Mothman Is My Boyfriend: Ten Tales of Cryptid Love and Lust

Cryptid Creek #1

by McKayla Coyle, Wendy Stephens (Illustrator)

Fall in love with a secret town and its mysterious inhabitants in ten charming tales of human–cryptid romance, from the author of offbeat lifestyle guide Goblin Mode.

Welcome to Cryptid Creek, a secret town full of undiscovered creatures, from yetis to lake monsters. Only very special humans can find their way here, but when they do stumble in, they can’t resist the allure of this cozy locale—or its fascinating citizens.

Join the humans of this inclusive fantasy community as they browse the bookshop with Mothman, hit the skate park with nightcrawlers, wander the botanical garden with the Jersey Devil, and go on other dream dates that offer new spins on classic romance tropes. Stories

A friends-to-lovers slow burn with the Loveland FrogA fake dating scheme with a swamp monsterA butch/femme hookup with SasquatchA second-chance drama with the Michigan DogmanAnd more fun trysts with your favorite creatures!
If you loved Legends and Lattes and That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf, get ready to dust off your cryptozoology equipment and put on your cutest outfit—because monster lovers, misfits, and anyone who relates to cryptids will never want to leave this mountain town.

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, LGBT, Queer, Fiction, Contemporary, Monster Romance

192 pages, Hardcover

First published May 5, 2026

Reviews

[Rhea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll admit it: I didn't think I would enjoy this book. I went into it expecting the same "lovey-dovey" tropes we’ve seen rewritten a thousand times over. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find an anthology that is fresh, campy, and genuinely funny. It’s a rare find that manages to be sweet, hot, and sarcastic all at once.

The vibe of Cryptid Creek

The setting of Cryptid Creek is a character in its own right. Between the adorable map at the beginning of the book and the interconnected nature of the stories, the atmosphere is incredibly immersive. Reading it feels like being teleported directly into the town; you don't just read about the community, you feel like a resident. The writing style is so vivid and charming that I could easily see this being adapted into a sweet, animated TV series. And it should get turned into some short TV series.

Trope vs. Comedy

This book leans into some exaggerated tropes, but it does so with a wink and a nod. Whether the cheesiness is a deliberate stylistic choice or just for the sake of fun, it works perfectly here. It avoids being cringeworthy by blending that sentimentality with:

- Witty banter and sharp sarcasm
- Clumsy, flawed, and relatable characters
- A ‘perfect formula’ of romance and comedy that keeps the pacing brisk

Some of the stories are absolutely heartwarming, one of them (Ripple) is gut-wrenching (a real tearjerker), but most are just so fun to read. I liked this sad one too. I also liked ‘Yearn for it’. But, my 2 absolute favorites are:

- ’The Moon and the Mothman’: it is incredibly adorable and wholesome, the kind of story that leaves you with a smile on your face and giggling throughout the story like you’re suddenly a little girl

- ’Skin and Fur’ Obviously. This was the other standout for me, not only because, well…wolfman, but also because of the rather more mature topic it tackled. It shifts into a more adult gear, tackling grown-up themes like the complexities of marriage, of divorce, and the nuances of how two partners can be simultaneously right and wrong. It’s a beautiful look at how individuals can misunderstand one another.

Many, many thanks to McKayla Coyle, Quirk Books, and NetGalley for the ARC. This is a voluntary review, reflecting solely my opinion.

[That_awkwardbook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore these characters. The mothman hooked me, but some of these stories were so much more.
All 10 stories stay sweet or fade to black, but the main theme is always people (and /or monsters) finding love. And I mean love in every definition of the word. These different relationships had me swooning and yearning had me a little teary and just plain embarrassed. I loved every single one of them. Each in their own unique way.

The art in the book is fabulous and magical, you can feel the love that has been poured into the creation of this book.

Thank you so much to the author McKayla Cole and NetGalley for the eARC.

[Melissa Corday · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, publisher Quirk Books, and author McKayla Coyle for providing an eARC for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
.
.
.
Readers beware, this is not monster smut.

This is clean/sweet/closed door/fade to black/ kissing-only monster romance.

Bearing that in mind, consider the Mothman is named Mothman, the Swamp Monster is named Swampy, the Jersey Devil is named Jersey, and the sasquatch Bigfoot is named Sas. The Nightwalker, aka Fresno Alien, is named Fresno. This would make a tiny bit of sense if the cryptid were the only one of their species, but there are other swamp monsters and other Nightwalkers with names like AJ and Ollie.

Every story is LGBTQ so the book gets points for that, but otherwise, calling this tales of love and lust is a serious misnomer because there is no lust here, and not even every story features love. One of the stories is about a pair of 15 year olds where it is hinted at they may have a crush on each other. One of the stories is more about friendship and healing after grief than anything, with no romance at all.

While this wasn't badly written, it was not what I expected at all, and honestly, I'm kinda mad about it. Rename it to "sweet tales of cryptid companionship" and you might be closer to what this book actually is.

And I just remembered, two separate stories referred to, and I quote, "slutting it up" so you know what, I'm taking a star away for that. First of all, there was nothing slutty about this book whatsoever. Secondly, engaging in hookups and noncommitted sexual relationships is not a bad thing as long as all parties are aware and consenting. We do not slut shame in the year of our lord two thousand twenty-six.

If this book had been any longer, I would have DNF'd it, but it was a quick read so I finished it to count towards my yearly goal.

[Shrike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection was a fun read! I'm always down for some queer monster lovin'. While this book has discussions about sex and sexual attraction, I don't recall anything explicitly spicy. The focus is definitely more on the romance. My favorite part was being introduced to some new-to-me cryptids (Cactus Cat?? Heck yeah). Thanks to the publisher for the chance to check out a copy through Netgalley. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.

[Rach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book of cozy, sweet, and heartfelt short stories featuring a diverse variety of humans and creatures, all trying to connect and find love and friendship in their community. At its core is a group of chosen friends and family who are all looking for people they can be themselves around, who love them for who they are, no reservations. I love that there a celebration of differences, joy in admiring the beauty of others, and the thrill of finding someone that understands who you are. My favorite stories were about Lucy and Mothman, Swampy and Mason and their not-really-practice dates, and Slone and Fresno and their skater friends, but I would happily read more stories from this place—though as small as Crypid Creek seems to be, perhaps we’ve already met everyone who lives there?

I have to also mention, I love the design of this book, the beautiful illustrations, and the charming map. Even if the layout of the town isn’t vital to the plot of the stories, I love being able to visualize how a town is laid out.

[Riley Moffatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay don’t @ me because I read this fully expecting it to be like 1.5 stars but ITS NOT. Like it’s obviously silly goofy but it’s very camp on purpose so I’ll allow it. Reading descriptions of what the cryptids look like as if they’re a six pack on a hot person is very funny. I thought this would be silly smutty stories that were cheesy but also had mothman and they kinda were, but they were way less smutty than i thought (like most of them not at all and only a couple a little bit). Most of the stories were heartwarming? And displayed a plethora of different relationships and the ways people form them? Like huh? Was not expecting to delve into grief and the ways it touches your life in a book about dating cryptids 😭. Anyways, it was pretty good ngl but also definitely a bit ridiculous and the romance parts were all very instalove which I’m never a fan of, especially in an anthology I’m gonna need some of them to be different.

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

((review from an ARC))

this book is for lovers and fun-lovers only!! everyone else go home!!

if you’ve ever wanted to date a cryptid or felt like a cryptid (on the outside of everyone else, different, etc.) this book is here to let you know that you’re not alone and that there’s a beautiful community out there for you

the sweetness and vulnerability of the characters and their stories are well balanced with wit and bad decisions, so it feels warm and rich rather than cloying—like drinking a nice glass of red wine that warms you from the inside and has lots of adjectives that connoisseurs know like oaky and fruit-forward

seriously i cannot overstate how absolutely delightful this book is!!!! do yourself a favor and have a good time!!!!

[Chelsea is Booked · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded to 4

Alright, I am ready, sign me up to move to Cryptid Creek! This is a fun cozy, a little bit of spice book of interconnected monster romances. I really like how these all take place in the same town and you get to see the characters again in other stories.

Just like with any anthology, some stories will resonate with you more. Some of my favorites where the haunted house story, the wood worker one, and the one about the old lady friends that move in together. Something also special about all these stories is they all feature LGBTQ+ characters. Each romance is different and I loved the variety in types of creatures, personalities, and even ages.

[sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

im not sure what i expected from this book, and i am not a romance reader at all, but this was alright. i feel like i have plenty of critiques of this book, but instead i want to highlight how celebratorily queer this text is. it is gay and weird and unashamed. sometimes this borders on a cringey tumblr post, but sometimes it is truly beautiful

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sauceless, but too short to bother DNFing. This was my fault as a resident cozy naysayer. If you like that sort of thing, it’s all yours.

I will say that the Loch Ness monster story was the best of the bunch. I liked that one a lot, mainly because it was more about grieving and less about weirdly sanitized flirting that heel turns into out of nowhere sex that isn’t actually sex. Do you get me?

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute short stories

I picked this up for my summer bingo reading list for a book in the PNW. It’s been on my TBR since it came out. It was overall really cute and sweet. I love that. It was really inclusive. I overall enjoyed all the little stories. I definitely recommend it.

[Meliss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sooo many cute stories. I think my favorites were the Mothman one (of course) and the gay wolven one (of course).

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

very wholesome🥺

[Jac Collo · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Mothman Is My Boyfriend" was a different read for sure! Composed of vignettes that follow various townsfolk from Cryptid Creek, Coyle introduces us to a really dynamic set of characters (both human and cryptid). It is a fresh spin on cryptid tales that is so perfectly cozy. The vignette style made me feel less pressured to keep up with it, but I also loved how light it was enough to not put it down.

Aside from the second person introduction that borders on the self-insert style the title almost hints at, the world meshed well together throughout the chapters. It was fun getting to flip back and forth between chapter and map to memorize the town layout and each characters commutes from chapter to chapter. I feel the nature of the creek itself might've been better introduced throughout the chapters, though, instead of in the Prologue.

The illustrations were adorable, especially of the cover character, Mothman, in his barista getup, and I found myself wanting to see each namesake character instead of just the occasional one. On this note, I will also add that I found myself disappointed by the fact that it is not *just* Mothman, as that was my original expectation, and that we *began* with Mothman, once I came around to the idea of reading about various cryptids. I feel like the cover & title both really set you up for it being Mothman-centric (and he is mentioned the most out throughout the chapters as far as references go), but it's very once & done with him at the end of the day.

As for my review of the actual contents, I feel like each chapter felt so separate from the last that they need their own reviews. I think this comes from the fact that each chapter made me form a different opinion of the writing, if I'm being honest. Like, overall it was a cute, cozy read that was the perfect breather in-between longer books on my TBR, but some chapters were stronger than others. I do think its worth noting, though, that its hard to get attached to any one character in particular since each chapter is just bordering on not being fleshed out / long enough. Even when I would get attached to a character, I'd end up just missing them when/if they were mentioned later on. I'll list my reviews below in order of how much I liked the chapter:

BEWARE!!!! SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!

- The Moon and the Mothman: Okay, yeah, I got the ARC for this book because of Mothman on the cover & I thought it would be a silly read for when I was curled up with my little Mothman build-a-bear. Sue me. However!!! This chapter was my favorite for reasons other than it being the Mothman chapter. Like I said before, I was a bit sad we got this one right off the rip, which was a feeling which stuck with me as I kept reading. "The Moon and the Mothman" felt like it was the most fleshed out/strongest chapter of the collection to me, so I feel like it diminished the rest of the collection for me. I started this one near the end of my shift at the bookstore I work in (so, maybe Lucy is just my vibe rn) and ended up finishing it in my car before I drove home at the end of my shift because I *needed* to know what happened in the next one. The relationship felt smooth and unforced and I was drawn in by both Lucy & Mothman- not just one or the other- which was nice. Cryptid Creek is framed nicely in this chapter too! The town felt natural in this segment, and I didn't feel inclined to look at the map. I like looking at the map, so not a bad thing, but in some of the other stories I was lost and HAD to look at the map. I also love love LOVE the way Coyle approaches the whole Mothman-having-no-mouth situation. The projection of thoughts, memories, and feelings was so well executed.

- A New Leaf: The second chapter in the collection, and a great follow up to "The Moon and the Mothman." I couldn't put the book down and had to keep reading after the first chapter, and "A New Leaf" didn't disappoint. Friends-to-Lovers done right. This romance was soft, gradual, and natural. It hit that spot in my chest the way a warm chocolate cookie hits my sweet tooth. From pining across the way, to bonding over different forms of grief, and the sweetest conclusion... this chapter felt like peace. Def one of the strongest in the collection.

- Skate God: Love the inclusion of a younger group of kids and the platonic love as well! Yes, the crushes of the young are present, but its never something that becomes a solid at the end of the chapter like most other chapters which I appreciated. Sometimes you can be just friends with your crush and its better that way, especially at that age. Fresno & Sloane both felt very real to me. Sloane, in particular, struck a chord as very relatable. Their shows of vulnerabilities and fuck-ups were great and really made their dynamic more complex & solid. I do wish we got a bit more detail & moments of the others in the group though! More of them interacting outside the boundaries of the skate park would've been fun too.

- Night Shift: I almost put this one above "Skate God," but it fell a bit short in development. I wish we had more... moments. The couple was super cute, and I love the miscommunications and realizations, but I wish we got more scenes of Theo struggling with her methods to try and make contact with the cause of the abnormalities. We hear a lot about how she is failing, but I wanted to see it myself. Not a lot of the night shift for a chapter titled "Night Shift." Also, the one like... tangible moment of physical attraction we see from them is a bit forced, in my opinion. Awkward, yeah, I get that, but... this was a step more than that. Theo and Flatwoods are super cute though, was super happy to see them again in "Skin and Fur." Also, it was interesting to explore a cryptid I didn't know before!

- Dumb Little Crush: As much as I wasn't a fan of "The Moon and the Mothman" being the first chapter, having Lucy and Cleo be the protagonists on the receiving end of love at opposite ends of the book was soooo perfect. The whole book I was itching to see more Cleo, and this chapter scratched that itch for sure! It is also the perfect closer to the book, especially with those last two paragraphs. This one had me laughing out loud... Cleo is so me. Yes girl, lock in. I did feel the writing of their romance was more flat and unrealistic than the rest of the stories above. I think it is more so tied with "Night Shift" than below it, but the 'first, we did this, and then...." format & the all-in-one-day romance is the reason its not above it. That's definitely a personal thing, though... I love slowburn.

- Yearn For It: I'll get right into it. I'm not really a smut reader, which is something I was a bit worried about with reading this book because of the whole "Ten Tales of Cryptid Love and Lust" thing. So, obviously, you could see why I would've been a bit nervous about getting to this chapter by the title. However! It really defied all my expectations!! Another one that I would say is tied for fourth place, to be honest, if not a little short of fourth. They really DID yearn, and I loved that. The incorporation of the bet to not hookup was really interesting here, but I don't know if I really got that vibe from Romy. I did love the tension (both romantic and sexual) between Romy and Cactus Cat, and I love that we were left hanging here. It worked that we get sucked into their game... and I think its great they were reminded about literally being at work because I was freaking out about that myself! Critique wise, I wanted more.... emotion? dynamicness? vulnerability? from Cactus Cat, for one. I liked the few small showings of his feelings that we got, but overall it was very much just 'he's so chill' and he felt kind of flat because of it. The whole bet threw me off too since we got the Mason romance chapters before and I was hung up on it because like... Romy would've known this about her best friend even if he didn't tell her since she'd be seeing it around town as Mason & Swampy went on all these dates, no?? Plus, they were working together all this time but we get thrown into the beginning as if they've just met? Logistically, I had a few gripes. Maybe I'm picky. I also definitely needed to see CC in this style, to be honest.

- Ripple: The grief was so tangible in this one. It was a mournful piece that didn't really fit the vibe of the rest of the collection, but in a way that I liked! I wish we got more Nessie from the Nessie chapter, and I wish it was just a focus on Nessie being the last of her kind from this unique lens without the elements of lust and love that it did incorporate. I didn't care much to learn about Bridget and Beth, if I'm being honest. I appreciated Bridget as a vehicle to learn about Nessie, but found myself racing through the solo parts and reflections. As for the elements of love and lust, the desire for Nessie felt... weird and didn't really match the tone I wanted from this chapter. I think this should've been a piece on love lost and grieving... regardless of the shape it takes, rather than a cryptid lust/love story, especially since its mentioned a few times with no pursual (which I was glad about). This one was also one that gave me a problem location wise. Where as in "The Moon and the Mothman," I felt a sense of trust in the author while navigating the town, I did not have the same here. In fact, I had a vision in mind based on the text and was SOOO off base when I actually checked the map. Loved Nessie though.

- Skin and Fur: I thought this one was really fun! To be honest, I'm glad it addressed some of the whole cryptid/human romance stuff, because I had so many questions throughout and, as much as I can just go with as a fantasy reader, there were a few things I just was curious about and wanted to know. Did I need to know, no, but I wanted to. That is especially true considering the prologue and the fact that we barely ever address the type of being the MC of the chapter is in favor of the type the love interest is. I do like the humanness (lol) of Griffin... his flaws that he both acknowledges and realizes later on and his passive aggressive attitude and the way he leans into the gossip about his ex rather than acts too good for it. I think them hashing out their issues and just making complaints about the way they were at the end was great, but the ending felt unearned. I get tension and all that, but I wanted us to build a bit more to getting back together instead of it being instant the way its hinted at. I cared for the chapter, but was more drawn to the other characters instead. Theo and Flatwoods being here was the highlight of the chapter to me, too, which isn't the best sign. Soo,,, I guess more so an appreciation of the context it provided? I wanted more tension and almost craved a not happy ending too.

- Practice Makes Perfect: A cute spin on the fake dating trope!! I don't know that I have enough complaints to place it this low, but I also don't have enough praise to really place it higher either. Let me put it this way... this chapter made me take my first break when reading, and I didn't pick it up for a day or two after. Also important to note that I stopped in the middle of the chapter. I just didn't really care too much for either character, and the story felt a bit too predicatable, especially considering how heavy the flirting was on fake date one and the fact that they never DID set up rules. Maybe the fake dating rules would have made this chapter a bit more... worth it to me! I was looking forward to seeing them. Maybe a personal thing, too, but Mason felt hard to place for me. I could never really "see" him despite all the descriptions we got about him, if that makes any sense.

- Dream Girl: This one is at the bottom simply because I did not like it. Sas did not feel like a real character to me at all. There would be random details thrown out about him that just didn't really feel like they matched the way the character was described and I just could not place him at all. Was he a player? No? Was he charismatic and charming to the alt girls or did he like to stay in and hone his craft and not talk to people? Was he really skilled or did he miss a pivotal step in the carpentry process that would matter regardless of if it was furniture or 'stage?' June was cute, but felt a bit flat herself. Part of me wishes it was from her POV, part of me wishes Sas was just. different. Can you tell I did not like Sas.... sorry! The chapter itself also felt weak to me. Similar to how "Night Shift" had a summary instead of scene problem, but on a bigger scale that made me struggle to find redeeming qualities with it. I also wish we had a more interesting turn with their relationship. It felt very... straight line and predicatable.

OK.... whew... longest review I've ever done. Overall, well-written, cozy, & compelling. You'll like some chapters more than others and that makes this book feel like an interesting slice of life! 3.25 stars...? Doesn't feel like quite 3.5, so we'll say that.

[Kailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly I wasn’t expecting much with this one but was pleasantly surprised! Heartwarming short stories in a cute cryptid town. The Loveland frog story had me in a chokehold.

[Bryanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not at all what I was expecting, but it was an adorable surprise, though a bit too brief for me to feel fully engaged.

Mothman Is My Boyfriend is not like other monster romances. It's not incredibly steamy. It's not very comedic. It's not full of adventure. It is mostly understated, cozy, and cute. Each story captures a vignette of a pairing, from a bookseller and barista to a grieving spouse and the last nessie. Some are sweet, some are sad, some are empowering... It's a good mix of content and the representation is great, plus the themes are emotive.

The beginning being in second person almost had me DNFing right at the start. It stops this very quickly, but it was a baffling introduction to the collection.

I did find it very difficult to connect with the characters as each story is so short. I found myself wishing for a novella that expanded the relationship, world, and atmosphere more as this felt like a teaser. I enjoyed each vignette, and most do feel complete in their telling, but they're all so short it was hard to stay engaged as you're constantly shifting POV within the same town.

This wasn't quite for me, but it is a good collection of stories that will leave you feeling uplifted and thoughtful if you're wanting a quick and easy read.

[Ash K · Rating 4 out of 5]

—• 4.0 •—

Arc Review: very cute and fun read! I don’t usually read short story compilations like this but i very much enjoyed it. These shorts include so many flavours of queerness that don’t usually get touched upon which is wonderful.

includes:
- nonbinary mcs
- t4t relationships
-bi4bi relationships
- he/him lesbian
-sapphic relationships
-achillean relationships
-sex positivity without being nsfw

[Shandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a lot of fun. It is unique, creative and heartwarming. I really appreciated the inclusivity/diversity in these stories. I would love to see the author expand on these characters and concepts! Each story left me wanting more, but in a good way. My favorite one of the collection was Ripple.

[Amanda [Novel Addiction]]

Shut up, this was so freaking cute.

[librariSAM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the e-ARC!

The title for this book immediately had me request it from NetGalley. I also saw that is was a short story collection and I was like SIGN ME UP.

I like the way the stories take place in the same little town and the characters interact within stories. It feels like you are a resident of this little town with them and they are all your friends. The art that is sprinkled in is also so fun and unique. I would have loved to see more of it.

Some stories were stronger than others but that’s how it always is in a short story collection. The stronger stories were put in the beginning so it was a very strong start. The stories that I loved, I really loved and the ones I didn’t love, I only had a few issues with. Overall, this is a solid collection. The author does a fantastic job at writing lovable and memorable characters. If you enjoy getting to know a bunch of quirky and fun characters that live in this cozy little town you’ll enjoy it a lot. I want to live there!

My Favorites: The Moon and the Mothman, A New Leaf and Practice Makes Perfect

Here are a couple of individual reviews so you can get an idea of what to expect:

A New Leaf 4.5/5
Best friends to lovers, slow burn
Loveland Frog and Lillian

They move in together after living next door to each other for decades. Lilian lost her husband and Loveland divorced hers. They come together to fix up the garden that Lilian let go after her husbands passing. A story of new beginnings and helping each other heal from old wounds. Very sweet and comforting. The garden is really symbolic of their new beginnings. I felt so much love and warmth coming from this story, similar to a good bowl of soup when you aren’t feeling well.


Practice Makes Perfect – 4/5
Fake dating, meet-cute
Mason and Swampy

Mason and Swampy meet in the bookstore owned by a character from a previous work. Their meeting is nothing less than adorable and quirky. Mason has a chill aura that immediately interests the anxiety-ridden Swampy. They decide to “fake” date. This is a very cute twist on the fake dating trope and the love teacher/student trope. From the first couple of words of this story, you can just tell the characters are a perfect match with how they interact and their immediate chemistry. The way Swampy talks about Mason gives me butterflies. They are so adorable. I also like how they can relate with each other in regard to coming out and are able to talk about their issues with someone who truly gets it.

[Lisa Vieira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exceptional anthology of cozy cryptid romances. Each story is unique, from the variety of cryptid to the LGBTQIA+ elements to the plot itself. Most of the stories had main characters who fall under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella, but it never feels heavy-handed. We have multiple non-binary MCs, late-in-life lesbians, trans characters, gay couples, a masc-presenting lesbian who uses he/him pronouns, and more. Truly a wonderland of representation. Additionally, there are multiple characters with disabilities, but they never prevent them from being the MC/main love interest.
Brief highlights/summaries of each story.
The Moon & the Mothman is the love story between our non-binary MC and the non-verbal Mothman. It's a slow burn, of sorts, and progresses adorably from crushes to dating.
A New Leaf is a friends-to-lovers story of late-in-life lesbian empty-nesters. One of our FMCs is a frog person.
Practice Makes Perfect is a trans-for-trans story between a swamp monster and a charismatic human, that is strangely relatable.
Ripple is a sweet prelude to a budding friendship that could develop into something more down the line. Another trans MC and the Loch Ness monster.
Night Shift is a sapphic romance between our human FMC and an alien/robot woman who mercilessly teases her.
Yearn for It was a top pick due to that title. I love a sweet yearning story. This is the ostensibly hetero story between our human FMC and a cactus man.
Skate God is a coming-of-age story about friendship that might lead to something more. We have another human FMC and her new friend (love interest?) is a nightcrawler, a creature that is described as armless. That doesn't stop him from being an excellent skateboarder.
Skin & Fur is a second-chance story between our human MMC and a wolf-man. It leaves the audience with questions... did they make up? Could they not look past their differences? Are they better off not married?
Dream Girl was easily my favorite story. Our Sasquatch butch lesbian with he/him pronouns falls for a delightful disco-ball of a FMC. We get yearning, flirting, awkward moments, and sweet endings.
Dumb Little Crush is another sapphic love story, this time between our human FMC and the Jersey Devil. The flirting gives me life.

Thanks to NetGalley for the early access! This is one of my new favorite books and I'll be recommending it for NYPL's top 50 romance releases of 2026.

[TaylorWay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley, when I saw this book I had to read it! I am a huge fan of Mothman and Cryptids in general and this just sounded like such a fun and quirky read.

Cryptid Creek is a small town that’s hidden from the outside world, a refuge for outcasts and people who want a new start. This extremely fun, cosy and queer normative town is brilliant and absolutely full of amazing, weird and wonderful creatures that we get to meet and read about. I really enjoyed how diverse the Cryptids and others were, we have swamp monsters, yetis, Bigfoot, night crawlers, aliens and even the jersey devil got a story!

Each story introduces characters to us and takes us on a little adventure, mostly a romantic one but others were just about friendship, belonging and acceptance. Honestly for a book about horny monsters this was very wholesome. Some stories I preferred to others, I think the only thing that detracts from the experience is that because its an anthology we only get a short amount of time and as the characters are so livid and fun I just wanted more!! I found it harder to get invested but I had a really fun time so that’s what matters. I really loved the addition of a map it really helped to tie all of the stories together and remember details as all the short stories intertwined. The illustrations too are so great! It does help to visualise how sexy Mothman is.

I really recommend this to anyone who likes books that are weird, funny, queer and romantic. Even though it’s mostly romance I still think horror fans will love this because it features so many familiar faces. Also this book is very queer which made it just so so much better, of course Cryptids are LGBTQIA+ it wouldn’t make sense any other way. I feel like this would be the coolest tv show and I would BINGE it! I would also really be interested in the author creating longer works set in this town. Overall this is a super fun read and I really liked it.

[Eclipse Moonflower · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️☆☆☆ (2/5)
Spice: 🌶 / 5 (doesn't meet expectations; character-driven focus)

"Desire moves through me like a living thing, unspooling in my chest and slithering below my stomach. It's hot and viscous and sweet. It leaves a trail of wet." (p. 112)

The full book title, Mothman is my Boyfriend: Tales of Cryptid Love and Lust, feels quite deceitful - the chosen word "love" does fit, yet these tales are certainly not spicy enough to warrant the additional "and Lust" marketing.

The phrasing throughout is often vague and simplified, with the extreme shortness of each story behaving as a detriment overall. This is worsened by ties with forced representation, which can be equally harmful to the queer community and doesn't add meaningful impact to any of these stories.

The illustrations included were an appreciated touch yet lacking consistency, as it would have been nice to see more creatures from the town in visual form. All my favorite characters (such as Jersey Devil) were ommitted from these illustrations.

"He could knock every tea they ever drank off of every table they ever sat at if it meant they got to be near him." (p. 13)

PROS:
• Quick, low-commitment read
• Includes interior illustrations

​CONS:
• Misleading title and marketing regarding spice level
• Vague and simplified phrasing throughout
• Rushed story length prevents meaningful character depth
• Inconsistent artwork that leaves out key cryptids

Cute yet overall forgettable, with concepts reeking of fanfiction-esque energy - not the writings of an official published text. Mothman is my Boyfriend is an easily skippable yet quick read meant only for hard-core cozy cryptid fans. 2 out of 5 stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this approved DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Candi Norwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read the title - and saw the cover art - of Mothman Is My Boyfriend by McKayla Coyle, I thought I’d be reading a cute, breezy, potentially clever light romantasy - like a G-rated version of one of Chuck Tingle’s infamous cryptid eroticas.
This is not that.
There were cute - and clever - moments, and there were sweet some art panels - the Flatwoods was a standout for me just for the dress, but in Mothman Is My Boyfriend’s Cryptid Creek, McKayla Coyle has built a world where humans and cryptids of all kinds interact as equals.
Through the interconnected stories, we see new romances and grieving widows and a few lightly spicy (but not gratuitous) sex scenes.
The stories assume the reader has knowledge of the cryptids, with many of the names being shortened versions like “Sas” and “Lovey”, and their characteristics and personalities referencing the mythologies while making them feel like real, sympathetic, sentient humanoids interacting naturally with each other and the humans in the progressive town of Cryptid Creek.
So, Mothman Is My Boyfriend is not a cute, breezy light romantasy, but it is an introduction to an inclusive hidden town where cryptids and some special humans co-exist, live and love, embrace their found families and is full of heart, humor, and some sadness - just like life - all while showing a softer side of our favorite cryptids.
Stray Thoughts:
My now-spouse brought his dog Lucy while I brought my cat Cleo to our relationship, so I loved seeing a Lucy-Cleo partnership running the bookshop.
Javalope is the perfect name for the coffee shop.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quirk Books for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would you like a series of short stories that makes you feel seen, comforted, slightly confused and maybe exposed your trauma a little (YMMV)? Well then, you may like Mothman is my Boyfriend.

It’s always a little tricky rating a collection of stories as there’s usually some I like more than others. And I did like these all for the most part, but some I wanted so much more of the story - like the siren and the widow, and Sas and June.

They all follow a human / cryptid pairing of varying queerness as they navigate love. With the length of the stories, there were no extensive plots, and I couldn’t quite get emotionally invested in the characters. However, I really appreciate the breadth of experiences captured and the beautiful moments the characters have together. There were many moments I could relate to like insecurities, awkwardness, and desire. I really liked that Coyle wrote the moments where characters got in their own way, or behaved badly or had their perspectives shift. It was a little raw at times to see those moments and recognise your own faults. But it was also beautiful to see the love and acceptance in these moments too.

Not much happens overall but I think thats the point. While I was at times a little bored, it was nice to read a story, read something else, then come back to another. When I read a few at a time, being similar stories, they started to blur together.

I read this as a digital ARC thanks to Quirk Books via Netgalley, and this is my honest review.

3.75 ⭐️’s
0.5 🌶️’s

[Ris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the queer normative world and all the characters in this fun book. The illustrations were sooooo cute and I wish we got to see more! It would’ve be lovely to see each main character brought to life! The stories were cute and entertaining, but unfortunately lacked a lot of substance for me. I wanted the stories to be longer; the characters to have more time to fall in love; the love to be more substantial. The chapters were so quick that I couldn’t really get into each characters story or form an opinion on them. They all just seemed.. fine.

Opening with a second person point of view was a jarring choice that I personally wasn’t a fan of. It’s only there for a little bit, in the prologue, but it really threw me off. It reminded me a lot of a reader-insert fan fiction which is not a favorite of mine.

However, the first story with Mothman was one of my favorites! I loved the coffee shop, Cryptid Creek, and the vibe of this one a lot. Additionally, I expected each story to either feature Mothman as the main character or be interconnected with him due to the title of the book. I was disappointed to find out this isn’t a series of stories centering on Mothman.

Overall, this was a cute story but it wasn’t really right for me. I didn’t feel connected to the characters or stories and I wish it was all about Mothman as the title implied. Thank you to Quirk Books, Netgalley, and McKayla Coyle for an ARC of this book.

[Rachel MacDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book, but I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed all the short stories. If you're the right kind of person, you might wander through the forest to encounter a special town full of friendly cryptids aptly called Cryptid Creek. Would you choose to stay and join in the short stories of romance? The first story follows Lucy and their intrigue with the local barista, Mothman. More than coffee heats up in their story. The second story follows a widow and divorcee taking a second chance on love. Practice Makes Perfect follows a recently open transmasc swamp monster as she finds love and her true self. Ripple is a quick view of grief and insight from the Lochness Monster. Night Shift starts when Theo gets called to the house of Flatwoods to help with a haunting and encounters more than she bargained. I'd never heard of a cactus cat, but after reading Yearn for it, I'd very much like to know one. A skateboarding friendship, rekindled romance at movie club, Sasquatch building a stage along with sexual tension, and a plant shop with more than greenery blooming make up the rest of the stories. Best of all, characters reappear in other stories and the infamous Mothman shines throughout the book. I'm not the biggest fan of short stories or romance, but if those are your things, I'd highly recommend this book.

[Liam Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a wildly charming and unexpectedly heartfelt collection of queer cryptid romance stories set in the whimsical town of Cryptid Creek. Each tale offers a fresh twist on familiar romance tropes, blending humor, tenderness, and just the right amount of strange magic that makes every encounter feel both absurd and deeply sincere. I especially enjoyed how Cryptid Creek feels fully alive, from bookshop dates with Mothman to chaotic skate park meet-cutes with nightcrawlers and softer emotional moments that ground the fantasy in real human longing. The mix of friends-to-lovers, fake dating, and second-chance romances keeps the pacing engaging, even when some stories are lighter or more playful than others. While a few stories felt more like sketches than fully developed arcs, the overall experience is so imaginative and comforting that it hardly matters. I finished the collection feeling oddly warmed by its inclusivity, creativity, and the way it celebrates love in all its strange and wonderful forms. This is a delightful read for anyone who enjoys cozy fantasy with a queer twist and a willingness to embrace the beautifully weird. It lingers like a comforting dream you do not want to wake from again and again softly now.

[Rory · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel exceeded my expectations. I was pleasantly surprised! I first begun reading through NetGalley, but unfortunately my access expired before I could finish it, but what I had read before that, was already enough to convince me to purchase a copy.

As promised, this novel is chock full of classic tropes and cryptids, some of which I had never even heard of before. It's funny, witty, silly; exactly what you would expect from the subject. Yet it also touches on some surprisingly serious topics in some of the stories, like grief and its lasting impact or the necessary sense of belonging, which I did not see coming until I was in the middle of it. With a wide band of characters involved and all different types of relationships it showcases, it's also a very inclusive piece of queer fiction.

That said, I can see how this might not be for everyone. It's probably an acquired taste. But hey, it's a book about romancing cryptids. You kind of have to go into it with an open mind.

So if you're in for a silly goofy good time, you like (perhaps slightly unconventional) romance, and you do have that open mind, then Mothman Is My Boyfriend is a good time.

---
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the eARC!

[Glory Creed · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Quirk Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Each chapter of Mothman Is My Boyfriend centers on a different relationship with a cryptid, from werewolves, to bigfoot, to the loch ness monster. These lossely connected stories take place in Cryptid Creek, a cozy town in the PNW where all manner of cryptids and humans live alongside one another.

I give this book props for having true diversity and queernorm representation. Unfortunately, that is where my praise ends. I wanted to like this way more than I did. I absolutely adore the concept of this book as a lover of cryptids and all things spooky, but the writing did not deliver. The chapters were far too short to develop fully realized characters and relationships, most of them feeling like they were beginning just as the chapter ran out of runway. This book leans far more cutesy than sexy, and most sexual scenes were vague or fade to black.

Fair warning that the book starts with a jarring second person introduction, but the rest of the book is told in a more traditional first person perspective.