her own possible story, through pages and pages of references. Honestly, it’s heart-breaking to see how she’s erased from her own story, whether it’s her journal being stolen, Lord Byron’s treatment of her in their “relationship”, and the dismissal of her as a writer by the Shelleys. The infamous ghost story night and Lake Geneva time period is such a fun part of the book to see parts of the story where we didn’t get the full scope of Claire’s place and possible influence. The inclusion of nature, foraging, and her ability to bring light into a dark, gothic room, is inspiring.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.5 stars
The world still speaks of literary giants Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Percy Shelley, and Lord Byron, but no one remembers Claire Clairmont, the one who brought them together for the pivotal summer which resulted in such lauded works of literature. Mary's stepsister, Shelley's sister-in-law, and Byron's sometimes lover has remained invisible until now. Thanks to her fictional journal, readers enter a world of wealth, gender and power imbalance, of the magic and danger of creative genius, of the destruction and beauty of artistic and sexual passion, and so much more. This is an absorbing exploration of a fascinating time in literary history.
Thanks to Publisher David R. Godine for providing an advanced copy of this book.
The world still speaks of literary giants Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Percy Shelley, and Lord Byron, but no one remembers Claire Clairmont, the one who brought them together for the pivotal summer which resulted in such lauded works of literature. Mary's stepsister, Shelley's sister-in-law, and Byron's sometimes lover has remained invisible until now. Thanks to her fictional journal, readers enter a world of wealth, gender and power imbalance, of the magic and danger of creative genius, of the destruction and beauty of artistic and sexual passion, and so much more. This is an absorbing exploration of a fascinating time in literary history.
Thanks to Publisher David R. Godine for providing an advanced copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
★★★★☆
Love & Other Monsters is lush, dramatic, and deeply immersive historical fiction. Emily Franklin gives Claire Clairmont a vivid, emotionally complex voice, and the Lake Geneva setting feels stormy, romantic, and charged with tension. I loved the blend of literary history, scandal, ambition, and feminist reclamation—especially the way the novel reframes the world around Mary Shelley and Byron through Claire’s perspective. It’s rich, atmospheric, and thought-provoking, though a bit long in places. If you enjoy gothic-leaning historical fiction with strong emotion and beautiful prose, this one is worth picking up.
Love & Other Monsters is lush, dramatic, and deeply immersive historical fiction. Emily Franklin gives Claire Clairmont a vivid, emotionally complex voice, and the Lake Geneva setting feels stormy, romantic, and charged with tension. I loved the blend of literary history, scandal, ambition, and feminist reclamation—especially the way the novel reframes the world around Mary Shelley and Byron through Claire’s perspective. It’s rich, atmospheric, and thought-provoking, though a bit long in places. If you enjoy gothic-leaning historical fiction with strong emotion and beautiful prose, this one is worth picking up.
April 19, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Godine for the review copy of "Love & Other Monsters" by Emily Franklin, it is greatly appreciated.
Knowing that this is a novel featuring historical figures I understand that the story wouldn't be factual and I was fine with that. I was expecting to like this novel as I am a fan of both Mary Shelley and the terrible person that was Lord Byron (you can separate the art from the artist, but it is difficult). Unfortunately, I feel this book fell completely flat. The story itself is good; the plot is solid and could be engaging if I didn't dislike every principal character. I know this is Claire's story and not Mary's, which I genuinely appreciated, but all of the characters, Claire included, feel very one-dimensional, like reading a narrative about playing with paper dolls. I haven't given up on this book; I am going to read it again to see if my perspective will change, but at present it is not a favorite.
Knowing that this is a novel featuring historical figures I understand that the story wouldn't be factual and I was fine with that. I was expecting to like this novel as I am a fan of both Mary Shelley and the terrible person that was Lord Byron (you can separate the art from the artist, but it is difficult). Unfortunately, I feel this book fell completely flat. The story itself is good; the plot is solid and could be engaging if I didn't dislike every principal character. I know this is Claire's story and not Mary's, which I genuinely appreciated, but all of the characters, Claire included, feel very one-dimensional, like reading a narrative about playing with paper dolls. I haven't given up on this book; I am going to read it again to see if my perspective will change, but at present it is not a favorite.
April 20, 2026
Strong female protagonist (Claire Clairmont) observing her place in the world, her value in the world, her first love, amidst the free love movement among writers. Written in the romantic style. I was annoyed at some liberties I felt that Franklin took in portrays by Percy Shelley and Lord Byron, such as portraying personally written letters. Female protagonist very similar to the protagonist in Lioness of Boston.
May 8, 2026
Zero Stars.
I have never read a book where the character is so insufferable. The writing had its moments where it really grips you but then in the next sentence all you read is BRYON!BRYON!BRYON!. I get that she's supposed to be a starstruck teenager, but the author could have added more depth instead of just making her a groupie. Also, not every book has to be 500+ she could have wrapped up this story in 300 pages instead of just dragging this along.
I have never read a book where the character is so insufferable. The writing had its moments where it really grips you but then in the next sentence all you read is BRYON!BRYON!BRYON!. I get that she's supposed to be a starstruck teenager, but the author could have added more depth instead of just making her a groupie. Also, not every book has to be 500+ she could have wrapped up this story in 300 pages instead of just dragging this along.
October 23, 2025
I learned so much from this novel about the life of Claire Clairmont, the step-sister of Mary Shelley. It's a compelling storyline with fascinating characters. My heart hurt for Claire and her lack of support and her lack of choices.
April 8, 2026
Lyrical, unique, and really well-written book with some impeccable vibes focused on a very unique time, the meeting of Mary Shelley, Percy Shelley, John Polidori, and Lord Byron. 5 stars. tysm for the E-ARC.
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