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200 Monas
For fans of Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Miranda July comes a whip-smart, irresistible novel about a college senior who has 48 hours to sell her recently deceased mother's surprise stash of rare pills, or suffer the consequences.
Arvy Keening is just trying to get through the week. Tantalizingly close to leaving her college years at Westheimer University behind, all she has to do is pass her finals, pack up her life, and ship off to San Francisco for a prestigious Big Pharma internship. The problem? Arvy just found 200 hits of Molly in her dead mother’s closet. And when two drug dealers come to collect what they are owed, they reveal that the pills are not Molly, but Mona—a rare pharmaceutical that induces intense orgasms. The dealers give Arvy an Sell 200 Monas in 48 hours or die.
To aid in her seemingly impossible quest, Arvy recruits Wolf, Westheimer's resident drug dealer who also happens to be infuriatingly charming and distractingly sexy. In a race against the clock, Arvy and Wolf barrel through their college town, leaving a series of erotic shenanigans in their wake; appealing to horny co-eds, lonely barflies, and a mysterious sorority whose sisters have their own ideas for Mona’s potential uses. But if Mona has a knack for unleashing visceral reactions in the body, what will it unlock in Arvy, who has been repressing grief over her mother’s death for weeks?
Unashamedly brash, bold, and blistering, 200 Monas is a truly one-of-a-kind read, a playful and honest examination of sexuality and grief, and a sharp, searing love letter on how to release all that’s inside you.
Arvy Keening is just trying to get through the week. Tantalizingly close to leaving her college years at Westheimer University behind, all she has to do is pass her finals, pack up her life, and ship off to San Francisco for a prestigious Big Pharma internship. The problem? Arvy just found 200 hits of Molly in her dead mother’s closet. And when two drug dealers come to collect what they are owed, they reveal that the pills are not Molly, but Mona—a rare pharmaceutical that induces intense orgasms. The dealers give Arvy an Sell 200 Monas in 48 hours or die.
To aid in her seemingly impossible quest, Arvy recruits Wolf, Westheimer's resident drug dealer who also happens to be infuriatingly charming and distractingly sexy. In a race against the clock, Arvy and Wolf barrel through their college town, leaving a series of erotic shenanigans in their wake; appealing to horny co-eds, lonely barflies, and a mysterious sorority whose sisters have their own ideas for Mona’s potential uses. But if Mona has a knack for unleashing visceral reactions in the body, what will it unlock in Arvy, who has been repressing grief over her mother’s death for weeks?
Unashamedly brash, bold, and blistering, 200 Monas is a truly one-of-a-kind read, a playful and honest examination of sexuality and grief, and a sharp, searing love letter on how to release all that’s inside you.
365 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2026
118 people are currently reading
18040 people want to read
About the author
Jan Saenz
1 book34 followersJan Saenz is a writer, educator, and native Houstonian. Her work has appeared in 68 to 05, Paper Darts, HAD, and more. She loves teaching creative writing, having worked as a consultant for Kinder High School of Performing and Visual Arts. Before teaching, she worked as a writing coach for Lone Star College. Her debut novel, 200 Monas, will be published by Little, Brown in March 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
November 14, 2025
a h0rny car crash, in the most additive, can’t-put-down kind of way.
November 8, 2025
This one wasn’t for me, but I do think others would enjoy it. Just not what I was expecting. This is a story about a girl who accidentally inherits 200 hits of “Mona”- a drug that gives women intense orgasms. She is working with the campus drug dealer and trying to unload these so she isn’t killed by the cartel that comes after. I was interested in her grieving process and how she reconciled who her mother was, who apparently died of suicide. For me, I got a bit uncomfortable with the overtly sexual content when the characters used the drug. I wanted to know more about Wolf and his relationship with rose. That said, I do think that others may really enjoy. The writing style is very strong for a young main character (early 20’s).
Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown for the ARC. Book to be published 3/3/26
Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown for the ARC. Book to be published 3/3/26
March 9, 2026
Ooolala! Fast, spicy, grief ridden, drug induced.
Arvy is about to graduate college and start her life when her mom passes. Sure this puts a hold on her plans for her future, but what’s in store for her is an adrenaline fueled race against time. She finds 200 hits of a drug that she’s sure she knows what it is. Not so fast, these are Monas. A fantasy-like drug that has orgasmic effects. The dealers that supplied the Monas to her mother comeback to collect money that’s owed. In hasty fashion, she seeks out the drug dealer on campus for help to sell the Monas. Wolf is easy on the eyes in that really sexy way. They make their way through campus and nearby haunts to peddle the Monas. It’s a fun ride and so steamy. With all the urgency and activity it doesn’t leave much room to grieve. In Arvy’s own way she finds peace.
I thoroughly enjoyed this fast paced read and Jan Saenz is on my radar! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Little, Brown and Company for an early copy.
Arvy is about to graduate college and start her life when her mom passes. Sure this puts a hold on her plans for her future, but what’s in store for her is an adrenaline fueled race against time. She finds 200 hits of a drug that she’s sure she knows what it is. Not so fast, these are Monas. A fantasy-like drug that has orgasmic effects. The dealers that supplied the Monas to her mother comeback to collect money that’s owed. In hasty fashion, she seeks out the drug dealer on campus for help to sell the Monas. Wolf is easy on the eyes in that really sexy way. They make their way through campus and nearby haunts to peddle the Monas. It’s a fun ride and so steamy. With all the urgency and activity it doesn’t leave much room to grieve. In Arvy’s own way she finds peace.
