Laurel

by Addison James

Her new friend’s husband is a vampire.

Laurel has lived by one rule for when she spots the supernatural, she runs the other way. After being tortured and inadvertently made immortal by a witch, Laurel wants a quiet life, safe from things that go bump in the night.

But when she visits her new friend Callie and a vampire answers the door, Laurel knows she can’t run until she’s sure Callie isn’t in danger. And when Callie’s tempting, enigmatic vampiric sister-in-law, Blaire, arrives, Laurel suddenly has a whole new reason to stay.

Laurel starts to think the supernatural world might not be as bad as she thought—after all, she’s finding love, friends, safety, and people more morally upright than she ever imagined. But when the witch who made her like this turns up, Laurel has to decide if she’s going to run again—or stay and fight.

About the author

Addison James is a romance book author from New England. They are obsessed with all things mythical, mystical, and magical. A lifelong fantasy reader, that evolved to fantasy romance as they grew up. Addison always has a story to tell and is excited to introduce you to their world of fantasy romance.

Reviews

[Soha Amer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of Advance Reader Copy. Genre: Contemporary Romance / Emotional Coming-of-Age

Laurel is a warm, heartfelt romance that blends emotional depth with tender character growth. Addison James crafts a story that’s both reflective and engaging — a slow-burn romance rooted in real feelings rather than melodrama.

The heroine is relatable and grounded: she’s navigating life, love, and personal evolution in a way that feels genuine rather than trope-driven. The connection between the leads is built on meaningful moments and vulnerability, giving every interaction weight and significance.

What really stands out is how the author balances emotional resonance with an uplifting tone — even in the heavier moments, there’s hope and a kind of quiet growth that makes the story feel comforting and sincere.

This is a perfect pick for readers who enjoy:
✔️ Character-driven romance
✔️ Emotional depth with gentle pacing
✔️ Real, human connections
✔️ Feel-good but meaningful love stories

A genuinely sweet, emotional romance with great character chemistry and satisfying growth.

[Olena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of the ARC

I went into Laurel expecting a paranormal romance, but it turned out to be much more character-driven and emotional than I anticipated — in a good way. Addison James mixes vampires, witches, spells, and eerie unseen abilities with a story that’s really about trauma, trust, and growth.

Laurel herself is the heart of the book. Her past has clearly shaped who she is, so watching her slowly confront her fears after meeting Blaire and Blake — with support from her friendship with Callie — was really satisfying. The romance develops gently and feels believable rather than rushed.

Mild spoiler: the reveal about Laurel’s identity was probably my favorite moment and made earlier hints fall into place nicely.

Even though this wasn’t my favorite take on vampire or magic lore, the characters and emotional stakes made up for it. I especially appreciated that choices had real consequences and weren’t magically fixed with one conversation.

Overall, if you like sapphic romance, gothic vibes, supernatural worlds, and emotional slow-burn character growth, this is definitely worth picking up.

What to expect:
❤️ Sapphic romance
❤️ Vampire
❤️ Mystery
❤️ Gothic vibes
❤️ Us against the world
❤️ Found family
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.
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#vampires #sapphicromance #arc #arcreaders @addyjameswriter @epicabookpr

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently dived into Laurel, and it is such a gripping supernatural tale! The world-building is fascinating, especially the unique take on vampires and witches—I loved the concept of humans creating spells alongside the more visceral elements of blood and 'unseen' abilities.
The heart of the story is definitely Laurel herself. Watching her journey from a traumatized survivor who has been running her whole life to someone who finds friendship with Callie and eventually finds love with the twin vampires, Blaire and Blake, was so rewarding. The author does a great job of peeling back the layers of her past with 'little peeks' of her history before revealing the full scope of what she’s been through.
The magic system and the consequences of the characters' choices made the world feel grounded and real—not everything is fixed with a simple conversation, which kept me totally invested. Plus, that ending! The twists regarding who Laurel actually is and the final climax were things I genuinely didn't see coming. It’s an entertaining, dark, and unique read that challenges the usual supernatural stereotypes. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a gritty paranormal story

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laurel is a Supernatural tale about Vampires & Witches, along side strange unseen abilities & the spells used by Witches being created by humans & blood x
The main character Laurel has been through such a traumatising ordeal but has managed to survive due to running her whole life, this is proven when she meets Blaire & Blake - Twin Vampires - but due to her friendship with Callie managed to get over her fear & even find love x
I enjoyed how Laurel progresses with little peeks of what was a horrendous time for Laurel before we grasp the full scope of her situation & how historical facts & stories of the Supernatural can paint a picture that is a stereotype - having faced these fears shows Laurel a different side to the life she has always lived & the beliefs she has always had x
Would recommend this books for people who enjoy the Supernatural, but please read the TWs before diving in xxxxxx

[VillynnReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

irst off I thought it was a lovely read, I really enjoyed Laurels character, the twist about who she is, was my favorite part. While not being my favorite take on vampires and magic system, I still enjoyed the characters. I appreciated that there was consequences for the characters, following choices that were made, and not everything was resolved with a conversation. ot made the characters feel more real, it got me more invested to the characters. Looking forward to more from this author

[Romance Books World · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really enjoyable supernatural read with a strong, unique start. The dark elements, magic, and supernatural beings add so much depth to the story. Laurel’s growth and the way her past slowly unfolds made me feel deeply connected to her journey. Definitely recommend for fans of darker supernatural stories ❤️

[Heather Mylek · Rating 5 out of 5]

A GREAT read!! I truly enjoyed this read!! Amazing world building and such a fun story! Grabbed my attention right away and was hard to put down!!! Vampires, witch, fae, and romance!!! So amazing!! Highly amazing !!! My first read by this author and totally will go read more by her!! High quality and amazing storyline! Highly recommend!

[Alexus Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read! Honestly I’m glad I read this one because it wasn’t too much of a big read but it was still entertaining. I liked the ending as well because I didn’t expect to see that coming! Thank you to the author for giving me this opportunity to read this!

[Letty Howarth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. It was different to vampire books I have read previously and I liked that.
I like how Laurel grew & changed.

[Phoenix Davenport · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this arc. What I loved the most was all the supernatural elements in the book. It's really different from what I usually read, so the plot was really memorable. If you love sapphic romance with vampires, gothic vibes and supernatural elements you should definitely read Laurel.