What do you think?
Rate this book
200 Monas
Not yet published
Expected 12 Mar 26One 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 the 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?
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 the 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?
Audible Audio
First published March 3, 2026
49 people are currently reading
15485 people want to read
About the author
Jan Saenz
1 book30 followersJan Saenz is a writer, educator, and native Houstonian. Her work has appeared in 68 to 05, Paper Darts, HAD, and more. She loves teaching creative writing, having worked as a consultant for Kinder High School of Performing and Visual Arts. Before teaching, she worked as a writing coach for Lone Star College. Her debut novel, 200 Monas, will be published by Little, Brown in March 2026.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 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
Read
February 15, 2026I got the ebook arc for review.
Some books are very weird and extra and I love it, so I hoped this one would be like that but after 20 % I dnf:ed. It was to over the top and the some of the descriptions had me cringing badly. But I do see the appeal for the book as I said some very weird and extra books works for me but some don't.
Some books are very weird and extra and I love it, so I hoped this one would be like that but after 20 % I dnf:ed. It was to over the top and the some of the descriptions had me cringing badly. But I do see the appeal for the book as I said some very weird and extra books works for me but some don't.
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!!!
Read
February 11, 2026Sell the orgasms. Bury the grief later.
2.5
Arc from NetGalley
2.5
Arc from NetGalley
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.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
(4.5/5, rounded up)
wow wow wow I loved this sm
wow wow wow I loved this sm
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.
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.
February 15, 2026
What a sexy little thriller-comedy-romance? Not really sure how I would classify it but I was so hooked the moment I started reading 200 Monas.
We have Arvey who’s mother just passed away & left behind 200 very rare pills that no one else has on the market. & these pills give you an extreme O. She has to sell them within 48 hours or as the mobsters say “she will be swimmin with the fishes.”
I was so hooked on the premise but the writing is so funny & fast paced. The turns this story takes & the people she meets along the way were so well fleshed out. Plus the narration (gifted the ALC) was PHENOMENAL! If you have the opportunity to listen to this one I would totally recommend. The narrator deserves all the recognition for bringing this story alive.
Jan Saenz creates such a heartfelt story of a daughter trying to come to understand her mother posthumously through her side hustle of drug dealing while also navigating this new chapter in her life of graduating college.
I can not wait for everyone to get their paws on it! I think it’s going to be a crowd favorite & something unexpected!
Will def be keeping an eye out for more of Jan’s work.
Also justice for Shelley.
We have Arvey who’s mother just passed away & left behind 200 very rare pills that no one else has on the market. & these pills give you an extreme O. She has to sell them within 48 hours or as the mobsters say “she will be swimmin with the fishes.”
I was so hooked on the premise but the writing is so funny & fast paced. The turns this story takes & the people she meets along the way were so well fleshed out. Plus the narration (gifted the ALC) was PHENOMENAL! If you have the opportunity to listen to this one I would totally recommend. The narrator deserves all the recognition for bringing this story alive.
Jan Saenz creates such a heartfelt story of a daughter trying to come to understand her mother posthumously through her side hustle of drug dealing while also navigating this new chapter in her life of graduating college.
I can not wait for everyone to get their paws on it! I think it’s going to be a crowd favorite & something unexpected!
Will def be keeping an eye out for more of Jan’s work.
Also justice for Shelley.
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
March 2, 2026
4 1/2 🌟
This is one unexpected wild ride of a book! I absolutely enjoyed this and couldn’t put it down. Don’t let the synopsis fool you - there is a whole lot more depth and storyline going on here than you think.
What a crazy plot and off-the-wall cast of characters. Arvy (short for Harvey) is having a pretty bad time. Her mother has just passed away leaving unanswered questions and residual fears for Arvy about how her mother died and if the depression, or “funk”, that haunted her mother will become her burden as well. To top that, her mother’s will has conditions she has to meet, finals she has to pass and now she’s got a bag of orgasm pills, Monas, to sell in just over 24 hours.
The plot takes off at the start and never slows or stops. The cast of characters and supporting plot sidelines are wild and creative. The writing is downright funny. There are heavy themes throughout, though, with the reaching impacts of depression and the complicated relationships between mothers and their children being pervasive and right at the forefront. These themes balance the wilder aspects of the story and bring a different kind of edge.
