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Love at First Bite
Not yet published
Expected 3 Apr 26Funny, romantic and a little bit wicked, this is Mhairi McFarlane… with vampires!
I mean hey, what’s the worst that could happen? Ok fine, the worst that could happen is that I didn’t imagine those fangs after all…
Squeaky clean good girl Lucy Partridge is a sucker for heartwarming tales and happy endings. So a weekend reporting on the Whitby Goth Weekend is well outside her comfort zone. As is sharing her tiny annexe accommodation with all six feet three inches of bad boy bar owner Liam Bramwell. And that’s before she discovers that he’s an actual living – or, er, ‘undead’ – vampire!
Logically, Lucy knows she should run the other way, but the reporter in her can tell there’s more to Bram than his fangs. It’s clearly time for this good girl to take a walk on the dark side, and if that path leads her straight into Bram’s muscular tattooed arms? Well, a girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do…
Squeaky clean good girl Lucy Partridge is a sucker for heartwarming tales and happy endings. So a weekend reporting on the Whitby Goth Weekend is well outside her comfort zone. As is sharing her tiny annexe accommodation with all six feet three inches of bad boy bar owner Liam Bramwell. And that’s before she discovers that he’s an actual living – or, er, ‘undead’ – vampire!
Logically, Lucy knows she should run the other way, but the reporter in her can tell there’s more to Bram than his fangs. It’s clearly time for this good girl to take a walk on the dark side, and if that path leads her straight into Bram’s muscular tattooed arms? Well, a girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do…
- GenresRomance
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 3, 2026
6 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 31, 2026
I give this book 5 stars for the simple fact that it made me happy all the way around. Vampires in the modern world in a modern way in a gothic town in England? Yes, give me ten of them. This book is simply a good old fashioned love story between two people (one of them being the undead) who both just want a family of their own, in any way that looks. Also, all the references to Dracula were chef’s kiss in the best possible way.
Lucy is a journalist who is covering Goth Weekend in the small town of Whitby. A cute little seaside town bustling with people from all over dressed up gothically and with all the vampire vibes. Lucy is not this way in the least bit and sticks out with her sunshiny presence and pastel clothes. On the night she arrives though, she’s meets Bram. They were both told a little annex was free that weekend and that is how we end up with one of those amazing tropes of one bed.
Their first meeting had meet laughing so hard with this man screaming and breaking the 4th wall about it. Both inner monologues of our MC’s are hilarious, more so Bram’s because he is fumbling to keep his secret of being a vampire and trying not to fall for Lucy. Lucy was the biggest sweetheart and I loved her as the FMC. Yes she was a people pleaser, but after one weekend, she finally puts herself first.
This book is a slow burn but the tension build was superb in the best way. If you want an easy read that has all the gothic vibes but also so funny, this is the book you want to read.
Thank you to Katherine Dyson and One More Chapter for this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes:
🩸Tattooed vampire MMC
🦇Sunshine FMC
🩸Opposites attract
🦇Only one spooky seaside cottage
🩸Freaking bats
🦇Whitby goth weekend
Lucy is a journalist who is covering Goth Weekend in the small town of Whitby. A cute little seaside town bustling with people from all over dressed up gothically and with all the vampire vibes. Lucy is not this way in the least bit and sticks out with her sunshiny presence and pastel clothes. On the night she arrives though, she’s meets Bram. They were both told a little annex was free that weekend and that is how we end up with one of those amazing tropes of one bed.
Their first meeting had meet laughing so hard with this man screaming and breaking the 4th wall about it. Both inner monologues of our MC’s are hilarious, more so Bram’s because he is fumbling to keep his secret of being a vampire and trying not to fall for Lucy. Lucy was the biggest sweetheart and I loved her as the FMC. Yes she was a people pleaser, but after one weekend, she finally puts herself first.
This book is a slow burn but the tension build was superb in the best way. If you want an easy read that has all the gothic vibes but also so funny, this is the book you want to read.
Thank you to Katherine Dyson and One More Chapter for this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes:
🩸Tattooed vampire MMC
🦇Sunshine FMC
🩸Opposites attract
🦇Only one spooky seaside cottage
🩸Freaking bats
🦇Whitby goth weekend
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Paranormal romances are like my comfort blanket, but I knew that there was something extra special there for me with Love At First Bite as soon as I started it! I'm a Yorkshire girl, I met my husband at a wedding in Whitby and I live near and have worked in Leeds for years, and Leeds is where I ended up having my first date with my husband. So the fact that Love At First Bite was set mainly in Whitby but also partially in Leeds was actually really special to me.