I thoroughly enjoyed this fast paced read and Jan Saenz is on my radar! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Little, Brown and Company for an early copy.
Read
February 15, 2026I got the ebook arc for review.
Some books are very weird and extra and I love it, so I hoped this one would be like that but after 20 % I dnf:ed. It was to over the top and the some of the descriptions had me cringing badly. But I do see the appeal for the book as I said some very weird and extra books works for me but some don't.
Some books are very weird and extra and I love it, so I hoped this one would be like that but after 20 % I dnf:ed. It was to over the top and the some of the descriptions had me cringing badly. But I do see the appeal for the book as I said some very weird and extra books works for me but some don't.
November 6, 2025
not sure how much i'm allowed to say about this one FIVE MONTHS OUT FROM PUBLICATION but this. in my eyes, this is a perfect book. oh my god. i will never be over it. i wanted to start it over right when i finished it. incredible!!!
Read
February 11, 2026Sell the orgasms. Bury the grief later.
2.5
Arc from NetGalley
2.5
Arc from NetGalley
November 19, 2025
A feral little firecracker of a debut, this reads like someone spiked a grief novel with jet fuel and bad decisions. Saenz delivers a wild, sweat-slick, slightly cringy romp that never pretends to be respectable, and is all the better for it.
To the unbothered, lusty perverts who buckle in without a single clarifying question— my people— the ride is fast, unrepentant, and exactly what I came for. May it also scratch that itch for you.
To the unbothered, lusty perverts who buckle in without a single clarifying question— my people— the ride is fast, unrepentant, and exactly what I came for. May it also scratch that itch for you.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
(4.5/5, rounded up)
wow wow wow I loved this sm
EDIT to add:
(4.5/5 stars, rounded up)
After attending the Buzz Books live call, I knew I NEEDED 200 Monas in my life. I was lucky enough to win a copy of each book mentioned that evening, but 200 Monas had my #1 spot without question—the second my copy arrived I dropped all other reads & dove right in. My eyeballs couldn't take this in fast enough, so the sec the audio was also available here on NG I requested it so I could listen even faster and get to the end of this beauty. Speaking of the audio—Vanessa Moyen fuggin KILLLLLLLED it. Having started this one out w/ my eyeballs I was so so curious how the narrator would handle the moans—Vanessa nailed 'em. It wasn't unbearably awk, it sounded authentic without making me any more uncomfy than comes w the territory, she was phenom.
During the Buzz Books call, Jan herself dubbed this a unique take on grief. Having dealt w grief in strange ways myself, I was so looking forward to seeing how our FMC Arvy would handle it. She did not disappoint, holy sh!t. This is WILD but in all of the best ways. I was nervous, esp w this being a debut, that things could take a disrespectful turn if not done well (I mean, drug induced O's & a dead mom? yeeeesh).
I had no reason to fear, Jan played this perfectly. It's no wonder she's already got the screenplay in the works (which I CANNOT wait for, btw).
I'm not a romance girlie, in fact if anything I'm known to be the opposite...until now. Jan was so sneaky w the cute stuff that it sucked me right in. Moderation by Elaine Castillo is the only other novel to have pulled this side out of me!
The only comparison I can make is Kimberly King Parsons' We Were the Universe. If you loved the vibe of that gem, 200 Monas is for you.
This review is kinda all over the place & I know that. Full transparency, I'm in the middle of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) & it's got my brain all wonky lately...but I didn't want to wait any longer to shout from the rooftops that this is a banger. So, this is what ya get, sorry. lolz
Thank you times a milli to Jan Saenz, Little Brown & Co,, Vanessa Moyen, Hachette Audio, Buzz Books, & NetGalley for the physical ARC, DRC & ALC (the latter in exchange for my honest review...that they would have gotten anyway bc I loved this so much I can't keep it to myself).
wow wow wow I loved this sm
EDIT to add:
(4.5/5 stars, rounded up)
After attending the Buzz Books live call, I knew I NEEDED 200 Monas in my life. I was lucky enough to win a copy of each book mentioned that evening, but 200 Monas had my #1 spot without question—the second my copy arrived I dropped all other reads & dove right in. My eyeballs couldn't take this in fast enough, so the sec the audio was also available here on NG I requested it so I could listen even faster and get to the end of this beauty. Speaking of the audio—Vanessa Moyen fuggin KILLLLLLLED it. Having started this one out w/ my eyeballs I was so so curious how the narrator would handle the moans—Vanessa nailed 'em. It wasn't unbearably awk, it sounded authentic without making me any more uncomfy than comes w the territory, she was phenom.
During the Buzz Books call, Jan herself dubbed this a unique take on grief. Having dealt w grief in strange ways myself, I was so looking forward to seeing how our FMC Arvy would handle it. She did not disappoint, holy sh!t. This is WILD but in all of the best ways. I was nervous, esp w this being a debut, that things could take a disrespectful turn if not done well (I mean, drug induced O's & a dead mom? yeeeesh).
I had no reason to fear, Jan played this perfectly. It's no wonder she's already got the screenplay in the works (which I CANNOT wait for, btw).
I'm not a romance girlie, in fact if anything I'm known to be the opposite...until now. Jan was so sneaky w the cute stuff that it sucked me right in. Moderation by Elaine Castillo is the only other novel to have pulled this side out of me!
The only comparison I can make is Kimberly King Parsons' We Were the Universe. If you loved the vibe of that gem, 200 Monas is for you.
This review is kinda all over the place & I know that. Full transparency, I'm in the middle of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) & it's got my brain all wonky lately...but I didn't want to wait any longer to shout from the rooftops that this is a banger. So, this is what ya get, sorry. lolz
Thank you times a milli to Jan Saenz, Little Brown & Co,, Vanessa Moyen, Hachette Audio, Buzz Books, & NetGalley for the physical ARC, DRC & ALC (the latter in exchange for my honest review...that they would have gotten anyway bc I loved this so much I can't keep it to myself).
August 9, 2025
Read this on my flight to Mexico City, the perfect fast paced read! So fun and so accurate to picture it as a movie while reading
December 12, 2025
I predict this debut-novel will be a bestseller and I think it is going to appeal big-time to those who love All Fours and Bunny. Seems Amazon MGM has already acquired the film rights, not sure how they are going to make this true to the book without it garnering an X-rating, but I look forward to seeing what they do with it.
The book's premise is excellent, the execution, meh. I did want to like it more than I did because there were mad-cap elements along with interesting characters, things I always do enjoy in a story but the story itself, despite the clever premise, was so very, very predictable. I was able to anticipate pretty much every twist and turn; maybe others won't. But the one thing that, unfortunately, sticks with me most is the lack of empathy Arvy has regarding Shelly, which makes me kind of hate her (no spoilers, you will have to read the book, then tell me if you disagree).
Disclosure: Received an uncorrected ARC of this book from NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company/Hachette Book Group (Thank you!) in exchange for an honest review.
The book's premise is excellent, the execution, meh. I did want to like it more than I did because there were mad-cap elements along with interesting characters, things I always do enjoy in a story but the story itself, despite the clever premise, was so very, very predictable. I was able to anticipate pretty much every twist and turn; maybe others won't. But the one thing that, unfortunately, sticks with me most is the lack of empathy Arvy has regarding Shelly, which makes me kind of hate her (no spoilers, you will have to read the book, then tell me if you disagree).
Disclosure: Received an uncorrected ARC of this book from NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company/Hachette Book Group (Thank you!) in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2025
Wow, this book was a wild ride I never expected. I couldn’t believe the chaos that occurred in a matter of days for poor Arvy. I was laughing at many parts of this book and my jaw dropped in shock at others. Wolf’s character was pretty interesting and I love the relationship between the two of them. This book is not your average thrilling read. It’s sexy, silly, and suspenseful.. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 10, 2026
Thank you to the publisher Harper Collins UK for providing this book for review purposes via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This book was an experience, I cried in places, cringed in others and snort laughed loudly for the rest, it’s one of those books that will stay with me long after I turn the last page. Rom-Com, thriller, comedy, drama, it’s one of the most psychedelic and mind bending books that I’ve ever read but in a good way. Wonderland has nothing on this book. Arvy and Wolf made the most unlikely double act, their antics had me in stitches, that text message exchange at the beginning was comedy gold. It made for heavy reading in places as Arvy is trying to come to terms with losing her mum and having to wrap up her mums estate. I liked Arvy as she was smart but very relatable. Wolf had an interesting dynamic with his mum, interesting in the way that I’m glad my mum is my mum. There are so many interesting and quirky characters in this book, it’s one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much, it would be difficult to pinpoint a favourite character. Despite the heaviness of some of the subject matter it was dealt with in a sensitive way and I liked the hopefulness of the ending. Overall a very enjoyable read.
This book was an experience, I cried in places, cringed in others and snort laughed loudly for the rest, it’s one of those books that will stay with me long after I turn the last page. Rom-Com, thriller, comedy, drama, it’s one of the most psychedelic and mind bending books that I’ve ever read but in a good way. Wonderland has nothing on this book. Arvy and Wolf made the most unlikely double act, their antics had me in stitches, that text message exchange at the beginning was comedy gold. It made for heavy reading in places as Arvy is trying to come to terms with losing her mum and having to wrap up her mums estate. I liked Arvy as she was smart but very relatable. Wolf had an interesting dynamic with his mum, interesting in the way that I’m glad my mum is my mum. There are so many interesting and quirky characters in this book, it’s one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much, it would be difficult to pinpoint a favourite character. Despite the heaviness of some of the subject matter it was dealt with in a sensitive way and I liked the hopefulness of the ending. Overall a very enjoyable read.
February 15, 2026
What a sexy little thriller-comedy-romance? Not really sure how I would classify it but I was so hooked the moment I started reading 200 Monas.
We have Arvey who’s mother just passed away & left behind 200 very rare pills that no one else has on the market. & these pills give you an extreme O. She has to sell them within 48 hours or as the mobsters say “she will be swimmin with the fishes.”
I was so hooked on the premise but the writing is so funny & fast paced. The turns this story takes & the people she meets along the way were so well fleshed out. Plus the narration (gifted the ALC) was PHENOMENAL! If you have the opportunity to listen to this one I would totally recommend. The narrator deserves all the recognition for bringing this story alive.
Jan Saenz creates such a heartfelt story of a daughter trying to come to understand her mother posthumously through her side hustle of drug dealing while also navigating this new chapter in her life of graduating college.
I can not wait for everyone to get their paws on it! I think it’s going to be a crowd favorite & something unexpected!
Will def be keeping an eye out for more of Jan’s work.
Also justice for Shelley.
We have Arvey who’s mother just passed away & left behind 200 very rare pills that no one else has on the market. & these pills give you an extreme O. She has to sell them within 48 hours or as the mobsters say “she will be swimmin with the fishes.”