The writing is smooth and so well done with many subtle lines that hit right on point. Arvy truly is a mess and so lost without her connection to her mother yet, in spite of that, she manages some insane situations and starts to find some footing for herself. Her counterpart, Wolf, is her perfect balance and just about the best guy you could find. He really is such a good person despite what stereotypes would lead you to believe. Watching the two of them stumble through this maze of madness and find something to trust in each other was sweet, emotional, touching and fun. Arvy and Wolf are really great characters that I loved. Francis Pete and Marge, though, are pretty big scene stealers.
This will make a great movie and I’m looking forward to it. The book is really good, though, so start here! Definitely recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown and Company and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this wild book and share my thoughts.
This is one unexpected wild ride of a book! I absolutely enjoyed this and couldn’t put it down. Don’t let the synopsis fool you - there is a whole lot more depth and storyline going on here than you think.
What a crazy plot and off-the-wall cast of characters. Arvy (short for Harvey) is having a pretty bad time. Her mother has just passed away leaving unanswered questions and residual fears for Arvy about how her mother died and if the depression, or “funk”, that haunted her mother will become her burden as well. To top that, her mother’s will has conditions she has to meet, finals she has to pass and now she’s got a bag of orgasm pills, Monas, to sell in just over 24 hours.
The plot takes off at the start and never slows or stops. The cast of characters and supporting plot sidelines are wild and creative. The writing is downright funny. There are heavy themes throughout, though, with the reaching impacts of depression and the complicated relationships between mothers and their children being pervasive and right at the forefront. These themes balance the wilder aspects of the story and bring a different kind of edge.
The writing is smooth and so well done with many subtle lines that hit right on point. Arvy truly is a mess and so lost without her connection to her mother yet, in spite of that, she manages some insane situations and starts to find some footing for herself. Her counterpart, Wolf, is her perfect balance and just about the best guy you could find. He really is such a good person despite what stereotypes would lead you to believe. Watching the two of them stumble through this maze of madness and find something to trust in each other was sweet, emotional, touching and fun. Arvy and Wolf are really great characters that I loved. Francis Pete and Marge, though, are pretty big scene stealers.
This will make a great movie and I’m looking forward to it. The book is really good, though, so start here! Definitely recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown and Company and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this wild book and share my thoughts.
February 23, 2026
200 Monas by Jan Saenz. Thanks to @lbc for the gifted copy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Arvy’s about to graduate college and start a well anticipated internship on the west coast when her mother passes. Finals become complicated when she finds 200 Mona, a mythical pharmaceutical that causes intense orgasms, pills her mother left behind. When two drug dealers show and tell her about the debt she’s inherited from her mother, she teams up with Wolf, the college’s sexpot drug dealer.
I really enjoyed this one and a lot of it is because of the characters. They are all very well developed and quirky. There’s nothing that I love more than a cast of quirky characters. The idea of the Mona was unique in itself but it added a fun sensuality to the story and also kept it light and fun despite the dark themes within.
“I don’t think we need drugs to make us feel more alone than we already are. If nothing else, let’s be honest. Who, in their deepest fantasies, wants to f**k a pill.”
Read if you like;
-Against the clock thrillers
-Drug dealing or partying themes
-Complicated grief responses
-Steam and sexuality
200 Monas comes out 3/2.
Arvy’s about to graduate college and start a well anticipated internship on the west coast when her mother passes. Finals become complicated when she finds 200 Mona, a mythical pharmaceutical that causes intense orgasms, pills her mother left behind. When two drug dealers show and tell her about the debt she’s inherited from her mother, she teams up with Wolf, the college’s sexpot drug dealer.
I really enjoyed this one and a lot of it is because of the characters. They are all very well developed and quirky. There’s nothing that I love more than a cast of quirky characters. The idea of the Mona was unique in itself but it added a fun sensuality to the story and also kept it light and fun despite the dark themes within.
“I don’t think we need drugs to make us feel more alone than we already are. If nothing else, let’s be honest. Who, in their deepest fantasies, wants to f**k a pill.”
Read if you like;
-Against the clock thrillers
-Drug dealing or partying themes
-Complicated grief responses
-Steam and sexuality
200 Monas comes out 3/2.
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.
