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Succubus: A Love Story
Not yet published
Expected 20 Oct 26Her touch kills, his saves the dying.
Are they fated, or forbidden?
Tempest Dunlap loves romance novels, but she knows she’ll never have her own happily-ever-after. She is a sweatpants-wearing doula who homeschools her seven-year-old niece in suburban New Jersey. Unfortunately, she’s also a succubus: Every man she’s ever kissed has died. But Tempest is a good person who never intended to be a murderer, so she’s sworn off love forever.
Then she meets Joel Tav, a gorgeous, gentle doctor who makes celibacy feel impossible. Tempest knows she can’t touch him—or tell him his brother was the last man she dated and accidentally killed.
Meanwhile, a vigilante is hunting people with dark powers, and Tempest is next. Should she keep hiding in her safe, lonely life, or should she embrace the darkness she fears and risk the ultimate forbidden love?
Maybe Tempest will get her love story after all . . . or maybe she’ll become its villain.
Are they fated, or forbidden?
Tempest Dunlap loves romance novels, but she knows she’ll never have her own happily-ever-after. She is a sweatpants-wearing doula who homeschools her seven-year-old niece in suburban New Jersey. Unfortunately, she’s also a succubus: Every man she’s ever kissed has died. But Tempest is a good person who never intended to be a murderer, so she’s sworn off love forever.
Then she meets Joel Tav, a gorgeous, gentle doctor who makes celibacy feel impossible. Tempest knows she can’t touch him—or tell him his brother was the last man she dated and accidentally killed.
Meanwhile, a vigilante is hunting people with dark powers, and Tempest is next. Should she keep hiding in her safe, lonely life, or should she embrace the darkness she fears and risk the ultimate forbidden love?
Maybe Tempest will get her love story after all . . . or maybe she’ll become its villain.
320 pages, Paperback
Expected publication October 20, 2026
7672 people want to read
About the author
Kate Fox
1 book28 followersKate Fox lives in an old house in an old town in the universally admired state of New Jersey with her husband, daughters, and two absurdly fluffy cats. Her favorite trope is enemies-to-lovers, as long as they're really enemies, and she is always looking for magic in mundane places.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 10, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I picked up Succubus: a Love Story by Kate Fox on a whim expecting a light rom-com with a supernatural twist—and it completely won me over. By about 30% in I was hooked. This book is genuinely funny, clever about its tropes, and way more charming than I expected.
The premise is deliciously messy in the best way: a romance-novel-loving doula who homeschools her niece has sworn off relationships because she’s a succubus and every man she kisses eventually dies. It leans into the absurdity of that situation with a lot of humor and self-awareness, and the voice absolutely carries the story.
What I liked
• Genuinely funny narration—I laughed a lot while reading this.
• A 30-year-old protagonist with a real life (doula, homeschool aunt, chaotic love life).
• The book plays with romance tropes in a clever way, especially the enemies-to-lovers dynamic.
• Even though it’s about a succubus, it never felt like spice for spice’s sake. The humor and character work keep it grounded.
• The heroine reading romance novels to live vicariously was both relatable and hilarious.
I’m also someone who usually doesn’t love insta-love or heavy trope romance, and enemies-to-lovers can feel overdone to me—but here it was handled with enough humor and self-awareness that it actually worked.
What didn’t quite work for me
• Occasionally the formatting made it hard to tell when the protagonist was texting, chatting online, or in her internal monologue. It didn’t ruin the reading experience, but it did pull me out of the story a few times.
This isn’t my usual type of read, but it ended up being a really fun surprise. If you’re looking for a light, funny paranormal rom-com with tropey goodness and a lot of personality, this one is definitely worth picking up
I picked up Succubus: a Love Story by Kate Fox on a whim expecting a light rom-com with a supernatural twist—and it completely won me over. By about 30% in I was hooked. This book is genuinely funny, clever about its tropes, and way more charming than I expected.
The premise is deliciously messy in the best way: a romance-novel-loving doula who homeschools her niece has sworn off relationships because she’s a succubus and every man she kisses eventually dies. It leans into the absurdity of that situation with a lot of humor and self-awareness, and the voice absolutely carries the story.
What I liked
• Genuinely funny narration—I laughed a lot while reading this.
• A 30-year-old protagonist with a real life (doula, homeschool aunt, chaotic love life).
• The book plays with romance tropes in a clever way, especially the enemies-to-lovers dynamic.
• Even though it’s about a succubus, it never felt like spice for spice’s sake. The humor and character work keep it grounded.
• The heroine reading romance novels to live vicariously was both relatable and hilarious.
I’m also someone who usually doesn’t love insta-love or heavy trope romance, and enemies-to-lovers can feel overdone to me—but here it was handled with enough humor and self-awareness that it actually worked.
What didn’t quite work for me
• Occasionally the formatting made it hard to tell when the protagonist was texting, chatting online, or in her internal monologue. It didn’t ruin the reading experience, but it did pull me out of the story a few times.
This isn’t my usual type of read, but it ended up being a really fun surprise. If you’re looking for a light, funny paranormal rom-com with tropey goodness and a lot of personality, this one is definitely worth picking up
Want to read
March 4, 2026Ready to have the soul sucked out of me (but, like, happily).
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Recieved e-Arc through Netgalley
4.5 Stars
What can I say besides that this book sucked me in! The writing style is so unique, and oh-so funny. It's quick and terse sometimes, but then a beautifully detailed description comes along. It reads like a conversation. The premise of this type of magic appearing in our reality is a very hard concept to do right, but Kate Fox manages to jump right into it by acknowledging the silliness of situation just as easily as she can address the incredible sadness that comes with being a succubus, and forcing yourself to avoid connection, love, and lust and the other cons of denying your body something so natually human (and succubi) to want. I love Tempest, and, again, the unique writing style really makes you understand her as we follow that stream of conciousness tone. What I found so incredibly fun is that Tempest can "lie" or omit from the reader, but she always comes back to it. It's that little action that really humanizes her, and makes her seem real. Don't we all try and keep some thoughts to ourselves, even from ourselves sometimes? T feels so real I could touch her, and was just a genuinely good person.
I do think the romance was the tiniest bit insta lovey, but it reminded me of the magical realism genre. That unquestionablly normal type of love that appears suddenly and both the characters lean into it really fast. I wish we got to know Joel just a miniscule bit more, but I still didn't mind him. I think he's perfect to Tempest. I also thought it was so funny how neither of them seem to actually work throughout the book, but I guess we needed them to have a open schedule for their shenanigans. I don't think I have ever seen a doctor and a doula have such an easy-going schedule.
I also think that this book could benefit from a trigger warnings blurb, as it does touch on some sensitive topics.
The story itself was pretty well thought-out, but keep in mind that we don't get a big reveal of why this type of magic is out in the world. We know who it comes from, but there are no official names or titles for any information on it. The romance truly takes the center stage, and the magic system is a step back. We just have to trust Tempest and the character's she encounters to give us enough information to follow her story.
I was so sad to end this book! I wish the ending could have been a little longer to wrap myself in it, but the ending itself is just so hopefully cozy that I don't mind it either.
I can't wait to read what Kate Fox does next.
4.5 Stars
What can I say besides that this book sucked me in! The writing style is so unique, and oh-so funny. It's quick and terse sometimes, but then a beautifully detailed description comes along. It reads like a conversation. The premise of this type of magic appearing in our reality is a very hard concept to do right, but Kate Fox manages to jump right into it by acknowledging the silliness of situation just as easily as she can address the incredible sadness that comes with being a succubus, and forcing yourself to avoid connection, love, and lust and the other cons of denying your body something so natually human (and succubi) to want. I love Tempest, and, again, the unique writing style really makes you understand her as we follow that stream of conciousness tone. What I found so incredibly fun is that Tempest can "lie" or omit from the reader, but she always comes back to it. It's that little action that really humanizes her, and makes her seem real. Don't we all try and keep some thoughts to ourselves, even from ourselves sometimes? T feels so real I could touch her, and was just a genuinely good person.
I do think the romance was the tiniest bit insta lovey, but it reminded me of the magical realism genre. That unquestionablly normal type of love that appears suddenly and both the characters lean into it really fast. I wish we got to know Joel just a miniscule bit more, but I still didn't mind him. I think he's perfect to Tempest. I also thought it was so funny how neither of them seem to actually work throughout the book, but I guess we needed them to have a open schedule for their shenanigans. I don't think I have ever seen a doctor and a doula have such an easy-going schedule.
I also think that this book could benefit from a trigger warnings blurb, as it does touch on some sensitive topics.
The story itself was pretty well thought-out, but keep in mind that we don't get a big reveal of why this type of magic is out in the world. We know who it comes from, but there are no official names or titles for any information on it. The romance truly takes the center stage, and the magic system is a step back. We just have to trust Tempest and the character's she encounters to give us enough information to follow her story.
I was so sad to end this book! I wish the ending could have been a little longer to wrap myself in it, but the ending itself is just so hopefully cozy that I don't mind it either.
I can't wait to read what Kate Fox does next.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I’m very grateful to have received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley for this book. I was hooked on the description, but had no idea what kind of ride this book would take me on! I will be pre-ordering a physical copy as soon as I finish writing this, no lie!
The story follows Tempest, a homeschool aunt/ doula who suffers from a curse giving her powers like that of a succubus. She swears off men, until she meets Joel Tav. He’s the perfect man— loves animals, cares for kids and is a doctor. But there is more to him than meets the eye!
You can absolutely tell how connected Kate Fox was to Tempest. The way that this character is written is very personal and human, and all of her thoughts and feelings are explained in such a deeply metaphorical way that you can actually visualize them. Her writing style is very poetic and elegant, and I hope other books she writes in the future are done the same.
The sheer magnitude of what these powers do to her and affect her throughout her life is very raw and honest. And the scenes where she dips into her powers are SO well done! It’s like a completely different person took over narrating. And the reactions from her family and from Joel are realistic and downright slimy at times, leaving you feeling disappointed. (Some are kinda funny though, or shocking! The scene at the doctor’s office comes to mind!)
I gotta say that the tropes were well done too! I love enemies to lovers, and this fit that really well. It was also laugh-out-loud funny at times. 😁 The resolution, however, left me with a huge smile on my face. It was a slow-clap ending for sure!
“I don’t need three days, I think at him. You’ll be dead by tomorrow night. And I won’t shave my armpits. No f****ng way.”
The story follows Tempest, a homeschool aunt/ doula who suffers from a curse giving her powers like that of a succubus. She swears off men, until she meets Joel Tav. He’s the perfect man— loves animals, cares for kids and is a doctor. But there is more to him than meets the eye!
You can absolutely tell how connected Kate Fox was to Tempest. The way that this character is written is very personal and human, and all of her thoughts and feelings are explained in such a deeply metaphorical way that you can actually visualize them. Her writing style is very poetic and elegant, and I hope other books she writes in the future are done the same.
The sheer magnitude of what these powers do to her and affect her throughout her life is very raw and honest. And the scenes where she dips into her powers are SO well done! It’s like a completely different person took over narrating. And the reactions from her family and from Joel are realistic and downright slimy at times, leaving you feeling disappointed. (Some are kinda funny though, or shocking! The scene at the doctor’s office comes to mind!)
I gotta say that the tropes were well done too! I love enemies to lovers, and this fit that really well. It was also laugh-out-loud funny at times. 😁 The resolution, however, left me with a huge smile on my face. It was a slow-clap ending for sure!
“I don’t need three days, I think at him. You’ll be dead by tomorrow night. And I won’t shave my armpits. No f****ng way.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🖤Succubus: A Love Story🖤
By Kate Fox
4 ⭐
“He is so mouthwatering, so horrible and beautiful, I want to tear something apart. Maybe him.”
~~
What a fun surprise! After stumbling upon the blurb of this hilarious paranormal tale of forbidden love, I couldn’t wait to give this new-to-me author a go. Kate’s writing style is unlike any I’ve read before. It’s artsy and playful, with oddly specific, highly relatable descriptions and comparisons that I couldn’t get enough of. Yet she also utilizes these short, choppy sentences that sort of mimic the way my own inner thoughts sound in my head. I found it all really entertaining.
The story itself was cheeky and a super clever concept. Packed with the most charmingly unique brand of humor, there were multiple instances where I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself. The pace was a smidge slow to start but once things picked up around Part II, I couldn’t put the book down.
Though the FMC is a succubus, the spicy scenes felt rather tame. Don’t get me wrong, there was some heat. And I think I can see a connection as to how those acts were more her “DP” as opposed to her most sincere desires, but I still felt this selfish need for more.
Overall, I enjoyed this one and I’m glad I took a chance on it! I'm eager to see what else Kate comes up with 🤗
~~
Big thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin/St. Martin's Press for sharing an early copy. These are my honest thoughts ✨
By Kate Fox
4 ⭐
“He is so mouthwatering, so horrible and beautiful, I want to tear something apart. Maybe him.”
~~
What a fun surprise! After stumbling upon the blurb of this hilarious paranormal tale of forbidden love, I couldn’t wait to give this new-to-me author a go. Kate’s writing style is unlike any I’ve read before. It’s artsy and playful, with oddly specific, highly relatable descriptions and comparisons that I couldn’t get enough of. Yet she also utilizes these short, choppy sentences that sort of mimic the way my own inner thoughts sound in my head. I found it all really entertaining.
The story itself was cheeky and a super clever concept. Packed with the most charmingly unique brand of humor, there were multiple instances where I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself. The pace was a smidge slow to start but once things picked up around Part II, I couldn’t put the book down.
Though the FMC is a succubus, the spicy scenes felt rather tame. Don’t get me wrong, there was some heat. And I think I can see a connection as to how those acts were more her “DP” as opposed to her most sincere desires, but I still felt this selfish need for more.
Overall, I enjoyed this one and I’m glad I took a chance on it! I'm eager to see what else Kate comes up with 🤗
~~
Big thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin/St. Martin's Press for sharing an early copy. These are my honest thoughts ✨
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
What a surprise! Though this was darker and more angsty than the cover and description led me to think it would be, I felt like it was strong fantasy romance.
I thought the writing was great, kind of a mix between the Harbinger series by Jennifer Armentrout but with Sally Thorne’s quirky, stream-of-consciousness tone. I was interested in the story within the first few chapters and was totally into it by about 30%. If you are looking for a fluffy love story, that is not this book. I was stressed as heck while reading it. My jaw dropped twice because of the plot twists. The author did not hold back, y’all. The romantic relationship is a piece of the story, but I felt like it was more about the tension of who Joel and Tempest are - angel versus demon - and how they deal with that reality.
If I had one suggestion before publication, it would be changing how text messages and digital communication are formatted. It was often difficult to differentiate them from Tempest’s internal thoughts or the general narration. Italics or another visual cue might make those moments clearer.
If you like fantasy romance and an altruistic succubus who resists her powers and longs to fall in love sounds interesting to you - you should definitely pick this up!
What a surprise! Though this was darker and more angsty than the cover and description led me to think it would be, I felt like it was strong fantasy romance.
I thought the writing was great, kind of a mix between the Harbinger series by Jennifer Armentrout but with Sally Thorne’s quirky, stream-of-consciousness tone. I was interested in the story within the first few chapters and was totally into it by about 30%. If you are looking for a fluffy love story, that is not this book. I was stressed as heck while reading it. My jaw dropped twice because of the plot twists. The author did not hold back, y’all. The romantic relationship is a piece of the story, but I felt like it was more about the tension of who Joel and Tempest are - angel versus demon - and how they deal with that reality.
If I had one suggestion before publication, it would be changing how text messages and digital communication are formatted. It was often difficult to differentiate them from Tempest’s internal thoughts or the general narration. Italics or another visual cue might make those moments clearer.
If you like fantasy romance and an altruistic succubus who resists her powers and longs to fall in love sounds interesting to you - you should definitely pick this up!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a cute, fun read! I did not expect this to be as charming as it was. A seemingly random workplace meet-up turns into a stormy paranormal relationship. For Tempest (doula) and Dr. Joel Tav (doctor), it's an instant connection. Too bad their paranormal selves are in conflict.
Girl power, secrets, homeschooling, higher calling to medical fields due to past experiences. Found family in an odd way, without giving away spoilers.
I have a pet peeve about workplace romances that ignore the workplace, after the meet-cute. Do these people have unlimited time off, now that they are in love? For two main characters who dedicated their lives to helping people, building up their medical practices, now all of the sudden they are constantly home, moping around?
The niece Ella's frequent bratty tantrums just got to me after awhile. It wasn't cute, and was unnecessary to the storyline. We get it. She's 7 and homeschooled.
I did have some annoyances regarding the text messages used throughout. I'm guessing since I had an eBook ARC that the final edition will remedy that. (It was hard to follow when the texts were not in a bold/italic/separate sentence, especially when the texter was thinking about the messages).
I received an ARC from NetGalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Girl power, secrets, homeschooling, higher calling to medical fields due to past experiences. Found family in an odd way, without giving away spoilers.
I have a pet peeve about workplace romances that ignore the workplace, after the meet-cute. Do these people have unlimited time off, now that they are in love? For two main characters who dedicated their lives to helping people, building up their medical practices, now all of the sudden they are constantly home, moping around?
The niece Ella's frequent bratty tantrums just got to me after awhile. It wasn't cute, and was unnecessary to the storyline. We get it. She's 7 and homeschooled.
I did have some annoyances regarding the text messages used throughout. I'm guessing since I had an eBook ARC that the final edition will remedy that. (It was hard to follow when the texts were not in a bold/italic/separate sentence, especially when the texter was thinking about the messages).
I received an ARC from NetGalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.
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March 18, 2026I loved this book. Truly, my favorite thing about Kate Fox’s writing is how completely it pulls you in—it’s just so fun to read, pretty at times, unexpected at times, so juicy. The kind of book where you look up and realize you’ve flown through 50 pages without noticing. And then, tucked into that momentum, are these moments that are not only beautiful but laugh-out-loud funny in this sharp, surprising way.
The premise alone had me hooked: a romance-loving doula who can’t kiss anyone without killing them? Say less. It’s dark, it’s clever, it’s a little twisted—but also deeply human. Tempest is such a compelling character, balancing tenderness, guilt, longing, and a very real desire for connection, even when it feels impossible.
What I especially loved is how the book plays with the idea of the “happily ever after.” It asks who gets one, who doesn’t, and what it costs to want it anyway. There’s tension, there’s heart, and there’s this underlying question of whether embracing who you are—even the darker parts—might be the only way forward.
It’s gripping, it’s funny, it’s romantic in a totally unexpected way—and it absolutely delivers on both the premise and the voice. I couldn’t put it down.
The premise alone had me hooked: a romance-loving doula who can’t kiss anyone without killing them? Say less. It’s dark, it’s clever, it’s a little twisted—but also deeply human. Tempest is such a compelling character, balancing tenderness, guilt, longing, and a very real desire for connection, even when it feels impossible.
What I especially loved is how the book plays with the idea of the “happily ever after.” It asks who gets one, who doesn’t, and what it costs to want it anyway. There’s tension, there’s heart, and there’s this underlying question of whether embracing who you are—even the darker parts—might be the only way forward.
It’s gripping, it’s funny, it’s romantic in a totally unexpected way—and it absolutely delivers on both the premise and the voice. I couldn’t put it down.
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March 8, 2026Tempest siempre ha tenido una maldición, cada vez que se involucra con un hombre, algo terrible termina pasando. Los chicos con los que se besa o se acuesta terminan muriendo y durante años ha intentado de convencerse de que no es su culpa.
Ahora tiene treinta y tantos, vive con su hermana y ayuda a cuidar a su sobrina mientras trabaja como partera. Su vida es tranquila y solitaria, lo cual es exactamente lo que necesita para no volver a lastimar a nadie. Pero todo se complica cuando conoce a Joel, un médico que parece tener el efecto contrario al suyo. Mientras ella trae muerte sin querer, él parece salvar a personas, incluso aquellas que están a un paso de la muerte.
__
La idea se me hizo interesante, solo que hay demasiado diálogo donde no ocurre nada, se repite lo mismo una y otra vez.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Ahora tiene treinta y tantos, vive con su hermana y ayuda a cuidar a su sobrina mientras trabaja como partera. Su vida es tranquila y solitaria, lo cual es exactamente lo que necesita para no volver a lastimar a nadie. Pero todo se complica cuando conoce a Joel, un médico que parece tener el efecto contrario al suyo. Mientras ella trae muerte sin querer, él parece salvar a personas, incluso aquellas que están a un paso de la muerte.
__
La idea se me hizo interesante, solo que hay demasiado diálogo donde no ocurre nada, se repite lo mismo una y otra vez.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks for the ARC NetGalley.
Friendly to enemies to lovers? If you can call it that. I genuinely didn't know which outcome I was rooting for at the end of this one.
T is a succubus that hates what she is and is working with Grub (virtually) to figure out if they're demons and if they're being hunted. Then she meets her father who is apparently the father of all the demons and (shocker) just a bad bad person. Things go downhill then uphill then downhill again, they kind of level out at the end.
When I started this one I wasn't to sure that the writing style and I would click - felt like the character was having a conversation with you at times, but after a few chapters it flowed better for me. I won't say I totally understood everything, the first touch/love exception rules were quite confusing, but I enjoyed it.
Friendly to enemies to lovers? If you can call it that. I genuinely didn't know which outcome I was rooting for at the end of this one.
T is a succubus that hates what she is and is working with Grub (virtually) to figure out if they're demons and if they're being hunted. Then she meets her father who is apparently the father of all the demons and (shocker) just a bad bad person. Things go downhill then uphill then downhill again, they kind of level out at the end.
When I started this one I wasn't to sure that the writing style and I would click - felt like the character was having a conversation with you at times, but after a few chapters it flowed better for me. I won't say I totally understood everything, the first touch/love exception rules were quite confusing, but I enjoyed it.
Review of advance copy
*May contain spoilers*
thanks @netgalley for the ARC and Thanks Kate Fox for approving the ARC
reading review coming soon....
I had so much fun reading this book thank you at @netgalley.com for approving me the ARC and giving it a review I also would like to thank Kate Fox for approving my @netgalley ARC of this book Umm what's better than a succubus and her monster that's supposed to kill her falling in love Well if she touches him he dies if he touches her she dies slowly You have to read the book to find out what's going to go on with these two if they're going to end up with their happily ever after or kill each other I had so much fun reading this I laughed I shed a few tears I kicked my feet It was so so so so much fun
thanks @netgalley for the ARC and Thanks Kate Fox for approving the ARC
reading review coming soon....
I had so much fun reading this book thank you at @netgalley.com for approving me the ARC and giving it a review I also would like to thank Kate Fox for approving my @netgalley ARC of this book Umm what's better than a succubus and her monster that's supposed to kill her falling in love Well if she touches him he dies if he touches her she dies slowly You have to read the book to find out what's going to go on with these two if they're going to end up with their happily ever after or kill each other I had so much fun reading this I laughed I shed a few tears I kicked my feet It was so so so so much fun
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🌺Review of advanced reader copy received from NetGalley🌺
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Succubus was an interesting read, with a strong premise. Not once did I know what was going to happen next, and the plot twist at the end of part one threw me in for a loop, to the point I had to set the kindle down and stare at a blank wall for a good two minutes.
I will say, however, that it took me a while to feel it click while reading, sort of get into the flow of things. I don’t think I did until part two. The ending was saddening but satisfying, with a chance for redemption for both Tempest and Joel. Their relationship was… chaotic, to say the least.
It’s a good quick read, really, but it does take a second for things to sort of click together.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Succubus was an interesting read, with a strong premise. Not once did I know what was going to happen next, and the plot twist at the end of part one threw me in for a loop, to the point I had to set the kindle down and stare at a blank wall for a good two minutes.
I will say, however, that it took me a while to feel it click while reading, sort of get into the flow of things. I don’t think I did until part two. The ending was saddening but satisfying, with a chance for redemption for both Tempest and Joel. Their relationship was… chaotic, to say the least.
It’s a good quick read, really, but it does take a second for things to sort of click together.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Truly a delight!
Okay, full disclosure: yes, Kate is in my writing group, and yes, I am VERY invested in the success of this book, but I'm also a TERRIBLE liar, so you have to trust me! Kate is a beautiful writer, and she manages to turn a book that has the highest of concepts into something that is lovely and moving while still being super, super fun and legitimately compelling. The writing is confident and funny and charming, and the characters, while not quite so confident, are also super funny and charming, and I'm a little jealous of all the people who get to read this for the first time!
Okay, full disclosure: yes, Kate is in my writing group, and yes, I am VERY invested in the success of this book, but I'm also a TERRIBLE liar, so you have to trust me! Kate is a beautiful writer, and she manages to turn a book that has the highest of concepts into something that is lovely and moving while still being super, super fun and legitimately compelling. The writing is confident and funny and charming, and the characters, while not quite so confident, are also super funny and charming, and I'm a little jealous of all the people who get to read this for the first time!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Tempest is a 30 something doula who homeschools her niece, loves romances novels, and likes to bake gluten free snacks. She also has what could be considered the worlds worst super power: everyone she kisses dies. Once Tempest figures out she is the reason that everyone she’s kissed has died, she curates a quiet life for herself sans romance. This is challenged when she meets and starts to fall for Dr. Joel Tav, the brother of the last man she killed. As Tempest struggles with her growing feelings for the doctor, people with other just as terrible powers start dying; Tempest realizes that because of her past she is probably on the killers list.
Everything about this book (cover, title, blurb and description) on first impression screamed light, fluffy rom-com. However, the story is incongruent with its initial impressions, and while there are many humorous or lighter moments it reads as a darker romance. I truly did enjoy the story and still would have chosen to read this book, but I believe I would’ve appreciated it more if I had a better idea of what I was heading into. I also believe this novel could benefit from a trigger warning blurb, as it does touch on many heavy topics.
I would recommend this book to fans of the Heartless Hunter books.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Everything about this book (cover, title, blurb and description) on first impression screamed light, fluffy rom-com. However, the story is incongruent with its initial impressions, and while there are many humorous or lighter moments it reads as a darker romance. I truly did enjoy the story and still would have chosen to read this book, but I believe I would’ve appreciated it more if I had a better idea of what I was heading into. I also believe this novel could benefit from a trigger warning blurb, as it does touch on many heavy topics.
I would recommend this book to fans of the Heartless Hunter books.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Succubus was an interesting premise, and I really was excited about the concept of this book. There's a lot of potential in the world that Kate Fox builds, and the set up was intriguing. That said, it took me about 30% of the book to start being invested since I didn't really connect with the characters. Once I got into the book, I couldn't stop. I enjoyed the enemies to lovers and the way the author talked about Tempest's dad. Overall, an entertaining book and a solid three star for me.
Thank you St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First, thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book!
I enjoyed this romantasy, it was full of intrigue, humor, and an adorable romance between Temperance and Joel. I found the writing style good and the plot was nice. It was adorable watching a succubus of all people trying to avoid her powers all while wanting to fall in love. Absolutely a great concept.
I did think the text messages in the story was a bit difficult to read, but otherwise I enjoyed this book!
I enjoyed this romantasy, it was full of intrigue, humor, and an adorable romance between Temperance and Joel. I found the writing style good and the plot was nice. It was adorable watching a succubus of all people trying to avoid her powers all while wanting to fall in love. Absolutely a great concept.
I did think the text messages in the story was a bit difficult to read, but otherwise I enjoyed this book!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC!
This book was not what I was expecting when I read the description but I absolutely devoured it in two days. The writing style drew me in and kept me engaged, and the story itself was creative and, in a weird way, refreshing. Joel and Tempest were a pleasure to get to know and I can only imagine that this will absolutely slap as a fall / spooky season read.
This book was not what I was expecting when I read the description but I absolutely devoured it in two days. The writing style drew me in and kept me engaged, and the story itself was creative and, in a weird way, refreshing. Joel and Tempest were a pleasure to get to know and I can only imagine that this will absolutely slap as a fall / spooky season read.
Review of advance copy
I loooooved this book. It’s got everything I like in a paranormal romance: it’s funny, it’s sexy, it’s charming as hell… and it’s also dark, but in a really good way. Genuinely a delight. And it’s really, really well written, with interesting and nuanced characters that feel new and fresh to me. I also love that it’s set in suburban NJ. Kate Fox is an incredibly talented author and I’m excited for other people to discover this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a cute love story with a little dark. I throughly enjoyed it. I wish we had a HEA. I mean it wasn’t a bad ending , it was hopeful. But I would’ve loved to see tempest in love and happy. Thank you net galley for the ARC read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2026
I’m so happy I was able to read this arc, a debut from Kate Fox. This was such a fun enemies to lovers, new refreshing romantisy!
Did not finish
March 11, 2026Stopped at 55% - may come back to it? There was a lot going on but I also didn’t care about the characters. I’m bummed because I wanted to like it so maybe I’m just not in the right mood.
Want to read
March 24, 2026Review of advance copy received from St. Martin's Press Group
So excited to read this. Thanks for the ARC!
So excited to read this. Thanks for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you like enemies to lovers romances, darkly funny comedy, and fantastical twists you NEED to read this book. The premise alone is just so brilliant — I mean a normal suburban New Jersey woman who just happens to be a succubus? And if that’s not enough to sell you, Kate Fox’s deeply drawn characters and world are sure to suck you in. This book is steamy, hysterical, and packed with drama. As a friend of Kate’s and a fellow author I was lucky enough to read early versions of this story, and it was clear from the get-go this was going to be something special. I can’t recommend it enough.
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