FMC Lucy also called to me in a way that the FMC, Harriet, from Good Spirits did recently. There's something about people pleasers who are treated badly by their blood family that just makes me so emotional when you get to see them meet their found family. And when it wasn't making me tear up, I was smiling like a buffoon at the sweet relationship between Lucy and Bram. What I loved the most is that they genuinely felt like adults - they didn't overreact and lash out at each other when they were upset or stressed, and Lucy didn't instantly believe all the bad things she heard about Bram, instead choosing logic and trusting the word of her friend. I loved that Love At First Bite didn't go down that overreaction or miscommunication route, and it made their relationship all the more beautiful.
I really loved this one and I can't wait to read Just My Blood Type, which will focus on side character Quinn as the leading man. I'm so excited to read more books in this world!
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.
FMC Lucy also called to me in a way that the FMC, Harriet, from Good Spirits did recently. There's something about people pleasers who are treated badly by their blood family that just makes me so emotional when you get to see them meet their found family. And when it wasn't making me tear up, I was smiling like a buffoon at the sweet relationship between Lucy and Bram. What I loved the most is that they genuinely felt like adults - they didn't overreact and lash out at each other when they were upset or stressed, and Lucy didn't instantly believe all the bad things she heard about Bram, instead choosing logic and trusting the word of her friend. I loved that Love At First Bite didn't go down that overreaction or miscommunication route, and it made their relationship all the more beautiful.
I really loved this one and I can't wait to read Just My Blood Type, which will focus on side character Quinn as the leading man. I'm so excited to read more books in this world!
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.
February 8, 2026
3.5
This book was fun and had lots of moments filled with heart and laughter but there were times when we got too much inner dialogue.
There were lots of surprises though and I enjoyed getting the full scope of who Bram and Lucy are and witnessing their friendship grow. I just would’ve loved a little more at the end. More on the amazing secondary characters we got to know so well. More of them together. Yes we got to experience their bond but as a couple we only got a little glimpse and I wanted more of that.
I will say that Bram is amazing. He is such a “gentleman” and truly takes the time to listen to Lucy. Lucy is flighty at first but learns how to speak up and not give in to others happiness but fight for her own.
A different and fun vampire story that was original and one lovers of paranormal should read!
This book was fun and had lots of moments filled with heart and laughter but there were times when we got too much inner dialogue.
There were lots of surprises though and I enjoyed getting the full scope of who Bram and Lucy are and witnessing their friendship grow. I just would’ve loved a little more at the end. More on the amazing secondary characters we got to know so well. More of them together. Yes we got to experience their bond but as a couple we only got a little glimpse and I wanted more of that.
I will say that Bram is amazing. He is such a “gentleman” and truly takes the time to listen to Lucy. Lucy is flighty at first but learns how to speak up and not give in to others happiness but fight for her own.
A different and fun vampire story that was original and one lovers of paranormal should read!
February 6, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGalley for the advanced copy of Love at First Bite. This is an honest review.
One word popped into my mind after finishing this book: adorable.
Lucy is an animal-loving journalist who’s pushed way out of her comfort zone when she’s assigned to cover Goth Weekend in a seaside English village. There, she quite literally runs into Bram — the “super goth” owner of a local vampire-style gothic bar.
Despite being total opposites, they immediately hit it off. Lucy is cotton-candy sweet, an absolute ray of sunshine. Bram is dressed head-to-toe in black, covered in tattoos and piercings, with his only pop of color being a single red earring.
The only slight complication?
He’s a vampire.
This was such a sweet, cozy romance, and I genuinely couldn’t put it down — I finished it in under 48 hours. The chemistry was charming, the vibes were wholesome and fun, and the opposites-attract dynamic was perfection.
By the end, I wanted to squish their little cheeks because they were just so cute together.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a feel-good romance with a hint of paranormal spice and a lot of heart.
One word popped into my mind after finishing this book: adorable.
Lucy is an animal-loving journalist who’s pushed way out of her comfort zone when she’s assigned to cover Goth Weekend in a seaside English village. There, she quite literally runs into Bram — the “super goth” owner of a local vampire-style gothic bar.
Despite being total opposites, they immediately hit it off. Lucy is cotton-candy sweet, an absolute ray of sunshine. Bram is dressed head-to-toe in black, covered in tattoos and piercings, with his only pop of color being a single red earring.
The only slight complication?
He’s a vampire.
This was such a sweet, cozy romance, and I genuinely couldn’t put it down — I finished it in under 48 hours. The chemistry was charming, the vibes were wholesome and fun, and the opposites-attract dynamic was perfection.
By the end, I wanted to squish their little cheeks because they were just so cute together.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a feel-good romance with a hint of paranormal spice and a lot of heart.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
5/5 ☆
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for review.
This made me feel all the feels, I loved it. Even though everything happens in the span of a weekend, the chemistry and angst still felt real and extra special.
I was hooked instantly. Lucy Partridge, a good girl reporter, is sent to a goth English town for a weekend of Goth events and she starts to wonder if everything is as it seems. She is assigned to cover this event and write an expose to impress the boss she’s had a crush on. Liam Bramwell is a modern-day vampire who is not, refreshingly, centuries old. He has his own struggles and regrets. He volunteers to show her around town to help with her article and things go from there.
The story was heartfelt, whimsical, steamy, and funny, everything I enjoy. This author is new to me and I was very impressed with her work, I can’t wait to read more from her!
I 100% recommend this to all romance fans, especially if you love yummy vampires.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for review.
This made me feel all the feels, I loved it. Even though everything happens in the span of a weekend, the chemistry and angst still felt real and extra special.
I was hooked instantly. Lucy Partridge, a good girl reporter, is sent to a goth English town for a weekend of Goth events and she starts to wonder if everything is as it seems. She is assigned to cover this event and write an expose to impress the boss she’s had a crush on. Liam Bramwell is a modern-day vampire who is not, refreshingly, centuries old. He has his own struggles and regrets. He volunteers to show her around town to help with her article and things go from there.
The story was heartfelt, whimsical, steamy, and funny, everything I enjoy. This author is new to me and I was very impressed with her work, I can’t wait to read more from her!
I 100% recommend this to all romance fans, especially if you love yummy vampires.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was boring, bland, and nowhere near as fun as the premise promised. I went in expecting a witty, quirky vampire romance, but what I got was choppy, disjointed writing that made the story feel exhausting instead of entertaining. The pacing is all over the place, the prose gave me a headache, and the tone never fully commits to being funny, romantic, or clever... it just kind of exists.
The concept had potential, but the execution fell completely flat. The characters didn’t feel layered or compelling, and the romance lacked any real spark. It required a lot of suspended disbelief and a willingness to ignore some pretty glaring issues just to get through it.
I do think that those who absolutely love paranormal romance or vampire tropes might still find something to enjoy here. But for me, this was a disappointment that didn’t live up to its pitch and left me wishing I’d spent my time on literally any other vampire book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Dyson, and One More Chapter for the eARC of this book.
The concept had potential, but the execution fell completely flat. The characters didn’t feel layered or compelling, and the romance lacked any real spark. It required a lot of suspended disbelief and a willingness to ignore some pretty glaring issues just to get through it.
I do think that those who absolutely love paranormal romance or vampire tropes might still find something to enjoy here. But for me, this was a disappointment that didn’t live up to its pitch and left me wishing I’d spent my time on literally any other vampire book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Dyson, and One More Chapter for the eARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Lucy is sent to cover a goth weekend for the paper she works at. She literally falls for Bram when she meets him. He is also staying at her best friend’s family cottage and they have a whirlwind weekend where they fall in love. The problem? Bram is a vampire. Bram and Lucy have instant chemistry (once she’s awake) and decent banter and I loved the forced proximity. Lucy is a sunshine and roses person and is a serious people pleaser, but grows in confidence through the book enough to stand up for herself when it mattered. Bram is goth but floppy and Bambi like, not the classic scary kind of vampire. I loved his bar and the friends he had there. I also loved how into each other they were. Overall, this was a fun, cozy and quick read with a bit of spice. I will definitely be reading more from this author.
Thank you to One More Chapter, HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to One More Chapter, HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Oh this was simply delightful. After a run of disappointing romantic novels, I was delighted to read this all the way through - no skimming, no groans of disappointment - just happy, emotionally satisfying fabulous reading. This author is new to me but I’ll be reading more of her. A lovely discovery.
