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Hat Man Harvest
He’s a monster who feeds on fear. She’s never been less afraid.
After a spectacular public meltdown and a hasty exit from the startup she helped build, Mia Williams isn’t looking for meaning—just somewhere to disappear. A friend’s strangely cheap sublet in Coral Key, a sleepy coastal town with odd energy and even stranger residents, seems perfect. Her plan is pick up gig work, keep her head down, and stay far away from the chaos she left behind.
But Coral Key doesn’t do normal. And Mia’s new job? Cleaning for the town’s many inhuman residents.
She’s seen her fair share of unsettling clients—but none like Nate Alston. Tall, brooding, and barely clinging to his glamour, the shadowy nightmare creature feeds off of fear and is everything Mia should avoid.
Nate’s immortal, miserable, and very much not interested in falling for a human. But Mia’s chaotic energy is addictive—and unafraid. Worse, she makes him feel… curious. Alive. Maybe even seen.
When Mia needs a date to a Halloween party and Nate needs a distraction from instincts that are getting harder to control, they agree to fake it. Just for a few days. Just until the party.
But Coral Key has a way of making even pretend things real—and falling for each other might be the most dangerous mistake they’ll ever make.
Perfect for readers of Kathryn Moon and Lillian Lark, Hat Man Harvest is a dual-POV, full-length paranormal monster romance with a guaranteed HEA that features fake dating and an immortal shadow daddy.
See author’s website for more detailed content warnings.
Hat Man Harvest is the third in a series of small town standalones, each set in a different location and season. All books in the Wild Wanderings series can be read in any order.
After a spectacular public meltdown and a hasty exit from the startup she helped build, Mia Williams isn’t looking for meaning—just somewhere to disappear. A friend’s strangely cheap sublet in Coral Key, a sleepy coastal town with odd energy and even stranger residents, seems perfect. Her plan is pick up gig work, keep her head down, and stay far away from the chaos she left behind.
But Coral Key doesn’t do normal. And Mia’s new job? Cleaning for the town’s many inhuman residents.
She’s seen her fair share of unsettling clients—but none like Nate Alston. Tall, brooding, and barely clinging to his glamour, the shadowy nightmare creature feeds off of fear and is everything Mia should avoid.
Nate’s immortal, miserable, and very much not interested in falling for a human. But Mia’s chaotic energy is addictive—and unafraid. Worse, she makes him feel… curious. Alive. Maybe even seen.
When Mia needs a date to a Halloween party and Nate needs a distraction from instincts that are getting harder to control, they agree to fake it. Just for a few days. Just until the party.
But Coral Key has a way of making even pretend things real—and falling for each other might be the most dangerous mistake they’ll ever make.
Perfect for readers of Kathryn Moon and Lillian Lark, Hat Man Harvest is a dual-POV, full-length paranormal monster romance with a guaranteed HEA that features fake dating and an immortal shadow daddy.
See author’s website for more detailed content warnings.
Hat Man Harvest is the third in a series of small town standalones, each set in a different location and season. All books in the Wild Wanderings series can be read in any order.
- GenresParanormal Romance
269 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 30, 2025
5 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 24, 2025
I’ve said it once, but let me say it again for the people in the back: my TBR is miles long. Did that stop me from requesting Hat Man Harvest by Talia Greer? No, no it did not.
Talia Greer is a new-to-me author and let 👏 me 👏 tell 👏 you—I stayed up way too late reading this. A 30-something FMC whose cutthroat professional career crashes and burns? Preaching to the choir. Add in an equally lost shadow man and a three-headed “puppy” named Molly, and I was hooked.
As a high-ranking professional who turns to fantasy and romance to escape, I LIVED. This was such a fun, fast-paced read, and now I need to double back and explore more of Greer’s work.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this eARC!
Talia Greer is a new-to-me author and let 👏 me 👏 tell 👏 you—I stayed up way too late reading this. A 30-something FMC whose cutthroat professional career crashes and burns? Preaching to the choir. Add in an equally lost shadow man and a three-headed “puppy” named Molly, and I was hooked.
