What do you think?
Rate this book
Remember Monsters
Despite her hard butch exterior, filthy mouth and hatred of almost everyone and everything, Pat has always been there for Lisa. Every new boyfriend, every breakup, every inappropriate question first thing in the morning.
And Lisa has a massive crush on her.
But Lisa doesn't know everything. Pat's a monster. Worse, she's got her hands full dealing with the girl she bit in her small town high-school suddenly showing up without her memory.
Now, bodies are piling up a little too close to home, threatening to expose Pat and put Lisa in danger.
Forget what you know about sparkles and sunburns. Monsters know that blood is the only currency that matters. But can she pay it to save the woman she loves?
And Lisa has a massive crush on her.
But Lisa doesn't know everything. Pat's a monster. Worse, she's got her hands full dealing with the girl she bit in her small town high-school suddenly showing up without her memory.
Now, bodies are piling up a little too close to home, threatening to expose Pat and put Lisa in danger.
Forget what you know about sparkles and sunburns. Monsters know that blood is the only currency that matters. But can she pay it to save the woman she loves?
357 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 31, 2026
7 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 21, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Well, first of all I reeealllyyy liked the main characters. Their dialogue, their behaviour and just their overall manner. They were so funny but thoughtful at the same time!
These aren’t your ‘typical vampires’ either. Not that I mind that (quite the oppositein actually). I find it incredibly interesting how different authors portray vampires. In this book, I thought it was done really well and a refreshing change.
What I didn’t like so much, unfortunately, was the plot. The first 100 pages had me completely hooked. But at some point I couldn’t follow the story anymore because the plot was just too complex all at once.
As a professional vampire-lover, I enjoyed this book and can’t wait what the author publishes next!
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an arc! <3 I left this review voluntarily.
Well, first of all I reeealllyyy liked the main characters. Their dialogue, their behaviour and just their overall manner. They were so funny but thoughtful at the same time!
These aren’t your ‘typical vampires’ either. Not that I mind that (quite the oppositein actually). I find it incredibly interesting how different authors portray vampires. In this book, I thought it was done really well and a refreshing change.
What I didn’t like so much, unfortunately, was the plot. The first 100 pages had me completely hooked. But at some point I couldn’t follow the story anymore because the plot was just too complex all at once.
As a professional vampire-lover, I enjoyed this book and can’t wait what the author publishes next!
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an arc! <3 I left this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.25⭐️ 3🌶
I'm a sucker for vampire tales. They're probably my favorite supernatural creature. Authors can make monstrous, beautiful, ruthless, powerful, tragic, complicated, and yes even sparkling.
This author focuses on the "otherness" aspect. She expertly weaves a tale of small town life and it's close minded inhabitants. Couple that with the supernatural monsters that linger on the outskirts and you get sucked into this world. There are several cautionary warnings for graphic acts [death, murder, and sa] and both heavy external and internalized homophobia. If either will bother you, then please take heed, as this is rife with them. Monsters don't always have claws and fangs, sometimes they look like you or someone you know. The author certainly carved her own unique take on both the powers of said vampires and their weaknesses. I thoroughly enjoyed this spin on the usual fare. I like when authors take chances and make things their own.
Tropes: Found Family, touch her and d!e, friends to lovers, small town romance, female rage
I received an advanced copy for an honest review.
I'm a sucker for vampire tales. They're probably my favorite supernatural creature. Authors can make monstrous, beautiful, ruthless, powerful, tragic, complicated, and yes even sparkling.
This author focuses on the "otherness" aspect. She expertly weaves a tale of small town life and it's close minded inhabitants. Couple that with the supernatural monsters that linger on the outskirts and you get sucked into this world. There are several cautionary warnings for graphic acts [death, murder, and sa] and both heavy external and internalized homophobia. If either will bother you, then please take heed, as this is rife with them. Monsters don't always have claws and fangs, sometimes they look like you or someone you know. The author certainly carved her own unique take on both the powers of said vampires and their weaknesses. I thoroughly enjoyed this spin on the usual fare. I like when authors take chances and make things their own.
Tropes: Found Family, touch her and d!e, friends to lovers, small town romance, female rage
I received an advanced copy for an honest review.
November 3, 2025
File under: not to be a lesbian but oh my fucking god.
Absolutely feral for the way this author writes women.