February 13, 2026
ORGASM IN A PILL?
200 Monas, Arvy Keening is on the verge of graduating and starting a dream internship when she finds 200 pills hidden in her late mother’s closet. They turn out not to be ecstasy, but a rare drug called Mona that triggers intense pleasure. When two dealers give her 48 hours to sell them all or face serious consequences, Arvy teams up with Wolf, the campus dealer she can barely stand but can’t seem to resist, and the two tear through their college town trying to move the stash.
What starts as a wild, sex-fueled scramble slowly reveals something deeper. Beneath the outrageous premise, the book explores grief, repression, and the messy process of letting go. It’s bold, chaotic, and surprisingly emotional, balancing over-the-top antics with a real sense of vulnerability.
I really enjoyed Vanessa Moyen’s audiobook version of this. Very enthusiastic and I could always tell which character was talking. Production took this seriously and you can tell.
I really enjoyed this book and its cast of quirky characters. Arvy is so relatable and real to me. Like I can see her so clearly.
Thank you NetGalley and Hackett audio for an ARC in return for an honest review.
200 Monas, Arvy Keening is on the verge of graduating and starting a dream internship when she finds 200 pills hidden in her late mother’s closet. They turn out not to be ecstasy, but a rare drug called Mona that triggers intense pleasure. When two dealers give her 48 hours to sell them all or face serious consequences, Arvy teams up with Wolf, the campus dealer she can barely stand but can’t seem to resist, and the two tear through their college town trying to move the stash.
What starts as a wild, sex-fueled scramble slowly reveals something deeper. Beneath the outrageous premise, the book explores grief, repression, and the messy process of letting go. It’s bold, chaotic, and surprisingly emotional, balancing over-the-top antics with a real sense of vulnerability.
I really enjoyed Vanessa Moyen’s audiobook version of this. Very enthusiastic and I could always tell which character was talking. Production took this seriously and you can tell.
I really enjoyed this book and its cast of quirky characters. Arvy is so relatable and real to me. Like I can see her so clearly.
Thank you NetGalley and Hackett audio for an ARC in return for an honest review.
February 23, 2026
ALC 5 stars!!
Feminine Pleasure + Grief/Depression + Weird + Drug Dealing
This was such a fun listen! I went in blind (I was attracted to the pink cover lol) and I had a blast! This book is feminine, it’s vulgar and descriptive. It explores grief and the sudden loss of a loved one and coping with that in everyday life. It made me think about what I would do if I was randomly left with a bag of 200 orgasm inducing pills and had to sell them within 48 hours, I probably would have been a train wreck.
I really enjoyed the relationship the bloomed in this book and the end made me wonder how everyone turned out. I also really enjoyed the discussion of college clubs and the cult like mentality behind them.
I think this book is great for those who like to read “weird girl lit” and books outside of the norm!
This book was sent to me from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Feminine Pleasure + Grief/Depression + Weird + Drug Dealing
This was such a fun listen! I went in blind (I was attracted to the pink cover lol) and I had a blast! This book is feminine, it’s vulgar and descriptive. It explores grief and the sudden loss of a loved one and coping with that in everyday life. It made me think about what I would do if I was randomly left with a bag of 200 orgasm inducing pills and had to sell them within 48 hours, I probably would have been a train wreck.
I really enjoyed the relationship the bloomed in this book and the end made me wonder how everyone turned out. I also really enjoyed the discussion of college clubs and the cult like mentality behind them.
I think this book is great for those who like to read “weird girl lit” and books outside of the norm!
This book was sent to me from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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.
February 11, 2026
Oh this was CRAZY crazy and had me locked IN! I had ZERO idea what I was getting into with this one. There was drama, suspense, humor, and everyone was horny the whole damn time. I have such a love hate relationship with all of the characters (though in the end it’s mostly love) and the development (even though the story only takes place over the course of 48 hours) was impressive. Thank you to Jan Saenz and Hachette Audio for the ARC copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
oh this book was fun! brutal, brutal but the chaos. so absolutely real.
Arvy is just trying to get through the day - finish her finals, get her degree, leave behind her trauma and get on with it.
Life laughs and says how about this.
Unhinged in all the right ways - lack of focus, obsession, sexual attraction, desperation, the promise of the high.
Loved it!
Arvy is just trying to get through the day - finish her finals, get her degree, leave behind her trauma and get on with it.
Life laughs and says how about this.
Unhinged in all the right ways - lack of focus, obsession, sexual attraction, desperation, the promise of the high.
Loved it!
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 !
March 1, 2026
ARC REVIEW
This is an unhinged, sexually chaotic train wreck. I couldn’t look away. This is for the weird girl lit lovers. The narrator was fantastic. Overall recommend!
Thank you @netgalley @littlebrown @hachetteaudio
Narrated by @voicedbyvanessa
3.5⭐️
This is an unhinged, sexually chaotic train wreck. I couldn’t look away. This is for the weird girl lit lovers. The narrator was fantastic. Overall recommend!
Thank you @netgalley @littlebrown @hachetteaudio
Narrated by @voicedbyvanessa
3.5⭐️
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 7, 2025
200 Monas is an edgy, fast-paced read that pulls you in from the first page. The story follows Arvy, a college student still dealing with her mother’s recent death, as she faces a dangerous ultimatum: sell 200 pills of Mona by midnight or deal with the consequences. Over the next day and a half, we meet a cast of colorful, gritty characters and watch Arvy navigate chaos, grief, and unexpected connections, including a complicated bond with Wolf. Sharp, witty, and a lot of heart, this book is a wild ride with a bit of emotional depth.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I know they say not to judge a book by its cover, but, look.
Look at this cover.
Imagine what book would go with this cover.
This book is exactly like that.
It's bright. It's weirdly sexual. It's a little what the fuck. There are drugs.
Do NOT get scared off by the book description: "For fans of Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Miranda July"? Ew, no. Don't worry, that's just a roundabout way of saying "It's funny and the main character learns about herself." Goodreads is a little more apt in calling the book Phoebe Waller-Bridge meets Breaking Bad, but how about we just let it be its own thing?
Any time a character has to do something an absurd number of times (like selling 200 of something), a book has the potential to get boring, but 200 Monas never flags. The plot does go in some strange directions, but that's part of the appeal! And along the way, we're accompanied by a delightful golden retriever of a maybe-love-interest, which to me is always a bonus.
That said, I do have two qualms with this book:
1. For someone who chose to write a book about sex, the author...is not great at writing sex. Or maybe she just skipped that day of sex-writing school where they passed out the list of no-no never-use-these words that I had assumed at this point had been issued to every sex-writing author? The writing in the book is usually accessible and fun but sometimes goes weirdly purple, and this is most egregious in the sexual scenes, when suddenly we're subjected to phrasing so cringeworthy that I almost started texting the worst offenders to a friend (until I realized that I didn't want to inflict them on anyone else). I love a good un-sexy sex scene, but if you're going to make me cringe with your word choice, it should be on purpose!
2. I hate to be That Guy, but the book's attitude toward selling drugs felt iffy. Disclaimer that this is going to be clumsy commentary—I'm sure people who are better informed than me could voice this much better! But our two main characters are (as far as I could tell—maybe I missed something in the audiobook) white and fairly economically privileged, people who would likely experience less severe consequences if they were caught possessing/selling huge amounts of this drug. While we are shown the stakes if the main character doesn't manage to sell it, selling it is usually treated as a pretty casual, l0w-stakes activity played for laughs. The MMC is a full-time drug dealer, and it feels like a consistent effort is made to contrast him with "regular" drug dealers—we hear about his various codes of ethics, including his choice not to sell certain harder drugs. At the same time, though, at one point he mentions that he wants to spend his whole life selling drugs, and it's treated like a learning moment for the FMC—there's a discussion about how his approach is different from the legal route.
While this is a fascinating discussion for sure, these ideas don't exist in a vacuum, and it feels inappropriate for the characters to go through the whole book without acknowledging the risks they're taking (or the fact that they're ABLE to operate so freely because of the privilege they're awarded by their race and class). The (presumably) lower-class/"real" drug dealers are posed as the villains in the book. Posing dealing drugs as a fun adventure/public service for the middle class characters while painting the other drug dealers in a violent, negative light, without any additional examination of the system, feels like a missed opportunity at best and a shallow, problematic take at worst.
Anyway! All that being said, overall a great book. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator was stellar.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC! All opinions are, of course, my own.
===
CONTENT WARNING: On-page animal death
Look at this cover.
Imagine what book would go with this cover.
This book is exactly like that.
It's bright. It's weirdly sexual. It's a little what the fuck. There are drugs.
Do NOT get scared off by the book description: "For fans of Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Miranda July"? Ew, no. Don't worry, that's just a roundabout way of saying "It's funny and the main character learns about herself." Goodreads is a little more apt in calling the book Phoebe Waller-Bridge meets Breaking Bad, but how about we just let it be its own thing?
Any time a character has to do something an absurd number of times (like selling 200 of something), a book has the potential to get boring, but 200 Monas never flags. The plot does go in some strange directions, but that's part of the appeal! And along the way, we're accompanied by a delightful golden retriever of a maybe-love-interest, which to me is always a bonus.
That said, I do have two qualms with this book:
1. For someone who chose to write a book about sex, the author...is not great at writing sex. Or maybe she just skipped that day of sex-writing school where they passed out the list of no-no never-use-these words that I had assumed at this point had been issued to every sex-writing author? The writing in the book is usually accessible and fun but sometimes goes weirdly purple, and this is most egregious in the sexual scenes, when suddenly we're subjected to phrasing so cringeworthy that I almost started texting the worst offenders to a friend (until I realized that I didn't want to inflict them on anyone else). I love a good un-sexy sex scene, but if you're going to make me cringe with your word choice, it should be on purpose!
2. I hate to be That Guy, but the book's attitude toward selling drugs felt iffy. Disclaimer that this is going to be clumsy commentary—I'm sure people who are better informed than me could voice this much better! But our two main characters are (as far as I could tell—maybe I missed something in the audiobook) white and fairly economically privileged, people who would likely experience less severe consequences if they were caught possessing/selling huge amounts of this drug. While we are shown the stakes if the main character doesn't manage to sell it, selling it is usually treated as a pretty casual, l0w-stakes activity played for laughs. The MMC is a full-time drug dealer, and it feels like a consistent effort is made to contrast him with "regular" drug dealers—we hear about his various codes of ethics, including his choice not to sell certain harder drugs. At the same time, though, at one point he mentions that he wants to spend his whole life selling drugs, and it's treated like a learning moment for the FMC—there's a discussion about how his approach is different from the legal route.
While this is a fascinating discussion for sure, these ideas don't exist in a vacuum, and it feels inappropriate for the characters to go through the whole book without acknowledging the risks they're taking (or the fact that they're ABLE to operate so freely because of the privilege they're awarded by their race and class). The (presumably) lower-class/"real" drug dealers are posed as the villains in the book. Posing dealing drugs as a fun adventure/public service for the middle class characters while painting the other drug dealers in a violent, negative light, without any additional examination of the system, feels like a missed opportunity at best and a shallow, problematic take at worst.
Anyway! All that being said, overall a great book. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator was stellar.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC! All opinions are, of course, my own.
===
CONTENT WARNING: On-page animal death
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Oh, wow.
2.5
This book was intended to be satire, right? Right?? Please say yes, it'll make me feel so much better.
I honestly don't know where to begin, but because this was an ALC, let's start with my thoughts on the Audiobook and Vanessa Moyen's performance.
Now, Vanessa, you really did that. This was my first time listening to anything voiced by Vanessa, and I'll honestly be looking through her catalog for more. If it weren't for her, I'm not entirely sure I would have made it through this. Her performance was stellar, her character voices were amazing, and the overall production quality was also amazing.
Now the book itself... I just don't think it was for me, though I can see others enjoying this quirky, out-of-the-box book. Our FMC, Arvy, a college student who recently lost her mom, discovers a bag of pills she's suddenly responsible for selling in 48 hours. Now, what are these pills? An experimental drug called Mona that induces intense orgasms. Over the course of the book, we meet a myriad of characters, get into very, very odd situations, and explore themes of grief, sexual exploration, and female empowerment. It's one of those... "That's it. That's the book, but wait..." type of reads. In short, that is essentially all you need to know, but you may feel like you're falling down the rabbit hole of experiences.
There were good portions of the book that I enjoyed (the writing style and character development), but there were also... very off-putting moments. I'm no stranger to elements of dub-con in books, but there are multiple sections where the FMC comes across as uncaring about the MMC's No's, which stuck out to me because Wolf (the MMC) was actually very verbal about his respect for consent. There were also messages (female empowerment, dealing with grief and mental health, self-identity) that were meant to be conveyed, but the execution of discussing these elements heavily missed the mark by being laced with humor and off-color remarks.
The length of the book was also an issue for me. Many scenes could have been taken out, edited to be shorter, and the ending... man, I really was pushing for a literary fiction ending (as that seemed where it was heading), but we do get an HEA for our main characters who only truly knew each other for less than a week! Trauma bonding at it's finest. Just a few out of place moments here and there.
I received the audiobook arc, so I'm unsure if the physical copy will have content warnings, but it should include a brief list. Here are some that a few readers may find they'd prefer to be warned about: Animal harm (yep. on page, referenced consistently), Dub-con (not entirely too graphic, but very noticeable), sexual content (it's a given lol, but hey, why not), depression and brief mentions of suicide (the latter not on page, but implied).
Overall, the audiobook listening experience was amazing, but digesting this book was not for me. I'd like to give Jan another go; this author has a very clear voice and I'd love to see it in a different context.
If you like your books weird, rollercoaster-y, and make you feel like you're in a fever dream? This is for you. I don't know if I have any comps for this, I've never read anything quite like this book.
Thank you NetGalley and Hachett Audio for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.
2.5
This book was intended to be satire, right? Right?? Please say yes, it'll make me feel so much better.
I honestly don't know where to begin, but because this was an ALC, let's start with my thoughts on the Audiobook and Vanessa Moyen's performance.
Now, Vanessa, you really did that. This was my first time listening to anything voiced by Vanessa, and I'll honestly be looking through her catalog for more. If it weren't for her, I'm not entirely sure I would have made it through this. Her performance was stellar, her character voices were amazing, and the overall production quality was also amazing.
Now the book itself... I just don't think it was for me, though I can see others enjoying this quirky, out-of-the-box book. Our FMC, Arvy, a college student who recently lost her mom, discovers a bag of pills she's suddenly responsible for selling in 48 hours. Now, what are these pills? An experimental drug called Mona that induces intense orgasms. Over the course of the book, we meet a myriad of characters, get into very, very odd situations, and explore themes of grief, sexual exploration, and female empowerment. It's one of those... "That's it. That's the book, but wait..." type of reads. In short, that is essentially all you need to know, but you may feel like you're falling down the rabbit hole of experiences.
There were good portions of the book that I enjoyed (the writing style and character development), but there were also... very off-putting moments. I'm no stranger to elements of dub-con in books, but there are multiple sections where the FMC comes across as uncaring about the MMC's No's, which stuck out to me because Wolf (the MMC) was actually very verbal about his respect for consent. There were also messages (female empowerment, dealing with grief and mental health, self-identity) that were meant to be conveyed, but the execution of discussing these elements heavily missed the mark by being laced with humor and off-color remarks.
The length of the book was also an issue for me. Many scenes could have been taken out, edited to be shorter, and the ending... man, I really was pushing for a literary fiction ending (as that seemed where it was heading), but we do get an HEA for our main characters who only truly knew each other for less than a week! Trauma bonding at it's finest. Just a few out of place moments here and there.
I received the audiobook arc, so I'm unsure if the physical copy will have content warnings, but it should include a brief list. Here are some that a few readers may find they'd prefer to be warned about: Animal harm (yep. on page, referenced consistently), Dub-con (not entirely too graphic, but very noticeable), sexual content (it's a given lol, but hey, why not), depression and brief mentions of suicide (the latter not on page, but implied).
Overall, the audiobook listening experience was amazing, but digesting this book was not for me. I'd like to give Jan another go; this author has a very clear voice and I'd love to see it in a different context.
If you like your books weird, rollercoaster-y, and make you feel like you're in a fever dream? This is for you. I don't know if I have any comps for this, I've never read anything quite like this book.
Thank you NetGalley and Hachett Audio for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews