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Hell's Belles #1
For Whom the Belle Tolls
Sie sollte in der Hölle schmoren – doch sie fand die Hölle alles andere als quälend!
Die Hölle ist ein Ort voller unglücklicher Seelen, die nur eines im Sinn sich über ihr Dasein lautstark zu beschweren. Zum Glück ist die kürzlich verstorbene Lily zur Obwohl sie wenig begeistert von ihrem Tod ist, fasziniert sie die Hölle – der Kaffee ist gut und die Dämonen sind nett, wären nur nicht die vielen unzufriedenen Seelen. Durch jahrelange Erfahrung im Kundendienst gestählt, bietet Lily ihre Hilfe an und errichtet den Hel(l)p-Desk. Und mit der ihr eigenen Geduld knackt sie sogar den introvertierten Dämon Bel, der leider zu heiß ist, um nur ihr Kumpel zu sein …
Die Hölle ist ein Ort voller unglücklicher Seelen, die nur eines im Sinn sich über ihr Dasein lautstark zu beschweren. Zum Glück ist die kürzlich verstorbene Lily zur Obwohl sie wenig begeistert von ihrem Tod ist, fasziniert sie die Hölle – der Kaffee ist gut und die Dämonen sind nett, wären nur nicht die vielen unzufriedenen Seelen. Durch jahrelange Erfahrung im Kundendienst gestählt, bietet Lily ihre Hilfe an und errichtet den Hel(l)p-Desk. Und mit der ihr eigenen Geduld knackt sie sogar den introvertierten Dämon Bel, der leider zu heiß ist, um nur ihr Kumpel zu sein …
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First published January 28, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,609 reviews
April 19, 2025
“Don’t be afraid of error. Make mistakes, and many of them. You learn much about yourself through them, often more than you learn from your triumphs.”
nothing about this book was what i expected, it turned out to be such a pleasant surprise. the fmc Lily dies of cancer and ends up in hell while she contemplates her life and the option of reincarnation. she has a lot of different trauma, all of it well handled and realistic. all the stereotypes of what hell should be, isn’t the case and she ends up finding the love and acceptance she’d been searching for her whole life. the romance and found family was beautiful and even with some of the more somber moments, it’s still a really fun read overall.
“You are so fantastically, wonderfully, entirely you, and it’s amazing. You are easy to love, and worthy of joy and protection.”
i really loved the romance between Lily and Bel, he’s a winged demon but the biggest cinnamon roll. they become best friends before they’re even lovers and because of that they build a foundation that’s sturdy from the start. all the side characters were amazing too, little Sharky finding her home with Lily, Bel and Lucifer was incredibly heartwarming.. that kid deserves the world. I usually don’t love books that focus on the want for children, but I actually felt for Lily and wanted her to have her chance at a family of her own. Bel had a lot of depth and i loved how his fear of abandonment didn’t bleed into Lily’s eventual decisions. the first half of this book was in 5 star territory, but the later half started to drag and this could’ve been like 200 pages shorter. I’m so glad it’ll be a series cause the world building was really detailed and very fleshed out. i listened to the audiobook, and both narrators were amazing too btw!
”If I’d known demons looked like that, I wouldn’t have had such an irrational fear of letting my foot hang over the edge of the bed. Hell, I might’ve done it on purpose.” .. LMAO FELT THIS CAUSE BEL 😮💨
nothing about this book was what i expected, it turned out to be such a pleasant surprise. the fmc Lily dies of cancer and ends up in hell while she contemplates her life and the option of reincarnation. she has a lot of different trauma, all of it well handled and realistic. all the stereotypes of what hell should be, isn’t the case and she ends up finding the love and acceptance she’d been searching for her whole life. the romance and found family was beautiful and even with some of the more somber moments, it’s still a really fun read overall.
“You are so fantastically, wonderfully, entirely you, and it’s amazing. You are easy to love, and worthy of joy and protection.”
i really loved the romance between Lily and Bel, he’s a winged demon but the biggest cinnamon roll. they become best friends before they’re even lovers and because of that they build a foundation that’s sturdy from the start. all the side characters were amazing too, little Sharky finding her home with Lily, Bel and Lucifer was incredibly heartwarming.. that kid deserves the world. I usually don’t love books that focus on the want for children, but I actually felt for Lily and wanted her to have her chance at a family of her own. Bel had a lot of depth and i loved how his fear of abandonment didn’t bleed into Lily’s eventual decisions. the first half of this book was in 5 star territory, but the later half started to drag and this could’ve been like 200 pages shorter. I’m so glad it’ll be a series cause the world building was really detailed and very fleshed out. i listened to the audiobook, and both narrators were amazing too btw!
”If I’d known demons looked like that, I wouldn’t have had such an irrational fear of letting my foot hang over the edge of the bed. Hell, I might’ve done it on purpose.” .. LMAO FELT THIS CAUSE BEL 😮💨
December 24, 2024
I originally read this on AO3 and patreon. The world building is AMAZING!!! The story keeps you enthralled the entire time. I absolutely love Lilly and Bel and reading the backstory of JaySea’s “hell’s belle’s tiktok series” and their love story and her adoption of Sharky was a dream I never knew I needed to be realized.
Cannot wait to read the finished product and even more excited to get a physical copy.
Already excited to read every one of the sequels & prequels. The Hell’s Belles series is literally my favorite show.
Cannot wait to read the finished product and even more excited to get a physical copy.
Already excited to read every one of the sequels & prequels. The Hell’s Belles series is literally my favorite show.
April 18, 2025
This is the kind of book that wraps around my brain and doesn't let me think about anything else for awhile. Those books are really rare for me and when I find one it's always a five star read. "For Whom the Belle Tolls" is likely my favorite book of the year. It's certainly my only five star read of the year, and I read it as an unfinished copy from patreon. I can't wait to reread it once it's officially published.
I'll likely write a more comprehensive review then.
I'll likely write a more comprehensive review then.
February 6, 2026
Do you ever read a book and immediately wish you could wipe your mind so that you can read it again as if it were for the first time?!? This is one of those books! It will probably be a book a re-read often! I remember when a TikTok appeared on my For You Page of a help desk based in hell. I loved it, quickly caught up on the few videos that had already been posted, and began to follow Sea Ya Later. Every week on my day off, I go to her page to watch the newest videos. I have waited with baited breath for this book and at the first chance opened my app and spent two days devouring Lily's story. It's the beginning of the year, but this might be my number one for the year. If not, it will be on the top list.
January 26, 2025
4.25 stars rounded down
This story is profoundly touching. While it is chock full of humor and sweetness, it also packs an emotional punch, touching on many sensitive topics. This fantasy romance takes place almost entirely in the Afterlife so what happens when a soul dies is explored, not just for the FMC. The world is immense and crafted carefully with attention to detail. There are souls, denizens of the Afterlife who were born there, gods and goddesses, an entire universe of entities and belief systems represented. The author does include trigger warnings and some are barely mentioned while others, like religious trauma, are delved into more deeply and continue throughout the book. The author originally created this material as skits I think on TikTok and YouTube, which are still up from what I understand.
Written in third person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and both are experienced (H hadn’t been with anyone in years and h had only casual relationships but had been sick more recently).
Some themes/tropes:
☆ A full life lived after death
☆ Character healing and growth
☆ Families made from more than flesh and blood
☆ Laughter and tears, sometimes at the same time
☆ Loss and grief, including of what you thought your life would have
☆ War
☆ A sentient house named Carl
☆ A furry sidekick because animals are in the Afterlife too
☆ Positive female and male friendships
The story opens with Lily (h) being diagnosed with terminal cancer. There aren’t many chapters with her illness before she’s in the Afterlife and learning about her options, how judgement works, and what the Afterlife will be. As she explores, she’s drawn to Hell and offers to help them with the management of the initial intake of getting souls to their proper places, thus the Hellp Desk is formed.
Some readers may not warm up to Lily as much because she has “not like other souls” energy and almost immediately universally beloved and admired where ever she goes in the Afterlife. I thought she was fantastic with a big heart, strong moral code, compassionate, and willing to get her hands dirty when it mattered. She’s also a solid main character for the author to use to convey some of the messages and bigger meanings that I felt were represented in this story. Because it is very lighthearted the majority of the time, but even in the light moments, there are deep conversations happening about life, how one treats others, boundaries, consent, etc.
Lily joins a multi-player game and begins a back and forth banter with Beleth (H) who is a Prince of Hell and general of some demon legions. Bel’s also the greenest flag who adores his nieces and nephews, has a giving heart, a hilarious repertoire of dad jokes he can lay down, and he has badass wings and a tail. I liked Lily a lot, but Bel’s the best and he made it on to my favorite heroes list with ease. Bel’s got some unaddressed trauma related to being left behind and there is a bit of tenseness as these two have sparkling chemistry and attraction over whether a relationship would be limited because Lily has the option as a soul to reincarnate at some point.
How Bel and Lily take the time to become close friends, nurturing a lovely and supportive relationship was perfect. Then when the steam starts and they’re officially together, whew. There is steam before the 50% mark and closer to the end, there is some tail action too. I also appreciated that the spicy times aren’t just for the sake of spice, they felt meaningful to the relationship. Probably because this story is overflowing with emotional intimacy and connection.
Many aspects of the Afterlife are explored from the coffee shops to the training fields to dealing with the souls. Eventually Lily comes across a child soul who she becomes a guardian of and Sharkie was so precious. Her hurts and fears broke my heart, even as the care from everyone else built her back up and offered her safety. This was a theme throughout as well, the support and love that’s offered (don’t get me wrong, some souls do get punished because they deserve it, but some also get therapy and assistance). Other amazing side characters include Lucifer, other Princes of Hell, Bel’s childhood best friend and leader of Level Nine, Persephone, Odin, and more. The cast is huge and scenes with large groups were typically hilarious.
My only hang-up with this story, and why it’s 4 stars and not 5, is that it is so long. In my opinion, it should have been condensed and tightened up some to help with flow. Some of the repetition could also have been cut out. Some scenes come at a particular topic from a different viewpoint or direction than a prior scene might, but it’s still revisiting that topic. As much as I was in love with the premise and characters, this took forever for me to finish because I literally couldn’t focus on it for longer periods of time. This one’s also not easily digestible with its weightiness and meaning but I know it’s going to stick with me for a while. Additionally, sometimes the open communication and addressing of emotions honestly feels a tad too easy, but conversely, there IS tons of communication, which we love.
One of the themes I mention above is war and the Afterlife is in peril at one point. It’s a very intense section of the story and probably the parts that moved the fastest for me. There’s danger, fears for loved ones, survivor’s guilt with elements of PTSD, and more healing (physically and emotionally). There’s also some beautifully written scenes that were heart-wrenching, in a good way.
The ending of the story is a HEA and leaves you feeling gloriously satisfied with a full heart. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I also loved that Lev with his attention to detail and quirkiness came through so big. I don’t think this book will be for everyone because of the themes and the denseness. I laughed, cried, swooned, cried some more, oohhh’d and ahhh’d. If any of this sounds like it might be interesting, I’d say give it a chance. This is a debut and the author’s planning a trilogy of interconnected standalones and I can’t wait to continue in this amazing world…even if book 2 might take me a whole other week to finish too.
This story is profoundly touching. While it is chock full of humor and sweetness, it also packs an emotional punch, touching on many sensitive topics. This fantasy romance takes place almost entirely in the Afterlife so what happens when a soul dies is explored, not just for the FMC. The world is immense and crafted carefully with attention to detail. There are souls, denizens of the Afterlife who were born there, gods and goddesses, an entire universe of entities and belief systems represented. The author does include trigger warnings and some are barely mentioned while others, like religious trauma, are delved into more deeply and continue throughout the book. The author originally created this material as skits I think on TikTok and YouTube, which are still up from what I understand.
Written in third person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and both are experienced (H hadn’t been with anyone in years and h had only casual relationships but had been sick more recently).
Some themes/tropes:
☆ A full life lived after death
☆ Character healing and growth
☆ Families made from more than flesh and blood
☆ Laughter and tears, sometimes at the same time
☆ Loss and grief, including of what you thought your life would have
☆ War
☆ A sentient house named Carl
☆ A furry sidekick because animals are in the Afterlife too
☆ Positive female and male friendships
The story opens with Lily (h) being diagnosed with terminal cancer. There aren’t many chapters with her illness before she’s in the Afterlife and learning about her options, how judgement works, and what the Afterlife will be. As she explores, she’s drawn to Hell and offers to help them with the management of the initial intake of getting souls to their proper places, thus the Hellp Desk is formed.
Some readers may not warm up to Lily as much because she has “not like other souls” energy and almost immediately universally beloved and admired where ever she goes in the Afterlife. I thought she was fantastic with a big heart, strong moral code, compassionate, and willing to get her hands dirty when it mattered. She’s also a solid main character for the author to use to convey some of the messages and bigger meanings that I felt were represented in this story. Because it is very lighthearted the majority of the time, but even in the light moments, there are deep conversations happening about life, how one treats others, boundaries, consent, etc.
Lily joins a multi-player game and begins a back and forth banter with Beleth (H) who is a Prince of Hell and general of some demon legions. Bel’s also the greenest flag who adores his nieces and nephews, has a giving heart, a hilarious repertoire of dad jokes he can lay down, and he has badass wings and a tail. I liked Lily a lot, but Bel’s the best and he made it on to my favorite heroes list with ease. Bel’s got some unaddressed trauma related to being left behind and there is a bit of tenseness as these two have sparkling chemistry and attraction over whether a relationship would be limited because Lily has the option as a soul to reincarnate at some point.
How Bel and Lily take the time to become close friends, nurturing a lovely and supportive relationship was perfect. Then when the steam starts and they’re officially together, whew. There is steam before the 50% mark and closer to the end, there is some tail action too. I also appreciated that the spicy times aren’t just for the sake of spice, they felt meaningful to the relationship. Probably because this story is overflowing with emotional intimacy and connection.
Many aspects of the Afterlife are explored from the coffee shops to the training fields to dealing with the souls. Eventually Lily comes across a child soul who she becomes a guardian of and Sharkie was so precious. Her hurts and fears broke my heart, even as the care from everyone else built her back up and offered her safety. This was a theme throughout as well, the support and love that’s offered (don’t get me wrong, some souls do get punished because they deserve it, but some also get therapy and assistance). Other amazing side characters include Lucifer, other Princes of Hell, Bel’s childhood best friend and leader of Level Nine, Persephone, Odin, and more. The cast is huge and scenes with large groups were typically hilarious.
My only hang-up with this story, and why it’s 4 stars and not 5, is that it is so long. In my opinion, it should have been condensed and tightened up some to help with flow. Some of the repetition could also have been cut out. Some scenes come at a particular topic from a different viewpoint or direction than a prior scene might, but it’s still revisiting that topic. As much as I was in love with the premise and characters, this took forever for me to finish because I literally couldn’t focus on it for longer periods of time. This one’s also not easily digestible with its weightiness and meaning but I know it’s going to stick with me for a while. Additionally, sometimes the open communication and addressing of emotions honestly feels a tad too easy, but conversely, there IS tons of communication, which we love.
One of the themes I mention above is war and the Afterlife is in peril at one point. It’s a very intense section of the story and probably the parts that moved the fastest for me. There’s danger, fears for loved ones, survivor’s guilt with elements of PTSD, and more healing (physically and emotionally). There’s also some beautifully written scenes that were heart-wrenching, in a good way.
The ending of the story is a HEA and leaves you feeling gloriously satisfied with a full heart. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I also loved that Lev with his attention to detail and quirkiness came through so big. I don’t think this book will be for everyone because of the themes and the denseness. I laughed, cried, swooned, cried some more, oohhh’d and ahhh’d. If any of this sounds like it might be interesting, I’d say give it a chance. This is a debut and the author’s planning a trilogy of interconnected standalones and I can’t wait to continue in this amazing world…even if book 2 might take me a whole other week to finish too.
December 31, 2024
Over 600 pages (according to my Kindle), less than 24 hours to read them all.
It has been a while since a book has ensnared my attention in the way that this one has. From the beginning I was absolutely hooked. It didn’t feel like I was reading 699 pages. I had to sleep after starting to read and the first thing I did after waking up was start reading again. I had to take a break after a four or five hour long reading stretch and the only thing on my mind was “I can’t wait to jump back into the story.”
Even though I have followed the TikTok series for a while and know the characters, I was on the edge of my seat waiting for a curveball or something out of left field to happen and thinking “what’s going to happen next?” The writing is phenomenal. The plot, the characters, the dialogue, just incredible.
Jaysea, if you ever see this, thank you for creating such an amazing story. I can’t wait to read more.
It has been a while since a book has ensnared my attention in the way that this one has. From the beginning I was absolutely hooked. It didn’t feel like I was reading 699 pages. I had to sleep after starting to read and the first thing I did after waking up was start reading again. I had to take a break after a four or five hour long reading stretch and the only thing on my mind was “I can’t wait to jump back into the story.”
Even though I have followed the TikTok series for a while and know the characters, I was on the edge of my seat waiting for a curveball or something out of left field to happen and thinking “what’s going to happen next?” The writing is phenomenal. The plot, the characters, the dialogue, just incredible.
Jaysea, if you ever see this, thank you for creating such an amazing story. I can’t wait to read more.
January 1, 2025
I read this book when the author was still working on writing it, it was on AO3 for a while, I'll be reading it again just to see what editing was done but it was SO GOOD
I have officially finished my reread. As I remember, this book is so good.
I have officially finished my reread. As I remember, this book is so good.
June 13, 2025
5⭐️
Words cannot describe the love I had for this book and the tears that followed when I finished it. This is one of those books that will stick with me for a very long time and I will remember it for years. I am devastated that it's over. 😭
While there was so much to love about this book, the best part (in my opinion) were the characters. At times, things could get confusing mainly because there were so many characters to keep track of, but the individuality and personality of each and every character was so different and everyone was lovable in their own way. Lily and Bel are definitely up there with my most favorite couples of all time. Frankly? Each of them individually could be my favorite FMC's and MMC's of all time. The love that was there? The burning passion? The loving angst and tension? It was all done. SO. FREAKING. WELL! I have never seen two characters love so beautifully and raw and real. THIS is the kind of love that I aim for. To experience that one day? Man, I'd wait a lifetime.
The side characters were just so funny and sweet and the banter in this book was absolutely hilarious. There was not a dull moment in this book AT ALL. Sometimes kids can be a hit or miss for me in book depending on how the author writes them, but Sharkie was lovable from the very start. That seems to be a big thing with not just the main characters but the side ones as well. They were all fiercely loyal and loving and did anything and everything for each other; it felt like a breath of fresh air reading this.
While this book was very character-driven, there were some good and solid background plot points that I think just adding that extra kick to make this book even better. The war and violence going on in the Afterlife was just enough to add more substance and accentuate the themes of love and loyalty for everyone involved. Everything that was written in this book was there for a reason. The only little thing that kind of lost me was the middle of the book dragged a bit and I felt like we were going in circles for a few chapters, but I kinda expected that for this being a 600+ page book. It felt like a little breather between all the action.
This is very minor but I wanted to point it out because it wasn't answered by the end of the book, but I wish we got more on Bel's past relationship with the mortal he was with. She comes up occasionally but it was never addressed between Bel and Lily when it seemed liked a conversation that needed to happen. Still, did not take away from the plot!! I loved it regardless but that's just me being nitpicky.
Overall, I would recommend this book to just about everyone. It has plenty of fantasy elements and the romance was perfectly paced and and it was one of the funniest books I have read in a long time. There is a lot of spice but not nearly enough to take away from the real feelings and emotions that these characters had. Let this be your sign to read this!! I hope everyone who does gets to experience it like I did because it was magical. 🤎
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭:
Picked this up at Barnes the other day and let's just say it hasn't left my brain this is a NEED to read not a want to read 🙂↕️❤️
Words cannot describe the love I had for this book and the tears that followed when I finished it. This is one of those books that will stick with me for a very long time and I will remember it for years. I am devastated that it's over. 😭
While there was so much to love about this book, the best part (in my opinion) were the characters. At times, things could get confusing mainly because there were so many characters to keep track of, but the individuality and personality of each and every character was so different and everyone was lovable in their own way. Lily and Bel are definitely up there with my most favorite couples of all time. Frankly? Each of them individually could be my favorite FMC's and MMC's of all time. The love that was there? The burning passion? The loving angst and tension? It was all done. SO. FREAKING. WELL! I have never seen two characters love so beautifully and raw and real. THIS is the kind of love that I aim for. To experience that one day? Man, I'd wait a lifetime.
The side characters were just so funny and sweet and the banter in this book was absolutely hilarious. There was not a dull moment in this book AT ALL. Sometimes kids can be a hit or miss for me in book depending on how the author writes them, but Sharkie was lovable from the very start. That seems to be a big thing with not just the main characters but the side ones as well. They were all fiercely loyal and loving and did anything and everything for each other; it felt like a breath of fresh air reading this.
While this book was very character-driven, there were some good and solid background plot points that I think just adding that extra kick to make this book even better. The war and violence going on in the Afterlife was just enough to add more substance and accentuate the themes of love and loyalty for everyone involved. Everything that was written in this book was there for a reason. The only little thing that kind of lost me was the middle of the book dragged a bit and I felt like we were going in circles for a few chapters, but I kinda expected that for this being a 600+ page book. It felt like a little breather between all the action.
This is very minor but I wanted to point it out because it wasn't answered by the end of the book, but I wish we got more on Bel's past relationship with the mortal he was with. She comes up occasionally but it was never addressed between Bel and Lily when it seemed liked a conversation that needed to happen. Still, did not take away from the plot!! I loved it regardless but that's just me being nitpicky.
Overall, I would recommend this book to just about everyone. It has plenty of fantasy elements and the romance was perfectly paced and and it was one of the funniest books I have read in a long time. There is a lot of spice but not nearly enough to take away from the real feelings and emotions that these characters had. Let this be your sign to read this!! I hope everyone who does gets to experience it like I did because it was magical. 🤎
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭:
Picked this up at Barnes the other day and let's just say it hasn't left my brain this is a NEED to read not a want to read 🙂↕️❤️
December 30, 2024
A genuine delight and surprise
I knew going in I would love this book. As a big fan of Hells Belles, it was always going to be a book I would fall in love with. The characters feel as well represented as they do in the show, if not more so, and everything about it felt incredible.
What I perhaps wasn’t expecting was for this book to make me cry more than once, and to be written so incredibly well. I would never have assumed this is a first book, and while I know that we may not get more books of the Belles, I would be so happy to read more and more of this world, and of Jaysea’s work.
Incredibly written, incredibly emotive, wonderfully sexy and a damn well paced look into grief, emotion and healing.
Recommended to anyone even slightly interested in fantasy, romance, healthy relationships or found family.
I knew going in I would love this book. As a big fan of Hells Belles, it was always going to be a book I would fall in love with. The characters feel as well represented as they do in the show, if not more so, and everything about it felt incredible.
What I perhaps wasn’t expecting was for this book to make me cry more than once, and to be written so incredibly well. I would never have assumed this is a first book, and while I know that we may not get more books of the Belles, I would be so happy to read more and more of this world, and of Jaysea’s work.
Incredibly written, incredibly emotive, wonderfully sexy and a damn well paced look into grief, emotion and healing.
Recommended to anyone even slightly interested in fantasy, romance, healthy relationships or found family.
June 12, 2025
Did a TWELVE YEAR OLD write this???
🌶️/5 (basic not a smut book just never ending monologue about how horny she is)
CATFISH BOOK WITH CATFISH REVIEWS.
I am flabbergasted by how this has such high reviews
FMC is a so special pick me and immature as hell
I am convinced the author wrote all these Amazon and goodreads reviews herself. The reviews are all similar sounding.
This book is long and nothing happens except she beats up souls with a baseball bat and they play video games
constant mentions of real world titles/books/songs and her previous life
FMC becomes a mom at about 30%. Pregnancy trope in books is a no for me (boring) and her becoming a foster mom is just as boring.
She works customer service in hell. That is the fmc's purpose in this book. 😵💫
I am forcing myself to keep going.
The characters aren't standing out to me. No one that I love
If you have ever read crescent city or throne of glass: you know the bratty smartass-y cussing thing that FMC does to seem cool and intimidating? Yeah. Same thing in this story and it is terrible.
Explain to me how this is a five star read:
“Who would know something about sharks?” he muttered, scrolling through his contacts.
Lily pulled out her own phone. “What mortal souls might still be in the Afterlife who could help?”
“Good thinking. Oh, Angel, she surfs, she might know something…”“
Steve Irwin maybe? Is he still here? Wait, holy shit, documentaries! There’s gotta be some good documentaries about sharks. Heck, I could just watch Shark Week.”
“What’s Shark Week?”
Update: read half. Couldn't finish it, not even skim reading
🌶️/5 (basic not a smut book just never ending monologue about how horny she is)
CATFISH BOOK WITH CATFISH REVIEWS.
I am flabbergasted by how this has such high reviews
FMC is a so special pick me and immature as hell
I am convinced the author wrote all these Amazon and goodreads reviews herself. The reviews are all similar sounding.
This book is long and nothing happens except she beats up souls with a baseball bat and they play video games
constant mentions of real world titles/books/songs and her previous life
FMC becomes a mom at about 30%. Pregnancy trope in books is a no for me (boring) and her becoming a foster mom is just as boring.
She works customer service in hell. That is the fmc's purpose in this book. 😵💫
I am forcing myself to keep going.
The characters aren't standing out to me. No one that I love
If you have ever read crescent city or throne of glass: you know the bratty smartass-y cussing thing that FMC does to seem cool and intimidating? Yeah. Same thing in this story and it is terrible.
Explain to me how this is a five star read:
“Who would know something about sharks?” he muttered, scrolling through his contacts.
Lily pulled out her own phone. “What mortal souls might still be in the Afterlife who could help?”
“Good thinking. Oh, Angel, she surfs, she might know something…”“
Steve Irwin maybe? Is he still here? Wait, holy shit, documentaries! There’s gotta be some good documentaries about sharks. Heck, I could just watch Shark Week.”
“What’s Shark Week?”
Update: read half. Couldn't finish it, not even skim reading
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2025
This is the most infuriating book I have ever read, so much so that I cannot BELIEVE for the life of me the amount of stars this has.
This book is so bad that not even AI could've replicated this, because no amount of intelligence of any kind went into the writing of this book, artificial or not.
Let's start with the plot. Which plot, you may ask? Well, I don't know, I'm still trying to find it after having finished the book. There's a woman that dies, and she starts working in hell (propaganda I'm NEVER falling for: wanting to WORK even after being DEAD. Literal capitalism nightmare, the most american (full offense) bullshit I've ever read on a book), and she falls in love with the most perfect guy, and she's magically a mother because it's the greatest dream of her life, and oh, also theres a war and a conflict but don't worry because it only lasts for about 30 pages of SIX HUNDRED AND FIFTY pages.
Now, the characters. Mary Sue can't even begin to describe our protagonist, because holy HELL. She knows everything (I'm not kidding, the second she acquires a child, she says, WITH HER FULL CHEST: «I studied basic child development and parenting stuff in my spare time». I almost cried.), she's a perfect princess warrior queen, she's the most gorgeous absolute perfect being in the history of the Universe, because OF COURSE she is. She is the embodiment of the "absolutely insufferable female lead of an indie movie" videos, and I wish I was joking, but there's a literal scene where she goes to dance in the rain because she's that quirky and magical.
But don't worry, because the guy... is EXACTLY the same! He knows all, he does everything perfectly, they're the KINDEST, most AMAZING people ever to exist, not a single red flag in sight, but also not a single flag of any color, because they couldn't be more boring and DULL.
Oh, and if you want just a light, comedic book? WRONG BOOK TOO, because it turns out this is the most unfunny book I've had the displeasure of reading, even though a big part of both of the main character's personalities is being witty and funny. I still haven't found either of those in any of the 650 pages.
The only thing this book has offered me at a personal level are an intense headache from rolling my eyes too much, and a sore throat from actually SCREAMING into the book every time it got exasperating (every other page).
This book is so bad that not even AI could've replicated this, because no amount of intelligence of any kind went into the writing of this book, artificial or not.
Let's start with the plot. Which plot, you may ask? Well, I don't know, I'm still trying to find it after having finished the book. There's a woman that dies, and she starts working in hell (propaganda I'm NEVER falling for: wanting to WORK even after being DEAD. Literal capitalism nightmare, the most american (full offense) bullshit I've ever read on a book), and she falls in love with the most perfect guy, and she's magically a mother because it's the greatest dream of her life, and oh, also theres a war and a conflict but don't worry because it only lasts for about 30 pages of SIX HUNDRED AND FIFTY pages.
Now, the characters. Mary Sue can't even begin to describe our protagonist, because holy HELL. She knows everything (I'm not kidding, the second she acquires a child, she says, WITH HER FULL CHEST: «I studied basic child development and parenting stuff in my spare time». I almost cried.), she's a perfect princess warrior queen, she's the most gorgeous absolute perfect being in the history of the Universe, because OF COURSE she is. She is the embodiment of the "absolutely insufferable female lead of an indie movie" videos, and I wish I was joking, but there's a literal scene where she goes to dance in the rain because she's that quirky and magical.
But don't worry, because the guy... is EXACTLY the same! He knows all, he does everything perfectly, they're the KINDEST, most AMAZING people ever to exist, not a single red flag in sight, but also not a single flag of any color, because they couldn't be more boring and DULL.
Oh, and if you want just a light, comedic book? WRONG BOOK TOO, because it turns out this is the most unfunny book I've had the displeasure of reading, even though a big part of both of the main character's personalities is being witty and funny. I still haven't found either of those in any of the 650 pages.
The only thing this book has offered me at a personal level are an intense headache from rolling my eyes too much, and a sore throat from actually SCREAMING into the book every time it got exasperating (every other page).
September 1, 2025
DNF’ing at page 102 cause if i read “nerd wife” and “nerd hubby” one more time im gonna scream
January 20, 2025
This book reads like it was written by a 14 year old. There is no plot to this book at all. Super disappointed as the concept is interesting and could have been done so well, but it went nowhere. I’m dumbfounded at how many good reviews this book has.
January 15, 2025
DNF at 36%
Where to begin. I suspect the amount of crazy 5 star reviews for this book are from tik tok. Crazy pick me vibes. Every person the FMC meets says how special and unique she is and how they’ve never met anyone like her before. I’m not sure there was a character who didn’t mention it to the FMC. Crazy
I got to 36% and nearly nothing had happened by this point except the day-to-day living of this character. I couldn’t even tell you what the conflict/plot is. By 36% it still hadn’t been revealed!
Where to begin. I suspect the amount of crazy 5 star reviews for this book are from tik tok. Crazy pick me vibes. Every person the FMC meets says how special and unique she is and how they’ve never met anyone like her before. I’m not sure there was a character who didn’t mention it to the FMC. Crazy
I got to 36% and nearly nothing had happened by this point except the day-to-day living of this character. I couldn’t even tell you what the conflict/plot is. By 36% it still hadn’t been revealed!
January 7, 2025
700 pages and all I got was a mad case of boredom and a dead woman obsessed with a demon’s tail.
Currently reading
January 3, 2026I’m going to squeeze in this romantasy this month. It’s almost 700 pages but I just love the afterlife setting and demons/mythology and gods. I guess I’m looking for a hellish experience!
January 7, 2026
I feel like I'm the only one not enjoying this book. It feels so awkwardly pieced together. Some parts are eloquent some are immature and mediocre. I'm sad as I had such high hopes and this book really let me down.
October 17, 2025
I've been seeing this book everywhere and decided to give it a chance especially since I'm working towards figuring what I enjoy and don't enjoy in fantasy romance. CW: make sure to check the authors list of content warnings on this one.
For Whom the Belle Tolls is an ambitious book that tackles a breadth of subjects. It's clear that it's written from the perspective of an individual that has struggled with religion and has gone through the process of deconstruction. Conversations about trauma stemming from religion inform how Lily interacts with others and how she perceives the afterlife. Lynn did an excellent job building the immediate world that readers interact with via Lily's work at the helpdesk. However, it's clear that she struggled with worldbuilding that existed outside the scope of Lily's perspective. Bel serves in a "military" of sorts that protects their realm from another, but this aspect of the book wasn't fleshed out well enough. The character development was EXCEPTIONAL and I adored both Bel and Lily as characters. Lynn gives readers insights to their lives, their families, and the relationship they have with each other. The introduction of Sharkie as a character was essentially the cherry on top. Unfortunately, this novel was overstuffed. It's a wonderful cozy fantasy romance with insightful social commentary, but it was entirely too long in the second half. I found my interest waning as another plot point was introduced to readers. If this was edited down by 200-250 pages, it definitely would receive a higher rating from me. Overall, this was a solid read and I enjoyed myself. I'll continue on with the series as they release.
For Whom the Belle Tolls is an ambitious book that tackles a breadth of subjects. It's clear that it's written from the perspective of an individual that has struggled with religion and has gone through the process of deconstruction. Conversations about trauma stemming from religion inform how Lily interacts with others and how she perceives the afterlife. Lynn did an excellent job building the immediate world that readers interact with via Lily's work at the helpdesk. However, it's clear that she struggled with worldbuilding that existed outside the scope of Lily's perspective. Bel serves in a "military" of sorts that protects their realm from another, but this aspect of the book wasn't fleshed out well enough. The character development was EXCEPTIONAL and I adored both Bel and Lily as characters. Lynn gives readers insights to their lives, their families, and the relationship they have with each other. The introduction of Sharkie as a character was essentially the cherry on top. Unfortunately, this novel was overstuffed. It's a wonderful cozy fantasy romance with insightful social commentary, but it was entirely too long in the second half. I found my interest waning as another plot point was introduced to readers. If this was edited down by 200-250 pages, it definitely would receive a higher rating from me. Overall, this was a solid read and I enjoyed myself. I'll continue on with the series as they release.
December 18, 2025
2.75 ★— Rarely has a book been so full of secondhand cringe while remaining just vaguely entertaining enough to keep me reading, like For Whom the Belle Tolls. This book is entirely too long, feels extremely repetitive, and its brand of “quirky humor” mostly made my teeth hurt. I didn’t realize until after finishing that it originated as a series of TikTok videos, and honestly… that explains a lot.
Everything about this book feels oddly clinical and sanitized, like it’s wrapped in a strange protective bubble. The way the story handles trauma, in particular, feels almost too respectful. Every character with emotional baggage is met with the perfect response: the right words, the right insight, the healthiest coping mechanisms imaginable. Someone is struggling, someone gently asks if they’ve considered therapy, they go, and everything progresses in an orderly, emotionally correct way. While none of this is inherently bad, it left very little room for messiness and friction. The best way I can describe it is that it all felt so clean and self-aware that it stopped feeling human.
In general, my entire time reading, it felt like the moment conflict appeared in the story, it was carefully talked through, tied up with a neat little bow, and made to go away (sometimes within the span of a single conversation!). When the book does attempt longer-running conflict, it often relies on unnecessary misunderstandings that are then dragged out for multiple chapters. It's like this book couldn't find a balance in this, leading to everything either being resolved too quickly or stretched out in ways that made me groan.
Like the plot, the characters themselves feel overly neat and curated. Even when they’re meant to be flawed, those flaws are presented in a very controlled, likable way. The main character, in particular, gains a nearly perfect life, a perfect support system, and a perfect moral compass very early on, which made the rest of the book feel like it was meandering without much left to say. After a certain point, the story seemed to revolve mostly around: repetitive sex scenes, an overwhelming number of jokes about how horny the FMC is, and scenes of the heroine meeting famous mythological figures and immediately becoming besties with them. It read exactly like early 2010s self-insert fanfiction, and I do see how people could enjoy that. After all, I did finish the book, so some part of me clearly did. But overall… oof.
Another oof was the humor, which constantly pulled me out of the story. It has a very specific millennial tone that oscillates between self-aware quirkiness and a kind of performative edginess, all “look how cool and righteous I am, but also, look how fun I am. I will kick your ass!”, which just made me roll my eyes.
There’s also a religious trauma element here that, while clearly intended to be cathartic, felt strangely performative to me. Evil characters are punished repeatedly and emphatically for their misdeeds, which I’m sure works for many readers, but to me it came across more like the story congratulating itself for taking the ‘right’ stance than actually exploring its characters or moral tension. Everything about the setting and plot felt like the book was more interested in affirming its own values than in genuinely telling a story with its characters.
Again, one might ask themselves why I read this entire book, if I have so many critiques, and, really, I don't know. Maybe it did touch some inner pre-teen in me, who read self-indulgent fanfiction just like this and enjoyed it once, and the nostalgia of it all pulled me in.
My biggest takeaway of my reading experience is: this was weird, this was kitschy and this was far too long.
Everything about this book feels oddly clinical and sanitized, like it’s wrapped in a strange protective bubble. The way the story handles trauma, in particular, feels almost too respectful. Every character with emotional baggage is met with the perfect response: the right words, the right insight, the healthiest coping mechanisms imaginable. Someone is struggling, someone gently asks if they’ve considered therapy, they go, and everything progresses in an orderly, emotionally correct way. While none of this is inherently bad, it left very little room for messiness and friction. The best way I can describe it is that it all felt so clean and self-aware that it stopped feeling human.
In general, my entire time reading, it felt like the moment conflict appeared in the story, it was carefully talked through, tied up with a neat little bow, and made to go away (sometimes within the span of a single conversation!). When the book does attempt longer-running conflict, it often relies on unnecessary misunderstandings that are then dragged out for multiple chapters. It's like this book couldn't find a balance in this, leading to everything either being resolved too quickly or stretched out in ways that made me groan.
Like the plot, the characters themselves feel overly neat and curated. Even when they’re meant to be flawed, those flaws are presented in a very controlled, likable way. The main character, in particular, gains a nearly perfect life, a perfect support system, and a perfect moral compass very early on, which made the rest of the book feel like it was meandering without much left to say. After a certain point, the story seemed to revolve mostly around: repetitive sex scenes, an overwhelming number of jokes about how horny the FMC is, and scenes of the heroine meeting famous mythological figures and immediately becoming besties with them. It read exactly like early 2010s self-insert fanfiction, and I do see how people could enjoy that. After all, I did finish the book, so some part of me clearly did. But overall… oof.
Another oof was the humor, which constantly pulled me out of the story. It has a very specific millennial tone that oscillates between self-aware quirkiness and a kind of performative edginess, all “look how cool and righteous I am, but also, look how fun I am. I will kick your ass!”, which just made me roll my eyes.
There’s also a religious trauma element here that, while clearly intended to be cathartic, felt strangely performative to me. Evil characters are punished repeatedly and emphatically for their misdeeds, which I’m sure works for many readers, but to me it came across more like the story congratulating itself for taking the ‘right’ stance than actually exploring its characters or moral tension. Everything about the setting and plot felt like the book was more interested in affirming its own values than in genuinely telling a story with its characters.
Again, one might ask themselves why I read this entire book, if I have so many critiques, and, really, I don't know. Maybe it did touch some inner pre-teen in me, who read self-indulgent fanfiction just like this and enjoyed it once, and the nostalgia of it all pulled me in.
My biggest takeaway of my reading experience is: this was weird, this was kitschy and this was far too long.
April 22, 2025
Reads like someone wrote this the summer heading into high school. all the 5 star reviews are sus. Annoyed I wasted an Audible credit.
August 16, 2025
if i had to read “big boy” one more time i’m pretty sure my eyes would have fallen from head
May 30, 2025
Oof. This is not for me. It reads like blog fan fiction; and not the good kind. I am shocked at some of these other reviews, because yikes.
I tried.
I tried.
April 7, 2025
The beginning had me really interested. Such a unique world that was poorly executed, unfortunately by poor writing. Pushed to get halfway through and couldn’t stand the characters and how flat the world felt.
August 29, 2025
Hmmmm, maybe this just wasn't my thing! 🤔DNF at page 187. Here are some of my thoughts.
I was very interested for the first 100 pages, and then the plot started to get redundant and fall flat. I am a big fan of dialogue-driven books, but holy smokes, there was a lot of empty talking in this. The hummer also felt a little forced and unrealistic.
The characters weren't really my favorite either. Their personality didn't really make sense to me. The romance also felt messy and awkward. 🫤
I was very interested for the first 100 pages, and then the plot started to get redundant and fall flat. I am a big fan of dialogue-driven books, but holy smokes, there was a lot of empty talking in this. The hummer also felt a little forced and unrealistic.
The characters weren't really my favorite either. Their personality didn't really make sense to me. The romance also felt messy and awkward. 🫤
February 8, 2026
Ok so not all souls, just the one.
The first half was really good, I got a little out of it/exhausted in the second half... I think it could have been about 100 pages less (you can tell by the way I have no highlights after the 61% mark lol).
Still, a very good read and I LOVE ALL THE CHARACTERS, the story was funny and sad.
It's also a debut! Like what?!
It's technically a standalone, but also there will probably be more books in this world.
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This book takes place in Hell, and the souls work in customer service. I am sat.
The first half was really good, I got a little out of it/exhausted in the second half... I think it could have been about 100 pages less (you can tell by the way I have no highlights after the 61% mark lol).
Still, a very good read and I LOVE ALL THE CHARACTERS, the story was funny and sad.
It's also a debut! Like what?!
It's technically a standalone, but also there will probably be more books in this world.
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This book takes place in Hell, and the souls work in customer service. I am sat.
July 24, 2025
This was over 600 pages and I need 600 more!
April 4, 2025
Noped out at about 15%.
The concept is interesting, but after the FMC’s first interaction with a “customer,” I knew I wouldn’t enjoy the book. She is given instant kudos from the boys upstairs for how she handled things, which felt like the author telling me that I should be impressed, too, but I wasn’t. In my opinion, she didn’t handle it particularly well. Maybe I’m way off base here, but the presence of a baseball bat at a help desk wouldn’t exactly calm me down or promote any feelings of reassurance, which is what she’s trying to accomplish. And why would she even need it? Can a person die or be injured when they’re already dead and in hell? Maybe it’s explained later, but this book just doesn’t have a strong enough beginning to warrant reading the entire thing.
The star rating is suspiciously high and unbelievable, and that should have been enough of a clue for me to give it a wide berth, but I guess I’ve learned something at least.
The concept is interesting, but after the FMC’s first interaction with a “customer,” I knew I wouldn’t enjoy the book. She is given instant kudos from the boys upstairs for how she handled things, which felt like the author telling me that I should be impressed, too, but I wasn’t. In my opinion, she didn’t handle it particularly well. Maybe I’m way off base here, but the presence of a baseball bat at a help desk wouldn’t exactly calm me down or promote any feelings of reassurance, which is what she’s trying to accomplish. And why would she even need it? Can a person die or be injured when they’re already dead and in hell? Maybe it’s explained later, but this book just doesn’t have a strong enough beginning to warrant reading the entire thing.
The star rating is suspiciously high and unbelievable, and that should have been enough of a clue for me to give it a wide berth, but I guess I’ve learned something at least.
May 14, 2025
As of May 2025, this book has near perfect reviews...and I didn't really like it ugh.
It's a self help book disguised as a fantasy book. Every mental health buzz word is in this book. You've got boundary setting, consistent asking for consent, safe spaces, safe words. Every healthy habit - this one character has it. This probably sounds bad but it made it so boring and exhausting! I like messy characters who screw up and have to rebuild trust. She was only 34 when she died but somehow she'd mastered all these emotional intelligence skills. She said she's worried about being a parent to Sharkie but then literally does everything perfectly.
I had a chuckle when I saw this author is from the PNW. This book is so Portland! It's listed as a romantasy series but I think it really falls into that cozy fantasy genre. I had the same problem with this book that I did with The Undermining of Twyla and Frank. I don't like all this domestic life in my fantasy books. I don't want to read about cleaning and cooking. They go to trivia night and play video games and like its cute but so boring. It really needed some trimming. I started skimming at points because the conversations got repetitive.
It's a cool concept but needs more fleshing out. What stumped me is the demons are mortal in this universe so why aren't there good and bad demons? When they die, they say they become part of the universe. How do they know that? Why wouldn't there be some afterlife thing for them? Why weren't mortal souls helping during the war?
I assume the next book is about Greg. Maybe if it's under 350 pages I'll read it but probably not.
It's a self help book disguised as a fantasy book. Every mental health buzz word is in this book. You've got boundary setting, consistent asking for consent, safe spaces, safe words. Every healthy habit - this one character has it. This probably sounds bad but it made it so boring and exhausting! I like messy characters who screw up and have to rebuild trust. She was only 34 when she died but somehow she'd mastered all these emotional intelligence skills. She said she's worried about being a parent to Sharkie but then literally does everything perfectly.
I had a chuckle when I saw this author is from the PNW. This book is so Portland! It's listed as a romantasy series but I think it really falls into that cozy fantasy genre. I had the same problem with this book that I did with The Undermining of Twyla and Frank. I don't like all this domestic life in my fantasy books. I don't want to read about cleaning and cooking. They go to trivia night and play video games and like its cute but so boring. It really needed some trimming. I started skimming at points because the conversations got repetitive.
It's a cool concept but needs more fleshing out. What stumped me is the demons are mortal in this universe so why aren't there good and bad demons? When they die, they say they become part of the universe. How do they know that? Why wouldn't there be some afterlife thing for them? Why weren't mortal souls helping during the war?
I assume the next book is about Greg. Maybe if it's under 350 pages I'll read it but probably not.
June 29, 2025
DNF on page 135. I’m struggling to get through this. Not much is really happening. I do like some of the characters, but I don’t care enough to finish it. Glad others liked it though.
January 7, 2025
An excellently written book with fantastic world building. However, just not the direction I thought it was going to go toward.
Potential spoilers below.
Lily dies and goes to the afterlife. She is judged as not needing to go to ‘hell’ and gets her own paradise. The afterlife has all other realms that different religions believe in. Eg heaven and Valhalla. Lily chooses to see what hell is all about, and ends up befriending the demons and makes a job for herself helping them herd the nastier spirits.
The first half of this book was fantastic, 10/10 recommend.
The second half was such a pain for me. Lily meets a demon and falls in love. She then adopts a child (another soul) who has significant trauma from her life. That’s all well and good, but the whole focus of the second half of the book was Lily and her demon wishing they could have their own child. Like hello?? You adopted a child?? You already love that child like your own?? Souls aren’t living, therefore they can’t procreate, I get it. However, I personally cannot deal with stories that revolve around infertility. Especially when there’s this kick ass world going on and a war… a war that gets glossed over.
Don’t even get me started on that piss poor rushed ending.
Therefore, beautifully done, lots of potential. Just not for me.
Potential spoilers below.
Lily dies and goes to the afterlife. She is judged as not needing to go to ‘hell’ and gets her own paradise. The afterlife has all other realms that different religions believe in. Eg heaven and Valhalla. Lily chooses to see what hell is all about, and ends up befriending the demons and makes a job for herself helping them herd the nastier spirits.
The first half of this book was fantastic, 10/10 recommend.
The second half was such a pain for me. Lily meets a demon and falls in love. She then adopts a child (another soul) who has significant trauma from her life. That’s all well and good, but the whole focus of the second half of the book was Lily and her demon wishing they could have their own child. Like hello?? You adopted a child?? You already love that child like your own?? Souls aren’t living, therefore they can’t procreate, I get it. However, I personally cannot deal with stories that revolve around infertility. Especially when there’s this kick ass world going on and a war… a war that gets glossed over.
Don’t even get me started on that piss poor rushed ending.
Therefore, beautifully done, lots of potential. Just not for me.
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