I was so hooked on the premise but the writing is so funny & fast paced. The turns this story takes & the people she meets along the way were so well fleshed out. Plus the narration (gifted the ALC) was PHENOMENAL! If you have the opportunity to listen to this one I would totally recommend. The narrator deserves all the recognition for bringing this story alive.
Jan Saenz creates such a heartfelt story of a daughter trying to come to understand her mother posthumously through her side hustle of drug dealing while also navigating this new chapter in her life of graduating college.
I can not wait for everyone to get their paws on it! I think it’s going to be a crowd favorite & something unexpected!
Will def be keeping an eye out for more of Jan’s work.
Also justice for Shelley.
March 10, 2026
4,5
This was a weird hot mess in the best way possible. I just love imperfect stories that do their own thing. I laughed. I smiled happily and sadly. The romance bits were kind of exactly how I prefer them ; quirky and funny but still tender in a subtle. This book was very much for me.
This was a weird hot mess in the best way possible. I just love imperfect stories that do their own thing. I laughed. I smiled happily and sadly. The romance bits were kind of exactly how I prefer them ; quirky and funny but still tender in a subtle. This book was very much for me.
December 2, 2025
Thank you to Barnes & Noble for the ARC!
A real struggle to get through for me tbh. It starts strong, introducing heavy themes of grief and mental illness and loved ones keep secrets alongside talk of sex and orgasms and party drugs. I was eager for the knitting of the two of them together, those two wildly dissimilar concepts, of expressions of grief being compared to orgasm, and I guess I sort of got that? But the way it comes about is so…I’m not holding a full scarf after finishing it, just scraps of yarn.
There’s a nugget of genuine brilliance in here, but it doesn’t quite realize its potential, getting bogged down with over-the-top characters in Pete Francis & Marge, Len, and dear god Rose. The main characters do have genuine chemistry, and some of their dialogue is incredibly well-written and compelling (shout out to the post-theatre party fight, it felt realistically messy in a great way), but Wolf’s story is woefully incomplete and he also flips between the archetypal Sad Boy and the archetypal Horny Bad Boy on a whim, sometimes completely mismatching the tone of the scene he’s in.
Arvy is mercifully consistent, and her segues between horny and sad are explained well. She’s a hot mess, trying to cerebralize something that is entirely emotional and needs to be felt. It’s a good angle for a scientist, though I wish it had been explored more that she’s kind of a genius at biochem? Though I like where she ends up! Bright future, learned a lot about herself and her own power, I just wish the novel ended on her final voicemail. The fluff that comes after was unnecessary and drags the focus away from her.
I also, unfortunately, was not the biggest fan of the prose. It randomly swaps between functional language and some of the purplest prose I’ve ever read, which runs entirely counter to Arvy’s more scientific mind. Ironically, the writing is at its best in the pseudo-sex scenes, which makes them stand out in a good way among the tonally confused scenes the likes of the first meeting with Pete Francis & Marge, Wolf trying to confess to Arvy what he did, and the feminist volcel cult party.
All in all, good for some smut with a half-baked plot constructed around it, I wish it had tried harder to draw parallels between grief and orgasms, though I do appreciate the ending monologue paying lip service to the fact that taking Mona is like grief in that they’re both uncontrolled and all-consuming. Needed a bit longer in the oven to draw them closer together and actually say the quiet part out loud if the tone of every other scene is over-the-top slapstick comedy.
A real struggle to get through for me tbh. It starts strong, introducing heavy themes of grief and mental illness and loved ones keep secrets alongside talk of sex and orgasms and party drugs. I was eager for the knitting of the two of them together, those two wildly dissimilar concepts, of expressions of grief being compared to orgasm, and I guess I sort of got that? But the way it comes about is so…I’m not holding a full scarf after finishing it, just scraps of yarn.
There’s a nugget of genuine brilliance in here, but it doesn’t quite realize its potential, getting bogged down with over-the-top characters in Pete Francis & Marge, Len, and dear god Rose. The main characters do have genuine chemistry, and some of their dialogue is incredibly well-written and compelling (shout out to the post-theatre party fight, it felt realistically messy in a great way), but Wolf’s story is woefully incomplete and he also flips between the archetypal Sad Boy and the archetypal Horny Bad Boy on a whim, sometimes completely mismatching the tone of the scene he’s in.
Arvy is mercifully consistent, and her segues between horny and sad are explained well. She’s a hot mess, trying to cerebralize something that is entirely emotional and needs to be felt. It’s a good angle for a scientist, though I wish it had been explored more that she’s kind of a genius at biochem? Though I like where she ends up! Bright future, learned a lot about herself and her own power, I just wish the novel ended on her final voicemail. The fluff that comes after was unnecessary and drags the focus away from her.
I also, unfortunately, was not the biggest fan of the prose. It randomly swaps between functional language and some of the purplest prose I’ve ever read, which runs entirely counter to Arvy’s more scientific mind. Ironically, the writing is at its best in the pseudo-sex scenes, which makes them stand out in a good way among the tonally confused scenes the likes of the first meeting with Pete Francis & Marge, Wolf trying to confess to Arvy what he did, and the feminist volcel cult party.
All in all, good for some smut with a half-baked plot constructed around it, I wish it had tried harder to draw parallels between grief and orgasms, though I do appreciate the ending monologue paying lip service to the fact that taking Mona is like grief in that they’re both uncontrolled and all-consuming. Needed a bit longer in the oven to draw them closer together and actually say the quiet part out loud if the tone of every other scene is over-the-top slapstick comedy.
October 28, 2025
SO GOOD!!!! I could not put this book down for a second. It was fast paced, funny, emotional, and 🔥🔥🔥 literally everything you could want in a book. Could’ve done without the Shelley of it all but I’m willing to look past it. I feel so lucky I got to read this as an ARC. Everyone mark your calendars!!!
January 9, 2026
Thank you to the team at Little, Brown and Company for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Arvy Keening is fucked. Not only is she 3 finals away from the end of her college career and the start of her new life in San Francisco, but she's now saddled with selling the drugs she found in her dead mother's closet. She has 48 hours to rid herself of 200 Monas- a rare, orgasm-inducing drug- or the dealers who sold her mother the Monas will kill her. Thankfully, she's got Wolf, Weistheimer University's sexiest and most well-connected drug dealer, to help her out. The story follows the duo as they sell, suck, and stumble their way through Westheimer and its clientele. Ranging from skeptical sorority sister to the higher-ups of the town, Arvy and Wolf have their work cut out for them.
200 Monas is a solid debut novel. While the blurb compares it to the likes of Phoebe-Waller Bridge and Miranda July, I believe a more apt comparison would be to the movie Booksmart or a collegiate version of Uncut Gems. This movie is uniquely bursting with youthful, playful energy similar to that of Booksmart, while having some of the high-stakes tension of Uncut Gems. This novel also has moments of tenderness and heart, especially when discussing themes of loss, grief, and mental health. That being said, there were definitely issues with pacing, repetitive scenes and dialogue, and the novel did take a slight narrative turn that made the ending feel uneven and certain plot points were rushed.
Between the story that feeds the current appetite for sexy, snappy, and suspenseful narratives to the already penned deal with Amazon for the screen rights, I believe 200 Monas will be one of the hotter books of the year. and I will definitely be keeping my eye on Jan Saenz's future work!
Arvy Keening is fucked. Not only is she 3 finals away from the end of her college career and the start of her new life in San Francisco, but she's now saddled with selling the drugs she found in her dead mother's closet. She has 48 hours to rid herself of 200 Monas- a rare, orgasm-inducing drug- or the dealers who sold her mother the Monas will kill her. Thankfully, she's got Wolf, Weistheimer University's sexiest and most well-connected drug dealer, to help her out. The story follows the duo as they sell, suck, and stumble their way through Westheimer and its clientele. Ranging from skeptical sorority sister to the higher-ups of the town, Arvy and Wolf have their work cut out for them.
200 Monas is a solid debut novel. While the blurb compares it to the likes of Phoebe-Waller Bridge and Miranda July, I believe a more apt comparison would be to the movie Booksmart or a collegiate version of Uncut Gems. This movie is uniquely bursting with youthful, playful energy similar to that of Booksmart, while having some of the high-stakes tension of Uncut Gems. This novel also has moments of tenderness and heart, especially when discussing themes of loss, grief, and mental health. That being said, there were definitely issues with pacing, repetitive scenes and dialogue, and the novel did take a slight narrative turn that made the ending feel uneven and certain plot points were rushed.
Between the story that feeds the current appetite for sexy, snappy, and suspenseful narratives to the already penned deal with Amazon for the screen rights, I believe 200 Monas will be one of the hotter books of the year. and I will definitely be keeping my eye on Jan Saenz's future work!
July 17, 2025
Literally so awesome and thrilling and unique and funny can’t wait for this to come out so I can read again
March 2, 2026
4 1/2 🌟
This is one unexpected wild ride of a book! I absolutely enjoyed this and couldn’t put it down. Don’t let the synopsis fool you - there is a whole lot more depth and storyline going on here than you think.
What a crazy plot and off-the-wall cast of characters. Arvy (short for Harvey) is having a pretty bad time. Her mother has just passed away leaving unanswered questions and residual fears for Arvy about how her mother died and if the depression, or “funk”, that haunted her mother will become her burden as well. To top that, her mother’s will has conditions she has to meet, finals she has to pass and now she’s got a bag of orgasm pills, Monas, to sell in just over 24 hours.
The plot takes off at the start and never slows or stops. The cast of characters and supporting plot sidelines are wild and creative. The writing is downright funny. There are heavy themes throughout, though, with the reaching impacts of depression and the complicated relationships between mothers and their children being pervasive and right at the forefront. These themes balance the wilder aspects of the story and bring a different kind of edge.
The writing is smooth and so well done with many subtle lines that hit right on point. Arvy truly is a mess and so lost without her connection to her mother yet, in spite of that, she manages some insane situations and starts to find some footing for herself. Her counterpart, Wolf, is her perfect balance and just about the best guy you could find. He really is such a good person despite what stereotypes would lead you to believe. Watching the two of them stumble through this maze of madness and find something to trust in each other was sweet, emotional, touching and fun. Arvy and Wolf are really great characters that I loved. Francis Pete and Marge, though, are pretty big scene stealers.
This will make a great movie and I’m looking forward to it. The book is really good, though, so start here! Definitely recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown and Company and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this wild book and share my thoughts.
This is one unexpected wild ride of a book! I absolutely enjoyed this and couldn’t put it down. Don’t let the synopsis fool you - there is a whole lot more depth and storyline going on here than you think.
