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200 Monas
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25 copies available
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One tiny pill. The promise of a mind-blowing orgasm. Are you coming?
What if there was a pill that gave you the most intense sexual release of your life – would you take it?
On the brink of graduation, Arvy Keening is ready for her life to begin. The problem? She just found 200 pills in her recently-deceased mother’s closet.
When two drug dealers come to collect, they reveal that the pills are Monas – a rare pharmaceutical that induces life-changing orgasms. Arvy gets an sell 200 Monas in 48 hours or die.
After recruiting Wolf, a (devastatingly hot) local dealer, Arvy and Wolf barrel through town, appealing to horny students, lonely barflies, and a mysterious sorority, all the while Arvy tries to repress a maelstrom of grief that’s welling up inside.
Can Arvy and Wolf sell the drugs and save Arvy’s life? Or will the Monas rock Arvy to her core in more ways than one?
What if there was a pill that gave you the most intense sexual release of your life – would you take it?
On the brink of graduation, Arvy Keening is ready for her life to begin. The problem? She just found 200 pills in her recently-deceased mother’s closet.
When two drug dealers come to collect, they reveal that the pills are Monas – a rare pharmaceutical that induces life-changing orgasms. Arvy gets an sell 200 Monas in 48 hours or die.
After recruiting Wolf, a (devastatingly hot) local dealer, Arvy and Wolf barrel through town, appealing to horny students, lonely barflies, and a mysterious sorority, all the while Arvy tries to repress a maelstrom of grief that’s welling up inside.
Can Arvy and Wolf sell the drugs and save Arvy’s life? Or will the Monas rock Arvy to her core in more ways than one?
Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
November 14, 2025
a h0rny car crash, in the most additive, can’t-put-down kind of way.
November 8, 2025
This one wasn’t for me, but I do think others would enjoy it. Just not what I was expecting. This is a story about a girl who accidentally inherits 200 hits of “Mona”- a drug that gives women intense orgasms. She is working with the campus drug dealer and trying to unload these so she isn’t killed by the cartel that comes after. I was interested in her grieving process and how she reconciled who her mother was, who apparently died of suicide. For me, I got a bit uncomfortable with the overtly sexual content when the characters used the drug. I wanted to know more about Wolf and his relationship with rose. That said, I do think that others may really enjoy. The writing style is very strong for a young main character (early 20’s).
Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown for the ARC. Book to be published 3/3/26
Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown for the ARC. Book to be published 3/3/26
November 6, 2025
not sure how much i'm allowed to say about this one FIVE MONTHS OUT FROM PUBLICATION but this. in my eyes, this is a perfect book. oh my god. i will never be over it. i wanted to start it over right when i finished it. incredible!!!
August 9, 2025
Read this on my flight to Mexico City, the perfect fast paced read! So fun and so accurate to picture it as a movie while reading
December 12, 2025
I predict this debut-novel will be a bestseller and I think it is going to appeal big-time to those who love All Fours and Bunny. Seems Amazon MGM has already acquired the film rights, not sure how they are going to make this true to the book without it garnering an X-rating, but I look forward to seeing what they do with it.
The book's premise is excellent, the execution, meh. I did want to like it more than I did because there were mad-cap elements along with interesting characters, things I always do enjoy in a story but the story itself, despite the clever premise, was so very, very predictable. I was able to anticipate pretty much every twist and turn; maybe others won't. But the one thing that, unfortunately, sticks with me most is the lack of empathy Arvy has regarding Shelly, which makes me kind of hate her (no spoilers, you will have to read the book, then tell me if you disagree).
Disclosure: Received an uncorrected ARC of this book from NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company/Hachette Book Group (Thank you!) in exchange for an honest review.
The book's premise is excellent, the execution, meh. I did want to like it more than I did because there were mad-cap elements along with interesting characters, things I always do enjoy in a story but the story itself, despite the clever premise, was so very, very predictable. I was able to anticipate pretty much every twist and turn; maybe others won't. But the one thing that, unfortunately, sticks with me most is the lack of empathy Arvy has regarding Shelly, which makes me kind of hate her (no spoilers, you will have to read the book, then tell me if you disagree).
Disclosure: Received an uncorrected ARC of this book from NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company/Hachette Book Group (Thank you!) in exchange for an honest review.
November 19, 2025
A feral little firecracker of a debut, this reads like someone spiked a grief novel with jet fuel and bad decisions. Saenz delivers a wild, sweat-slick, slightly cringy romp that never pretends to be respectable, and is all the better for it.
To the unbothered, lusty perverts who buckle in without a single clarifying question— my people— the ride is fast, unrepentant, and exactly what I came for. May it also scratch that itch for you.
To the unbothered, lusty perverts who buckle in without a single clarifying question— my people— the ride is fast, unrepentant, and exactly what I came for. May it also scratch that itch for you.
September 20, 2025
Wow, this book was a wild ride I never expected. I couldn’t believe the chaos that occurred in a matter of days for poor Arvy. I was laughing at many parts of this book and my jaw dropped in shock at others. Wolf’s character was pretty interesting and I love the relationship between the two of them. This book is not your average thrilling read. It’s sexy, silly, and suspenseful.. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 2, 2025
Thank you to Barnes & Noble for the ARC!
A real struggle to get through for me tbh. It starts strong, introducing heavy themes of grief and mental illness and loved ones keep secrets alongside talk of sex and orgasms and party drugs. I was eager for the knitting of the two of them together, those two wildly dissimilar concepts, of expressions of grief being compared to orgasm, and I guess I sort of got that? But the way it comes about is so…I’m not holding a full scarf after finishing it, just scraps of yarn.
There’s a nugget of genuine brilliance in here, but it doesn’t quite realize its potential, getting bogged down with over-the-top characters in Pete Francis & Marge, Len, and dear god Rose. The main characters do have genuine chemistry, and some of their dialogue is incredibly well-written and compelling (shout out to the post-theatre party fight, it felt realistically messy in a great way), but Wolf’s story is woefully incomplete and he also flips between the archetypal Sad Boy and the archetypal Horny Bad Boy on a whim, sometimes completely mismatching the tone of the scene he’s in.
Arvy is mercifully consistent, and her segues between horny and sad are explained well. She’s a hot mess, trying to cerebralize something that is entirely emotional and needs to be felt. It’s a good angle for a scientist, though I wish it had been explored more that she’s kind of a genius at biochem? Though I like where she ends up! Bright future, learned a lot about herself and her own power, I just wish the novel ended on her final voicemail. The fluff that comes after was unnecessary and drags the focus away from her.
I also, unfortunately, was not the biggest fan of the prose. It randomly swaps between functional language and some of the purplest prose I’ve ever read, which runs entirely counter to Arvy’s more scientific mind. Ironically, the writing is at its best in the pseudo-sex scenes, which makes them stand out in a good way among the tonally confused scenes the likes of the first meeting with Pete Francis & Marge, Wolf trying to confess to Arvy what he did, and the feminist volcel cult party.
All in all, good for some smut with a half-baked plot constructed around it, I wish it had tried harder to draw parallels between grief and orgasms, though I do appreciate the ending monologue paying lip service to the fact that taking Mona is like grief in that they’re both uncontrolled and all-consuming. Needed a bit longer in the oven to draw them closer together and actually say the quiet part out loud if the tone of every other scene is over-the-top slapstick comedy.
A real struggle to get through for me tbh. It starts strong, introducing heavy themes of grief and mental illness and loved ones keep secrets alongside talk of sex and orgasms and party drugs. I was eager for the knitting of the two of them together, those two wildly dissimilar concepts, of expressions of grief being compared to orgasm, and I guess I sort of got that? But the way it comes about is so…I’m not holding a full scarf after finishing it, just scraps of yarn.
There’s a nugget of genuine brilliance in here, but it doesn’t quite realize its potential, getting bogged down with over-the-top characters in Pete Francis & Marge, Len, and dear god Rose. The main characters do have genuine chemistry, and some of their dialogue is incredibly well-written and compelling (shout out to the post-theatre party fight, it felt realistically messy in a great way), but Wolf’s story is woefully incomplete and he also flips between the archetypal Sad Boy and the archetypal Horny Bad Boy on a whim, sometimes completely mismatching the tone of the scene he’s in.
Arvy is mercifully consistent, and her segues between horny and sad are explained well. She’s a hot mess, trying to cerebralize something that is entirely emotional and needs to be felt. It’s a good angle for a scientist, though I wish it had been explored more that she’s kind of a genius at biochem? Though I like where she ends up! Bright future, learned a lot about herself and her own power, I just wish the novel ended on her final voicemail. The fluff that comes after was unnecessary and drags the focus away from her.
I also, unfortunately, was not the biggest fan of the prose. It randomly swaps between functional language and some of the purplest prose I’ve ever read, which runs entirely counter to Arvy’s more scientific mind. Ironically, the writing is at its best in the pseudo-sex scenes, which makes them stand out in a good way among the tonally confused scenes the likes of the first meeting with Pete Francis & Marge, Wolf trying to confess to Arvy what he did, and the feminist volcel cult party.
All in all, good for some smut with a half-baked plot constructed around it, I wish it had tried harder to draw parallels between grief and orgasms, though I do appreciate the ending monologue paying lip service to the fact that taking Mona is like grief in that they’re both uncontrolled and all-consuming. Needed a bit longer in the oven to draw them closer together and actually say the quiet part out loud if the tone of every other scene is over-the-top slapstick comedy.
October 28, 2025
SO GOOD!!!! I could not put this book down for a second. It was fast paced, funny, emotional, and 🔥🔥🔥 literally everything you could want in a book. Could’ve done without the Shelley of it all but I’m willing to look past it. I feel so lucky I got to read this as an ARC. Everyone mark your calendars!!!
January 9, 2026
Thank you to the team at Little, Brown and Company for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Arvy Keening is fucked. Not only is she 3 finals away from the end of her college career and the start of her new life in San Francisco, but she's now saddled with selling the drugs she found in her dead mother's closet. She has 48 hours to rid herself of 200 Monas- a rare, orgasm-inducing drug- or the dealers who sold her mother the Monas will kill her. Thankfully, she's got Wolf, Weistheimer University's sexiest and most well-connected drug dealer, to help her out. The story follows the duo as they sell, suck, and stumble their way through Westheimer and its clientele. Ranging from skeptical sorority sister to the higher-ups of the town, Arvy and Wolf have their work cut out for them.
200 Monas is a solid debut novel. While the blurb compares it to the likes of Phoebe-Waller Bridge and Miranda July, I believe a more apt comparison would be to the movie Booksmart or a collegiate version of Uncut Gems. This movie is uniquely bursting with youthful, playful energy similar to that of Booksmart, while having some of the high-stakes tension of Uncut Gems. This novel also has moments of tenderness and heart, especially when discussing themes of loss, grief, and mental health. That being said, there were definitely issues with pacing, repetitive scenes and dialogue, and the novel did take a slight narrative turn that made the ending feel uneven and certain plot points were rushed.
Between the story that feeds the current appetite for sexy, snappy, and suspenseful narratives to the already penned deal with Amazon for the screen rights, I believe 200 Monas will be one of the hotter books of the year. and I will definitely be keeping my eye on Jan Saenz's future work!
Arvy Keening is fucked. Not only is she 3 finals away from the end of her college career and the start of her new life in San Francisco, but she's now saddled with selling the drugs she found in her dead mother's closet. She has 48 hours to rid herself of 200 Monas- a rare, orgasm-inducing drug- or the dealers who sold her mother the Monas will kill her. Thankfully, she's got Wolf, Weistheimer University's sexiest and most well-connected drug dealer, to help her out. The story follows the duo as they sell, suck, and stumble their way through Westheimer and its clientele. Ranging from skeptical sorority sister to the higher-ups of the town, Arvy and Wolf have their work cut out for them.
200 Monas is a solid debut novel. While the blurb compares it to the likes of Phoebe-Waller Bridge and Miranda July, I believe a more apt comparison would be to the movie Booksmart or a collegiate version of Uncut Gems. This movie is uniquely bursting with youthful, playful energy similar to that of Booksmart, while having some of the high-stakes tension of Uncut Gems. This novel also has moments of tenderness and heart, especially when discussing themes of loss, grief, and mental health. That being said, there were definitely issues with pacing, repetitive scenes and dialogue, and the novel did take a slight narrative turn that made the ending feel uneven and certain plot points were rushed.
Between the story that feeds the current appetite for sexy, snappy, and suspenseful narratives to the already penned deal with Amazon for the screen rights, I believe 200 Monas will be one of the hotter books of the year. and I will definitely be keeping my eye on Jan Saenz's future work!
July 17, 2025
Literally so awesome and thrilling and unique and funny can’t wait for this to come out so I can read again
December 29, 2025
200 Monas - 4 stars. ⭐️
I enjoyed this SO very much. It was such an interesting and truly unique concept for a book. 200 Monas tackled some hard topics such as grief and drug use, in a fun but respectful way which is really hard to do.
This was a fast paced, exciting book that had me turning pages at RAPID speed! This is one of those books that has the romance factor, but it has so much more as well. It read like a rom com / action movie and I adored it.
Arvy is such a brilliant FMC. She was funny and so charismatic. Wolf was brilliant, flirty and such a fun MMC. I feel, as this was a single POV book, we didn’t get too much of insight into the MMC; I’d have LOVED a Wolf POV!
There are some absolutely terrifying and hilarious characters in this (looking at you Francis Pete) and some characters you just want to wrap up and give them a big hug!
I would highly recommend this book. So entertaining, clever and a unique one of a kind concept.
Thankyou SO much to Harper Fiction and Jan Saenz for this gifted proof copy. So grateful and SO glad I got to round off my 2025 reads with such a fantastic book.
I enjoyed this SO very much. It was such an interesting and truly unique concept for a book. 200 Monas tackled some hard topics such as grief and drug use, in a fun but respectful way which is really hard to do.
This was a fast paced, exciting book that had me turning pages at RAPID speed! This is one of those books that has the romance factor, but it has so much more as well. It read like a rom com / action movie and I adored it.
Arvy is such a brilliant FMC. She was funny and so charismatic. Wolf was brilliant, flirty and such a fun MMC. I feel, as this was a single POV book, we didn’t get too much of insight into the MMC; I’d have LOVED a Wolf POV!
There are some absolutely terrifying and hilarious characters in this (looking at you Francis Pete) and some characters you just want to wrap up and give them a big hug!
I would highly recommend this book. So entertaining, clever and a unique one of a kind concept.
Thankyou SO much to Harper Fiction and Jan Saenz for this gifted proof copy. So grateful and SO glad I got to round off my 2025 reads with such a fantastic book.
January 22, 2026
Thank you to Jan Saenz and HarperCollins UK / HarperFiction for giving me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book left me staring at the wall more than once, whispering, “What in the name of Jesus H Christ is this?”
I genuinely underestimated how strange and unsettling 200 Monas would be. The premise sounded intriguing, even promising, but the execution veers sharply into deeply uncomfortable psychological territory. This reads less like a traditional novel and more like a manifesto of obsession, one that deliberately refuses to guide or comfort the reader.
While I can appreciate the ambition and the commitment to its vision, this was ultimately not for me. The narrative felt oppressive rather than engaging, and the experience leaned more toward endurance than enjoyment.
That said, readers who enjoy experimental fiction and intense psychological explorations may find this compelling. It’s bold, strange, and undeniably memorable. Just… not a pleasant ride.
This book left me staring at the wall more than once, whispering, “What in the name of Jesus H Christ is this?”
I genuinely underestimated how strange and unsettling 200 Monas would be. The premise sounded intriguing, even promising, but the execution veers sharply into deeply uncomfortable psychological territory. This reads less like a traditional novel and more like a manifesto of obsession, one that deliberately refuses to guide or comfort the reader.
While I can appreciate the ambition and the commitment to its vision, this was ultimately not for me. The narrative felt oppressive rather than engaging, and the experience leaned more toward endurance than enjoyment.
That said, readers who enjoy experimental fiction and intense psychological explorations may find this compelling. It’s bold, strange, and undeniably memorable. Just… not a pleasant ride.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
˖°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ . 𝟮𝟬𝟬 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘀 ˖°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ .
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Literary fiction
𝗟𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵: 360 pages
• 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗱𝘆
• 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴-𝗼𝗳-𝗮𝗴𝗲
• 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲
• 𝗛𝗼𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝘂𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗿
• 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀
• 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳
We follow Arvy, who has just lost her mother. She discovers leftover pills in her mom's belongings. She must sell them within 48 hours, or there will be consequences. She embarks on a journey to find out what the pills are, accompanied by a hot local dealer who is emotionally distant and may be able to assist her, but only for a price... She doesn't understand the impact these pills have on those who use them until she experiences it herself...
𝗠𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 💭
The idea was different from anything I had read before, and it pleasantly surprised me. I was completely hooked and felt like I was on the journey with the main character. If you enjoy literary fiction and a quick-paced story that grabs your attention right from the prologue, along with a wild and youthful adventure, then you'll love this.
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Literary fiction
𝗟𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵: 360 pages
• 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗱𝘆
• 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴-𝗼𝗳-𝗮𝗴𝗲
• 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲
• 𝗛𝗼𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝘂𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗿
• 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀
• 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳
We follow Arvy, who has just lost her mother. She discovers leftover pills in her mom's belongings. She must sell them within 48 hours, or there will be consequences. She embarks on a journey to find out what the pills are, accompanied by a hot local dealer who is emotionally distant and may be able to assist her, but only for a price... She doesn't understand the impact these pills have on those who use them until she experiences it herself...
𝗠𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 💭
The idea was different from anything I had read before, and it pleasantly surprised me. I was completely hooked and felt like I was on the journey with the main character. If you enjoy literary fiction and a quick-paced story that grabs your attention right from the prologue, along with a wild and youthful adventure, then you'll love this.
November 11, 2025
4.25 stars
cw: grief, depression, death of a parent (mother) by implied suicide
ohh very wacky but ultimately a fun ride. I really liked the characters and the writing, can’t wait to read more from this author !
cw: grief, depression, death of a parent (mother) by implied suicide
ohh very wacky but ultimately a fun ride. I really liked the characters and the writing, can’t wait to read more from this author !
January 29, 2026
This was insane. I have no idea how to describe it but it took over my brain for 3 days straight
November 9, 2025
2 stars
This book sounded like something I'd love. A frenetic quest, complicated feelings, a comparison to Phoebe Waller-Bridge... and _Breaking Bad_? I'm here for it...in theory. In practice, I had a lot of challenges with this read.
Arvy is a great character at the start, and she's going through a lot. She's at the end of her college experience, about to move to San Francisco, and suddenly dealing with the mysterious death of her mother, who was a true character by all accounts. This is already too much, but when she learns her mother has left behind an unsold stash of drugs and that she must sell them in 48 hours or pay serious consequences, things go from tough to unmanageable.
One element of this book I really enjoyed is the treatment of grief. It's handled in a pretty innovative way, and despite some real reading struggles, I appreciated this part a lot.
What is supposed to be dark humor often came off as just dark and over-the-top for me. If you, like me, have a real sensitivity to animal harm, get into some further content about this book before you jump in. There is a running situation that surrounds this motif, and runs all the way through the book. I didn't need to know about it. I especially didn't need to see it turn into a kind of punchline. Less funny? Sexual assault and exploitation. This titular drug is supposed to give the user the best orgasm of their lives. Imagine what happens to people when they are on it...especially but not exclusively in public. There is also some really terrible conversation and promised activity that is...too much. This is not the most graphic content I've ever encountered - not even close, actually - but the attempt at incorporating some level of humor around it? That is not for me at all.
A significant part of my work and volunteer life has to do with college students and their personal safety, so I am definitely attuned to these issues: maybe more so than some readers who are not encountering these realities constantly. This grossed me out.
Now. If you are not bothered by any of these issues, I actually recommend you jump into this. There's a good concept and some interesting writing happening, and I feel that way enough that despite my experience with this book, I'd absolutely give this author another shot.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
This book sounded like something I'd love. A frenetic quest, complicated feelings, a comparison to Phoebe Waller-Bridge... and _Breaking Bad_? I'm here for it...in theory. In practice, I had a lot of challenges with this read.
Arvy is a great character at the start, and she's going through a lot. She's at the end of her college experience, about to move to San Francisco, and suddenly dealing with the mysterious death of her mother, who was a true character by all accounts. This is already too much, but when she learns her mother has left behind an unsold stash of drugs and that she must sell them in 48 hours or pay serious consequences, things go from tough to unmanageable.
One element of this book I really enjoyed is the treatment of grief. It's handled in a pretty innovative way, and despite some real reading struggles, I appreciated this part a lot.
What is supposed to be dark humor often came off as just dark and over-the-top for me. If you, like me, have a real sensitivity to animal harm, get into some further content about this book before you jump in. There is a running situation that surrounds this motif, and runs all the way through the book. I didn't need to know about it. I especially didn't need to see it turn into a kind of punchline. Less funny? Sexual assault and exploitation. This titular drug is supposed to give the user the best orgasm of their lives. Imagine what happens to people when they are on it...especially but not exclusively in public. There is also some really terrible conversation and promised activity that is...too much. This is not the most graphic content I've ever encountered - not even close, actually - but the attempt at incorporating some level of humor around it? That is not for me at all.
A significant part of my work and volunteer life has to do with college students and their personal safety, so I am definitely attuned to these issues: maybe more so than some readers who are not encountering these realities constantly. This grossed me out.
Now. If you are not bothered by any of these issues, I actually recommend you jump into this. There's a good concept and some interesting writing happening, and I feel that way enough that despite my experience with this book, I'd absolutely give this author another shot.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, in exchange for an unbiased review.
This book had SO much potential as a comedic satire. The first few chapters actually made me laugh out loud. A college senior, during finals week, is grieving the recent loss of her mother. While cleaning out her mom's closet, she finds a stash of rare "super orgasm" pills that her mom was dealing, and her mom's psycho supplier demands she sell all the drugs and repay him $10,000 before midnight the next day. Hilarity ensues with sex satire, college hijinks, and drug-induced mayhem.
But this book went completely off the rails.
Problems:
1. At the 70% mark, just when it seemed the "48 hours to sell the drugs or die" romp was finishing up, this book became another, then ANOTHER entirely DIFFERENT book. First, we are tortured with endless dull chapters about a women-only mentoring society, which have little or nothing to do with the actual "sell the orgasm drugs" plot. Then we're subjected to a borderline soft-corn pr0n novel (and not even GOOD soft-core). I mean seriously, what happened here? Was this book supposed to be a short story, and the author was forced to elongate it to novel-length?
2. Too many characters, and waaaaay over-the-top. We have: Arvy, the FMC; Wolf, the MMC; Arvy's aunt Jean; random drug users/dealers like Francis Pete, Marge, Len, Chanel, Betty Jo, Adele, and Rose; all the townies including Bea, Chad, Imogen; and several others I have utterly forgotten.
3. Just bad sex scenes. And way too many of them for a supposed "satire." This book couldn't decide if it was a bad blue romance or an actual satirical novel.
4. So much editing was needed here. This book should have been a short story. I had to force myself through the slog of the 2nd half.
5. The random, unnecessary animal cruelty, and its use as the closing punchline of the book, is...problematic. It doesn't speak highly of the author.
6. The characters are just not believable, and do not make believable decisions. In no world would Arvy refuse to take a pill in front of the sorority girls, with all that's at stake; and then it makes no sense that a few hours later she'd turn around and take one as a SLEEP AID. Francis Pete was not remotely amusing or endearing, though it's obvious the author believes he's a clever creation; nothing Wolf does makes logical sense for his character.
It sucks that my final read of 2025 is a hate read. Onto 2026!
This book had SO much potential as a comedic satire. The first few chapters actually made me laugh out loud. A college senior, during finals week, is grieving the recent loss of her mother. While cleaning out her mom's closet, she finds a stash of rare "super orgasm" pills that her mom was dealing, and her mom's psycho supplier demands she sell all the drugs and repay him $10,000 before midnight the next day. Hilarity ensues with sex satire, college hijinks, and drug-induced mayhem.
But this book went completely off the rails.
Problems:
1. At the 70% mark, just when it seemed the "48 hours to sell the drugs or die" romp was finishing up, this book became another, then ANOTHER entirely DIFFERENT book. First, we are tortured with endless dull chapters about a women-only mentoring society, which have little or nothing to do with the actual "sell the orgasm drugs" plot. Then we're subjected to a borderline soft-corn pr0n novel (and not even GOOD soft-core). I mean seriously, what happened here? Was this book supposed to be a short story, and the author was forced to elongate it to novel-length?
2. Too many characters, and waaaaay over-the-top. We have: Arvy, the FMC; Wolf, the MMC; Arvy's aunt Jean; random drug users/dealers like Francis Pete, Marge, Len, Chanel, Betty Jo, Adele, and Rose; all the townies including Bea, Chad, Imogen; and several others I have utterly forgotten.
3. Just bad sex scenes. And way too many of them for a supposed "satire." This book couldn't decide if it was a bad blue romance or an actual satirical novel.
4. So much editing was needed here. This book should have been a short story. I had to force myself through the slog of the 2nd half.
5. The random, unnecessary animal cruelty, and its use as the closing punchline of the book, is...problematic. It doesn't speak highly of the author.
6. The characters are just not believable, and do not make believable decisions. In no world would Arvy refuse to take a pill in front of the sorority girls, with all that's at stake; and then it makes no sense that a few hours later she'd turn around and take one as a SLEEP AID. Francis Pete was not remotely amusing or endearing, though it's obvious the author believes he's a clever creation; nothing Wolf does makes logical sense for his character.
It sucks that my final read of 2025 is a hate read. Onto 2026!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Arvy is a college senior who recently lost her mother to ‘the funk’. It’s while she’s in her deceased mother’s closet clearing out the last of their belongings that she stumbles upon a bag of 200 mysterious pills called Monas. Two drug dealers appear at Arvy’s front door, threatening her life if the 200 pills aren’t shifted in the next 48 hours. With nowhere else to turn, she contacts endearing local drug dealer Wolf to help her offload the pills so she can move on with her life.
Arvy is an interesting character to follow. She’s clearly in a place of motion - no longer settled in the place she’s always known but also not quite beginning the next stage of her life yet either. As a reader, it’s easy to imagine the discomfort this limbo brings, considering too her waning mental health as well as the immense distress from the threat to her life.
Throughout the novel, Arvy and Wolf’s relationship fluctuates from flirty friendship to dependent coworkers to something far more intimate and raunchy. The sexy scenes, both between the two of them and Arvy alone, are explicit and at times unnerving due to, in my opinion, the blurring lines of consent and bodily autonomy. What I imagine was meant to come across as sexual liberation instead to me read as a loss of control, which felt a little icky.
Overall, 200 Monas is a sweat-slick romp that’s part romance, part erotic thriller. The looming deadline to sell the pills combined with the unsettling personas of so many of the characters resulted in an unhinged, experimental tale. Because of this, it was also a very fast-paced read and addictive in all the best ways.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the gifted ARC for review.
Arvy is an interesting character to follow. She’s clearly in a place of motion - no longer settled in the place she’s always known but also not quite beginning the next stage of her life yet either. As a reader, it’s easy to imagine the discomfort this limbo brings, considering too her waning mental health as well as the immense distress from the threat to her life.
Throughout the novel, Arvy and Wolf’s relationship fluctuates from flirty friendship to dependent coworkers to something far more intimate and raunchy. The sexy scenes, both between the two of them and Arvy alone, are explicit and at times unnerving due to, in my opinion, the blurring lines of consent and bodily autonomy. What I imagine was meant to come across as sexual liberation instead to me read as a loss of control, which felt a little icky.
Overall, 200 Monas is a sweat-slick romp that’s part romance, part erotic thriller. The looming deadline to sell the pills combined with the unsettling personas of so many of the characters resulted in an unhinged, experimental tale. Because of this, it was also a very fast-paced read and addictive in all the best ways.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the gifted ARC for review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
200 Monas is a bizarre, fun, heady novel spanning forty-eight hours (give or take) of desperation, debauchery, and emotional grappling, that I am simply not ready to move on from.
This book was a great time! While it was the concept that caught my attention, Saenz has written a lively, whirlwind of a novel that I could not put down. The characters are a strong point. Between Arvy, the type of girl to clarify deadlines with the drug dealer threatening her life, and Wolf, a man with a reputation and an astounding amount of patience, charm is abundant, as is delicious tension and humour.
The pacing left me with a little more to be desired. The majority of the novel is spent counting down to Arvy's deadline to sell the Monas, and with all the build-up of anticipation, I had expected a more dramatic climax. I also would have loved a deeper exploration of Arvy's reckoning with the passing of her mother and more on Wolf's backstory and personal development.
Even so, I could not put this book down. One more chapter, turned into two, turned into needing to finish it immediately. I was in a trance. Even though I am sad to say goodbye to Arvy and Wolf, I am very excited for more from Jan Saenz. Hopefully with even more chaos (and a little less bodily fluids)!
Thank you to Jan Saenz and Little, Brown and Company for an advanced reading copy via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
This book was a great time! While it was the concept that caught my attention, Saenz has written a lively, whirlwind of a novel that I could not put down. The characters are a strong point. Between Arvy, the type of girl to clarify deadlines with the drug dealer threatening her life, and Wolf, a man with a reputation and an astounding amount of patience, charm is abundant, as is delicious tension and humour.
The pacing left me with a little more to be desired. The majority of the novel is spent counting down to Arvy's deadline to sell the Monas, and with all the build-up of anticipation, I had expected a more dramatic climax. I also would have loved a deeper exploration of Arvy's reckoning with the passing of her mother and more on Wolf's backstory and personal development.
Even so, I could not put this book down. One more chapter, turned into two, turned into needing to finish it immediately. I was in a trance. Even though I am sad to say goodbye to Arvy and Wolf, I am very excited for more from Jan Saenz. Hopefully with even more chaos (and a little less bodily fluids)!
Thank you to Jan Saenz and Little, Brown and Company for an advanced reading copy via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
November 1, 2025
This book was not for me. It felt scattered and tried to take on too many topics at once.
Arvy’s mom dies, likely by suicide, and she finds drugs in her mom’s house that a threatening dealer tells her she must sell within two days. She teams up with another dealer, Wolf, to move the drugs. Just when it seemed like the story was wrapping up around 70% in, it suddenly veers into a women’s empowerment cult subplot that didn’t fit with the rest of the story.
I think the book aimed to explore sexual liberation and feminism, but it didn’t come together well. It also tried to juggle heavy themes like depression, big pharma, loss, sexual predators, artistic expression, complicated family dynamics, and inheritance…all in one go.
I felt like I read a different book than the one described. Fast-paced? Sure, but only because it was easy to skim. Funny or witty? Not at all. Dark? Besides the bit with the dog, not really.
Maybe others will enjoy it, but I sure didn’t.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Arvy’s mom dies, likely by suicide, and she finds drugs in her mom’s house that a threatening dealer tells her she must sell within two days. She teams up with another dealer, Wolf, to move the drugs. Just when it seemed like the story was wrapping up around 70% in, it suddenly veers into a women’s empowerment cult subplot that didn’t fit with the rest of the story.
I think the book aimed to explore sexual liberation and feminism, but it didn’t come together well. It also tried to juggle heavy themes like depression, big pharma, loss, sexual predators, artistic expression, complicated family dynamics, and inheritance…all in one go.
I felt like I read a different book than the one described. Fast-paced? Sure, but only because it was easy to skim. Funny or witty? Not at all. Dark? Besides the bit with the dog, not really.
Maybe others will enjoy it, but I sure didn’t.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
January 4, 2026
I’ve never read anything like this… Thank you to Little, Brown and Company for access to an ARC for an honest review!
Arvy is trying to complete her finals for her last year of college when a drug dealer comes to her house asking where his money is, and Arvy has no idea who he is or what he is referring to.
Arvy’s recently passed mother puts her through the wringer, as she cannot access her inheritance without a degree, and left her with a debt to find thousands of dollars within 48 hours. How will she do this? By trying to sell Mona. Mona is a drug that induces intense sexual euphoria. She has 200 pills, 3 finals, and 48 hours.
My favorite part about this book was all of the one on one conversations between characters. So many funny, awkward moments. The dialogue has me laughing out loud.
I found some of the scenes repetitive, which made it feel like the story wasn’t progressing. However, I did enjoy the character development between all of the characters in the story. Sometimes Arvy would irritate me, but what’s a story without a flawed main character!
3 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️
Arvy is trying to complete her finals for her last year of college when a drug dealer comes to her house asking where his money is, and Arvy has no idea who he is or what he is referring to.
Arvy’s recently passed mother puts her through the wringer, as she cannot access her inheritance without a degree, and left her with a debt to find thousands of dollars within 48 hours. How will she do this? By trying to sell Mona. Mona is a drug that induces intense sexual euphoria. She has 200 pills, 3 finals, and 48 hours.
My favorite part about this book was all of the one on one conversations between characters. So many funny, awkward moments. The dialogue has me laughing out loud.
I found some of the scenes repetitive, which made it feel like the story wasn’t progressing. However, I did enjoy the character development between all of the characters in the story. Sometimes Arvy would irritate me, but what’s a story without a flawed main character!
3 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 29, 2026
This one wasn’t for me
It took me some time to get accustomed to. It defies genres and the characters are unique. So it took me like 1/3 of the book to acclimate and adjust my expectations.
There is quite a bit of conflict caused by poor communication, not letting someone speak, not telling something that should be told. That got tiring quickly for me.
I didn’t expect so much smut. The words used (suckling, bead, seam, etc) definitely turned me off. All the sex and actually the wild descriptors were relevant to the plot and not only gratuitous. I just didn’t enjoy reading it.
At times I did not like the writing style. Generally how things were described, or that they were described at all. “A silky knuckle”…? I think that was the core reason this book took me much longer to read than most books this length.
Still overall it was a nice journey with some good moments and scenes and characters. I can definitely see how others could love it.
Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC!
It took me some time to get accustomed to. It defies genres and the characters are unique. So it took me like 1/3 of the book to acclimate and adjust my expectations.
There is quite a bit of conflict caused by poor communication, not letting someone speak, not telling something that should be told. That got tiring quickly for me.
I didn’t expect so much smut. The words used (suckling, bead, seam, etc) definitely turned me off. All the sex and actually the wild descriptors were relevant to the plot and not only gratuitous. I just didn’t enjoy reading it.
At times I did not like the writing style. Generally how things were described, or that they were described at all. “A silky knuckle”…? I think that was the core reason this book took me much longer to read than most books this length.
Still overall it was a nice journey with some good moments and scenes and characters. I can definitely see how others could love it.
Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC!
January 23, 2026
ARC Review: 200 Monas by Jan Saenz
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.75 stars)
Release date: March 3, 2026
200 Monas follows Arvy, a college student reeling from the recent loss of her mother, as she stumbles into the most chaotic 48 hours of her life. When Arvy discovers 200 hits of a mysterious drug hidden among her mother’s belongings—and is soon confronted by the people her mother owed money to—her already fragile world is thrown completely off balance. Enter a new, sexy, and ambitious entrepreneurial friend, and suddenly the next two days could either destroy her life or change it forever for the better.
This book is a fast-paced, anxiety-inducing wild ride that had me flipping pages to see just how much worse (or better) things could get for Arvy. I really enjoyed how different this story felt from anything I’ve read recently—it’s bold, comical, and unapologetically ridiculous in the best way. While the pacing did slow a bit in the middle, it picked back up toward the end and delivered a satisfying conclusion.
Beyond the chaos and dark humor, 200 Monas also offers a fresh and thoughtful perspective on mental health, depression, grief, and the motivations that drive people to keep going when everything seems to be falling apart. Overall, this was an entertaining and memorable read that blends absurdity with emotional depth, and I’m glad I picked it up.
Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.75 stars)
Release date: March 3, 2026
200 Monas follows Arvy, a college student reeling from the recent loss of her mother, as she stumbles into the most chaotic 48 hours of her life. When Arvy discovers 200 hits of a mysterious drug hidden among her mother’s belongings—and is soon confronted by the people her mother owed money to—her already fragile world is thrown completely off balance. Enter a new, sexy, and ambitious entrepreneurial friend, and suddenly the next two days could either destroy her life or change it forever for the better.
This book is a fast-paced, anxiety-inducing wild ride that had me flipping pages to see just how much worse (or better) things could get for Arvy. I really enjoyed how different this story felt from anything I’ve read recently—it’s bold, comical, and unapologetically ridiculous in the best way. While the pacing did slow a bit in the middle, it picked back up toward the end and delivered a satisfying conclusion.
Beyond the chaos and dark humor, 200 Monas also offers a fresh and thoughtful perspective on mental health, depression, grief, and the motivations that drive people to keep going when everything seems to be falling apart. Overall, this was an entertaining and memorable read that blends absurdity with emotional depth, and I’m glad I picked it up.
Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“200 Monas” by Jan Saenz is fun. It’s a funny, light, romantic, and sexy romp that would make a great movie. While Arvy is going through her mother’s things she comes upon a bag of pills, which turn out to be a rare pharmaceutical that brings on intense orgasms. It also brings a drug dealer who gives her 48 hours to sell the pills and pay up what her mother owes “or else”. Thus begins a wild and crazy adventure filled with offbeat characters and unexpected events. The adventures are fantastic, sexually explicit, and often funny. However, while the book exists in a fantasy world of magical pharmaceuticals and unlikely romantic encounters, it rests lightly atop a landscape of real human emotion – love, desire, and grief. A fun read.
Thank you to NetGalley and to Little, Brown, and Company for access to this ARC. This is my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and to Little, Brown, and Company for access to this ARC. This is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is pretty good if you are looking for a quick palate cleanser type of read. I think the premise was great and I liked the main character, Arvy, even if she is a bit silly. I think the fact that she was raised by a kooky woman and the mentioning of ADHD and possible other ailments made Arvy a relatable and real character and I found myself wondering how she would manage to get herself out of this drug mess her mother left her in. This book is definitely sexually explicit so if that is not something you are comfortable reading about, then this book will likely be a skip for you, but otherwise I say give it a shot.
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book has an intriguing premise - what if there was a pill that granted women the most amazing sexual pleasure they could experience? Would you take it? Would it liberate women? For the main character, Arvy, the question becomes 'would you take it and sell it?'. Struggling with grief after her mother's death she has no choice but to do both.
The book is a mix of crime caper, reflection on grief, a romance and a look at feminism. It is trying to cram so much in, that it doesn't give good service to any which is a shame as it clearly has some interesting ideas to explore. It's an interesting read and the narrative speeds you through but the final act seems rushed.
(copy received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)
The book is a mix of crime caper, reflection on grief, a romance and a look at feminism. It is trying to cram so much in, that it doesn't give good service to any which is a shame as it clearly has some interesting ideas to explore. It's an interesting read and the narrative speeds you through but the final act seems rushed.
(copy received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)
November 4, 2025
This needs to be made into a movie ASAP. This was so fast paced, funny, dark and powerful.
We follow Arvy who just lost her mom and comes across a bunch of pills, Mona, her mom had. She is forced to sell them within 48 hours and recruits the help of a hot, emotionally unavailable local dealer. It is this chaotic adventure that is impossible to put down.
Underlying the chaos and humor is a very important conversation on grief and relationships with mothers. This book does a fantastic job of delving into these topics while keeping the story entertaining.
I highly recommend this to literally everyone. It is such a fun ride.
We follow Arvy who just lost her mom and comes across a bunch of pills, Mona, her mom had. She is forced to sell them within 48 hours and recruits the help of a hot, emotionally unavailable local dealer. It is this chaotic adventure that is impossible to put down.
Underlying the chaos and humor is a very important conversation on grief and relationships with mothers. This book does a fantastic job of delving into these topics while keeping the story entertaining.
I highly recommend this to literally everyone. It is such a fun ride.
November 12, 2025
I was entertained, disgusted, baffled, and confused all at once reading this novel. The plot was farfetched, yes, but it managed to squeeze in a treatment of grief more nuanced and complex than one would expect in a novel about needing to sell $10k worth of an orgasm-inducing drug in 36 hours. There are elements that’ll be very off-putting for some readers (i.e. animal cruelty, violence, sexually explicit language), so that’s worth knowing in advance. I enjoyed plowing through Arvy’s fast-paced shenanigans, knowing the time constraint was going to force the drama to a close at some point. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
November 22, 2025
200 Monas was a quick read for me that has a unique concept that definitely kept me curious, and there were a few twists that genuinely surprised me. I liked the overall vibe and the direction the story wanted to go. But the pacing was a bit all over the place, and some characters never felt fully fleshed out, which made it harder to stay emotionally invested.
Still, it’s an interesting read with some strong moments—just not one that fully clicked for me. A solid middle-of-the-road book that other readers might connect with more than I did.
Thank you Little, Brown, and Company for the ARC of this book!
Still, it’s an interesting read with some strong moments—just not one that fully clicked for me. A solid middle-of-the-road book that other readers might connect with more than I did.
Thank you Little, Brown, and Company for the ARC of this book!
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