As a high-ranking professional who turns to fantasy and romance to escape, I LIVED. This was such a fun, fast-paced read, and now I need to double back and explore more of Greer’s work.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this eARC!
December 27, 2025
Hat Man Harvest by Talia Greer
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
5/5 without question
I’ve gotta be honest – I saw the title and basically wtf-ed my way past it before a friend convinced me to request it. I can’t say the fact that I ended up absolutely LOVING it was a complete surprise because I did read the reviews before I started (and they were overwhelmingly positive), but it still was even more enjoyable than I expected! I never thought the benedryl-induced sleep paralysis demon known as the Hat Man would make his way into top shadow daddy spot, but here we are!
I really liked the characters and (maybe not a positive) but could relate a lot to Mia. Nate is pretty top notch as a love interest and his aversion to falling for a human makes perfect sense. I love the sassy, passive-aggressive apartment and I love Molly the goofball Hellhound.
The plot and character development was a lot more in-depth than I normally would expect out of a book this length or, to be frank, a book about a nightmare shadow daddy. I thought the entire concept behind Nate’s work is extremely interesting and well thought out! The humour was on point and the writing was very very well done!
I haven’t read this author before though I know she’s written other books (which I will now be searching out most definitely), but it’s clear that she’s a talented writer ands knows how to write fun, “light-hearted-ish” books without sacrificing the quality of the writing.
PLUS, as anyone who has read my reviews before (or the real life friends I torture with my opinions on books they haven’t read) I’m not actually a huge fan of smut. Or well, I should rephrase. I like smut, but I’m very particular, and I absolutely acknowledge that the spicy bits in most mainstream romantasy/romance/spicy romance are just not for me. So for me I basically rank a spicy scene on three criteria: how well is it written in general? how much can I actually imagine the characters doing or saying certain things? did anything make me cringe?
As far as I’m concerned, this book scores a 5/5 on its spicy scenes – in fact, I actually read through all of it (I’ll be honest, sooooooometimes I’ll skip through if it obviously and quickly fails to meet the first criteria...Or if the third one happens). So, for my....specific/snobbish/discerning/eclectic/confusing/weird approach to ready spicy novels for everything except the spice...this is the highest praise I can offer.
Adored it, will be reading more by this author, a million thanks for the ARC :-)
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
5/5 without question
I’ve gotta be honest – I saw the title and basically wtf-ed my way past it before a friend convinced me to request it. I can’t say the fact that I ended up absolutely LOVING it was a complete surprise because I did read the reviews before I started (and they were overwhelmingly positive), but it still was even more enjoyable than I expected! I never thought the benedryl-induced sleep paralysis demon known as the Hat Man would make his way into top shadow daddy spot, but here we are!
I really liked the characters and (maybe not a positive) but could relate a lot to Mia. Nate is pretty top notch as a love interest and his aversion to falling for a human makes perfect sense. I love the sassy, passive-aggressive apartment and I love Molly the goofball Hellhound.
The plot and character development was a lot more in-depth than I normally would expect out of a book this length or, to be frank, a book about a nightmare shadow daddy. I thought the entire concept behind Nate’s work is extremely interesting and well thought out! The humour was on point and the writing was very very well done!
I haven’t read this author before though I know she’s written other books (which I will now be searching out most definitely), but it’s clear that she’s a talented writer ands knows how to write fun, “light-hearted-ish” books without sacrificing the quality of the writing.
PLUS, as anyone who has read my reviews before (or the real life friends I torture with my opinions on books they haven’t read) I’m not actually a huge fan of smut. Or well, I should rephrase. I like smut, but I’m very particular, and I absolutely acknowledge that the spicy bits in most mainstream romantasy/romance/spicy romance are just not for me. So for me I basically rank a spicy scene on three criteria: how well is it written in general? how much can I actually imagine the characters doing or saying certain things? did anything make me cringe?
As far as I’m concerned, this book scores a 5/5 on its spicy scenes – in fact, I actually read through all of it (I’ll be honest, sooooooometimes I’ll skip through if it obviously and quickly fails to meet the first criteria...Or if the third one happens). So, for my....specific/snobbish/discerning/eclectic/confusing/weird approach to ready spicy novels for everything except the spice...this is the highest praise I can offer.
Adored it, will be reading more by this author, a million thanks for the ARC :-)
November 15, 2025
Hat Man Harvest was an intriguing read, though it’s not one I’d recommend for anyone not in a good mental place. The story is quite heavy and melancholic, not in a harmful way, but in a way that evokes deep sympathy for the characters. Both of the main characters, Mia and Nate, are struggling with dissatisfaction in their careers, each on their own personal journey of trying to figure out what comes next.
This book is probably most relatable for people who aren’t happy with their jobs but are hesitant or unsure about making a change. Mia, in particular, experiences a kind of heartbreak that many people might not recognize as such being essentially dumped by a comfortable job can feel like a form of loss, leaving you unsure of what to do next. She’s stuck just going through the motions, not really healing but simply surviving day by day.
Nate, on the other hand, may be immortal, but he's also deeply unhappy. He faces overwhelming pressure to live up to impossible expectations, leading him to feel like a failure. Both Mia and Nate connect over their shared trauma, and while their initial bond is hesitant and imperfect, as they open up and face their wounds, they begin to heal together. This story is about grief, whether it's the loss of love, career, or friendships, but it’s also about love and the healing that can come from vulnerability and support.
One thing I particularly appreciated was how the apartment constantly checked in on Mia and recognizing when she wasn’t doing well. It would have been fascinating to hear the apartment’s perspective, almost as an outside observer. I also found myself wishing Mia could’ve stood up more to her ex, Selene, as she gained confidence towards the end of the book.
The main takeaway for me was the importance of prioritizing your own mental health and personal growth, instead of putting all your energy into a company or career. It’s essential to focus on your own well-being and not lose yourself in the process. Overall, this was a thought-provoking read, but I’d caution anyone in a fragile mental state to approach it with care. Sidenote this is a slow burn with little spice a lot of character development.
This book is probably most relatable for people who aren’t happy with their jobs but are hesitant or unsure about making a change. Mia, in particular, experiences a kind of heartbreak that many people might not recognize as such being essentially dumped by a comfortable job can feel like a form of loss, leaving you unsure of what to do next. She’s stuck just going through the motions, not really healing but simply surviving day by day.
Nate, on the other hand, may be immortal, but he's also deeply unhappy. He faces overwhelming pressure to live up to impossible expectations, leading him to feel like a failure. Both Mia and Nate connect over their shared trauma, and while their initial bond is hesitant and imperfect, as they open up and face their wounds, they begin to heal together. This story is about grief, whether it's the loss of love, career, or friendships, but it’s also about love and the healing that can come from vulnerability and support.
One thing I particularly appreciated was how the apartment constantly checked in on Mia and recognizing when she wasn’t doing well. It would have been fascinating to hear the apartment’s perspective, almost as an outside observer. I also found myself wishing Mia could’ve stood up more to her ex, Selene, as she gained confidence towards the end of the book.
The main takeaway for me was the importance of prioritizing your own mental health and personal growth, instead of putting all your energy into a company or career. It’s essential to focus on your own well-being and not lose yourself in the process. Overall, this was a thought-provoking read, but I’d caution anyone in a fragile mental state to approach it with care. Sidenote this is a slow burn with little spice a lot of character development.
October 24, 2025
So, this book had me at Shadow Daddy. Like, I didn’t even need to know the plot, just hand me the monster and a blanket and let’s go. I saw that blurb, clocked “feeds on fear,” and immediately knew I was about to make a questionable (but correct) life choice.
Hat Man Harvest is everything I want from a monster romance: lil weird, heartfelt, spicy, and surprisingly tender and emotional under all the darkness. After a spectacular burnout and emotional crash, Mia just wants to disappear, and honestly, mood. She ends up in Coral Key, a coastal town that’s equal parts cute and cursed, and takes a cleaning job for some less-than-human locals. Enter Nate: tall, brooding, terrifying, and somehow the most emotionally constipated man (creature?) to ever fake date a human.
The slow unraveling of both of them as they start actually feeling things? Painfully good. This isn’t just a smutty little romp (though the smut is immaculate)—there’s real emotional meat here. The way the story handles (heavy topics), burnout, fear, and healing hit me way harder than I expected from a book featuring a literal shadow creature.
Mia’s growth was one of my favourite parts. She’s messy, real, and not afraid to call Nate out on his nonsense. And Nate… oh, Nate. My sweet, self-loathing shadow daddy who accidentally caught feelings. I wanted to wrap him in a weighted blanket and tell him it’s okay to be loved (and maybe also ask him to whisper nightmare things in my ear, for balance).
This author is new to me, but consider me converted.
👻 Shadow Daddy? Say less.
🖤 Emotional growth, lil bit of fake dating, and a touch of fear kink? Say more.
💋 10/10 would let him lurk in my nightmares again.
"Come on, Mouse. Let's go make bad choices in public."
Thank you to the Author, Net Galley and Skull & Violet Books for an eARC for my opinion.
Hat Man Harvest is everything I want from a monster romance: lil weird, heartfelt, spicy, and surprisingly tender and emotional under all the darkness. After a spectacular burnout and emotional crash, Mia just wants to disappear, and honestly, mood. She ends up in Coral Key, a coastal town that’s equal parts cute and cursed, and takes a cleaning job for some less-than-human locals. Enter Nate: tall, brooding, terrifying, and somehow the most emotionally constipated man (creature?) to ever fake date a human.
The slow unraveling of both of them as they start actually feeling things? Painfully good. This isn’t just a smutty little romp (though the smut is immaculate)—there’s real emotional meat here. The way the story handles (heavy topics), burnout, fear, and healing hit me way harder than I expected from a book featuring a literal shadow creature.
Mia’s growth was one of my favourite parts. She’s messy, real, and not afraid to call Nate out on his nonsense. And Nate… oh, Nate. My sweet, self-loathing shadow daddy who accidentally caught feelings. I wanted to wrap him in a weighted blanket and tell him it’s okay to be loved (and maybe also ask him to whisper nightmare things in my ear, for balance).
This author is new to me, but consider me converted.
👻 Shadow Daddy? Say less.
🖤 Emotional growth, lil bit of fake dating, and a touch of fear kink? Say more.
💋 10/10 would let him lurk in my nightmares again.
"Come on, Mouse. Let's go make bad choices in public."
Thank you to the Author, Net Galley and Skull & Violet Books for an eARC for my opinion.
January 13, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Skull & Violet Books for an ARC.
💥CONTENT WARNING💥: Explicit description of Attempted Suicide and Suicidal Thoughts
They both agreed that this relationship was for their own personal gains. Mia needs a date for an annual company Halloween party. The very same company that fired her three months ago and her ex will be in attendance. Nate will get fired from his father's company unless he proves he's more than a son riding his dad's coattails. Nate is a shadow entity that feeds on fear and he's never tasted anything as delicious as Mia's energy. The two strike up a deal that they'll help each other out, but never planed on falling in love.
I really liked how the author approaches how easy it is to lose oneself when working for a company that values profit over people. I think that is a common struggle people face and emphasizes how important it is for companies to have a people over profit mindset. I also really like how the author is able to balance out heavy topics with lighthearted humor and banter.
I found Mia and Nate's relationship to cute. They both have their own struggles and trauma and come together because they understood each other's pain. For two lonely individuals to be comforted, seen and heard by someone who understood the pain without the explanation. That was beautiful.
💥CONTENT WARNING💥: Explicit description of Attempted Suicide and Suicidal Thoughts
They both agreed that this relationship was for their own personal gains. Mia needs a date for an annual company Halloween party. The very same company that fired her three months ago and her ex will be in attendance. Nate will get fired from his father's company unless he proves he's more than a son riding his dad's coattails. Nate is a shadow entity that feeds on fear and he's never tasted anything as delicious as Mia's energy. The two strike up a deal that they'll help each other out, but never planed on falling in love.
I really liked how the author approaches how easy it is to lose oneself when working for a company that values profit over people. I think that is a common struggle people face and emphasizes how important it is for companies to have a people over profit mindset. I also really like how the author is able to balance out heavy topics with lighthearted humor and banter.
I found Mia and Nate's relationship to cute. They both have their own struggles and trauma and come together because they understood each other's pain. For two lonely individuals to be comforted, seen and heard by someone who understood the pain without the explanation. That was beautiful.
December 2, 2025
I can honestly say I did not see the direction this book was going to take. So I've held off writing my review for this particular story for more than a few days now. Not because it wasn't good. It was definitely very good, but because for a book about a romance between a topless maid and shadowy hat wearing sleep paralysis entity rumored to be summoned by the over consumption of a specific allergy medication. This was at times a very real feeling story. The spot on description of narcissistic abuse and living with a narcissistic partner, coupled with the pressure and burnout that often comes with the stress to perform found in the corporate office work environment, and the Very real combination of anxiety and depression that can cause a spiral leading to a serious mental health emergency. This story was more than the spicy romantic monster romance I was expecting. The author did an amazing job incorporating all of these additional elements into this book transforming it into something much deeper making Nate and Mia's love story one of the best books I've read this year. I wish I could give more than five stars. This was a phenomenal read, and I sincerely hope my review does this story the justice it deserves.
December 16, 2025
I went into this book without any context other than a quick scan of the synopsis and falling in love with the cover art!!
The book follows Mia after her life "falls apart," where she's working as a topless maid and she meets Nate and his super adorable three-headed hell-hound Molly! The book is like the exact opposite of a light and fluffy read, but still very enjoyable. I really loved both characters and their issues. This would be a perfect short story to read on Halloween! There's just enough layers of the characters to make them interesting, but lowkey it's a book against capitalism LOL. MMC was YEARNING for his girl, but trying his best to protect her the best way he knew how.
The vibes of this book are dark, brooding and kinda sad as well, but like the Shadow Daddy makes up for it?? This was so interesting and unlike anything I've read before! Now, there are some HEAVY topics, including suicide, suicidal thoughts & kinda an attempt, and on page panic attacks. I feel like as a therapist, these scenes were so well done and done with such care, I was impressed. I would strongly urge those who have mental health concerns to think carefully before reading this one.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Skull & Violet Book for the e-ARC!
The book follows Mia after her life "falls apart," where she's working as a topless maid and she meets Nate and his super adorable three-headed hell-hound Molly! The book is like the exact opposite of a light and fluffy read, but still very enjoyable. I really loved both characters and their issues. This would be a perfect short story to read on Halloween! There's just enough layers of the characters to make them interesting, but lowkey it's a book against capitalism LOL. MMC was YEARNING for his girl, but trying his best to protect her the best way he knew how.
The vibes of this book are dark, brooding and kinda sad as well, but like the Shadow Daddy makes up for it?? This was so interesting and unlike anything I've read before! Now, there are some HEAVY topics, including suicide, suicidal thoughts & kinda an attempt, and on page panic attacks. I feel like as a therapist, these scenes were so well done and done with such care, I was impressed. I would strongly urge those who have mental health concerns to think carefully before reading this one.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Skull & Violet Book for the e-ARC!
October 29, 2025
This book left me emotional wrecked but in a good way. First tho absolutely read the trigger warnings cuz this deals with some heavy stuff! Mia goes from CFO who had a breakdown to a topless maid just trying to get herself put back together. One of her clients Nate is a shadow daddy Nightmare who's job is to feed on fear but it just leaves him feeling hallow. Both have adorable furry companions which bring humor and warmth to the story as well. As they recognize the darkness in each other the find they're not so alone and show each other the light too. This dark romance is super heavy but so is real life. It shows strength and hope in knowing you're not as alone as you think.
October 23, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
I saw this title and it felt like a crime to not read it. So here I am, 11pm on a Thursday, reading about a depressed topless maid and her grieving Benadryl induced boyfriend. Okay, sure, why not. It was a quick read but also fell under my favorite genre of monster romances where if you look under its layers, it could be a critique of late stage capitalism. Hat-man just wants to create art, not profit!!! Give the man a break!! I really enjoyed this book and would recommend to anyone who wants a quick and easy themed book for the Halloween season.
I saw this title and it felt like a crime to not read it. So here I am, 11pm on a Thursday, reading about a depressed topless maid and her grieving Benadryl induced boyfriend. Okay, sure, why not. It was a quick read but also fell under my favorite genre of monster romances where if you look under its layers, it could be a critique of late stage capitalism. Hat-man just wants to create art, not profit!!! Give the man a break!! I really enjoyed this book and would recommend to anyone who wants a quick and easy themed book for the Halloween season.
November 8, 2025
This book called to me like a siren song off @netgalley :
Hat Man Harvest by @taliagreerbooks - and now all of you NEED to hear about it too😭😈
I read this in a single day and omg… I would DIE for Nate. What an absolute sweetheart of a shadow daddy. The FEAR-EATING MONSTER WHO YEARNS??
✅Trope Check
Fake dating??
A Halloween party??
Shadow DADDY?!!?
I cannot WAIT to read more from this author 💜👻
Hat Man Harvest by @taliagreerbooks - and now all of you NEED to hear about it too😭😈
I read this in a single day and omg… I would DIE for Nate. What an absolute sweetheart of a shadow daddy. The FEAR-EATING MONSTER WHO YEARNS??
✅Trope Check
Fake dating??
A Halloween party??
Shadow DADDY?!!?
I cannot WAIT to read more from this author 💜👻
November 28, 2025
A unique monster male character, great spicy scenes, unique setting in a futuristic and magical south Florida.
What would you do if you hit rock bottom and every once in a while your ex, who brought you to rock bottom, reminds you that’s where you belong. How do you find self worth again? Maybe be not being afraid of someone everyone else is afraid of but has a really good heart behind all those shadows.
What would you do if you hit rock bottom and every once in a while your ex, who brought you to rock bottom, reminds you that’s where you belong. How do you find self worth again? Maybe be not being afraid of someone everyone else is afraid of but has a really good heart behind all those shadows.
Read
December 29, 2025Soft DNF @ 46%
✨ARC REVIEW✨
this has the potential to be such a good read but I think I'm just not in the mood for it?
the set up is sooo good and it's giving me monsters Inc but with a shadow daddy
I want to be able to give it a proper chance so I'm putting it on the back burner for now and I'll come back to it at some point
✨ARC REVIEW✨
this has the potential to be such a good read but I think I'm just not in the mood for it?
the set up is sooo good and it's giving me monsters Inc but with a shadow daddy
I want to be able to give it a proper chance so I'm putting it on the back burner for now and I'll come back to it at some point
October 30, 2025
I was sold the second I saw this was a Hat Man romance. Didn't even read the blurb - just pure excitement. And it was as good as I was hoping! Our shadow daddy is absolutely adorable. This book was perfection.
November 4, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The plot was super interesting and I loved the characters. The ending def made me shed a few happy tears. 🥹 Such a cute story with heavy themes I found very relatable. 10/10!
October 27, 2025
hilarious and quick read of a monster romance that's a perfect gap-filler in your bookshelf between longer reads. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews