200 Monas

by Jan Saenz

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.  

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Grief, Literary Fiction, Adult

365 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 3, 2026

About the author

Jan 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.

Reviews

[Celine · Rating 4 out of 5]

a h0rny car crash, in the most additive, can’t-put-down kind of way.

[Angie Miale · Rating 2 out of 5]

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

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Ukraisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was WILD, kind of dumb, and absolutely ridiculous, but also very fun up until about the 70% mark. That's when it started to lose me. I went in expecting a weird girl fiction, but somehow got the smuttiest book that ever smut—a horny, unhinged rom-com escapade. Once the premise stops escalating, there really isn't much underneath to carry it. It's still a fun read, just not what I hoped for. Don't go in expecting anything deep.

[emily (whatsemilyreading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you get when you give Breaking Bad’s Heisenberg mascara tear streaks, an anxiety disorder, and a pink convertible? Jan Saenz’s 200 Monas, that’s what. This book was such a good time. I feel like all of my five star reviews lately contain the words “I never wanted it to end,” or “I couldn’t put it down,” but it’s so unbelievably true this time, I swear. I felt like I was in the middle of it all, like I knew these people and I was truly invested in the outcome of the seventy-two-ish hours we follow them through. I don’t even know how to describe this book without giving the whole thing away, but I’ll try:

Basically, Arvy is an undergraduate student at a fictional university in Texas. Her mom has just died in a car accident. Accident? Purposeful? Who’s to say. She’s been tasked to clean out her childhood home as it’s being prepped for sale. She finds a stash of miracle orgasm drugs. Turns out her mom was a secret drug dealer. Mom’s supplier shows up, says, “Arvy, you have two days (barely) to give me the ten grand your mom owes me, or I’m gonna kill you and make it look like an accident!” Chaos and hilarity ensue.

I loved this book. Clearly! I don’t know that it will be for everyone - it’s pretty sexually explicit, like, moreso than most romance books I’ve read - but it’s funny, it has a lot to say about being a young woman in today’s society, and the male lead, Wolf, is so hot you could cook an egg on him. I think if you’re drawn to the cover and the summary, you should give this one a shot.

Also, Amazon, if you’re listening, Timothy Olyphant is the only person who could play Francis Pete. You and I both know it.


original notes: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!!!

[Leo]

I 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.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Lizzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly horny and full of dark comedy, but also surprisingly poignant in its exploration of grief. Felt like a long fever dream that you'd feel compelled to tell your friends about the next day (provided they could handle copious amounts of sex and dirty humour)

[nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Major thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts:

Fun. Stupid. Works better in the refrain of a Hulu mini-series, but beyond that, the grief narrative horned up by way of a drug deal gone wrong loses its steam somewhere in its middle where it wants so much to romcom its way into something as filler instead of dealing with the actual themes at hand.

Fine by all means. Good for long flights and layovers.

[Chanel Chapters]

Sell the orgasms. Bury the grief later.

2.5

Arc from NetGalley

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

(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).

[jocelyn • coolgalreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

the perfect three star read!

[Miss✧Pickypants ᓚᘏᗢ · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[lexi cordiak · Rating 2 out of 5]

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

[Allie Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Tell]

Sort of a hybrid romance-thriller, this book is wild and nuts in the best way- Arvy is tasked with selling pills that can induce female pleasure and teams up with hot "entrepeneur" Wolf.

What began as a series of coincidences takes us into the murky Texas underworld, with a fun cast of characters (Betty Mayo ftw) and wacky situations that interrogate desire and grief. This book covers up a lot of the heart with a lot of spice, but ultimately the true core of this book is about losing one's mother, mourning, pretending not to be in pain, and choosing joy over suffering.

Fun! Recommend if you like spicy romances with teeth, or a thriller with a beating heart- moves quickly and goes down easy.

[Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[BiblioSizzle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had moments of genius and moments of cringe. The story was clever and the slow burn romance was perfect. I do wish that Arvy would have showered sooner though. I couldn’t stop thinking about how gross she must’ve smelled. I appreciated the spice, it’s a book about a sex drug for Pete sake.

[Samantha · Rating 1 out of 5]

Needless violent pet murder? Bye.

[Mona · Rating 5 out of 5]

objectively, this is a four star - a rompy Ride with some flaws (i.e. a littler draw out with a few too repetitive sex scenes in the third act) but I can't give a book with this title about an orgasm drug not not give 5*.

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[♡Rissa♡ (sparklylibros) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Stephanie Avila · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 read this if you like hot drug dealers?? read this if you like violent lesbian sex?? read this if your sad and h0rny???? don't ask questions, the less you know the better. 😗

200 Monas follows Arvy as she's trying to survive her last week of college finals while simultaneously grappling with the grief of losing her mother. while packing some of her mothers remaining items, she stumbles across 200 pills of a substance called MONA that, in simple terms, makes you reach the ultimate climax.🙂‍↕️ without giving TOO much away, Arvy teams up with a new and unexpected friend in a desperate attempt to sell these 200 pills in only 48 hours. From there we follow them on one of the funniest and horniest journey of a lifetime hahaha

I think if you're in the mood to binge read something funny, a little bit sad and also little bit dirty but still light hearted I think you'll enjoy this! this is one of those books that really just plays out like a movie in your head.

but one thing I will say is that I enjoyed the first half more than the second half. It was funny and weird and had touches of grief and depression. But after awhile i think it started to pull too rom-com for me? I was expecting more "weird girl lit" but like once the romance between arvy and wolf started to escalate this book turned into an almost full romance novel. & when it came to the romance that's where the writing started to lose me a little I really just felt I was reading a horny dark spicy rom com 😭 which isn't bad but something to keep in mind. but this was still really funny! like everything about the "mona" plot was hilarious and chaotic.

[greta]

unfortunately, the story became a little cringe for me, and I couldn't get into the plot itself. the characters were fine, but the plot and writing style just didn't do anything for me, so I was bored.

[nins · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was so fucking crazy, i can‘t stop giggling in like a manic way? don‘t even really have words to describe the plot or the characters, but this was so fun and scary and hot and sad and was the first book in a while that fully drew me in.

[Ryan Keeley · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Geonn Cannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm no kind of prude, I don't care if there's constant sex and a multitude of descriptions of engorged genitals, if you want your characters to get laid every ten pages, go for it. But I'd like some kind of coherent plot and maybe ONE realistic, relatable character amid it all. I hated the way it represented women and men both, with or without the pill.

[Cas (Fia) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it but I’m not rereading it.

The first 50% were super fun, then slowly but surely it became ridiculous.
Still, a great debut novel.

Perhaps there will be more? I hope so because the ending was too open for my liking.

[Heidi Zuva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. Goodness. Mona brought back the desperate, manic horniness of 20 and I have never been happier to be 33.

Some might say a a book about drug dealing female viagra on a college campus wouldn't be relatable, but Saenz hits all the messy, coming-of-age notes to make this feel like anyone's regular real life, just with more pharmaceuticals and a little cartel violence.

[Juju · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a joyous drugged up 3 day bender