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Awful Big Appetite: A Horror Romance
She's always been hungry for more.
Margot is starving — for success, for love, for a life that doesn't feel like slow suffocation. Instead she's stuck in a dead-end job, invisible to everyone who matters.
Until she meets him.
Caz is elegance, wit, and danger wrapped in a smile. He slips into her dreams, whispers her deepest desires, and offers her everything she's ever wanted... for a price.
Then Margot starts writing stories in her sleep. Vivid. Violent. Full of monstrous creatures hungry for revenge. When those stories begin bleeding into reality and the monsters on the page start coming to life, Margot knows she should stop.
But for the first time, she's powerful. Desired. Seen.
And if the cost of becoming extraordinary is a little blood—
Well.
Margot has always had an awful big appetite.
Awful Big Appetite is a standalone horrormance for readers who crave morally gray monsters, female rage, and romances that have sharp teeth.
Margot is starving — for success, for love, for a life that doesn't feel like slow suffocation. Instead she's stuck in a dead-end job, invisible to everyone who matters.
Until she meets him.
Caz is elegance, wit, and danger wrapped in a smile. He slips into her dreams, whispers her deepest desires, and offers her everything she's ever wanted... for a price.
Then Margot starts writing stories in her sleep. Vivid. Violent. Full of monstrous creatures hungry for revenge. When those stories begin bleeding into reality and the monsters on the page start coming to life, Margot knows she should stop.
But for the first time, she's powerful. Desired. Seen.
And if the cost of becoming extraordinary is a little blood—
Well.
Margot has always had an awful big appetite.
Awful Big Appetite is a standalone horrormance for readers who crave morally gray monsters, female rage, and romances that have sharp teeth.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 6, 2026
About the author
Lissa Sharpe
9 books52 followersLissa Sharpe is a mom, a wife, a teacher, a PhD, and an award-winning writer. She has written plays, screenplays, teleplays, short stories, songs, and now for the very first time, a romance novel. When she isn't having mental arguments with her characters, she is hanging out in the American South with her husband, son, and golden lab.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
October 6, 2026
Margot is stuck in a dead-end relationship with Scott, living with him and his daughter and feeling like her life is going nowhere. Then she goes for a bone reading and is told she’s going to meet a handsome stranger. And, well, surprise surprise, along comes Caz. Because apparently the universe had decided Margot needed a little excitement in her life.
Things soon take a very strange turn. Margot starts dreaming about Caz, monsters and all sorts of bad things, and then those dreams begin creeping into real life. People start dying, strange things are happening, and Margot finds herself caught up in something far darker than she could have imagined.
I have to be honest, this was a bit of a what the heck is going on here? read for me. I kept going because I wanted to see where it was all heading, but I never quite managed to settle into the story. There were some very strange moments, some dark ideas and plenty going on, but somewhere along the way I felt the storyline got a little lost.
The writing itself was good and I had no problem getting through the book. It was the storyline that didn’t quite enamour me. I think there were some really interesting ideas here, but they just didn’t come together for me in the way I hoped they would. I kept waiting for that moment where everything would suddenly make sense. Still waiting.
One thing I really did love was Margot’s relationship with Scott’s daughter. She was such a wonderful mum to her, and I found their relationship much more touching and believable than some of the other things going on around them.
There is certainly something different about this book, with horror, dark fantasy, monsters, romance and some seriously strange happenings all thrown into the mix. If you like your horror on the weird side, with a darker romantic edge, this could be one for you.
Unfortunately, it just wasn’t quite for me. I liked the writing, I liked parts of the story, but overall I was left feeling a little bit okay… so what exactly did I just read?
Thank you, NetGalley, Bayou Wolf Press, and Lissa Sharpe for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publishing date: October 6th 2026
Things soon take a very strange turn. Margot starts dreaming about Caz, monsters and all sorts of bad things, and then those dreams begin creeping into real life. People start dying, strange things are happening, and Margot finds herself caught up in something far darker than she could have imagined.
I have to be honest, this was a bit of a what the heck is going on here? read for me. I kept going because I wanted to see where it was all heading, but I never quite managed to settle into the story. There were some very strange moments, some dark ideas and plenty going on, but somewhere along the way I felt the storyline got a little lost.
The writing itself was good and I had no problem getting through the book. It was the storyline that didn’t quite enamour me. I think there were some really interesting ideas here, but they just didn’t come together for me in the way I hoped they would. I kept waiting for that moment where everything would suddenly make sense. Still waiting.
One thing I really did love was Margot’s relationship with Scott’s daughter. She was such a wonderful mum to her, and I found their relationship much more touching and believable than some of the other things going on around them.
There is certainly something different about this book, with horror, dark fantasy, monsters, romance and some seriously strange happenings all thrown into the mix. If you like your horror on the weird side, with a darker romantic edge, this could be one for you.
Unfortunately, it just wasn’t quite for me. I liked the writing, I liked parts of the story, but overall I was left feeling a little bit okay… so what exactly did I just read?
Thank you, NetGalley, Bayou Wolf Press, and Lissa Sharpe for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publishing date: October 6th 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
At first, a horror with erotic elements, then a horror romance. This is a book that asks "Where is your rage?" And it answers with indulgence instead of repression.
I think what Sharpe does really well is create atmosphere and tension between dichotomies: the regular vs. the supernatural, the thrill of danger vs the mundane, the feeling of dismissal vs the high of respect, and the tension between characters and their changing dynamics.
Sharpe also clearly had a vision in mind by unpacking 1. religious oppression 2. the feminine draw towards horror and 3. letting go of shame when it comes to wanting things, all directly on the page as unsubtly as possible.
This book took a bit to get started for me. It felt repetitive at times in the middle, which isn't helped by the fact that I read the whole book in a day.
There's also some plot holes and inconsistencies that hopefully will be fixed in the non ARC version of this book. (For example, at one point we're told that a character would never say X but they had literally just said X a few pages back)
But at the end of the day, this book is made to be an indulgence and I think it's successful (as long as you don't think about the practicalities too hard)
Thanks to NetGalley for sharing an ARC with me in exchange for an honest review!
3.5⭐️
I think what Sharpe does really well is create atmosphere and tension between dichotomies: the regular vs. the supernatural, the thrill of danger vs the mundane, the feeling of dismissal vs the high of respect, and the tension between characters and their changing dynamics.
Sharpe also clearly had a vision in mind by unpacking 1. religious oppression 2. the feminine draw towards horror and 3. letting go of shame when it comes to wanting things, all directly on the page as unsubtly as possible.
This book took a bit to get started for me. It felt repetitive at times in the middle, which isn't helped by the fact that I read the whole book in a day.
There's also some plot holes and inconsistencies that hopefully will be fixed in the non ARC version of this book. (For example, at one point we're told that a character would never say X but they had literally just said X a few pages back)
But at the end of the day, this book is made to be an indulgence and I think it's successful (as long as you don't think about the practicalities too hard)
Thanks to NetGalley for sharing an ARC with me in exchange for an honest review!
3.5⭐️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Bayou Rose Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
"Awful Big Appetite" by Lissa Sharpe is a book for those who like feminine-rage horror, paranormal romance, or dark fairy-tale stories. If you're a fan of any of those, then you will definitely have a lot of fun with this one.
Margot Caligo wants everything. She wants to write a bestselling novel, get a tenure-track position, have her relationship finally go somewhere, and generally stop feeling like she's constantly shrinking herself to make everyone else comfortable. Unfortunately, none of that is happening. Then she gets a fortune told, meets the mysterious and ridiculously well-dressed Luther, and suddenly she's having these incredibly vivid dreams where fully formed stories appear to her. Stories that are frighteningly good. Stories that may also be starting to come true.
And Luther? Oh, he is definitely giving “hot supernatural man who may or may not be a terrible idea” energy.
I really enjoyed the way this book plays with the idea of wanting things without apologizing for wanting them. There's a lot going on underneath the creepy supernatural stuff, especially around imposter syndrome, academia, feminine rage, shame, and the pressure women put on themselves to be acceptable instead of being honest about what they actually want. All these themes were heartbreaking and so relatable throughout the book.
Margot's journey toward finally claiming what she wants was probably my favorite part. Watching her slowly become more willing to embrace her ambition and the darker parts of herself was so satisfying. The book shows you that maybe the answer to wanting more and wanting what you deserve isn't repression. Maybe sometimes you should just let yourself want things.
The atmosphere was also fantastic. There's a really strong dark fairy-tale quality to the story, with this contrast between the ordinary and the supernatural that worked really well for me. Some scenes were genuinely creepy and freaky, while others leaned much more into the romance and fantasy. It's definitely a book that likes its genre lines blurry.
This starts out as horror with erotic elements before turning more fully into horror romance/monster romance, and the chemistry and banter were definitely entertaining. Luther is mysterious, morally gray, and clearly very interested in giving Margot exactly what she wants. I really did enjoy the romance, though I wish there was more build-up. Their connection sometimes felt like it was being declared more strongly than it was actually developed on the page.
That said, I did have a few issues. The beginning took a little while to hook me, and the middle gets somewhat repetitive. Some of the horror and romance also felt like they could have been pushed further. The monsters and their origins were intriguing, but I wanted more development there, especially because I think it could have made Margot's transformation even more satisfying.
The ending worked perfectly for me. I was sitting there waiting for everything to completely implode, and the twist was amazing. Very entertaining despite being a bit too much,
Overall, "Awful Big Appetite" is a quick, indulgent, creepy, spicy little horror romance that doesn't take itself too seriously while still having some genuinely interesting things to say about ambition and feminine rage. And, honestly, after reading this, I'm curious about what Lissa Sharpe does next.
"Awful Big Appetite" by Lissa Sharpe is a book for those who like feminine-rage horror, paranormal romance, or dark fairy-tale stories. If you're a fan of any of those, then you will definitely have a lot of fun with this one.
Margot Caligo wants everything. She wants to write a bestselling novel, get a tenure-track position, have her relationship finally go somewhere, and generally stop feeling like she's constantly shrinking herself to make everyone else comfortable. Unfortunately, none of that is happening. Then she gets a fortune told, meets the mysterious and ridiculously well-dressed Luther, and suddenly she's having these incredibly vivid dreams where fully formed stories appear to her. Stories that are frighteningly good. Stories that may also be starting to come true.
And Luther? Oh, he is definitely giving “hot supernatural man who may or may not be a terrible idea” energy.
I really enjoyed the way this book plays with the idea of wanting things without apologizing for wanting them. There's a lot going on underneath the creepy supernatural stuff, especially around imposter syndrome, academia, feminine rage, shame, and the pressure women put on themselves to be acceptable instead of being honest about what they actually want. All these themes were heartbreaking and so relatable throughout the book.
Margot's journey toward finally claiming what she wants was probably my favorite part. Watching her slowly become more willing to embrace her ambition and the darker parts of herself was so satisfying. The book shows you that maybe the answer to wanting more and wanting what you deserve isn't repression. Maybe sometimes you should just let yourself want things.
The atmosphere was also fantastic. There's a really strong dark fairy-tale quality to the story, with this contrast between the ordinary and the supernatural that worked really well for me. Some scenes were genuinely creepy and freaky, while others leaned much more into the romance and fantasy. It's definitely a book that likes its genre lines blurry.
This starts out as horror with erotic elements before turning more fully into horror romance/monster romance, and the chemistry and banter were definitely entertaining. Luther is mysterious, morally gray, and clearly very interested in giving Margot exactly what she wants. I really did enjoy the romance, though I wish there was more build-up. Their connection sometimes felt like it was being declared more strongly than it was actually developed on the page.
That said, I did have a few issues. The beginning took a little while to hook me, and the middle gets somewhat repetitive. Some of the horror and romance also felt like they could have been pushed further. The monsters and their origins were intriguing, but I wanted more development there, especially because I think it could have made Margot's transformation even more satisfying.
The ending worked perfectly for me. I was sitting there waiting for everything to completely implode, and the twist was amazing. Very entertaining despite being a bit too much,
Overall, "Awful Big Appetite" is a quick, indulgent, creepy, spicy little horror romance that doesn't take itself too seriously while still having some genuinely interesting things to say about ambition and feminine rage. And, honestly, after reading this, I'm curious about what Lissa Sharpe does next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
When Margot meets Caz, an elusive and tempting psychology professor, she starts having strange dreams culminating in finished works of writing sitting on her desk when she wakes. Caz is going to ensure Margot gets everything she wants, as long as she submits to him.
I feel conflicted about this book. I liked the writing style and was captivated early in the story by the mystery of murders being eerily similar to the writing we (assume) Caz is producing for Margot. This part worked for me; I was excited to see Margot get revenge yet grapple with the moral weight of it all. I think the pacing and suspense building in the early part of the novel was effective. And then we went into, what I would call, "Shadow Daddy" land. The tone swinging between "weird girl" litfic and paranormal romance did not work for me. I found Caz and his pet names as off-putting as Scott and had to stop reading when it veered into smut. It felt like the author took any male protagonist from a popular romantasy (such as Rhysand from ACOTAR) and attempted to bring him into a non-fantasy, character driven narrative. I like ACOTAR, and am not afraid of smut, but this novel felt like a failed experiment at mixing genres.
I would read this author again and felt that the prose was polished and engaging, I just wanted the story to pick a genre instead of poorly mashing two together.
When Margot meets Caz, an elusive and tempting psychology professor, she starts having strange dreams culminating in finished works of writing sitting on her desk when she wakes. Caz is going to ensure Margot gets everything she wants, as long as she submits to him.
I feel conflicted about this book. I liked the writing style and was captivated early in the story by the mystery of murders being eerily similar to the writing we (assume) Caz is producing for Margot. This part worked for me; I was excited to see Margot get revenge yet grapple with the moral weight of it all. I think the pacing and suspense building in the early part of the novel was effective. And then we went into, what I would call, "Shadow Daddy" land. The tone swinging between "weird girl" litfic and paranormal romance did not work for me. I found Caz and his pet names as off-putting as Scott and had to stop reading when it veered into smut. It felt like the author took any male protagonist from a popular romantasy (such as Rhysand from ACOTAR) and attempted to bring him into a non-fantasy, character driven narrative. I like ACOTAR, and am not afraid of smut, but this novel felt like a failed experiment at mixing genres.
I would read this author again and felt that the prose was polished and engaging, I just wanted the story to pick a genre instead of poorly mashing two together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
📖 Title: Awful Big Appetite
🖋️ Author: Lissa Sharpe
📅 Pub Day: October 6, 2026
💌 Publisher: Bayou Wolf Press
📚 Format: Digital
🏷️ ISBN: 9629271613340
⏱️ Length: 220 pages
📌 Genre(s): Horror, Dark Fantasy, Dark Romance
⭐ Star Rating: 3
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Awful Big Appetite was a bit of a mixed bag for me. There were parts I really enjoyed, and other parts I could've probably gone without.
I didn't realize going in that this was being marketed as a romance, so that's definitely on me. The horror side of things was much more what I was expecting, especially with Margot's stories starting to bleed into reality and all the monsters that come with them. I liked the weirder parts of the story quite a bit.
I also found myself losing interest a little toward the end. There were parts where I was genuinely into what was happening, but eventually I started feeling more like I was waiting for it to wrap up than wondering what would happen next.
I didn't hate this one, but I also didn't enjoy it as much as I would have liked to. There were some really cool ideas here, and I can definitely see this working for someone looking for a dark romance with horror mixed in.
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
If you like:
✔️ Female protagonists
✔️ Morally gray women
✔️ Dark romance
✔️ Blurred reality
✔️ Supernatural bargains
✔️ Smut
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Thank you to NetGalley, Lissa Sharpe, and Bayou Wolf Press for gifting this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
This review is cross‑posted across multiple platforms.
🖋️ Author: Lissa Sharpe
📅 Pub Day: October 6, 2026
💌 Publisher: Bayou Wolf Press
📚 Format: Digital
🏷️ ISBN: 9629271613340
⏱️ Length: 220 pages
📌 Genre(s): Horror, Dark Fantasy, Dark Romance
⭐ Star Rating: 3
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Awful Big Appetite was a bit of a mixed bag for me. There were parts I really enjoyed, and other parts I could've probably gone without.
I didn't realize going in that this was being marketed as a romance, so that's definitely on me. The horror side of things was much more what I was expecting, especially with Margot's stories starting to bleed into reality and all the monsters that come with them. I liked the weirder parts of the story quite a bit.
I also found myself losing interest a little toward the end. There were parts where I was genuinely into what was happening, but eventually I started feeling more like I was waiting for it to wrap up than wondering what would happen next.
I didn't hate this one, but I also didn't enjoy it as much as I would have liked to. There were some really cool ideas here, and I can definitely see this working for someone looking for a dark romance with horror mixed in.
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
If you like:
✔️ Female protagonists
✔️ Morally gray women
✔️ Dark romance
✔️ Blurred reality
✔️ Supernatural bargains
✔️ Smut
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Thank you to NetGalley, Lissa Sharpe, and Bayou Wolf Press for gifting this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
This review is cross‑posted across multiple platforms.
October 7, 2026
I was expecting more horror but would say this reads maybe more like gothic romance. There are still creepy, eerie, and some gory horror elements that were done well. It feels like the book played more in the middle of horror elements and romance elements but never fully dug deep into either of them, which put me in this in between space that left me wanting more from both sides.
I love Margot's dark stories and wanted to see more of that aspect, the creatures were fun and probably my favorite part of the book, though they felt like such a small part of it. I liked Caz, but by the end of the book I found his dialogue so over the top that I couldn't really take him seriously. I would have liked to have gotten more into Caz's backstory, though the author's note does state that there is a prequel from Caz's POV. Margot's relationship with her daughter, Amber, was a sweet touch in an otherwise darker story.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with this and will be looking into more of Lissa Sharpe's work. If you like feminine rage, weird girl lit, and some eeriness to go with your romance, I would recommend checking Awful Big Appetite out.
Thank you Bayou Wolf Press, Lissa Sharpe, and Netgalley for the ARC.
I love Margot's dark stories and wanted to see more of that aspect, the creatures were fun and probably my favorite part of the book, though they felt like such a small part of it. I liked Caz, but by the end of the book I found his dialogue so over the top that I couldn't really take him seriously. I would have liked to have gotten more into Caz's backstory, though the author's note does state that there is a prequel from Caz's POV. Margot's relationship with her daughter, Amber, was a sweet touch in an otherwise darker story.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with this and will be looking into more of Lissa Sharpe's work. If you like feminine rage, weird girl lit, and some eeriness to go with your romance, I would recommend checking Awful Big Appetite out.
Thank you Bayou Wolf Press, Lissa Sharpe, and Netgalley for the ARC.
October 3, 2026
4.5 stars
LOVED this. Female rage combined with romance that has an edge to it. Margot was relatable and very easy to understand. I saw her anger and frustration and completely understood why she was so hungry for more. Caz was perfectly immoral, with questionable decisions and actions but an insatiable need. Together they were perfect, and I loved the back and forth, will she surrender or not. Wholly original, romantic and full of desire, this was an absolute pleasure to read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #AwfulBigAppetite #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
LOVED this. Female rage combined with romance that has an edge to it. Margot was relatable and very easy to understand. I saw her anger and frustration and completely understood why she was so hungry for more. Caz was perfectly immoral, with questionable decisions and actions but an insatiable need. Together they were perfect, and I loved the back and forth, will she surrender or not. Wholly original, romantic and full of desire, this was an absolute pleasure to read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #AwfulBigAppetite #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
October 6, 2026
This was such a dark and delicious read! Awful Big Appetite had a really interesting mix of horror, romance, female rage and some seriously creepy monsters.
Margot was such a fascinating character to follow, especially as she goes from feeling invisible and stuck to discovering a power she never knew she had. Caz was equally intriguing—charming, dangerous and definitely not someone you can completely trust!
The story was atmospheric, strange and wonderfully twisted, with plenty of moments that made me wonder just how far Margot was willing to go. Definitely one for readers who like their romance dark, their monsters morally questionable, and their stories a little unhinged. 🖤
Margot was such a fascinating character to follow, especially as she goes from feeling invisible and stuck to discovering a power she never knew she had. Caz was equally intriguing—charming, dangerous and definitely not someone you can completely trust!
The story was atmospheric, strange and wonderfully twisted, with plenty of moments that made me wonder just how far Margot was willing to go. Definitely one for readers who like their romance dark, their monsters morally questionable, and their stories a little unhinged. 🖤
October 14, 2026
Thank you to Happily Booked ARC for the ARC — this review is my honest opinion.
Awful Big Appetite features Margot. She's miserable in her relationship, keeps getting overlooked for promotions, and gets no respect. When Caz pops up, she dreams up stories that really help her career take off. Caz brings an exciting change to her life, and she feels intrigued by him.
The book was decent enough, but it didn't really stand out to me. There were moments I was into the story, but after a while, it didn't hold my attention. I liked the horror and paranormal scenes, though the romance didn't really add much. You should check out this book if you're after a fast horror read.
Awful Big Appetite features Margot. She's miserable in her relationship, keeps getting overlooked for promotions, and gets no respect. When Caz pops up, she dreams up stories that really help her career take off. Caz brings an exciting change to her life, and she feels intrigued by him.
The book was decent enough, but it didn't really stand out to me. There were moments I was into the story, but after a while, it didn't hold my attention. I liked the horror and paranormal scenes, though the romance didn't really add much. You should check out this book if you're after a fast horror read.
October 15, 2026
This does an amazing job of being a character study of women and what women deal with on a daily basis.
Her struggle with religious trauma and suppression, and learning how to take what you want without feeling bad about it was wonderful.
I didn't have time to write my full review but I have so many more thoughts to share so I will be updating this review in the future.
Her struggle with religious trauma and suppression, and learning how to take what you want without feeling bad about it was wonderful.
I didn't have time to write my full review but I have so many more thoughts to share so I will be updating this review in the future.
October 12, 2026
This is the book you pick up when you want some horror with your romance. Think Stephen King with a dash of modern day Anne Rice and some spice that’s more seductive and tantalizing as opposed to smutty or graphic. This is for the readers who love to see a woman in a bad relationship and subpar job finally stand up for herself. The ones who respect the importance of being a mom. And the ones who would embrace their darker side to fight the unfairness of life. Even if that darker side comes with a demon that unalives on your behalf.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC provided by NetGalley
3.5/5⭐️
I enjoyed Lissa Sharpe’s writing a lot, along with the general premise of Awful Big Appetite!
Caz was giving me major Sam Reid’s version of Lestat vibes and I was loving it!!
There were a few things that made me stop and double think about the logic within the story and therefore I wasn’t able to maintain my suspension of disbelief. Specifically surrounding the deaths of TJ/Rhea/Vivian.
Overall, I enjoyed Sharpe’s story and will definitely read her future books!
3.5/5⭐️
I enjoyed Lissa Sharpe’s writing a lot, along with the general premise of Awful Big Appetite!
Caz was giving me major Sam Reid’s version of Lestat vibes and I was loving it!!
There were a few things that made me stop and double think about the logic within the story and therefore I wasn’t able to maintain my suspension of disbelief. Specifically surrounding the deaths of TJ/Rhea/Vivian.
Overall, I enjoyed Sharpe’s story and will definitely read her future books!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2026
Our main character, Margot, pops into a "tacky corner magic shop" to do some in-person research for a novel she's been considering writing for a while. In the shop, she purchases a small talisman and meets Lady V, the resident psychic who specializes in bone-throwing readings. Margot's reading tells her she'll meet a handsome stranger soon, even though she's already in a long-term relationship with Scott and is a mother figure to his daughter, Amber.
Margot is an adjunct professor at a university and often mentions being paid basically nothing for her very hard work. She hopes to reach tenure at this school eventually. She is also a writer and hopes to be published one day. Fairly early on, we learn that her partner, Scott, is kind of a piece of sh*t, so although she never says it aloud, we can tell she'd like a better relationship. I'm pointing these things out because the book revolves around Margot "wanting many things in life".
She does, in fact, meet a handsome stranger at a faculty party named Cazimir (Caz for short). He's a bit of an odd duck, but is overly handsome, very intelligent and highly clever. He's also obsessed with Margot from the start; however, the book never actually explains why. I guess, magic. I actually loved his sense of humor throughout the entire book! I kept thinking, "Lighten up, Margot; he's f*cking with you...," but I digress. An example of Caz's humor is when he says, "The sheer audacity of you summoning me twice, then running away from me. I ought to disembowel you."
After meeting Caz, Margot starts having wild dreams, and when she wakes up, she finds they've had less-than-desirable results in real life. She may start getting the things she wants, but at what cost, Margot!?
This book had a nice mixture of light horror, mystery/thriller, and romance. It was well written, fast-paced, and easy to read. I'm absolutely not a romance girlie, so some parts were a bit rough to get through, but nothing over the top, really. Caz had some pretty random, interesting pet names for Margot, which would normally annoy the hell out of me, but here I felt he was using them to annoy her, so I let it slide. Lighten up, Margot!
We almost never hear about the magic shop again, and the one time we do after the first chapter, it was very anticlimactic. For some reason, I wanted to read more about the shop. Scenes involving the talisman seemed sort of thrown in from time to time. I understand why it was in the story, but I'm not convinced it necessarily needed to be.
The book had a lot of great quotable lines, though! I'll share some here:
"I find myself becoming wholly indifferent to what works for anyone but you."
"Who will teach the next generation how to plagiarize convincingly enough to get a passing grade, if all the English professors are killed?"
"How can I refrain from paying tribute to such resplendent magnificence?"
"I read a paper once about how women gravitated toward horror because their day-to-day lives are filled with the kind of terror that men can't comprehend."
"My want for you is a bottomless gulf. I could taste you for a thousand years and never have my fill."
I was provided a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange of my honest review!
Margot is an adjunct professor at a university and often mentions being paid basically nothing for her very hard work. She hopes to reach tenure at this school eventually. She is also a writer and hopes to be published one day. Fairly early on, we learn that her partner, Scott, is kind of a piece of sh*t, so although she never says it aloud, we can tell she'd like a better relationship. I'm pointing these things out because the book revolves around Margot "wanting many things in life".
She does, in fact, meet a handsome stranger at a faculty party named Cazimir (Caz for short). He's a bit of an odd duck, but is overly handsome, very intelligent and highly clever. He's also obsessed with Margot from the start; however, the book never actually explains why. I guess, magic. I actually loved his sense of humor throughout the entire book! I kept thinking, "Lighten up, Margot; he's f*cking with you...," but I digress. An example of Caz's humor is when he says, "The sheer audacity of you summoning me twice, then running away from me. I ought to disembowel you."
After meeting Caz, Margot starts having wild dreams, and when she wakes up, she finds they've had less-than-desirable results in real life. She may start getting the things she wants, but at what cost, Margot!?
This book had a nice mixture of light horror, mystery/thriller, and romance. It was well written, fast-paced, and easy to read. I'm absolutely not a romance girlie, so some parts were a bit rough to get through, but nothing over the top, really. Caz had some pretty random, interesting pet names for Margot, which would normally annoy the hell out of me, but here I felt he was using them to annoy her, so I let it slide. Lighten up, Margot!
We almost never hear about the magic shop again, and the one time we do after the first chapter, it was very anticlimactic. For some reason, I wanted to read more about the shop. Scenes involving the talisman seemed sort of thrown in from time to time. I understand why it was in the story, but I'm not convinced it necessarily needed to be.
The book had a lot of great quotable lines, though! I'll share some here:
"I find myself becoming wholly indifferent to what works for anyone but you."
"Who will teach the next generation how to plagiarize convincingly enough to get a passing grade, if all the English professors are killed?"
"How can I refrain from paying tribute to such resplendent magnificence?"
"I read a paper once about how women gravitated toward horror because their day-to-day lives are filled with the kind of terror that men can't comprehend."
"My want for you is a bottomless gulf. I could taste you for a thousand years and never have my fill."
I was provided a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange of my honest review!
October 14, 2026
Awful Big Appetite by Lissa Sharpe was a dark, intriguing, and surprisingly empowering read that blended supernatural horror with a story about self-discovery, desire, and finally taking control of your own life.
One of my favorite things about this book was getting to read about a mature protagonist who actually gets what she wants out of life. Margot starts out feeling stuck, overlooked, and resigned to a life that isn't particularly fulfilling, which I think is something a lot of people can relate to. It was genuinely satisfying to watch her grow more confident in herself as a woman, rediscover her desirability, and begin breaking free from the expectations and circumstances that had been holding her back. There was something refreshing about watching a woman embrace her wants and desires instead of continuing to settle for a life she wasn't happy with.
I also really enjoyed the darker, supernatural elements of the story. The premise was unique and unsettling, and I liked how Margot's growing confidence and ambition were intertwined with something increasingly dangerous. It made for an interesting exploration of just how far someone might be willing to go to finally have everything they've always wanted.
That being said, I did have some issues with how Margot reacted to certain events. For someone presented as highly educated and intelligent, her rather blasé attitude toward murder and her almost immediate acceptance of the supernatural felt a little out of character. I expected a bit more skepticism, hesitation, or even genuine alarm as increasingly bizarre and horrifying things started happening around her. Instead, she seemed to take some pretty extraordinary circumstances in stride, which occasionally made her reactions feel less believable than I would have liked.
Despite those moments, I still found Margot's journey compelling. I appreciated that the story wasn't just about the horror unfolding around her, but also about a woman rediscovering her sense of self-worth and realizing that she doesn't have to remain trapped in a life that leaves her unfulfilled.
Awful Big Appetite was an engaging and unusual read with a fascinating premise, a mature female protagonist, and an interesting mix of empowerment and horror. While I would have liked some of the character reactions to feel a little more natural, I really enjoyed watching Margot come into her own. It's a dark, twisted reminder that sometimes getting everything you've ever wanted comes with a price, and not everyone is willing to turn down the offer.
One of my favorite things about this book was getting to read about a mature protagonist who actually gets what she wants out of life. Margot starts out feeling stuck, overlooked, and resigned to a life that isn't particularly fulfilling, which I think is something a lot of people can relate to. It was genuinely satisfying to watch her grow more confident in herself as a woman, rediscover her desirability, and begin breaking free from the expectations and circumstances that had been holding her back. There was something refreshing about watching a woman embrace her wants and desires instead of continuing to settle for a life she wasn't happy with.
I also really enjoyed the darker, supernatural elements of the story. The premise was unique and unsettling, and I liked how Margot's growing confidence and ambition were intertwined with something increasingly dangerous. It made for an interesting exploration of just how far someone might be willing to go to finally have everything they've always wanted.
That being said, I did have some issues with how Margot reacted to certain events. For someone presented as highly educated and intelligent, her rather blasé attitude toward murder and her almost immediate acceptance of the supernatural felt a little out of character. I expected a bit more skepticism, hesitation, or even genuine alarm as increasingly bizarre and horrifying things started happening around her. Instead, she seemed to take some pretty extraordinary circumstances in stride, which occasionally made her reactions feel less believable than I would have liked.
Despite those moments, I still found Margot's journey compelling. I appreciated that the story wasn't just about the horror unfolding around her, but also about a woman rediscovering her sense of self-worth and realizing that she doesn't have to remain trapped in a life that leaves her unfulfilled.
Awful Big Appetite was an engaging and unusual read with a fascinating premise, a mature female protagonist, and an interesting mix of empowerment and horror. While I would have liked some of the character reactions to feel a little more natural, I really enjoyed watching Margot come into her own. It's a dark, twisted reminder that sometimes getting everything you've ever wanted comes with a price, and not everyone is willing to turn down the offer.
October 6, 2026
This novel is an absolute masterpiece of Gothic storytelling. Lissa Sharpe delivers an incisive and absorbing book with Awful Big Appetite, a story that will hit incredibly close to the heart for so many people, but women, specifically. This is an absorbing novel that seeped under my skin like a thick New Orleans fog. And I loved it.
Margot is keeping her head down and quietly working towards her goals: career, family, life. She wants more, so much more, than this dull life she has accepted, but she doesn’t let herself fully reach for it. After an out-of-character visit to a corner magic shop, Margot meets Caz. Dark, intense, and fascinating, Caz awakens something in Margot, something she isn’t sure she wants to squelch, something she isn’t sure she can control. And then things start happening; Margot starts writing violent stories in her sleep and then the monsters from her stories bleed into the real world. Can Margot stop this? Does she want to?
This book. This book gives voice to so much that so many of us grapple with. A novel about female rage and monsters and the subjugation we so often fall into. I feel seen, vindicated, powerful, and ready. Sharpe writes Margot in a way that I feel like I know her better than Margot knows herself, like I know her in my bones. Margot’s evolution into herself felt like a metamorphosis that I was also experiencing and finishing this book left me exhausted, empowered, and convinced the change was visible in me. I don’t know that I can express my love for this book without falling into slightly macabre self-absorbed poetry, so I will just say that this book is necessary. Especially now. I want to give it to every woman I know, and then I want us to talk about it and ourselves. And monsters.
“Women gravitate toward stories about monsters because they know on a base level what it is to be monstrous…we’re told…exactly what is wrong and disgusting and horrifying about our own bodies.”
Thank you, Lissa Sharpe, for this novel. All opinions are my own.
Margot is keeping her head down and quietly working towards her goals: career, family, life. She wants more, so much more, than this dull life she has accepted, but she doesn’t let herself fully reach for it. After an out-of-character visit to a corner magic shop, Margot meets Caz. Dark, intense, and fascinating, Caz awakens something in Margot, something she isn’t sure she wants to squelch, something she isn’t sure she can control. And then things start happening; Margot starts writing violent stories in her sleep and then the monsters from her stories bleed into the real world. Can Margot stop this? Does she want to?
This book. This book gives voice to so much that so many of us grapple with. A novel about female rage and monsters and the subjugation we so often fall into. I feel seen, vindicated, powerful, and ready. Sharpe writes Margot in a way that I feel like I know her better than Margot knows herself, like I know her in my bones. Margot’s evolution into herself felt like a metamorphosis that I was also experiencing and finishing this book left me exhausted, empowered, and convinced the change was visible in me. I don’t know that I can express my love for this book without falling into slightly macabre self-absorbed poetry, so I will just say that this book is necessary. Especially now. I want to give it to every woman I know, and then I want us to talk about it and ourselves. And monsters.
“Women gravitate toward stories about monsters because they know on a base level what it is to be monstrous…we’re told…exactly what is wrong and disgusting and horrifying about our own bodies.”
Thank you, Lissa Sharpe, for this novel. All opinions are my own.
October 13, 2026
✍️"Therapy, my safe haven, the antidote to religion and superstition."✍️
📕Awful Big Appetite
✍️Lissa Sharpe
🗣Bayou Wolf Press
📅October 6th, 2026
🤮SYNOPSIS🤮
She's always been hungry for more.
Margot is starving — for success, for love, for a life that doesn't feel like slow suffocation. Instead she's stuck in a dead-end job, invisible to everyone who matters.
Until she meets him.
Caz is elegance, wit, and danger wrapped in a smile. He slips into her dreams, whispers her deepest desires, and offers her everything she's ever wanted... for a price.
Then Margot starts writing stories in her sleep. Vivid. Violent. Full of monstrous creatures hungry for revenge. When those stories begin bleeding into reality and the monsters on the page start coming to life, Margot knows she should stop.
But for the first time, she's powerful. Desired. Seen.
And if the cost of becoming extraordinary is a little blood—
Well.
Margot has always had an awful big appetite.
🧠My Thoughts🧠
Be careful what you wish for. Because how hungry you are to succeed as a woman... FUCK THAT NOISE. And... fuck that demon 😏
Ugh. Men. Okay, that isn't wholly what this book is about so I'll try not to focus on how crappy the boyfriend was and how icky most of the other characters were. Honestly, I was rooting for Margot the entire time. You can only be used as a doormat so much before you become so used that you start tripping people. This was hot and enraging and so much of a GOOD FOR HER story.
"Do you know how it feels to burn with desire for you, only to watch you play your petty, insignificant games with that petty, insignificant man?"
⛧Thank you to @netgalley, @lissasharpeauthor and #bayouwolfpress for the advance ebook! All thoughts are my own.
💬ⓆⓄⓉⒹ: Can you name a book that has insufferable male characters that pissed you off?
#awfulbigappetite #lissasharpe #netgalley #bookreview
📕Awful Big Appetite
✍️Lissa Sharpe
🗣Bayou Wolf Press
📅October 6th, 2026
🤮SYNOPSIS🤮
She's always been hungry for more.
Margot is starving — for success, for love, for a life that doesn't feel like slow suffocation. Instead she's stuck in a dead-end job, invisible to everyone who matters.
Until she meets him.
Caz is elegance, wit, and danger wrapped in a smile. He slips into her dreams, whispers her deepest desires, and offers her everything she's ever wanted... for a price.
Then Margot starts writing stories in her sleep. Vivid. Violent. Full of monstrous creatures hungry for revenge. When those stories begin bleeding into reality and the monsters on the page start coming to life, Margot knows she should stop.
But for the first time, she's powerful. Desired. Seen.
And if the cost of becoming extraordinary is a little blood—
Well.
Margot has always had an awful big appetite.
🧠My Thoughts🧠
Be careful what you wish for. Because how hungry you are to succeed as a woman... FUCK THAT NOISE. And... fuck that demon 😏
Ugh. Men. Okay, that isn't wholly what this book is about so I'll try not to focus on how crappy the boyfriend was and how icky most of the other characters were. Honestly, I was rooting for Margot the entire time. You can only be used as a doormat so much before you become so used that you start tripping people. This was hot and enraging and so much of a GOOD FOR HER story.
"Do you know how it feels to burn with desire for you, only to watch you play your petty, insignificant games with that petty, insignificant man?"
⛧Thank you to @netgalley, @lissasharpeauthor and #bayouwolfpress for the advance ebook! All thoughts are my own.
💬ⓆⓄⓉⒹ: Can you name a book that has insufferable male characters that pissed you off?
#awfulbigappetite #lissasharpe #netgalley #bookreview
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Awful Big Appetite by Lissa Sharpe is a quick, relatively easy read for readers who want to dip their toes into horror but also like a bit of romance.
When reading this book, I was reminded of both Mona Awad's Bunny and R.F. Kuang's Yellowface, though Awful Big Appetite is neither as bloody as Bunny nor as incisive as Yellowface. That said, there is still much to admire in this novel.
It's clear that the author has either been through a Creative Writing MFA or Ph.D., or someone she knows has (I say this as someone with both degrees). I found the commentary on teaching and writing to be one of the most compelling aspects of the book, though I do wonder if people who haven't experienced the soul-sucking nature of academia will find it as interesting as I did.
Overall, my rating would be higher if the author dug in a little deeper with both the horror and romance aspects of the novel. The moments of horror (which I won't spoil here) are genuinely fun and freaky, but the way in which the monsters are "born" (again, no spoilers) could be much more fleshed out; in fleshing this out, the author would also open up more opportunities for her protagonist to relish in the wickedness she purports to feel.
Additionally, the romance would work better for me if the protagonist had more time with the MMC outside of her dreams. His assertion that they are "twin flames" feels unsupported given the amount of time they spend together and the relative toothlessness of the protagonist for most of the novel.
All that said, I did enjoy reading this book and would read other horror/romance novels by this author in the future, especially if they were even more bloody.
When reading this book, I was reminded of both Mona Awad's Bunny and R.F. Kuang's Yellowface, though Awful Big Appetite is neither as bloody as Bunny nor as incisive as Yellowface. That said, there is still much to admire in this novel.
It's clear that the author has either been through a Creative Writing MFA or Ph.D., or someone she knows has (I say this as someone with both degrees). I found the commentary on teaching and writing to be one of the most compelling aspects of the book, though I do wonder if people who haven't experienced the soul-sucking nature of academia will find it as interesting as I did.
Overall, my rating would be higher if the author dug in a little deeper with both the horror and romance aspects of the novel. The moments of horror (which I won't spoil here) are genuinely fun and freaky, but the way in which the monsters are "born" (again, no spoilers) could be much more fleshed out; in fleshing this out, the author would also open up more opportunities for her protagonist to relish in the wickedness she purports to feel.
Additionally, the romance would work better for me if the protagonist had more time with the MMC outside of her dreams. His assertion that they are "twin flames" feels unsupported given the amount of time they spend together and the relative toothlessness of the protagonist for most of the novel.
All that said, I did enjoy reading this book and would read other horror/romance novels by this author in the future, especially if they were even more bloody.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for the electronic advanced reader's copy. I am choosing to leave a fair and honest review.
This is the story of Margot (a college adjunct professor), her less than supportive boyfriend Drew, and her dark, supernatural lover, Cazimir. Margot has always hungered for more but has been too shy, cowed, or afraid to take it. Cazimir is more than happy to give her what she wants for a price. Is she willing to pay for his magic? And what about the people who keep dying around her?
The first half of this literary horror romance was amazing! We get to understand Margot, her unmet needs, and her hunger for everything she has denied herself. Cazimir seems to fill up those dark holes in Margot, meeting her in her dreams. He gives her everything she could want, and never quite tells her the cost. He also never defines what he is. I raced through this first half in a few hours.
The second half, where Margot first tries to rid herself of Caz and his magic, then gives in to him isn't quite as good. We never quite find out what Caz is, and his price – her surrender seems too simple.
The writing is good, at times even spectacular with rich descriptions and glorious characterizations. But the second half feels unplanned, rushed, and dismissive of the reader. In fact, in order to find out what precisely Caz is, the reader has to read the free novella from his POV.
All in all, a solid 3.75 rounded up to a 4 out of 5 stars
This is the story of Margot (a college adjunct professor), her less than supportive boyfriend Drew, and her dark, supernatural lover, Cazimir. Margot has always hungered for more but has been too shy, cowed, or afraid to take it. Cazimir is more than happy to give her what she wants for a price. Is she willing to pay for his magic? And what about the people who keep dying around her?
The first half of this literary horror romance was amazing! We get to understand Margot, her unmet needs, and her hunger for everything she has denied herself. Cazimir seems to fill up those dark holes in Margot, meeting her in her dreams. He gives her everything she could want, and never quite tells her the cost. He also never defines what he is. I raced through this first half in a few hours.
The second half, where Margot first tries to rid herself of Caz and his magic, then gives in to him isn't quite as good. We never quite find out what Caz is, and his price – her surrender seems too simple.
The writing is good, at times even spectacular with rich descriptions and glorious characterizations. But the second half feels unplanned, rushed, and dismissive of the reader. In fact, in order to find out what precisely Caz is, the reader has to read the free novella from his POV.
All in all, a solid 3.75 rounded up to a 4 out of 5 stars
October 6, 2026
Margot is hungry. For everything. Her boyfriend sucks, her job sucks, and she just wants more. So what will happen if she starts to get it?
This was a solid 50/50 for me.I liked the academic setting and the drudgery of working towards a greater goal in your career by doing to the day-to-day tasks no-one else wants. I loved Margot's relationship with her daughter, some lovely sweet, caring moments in between the darker ones. And mostly the inner battle of getting exactly what you want and what are you willing to accept as the cost. There were some good moments of female rage combined with the shame and pressure of simply being a woman that really resonated with me.
However, this was more of a dark/gothic romance for me than a horror. The horror elements were okay when they were there but it just left something to be desired for me. And good grief, was Caz (the MMC) just too much. Every second line he said was some kind of fawning pet name that became so unbelievably OTT that it was funny. It made it very hard to stay in the story.
Overall, I'd recommend to someone wanting a dark, weird romance without any of the standard horror or smutty romance elements you might find in their respective genres.
Thank you to @netgalley and @victoryeditingngc for providing this book for review. All opinions are my own.
This was a solid 50/50 for me.I liked the academic setting and the drudgery of working towards a greater goal in your career by doing to the day-to-day tasks no-one else wants. I loved Margot's relationship with her daughter, some lovely sweet, caring moments in between the darker ones. And mostly the inner battle of getting exactly what you want and what are you willing to accept as the cost. There were some good moments of female rage combined with the shame and pressure of simply being a woman that really resonated with me.
However, this was more of a dark/gothic romance for me than a horror. The horror elements were okay when they were there but it just left something to be desired for me. And good grief, was Caz (the MMC) just too much. Every second line he said was some kind of fawning pet name that became so unbelievably OTT that it was funny. It made it very hard to stay in the story.
Overall, I'd recommend to someone wanting a dark, weird romance without any of the standard horror or smutty romance elements you might find in their respective genres.
Thank you to @netgalley and @victoryeditingngc for providing this book for review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Horror is not my first choice for genre but this was interesting for sure. If I could give it a 3.5, I would.
I really would have loved to see Caz's POV but I do tend to prefer dual POV books. I did read this one pretty quickly, I wouldn't have minded if this was a longer story because I just wanted more. I did enjoy that it wasn't super gorey but had enough decription to let the reader know what happened. I liked that Margot found her strength and confidence throughout the story and was a new woman by the end.
I bet a lot of people wish we had someone like Caz to empower us and remove the obstacles in our way in life. I wasn't sure there was ever going to be any romance but it was a bit of a slow burn and not very explicit. The romance seemed to be more about connection and not as sexual and even that seemed to take a back seat to the main theme of the story. It was about women's empowerment and how we aren't doing enough to satiate our hunger. It definitely opened my eyes a bit to how I let myself be walked over and not get angry enough. When Caz said 'you want to live a life free of shame but shame others for making different choices', that really resonated with me. (this was the start of a longer quote but you will have to read for yourself)
I really would have loved to see Caz's POV but I do tend to prefer dual POV books. I did read this one pretty quickly, I wouldn't have minded if this was a longer story because I just wanted more. I did enjoy that it wasn't super gorey but had enough decription to let the reader know what happened. I liked that Margot found her strength and confidence throughout the story and was a new woman by the end.
I bet a lot of people wish we had someone like Caz to empower us and remove the obstacles in our way in life. I wasn't sure there was ever going to be any romance but it was a bit of a slow burn and not very explicit. The romance seemed to be more about connection and not as sexual and even that seemed to take a back seat to the main theme of the story. It was about women's empowerment and how we aren't doing enough to satiate our hunger. It definitely opened my eyes a bit to how I let myself be walked over and not get angry enough. When Caz said 'you want to live a life free of shame but shame others for making different choices', that really resonated with me. (this was the start of a longer quote but you will have to read for yourself)
October 9, 2026
This was an interesting one. I enjoyed the gothic horror mixed with romance vibes.
It did start a little slow and felt a bit repetitive in the middle but it progressed after that nicely.
Margot wanted so much in life, to write a best seller, a tenured position, her relationship to move forward, and so much more. She felt stuck.
Her boyfriend Scott is just blah. Doesn't appreciate her, looks at everything new and shiny but his daughter Amber is everything to Margot. Margot is the mother Amber needed and their relationship is sweet.
She goes to a reading and learns she'll soon meet a handsome stranger and at a faculty party in strolls Caz.
Caz is mysterious, smart, witty, handsome, and enamored with Margot. Though Caz also isn't completely what he seems. He was immoral and immortal but for her. He wanted to fill her desires, she only needed to surrender to him.
When weird things begin happening and people who treat her wrong begin dying Margot wonders what part Caz is playing.
I will say I didn't see the twist and I really enjoyed it and the ending was a good bow on the story.
It did start a little slow and felt a bit repetitive in the middle but it progressed after that nicely.
Margot wanted so much in life, to write a best seller, a tenured position, her relationship to move forward, and so much more. She felt stuck.
Her boyfriend Scott is just blah. Doesn't appreciate her, looks at everything new and shiny but his daughter Amber is everything to Margot. Margot is the mother Amber needed and their relationship is sweet.
She goes to a reading and learns she'll soon meet a handsome stranger and at a faculty party in strolls Caz.
Caz is mysterious, smart, witty, handsome, and enamored with Margot. Though Caz also isn't completely what he seems. He was immoral and immortal but for her. He wanted to fill her desires, she only needed to surrender to him.
When weird things begin happening and people who treat her wrong begin dying Margot wonders what part Caz is playing.
I will say I didn't see the twist and I really enjoyed it and the ending was a good bow on the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2026
When I opened this book upon receiving it, I thought I knew what it was going to be about full out. Honestly, I felt like I was in a full blown roller coaster.
With this book, I couldn’t guess at all what twist or turns it was going to take which I loved. It kept me on my toes.
Both main characters were in a sense feeding off of each other which added to the confused state that it left me at first. In all reality, it reminded me a lot of a criminal minds episode but better.
I loved the aspect of the MMC helping the FMC get what she wants without anything in return. It fed into her wants and rage, allowing her to go against everyone that did her wrong.
I honestly loved that they didn’t overshadow each other and actually complimented each other really well.
In all reality, I didn’t put this book down until I finished because of how many elements of surprise it had. It felt refreshing since I wasn’t able to see what turn it was going to take at all keeping me blind as I continued.
With this book, I couldn’t guess at all what twist or turns it was going to take which I loved. It kept me on my toes.
Both main characters were in a sense feeding off of each other which added to the confused state that it left me at first. In all reality, it reminded me a lot of a criminal minds episode but better.
I loved the aspect of the MMC helping the FMC get what she wants without anything in return. It fed into her wants and rage, allowing her to go against everyone that did her wrong.
I honestly loved that they didn’t overshadow each other and actually complimented each other really well.
In all reality, I didn’t put this book down until I finished because of how many elements of surprise it had. It felt refreshing since I wasn’t able to see what turn it was going to take at all keeping me blind as I continued.
October 8, 2026
ARC provided per Happily Booked PR in exchange for an honest review.
It was a great ride! I enjoyed the strange blend of psychological horror, dark romance and (almost) self-help book!
Thought-provoking more than addictive for me.
The FMC, Margot, goes from accepting crumbs from life and others to embracing her darker side and affirming herself, the highlight of the book for me. I felt really connected to her in some ways (self-doubt, imposter syndrome). She has an entire monologue drawing parallels between women and monsters through their own body transformation and societal constraints that I highlighted.
The MMC, Caz, is witty, funny and provocative. I liked that the power dynamic shifted as the story progressed between the two of them.
The horror aspect of the book faded as the romance progressed in alignment with Margot's personal journey.
To summarize: strong writing, interesting premise and lovely ending.
PS: I would have loved to know more about Caz's origins and powers and the author offers a novella / bonus link at the end of the book! Will be read this weekend :)
It was a great ride! I enjoyed the strange blend of psychological horror, dark romance and (almost) self-help book!
Thought-provoking more than addictive for me.
The FMC, Margot, goes from accepting crumbs from life and others to embracing her darker side and affirming herself, the highlight of the book for me. I felt really connected to her in some ways (self-doubt, imposter syndrome). She has an entire monologue drawing parallels between women and monsters through their own body transformation and societal constraints that I highlighted.
The MMC, Caz, is witty, funny and provocative. I liked that the power dynamic shifted as the story progressed between the two of them.
The horror aspect of the book faded as the romance progressed in alignment with Margot's personal journey.
To summarize: strong writing, interesting premise and lovely ending.
PS: I would have loved to know more about Caz's origins and powers and the author offers a novella / bonus link at the end of the book! Will be read this weekend :)
October 11, 2026
I got this book as an ARC! Thanks for sending it to me Happily Booked!
Dead end relationship, job she is unhappy with, and the gnawing hunger for more in her life; sends her down a rabbit hole that attracts the attention of a demon. Usually when making a deal with a demon to get everything you’ve ever wanted, it finds a way to backfire and ruin your life. But what if the demon falls for you and wants to give you everything and more if only you’ll be his? This book was about discovering yourself and taking no shit from anyone. Yes this girl was morally grey and had no issue with people dying around her to get what she wants in life, but lowkey we all can understand the draw of power. It corrupts you, but luckily when you have a demon who loves your darkness, why hide?? This is one of the only books where cheating seems acceptable. This had an element of mystery, suspense, and a bit of horror. I ate this up in one setting and loved it!
Dead end relationship, job she is unhappy with, and the gnawing hunger for more in her life; sends her down a rabbit hole that attracts the attention of a demon. Usually when making a deal with a demon to get everything you’ve ever wanted, it finds a way to backfire and ruin your life. But what if the demon falls for you and wants to give you everything and more if only you’ll be his? This book was about discovering yourself and taking no shit from anyone. Yes this girl was morally grey and had no issue with people dying around her to get what she wants in life, but lowkey we all can understand the draw of power. It corrupts you, but luckily when you have a demon who loves your darkness, why hide?? This is one of the only books where cheating seems acceptable. This had an element of mystery, suspense, and a bit of horror. I ate this up in one setting and loved it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A creepy and thought provoking novel about owning up to your ambitions and proclaiming your place in the world.
It was interesting to watch Margot grow throughout the novel as she finally started claiming what was hers. Caz was an interesting character, I’m very tempted by Sharpe’s prequel to learn more about him!
This book masterfully handles the topics of ambition, imposter syndrome, sacrifice, and feminine rage. I’d recommend it to fans of novels such as Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder and Femme Feral by Sam Beckbessinger. While feminine rage is not a new subgenre of horror, I would say the ideas found in this novel are fairly unique and well thought out!
I never stopped being interested in this novel, though there was a “twist” at the end that I felt was entirely unnecessary as the novel made its point without it!
Thank you to Bayou Wolf Press for the ARC!
It was interesting to watch Margot grow throughout the novel as she finally started claiming what was hers. Caz was an interesting character, I’m very tempted by Sharpe’s prequel to learn more about him!
This book masterfully handles the topics of ambition, imposter syndrome, sacrifice, and feminine rage. I’d recommend it to fans of novels such as Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder and Femme Feral by Sam Beckbessinger. While feminine rage is not a new subgenre of horror, I would say the ideas found in this novel are fairly unique and well thought out!
I never stopped being interested in this novel, though there was a “twist” at the end that I felt was entirely unnecessary as the novel made its point without it!
Thank you to Bayou Wolf Press for the ARC!
October 14, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
Awful Big Appetite is vastly different from other books I’ve read and that’s what drew me in the most. The book starts as a horror with erotic elements and moves to horror/monster romance.
I loved the shift in Margot, her character was walked all over and when Caz dangles that carrot over her head there’s no going back. Watching her embrace her dark side was satisfying and I was rooting for her the whole time.
Margot and Caz have sizzling chemistry, their story was everything but I wish we got more. It was heart warming seeing Margot’s relationship with Scott’s daughter.
Thank you Happily Booked PR for the ARC!
😈Morally gray heroine
🖤Faustian bargain
😈Demon lover
🖤Obsessed hero
😈Dark academia
🖤Power play
😈"Good for her"
Awful Big Appetite is vastly different from other books I’ve read and that’s what drew me in the most. The book starts as a horror with erotic elements and moves to horror/monster romance.
I loved the shift in Margot, her character was walked all over and when Caz dangles that carrot over her head there’s no going back. Watching her embrace her dark side was satisfying and I was rooting for her the whole time.
Margot and Caz have sizzling chemistry, their story was everything but I wish we got more. It was heart warming seeing Margot’s relationship with Scott’s daughter.
Thank you Happily Booked PR for the ARC!
😈Morally gray heroine
🖤Faustian bargain
😈Demon lover
🖤Obsessed hero
😈Dark academia
🖤Power play
😈"Good for her"
Review of advance copy received from Author
5 star rating -- feminine rage, desire and supernatural entities
I didn't know what to expect with Awful Big Appetite but it quickly captured my attention and I devoured it.
Margot is a character a lot of us can relate to, one who wants more from her mundane life and when someone comes into her life offering everything she had craved and more, how could she say no? She desires and chases her dreams like so many of us aspire to do as well.
And then Caz, oh my sweet, yearning, burning Caz. He is everything a person could want. The desire. The worship. The spice.
100/10 would recommend you read this!
I didn't know what to expect with Awful Big Appetite but it quickly captured my attention and I devoured it.
Margot is a character a lot of us can relate to, one who wants more from her mundane life and when someone comes into her life offering everything she had craved and more, how could she say no? She desires and chases her dreams like so many of us aspire to do as well.
And then Caz, oh my sweet, yearning, burning Caz. He is everything a person could want. The desire. The worship. The spice.
100/10 would recommend you read this!
Review of advance copy
I liked this, it was a fast read. It is a good intro to the darker side of romance.
I'd say maybe more of a gothic romance?
I liked the idea of a shadow daddy, I liked how there was a plot twist involving Scott.
I like Margot finding herself, her confidence and writers voice.
The horror aspects were good as well, however I do wish there was more details or scenes where the monsters get her approval.
I also think multiple POV would have been a cool way to tell the story.
Overall, I enjoyed it and will be reading Caz's story in the near future.
Thank you Happily Booked PR and the author for the ARC!
I'd say maybe more of a gothic romance?
I liked the idea of a shadow daddy, I liked how there was a plot twist involving Scott.
I like Margot finding herself, her confidence and writers voice.
The horror aspects were good as well, however I do wish there was more details or scenes where the monsters get her approval.
I also think multiple POV would have been a cool way to tell the story.
Overall, I enjoyed it and will be reading Caz's story in the near future.
Thank you Happily Booked PR and the author for the ARC!
October 4, 2026
I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect with this book, as I had only had prior experience reading this authors less dark books. I was very pleasantly surprised. It combined aspects of a pact with freedom of a trapped author. The romance was captivating, but the character growth was even better. It was dark but not too much. There was death and emotional turmoil, which served to show how the character grew. The thought process evolved and allowed self discovery. Overall I loved the progress in this book and the writing was well done.
I appreciate having received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I appreciate having received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author and Happily Booked PR for my ARC of this book. Margot wants everything in her life to be exactly the way she has always imagined and it’s not happening. She is tired of shrinking herself for everyone else. Then she meets Luther and everything starts to change. This is a dark journey and love story of Margot finally not apologizing for what she wants and embracing a darker version of herself to get it. This has a very dark vibe and fine line between normalcy and paranormal. There is some parts that are beautifully creepy and more that are fantastical, but all of this book is amazingly written and I really enjoyed it.
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