What a crazy plot and off-the-wall cast of characters. Arvy (short for Harvey) is having a pretty bad time. Her mother has just passed away leaving unanswered questions and residual fears for Arvy about how her mother died and if the depression, or “funk”, that haunted her mother will become her burden as well. To top that, her mother’s will has conditions she has to meet, finals she has to pass and now she’s got a bag of orgasm pills, Monas, to sell in just over 24 hours.
The plot takes off at the start and never slows or stops. The cast of characters and supporting plot sidelines are wild and creative. The writing is downright funny. There are heavy themes throughout, though, with the reaching impacts of depression and the complicated relationships between mothers and their children being pervasive and right at the forefront. These themes balance the wilder aspects of the story and bring a different kind of edge.
The writing is smooth and so well done with many subtle lines that hit right on point. Arvy truly is a mess and so lost without her connection to her mother yet, in spite of that, she manages some insane situations and starts to find some footing for herself. Her counterpart, Wolf, is her perfect balance and just about the best guy you could find. He really is such a good person despite what stereotypes would lead you to believe. Watching the two of them stumble through this maze of madness and find something to trust in each other was sweet, emotional, touching and fun. Arvy and Wolf are really great characters that I loved. Francis Pete and Marge, though, are pretty big scene stealers.
This will make a great movie and I’m looking forward to it. The book is really good, though, so start here! Definitely recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown and Company and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this wild book and share my thoughts.
March 6, 2026
I had a coworker reading this book, and her talking about it immediately made me go and request it for myself. For a story about a grieving college student selling an orgasm drug, this book is strangely sweet and hopeful. I loved the characters. They felt so real and fleshed out. Some of the side characters were a little over the top, but in the best way. I wouldn’t go into this book expecting the next literary masterpiece, that isn’t what this book is. And I think it isn’t trying to be either. This book is a whirlwind, comedic, hopeful, sexy adventure. It reads like a rated R comedy movie.
Speaking of how it reads, I got the audiobook format, and let me tell you, that narrator put their entire being into reading this book. I heard all of the “monas.” I felt the emotions. The voices they did for the other characters were so distinct that I could always tell who was talking. The narrator gave them all a distinct cadence and personality to their voices, which only added to the fun and lively characters.
This was fantastic. I went in expecting something absurd, funny, and weirdly sexy. I got all of that with a side of really cute romance and the best intimidating drug dealers ever. Seriously, I can’t believe I am rooting for the “bad guys” to succeed by the end. I would recommend this book to people who enjoyed books like Sky Daddy.
Trigger warning: (Not really a spoiler, but I know some people like to go into these things blind.)
Thanks SO, SO much to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for letting me go on this wild, wild ride. I will definitely be reading more by this author the minute it comes out.
Speaking of how it reads, I got the audiobook format, and let me tell you, that narrator put their entire being into reading this book. I heard all of the “monas.” I felt the emotions. The voices they did for the other characters were so distinct that I could always tell who was talking. The narrator gave them all a distinct cadence and personality to their voices, which only added to the fun and lively characters.
This was fantastic. I went in expecting something absurd, funny, and weirdly sexy. I got all of that with a side of really cute romance and the best intimidating drug dealers ever. Seriously, I can’t believe I am rooting for the “bad guys” to succeed by the end. I would recommend this book to people who enjoyed books like Sky Daddy.
Trigger warning: (Not really a spoiler, but I know some people like to go into these things blind.)
Thanks SO, SO much to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for letting me go on this wild, wild ride. I will definitely be reading more by this author the minute it comes out.
February 23, 2026
200 Monas by Jan Saenz. Thanks to @lbc for the gifted copy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Arvy’s about to graduate college and start a well anticipated internship on the west coast when her mother passes. Finals become complicated when she finds 200 Mona, a mythical pharmaceutical that causes intense orgasms, pills her mother left behind. When two drug dealers show and tell her about the debt she’s inherited from her mother, she teams up with Wolf, the college’s sexpot drug dealer.
I really enjoyed this one and a lot of it is because of the characters. They are all very well developed and quirky. There’s nothing that I love more than a cast of quirky characters. The idea of the Mona was unique in itself but it added a fun sensuality to the story and also kept it light and fun despite the dark themes within.
“I don’t think we need drugs to make us feel more alone than we already are. If nothing else, let’s be honest. Who, in their deepest fantasies, wants to f**k a pill.”
Read if you like;
-Against the clock thrillers
-Drug dealing or partying themes
-Complicated grief responses
-Steam and sexuality
200 Monas comes out 3/2.
Arvy’s about to graduate college and start a well anticipated internship on the west coast when her mother passes. Finals become complicated when she finds 200 Mona, a mythical pharmaceutical that causes intense orgasms, pills her mother left behind. When two drug dealers show and tell her about the debt she’s inherited from her mother, she teams up with Wolf, the college’s sexpot drug dealer.
I really enjoyed this one and a lot of it is because of the characters. They are all very well developed and quirky. There’s nothing that I love more than a cast of quirky characters. The idea of the Mona was unique in itself but it added a fun sensuality to the story and also kept it light and fun despite the dark themes within.
“I don’t think we need drugs to make us feel more alone than we already are. If nothing else, let’s be honest. Who, in their deepest fantasies, wants to f**k a pill.”
Read if you like;
-Against the clock thrillers
-Drug dealing or partying themes
-Complicated grief responses
-Steam and sexuality
200 Monas comes out 3/2.
March 9, 2026
This is a bit of a firecracker of a novel, very chaotic but in a good way. Once it gets going, it moves fast and has this “can’t look away” vibe that kept me hooked. The energy reminded me a lot of Uncut Gems: messy, high-stakes, and full of escalating chaos that somehow makes the ride even more fun.
What surprised me is how much romance is in the story. It’s not just a side plot, it’s actually a meaningful part of the narrative. I loved the entrepreneur…Wolf 🙏🏾 who brought a lot of charm.
200 Monas is veryyyyy horny in a way that’s intentional and fun, and I appreciated the conversations around desire, relationships, and being a woman in a female body. It’s also thoughtfully touched on grief!
This sounds a little crazy on paper, but the writing pulls it off. For a debut, it’s incredibly entertaining, and filled with so much personality. If you liked Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe, I think you’ll have a lot of fun with this one. Truly a wild ride. I laughed so much, lol.
What surprised me is how much romance is in the story. It’s not just a side plot, it’s actually a meaningful part of the narrative. I loved the entrepreneur…Wolf 🙏🏾 who brought a lot of charm.
200 Monas is veryyyyy horny in a way that’s intentional and fun, and I appreciated the conversations around desire, relationships, and being a woman in a female body. It’s also thoughtfully touched on grief!
This sounds a little crazy on paper, but the writing pulls it off. For a debut, it’s incredibly entertaining, and filled with so much personality. If you liked Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe, I think you’ll have a lot of fun with this one. Truly a wild ride. I laughed so much, lol.
March 5, 2026
Brace yourselves, readers, because this is a really wild ride of a book. I'm certain that I'm not the intended audience. Arvy, a college student, is grieving the loss of her mother. Going through her things, she finds a box of pills, 200 monas, guaranteed to give you the most mind-blowing orgasm of your life. She needs money to settle a debt, and tries to unload the pills with the help of the hot local drug dealer. What ensues is completely bonkers and, I have to admit, while entertaining, also very cringey. The writing is engaging, pulling the reader right into the story. I kept asking myself why I continued to read it, but I had to see it to the end, which was surprisingly rewarding.
March 4, 2026
while this was a fun ride it definitely wasn’t what i was expecting. felt more like a romance with a back drop of a crazy story, which i don’t enjoy. i was entertained but i did have to force myself to finish after we reached the 100 page mark. i didn’t find this to be sexy or erotic even tho its about a pill that makes you orgasm and it didn’t offer anything profound about grief or womanhood or any of the themes i think it was going for? honestly this should have just been marketed as a romance because comparing this to miranda julys all fours is CRAZY
March 4, 2026
4.75⭐️ Think the movie “Date Night” but make it horny. This was wildly fun and had absolutely no business being as hot as it was. I genuinely cannot believe this is a debut novel. I’ll be following this author’s career like it’s my full-time job.
If you’re looking for a romance that blends thriller vibes, humor, sex, and pure joy, this is it. I had the best time reading this. Absolutely loved it.
If you’re looking for a romance that blends thriller vibes, humor, sex, and pure joy, this is it. I had the best time reading this. Absolutely loved it.
December 29, 2025
200 Monas - 4 stars. ⭐️
I enjoyed this SO very much. It was such an interesting and truly unique concept for a book. 200 Monas tackled some hard topics such as grief and drug use, in a fun but respectful way which is really hard to do.
This was a fast paced, exciting book that had me turning pages at RAPID speed! This is one of those books that has the romance factor, but it has so much more as well. It read like a rom com / action movie and I adored it.
Arvy is such a brilliant FMC. She was funny and so charismatic. Wolf was brilliant, flirty and such a fun MMC. I feel, as this was a single POV book, we didn’t get too much of insight into the MMC; I’d have LOVED a Wolf POV!
There are some absolutely terrifying and hilarious characters in this (looking at you Francis Pete) and some characters you just want to wrap up and give them a big hug!
I would highly recommend this book. So entertaining, clever and a unique one of a kind concept.
Thankyou SO much to Harper Fiction and Jan Saenz for this gifted proof copy. So grateful and SO glad I got to round off my 2025 reads with such a fantastic book.
I enjoyed this SO very much. It was such an interesting and truly unique concept for a book. 200 Monas tackled some hard topics such as grief and drug use, in a fun but respectful way which is really hard to do.
This was a fast paced, exciting book that had me turning pages at RAPID speed! This is one of those books that has the romance factor, but it has so much more as well. It read like a rom com / action movie and I adored it.
Arvy is such a brilliant FMC. She was funny and so charismatic. Wolf was brilliant, flirty and such a fun MMC. I feel, as this was a single POV book, we didn’t get too much of insight into the MMC; I’d have LOVED a Wolf POV!
There are some absolutely terrifying and hilarious characters in this (looking at you Francis Pete) and some characters you just want to wrap up and give them a big hug!
I would highly recommend this book. So entertaining, clever and a unique one of a kind concept.
Thankyou SO much to Harper Fiction and Jan Saenz for this gifted proof copy. So grateful and SO glad I got to round off my 2025 reads with such a fantastic book.
January 22, 2026
Thank you to Jan Saenz and HarperCollins UK / HarperFiction for giving me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book left me staring at the wall more than once, whispering, “What in the name of Jesus H Christ is this?”
I genuinely underestimated how strange and unsettling 200 Monas would be. The premise sounded intriguing, even promising, but the execution veers sharply into deeply uncomfortable psychological territory. This reads less like a traditional novel and more like a manifesto of obsession, one that deliberately refuses to guide or comfort the reader.
While I can appreciate the ambition and the commitment to its vision, this was ultimately not for me. The narrative felt oppressive rather than engaging, and the experience leaned more toward endurance than enjoyment.
That said, readers who enjoy experimental fiction and intense psychological explorations may find this compelling. It’s bold, strange, and undeniably memorable. Just… not a pleasant ride.
This book left me staring at the wall more than once, whispering, “What in the name of Jesus H Christ is this?”
I genuinely underestimated how strange and unsettling 200 Monas would be. The premise sounded intriguing, even promising, but the execution veers sharply into deeply uncomfortable psychological territory. This reads less like a traditional novel and more like a manifesto of obsession, one that deliberately refuses to guide or comfort the reader.
While I can appreciate the ambition and the commitment to its vision, this was ultimately not for me. The narrative felt oppressive rather than engaging, and the experience leaned more toward endurance than enjoyment.
That said, readers who enjoy experimental fiction and intense psychological explorations may find this compelling. It’s bold, strange, and undeniably memorable. Just… not a pleasant ride.
February 13, 2026
ORGASM IN A PILL?
200 Monas, Arvy Keening is on the verge of graduating and starting a dream internship when she finds 200 pills hidden in her late mother’s closet. They turn out not to be ecstasy, but a rare drug called Mona that triggers intense pleasure. When two dealers give her 48 hours to sell them all or face serious consequences, Arvy teams up with Wolf, the campus dealer she can barely stand but can’t seem to resist, and the two tear through their college town trying to move the stash.
What starts as a wild, sex-fueled scramble slowly reveals something deeper. Beneath the outrageous premise, the book explores grief, repression, and the messy process of letting go. It’s bold, chaotic, and surprisingly emotional, balancing over-the-top antics with a real sense of vulnerability.
I really enjoyed Vanessa Moyen’s audiobook version of this. Very enthusiastic and I could always tell which character was talking. Production took this seriously and you can tell.
I really enjoyed this book and its cast of quirky characters. Arvy is so relatable and real to me. Like I can see her so clearly.
Thank you NetGalley and Hackett audio for an ARC in return for an honest review.
200 Monas, Arvy Keening is on the verge of graduating and starting a dream internship when she finds 200 pills hidden in her late mother’s closet. They turn out not to be ecstasy, but a rare drug called Mona that triggers intense pleasure. When two dealers give her 48 hours to sell them all or face serious consequences, Arvy teams up with Wolf, the campus dealer she can barely stand but can’t seem to resist, and the two tear through their college town trying to move the stash.
What starts as a wild, sex-fueled scramble slowly reveals something deeper. Beneath the outrageous premise, the book explores grief, repression, and the messy process of letting go. It’s bold, chaotic, and surprisingly emotional, balancing over-the-top antics with a real sense of vulnerability.
I really enjoyed Vanessa Moyen’s audiobook version of this. Very enthusiastic and I could always tell which character was talking. Production took this seriously and you can tell.
I really enjoyed this book and its cast of quirky characters. Arvy is so relatable and real to me. Like I can see her so clearly.
Thank you NetGalley and Hackett audio for an ARC in return for an honest review.
February 23, 2026
ALC 5 stars!!
Feminine Pleasure + Grief/Depression + Weird + Drug Dealing
This was such a fun listen! I went in blind (I was attracted to the pink cover lol) and I had a blast! This book is feminine, it’s vulgar and descriptive. It explores grief and the sudden loss of a loved one and coping with that in everyday life. It made me think about what I would do if I was randomly left with a bag of 200 orgasm inducing pills and had to sell them within 48 hours, I probably would have been a train wreck.
I really enjoyed the relationship the bloomed in this book and the end made me wonder how everyone turned out. I also really enjoyed the discussion of college clubs and the cult like mentality behind them.
I think this book is great for those who like to read “weird girl lit” and books outside of the norm!
This book was sent to me from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Feminine Pleasure + Grief/Depression + Weird + Drug Dealing
This was such a fun listen! I went in blind (I was attracted to the pink cover lol) and I had a blast! This book is feminine, it’s vulgar and descriptive. It explores grief and the sudden loss of a loved one and coping with that in everyday life. It made me think about what I would do if I was randomly left with a bag of 200 orgasm inducing pills and had to sell them within 48 hours, I probably would have been a train wreck.
I really enjoyed the relationship the bloomed in this book and the end made me wonder how everyone turned out. I also really enjoyed the discussion of college clubs and the cult like mentality behind them.
I think this book is great for those who like to read “weird girl lit” and books outside of the norm!
This book was sent to me from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 9, 2026
2.75
I may have had the wrong expectations for this book. I thought this would be more weird girl lit fic about a college age girl grieving after losing her mother and dealing with dealing (lol) the surprise she left behind. While this does happen we don't get much about the relationship between her and her mother or really much detail about her grief. Instead this felt more like an absurdist horny college romantic comedy from the early 2000s (but with more consent thank god) It was entertaining enough but not in a way that was for me. I think if you go into this with the right expectations you may have a better time than I did.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for access to this book for free. I am writing this review voluntarily and honestly
I may have had the wrong expectations for this book. I thought this would be more weird girl lit fic about a college age girl grieving after losing her mother and dealing with dealing (lol) the surprise she left behind. While this does happen we don't get much about the relationship between her and her mother or really much detail about her grief. Instead this felt more like an absurdist horny college romantic comedy from the early 2000s (but with more consent thank god) It was entertaining enough but not in a way that was for me. I think if you go into this with the right expectations you may have a better time than I did.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for access to this book for free. I am writing this review voluntarily and honestly
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