What do you think?
Rate this book
Strange Bedfellows
A dark and steamy debut novel about a girl, who is sometimes a cat, the witch she loves, and the toxic secrets from her past that are threatening to unravel the delicate balance of her future.
Cleo is a willfully aloof college student with an impossible secret. When she meets Wes, a brooding musician, at a Halloween party, their connection is instant, electric, and impossible to ignore. Their romance takes a mystical turn when Wes discovers what Cleo’s been sometimes she takes the form of his pet cat.
Enter Bailey and Ollie—their magical counterparts—who reveal a deeper tie between Cleo and he’s a witch, and she’s his familiar. As past secrets collide with their entangled present, Cleo faces her greatest fear—losing Wes. With long-gone threats returning and danger looming, Cleo must confront her role in their dark and violent shared history and decide if she’s willing to fight for their future.
Cleo is a willfully aloof college student with an impossible secret. When she meets Wes, a brooding musician, at a Halloween party, their connection is instant, electric, and impossible to ignore. Their romance takes a mystical turn when Wes discovers what Cleo’s been sometimes she takes the form of his pet cat.
Enter Bailey and Ollie—their magical counterparts—who reveal a deeper tie between Cleo and he’s a witch, and she’s his familiar. As past secrets collide with their entangled present, Cleo faces her greatest fear—losing Wes. With long-gone threats returning and danger looming, Cleo must confront her role in their dark and violent shared history and decide if she’s willing to fight for their future.
Audible Audio
First published September 22, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 319 reviews
September 29, 2026
Rating: ⭐⭐ ½
Genre: Romance + Fantasy
Strange Bedfellows has a very interesting premise, which is why the book caught my attention, and I decided to get it from NetGalley. The story is about a girl (Cleo) who can transform into a cat. She takes the form of the cat of her new love interest, Wes, who is also a witch! Their pets also have their own POVs and the story gets more complicated when Cleo decides that she wants to know what Wes is hiding.
Multiple POVs are not my favorite thing in fiction, but I have no problem with it if it is well implemented. I usually don't have much trouble with multiple POVs, especially when the character's name is clearly given at the beginning of each chapter, but somehow I still found myself getting more confused the further I got into the book. The multiple plot threads, supernatural elements, and new ideas being introduced made tracking everything become a chore. The book seems to assume that adding more and more ideas will make the story more interesting, but it may have the opposite effect when those ideas aren't given enough room to develop. At some point I found myself trying to remember who was connected to whom rather than simply enjoying the story.
I can’t say I enjoyed the romance side of the story. I never felt much chemistry between the characters. I think it is very hard to be invested in their relationship when that chemistry is lacking. Another thing is that despite being an adult story, it gave me the vibes of YA books. This is not a bad thing, but it is not what I was expecting. I also feel a little more character development would have made a difference.
If I have to pinpoint the biggest issue of the book, it would be its worldbuilding. There are many interesting concepts, yet they are not built upon or explained to make the fantasy side of the story work or make sense. There may be a good story buried underneath all these ideas, but for me there were just too many of them competing for attention. The original premise was interesting enough to get me to pick up the book, but the more I read, the less it worked for me.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book.
https://constantinebooks.blogspot.com...
Genre: Romance + Fantasy
Strange Bedfellows has a very interesting premise, which is why the book caught my attention, and I decided to get it from NetGalley. The story is about a girl (Cleo) who can transform into a cat. She takes the form of the cat of her new love interest, Wes, who is also a witch! Their pets also have their own POVs and the story gets more complicated when Cleo decides that she wants to know what Wes is hiding.
Multiple POVs are not my favorite thing in fiction, but I have no problem with it if it is well implemented. I usually don't have much trouble with multiple POVs, especially when the character's name is clearly given at the beginning of each chapter, but somehow I still found myself getting more confused the further I got into the book. The multiple plot threads, supernatural elements, and new ideas being introduced made tracking everything become a chore. The book seems to assume that adding more and more ideas will make the story more interesting, but it may have the opposite effect when those ideas aren't given enough room to develop. At some point I found myself trying to remember who was connected to whom rather than simply enjoying the story.
I can’t say I enjoyed the romance side of the story. I never felt much chemistry between the characters. I think it is very hard to be invested in their relationship when that chemistry is lacking. Another thing is that despite being an adult story, it gave me the vibes of YA books. This is not a bad thing, but it is not what I was expecting. I also feel a little more character development would have made a difference.
If I have to pinpoint the biggest issue of the book, it would be its worldbuilding. There are many interesting concepts, yet they are not built upon or explained to make the fantasy side of the story work or make sense. There may be a good story buried underneath all these ideas, but for me there were just too many of them competing for attention. The original premise was interesting enough to get me to pick up the book, but the more I read, the less it worked for me.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book.
https://constantinebooks.blogspot.com...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Original af.
Cleo is just a normal girl. A normal girl, who is sometimes a cat. When she meets Wes, the sparks are instant; almost like they are made for each other. But when Ollie and Bailey show up with more in common than they think, things start getting odd. Will the past come back to haunt everyone?
This was unlike any book I've ever read before, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Unique, witchy, and twisty! Great debut!
Publication Date : September 22, 2026
Thank you to Atria / Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Cleo is just a normal girl. A normal girl, who is sometimes a cat. When she meets Wes, the sparks are instant; almost like they are made for each other. But when Ollie and Bailey show up with more in common than they think, things start getting odd. Will the past come back to haunt everyone?
This was unlike any book I've ever read before, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Unique, witchy, and twisty! Great debut!
Publication Date : September 22, 2026
Thank you to Atria / Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2026
This feels like it was ripped straight out of the early 2000s paranormal romance craze and you can take that with all of the positives and negatives you want.
A fast, drama filled read that was entertaining if not always my vibe.
A fast, drama filled read that was entertaining if not always my vibe.
September 20, 2026
I was so looking forward to loving this book. Sadly, it was not for me. This book is labeled as an adult read – which yes there were lots of spice scenes. BUT, the writing was very juvenile so it felt like I was reading YA. This was not enjoyable for me at all. I usually love witchy books but sadly this is not one I’m adding to that list.
September 24, 2026
'It takes me a second to identify the feeling for what it is. Not fear. Excitement. Magic is like a drug, like heroin but better. Or what I think heroin must be like.' (Cleo, loc 2399)
New Adult Occult Fiction | Magical Realism | Secrets | Supernatural Horror / Suspense | Dark Mystery | Witches & Familiars
This one was unique! The split between human and animal perspectives. It was intriguing enough to want to see where it was going to lead.
It does really capture some "cat"like tendencies, behaviors, and "cat-attudes" for Cleo. Reminds me why I'm not much of a cat person. 😆
'That brooding dark-haired boy who drinks his coffee black like his soul; except it isn’t the darkness of infinite nothing, like a black hole. It’s exactly the opposite— he’s an inky pool of passion and poetry, the darkest of blues scribbled layer over beautiful layer.' (Cleo, loc 4165)
When I look at the relationships through the familiar standpoints, it's rather sad, heartbreaking. Toxic, really. Though it does have romantic elements that do get rather heated (a lot of sizzling encounters and making up), there's a blurred line as there is a lot more discordance than harmony all around. Unbalanced as if it were a horror movie, and you know it won't end well if things keep going in the same ominous direction. Crossing even more genres with a little bit of psychological suspense, the thrill of danger, and the dark hang of evil.
'Like our dreams, his voice is an echo of times before. Our wounds go deeper than our body; they have weakened our mind.' (Cat, loc 3568)
It was as if I were caught in a fly trap and had no choice but to stay glued until the very end, with all the discovered twists and turns. And I would say the last 20%ish of the book was the best of it, as it encompassed most of the genres aforementioned.
eARC courtesy of NetGalley | Atria / Emily Bestler Books / Simon & Schuster
New Adult Occult Fiction | Magical Realism | Secrets | Supernatural Horror / Suspense | Dark Mystery | Witches & Familiars
This one was unique! The split between human and animal perspectives. It was intriguing enough to want to see where it was going to lead.
It does really capture some "cat"like tendencies, behaviors, and "cat-attudes" for Cleo. Reminds me why I'm not much of a cat person. 😆
'That brooding dark-haired boy who drinks his coffee black like his soul; except it isn’t the darkness of infinite nothing, like a black hole. It’s exactly the opposite— he’s an inky pool of passion and poetry, the darkest of blues scribbled layer over beautiful layer.' (Cleo, loc 4165)
When I look at the relationships through the familiar standpoints, it's rather sad, heartbreaking. Toxic, really. Though it does have romantic elements that do get rather heated (a lot of sizzling encounters and making up), there's a blurred line as there is a lot more discordance than harmony all around. Unbalanced as if it were a horror movie, and you know it won't end well if things keep going in the same ominous direction. Crossing even more genres with a little bit of psychological suspense, the thrill of danger, and the dark hang of evil.
'Like our dreams, his voice is an echo of times before. Our wounds go deeper than our body; they have weakened our mind.' (Cat, loc 3568)
It was as if I were caught in a fly trap and had no choice but to stay glued until the very end, with all the discovered twists and turns. And I would say the last 20%ish of the book was the best of it, as it encompassed most of the genres aforementioned.
eARC courtesy of NetGalley | Atria / Emily Bestler Books / Simon & Schuster
Did Not Finish
September 1, 2026No rating since I barely started it.
Marketed to adults but gives off overbearing YA vibes (okay not the smut) with the most clichéd heroine ever who is "not like other girls," if you catch my drift. Can't do it.
Marketed to adults but gives off overbearing YA vibes (okay not the smut) with the most clichéd heroine ever who is "not like other girls," if you catch my drift. Can't do it.
July 2, 2026
✨✨Not quite what I expected and a lot of fun!✨✨
Strange Bedfellows had me giggling and kicking my feet right off the bat! It started off a bit more of a cutesy read than I had expected. Cutesy isn’t my favorite, but add in witches, a girl that can turn into a cat, and a broody love interest and I’m all for it!
It definitely got deeper, a bit darker, and more intense as it went along though. I got caught up in my feels on Cleo’s behalf too!! I also really enjoyed the world and magical system in this book. I definitely am hoping for another book in this world and with these characters.
I will say I didn’t love the animal povs. I’m usually not a fan of animal POVs, especially when it’s a lot. That’s just something that usually as a whole I don’t particularly care for. I can see how it was useful in this story, and I know a lot of people love that kind of thing, it’s just not my favorite. Also, the ending kinda dragged on and on a bit for me.
Overall I really enjoyed this read though! It wasn’t a perfect one for me, but it was a fun one and I’d definitely read a book 2!!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released September 22, 2026 .
Strange Bedfellows had me giggling and kicking my feet right off the bat! It started off a bit more of a cutesy read than I had expected. Cutesy isn’t my favorite, but add in witches, a girl that can turn into a cat, and a broody love interest and I’m all for it!
It definitely got deeper, a bit darker, and more intense as it went along though. I got caught up in my feels on Cleo’s behalf too!! I also really enjoyed the world and magical system in this book. I definitely am hoping for another book in this world and with these characters.
I will say I didn’t love the animal povs. I’m usually not a fan of animal POVs, especially when it’s a lot. That’s just something that usually as a whole I don’t particularly care for. I can see how it was useful in this story, and I know a lot of people love that kind of thing, it’s just not my favorite. Also, the ending kinda dragged on and on a bit for me.
Overall I really enjoyed this read though! It wasn’t a perfect one for me, but it was a fun one and I’d definitely read a book 2!!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released September 22, 2026 .
August 30, 2026
This is an arc I had received from netgalley
Dnf’d at 34%. This book definitely gives me that fall vibes dealing with magic and familiars, but I feel like the plot just isn’t going anywhere. There were several times while I was reading I wanted to dnf since it was so slow, and it’s really just not holding my interest unfortunately.
This is a book I would pick up in the future and try again.
Dnf’d at 34%. This book definitely gives me that fall vibes dealing with magic and familiars, but I feel like the plot just isn’t going anywhere. There were several times while I was reading I wanted to dnf since it was so slow, and it’s really just not holding my interest unfortunately.
This is a book I would pick up in the future and try again.
September 22, 2026
I have no idea how to describe this book, it doesn’t want to fit into a genre. It feels like romance, magic, horror, feminine rage, and a fever dream all in one.
These characters were messy, toxic, and so complex. I was going through all the emotions with this one, but primarily heartbreak.
The book slows down a bit around the 35% mark when a new POV is introduced but trust me, it will pick up again and you will not want to stop reading. I physically could not stop reading and ended up staying up until 4am to finish it. I think all the toxic energy must have transferred to me from this book because why would I do that to myself 😂
This does not end with an HEA, which did leave me traumatized to say the least. But there will be a book 2 and I’m hoping for an HEA for these characters! Until then, I will be obsessing over these characters.
🐈 girl who is sometimes a cat
🕯️ witches
🖤 ill-fated mates
🔮 animal familiars
🌙 magical
😵💫 messy and toxic relationships
Thank you so much to Atria for the arc via NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts!
These characters were messy, toxic, and so complex. I was going through all the emotions with this one, but primarily heartbreak.
The book slows down a bit around the 35% mark when a new POV is introduced but trust me, it will pick up again and you will not want to stop reading. I physically could not stop reading and ended up staying up until 4am to finish it. I think all the toxic energy must have transferred to me from this book because why would I do that to myself 😂
This does not end with an HEA, which did leave me traumatized to say the least. But there will be a book 2 and I’m hoping for an HEA for these characters! Until then, I will be obsessing over these characters.
🐈 girl who is sometimes a cat
🕯️ witches
🖤 ill-fated mates
🔮 animal familiars
🌙 magical
😵💫 messy and toxic relationships
Thank you so much to Atria for the arc via NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts!
Want to Read
May 7, 2026ARC received! Thank you, Atria!!
Did Not Finish
October 5, 2026I absolutely hate doing this, but I think I need to DNF. I reached 30% and found that I'm really struggling with this book. I personally don't like to rate books that I've DNF'd.
I enjoy weird books, and this one sounded like it would be right up my alley, but the execution just isn't for me. Please remember that this is all my interpretation and opinion, but the characters were all much more immature than I was expecting them to be. There was a moment between Cleo and Wes where Wes started hounding Cleo for her past hook-ups while he also wasn't the picture of abstinence prior to their getting together. It's just one example, but this kind of dynamic is not something that I enjoy reading about. It's very toxic to me and juvenile. I saw this a lot in the dialogue between all characters that I've met so far, and again, it's just not for me. I thought the dialogue and tone in this book would be more adult.
I also wasn't liking the plot, but I feel like I would've been more tolerant had I enjoyed the characters more. And I know this was marketed as "instant connection" which I'm completely fine with. But I also felt a bit lost at the two MCs saying "I love you" after what felt like 2 seconds.
I will give it to this book for having a unique concept. I'm not sure that I've ever read a book with a concept like this where pet cat (shapeshifter) turns into lover.
I'm still glad that I gave this book a chance, even though it wasn't for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.
I enjoy weird books, and this one sounded like it would be right up my alley, but the execution just isn't for me. Please remember that this is all my interpretation and opinion, but the characters were all much more immature than I was expecting them to be. There was a moment between Cleo and Wes where Wes started hounding Cleo for her past hook-ups while he also wasn't the picture of abstinence prior to their getting together. It's just one example, but this kind of dynamic is not something that I enjoy reading about. It's very toxic to me and juvenile. I saw this a lot in the dialogue between all characters that I've met so far, and again, it's just not for me. I thought the dialogue and tone in this book would be more adult.
I also wasn't liking the plot, but I feel like I would've been more tolerant had I enjoyed the characters more. And I know this was marketed as "instant connection" which I'm completely fine with. But I also felt a bit lost at the two MCs saying "I love you" after what felt like 2 seconds.
I will give it to this book for having a unique concept. I'm not sure that I've ever read a book with a concept like this where pet cat (shapeshifter) turns into lover.
I'm still glad that I gave this book a chance, even though it wasn't for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.
September 30, 2026
A really dark, tragic, spicy urban fantasy with a bit of a mythological twist. The FMC is a shifter who discovers she is also a witch’s familiar. The story switches POV between the FMC, Cleo, as a human and Cat, who, unsurprisingly, is a cat. Cleo is complicated, angsty and difficult. Her relationship with Wes, her musician boyfriend and the MMC, turns dark as her magical abilities and previous life histories come into play. Without including a lot of spoilers, I found this to be an interesting premise. However, there is a lot of self destructive and self loathing behaviors that may be triggering for some readers. My thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing an eARC; all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In Strange Bedfellows, we follow Cleo and Wes who meet with familiar/witch combo from England, Ollie and Bailey, when they are searching for their parents. This book was set up to be something I would enjoy! I obviously love cats and if I'm reading a fantasy-adjacent book, it's most likely to be something witchy. However, this book seemed to lean more toward romantisy, and I didn't enjoy that aspect of the book. We read a lot of steamy scenes between the main characters, some of which seemed to occur unexpectedly while other steamy scenes seemed completely unnecessary.
This book had a LOT of plot points and it was confusing at times. The writing was not dense or descriptive in the way The Goldfinch is descriptive, it just had so many plot points that ultimately didn't add much value to the overall story. Honestly, the last 40 pages could have been cut from this story and the story re-worked a little bit. Strange Bedfellows felt like it was a rejected script, re-worked to be a novel, and for me that didn't come across well.
I found some important pieces of the plot difficult to follow because of the randomness with which they were interjected into the story. For example, we read about Cleo and Ollie's dreams which are important to the spells that these witches cast. I also wasn't a fan of some of the language used in the book, which ultimately caused me to lower my rating. The use of the word "psychotic" and the phrase "spirit animal" don't sit right with me within the context they were used. Lastly, I found the use of paganism magic to be not well explained and also hard to follow. Ollie and Cleo would throw out spells using runes, and it seemed like I (the reader) was expected to know how impactful that spell would be based on the rune used.
I ultimately would only recommend this book to people with extensive knowledge of paganism (e.g., Beltane, winter solstice) and/or people who read romantisy.
An arc was provided via Netgalley and Atria in exchange for an honest review.
This book had a LOT of plot points and it was confusing at times. The writing was not dense or descriptive in the way The Goldfinch is descriptive, it just had so many plot points that ultimately didn't add much value to the overall story. Honestly, the last 40 pages could have been cut from this story and the story re-worked a little bit. Strange Bedfellows felt like it was a rejected script, re-worked to be a novel, and for me that didn't come across well.
I found some important pieces of the plot difficult to follow because of the randomness with which they were interjected into the story. For example, we read about Cleo and Ollie's dreams which are important to the spells that these witches cast. I also wasn't a fan of some of the language used in the book, which ultimately caused me to lower my rating. The use of the word "psychotic" and the phrase "spirit animal" don't sit right with me within the context they were used. Lastly, I found the use of paganism magic to be not well explained and also hard to follow. Ollie and Cleo would throw out spells using runes, and it seemed like I (the reader) was expected to know how impactful that spell would be based on the rune used.
I ultimately would only recommend this book to people with extensive knowledge of paganism (e.g., Beltane, winter solstice) and/or people who read romantisy.
An arc was provided via Netgalley and Atria in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.
This did not work for me at all. This read more like a first draft rather than a version ready for any sort of public consumption. First, the writing style is not great, and the author jumps back and forth with dialogue without identifying who is speaking repeatedly throughout the book. Second, the characters are both bland and unlikable. Cleo, the main character, is just awful. Wes is moody and annoying. Bailey and Ollie have no character development. Third, the spicy scenes in this book feel unnecessary and out of place. Do any of these characters even like each other? There’s no real romance to speak out. Next, when the plot is fully revealed, it’s very much a “okay, I guess??” moment.
This was very disappointing, because I think the idea of this book could have been interesting, but the execution just does not work.
This did not work for me at all. This read more like a first draft rather than a version ready for any sort of public consumption. First, the writing style is not great, and the author jumps back and forth with dialogue without identifying who is speaking repeatedly throughout the book. Second, the characters are both bland and unlikable. Cleo, the main character, is just awful. Wes is moody and annoying. Bailey and Ollie have no character development. Third, the spicy scenes in this book feel unnecessary and out of place. Do any of these characters even like each other? There’s no real romance to speak out. Next, when the plot is fully revealed, it’s very much a “okay, I guess??” moment.
This was very disappointing, because I think the idea of this book could have been interesting, but the execution just does not work.
September 26, 2026
Strange Bedfellows 🐈⬛
Read if you want:
🐈 a story centered around a cat & a man’s bond to her
📖 contemporary spooky fiction (not a romance!)
✨ witchy coven vibes that are dark & take a turn for the worse (think the movie The Craft)
🥵 a dark brooding male love interest with spice and a love…square
🐱 + 🐶 POV chapters
I was so obsessed with this that I went from reading one chapter over a week to the whole book in less than 24 hours…. with my cat on my lap pretty much the whole time.
Cleo is a normal girl trying to juggle work and college but she’s also…. A cat. However, her experiences as a human and a cat aren’t clear.
Her owner Wes, has no idea his beloved pet cat is also a normal girl when he’s not around, so when she’s hissing and marking him as her territory in order to scare his lovers away, he just thinks she’s a cat with normal attitude problems., Cat doesn’t even quite remember it herself whenever she shifts back to Cleo, until one day she’s confronted with him as Cleo and she realizes this brooding musician is also the man who cares for her while she’s in her cat form.
This was weiiiiiiird but I still devoured it. The beginning was so fun and had me kicking my feet, but by the middle it got kinda dark… and things went in a direction I didn’t see coming at all.
Cleo was hard to root for. She’s secretive, has that “not like the other girls” kind of energy, but I still loved her and my heart broke for her throughout this story.
This story is for anyone who loves all things witches, covens, brooding men who adore their cat, and just cat and dog lovers alike. I didn’t love the cat and dog POV chapters, and I wish there were quotation marks for dialogue because it was hard to follow at times, but this story was still so drama fueled and exciting.
AND SPICY. So much spice (that I didn’t hate but if you hate spice this won’t be for you). There’s no bestiality, don’t worry, but this was kinda hot at times 🥵 the ending kinda broke me though. What a rollercoaster of emotions!
I don’t know if this was set up to have a sequel, but if it is, I’ll read it. 🏃♀️
Thank you to the publisher for the finished gifted copy. 🫶🏻
Read if you want:
🐈 a story centered around a cat & a man’s bond to her
📖 contemporary spooky fiction (not a romance!)
✨ witchy coven vibes that are dark & take a turn for the worse (think the movie The Craft)
🥵 a dark brooding male love interest with spice and a love…square
🐱 + 🐶 POV chapters
I was so obsessed with this that I went from reading one chapter over a week to the whole book in less than 24 hours…. with my cat on my lap pretty much the whole time.
Cleo is a normal girl trying to juggle work and college but she’s also…. A cat. However, her experiences as a human and a cat aren’t clear.
Her owner Wes, has no idea his beloved pet cat is also a normal girl when he’s not around, so when she’s hissing and marking him as her territory in order to scare his lovers away, he just thinks she’s a cat with normal attitude problems., Cat doesn’t even quite remember it herself whenever she shifts back to Cleo, until one day she’s confronted with him as Cleo and she realizes this brooding musician is also the man who cares for her while she’s in her cat form.
This was weiiiiiiird but I still devoured it. The beginning was so fun and had me kicking my feet, but by the middle it got kinda dark… and things went in a direction I didn’t see coming at all.
Cleo was hard to root for. She’s secretive, has that “not like the other girls” kind of energy, but I still loved her and my heart broke for her throughout this story.
This story is for anyone who loves all things witches, covens, brooding men who adore their cat, and just cat and dog lovers alike. I didn’t love the cat and dog POV chapters, and I wish there were quotation marks for dialogue because it was hard to follow at times, but this story was still so drama fueled and exciting.
AND SPICY. So much spice (that I didn’t hate but if you hate spice this won’t be for you). There’s no bestiality, don’t worry, but this was kinda hot at times 🥵 the ending kinda broke me though. What a rollercoaster of emotions!
I don’t know if this was set up to have a sequel, but if it is, I’ll read it. 🏃♀️
Thank you to the publisher for the finished gifted copy. 🫶🏻
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the author, Amanda Mortlock, Publisher Atria/Emily Bestler Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I received a gifted copy and am leaving my review voluntarily.
A debut about a woman who is sometimes a cat.
So this was an interesting one! An intriguing premise of witches and their animal familiars and the fates and dark secrets that connect us.
I feel like this would make an interesting series so that you could see everything, past and present, and follow along with both the main and side storylines. Reading along for me, although I was interested I felt it was not as smooth of a read that it could have been.
The cover of this book absolutely hooked me and gave me spooky vibes!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Not really my style of book I can be super particular about writing styles and plot. Also I just didn’t like that the girl turned into a cat I found it silly.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 STARS
This book has some of the best things, it’s got witches, and magic, and mysteries and a cat!
Who doesn’t want a book with a cat.
Just a fun time in a book, I couldn’t stop reading it. It’s spicy, but don’t get me wrong, this is not a romance. So do not go in thinking that it is. But still I highly recommend reading it!
Already can’t wait for this to release so I can get my physical copy.
(arc review) - releasing 9/22/26
This book has some of the best things, it’s got witches, and magic, and mysteries and a cat!
Who doesn’t want a book with a cat.
Just a fun time in a book, I couldn’t stop reading it. It’s spicy, but don’t get me wrong, this is not a romance. So do not go in thinking that it is. But still I highly recommend reading it!
Already can’t wait for this to release so I can get my physical copy.
(arc review) - releasing 9/22/26
October 4, 2026
On page this sounded really great! I liked the idea of a shapeshifter; the FMC was the definition of black cat energy even though she was an orange tabby lol. The chapters from the cat's pov was really great and added to the story.
That being said the characters just weren't it for me. I was looking forward to the romance between the mc and fmc but by the end I was disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley and atria for the gifted ebook.
That being said the characters just weren't it for me. I was looking forward to the romance between the mc and fmc but by the end I was disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley and atria for the gifted ebook.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I went in blind and for that I am grateful. I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't THAT.
I am very impressed by the way that this author develops her characters. They are entirely different from each other, very much human, and all are flawed. I genuinely did not like a single character.
We follow Cleo, a shifter who has no idea where she came from or her past, as a series of events puts her in the spiral of finding out all about her past. She meets Wes, the sexy brooding musician, and they develop a deeply co-dependent, narcissistic, toxic all-consuming love. They like to play "games" with one another, seeing how far they can push the other before they break. Then, they become abusive. Then they have sex and everything is better.
Enter Bailey and Ollie, another witch and her familiar. Wes and Cleo get to uncover what they are. As relationships evolve and are tested, we watch Cleo completely self-implode and the fallout of that.
Wes sucks. Cleo sucks. Ollie sucks. Bailey really sucks. I felt terrible for Cleo at the end of the book. She's had this fantastic character growth and for what?
Anyway, a good read with a unique writing style that makes you really feel the humanity behind all the characters.
I agree with other reads why said this toxicity reminded them of The Favorites, although I will say I liked this SIGNIFICANTLY better. A good comp title to help people understand what they are getting into.
I am very impressed by the way that this author develops her characters. They are entirely different from each other, very much human, and all are flawed. I genuinely did not like a single character.
We follow Cleo, a shifter who has no idea where she came from or her past, as a series of events puts her in the spiral of finding out all about her past. She meets Wes, the sexy brooding musician, and they develop a deeply co-dependent, narcissistic, toxic all-consuming love. They like to play "games" with one another, seeing how far they can push the other before they break. Then, they become abusive. Then they have sex and everything is better.
Enter Bailey and Ollie, another witch and her familiar. Wes and Cleo get to uncover what they are. As relationships evolve and are tested, we watch Cleo completely self-implode and the fallout of that.
Wes sucks. Cleo sucks. Ollie sucks. Bailey really sucks. I felt terrible for Cleo at the end of the book. She's had this fantastic character growth and for what?
Anyway, a good read with a unique writing style that makes you really feel the humanity behind all the characters.
I agree with other reads why said this toxicity reminded them of The Favorites, although I will say I liked this SIGNIFICANTLY better. A good comp title to help people understand what they are getting into.
June 16, 2026
Welcome to my latest obsession. This is THE book to read this fall.
It’s got witchcraft, familiars, a demon, a love square, a New England college setting, secrets, and betrayals. It feels fresh and exciting. It’s definitely a bit weird.
This is contemporary paranormal fiction/fantasy, so don’t go expecting a happily-ever-after romantasy. There’s a toxic relationship at the center, and it’s heart-wrenching (think of the romance in The Favorites by Layne Fargo). The story offers poignant takes on codependency.
Some characters’ actions will frustrate you at certain points, and yet all of them are likable in their own way, though complex and flawed. Cleo is a goth girl, a complicated grumpy heroine who’s self-sacrificing and has a vulnerable heart underneath her sarcastic, mean, tough girl demeanor. Wes is the artsy, emo rocker boy who seems like an ideal book boyfriend, but he has his own issues. Ollie is a golden retriever of a man, and Bailey is the sweet, innocent foil to Cleo, though they’re not perfect either.
The ending is somewhat closed but also leaves potential for future mysteries, and I, for one, would love to see more from this world and these characters. I want more for Cleo.
It’s got witchcraft, familiars, a demon, a love square, a New England college setting, secrets, and betrayals. It feels fresh and exciting. It’s definitely a bit weird.
This is contemporary paranormal fiction/fantasy, so don’t go expecting a happily-ever-after romantasy. There’s a toxic relationship at the center, and it’s heart-wrenching (think of the romance in The Favorites by Layne Fargo). The story offers poignant takes on codependency.
Some characters’ actions will frustrate you at certain points, and yet all of them are likable in their own way, though complex and flawed. Cleo is a goth girl, a complicated grumpy heroine who’s self-sacrificing and has a vulnerable heart underneath her sarcastic, mean, tough girl demeanor. Wes is the artsy, emo rocker boy who seems like an ideal book boyfriend, but he has his own issues. Ollie is a golden retriever of a man, and Bailey is the sweet, innocent foil to Cleo, though they’re not perfect either.
The ending is somewhat closed but also leaves potential for future mysteries, and I, for one, would love to see more from this world and these characters. I want more for Cleo.
June 21, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the eARC.
Strange Bedfellows was an interesting read about Cleo aka Cat who is a witch’s familiar that turns into a cat. When new comers come into town and become part of her coven, untold truths from Cleo’s past will be revealed.
I really liked the start of this book (could not put it down through Part 1 I loved it so much), but struggled through the middle and end. The way the book initially read, it felt like this was going to be a romance. It was in fact not a romance. Cleo felt a bit toxic to me and I didn’t love the Bailey/Ollie storyline or conflict point.
If you’re looking for a paranormal, mystery novel with some spice, I think you’d enjoy this book.
Strange Bedfellows was an interesting read about Cleo aka Cat who is a witch’s familiar that turns into a cat. When new comers come into town and become part of her coven, untold truths from Cleo’s past will be revealed.
I really liked the start of this book (could not put it down through Part 1 I loved it so much), but struggled through the middle and end. The way the book initially read, it felt like this was going to be a romance. It was in fact not a romance. Cleo felt a bit toxic to me and I didn’t love the Bailey/Ollie storyline or conflict point.
If you’re looking for a paranormal, mystery novel with some spice, I think you’d enjoy this book.
September 27, 2026
Dark, witchy, romantic, and delightfully bizarre, Strange Bedfellows had me from the moment I realized its heroine occasionally turns into her love interest’s cat. Because really, how could I possibly resist that premise?
Cleo has spent years keeping people at a distance—and for very good reason. She’s carrying an impossible secret, along with pieces of a past she would much rather leave buried. Then she meets Wes, a brooding musician with secrets of his own, and the attraction between them is immediate. What begins as an intense college romance quickly becomes something much stranger when Wes discovers that Cleo is sometimes…his cat.
Yes. His actual cat.
But that revelation is only the beginning.
As Cleo and Wes learn that their connection goes far deeper than attraction—that Wes is a witch and Cleo is his familiar—the story opens into a dark, tangled world of magic, complicated relationships, buried memories, and dangerous history. Bailey and Ollie add another layer to the magical dynamics, and I loved watching the relationships among these characters become increasingly intertwined.
What surprised me most was how much darkness lurks underneath such a wonderfully quirky concept. There’s a dreamy, almost feverish quality to the story, but Mortlock isn't afraid to venture into uncomfortable territory. Cleo is messy and guarded and not always easy to understand, and the deeper we get into her past, the clearer it becomes that her relationship with Wes is wrapped up in something much bigger—and more troubling—than either of them initially realizes.
The romance is intense and steamy, but it was the witch-and-familiar connection that really hooked me. There’s something incredibly intimate about the idea that these two are magically bound to one another while simultaneously trying to figure out whether the relationship they’re building is something they actually *choose*. Add in returning threats, morally complicated choices, toxic secrets, and the question of whether love can survive the truth, and I was completely invested.
Strange Bedfellows is weird in the best possible way: darkly romantic, magical, sexy, unsettling, and unlike anything I’ve read recently. If you like your paranormal romance with morally gray characters, gothic undertones, messy relationships, and a healthy dose of “what exactly did I just get myself into?”, Amanda Mortlock's debut deserves a spot on your TBR.
And frankly, any book that can make “sometimes she’s his cat” work as a legitimate romantic plot point deserves some respect.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Cleo has spent years keeping people at a distance—and for very good reason. She’s carrying an impossible secret, along with pieces of a past she would much rather leave buried. Then she meets Wes, a brooding musician with secrets of his own, and the attraction between them is immediate. What begins as an intense college romance quickly becomes something much stranger when Wes discovers that Cleo is sometimes…his cat.
Yes. His actual cat.
But that revelation is only the beginning.
As Cleo and Wes learn that their connection goes far deeper than attraction—that Wes is a witch and Cleo is his familiar—the story opens into a dark, tangled world of magic, complicated relationships, buried memories, and dangerous history. Bailey and Ollie add another layer to the magical dynamics, and I loved watching the relationships among these characters become increasingly intertwined.
What surprised me most was how much darkness lurks underneath such a wonderfully quirky concept. There’s a dreamy, almost feverish quality to the story, but Mortlock isn't afraid to venture into uncomfortable territory. Cleo is messy and guarded and not always easy to understand, and the deeper we get into her past, the clearer it becomes that her relationship with Wes is wrapped up in something much bigger—and more troubling—than either of them initially realizes.
The romance is intense and steamy, but it was the witch-and-familiar connection that really hooked me. There’s something incredibly intimate about the idea that these two are magically bound to one another while simultaneously trying to figure out whether the relationship they’re building is something they actually *choose*. Add in returning threats, morally complicated choices, toxic secrets, and the question of whether love can survive the truth, and I was completely invested.
Strange Bedfellows is weird in the best possible way: darkly romantic, magical, sexy, unsettling, and unlike anything I’ve read recently. If you like your paranormal romance with morally gray characters, gothic undertones, messy relationships, and a healthy dose of “what exactly did I just get myself into?”, Amanda Mortlock's debut deserves a spot on your TBR.
And frankly, any book that can make “sometimes she’s his cat” work as a legitimate romantic plot point deserves some respect.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 8, 2026
Thank you to Net Galley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the advanced copy of this title.
When I accepted this title via email, it wasn't something I would normally gravitate toward, but the cover and brief synopsis caught my attention.
With so many ARC titles on my reading list, I somehow missed the part where this was a romance (or romantasy), which is a genre I typically steer clear of. However, in hindsight, I've been trying to broaden my reading horizons beyond horror, so why not?
I know this book will appeal to some readers, but by the time I reached the 20% mark, I was already thinking, this isn't for me.
Initially, the story was interesting, but once we got into Cleo and Wes's relationship, things started feeling a little too saccharine for my taste. I mean, dripping with it! And then there was the gratuitous sex, seemingly for the sake of having sex scenes. We know you're having sex. We don't need every intimate detail.
Maybe that's what melts your butter, but for me, those scenes didn't add anything to the story or help me feel more connected to the characters.
What did catch my attention was the magic, particularly as we were introduced to other witches, their familiars, and the family secrets lurking beneath the surface.
Which brings me to another question: Why do we always have to wait the 45% mark in the story to get to the witches?
I understand that some of the buildup was necessary to explain the connection between Wes and Cleo, but once Bailey and Ollie entered the picture, things finally started getting interesting. We began learning more about the families, their past tragedies, and the mystery surrounding what happened. Watching Bailey, Ollie, Wes, and Cleo work together to uncover those secrets was the part of the story I enjoyed most.
I don't think Strange Bedfellows is a terrible story by any means. There are certainly readers who will gravitate toward its dark academia atmosphere, fantasy elements, and romance. Unfortunately, the parts I found most intriguing took too long to develop, while the romance occupied much more of the story than I would have liked.
Ultimately, this title just wasn't for me, and that's okay. Not every book is going to be a winner for every reader.
I gave it ✨✨2.9✨✨ stars.
When I accepted this title via email, it wasn't something I would normally gravitate toward, but the cover and brief synopsis caught my attention.
With so many ARC titles on my reading list, I somehow missed the part where this was a romance (or romantasy), which is a genre I typically steer clear of. However, in hindsight, I've been trying to broaden my reading horizons beyond horror, so why not?
I know this book will appeal to some readers, but by the time I reached the 20% mark, I was already thinking, this isn't for me.
Initially, the story was interesting, but once we got into Cleo and Wes's relationship, things started feeling a little too saccharine for my taste. I mean, dripping with it! And then there was the gratuitous sex, seemingly for the sake of having sex scenes. We know you're having sex. We don't need every intimate detail.
Maybe that's what melts your butter, but for me, those scenes didn't add anything to the story or help me feel more connected to the characters.
What did catch my attention was the magic, particularly as we were introduced to other witches, their familiars, and the family secrets lurking beneath the surface.
Which brings me to another question: Why do we always have to wait the 45% mark in the story to get to the witches?
I understand that some of the buildup was necessary to explain the connection between Wes and Cleo, but once Bailey and Ollie entered the picture, things finally started getting interesting. We began learning more about the families, their past tragedies, and the mystery surrounding what happened. Watching Bailey, Ollie, Wes, and Cleo work together to uncover those secrets was the part of the story I enjoyed most.
I don't think Strange Bedfellows is a terrible story by any means. There are certainly readers who will gravitate toward its dark academia atmosphere, fantasy elements, and romance. Unfortunately, the parts I found most intriguing took too long to develop, while the romance occupied much more of the story than I would have liked.
Ultimately, this title just wasn't for me, and that's okay. Not every book is going to be a winner for every reader.
I gave it ✨✨2.9✨✨ stars.
May 19, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5)
Strange Bedfellows was, well… strange—in a way that both worked for me and didn’t. The story centers on witches and their animal familiars who can also take human form, which made for a really unique and intriguing premise.
There was a lot I genuinely enjoyed—from the atmospheric writing to the way the familiars were split between their animal and human selves. I usually shy away from multiple POVs, but it was handled really well here. Getting both Cleo/Cat and Ollie/Olliedog’s perspectives added depth, and I loved seeing how their personalities shifted between forms. The short, fast-paced chapters kept me hooked and reading way past when I planned to stop.
The characters felt very human—deeply flawed, messy, and layered—which made them interesting to unravel. That said… I didn’t always like them. Wes and Cleo were incredibly toxic at times, constantly pushing and punishing each other through a series of challenges. Their dynamic was both understandable and incredibly frustrating, especially with some of the choices made along the way. And I still haven’t forgiven Wes for doing exactly what Cleo feared would happen with Bailey—that ending definitely left me a little annoyed.
Bailey was another miss for me. For someone meant to come across as kind and sweet, that didn’t fully land. On the other hand, Ollie was easily my favorite—loyal, honest, and not afraid to call out the BS. I also loved the Cat and Olliedog POVs, which offered such a unique lens into everything happening.
The spice surprised me, but it fit well with the themes of magic, fate, and messy young relationships.
If you enjoy witchy stories with magic, shifting dynamics, and deeply flawed characters, this is definitely worth checking out.
Tropes: witches x animal companions, magic & fate, flawed characters, shifters, spice
Strange Bedfellows was, well… strange—in a way that both worked for me and didn’t. The story centers on witches and their animal familiars who can also take human form, which made for a really unique and intriguing premise.
There was a lot I genuinely enjoyed—from the atmospheric writing to the way the familiars were split between their animal and human selves. I usually shy away from multiple POVs, but it was handled really well here. Getting both Cleo/Cat and Ollie/Olliedog’s perspectives added depth, and I loved seeing how their personalities shifted between forms. The short, fast-paced chapters kept me hooked and reading way past when I planned to stop.
The characters felt very human—deeply flawed, messy, and layered—which made them interesting to unravel. That said… I didn’t always like them. Wes and Cleo were incredibly toxic at times, constantly pushing and punishing each other through a series of challenges. Their dynamic was both understandable and incredibly frustrating, especially with some of the choices made along the way. And I still haven’t forgiven Wes for doing exactly what Cleo feared would happen with Bailey—that ending definitely left me a little annoyed.
Bailey was another miss for me. For someone meant to come across as kind and sweet, that didn’t fully land. On the other hand, Ollie was easily my favorite—loyal, honest, and not afraid to call out the BS. I also loved the Cat and Olliedog POVs, which offered such a unique lens into everything happening.
The spice surprised me, but it fit well with the themes of magic, fate, and messy young relationships.
If you enjoy witchy stories with magic, shifting dynamics, and deeply flawed characters, this is definitely worth checking out.
Tropes: witches x animal companions, magic & fate, flawed characters, shifters, spice
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars rounded up
Strange Bedfellows ended up being more of an apt title than I originally thought it would be.
Cleo and Wes may seem like your typical slightly toxic college situationship, but behind closed doors, Cleo is also sometimes Wes' pet cat. Or more specifically, she's the familiar tied to Wes' magic. And when another witch and their familiar show up wanting to form a coven with them, it sends the group looking for the hidden memories that connect them. But what they find instead is a dark secret that'll change everything they thought they knew.
Aside from the mixed feelings about someone having a relationship with what they thought was their pet cat, I was not a huge fan of the direction the romance took. I tried to remain objective, but I am simply too monogamous for the shenanigans the characters were pulling. I don't know if the author plans to turn this into a series (she definitely left the ending open enough to continue it), but the prospect of a relationship I don't ship makes me unsure whether I would want to read more of it. But I can confirm it is as dark and twisty as the synopsis claims, if that's what you're looking for.
However, I enjoyed watching the characters explore their magic and trying to uncover the secrets behind the fires. I honestly wish we had learned more about the imps and the raven. The overall pace was slower than I normally prefer, but I think the setup was worth it. The ending caught me completely off guard, and I liked how everything wrapped up. I was so intrigued by the bond between witches and their familiars; I wanted more of a deep dive into all of that with less of the drama, haha.
You might enjoy this book if you read the Warriors series as a kid, or if you ever had a crush on a particular man-turned-cat.
Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the eARC for review purposes.
Strange Bedfellows ended up being more of an apt title than I originally thought it would be.
Cleo and Wes may seem like your typical slightly toxic college situationship, but behind closed doors, Cleo is also sometimes Wes' pet cat. Or more specifically, she's the familiar tied to Wes' magic. And when another witch and their familiar show up wanting to form a coven with them, it sends the group looking for the hidden memories that connect them. But what they find instead is a dark secret that'll change everything they thought they knew.
Aside from the mixed feelings about someone having a relationship with what they thought was their pet cat, I was not a huge fan of the direction the romance took. I tried to remain objective, but I am simply too monogamous for the shenanigans the characters were pulling. I don't know if the author plans to turn this into a series (she definitely left the ending open enough to continue it), but the prospect of a relationship I don't ship makes me unsure whether I would want to read more of it. But I can confirm it is as dark and twisty as the synopsis claims, if that's what you're looking for.
However, I enjoyed watching the characters explore their magic and trying to uncover the secrets behind the fires. I honestly wish we had learned more about the imps and the raven. The overall pace was slower than I normally prefer, but I think the setup was worth it. The ending caught me completely off guard, and I liked how everything wrapped up. I was so intrigued by the bond between witches and their familiars; I wanted more of a deep dive into all of that with less of the drama, haha.
You might enjoy this book if you read the Warriors series as a kid, or if you ever had a crush on a particular man-turned-cat.
Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the eARC for review purposes.
September 23, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books | Atria\Emily Bestler Books, as well as the author, for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
#NetGalley #AtriaBooks #AtriaEmilyBestlerBooks #AmandaMortlock #StrangeBedfellows #Horror #Fiction #Books #Reading #Bookreviews
Title: Strange Bedfellows
Author: Amanda Mortlock
Format: eBook
Publisher: Atria Books | Atria\Emily Bestler Books
Publication Date: September 22, 2026
Rating: 4 Stars
Themes: Witches, mental health, multiple POVs, self-discovery
Trigger Warnings: Mental health issues, psychosis, schizophrenia, anxiety, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, attempted suicide, substance abuse, dysphoria, chronic illness, sex scenes
Cleo is a normal college student, who is also a cat. She meets Wes at a Halloween party; they instantly find a connection. Their romance is derailed when Wes discovers that she is also his cat. Can Wes and Cleo overcome their differences, or will the past come back to haunt them?
This was a fun read. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but it was fun. It’s marketed as romantasy, but it has a very YA feel except for the spice. I found the focus on the relationships between a witch and their familiar to be interesting. It was much more than romantasy and more than fantasy. I found the plot to be a little convoluted at times, especially toward the middle of the book. The characters were fun though, and I really enjoyed the animal POVs after I got used to the slightly jarring format of those paragraphs. The italics helped. This is an author to revisit as I find her writing style interesting. Any fantasy fan will like this one but, as I said, it does read as more YA than it’s marketed as.
#NetGalley #AtriaBooks #AtriaEmilyBestlerBooks #AmandaMortlock #StrangeBedfellows #Horror #Fiction #Books #Reading #Bookreviews
Title: Strange Bedfellows
Author: Amanda Mortlock
Format: eBook
Publisher: Atria Books | Atria\Emily Bestler Books
Publication Date: September 22, 2026
Rating: 4 Stars
Themes: Witches, mental health, multiple POVs, self-discovery
Trigger Warnings: Mental health issues, psychosis, schizophrenia, anxiety, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, attempted suicide, substance abuse, dysphoria, chronic illness, sex scenes
Cleo is a normal college student, who is also a cat. She meets Wes at a Halloween party; they instantly find a connection. Their romance is derailed when Wes discovers that she is also his cat. Can Wes and Cleo overcome their differences, or will the past come back to haunt them?
This was a fun read. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but it was fun. It’s marketed as romantasy, but it has a very YA feel except for the spice. I found the focus on the relationships between a witch and their familiar to be interesting. It was much more than romantasy and more than fantasy. I found the plot to be a little convoluted at times, especially toward the middle of the book. The characters were fun though, and I really enjoyed the animal POVs after I got used to the slightly jarring format of those paragraphs. The italics helped. This is an author to revisit as I find her writing style interesting. Any fantasy fan will like this one but, as I said, it does read as more YA than it’s marketed as.
August 1, 2026
• BOOK REVIEW •
New ARC!
Release date : 26th September 2026!
Date : 1st August 2026
Book : Strange Bedfellows
Author : Amanda Mortlock
Genre : Paranormal Romance / Dark Urban Fantasy / Horror Elements
Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
First of all, thank you @atriabooks and @netgalley for the invitation to read this ARC. It was definitely a different kind of read especially when I was trying to figure out the genre itself. I didn’t read the blurb beforehand so I definitely went into this with no idea what it was about however the cover of the book definitely caught my attention.
This is the story of Cleo who’s a veterinarian and she’s keeping a huge secret (no spoilers btw) but she’s a shape shifter who turns into a cat mostly. She then meets a musician who later on discovers her secret. But this musician also has a secret and somehow they are connected in a way.
I wouldn’t say this is a cozy read only because as I mentioned up there, it was difficult to find a genre for it as it had alot of elements. It has witchy vibes, horror elements, romance and some emotional content I’d say. If you love these tropes then you’d probably enjoy this book!
#strangebedfellows #bookstagram #bookrecs #bookreviewer •dark urban fantasy•paranormal romance•witchy•
New ARC!
Release date : 26th September 2026!
Date : 1st August 2026
Book : Strange Bedfellows
Author : Amanda Mortlock
Genre : Paranormal Romance / Dark Urban Fantasy / Horror Elements
Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
First of all, thank you @atriabooks and @netgalley for the invitation to read this ARC. It was definitely a different kind of read especially when I was trying to figure out the genre itself. I didn’t read the blurb beforehand so I definitely went into this with no idea what it was about however the cover of the book definitely caught my attention.
This is the story of Cleo who’s a veterinarian and she’s keeping a huge secret (no spoilers btw) but she’s a shape shifter who turns into a cat mostly. She then meets a musician who later on discovers her secret. But this musician also has a secret and somehow they are connected in a way.
I wouldn’t say this is a cozy read only because as I mentioned up there, it was difficult to find a genre for it as it had alot of elements. It has witchy vibes, horror elements, romance and some emotional content I’d say. If you love these tropes then you’d probably enjoy this book!
#strangebedfellows #bookstagram #bookrecs #bookreviewer •dark urban fantasy•paranormal romance•witchy•
September 25, 2026
I tried very hard with this book, but in the end, I’m DNFing and it’s entirely the writing style. Is the style poorly written? No, not really. I just bounced off it like a rubber ball against a brick wall. This is purely a matter of personal taste. And while the cat chapters mellow out and become less present as the Chloe chapters take focus, I still found it hard to let myself relax into the book.
Cleo and Wes are both tedious and offputting as characters — with the gimmick being more the focus than the characterization — and then Ollie and Bailey showed up. Suddenly we have dog chapters as well as cat chapters, and I just had to put the book down. I wasn’t enjoying it, I didn’t feel any interest in the characters, and there was precious little plot and a copious amount of “spice.”
It felt like the book wanted to be more titillating than plot driven, and it’s clear there was a lot of attention put into those chapters. But it did nothing for me, neither advancing characters nor story, and I just gave up. The idea is interesting, but I feel like the idea and the actuality are too disparate for me to recommend this to … anyone.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.
Cleo and Wes are both tedious and offputting as characters — with the gimmick being more the focus than the characterization — and then Ollie and Bailey showed up. Suddenly we have dog chapters as well as cat chapters, and I just had to put the book down. I wasn’t enjoying it, I didn’t feel any interest in the characters, and there was precious little plot and a copious amount of “spice.”
It felt like the book wanted to be more titillating than plot driven, and it’s clear there was a lot of attention put into those chapters. But it did nothing for me, neither advancing characters nor story, and I just gave up. The idea is interesting, but I feel like the idea and the actuality are too disparate for me to recommend this to … anyone.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.
October 12, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Emily Bestler Books for the gifted ebook.
My Review
Well, this was definitely different from anything I've read before! I mean, imagine being a normal, everyday college girl who also happens to turn into a cat. That's not something you come across every day, and I thought it was such a unique idea for a story.
I had fun with this one, and I especially enjoyed the witches and the magical side of everything. The relationship between Cleo and Wes was interesting, especially with the whole cat situation thrown into the mix. I will say, though, that this felt more like a YA book to me, even with some of the more adult themes. I think that's part of why I didn't connect with it as much as I hoped.
Overall, this was a fun, unusual read. It wasn't a favorite of mine, but I enjoyed getting something completely different from what I normally pick up.
Would I Recommend?
Yes, especially to younger readers who enjoy paranormal romance, witches, magic, and a little something different. I think this one will find its audience, even if it wasn't completely for me.
My Review
Well, this was definitely different from anything I've read before! I mean, imagine being a normal, everyday college girl who also happens to turn into a cat. That's not something you come across every day, and I thought it was such a unique idea for a story.
I had fun with this one, and I especially enjoyed the witches and the magical side of everything. The relationship between Cleo and Wes was interesting, especially with the whole cat situation thrown into the mix. I will say, though, that this felt more like a YA book to me, even with some of the more adult themes. I think that's part of why I didn't connect with it as much as I hoped.
Overall, this was a fun, unusual read. It wasn't a favorite of mine, but I enjoyed getting something completely different from what I normally pick up.
Would I Recommend?
Yes, especially to younger readers who enjoy paranormal romance, witches, magic, and a little something different. I think this one will find its audience, even if it wasn't completely for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 319 reviews