In more words…
I’ve really been dying for some good lesbian vampire content this Spooky Season, so when I received an ARC from the same author as Tyton that fit that exact niche, felt like some kind of cosmic alignment had gone down just for me.
(I received my advance copy for free; all sentiment in this review is my own!)
You ever just start reading a book and just KNOW this author has a life? This author totally has a life. Not to say the average author does Not have a life, necessarily, I just mean… sometimes you’re reading a book and the dialogue is just so casually natural and has so much personality, the characters just walk off the page, and you’re like… yeah. This author hangs out. This author touches grass. This author does things. This author has cool queer friends for sure.
Remember Monsters was one of those books from page one. Marine St. Jean’s dialogue is such a joy to read. This is an author who knows how to make a character who sounds like somebody you’ve met but probably never could have figured out how to capture in writing. The conversations sound like real conversations you probably overheard bits of at a bar somewhere and the inner monologues fit right in with the kinds of things they’re saying. Personal favs and total asshats too—I was rooting so hard for the mains and their decades-worth of excruciating tension, getting some honest-to-god whiplash on how I felt about Willow from one chap to the next, and absolutely living for Corrine’s sheer dramatic flair, but also was really struck by a certain chapter that was just a masterclass in casually oblivious/total self-centered male narration that had my teeth clenching the whole way. There was this one exchange about a cat and a fire that had me absolutely cackling out loud. I highlighted so many delightful lines and one of them was, “Willow wriggled against Pat’s grip but still managed to croak out. ‘Twilight fanfics were better than the original.’” because yes, that is something you should say in your vampire novel where its the venom that makes your veins feel like pop rocks or hot glitter which is objectively way cooler to read about than sparkly skin. What a trip, what a ride.
The only rough patch for me was that I had a little bit of trouble absorbing one or two of the lore drops that happened in conversation, but I think that might have mostly been because the vamp rules here were really interesting and unique, and I needed to take a little more time to wrap my head around them but was having too much of a page-turner romp to slow down and let that happen. And I loved the vamp rules. I need more sapphic books to be this level of unapologetically mean to the hets and the men. Not just the nearest convenient asshole, I mean structurally, baked into the whole damn magic system mean to the straights and the men 😂. Like, listen. Sometimes we’re allowed to have some escapist man-bashing. A little ‘sorry, absolutely no vampire fun for you boys!’
As a treat.
And this really was such a treat. I’ve been complaining left and right that my spooky season reads had been letting me down but this one has saved the season! A few genuine spooks and some kind of liquid cubic measurement’s worth of blood and a good gay pining time with some vampires—just what the plague doctor ordered. This author is now on my always-read list for sure.
Absolutely feral for the way this author writes women.
In more words…
I’ve really been dying for some good lesbian vampire content this Spooky Season, so when I received an ARC from the same author as Tyton that fit that exact niche, felt like some kind of cosmic alignment had gone down just for me.
(I received my advance copy for free; all sentiment in this review is my own!)
You ever just start reading a book and just KNOW this author has a life? This author totally has a life. Not to say the average author does Not have a life, necessarily, I just mean… sometimes you’re reading a book and the dialogue is just so casually natural and has so much personality, the characters just walk off the page, and you’re like… yeah. This author hangs out. This author touches grass. This author does things. This author has cool queer friends for sure.
Remember Monsters was one of those books from page one. Marine St. Jean’s dialogue is such a joy to read. This is an author who knows how to make a character who sounds like somebody you’ve met but probably never could have figured out how to capture in writing. The conversations sound like real conversations you probably overheard bits of at a bar somewhere and the inner monologues fit right in with the kinds of things they’re saying. Personal favs and total asshats too—I was rooting so hard for the mains and their decades-worth of excruciating tension, getting some honest-to-god whiplash on how I felt about Willow from one chap to the next, and absolutely living for Corrine’s sheer dramatic flair, but also was really struck by a certain chapter that was just a masterclass in casually oblivious/total self-centered male narration that had my teeth clenching the whole way. There was this one exchange about a cat and a fire that had me absolutely cackling out loud. I highlighted so many delightful lines and one of them was, “Willow wriggled against Pat’s grip but still managed to croak out. ‘Twilight fanfics were better than the original.’” because yes, that is something you should say in your vampire novel where its the venom that makes your veins feel like pop rocks or hot glitter which is objectively way cooler to read about than sparkly skin. What a trip, what a ride.
The only rough patch for me was that I had a little bit of trouble absorbing one or two of the lore drops that happened in conversation, but I think that might have mostly been because the vamp rules here were really interesting and unique, and I needed to take a little more time to wrap my head around them but was having too much of a page-turner romp to slow down and let that happen. And I loved the vamp rules. I need more sapphic books to be this level of unapologetically mean to the hets and the men. Not just the nearest convenient asshole, I mean structurally, baked into the whole damn magic system mean to the straights and the men 😂. Like, listen. Sometimes we’re allowed to have some escapist man-bashing. A little ‘sorry, absolutely no vampire fun for you boys!’
As a treat.
And this really was such a treat. I’ve been complaining left and right that my spooky season reads had been letting me down but this one has saved the season! A few genuine spooks and some kind of liquid cubic measurement’s worth of blood and a good gay pining time with some vampires—just what the plague doctor ordered. This author is now on my always-read list for sure.
Review of advance copy
I’m honestly not sure how to describe this book. It was confusing in the beginning. Lot’s of secrecy, complicated and not entirely explained rules, shifting POVs that took me a moment to realize it had changed, and sometimes I had to reread a few sentences to catch up. The further I read, the more questions I had, but around 10% in, the plot started to get interesting enough for me to continue.
Not much was explained upfront, which could be frustrating at times, but it was also what kept me hooked, because I wanted answers. It felt like one long game of connecting the dots.
I really like the vibe of the book. Thriller-y, horror-adjecent, with some gore and heavier topics, which was fitting for a monster story.
Pat was a great character. She was smart, witty and surprisingly moral for a monster, which made her very likable. Lisa didn’t leave a huge impact on me, but she was also a likable character. There was a lot of pining from both MCs, though the romance stayed more in the background and was slowly paced.
The POV’s however felt distracting, and the constant secrecy made it a bit harder to follow. The monster aspect took a while to fully emerge, which made me even more confused at the beginning.
Another thing was that even for a fantasy it felt really unrealistic that whenever a big revelation or event finally happened, nobody let that sink in and process. Everyone just went “oh… okay” and simply moved on.
Despite all the confusion the writing was engaging. The internal thought didn’t drag or repeat, and nothing made me want to skim through. I genuinely wanted to keep reading, to understand more and see what would come next. Overall it was a bit messy and occasionally frustrating, but intriguing in a way that worked for me.
3,5 ★
I received an ARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Not much was explained upfront, which could be frustrating at times, but it was also what kept me hooked, because I wanted answers. It felt like one long game of connecting the dots.
I really like the vibe of the book. Thriller-y, horror-adjecent, with some gore and heavier topics, which was fitting for a monster story.
Pat was a great character. She was smart, witty and surprisingly moral for a monster, which made her very likable. Lisa didn’t leave a huge impact on me, but she was also a likable character. There was a lot of pining from both MCs, though the romance stayed more in the background and was slowly paced.
The POV’s however felt distracting, and the constant secrecy made it a bit harder to follow. The monster aspect took a while to fully emerge, which made me even more confused at the beginning.
Another thing was that even for a fantasy it felt really unrealistic that whenever a big revelation or event finally happened, nobody let that sink in and process. Everyone just went “oh… okay” and simply moved on.
Despite all the confusion the writing was engaging. The internal thought didn’t drag or repeat, and nothing made me want to skim through. I genuinely wanted to keep reading, to understand more and see what would come next. Overall it was a bit messy and occasionally frustrating, but intriguing in a way that worked for me.
3,5 ★
I received an ARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 1, 2026
This is most definitely a vampire tale with a difference. You need to throw away every notion you’ve had previously as to how vampires appear; no glittering skin, aversion to light, lack of reflection, great beauty, covens of vampires or even need to drink blood to survive! Instead this kicks off as two roommates (Lisa and Pat) secretly long for each other but fail to do anything about it. Pat is a vampire (apparently; no clues are given at this stage) and Lisa human. Then flash forward 10 years as they meet again; now Lisa is a policewoman in a relationship with a nice but dim guy, Jake, and vampire Pat is just trying to keep her head down and live her life. But problems roar into Pat’s life when a grave is apparently desecrated and someone from her past (who has zero control) comes back into it…
This took a while to get going as you’re just thrown into what feels like an alien vampire world in which there are very few vampires. Once Willow arrives the action does pick up however and there’s blood and mayhem aplenty as she starts to break the rules left, right and centre. And meanwhile Lisa and Pat are still trying to fight their mutual attraction, largely because Pat does not think herself worthy of getting a HEA. Rather brutal and gory at times (the human body count is pretty high) but a refreshingly different take on the usual vampire stories. All in all, I rather enjoyed it!
This took a while to get going as you’re just thrown into what feels like an alien vampire world in which there are very few vampires. Once Willow arrives the action does pick up however and there’s blood and mayhem aplenty as she starts to break the rules left, right and centre. And meanwhile Lisa and Pat are still trying to fight their mutual attraction, largely because Pat does not think herself worthy of getting a HEA. Rather brutal and gory at times (the human body count is pretty high) but a refreshingly different take on the usual vampire stories. All in all, I rather enjoyed it!
Review of advance copy
✔Sapphic Book Bingo Challenge 2026 🌈✨: Main Board - Free Book (ARC)
4 stars. Not gonna lie, it took a minute for me to get invested into this. The first 30% was rough for me as I found it hard to grasp everything that was going on and I had to get used to the writing style. Once everything clicked for me though I was all in. This was my first book by this author and I will definitely be checking out more because this ended up being really good.
The vampires and lore in this are very unique and different which I liked and I also liked how Pat didn’t seem like the typical vampire. She was a fascinating and layered character and I loved her. I totally understood why she was the way that she was due to the shit she had been through. Lisa was a tougher pill for me to swallow. I wasn’t her biggest fan at first but just like everything else about this book by the end I liked her. She and Pat’s chemistry was so good and intense. I liked them together a lot.
This book is full of queer identity and female rage. Two things that I love. This was awesome.
Spice:❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥/❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
Content Warning:
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
4 stars. Not gonna lie, it took a minute for me to get invested into this. The first 30% was rough for me as I found it hard to grasp everything that was going on and I had to get used to the writing style. Once everything clicked for me though I was all in. This was my first book by this author and I will definitely be checking out more because this ended up being really good.
The vampires and lore in this are very unique and different which I liked and I also liked how Pat didn’t seem like the typical vampire. She was a fascinating and layered character and I loved her. I totally understood why she was the way that she was due to the shit she had been through. Lisa was a tougher pill for me to swallow. I wasn’t her biggest fan at first but just like everything else about this book by the end I liked her. She and Pat’s chemistry was so good and intense. I liked them together a lot.
This book is full of queer identity and female rage. Two things that I love. This was awesome.
Spice:❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥/❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
Content Warning:
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 19, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
One of the things that I love about reading queer romances is that they are never just about the romance. Even in the most fluffy, feel-good, "give me nothing but empty carbs" queer romance, there's always just a little bit more. The world isn't a safe and easy place for queer people and they always show that to some degree.
And then there's this. It's the 2nd book I've read by this author and wow, she does not pull punches. There's grime and gore and terrible takes and real pain and the emotions are so raw and vivid and confusing. When the two FMCs spice happens, the tension has been pulled so tightly that it hits so hard, but then the tension keeps happening! If you read it for nothing else, read it for that!
Gay vampires must be its own trope, but I loved the fresh take on it. All of the characters felt so well fleshed out, except for Caleb, but he gets taken out so quickly, I didn't really mind that much.
I think this is going to be one of my "automatic buy" authors and I hope there's a physical copy released so that I can add it to my trophy bookshelf. Five out of five, give this one a shot.
One of the things that I love about reading queer romances is that they are never just about the romance. Even in the most fluffy, feel-good, "give me nothing but empty carbs" queer romance, there's always just a little bit more. The world isn't a safe and easy place for queer people and they always show that to some degree.
And then there's this. It's the 2nd book I've read by this author and wow, she does not pull punches. There's grime and gore and terrible takes and real pain and the emotions are so raw and vivid and confusing. When the two FMCs spice happens, the tension has been pulled so tightly that it hits so hard, but then the tension keeps happening! If you read it for nothing else, read it for that!
Gay vampires must be its own trope, but I loved the fresh take on it. All of the characters felt so well fleshed out, except for Caleb, but he gets taken out so quickly, I didn't really mind that much.
I think this is going to be one of my "automatic buy" authors and I hope there's a physical copy released so that I can add it to my trophy bookshelf. Five out of five, give this one a shot.
February 22, 2026
At first, I found the book somewhat difficult to understand and confusing. Initially, it didn't seem like a typical vampire story at all, and ultimately, it isn't.
However, the dialogues, the hidden feelings, and the longings were very captivating and relatable.
The story became increasingly convoluted and mysterious as it progressed.
The time span between their encounters is considerable, but it's barely explained.
Nevertheless, it captivated me. It contains elements of a romantic thriller and gets quite bloody and murderous. Although a lot happens, people die, and fantastical vampire fantasy worlds are revealed, there are few shocking reactions and a rather willing acceptance. And this happens quite quickly… but well, maybe I'm the exception.
I enjoyed the dialogues, the playful banter, and the story in general.
But for me, there weren't enough intimate moments. Slow development is all well and good, but there was potential for more. It would have been great to develop the story further in that way. Not just the two main characters. Nevertheless, many thanks to the author for the review copy, as well as to NetGalley and Marine Press!
However, the dialogues, the hidden feelings, and the longings were very captivating and relatable.
The story became increasingly convoluted and mysterious as it progressed.
The time span between their encounters is considerable, but it's barely explained.
Nevertheless, it captivated me. It contains elements of a romantic thriller and gets quite bloody and murderous. Although a lot happens, people die, and fantastical vampire fantasy worlds are revealed, there are few shocking reactions and a rather willing acceptance. And this happens quite quickly… but well, maybe I'm the exception.
I enjoyed the dialogues, the playful banter, and the story in general.
But for me, there weren't enough intimate moments. Slow development is all well and good, but there was potential for more. It would have been great to develop the story further in that way. Not just the two main characters. Nevertheless, many thanks to the author for the review copy, as well as to NetGalley and Marine Press!
February 22, 2026
As the title and book cover implies, this is a story about monsters.
The story revolves around Lisa, Pat and the narrow minded people of the small town of Northton.
The dark past and history of Pat and Northton resurfaces and has unforeseen ramifications in the present day. A mistake made almost two decades ago has come to haunt the small town with a vengeance.
Lisa as the newcomer to the town realizes that dealing with her conflicted and questioning feelings and trying to keep in line with the town's sentiments is an almost impossible task.
A slow burn romance that spans decades with much pining, regret and avoidance with a generous side helping of monster drama interspersed with some hot strap-on action will keep you on the edge of your seat and fanning yourself vigorously.
The ending was a mix of a tragic bittersweet and joyful happiness for all the side and main characters involved.
Personally I found the book a bit slow but very entertaining.
I received a free copy from NetGalley for review.
The story revolves around Lisa, Pat and the narrow minded people of the small town of Northton.
The dark past and history of Pat and Northton resurfaces and has unforeseen ramifications in the present day. A mistake made almost two decades ago has come to haunt the small town with a vengeance.
Lisa as the newcomer to the town realizes that dealing with her conflicted and questioning feelings and trying to keep in line with the town's sentiments is an almost impossible task.
A slow burn romance that spans decades with much pining, regret and avoidance with a generous side helping of monster drama interspersed with some hot strap-on action will keep you on the edge of your seat and fanning yourself vigorously.
The ending was a mix of a tragic bittersweet and joyful happiness for all the side and main characters involved.
Personally I found the book a bit slow but very entertaining.
I received a free copy from NetGalley for review.
December 8, 2025
Well I am somewhat at a loss of words after reading this, in a good way. Fast paced, whitty, mixed with smut and a good splash of gore Remember Monsters is a glimpse into lives of the different in small town determined to live in the past and break the spirit of anyone who is different. I loved it, the characters are realistic (whilst still being mythical). It’s funny and engaging and just everything you want in a good story about the monsters all around us.
I was lucky enough to be given an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.
I was lucky enough to be given an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.
January 5, 2026
I received this as an arc copy, these views and opinions are my own.
I liked that this story hit on the many viewpoints of being LGBTQ in a small town or in a space that doesn’t accept you for who you are.
However I found the plot a bit slow. Something huge would happen and no one would bat an eye. Every big event would be pushed aside for dialogue and it bogged down the pace.
The rules of being a vampire were hard to follow and it was complicated knowing exactly what they can and can’t do.
Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me.
I liked that this story hit on the many viewpoints of being LGBTQ in a small town or in a space that doesn’t accept you for who you are.
However I found the plot a bit slow. Something huge would happen and no one would bat an eye. Every big event would be pushed aside for dialogue and it bogged down the pace.
The rules of being a vampire were hard to follow and it was complicated knowing exactly what they can and can’t do.
Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me.