Lucy is in Whitby for the Goth weekend to replace her best friend Mina who is in hospitals. She finds herself sharing the cottage with Bram - who turns out to be a real vampire. One thing I disliked was her stupidity in putting up with Jon’s unpleasantness for so much of the book. I
Pathe and detest any sort of dishonesty especially when it’s used to meet very selfish desires. Jon was a prick of the first order.
That’s it, no more spoilers. The story is fabulous, well executed and I love the author’s voice. 5 stars.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest review.
Lucy is in Whitby for the Goth weekend to replace her best friend Mina who is in hospitals. She finds herself sharing the cottage with Bram - who turns out to be a real vampire. One thing I disliked was her stupidity in putting up with Jon’s unpleasantness for so much of the book. I
Pathe and detest any sort of dishonesty especially when it’s used to meet very selfish desires. Jon was a prick of the first order.
That’s it, no more spoilers. The story is fabulous, well executed and I love the author’s voice. 5 stars.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest review.
February 4, 2026
5/5 stars! I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down. I was so hooked from the first chapter I finished reading it in one day. Lucy is a reporter who normally covers fluff pieces at her work but when her colleague is out sick she is tasked with coving Whitby Goth Weekend which she is not at all familiar with. When arriving at her friend’s family cottage she discovers it’s not empty. That it is occupied by her friends/colleagues cousin Bram. Which isn’t a huge issue but Br has a secret, he’s a vampire. Now Lucy and Br must spend the weekend together and see what happens. I high recommend reading Love At First Bite when it is releasing April 3, 2026. Thank you to Katherine Dyson, Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🩷 Book Review 🩷
📚 Love at First Bite
✒️ Katherine Dyson
💫💫💫💫💫
Thank you Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is such a cute vampire book!
I can't believe I just typed that but it really is. Love at First Bite is a rom-com of Dracula. We follow Lucy as she travels to Whitby for a goth Weekend. Her job is simple; report the weekend and go home to her boss that she has a crush on. What happens is anything but as she is forced to share the annexe with a completely drop dead Bram - who just so happens to be dead, he is a vampire.
Lucy's and Bram's story give of meet-cute vibes as they fall for each other over the course of the week.
I had a little issue towards the second half, with how quickly Lucy just accepted that vampires are real and the classic miss communication trope but otherwise I really enjoyed the book!
📚 Love at First Bite
✒️ Katherine Dyson
💫💫💫💫💫
Thank you Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is such a cute vampire book!
I can't believe I just typed that but it really is. Love at First Bite is a rom-com of Dracula. We follow Lucy as she travels to Whitby for a goth Weekend. Her job is simple; report the weekend and go home to her boss that she has a crush on. What happens is anything but as she is forced to share the annexe with a completely drop dead Bram - who just so happens to be dead, he is a vampire.
Lucy's and Bram's story give of meet-cute vibes as they fall for each other over the course of the week.
I had a little issue towards the second half, with how quickly Lucy just accepted that vampires are real and the classic miss communication trope but otherwise I really enjoyed the book!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“Once you go Drac, you never go back.”
Love at First Bite is a sweet paranormal romance where a good girl meets a bad boy but the boy happens to be undead.
Lucy, an upbeat, positive people-pleaser, gets thrown into forced proximity with Bram, a vampire pretending to be a human masquerading as a vampire for the image of his bar, Bitten.
I knew I was hooked when I got to the scene where Lucy and Bram first meet – poor Bram with his too-small towel...
It has witty writing, fun characters and some heart warming moments. The slow burn romance between Lucy and Bram is so satisfying and their chemistry is off the charts.
Plus I loved the Dracula references scattered around.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinions are my own.
Love at First Bite is a sweet paranormal romance where a good girl meets a bad boy but the boy happens to be undead.
Lucy, an upbeat, positive people-pleaser, gets thrown into forced proximity with Bram, a vampire pretending to be a human masquerading as a vampire for the image of his bar, Bitten.
I knew I was hooked when I got to the scene where Lucy and Bram first meet – poor Bram with his too-small towel...
It has witty writing, fun characters and some heart warming moments. The slow burn romance between Lucy and Bram is so satisfying and their chemistry is off the charts.
Plus I loved the Dracula references scattered around.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A quotation on this book declares it to be like Mhairi MacFarlance with vampires. There are indeed vampires and the story is serviceable enough. However the works of Mhairi MacFarlane are devastating, sharp and genuinely funny, almost masquerading as romances. It feels like "Love at First Bite" uses heavier subject matter only to grease the wheels of the romance. There's nothing wrong with this, but the parallel does a disservice to both authors. I enjoyed enough of this vampire romance to continue, but I didn't find it propulsive.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Lucy llega a Whitby por trabajo, con más nervios que ganas, y termina viviendo algo que no estaba en sus planes. Un pueblo gótico, un evento lleno de vampiros falsos, y un vampiro real compartiendo el mismo espacio que ella. Bram no encaja con nada de lo que Lucy cree necesitar. Es intimidante, lleno de tatuajes, misterioso y con una reputación dudosa. Ella, en cambio, es todo corazones blandos, romanticismo y una tendencia enorme a complacer a los demás.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
After her best friend suddenly has an emergency she can’t ignore, Lucy, is sent in her place to write an article on this small town’s weekend goth festival.
This story was so darn cute, a slow burn romance with a paranormal aspect. Lucy and Bram really demonstrate that despite all their physical differences, they themselves are actually quite similar. Though it felt a bit on the nose for both Bram’s parents and Lucy’s grandparents to have had the same illnesses. It was overall a good time, I just wish we got to hear a few more stories surrounding their years together after marriage.
This story was so darn cute, a slow burn romance with a paranormal aspect. Lucy and Bram really demonstrate that despite all their physical differences, they themselves are actually quite similar. Though it felt a bit on the nose for both Bram’s parents and Lucy’s grandparents to have had the same illnesses. It was overall a good time, I just wish we got to hear a few more stories surrounding their years together after marriage.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My first monster love was for vampires. I could never get tired of a vampire romance!!!! I love this one. It was cozy, fun, and romantic. I couldn't put it down.
I love that she made a list, second guessed herself because seriously who would believe vampires are real and then the freak out was not that big because she loves him and at this point he could say he was a unicorn and she would have stayed.
She was the angel to his undead heart, and he was her eternal love.
I love that she made a list, second guessed herself because seriously who would believe vampires are real and then the freak out was not that big because she loves him and at this point he could say he was a unicorn and she would have stayed.
She was the angel to his undead heart, and he was her eternal love.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I’m gonna be honest this wasn’t very good, but I will say the humor made it bearable to continue going. I could definitely recommend this to very specific people, but it’s not for the majority I would say. It was fun, lighthearted, but even the depth they tried to add fell flat. This was just a personal thing, the use of apostrophes instead of quotes was irritating.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC of this book, and this is my voluntary unbiased and true opinion
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC of this book, and this is my voluntary unbiased and true opinion
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
That’s it. That’s what I need. Vampire romance!!! This was funny, spicy, and weirdly cozy. Lucy is adorable, Liam is hot mysterious vampire bar owner (say no more), and the banter was on point. I flew through this. Romance? Yes. Humor? Yes. Vampires?? BIG yes. Unhinged in the best way. Immediate 5 stars.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🌶️
Tropes/TW:
Paranormal bucket list rom com
Broody vampire MMC x good girl reporter FMC
Enemies to lovers
Grumpy x sunshine
Roommates
Forced proximity
Slow burn
Thank you Katherine Dyson and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC copy.
*I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
Tropes/TW:
Paranormal bucket list rom com
Broody vampire MMC x good girl reporter FMC
Enemies to lovers
Grumpy x sunshine
Roommates
Forced proximity
Slow burn
Thank you Katherine Dyson and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC copy.
*I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Love at First Bite by new to me author Katherine Dyson published by Haper Collins UK/ One More Chapter is a witty and fun stand alone.
A romance that gives all the feels and wonderful characters I easily could connect with.
4,5 beautiful stars.
A romance that gives all the feels and wonderful characters I easily could connect with.
4,5 beautiful stars.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶
👻Paranormal
♥️Romance
A cozy vampire romance? Count me in! This one has fun characters the you can connect with and enjoy all the feels! It's a great standalone for any paranormal romance lover.
Thank you to the author and publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
🌶🌶
👻Paranormal
♥️Romance
A cozy vampire romance? Count me in! This one has fun characters the you can connect with and enjoy all the feels! It's a great standalone for any paranormal romance lover.
Thank you to the author and publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review to come.
Review to come.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews