Fangs With Benefits

by Kath Richards

Molly Mason is not a team player. She does more work than the rest of her team, but when a promotion becomes available, they bring in an outside hire over her. To add insult to injury, she's tasked with training him. This is easier said than done, though, when he has the digital literacy of a toddler and is, infuriatingly, the hottest man she's ever laid eyes on.

Elijah Thorne's reintegration into human society is going swimmingly. He scammed his way into a job, got new clothes, and successfully convinced a myriad of New Yorkers that he is human, not a vampire. The one person he can't win over, though, is his intimidating colleague Molly.

When Molly discovers Elijah's secret, he realizes that being human isn't as easy as he thought. She'll help him act the part if he'll help her get promoted, but when they fall into a colleagues-with-benefits arrangement-no feelings involved-can they keep things professional?

Genres: Romance, Paranormal, Vampires, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 24, 2026

Reviews

[julkahap · Rating 4 out of 5]

and now i want my own vampire boyfriend who would be obsessed with me 😔

[meggthereader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is 100% a love letter to my little emo goth self who was (and still is) obsessed with vampires and dreamed about meeting her very own Edward Cullen one day.

Molly is definitely a real one for not only realizing what Eli was, but practically dry humped him into biting her and for that I applaud you sis. I see you girl, and I would have done the exact same thing if presented with the opportunity. This was such a feel good rom com and I loved every second of it. I would read another 3 books about Molly and Eli’s shenanigans. Not only was this book hilarious but the spice was so good. Like that closet scene moment that they had? GURL.

If you love vampire romances and need a lighter/funny read in your life then this is definitely the one for you. This was such a fun and adorable read and I could not stop smiling the whole time reading this one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5

Tropes:
•Lonely vampire x Grumpy human
•Hilarious banter
•Office romance
•Spicy romcom
•She can’t stand him, he’s obsessed with her
•Coworkers with benefits

[justine ⊹ ࣪ ˖ (slump era)]

.𖥔 ݁ ˖🕸️🕷.𖥔 ݁ ˖

pre-read : OH MY GOOOD. i am diving in ASAP right after my current read. tysm, Little, Brown Book Group UK | Sphere for the arc ⦮ ⦯

[lana]

edit: AND WHAT DID I SAY!!!!! I WILL BE READING ... ty little brown for the netgalley e-arc

yes this is a UK release but trust if kath writes it i will find a way to read it

[Adri · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I came for the vampire story and stayed for Elijah and Molly.

The paranormal premise hooked me, but it was their beautifully developing relationship that completely stole the show. Before I knew it, I was fully invested in every glance, every moment, and every ounce of longing.

Bonus points for an ending that puts a fresh spin on a well-loved vampire trope. Fun, romantic, and unexpectedly charming.

[joni ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

i cried. this was everything i wanted and more


𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── pre-read
the moment i saw the beautiful cover on instagram, i knew i had to read this. i've lwk been obsessed with vampires books lately (latest releases!!) and this one being a workplace just sounds SO good!!!

coming sept 24 (UK) and dec 29 (north america)


✧˖°💌 ⋆｡˚꩜ tropes & things to expect
⤷ office romance
⤷ sunshine vampire x grumpy human
⤷ IT department
⤷ age gap - 400 & 29
⤷ yearner x yearner
⤷ coworkers with benefits


thank you little brown book group uk for the eARC

[Mira · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a vampire who gets an office job in the IT department, while not understanding anything about computers. There, he falls in love with his colleague, who reluctantly teaches him digital literacy.

The beginning was interesting and funny, but the middle felt boring to me. I was also surprised by how easily Molly accepted Elijah’s nature. However, I liked the ending—it was unexpected and made me think.

Over this month, I read two books by this author, and I can conclude that she writes cute and light stories, but personally, I lack depth. That’s why I’m not sure if I will read any more of her books.

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓paranormal romance
✓office romance
✓forced proximity
✓colleagues-with-benefits

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK (Sphere) for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[kelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5!!

i have always loved books where the century old vampire struggles with modern day life (so random, i know) so i immediately requested this book because i knew it would be right up my alley, and im a huge fan!! i’ve read all of kath’s books & i will continue to. she has a unique way of blending humor with real emotional depth. (and helloooo this cover is so cute???)

elijah was so unintentionally funny & i think that’s what i like most about these kind of books, the irony of it all makes it so fun! he LOVED when the fmc molly was mean to him & wanted to be around her 24/7. he was such a sweetheart, i loved him so much. molly was such a good time & i loved her attitude and personality. i’m a HUGE fan of the independent woman trope & seeing them go soft for the mmc 😭 both main chapters deserve the world. secondary characters in this were great!! (can i get a book for dylan PLEASE???) & i thought the ending of this worked out perfect (and it’s unique!)

in conclusion: pick it up on september 24!! you won’t regret it. thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review via netgalley. all opinions are my own <3

[Erin (erinsreadingroom) · Rating 5 out of 5]

☆ 4.5 stars

Author Kath Richards is an author that I have had on my radar for around a year now and I cannot articulate just how excited I have been feeling to dive into my first story by her… and it being a paranormal romcom no less which is exactly what I’ve been in the mood for. Fangs With Benefits promises endless fun, wholesome charm and witty banter in a short space of time with an endearing cast of characters that you will not want to say goodbye to. One of my many favourite aspects to this book is the way that Richards writes and reflects about the human experience in both its vibrancy for life… and the significance in the mundane moments. I recognise that too often we overlook the simple pleasures in life due to them being an everyday occurrence and it felt eye-opening to experience the narrative of a character that has been forced to endure a life without those experiences for a long time. The exploration of life, mortality and love felt well executed for greater emotional impact so it’s safe to say that I’m largely impressed with my experience reading this wonderful story. There are plenty of pop-culture references throughout which often makes me wary, however they all felt very well implemented and relative to the storytelling in the way that they helped me better understand the interests of both main characters. The side characters are a wonderful attribute as they added even more liveliness to the page with their own personalities creating a multitude of dynamics to enjoy and explore. I would have gladly devoured this entire book with ease in one sitting had I not been balancing my reading time around my working hours… and I’ve immediately bumped up the other works by this author even higher on my TBR than they already were.

Molly Mason is a strong-willed, self-assured woman that knows her own value and is unafraid to assert herself in a male dominated workspace. I had the best time getting to understand her character in all of her intricacies right alongside the lovestruck vampire that often related her to light itself. Molly’s personality truly does shine through the page and it feels refreshing to see a woman reaching a significant time period in her life still trying to figure it all out. Her ambition for more and passion for writing was enjoyable to read about in the way that she refuses to undermine her own abilities for the comfort of others. I loved getting to witness Molly continue to challenge her own mind and the way that she instantly adapted to the new version of the world that she never realised existed. Her confidence within herself felt inspiring to read, and overall I had the absolute best time getting to know and understand Molly as a character.

Elijah Thorne has been such a delight to read about with his sunny deposition and almost childlike curiosity surrounding the modern world that he has found himself reintegrating into after a century of isolated living. I loved getting to read about a soft and gentle-natured vampire who remains in control of his urges with a longing for human experiences. The way that he fought to adapt, made mistakes and refused to give up made Elijah all the more endearing to me as a reader. I found myself constantly grinning as a result of his misunderstandings and the way that he takes some terms of phrases quite literal. His immediate obsession with his grumpy coworker was both adorable and hilarious as we can see that he desperately tried to remain respectful at all times. I adored getting insight into Elijah’s long history as a vampire alongside the tragic discussions surrounding loving and losing people as a result of living such a long lifespan. Elijah’s relationship with his family varied and I would have enjoyed getting the opportunity to have seen this explored in more depth, but as a whole I utterly adored him as a character and hope to see him again as a side character in future books.

The relationship development between Molly and Elijah never failed to bring a smile to my face from the moment we are faced with their initial contrasting first impressions. Where Molly views the (abnormally) attractive newcomer with aggravation and disdain as a result of being passed over for the promotion she applied for… Elijah sees an intelligent and lively woman that he instantly becomes obsessed with and immediately needs to know more about. I had the best time getting to see their relationship unravel over time as their one-sided rivalry slowly develops into a solid friendship with shared mutual attraction. They fit together perfectly as complimentary opposites in the way that Molly is the grumpy to Elijah’s sunshine. I adored getting to witness Molly soften more over time under the sweet and tender attentions of the man she is trying (and failing) to not fall in love with. The way that Elijah continues to encourage Molly to reach for her dreams was just as heartwarming as the way that she seems to act as the spark that brings him back to life. Both characters had their own way of encouraging and supporting one another which felt refreshing and emotional to witness in its raw honesty. The trust and vulnerability that is earned between the pair felt palpable through the pages, and overall I absolutely loved getting to watch Molly and Elijah fight for the love and life that they know they deserve.

Fangs With Benefits was such a compelling and emotional story filled with tender dialogue, a fully developed cast of characters and a love story that you’re going to want to sink your teeth into. The slow burn romance and searing spice will leave you fanning your face and kicking your feet in your giddiness. This is the perfect paranormal romcom to pick up during any season, and I desperately hope that this will not be the only book within the world. There are several side characters that I’m crossing my fingers to see receive their own love story… one certain best friend in particular who we see making an accidental life changing decision in the end.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞.

[Milou · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.65 stars ⭐️

SO sweet. So silly, funny AND heartfelt. This is my favourite Kath Richards book so far, and she only seems to be getting better with every new release. Loved all the pop culture vampire references because you can 100% tell this was written by a Twilight girly, but like, not in the bad way, y’know? Just all the good vampire and paranormal romance stuff.

If you’ve read My Roommate Is A Vampire by Jenna Levine you’ll be at least slightly familiar with the tale; an ancient vampire completely out of his depth in the new age (due to reasons™). I was a little afraid they might be too similar (which wouldn’t necessarily be bad, because I did enjoy that book a lot) but I can safely say this is a completely fresh take. The mix with the hellhole that is American corporate culture and tech??? Hilarious.
I loved Molly and Elijah, both were so soft yet multi-faceted in such a real, honest way, which is something I’ve come to know Kath for as an author and by far one of my favourite things about her work. I mean, Elijah’s not only a total sweetie (if a bit technically/digitally inept), appreciates food even if he can’t eat it, has a rocking bod, is comfortable with his sexuality AND unabashedly reads Minotaur smut???? Hi, king 👋🏻 He was perfect for Molly (who was already a badass in her own right) and helped her grow and take those precious first steps out of her comfort zone. I just wanted to give them both a big ol’ squeeze!!

Yes, maybe it was a little predictable, but I had fun (and cried a little) regardless. I do wish the romance had been a little less rushed? I was so loving the build-up, the banter between colleagues, how sweet their friendship became even with just a few kisses, not the full benefits. It’s not insta-love by any means but once the spice hit, it felt like they skipped a couple of gears and went straight into fifth, if you get what I mean. I’d have preferred that, over the third act blip BUT I’ll get over it because the happy ending was certainly worth it. Also, the crumbs for future interconnected standalones?? I’m SAT.

Anyway! I’ll definitely be buying a physical copy once this baby hits the shelves in September. To tide you over while you wait to get your hands on it, here’s some of my favourite quotes:

“Molly’s shoulders sag a little before she types more. She’s much faster than Dylan, who I believed to be very quick. Turns out he is proficient at laptop, whereas Molly is professional.”

“I think I’d enjoy pressing my nose right into her hair and taking a long breath. This, of course, would get me removed from the premises which would mean janitorial nights for my foreseeable future.”

“Holy fucking shoulders.
At the sight of Elijah in something other than a collared shirt, I feel like a Victorian man first spotting a woman’s knee.”

Huge thank you to NetGalley, Little Browne UK and Kath Richards for the ARC! I’ll be honest, I fangirled a little when I got the email.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75⭐️

Unfortunately this didn’t work for me.

I thought 2026 was the year we were bringing back plot in books? The idea of this was great, it was on my tbr since it was announced so I was so excited when I got approved for the arc but unfortunately it didn’t meet my expectations.

Listen, I don’t mind low stakes in books, sometimes I’m in the mood for them but there wasn’t a semblance of a plot in this and I can’t really say it was character driven either because I never really got a good grasp on who they were .

The romance. This was very insta lusty which isn’t my favourite but I can tolerate it when it’s done well I just didn’t feel much chemistry between Molly and Eli so I didn’t find myself caring for them in the end.

The writing. Not my favourite. I read Kaths debut and I really enjoyed it and I don’t remember the writing being this stiff or having so much unnecessary exposition. At the beginning we’re told how the fmc feels about the mmc so many times and it felt like it was being drilled home. I know she dislikes him, it’s mentioned 4 times in one page at least show me through dialogue or conversation or action instead of telling me how I should feel for the fmc.

The sex. What is going on with mmc’s who don’t act like themselves in the bedroom these days? He changed personality once he gets into the bedroom and it’s jarring. He’s this awkward almost reclusive character and suddenly he’s into dirty talk? I don’t buy it.

Also… why is everyone kissing everyone in this book? It didn’t bother me but like.. was it necessary?

I will say I enjoyed the unconventional ending we don’t normally see in paranormal romance and I’m aware that if we had some higher stakes maybe the ending we got might not have been able to happen if there was a “big bad” in play, buuuut… if there’s no external conflict going on in a paranormal romance be it from higher ups or family or threats to human life I just… fail to see why you didn’t just write a contemporary?

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for sending me the arc. All opinions are my own

[Mura ³² · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Arc review 🧛] May 7th.

“In all my years, loving you has been my favorite privilege.”
She cried, I crew too, we all crode 😭

This was soooo good I’m never gonna get them out of my mind. As soon as I heard there was a vampire involved I was like Sign. Me. Up. This was my first book of Kath and It’ll definitely not be my last, I’m in love with her storytelling and characters. They just have so much life??? So real and I laughed along with them and the rom com was rom-comming well.

I think Molly is such an interesting person and we all have a piece of us in her. I know I do. Her love for fantasy-fiction and her curiosity about things and life and her ambitions and dreams— she’s so me in another life. And Elijah?! Where do I even begin. At first glance he’s such a sweetheart, a gentleman who’s ancient(Molly words, not mine) but when he’s in bed OH LORD the things he says and does HES EVERYTHING. But I adored him so so much he’s very special to me :(( I love them both to death and that ending made me gasp, cry, and laugh all at once. If you want a fun time read with unforgettable characters this is your sign to add this to your shelves and pick it up as soon as it’s out!!

[camila · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 🌟 “𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥’𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴. 𝘔𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘺.”

Kath Richards’ books are some of my favourites!! I’m so grateful I received this ARC!!!

I loved how strong-willed and independent Molly was. I too would’ve hated a man who swooped in, stole my promotion, and was wholly incompetent, so, although Elijah was a sweetie, I found her rivalry with him so entertaining. And I loooved how she didn’t let her soul-sucking IT job dull her spark!!! Her passion and dedication to short story writing was sweet. OH, and I was obsessed with the way she wasn’t afraid to snap back in her male-dominated workspace. Badass women is a recurring theme in Kath’s books!!! 💌 More than anything, I was invested in Molly finding her love for life again. She deserved it SO much.

My soft-hearted, gentle Elijah <3 I loved that we got a vampire character who wasn’t this cocky man because Elijah was adorable!!! His longing for human life and his curiosity about everything in the "normal" world were so endearing. In a lot of ways, Molly being able to teach him about necessary millennial pop culture made for some fun moments! His pain and longing for simple human pleasures were palpable. It really got me reflecting on all the beautiful things we get to enjoy in life 🥹 Elijah was just trying to find his place in this new, confusing, isolating world, and I was rooting for him every step of the way!!

Fangs with Benefits did lose me a bit with the plot, though. The thing is, as Elijah is learning how to blend in, a lot of the book centres on Molly’s workplace without developing the romance. So for around 50%, I was bored due to the absence of an investable plot. For a long while, my love for Kath Richards was what kept me going :’)

Once we hit that 70% mark, this was incredible!!! I know that’s late into a book, but I need to give credit where credit is due. I was so happy when Molly and Elijah finally started connecting on the level I needed them to! An entertaining dynamic turned into a tender friends-with-benefits arrangement 🕺 I adored how Elijah’s sunny personality softened Molly’s tougher exterior!! They were both deeply scarred by past love, so the way they found their way towards each other and built trust, honesty, and safety was beautiful 😽 Elijah and Molly fought hard, both internally and externally, for their love!!!

So, while some elements of Fangs with Benefits were a miss for me, Molly and Elijah ultimately won me over! 💜 Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Holly Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so incredibly BEAUTIFUL! I can’t even believe I already read it! Kath is a fantastic writer! I loved everything about her writing in this one. It’s of course different than the Morelli’s, but it’s still very much KATH. It’s MAGIC and there’s so much love, but for being a story about a vampire it’s so very human.

Elijah is quite possible the SOFTEST vampire I’ve ever know. He felt so deeply, and he loved so intensely. He wanted to LIVE so badly, so him finding Molly and her teaching him how to be human just felt SO PURE.

Elijah and Molly were PERFECT. I love love love friends with benefits to lovers bc it is goes from casual to SO NOT CAUSAL so quickly and it is delicious!!! Especially bc Elijah was painfully aware of how un-casual he has been for literally ever!!

But they were so GOOD! They were FUN! They were simply being humans together! And I loved how in teaching Elijah how to be human Molly really confronted her own life, her own dreams, her own desires. She was really able to finally take a risk and find her new path!!

The ending was absolutely perfect and I will say no more about that!!!


Thanks SO MUCH to Little Brown for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

[Linnea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A huge thank you to the team at Little, Brown Book Group UK for approving me to read this earc through NetGalley. Sending you guys a big smooch

This was so fun to read!!!!!! *cries, screams and throws up but like in a good way*

I pretty much knew I was going to love it by just the premise alone but what sealed the deal was how much I could relate to Molly.
She works with IT and has to train the guy who got her promotion and who is extremely untechnical, I help out with IT and have to help my colleagues who some are very untechnical (ily tho).

Then it just kept going. Elijah is such a green flag and I just adore him, the freaking cat is the cutest and I feel like all of the friends we meet along the way are nicely written and just NICE. I also neeeeeeed a spin off novel with Dylan and Luke cause they can’t leave it like that… not okay.

This book was also FUN. I laughed a lot of times, squealed a little and UGH. It was just so so good.

The ending was beautiful and I cried? Like a had a whole ass tear running down my cheek just because it was such a beautiful ending? Loved it.

I’ll be getting a physical copy of this one just because it was THAT good. UGGGHHHHH

[Geri • GardensandGrimoires · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fangs with Benefits turned out to be WAY more fun than I expected!
Grumpy human Molly is forced to train Eli, the bubbly vampire who compelled her boss into giving him… her job. Unfortunately for Molly, Eli has the digital literacy of a confused Victorian ghost and also happens to be outrageously attractive.

I had such a good time with this one. It’s sweet, silly, genuinely funny and surprisingly heartfelt. Watching Eli attempt to blend into modern New York society while Molly slowly unravels around him was incredibly entertaining. Extra cute points awarded to Dylan the werewolf and the cat, obviously.

The ending wrapped everything up perfectly but I am absolutely going to need a Luke and Dylan spin-off novella immediately.

Thank you to NetGalley, Little Brown UK and Kath Richards for the ARC.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my, I love these two so much. Kath Richards is a damn unicorn who can write a rom-com that is so absurd, laugh out loud funny, yet still sweet and tender. She can truly do no wrong!

Elijah uses his secret vampire powers to get an IT job, unwittingly stealing a promotion from Molly. He is so clueless yet so endearing, Molly can’t help but learn to love this little freak she so badly wants to hate.

This book was charming and fun and so much more - I think we could all use the reminder that life is fleeting but special and we should enjoy this one life we get to the fullest. Thank you Little Brown UK for an ARC to read and review.

[caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

this moved me. kath richards has done it again!! she’s now 3 for 3 w five star reads omg… i fucking adore molly and elijah!! adore!!!! rtc

[Ali (Taylor’s version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book sm 😭😭😭😭
My undying love 🤝 vampires

[kels · Rating 3 out of 5]

mid idfk

[gia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐

thank you to the author for the arc and having me on the arc team!
the premise of this book sounds SO good and miss kath richards delivered, this book is simply peak romcom, i could picture the whole thing playing in my head like a tv show! this book has a perfect mix of banter and paranormal fun, and the chemistry between molly and elijah is great. the tension between molly and elijah is EVERYTHING, i love a down bad man and a capable and relatable girlie, and the grumpy x sunshine trope ALWAYS hits. aside from the romance, the growth in the characters were also interesting to read about, and ofc my favourite part about this is honestly just elijah learning about modern life and pop culture. the secondary characters also make this book so much more fun, Devi is so iconic and i would very much like Dylan's book 👀 all in all, this book is very fun and lighthearted, and ms kath richards has definitely become my autoread author, despite my favs still being the morelli sisters.

[amazenreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so, so much to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the eARC of this book!

"I do love you. How could I not?" (I have something in my eye I am NOT tearing up...ok maybe I am)
🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

Molly doesn't need to be a team player. Not when she is incredibly good and the only one putting in 110% at her IT job at Drummond. So when a promotion that should have clearly gone to her goes to a mysterious external hire, her anger is well earned. To make it worse, her job even has the nerve to ask her to train the new guy, which ends up being more than she signed up for.

Elijah, a 400+ year old vampire, is ready to reintegrate himself into human society after spending a century away. Thanks to a connection (and a little bit of vampiric compulsion) he is able to swing a job in IT at Drummond. Only problem? He doesn't know a single thing about technology. Maybe he can just convince everyone that every tech problem can be solved by turning their computers off, then on? Good thing he is incredibly charming and has worked his way into everyone's hearts at Drummond. All except Molly...

Elijah has what Molly wants. Molly holds the knowledge to Elijah's success. Can these two work together where they both leave satisfied...and with their hearts intact?

GOOSEBUMPS WHEN I TELL YOU FINISHING THIS BOOK LEFT ME WITH GOOSEBUMPS😭😭😭😭😭😭

I mean, what else should I have expected from the ICON who gave us the yearnmaxxer supremes, Nate Gilbert and Maxim Orlov? Now I fear we must add the one and only, Elijah Thorne, to that list.

This book truly had everything I could ever want from a romance, and I really hope this review convinces you to pick it up

Review: ♾️/5

My favourite parts:

🥀The Characters🥀
One of the things that always reminds me why I love Kath Richards' writing so much is how she writes her FMCs. Never in a million years will my queen have her FMCs be seen as "weak" or as "pushovers". She always writes them with incredibly strong personalities and sureness, where even if they second-guess or are struggling with something, they never turn it around and let it impact who they are as a person. Molly is such a prime example of this. Yes, she has her own internal struggles, but never does she let the outside world dictate who she knows she is to her core. She knows her values and how much of an asset she is at Drummond. So even when the dingdongs she works with overlook her time and time again, she never lets it take away from her worth, and it's such a breath of fresh air every time. Elijah, on the other hand, had me blushing and cackling every other chapter. Is this man insanely down bad? Um, OF COURSE he is. And does it absolutely show in his every action? Why yes. This man could not help but become obsessed with Molly immediately. Like every time within their first couple of interactions, you could just tell he was in awe of her. I’m convinced that anytime Elijah is taking notes from Molly, he's just writing “do whatever Molly says” over and over again while also doodling hearts in the margins. Also, I am a sucker for a term of endearment and his being "darling"...swoon. AND he likes monster/cryptid romances??!…oh how I love him.

🥀The Humour🥀
The dialogue throughout the story had me peeing my pants LAUGHING. Omg, Elijah versus technology is actually the funniest thing I’ve read in such a long time. The Teams messages with Molly?!?? I genuinely had to take a minute to collect myself. I’ve never laughed harder.

🥀The Message🥀
This story is truly a love letter to life and how sacred our mortality really is. Elijah had this one quote that I think sums this up perfectly:

"...it's easy to believe you have forever to do what you love, but you only have the one life. So if you aren't chasing what your heart desires most, you ought to get started."

Richards does an incredible job of showing through Molly and Elijah's actions that taking that leap to do what your heart wants most is scary, but the payout is so worth it.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be rereading this masterpiece for the foreseeable future, dreaming of it being September so I can hold a physical copy, and ordering Thai food in Molly's honour.

Thank you so, so much again to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the eARC of this book!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was initially very excited for this book because I absolutely love paranormal romances with vampires 🧛‍♀️ and I’ve read far too few paranormal books in recent years. I’m super happy to see them making their way back onto my TBR.
This one especially caught my attention because it was marketed as a paranormal rom-com, and because of the fun title!

The book definitely has things working in its favour. The writing flows well, it’s easy to read, and the dual POV kept me engaged. Every time I finished one character’s chapter and saw the opposite POV coming next, I found myself thinking, “Okay, one more chapter to see what he/she thinks.” I also really enjoyed the inclusion of Teams messages and emails throughout the story. Those mixed media elements added information and humor in a natural way that I appreciated.

The chemistry between the two main characters was a little inconsistent, though. In the beginning, I wasn’t fully feeling it… Then there were moments where I absolutely did… and then lost it again.

My biggest issue was the lack of tension, stakes, and emotional build-up. Even 75% into the book, I still felt like I was waiting for something to happen. The story often felt very “easy.”
Molly is a strong, independent protagonist who generally makes good decisions and handles situations maturely, which I appreciated. But... as a reader who enjoys a bit more emotional friction and drama in romance, I have to admit I was craving some fallout, more conflict, or simply more of an emotional whirlwind behind certain decisions.

I also felt like the book sometimes showed us the final decisions characters made without fully letting us experience the internal process behind them. We saw the outcome, but not always enough of the hesitation, struggle, or emotional journey leading up to it. That created a bit of distance for me and contributed to the feeling that something was missing. There was one moment in particular where a decision Molly made felt like it came completely out of the blue. Almost like I was missing a chapter.

The ending ultimately confirmed my initial thoughts. It was satisfying enough for the characters, but also pretty much 100% predictable. There weren’t many hints throughout the story suggesting something bigger, more layered, or more complex was coming, so the conclusion felt very much in line with the book’s overall low-stakes approach.

I do wish to highlight: this wasn’t a bad book by any means! But it didn’t fully hit the mark for me personally. That said, I would still recommend it to readers who enjoy paranormal romance and are specifically looking for something lighter, softer, and cozier rather than emotionally heavy or plot-driven. I could definitely see this working well as an easy in-between read.

And hey, near the end I feel like we got a pretty big hint toward a possible second book focused on a side character I really enjoyed 🐺 I was honestly more intrigued by that storyline, so who knows... If that book does happen, I’ll definitely pick it up! I have a feeling that one might bring a bit more tension and higher stakes, which would be very much up my alley.

(I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. )

[Literary Child (Tania) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Я коли починала цю книгу, то думала, що це буде такий легенький ромкомчик з вампірчиком, де кінцівка буде очікуваною. А все вийшло набагаааааато закрученіше. Не хочу говорити спойлерами й не буду, бо коли книга вийде, тоді почитаєте і дізнаєтеся все самі.

Мені так сподобалися їхні взаємовідносини, наскільки це прекрасні люди самі по собі, наскільки вони щирі, глибокі та, якщо можна так сказати, людяні. Коли я читала про Елайджу і Моллі, то ніби вдихнула ковток свіжого повітря, настільки вони безкорисливі. Але вони обоє по-своєму були ніби замерзлими в часі. Не наважувалися, не знали, як побачити те життя, яке хотіли для себе. Не бачили особливого сенсу ні в чому і просто існували, як човен, який хитає на воді та несе за течією.

Проте коли вони зустріли одне одного, то обоє розцвіли ніби квіти, які нарешті отримали вдосталь води, ніби їх душі поєдналися в одне ціле. Те, наскільки вони повернули одне одному жагу до життя, тут описано просто неймовірно. Як вони поступово відкривалися одне одному, як почали знову мріяти, будувати плани й бачити майбутнє — це було не лише красиво, а й дуже надихаюче.

Я пишу цей відгук, і в мене буквально сльози на очах. Здавалося б, саме Моллі мала бути тією людиною, яка сприймає багато речей як належне. Як і всі ми. Новий день, смак улюбленої кави чи страви, сонячне тепло, навіть ті моменти, коли ми бурчимо через якісь дрібні незручності. Усе це настільки звичне для нас, що ми майже перестаємо помічати його цінність.

Але Моллі була іншою. Вона по-справжньому смакувала життя, насолоджувалася кожним днем, який їй дарувало сонце, і з неймовірною стійкістю зустрічала труднощі. Вона не сприймала життя як щось гарантоване, вона ним дорожила.

І, мабуть, саме тому так сильно вражає історія Елайджі. Мені здається, він просто опинився не в тому житті, про яке мріяв і яким міг би насолоджуватися. Тому було так зворушливо спостерігати, як поруч із Моллі він поступово розквітав, заново відкривав для себе прості людські радощі й починав бачити красу в тих речах, які колись здавалися буденними. Це описано настільки чуттєво й щиро, що неможливо залишитися байдужим.

Фінал мене просто вразив, ошелешив, порадував, але й лишив дрібку смутку. Неочікуваний, але чудовий.

Загалом ця книга дозволяє багато про що задуматися: про життя, про його цінність, про моменти, які ми проживаємо протягом цього доволі короткого періоду нашого існування. Якщо дивитися на це з погляду історії, наше життя лише мить. І книга змушує замислитися над тим, скільки всього ми перестаємо цінувати, коли воно стає для нас буденним.

Справді починаєш думати про те, що кожного ранку, коли відкриваєш очі, ти маєш можливість прожити ще один день на цій планеті. Зустріти як радісні моменти, так і труднощі. Але саме це й робить нас людьми. Саме це і є цінністю людського життя.

Мені здається, цінність існування полягає саме в тому, що життя не є стабільним і передбачуваним. Кожен день може принести щось нове. Саме ця мінливість дає нам розвиток, дарує емоції, додає життю яскравості. І саме це, мабуть, і є те, що називається життям.

[corriature · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ladies and gentlemen, Kath has done it again! Thank you to Kath, NetGalley, and Little Brown Book Group for the opportunity to receive this eArc for honest feedback.

A fresh take on the vampire rom-com and paranormal romance. A new spin on a happy ending between paranormal couples. A lovely found-family aspect. Beautiful outlook on human life and de-glamorizing immortality, without bashing it for all those who enjoy. A true tale of rivals to friends to lovers that I absolutely loved every second of.

Kath has a way of world-building without taking you out of the world in order to understand it. She obviously cares very deeply for her characters and the lives they lead, the choices they'll have to make, and the growth that they need to get there. This wasn't an easy tale to tell. For all their jokes, they truly were coming from two different worlds and there wasn't a very clear path forward for the two of them to be together and be truly, wholly happy. They'd have had each other, but I think in the marrow of their bones, they knew it wasn't enough. Something had to give.

The tension built so perfectly amidst their idyllic, slow-build to love. You were falling in love with them, but you knew all along that it wasn't meant to last, and it filled me with as much dread as it did anticipation. I was chomping at the bit to see where Kath took these characters.

I loved the cast of side characters, they endeared themselves so easily. I *called* the tension between Dylan and Luke and I SO SO SO SO HOPE there will be a second book about them, because I found myself so incredibly invested in their story, too. I want to see more of these characters brought to life on page because I found them all to be lovable, relatable, and they made me feel so happy and whole.


★★★★★

Molly was up for a promotion, but a technically illiterate hottie conned his way into the position somehow, and on top of it all, her boss has the audacity to ask her to train him for the position she was just passed over for. She is so, so very determined to hate Elijah. But she can't, not forever.

Elijah is a centuries-old vampire, and as lonely as can be. He is about a hundred years behind the times due to a long depressive episode spent in isolation, and he has to learn how to exist in the 2020s. He compelled his way to work what his friend said was an easy-enough job to learn, but the beautiful woman who trains (and degrades) him is his newfound lease on life.

Will Molly be wooed by this very soft, very human vampire? Will Elijah stop blaming himself for the events of the past 100 years that he couldn't have changed? Will they ever get to watch Twilight together? PLEASE read and find out.

Incredible, heartwarming romcom, and a lovely take on vampires & humans finding the meaning of life and love together.

-Vampire x Human
-He stole her promotion
-Biting (and she likes it)
-Cat distribution system
-AND THEY WERE ROOMMATES (friends with benefits)

[Ashleigh Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fangs With Benefits follows Molly Mason, who has recently been passed over for a promotion, despite doing more work than the rest of her team. To add insult to injury, she’s tasked with training the outside hire, Elijah Thorne, who has the digital literacy of a toddler, and also happens to be a 400 year old vampire trying to reintegrate into human society. When Molly discovers his secret, they strike a bargain: she’ll help him act the part of a human, and he’ll help her get promoted. But when they fall into a colleagues-with-benefits arrangement, can they keep things professional?

Vampires and workplace romances are two of my favourite things. Did I ever think I’d read a book with both in? No. So, imagine my delight when I saw Fangs With Benefits pop up on NetGalley! I ate this book up in less than 24 hours, and I had SO much fun reading it!

Firstly, the characters. Elijah is the softest, most charming, unintentionally funny vampire that I’ve ever read about. His fascination and enthusiasm for all things human was so endearing, and seeing him navigate the human world was nothing short of hilarious. I honestly adored him, and he’s 100% one of my favourite MMC’s that I’ve read recently.

Molly is our independent, slightly grumpy FMC, who has given up on her dreams and resigned herself to a job that she’s not passionate about, and where she is under appreciated for all the work she does. She had a lot of depth, and I found her really relatable.

I loved Molly and Elijah’s dynamic; seeing Molly’s grumpiness fade and Elijah’s spark for life coming back with the more time they spent together was so satisfying. They really made each other’s lives better, with Elijah encouraging Molly to chase her dreams, and Molly showing Elijah all the delights that the 21st century has to offer (like Twilight and sour candy!). Their romance was so sweet, with great banter and chemistry. The intimate scenes were also really well written.

There were also some fantastic side characters, such as Elijah’s werewolf friend Dylan (I hope we get his book one day!) and Molly’s best friend and coworkers. I also found Elijah’s relationship dynamics with his vampiric family members really interesting!

The way the book ended was unique, and it was honestly the perfect ending for the characters. I was welling up as I finished it, and I miss the characters already. I would read another 5 books about Molly and Elijah if I could.

If you’re looking for a fun, paranormal office romcom that is funny, swoony, sexy, and life affirming, I would definitely recommend picking this one up when it releases in September. I can’t wait to read whatever Kath Richard’s writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group/Sphere for providing me with an eARC. This review is being left voluntarily and all opinions are my own.

[⋆｡˚꒰ঌ lexi ໒꒱˚｡⋆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what a romcom with a strong willed protagonist and a trying-to-look-human vampire would look like? Well, here you have it!

Kath Richards has picked all the fangirls favourite book ingredients in her new release, and the combination is quite beautifully accomplished. In this novel we firstly meet Elijah, a vampire of about 400 years old who is trying to reincorporate in society and whose new job is IT, the worst option one could pick after way too many years of self-imposed seclusion in the middle of nowhere. Then, we also meet Molly, this absolutely stunning blonde woman that is assigned to help Elijah settle in his new position. What could be the odds of her finding out that our dear vampire has completely lied in his interview and actually has no idea of how a computer works? What about his vampiric... situation?

Richards makes use of the hilarious situation Elijah is in to create such a speacial bond between the two, and while they start spending more and more time together, things start heating up between our two protagonists. Although the book does indeed have a few explicit scenes, I think it play with the romantic and sexual tension much more and in such a beautiful way that it makes their connection feel so real. Both protagonists are quite well developed, though I would have loved for the secondary characters to play a bigger part of the story and not just be used whenever something needed to happen or to be said for the plot to progress. Jellie had suuuch a potential to become a full-fleshed character, she deserves her own book and I hope the author notices that.

Regarding the plot, it is quite predictable but that did not stop me from enjoying the novel, the opposite. It's a feel good novel that also delves into more serious topics that have personally affected the characters, so it also has some depth to it. I would just have loved for the vampire characteristics to be just a tiny bit more... consistent? Elijah's fangs appeared whenever it was convenient for the scene: when they first kissed they appeared, and there was even a tiny bite/mark? but we weren't told that he bit her and she didn't feel it in the moment? And then, they have many other kiss scenes in which his fangs are not even mentioned. I think that if we are gonna do something like Stefan in The Vampire Diaries and show that he is affected by his passion for her loved one, we have to do it from the beginning to be end and be consistent with it. Even if it is fiction, it has to read like if it was real, and I don't think that excited little Elijah can just control his fangs whenever he wants when he is so eager for Molly all the time.

Overall, very enjoyable, fun and quick read that just got me out of a reading slump so I cannot not recommend it. Thank you so much to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this work!

[Izzy Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, wow, wow! I felt all the feels with this one; Happy, giddy, emotional, sad, charmed, melancholic and grateful for being alive just to name a few. This was my first Kath Richards book and I am now obsessed with her! I looovvved this book, it was brilliant and still lives inside my head two months later. A full gamut of emotions was had while reading this. One minute I was trying to hold in my laughter while reading in public because it was so funny, and the next trying not to cry as we delved into some deep emotional waters and thinking about the meaning of life.

I went into this thinking it was going to be a fun time just based of the title and book description; a little comedy, light and fun and not to be taken too seriously. And it is funny, Molly and her co-workers are hilarious and Molly's snark and droll wit is perfection. But this story is so much more than that and I was disarmed as the story progressed, by the depth of each of the main characters feelings about themselves, each other and the meaning of life and living each day to it's fullest.

I related very much to Molly living in today's world and not really doing what she loves for work, but just working to pay the bills and being scared to go after what she really wants and not have it pan out and at the end of the day wanting love, but wanting to be loved for herself just as she is.

And Elijah.... oh my sweet vampire love Elijah..... swoon, I loved him to bits. He comes to work at Molly's place of employment and accidentally takes a promotion she was (sort of) wanting. He had been in seclusion for a century and was just re-entering the current world and is completely ignorant and hopeless when it comes to figuring out all of current life's little nuances and modern technology and computers and office life. This made for some great laugh out loud moments, especially if you work in an office environment.

His point of view, both in the present and as he reminisces about his past, is in turns funny and also so poignant and melancholy, but also beautiful and really makes us think about how precious and fleeting life can be and that we have to live life as if each day could be the last.

And not to be left out, the love story between Molly and Elijah was fabulous. It was perfectly paced and had me laughing, and blushing and angry, and swooning. It was perfect.

Besides Molly and Elijah, we have their friends and co-workers Devi, Kenneth, Hailey, Dylan, Luke and Gemma the cat and some others who were all amazing side characters. Each one brought something fun or interesting to the story, and I loved them all.

Well done to Kath Richards, she now has a fan for life and I cannot wait to read more of her books. I am so thankful that I was able to read this early and find a new to me author who made me pause and remember how beautiful and precious life is.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Kath Richards and team, NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK & Sphere for this highly anticipated ARC!

AMAZE. AMAZE. AMAZE.

This was sooooo stinkin' cute!!! Would have finished this in a single sitting if life hadn't gotten in the way. Richards' writing is so bingeable that it really is hard to put the book down.

The banter and chemistry between the main leads felt authentic and flowed nicely. Their transition from colleagues to lovers just makes me giddy. Both of them are so real and relatable it makes them super endearing and easy to root for their HEA. It was the best combo of a charming and blunt FMC and an earnest and devoted MMC. Additionally, I typically only read spicy romance books but the wholesome and sweet connection these two had beyond their friends-with-benefits situationship stole the show for me. Their chemistry just speaks volumes as they embark on their journey together to live out their best lives.

I absolutely loved the humour, tone and direction of the story - there were only a handful of ways to resolve the conflict presented in the story (similar to every other paranormal vampire romance) but the way in which it was done in Fangs With Benefits was truly refreshing and kept in line with the overall vibes of the book and made sense. And best believe I was cackling my way through reading this, especially with how all the common myths about vampires were addressed and how the MMC was basically a boomer trying to engage with technology.

There was just the right amount of world building and character work with sufficient backstory for the main characters to really explain their current struggles and mindset. I enjoyed the diverse cast of characters, and of course, a cute cat.

I also have no experience whatsoever in the corporate world but the story showcased all the fascinating bits and charms of corporate America through all the fun characters. I loved learning about this aspect and it fascinated me as much as the MMC found it.

This was such a delightful and lighthearted read. Full of wit and I'm sure every millennial who was deeply into the pop culture sphere would enjoy this immensely too. And being around the same age as the FMC now, I really connected with some of her quarter-life crises and took some quality advice and life lessons from this cute little paranormal office romance book.

Was it a bit cheesy and cliche? Yeah. But I ate it all up. And I'd do it again.

Highly, highly recommend!

Would definitely read again, as well as anything else Kath Richards writes!

Overall rating: 5/5

[Ali - Virgen Literaria · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC by NetGallet✨

OMG!
What a surprise! Kath Richards men are always so soooo lovable. This vampire it's not the typical vampire but the softest inmortal guy i have read! His struggle to adapt to the modern world is such a silly and funny journey. He was so unsure but hopeful and scared and fighting hard. He was to true and real for me. And Molly, oh girl, i felt you. She was such a hedgehog spirit and her inner dilemma, gosh i felt them. Because sometimes you think you're doing good but in actually you don't have a damn clue what are ylu doing and i feel envious of you, not only because precious soul like Elijah's loves you but because you do know what you want even if you struggle to go for it. The story is funny, classic and so full of millennial culture and different of The Morelli Sisters world but still have the scent of the author, strong, relatable woman and men that are gentle and sensitive without fear to show it. I also love how side characters shone and I'm so eager to discover more of them...pls Dylan x Luke, Jellie x Samara, Devi x Kenneth, and Gregory. I want to know it all. This history is super easy to read, it light and funny and i even teared up with the last scene of Elijah and his family..it made me miss my family too. I really, really lile this book. OMG!
What a surprise! Kath Richards men are always so soooo lovable. This vampire it's not the typical vampire but the softest inmortal guy i have read! His struggle to adapt to the modern world is such a silly and funny journey. He was so unsure but hopeful and scared and fighting hard. He was to true and real for me. And Molly, oh girl, i felt you. She was such a hedgehog spirit and her inner dilemma, gosh i felt them. Because sometimes you think you're doing good but in actually you don't have a damn clue what are ylu doing and i feel envious of you, not only because precious soul like Elijah's loves you but because you do know what you want even if you struggle to go for it. The story is funny, classic and so full of millennial culture and different of The Morelli Sisters world but still have the scent of the author, strong, relatable woman and men that are gentle and sensitive without fear to show it. I also love how side characters shone and I'm so eager to discover more of them...pls Dylan x Luke, Jellie x Samara, Devi x Kenneth, and Gregory. I want to know it all. This history is super easy to read, it light and funny and i even teared up with the last scene of Elijah and his family..it made me miss my family too. I really, really lile this book.