Review of advance copy
This was a new to me author and I’m interested in more! I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
First…this is about a sapphic vampire. So already a must read!
Second…I loved the different take on vampires! Interesting and dynamic and I appreciated so much of the different aspects.
Pat was such a fun character, so bold and snarky and I loved her (also lonely but that’s the story ;)). Lots of POV’s which kept me intrigued throughout.
Recommend!
First…this is about a sapphic vampire. So already a must read!
Second…I loved the different take on vampires! Interesting and dynamic and I appreciated so much of the different aspects.
Pat was such a fun character, so bold and snarky and I loved her (also lonely but that’s the story ;)). Lots of POV’s which kept me intrigued throughout.
Recommend!
February 3, 2026
Main characters Pat and Lisa. Pat is no nonsense, no filter with an internal soft side. She considers herself a monster and secretly pines for Lisa. Lisa is unabashed, questioning her sexuality and secretly pinning for Pat. I enjoyed the book but some of the conversations between Pat and Corinne lost me. I feel the story could have been shorter as it felt drawn out sometimes. I would recommend this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was my first book by Marine St Jean, but will not be my last!
Remember Monsters is a fantastic sapphic monster romance. Gory, heartfelt, suspenseful, romantic - this book has it all. The chemistry between Pat and Lisa is off the charts, and while not the highest spice, the scenes are worth the build up. Wonderful writing, excellent banter, and great story telling. Highly recommend!
Remember Monsters is a fantastic sapphic monster romance. Gory, heartfelt, suspenseful, romantic - this book has it all. The chemistry between Pat and Lisa is off the charts, and while not the highest spice, the scenes are worth the build up. Wonderful writing, excellent banter, and great story telling. Highly recommend!
February 5, 2026
Pat is so lovably hopeless
February 8, 2026
This is very down-to-Earth modern fantasy from someone at the top of her game. It's so good. It's so fun. The audiobook is insanely hot. I can't recommend this enough.
March 1, 2026
Remember Monsters is a complex story of love, loss, pining, baggage, identity, and of course monsters (but not the way you might think; yet, very much what you might expect in certain circles).
We follow Pat and Lisa and their dancing around each other, pining themselves silly while dealing with an unexpected visitor from Pat's distant past. Lisa has settled in a small town in Alberta, Canada, as an officer of the RCMP. Her position as a police officer is convenient as things in turn are suddenly shaken up coinciding with Pat's visitor and the body count starts to rise.
As the story progresses (and even from the earliest chapter) we're reminded often of who the monsters think they are, but the underlying message of who really are the monsters in the story is brought up many times, and it's not the neck-biting ones (yes there are vampires, in case you weren't sure from the cover).
I kept wondering as more people turned up dead, how it was all going to be resolved without the gossip-hungry small community knowing; conveniently Pat has friends in certain professions that can make such problems go away, and with Lisa being one of few police officers the paperwork side of things is quietly addressed, so it all works out without the town's gossipy nosey neighbor bunch being any the wiser.
I liked the story overall, thinking it did a decent job of portraying the realistic challenges faced by both Sapphics and in particular those identifying as more Butch (I could be wrong here though; I don't have many points of comparison to go on).
The writing was fine, but seemed to spend a lot of time on Lisa and/or Pat's pining, and less on the showing of their respective backstories that would help frame some of their decisions (Lisa's anyway; we hear a lot about Pat's). Overall about the most they seemed to learn was to not make assumptions about what the other was thinking. There could have been some more growth and struggle for them both I think (though as touched on above there's already some exposition about Pat's journey).
(edited to add:) My reason for not giving this 5 stars hinges around Pat's character; not that she's not written well or authentically, just that she's "bristly" for lack of a better term. Understandably so given her backstory, but perhaps she's the best example of a grumpy heart of gold character I've come across yet, and I couldn't quite get my head around that. So it's totally a me thing, not a ding on the story or author.
As mentioned this is a vampire story; people die, there's blood, gore, etc. But it's a side effect rather than in your face horror for horror's sake. It's just a thing to expect with the nature of the characters. I was more affected yet not surprised by the (non-vampire) "monsters" and their actions - all too common these days. Not at all a problem with this story, just humanity in general. Props to the author for calling it out.
All in all a decent story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
We follow Pat and Lisa and their dancing around each other, pining themselves silly while dealing with an unexpected visitor from Pat's distant past. Lisa has settled in a small town in Alberta, Canada, as an officer of the RCMP. Her position as a police officer is convenient as things in turn are suddenly shaken up coinciding with Pat's visitor and the body count starts to rise.
As the story progresses (and even from the earliest chapter) we're reminded often of who the monsters think they are, but the underlying message of who really are the monsters in the story is brought up many times, and it's not the neck-biting ones (yes there are vampires, in case you weren't sure from the cover).
I kept wondering as more people turned up dead, how it was all going to be resolved without the gossip-hungry small community knowing; conveniently Pat has friends in certain professions that can make such problems go away, and with Lisa being one of few police officers the paperwork side of things is quietly addressed, so it all works out without the town's gossipy nosey neighbor bunch being any the wiser.
I liked the story overall, thinking it did a decent job of portraying the realistic challenges faced by both Sapphics and in particular those identifying as more Butch (I could be wrong here though; I don't have many points of comparison to go on).
The writing was fine, but seemed to spend a lot of time on Lisa and/or Pat's pining, and less on the showing of their respective backstories that would help frame some of their decisions (Lisa's anyway; we hear a lot about Pat's). Overall about the most they seemed to learn was to not make assumptions about what the other was thinking. There could have been some more growth and struggle for them both I think (though as touched on above there's already some exposition about Pat's journey).
(edited to add:) My reason for not giving this 5 stars hinges around Pat's character; not that she's not written well or authentically, just that she's "bristly" for lack of a better term. Understandably so given her backstory, but perhaps she's the best example of a grumpy heart of gold character I've come across yet, and I couldn't quite get my head around that. So it's totally a me thing, not a ding on the story or author.
As mentioned this is a vampire story; people die, there's blood, gore, etc. But it's a side effect rather than in your face horror for horror's sake. It's just a thing to expect with the nature of the characters. I was more affected yet not surprised by the (non-vampire) "monsters" and their actions - all too common these days. Not at all a problem with this story, just humanity in general. Props to the author for calling it out.
All in all a decent story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 31, 2025
STARS 5 star
SPICE medium spice (2-3 detailed scenes)
CHEMISTRY Excellent
ANGST med/high
SLOW BURN Yes
CLIFFHANGER No
FAVORITE QUOTE/QUOTES
Monsters don't get happy endings.
A LITTLE ABOUT THE BOOK/HOW DID IT MAKE ME FEEL
From page one, I was gone. The chemistry between Pat and Lisa? Off. The. Charts. 🔥
That slow burn, the tension, the longing; it had me grinning, blushing, and absolutely obsessed.
Everyone in the story was fawning over Pat…and honestly, SAME. I didn’t stand a chance.
Marine’s writing delivers heat, heartbreak, and that perfect mix of pain and passion that makes you feel every moment.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE CHARACTERS
Pat completely stole my heart. Her banter, her strength, her hidden softness...it all made her such a standout. She came off as guarded, but her heart was solid gold. And Lisa? I adored her conflict and longing. Her crush never faded. Their chemistry felt so earned after all those years apart.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE BOOK
The layers. Every time I thought I knew where it was headed, Marine took it somewhere unexpected, and I couldn’t look away.
TROPES
Vampire, grumpy/sunshine, sapphic, angst,
SPICE medium spice (2-3 detailed scenes)
CHEMISTRY Excellent
ANGST med/high
SLOW BURN Yes
CLIFFHANGER No
FAVORITE QUOTE/QUOTES
Monsters don't get happy endings.
A LITTLE ABOUT THE BOOK/HOW DID IT MAKE ME FEEL
From page one, I was gone. The chemistry between Pat and Lisa? Off. The. Charts. 🔥
That slow burn, the tension, the longing; it had me grinning, blushing, and absolutely obsessed.
Everyone in the story was fawning over Pat…and honestly, SAME. I didn’t stand a chance.
Marine’s writing delivers heat, heartbreak, and that perfect mix of pain and passion that makes you feel every moment.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE CHARACTERS
Pat completely stole my heart. Her banter, her strength, her hidden softness...it all made her such a standout. She came off as guarded, but her heart was solid gold. And Lisa? I adored her conflict and longing. Her crush never faded. Their chemistry felt so earned after all those years apart.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE BOOK
The layers. Every time I thought I knew where it was headed, Marine took it somewhere unexpected, and I couldn’t look away.
TROPES
Vampire, grumpy/sunshine, sapphic, angst,
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews