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Strange Bedfellows: A Novel
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Expected 22 Sep 26Win a free print copy of this book!
5 days and 15:10:55
50 copies available
U.S. only
A dark and steamy debut novel about a girl—who is sometimes a cat—and the witch she loves, as secrets from her past threaten to unravel the delicate balance of her present, from screenwriter Amanda Mortlock.
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 hiding: sometimes she takes the form of his pet cat.
Enter Bailey and Ollie—their magical counterparts—who reveal a deeper tie between Cleo and Wes: he’s a witch, and she’s his animal 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 hiding: sometimes she takes the form of his pet cat.
Enter Bailey and Ollie—their magical counterparts—who reveal a deeper tie between Cleo and Wes: he’s a witch, and she’s his animal 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.
- GenresRomanceFictionParanormal
448 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 22, 2026
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May 7, 2026ARC received! Thank you, Atria!!
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
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this ARC. This book will be available in September 2026, and is a must read to add to your spooky TBR.
To begin, I honestly did not like any of the characters in this book. That doesn't mean it was a bad book, and I'm truly glad I didn't like them. It made them seem real and relatable with their problems. Cleo is a college student who is also sometimes a cat. On Halloween, she meets Wes, who is the human who takes care of her when she is Cat, which she didn't realize was the same person. One thing leads to another, and Wes and Cleo start a whirlwind romance. Neither really know how to be in a mature relationship, and they are always pushing each other.
After a few weeks, they meet Bailey and Ollie. Ollie is like Cleo, and sometimes is a dog. Through them, Cleo and Wes learn who they really are. They are witch and familiar, not just a girl who sometimes is Cat. Wes and Bailey have similar backstories, with their parents dying when they were young, and Ollie thinks Cleo/Cat knows more than she is willing to let out also. The secrets and looming threats finally catch up to them, and Cleo has no choice but to face what happened many years prior.
While this book has quite a few steamy twists in it, they are easily skimmed if that's not your thing. The rest of the story and the way the magic system works is fun and unique. I really enjoyed how the author used Runes as part of the magic system as well. There were a few times I felt that the story shifted away from the original plot, but by the end it all made sense.
Absolutely a fun read, and a solid 4/5 star book. Make sure you put a reminder down for this one!
To begin, I honestly did not like any of the characters in this book. That doesn't mean it was a bad book, and I'm truly glad I didn't like them. It made them seem real and relatable with their problems. Cleo is a college student who is also sometimes a cat. On Halloween, she meets Wes, who is the human who takes care of her when she is Cat, which she didn't realize was the same person. One thing leads to another, and Wes and Cleo start a whirlwind romance. Neither really know how to be in a mature relationship, and they are always pushing each other.
After a few weeks, they meet Bailey and Ollie. Ollie is like Cleo, and sometimes is a dog. Through them, Cleo and Wes learn who they really are. They are witch and familiar, not just a girl who sometimes is Cat. Wes and Bailey have similar backstories, with their parents dying when they were young, and Ollie thinks Cleo/Cat knows more than she is willing to let out also. The secrets and looming threats finally catch up to them, and Cleo has no choice but to face what happened many years prior.
While this book has quite a few steamy twists in it, they are easily skimmed if that's not your thing. The rest of the story and the way the magic system works is fun and unique. I really enjoyed how the author used Runes as part of the magic system as well. There were a few times I felt that the story shifted away from the original plot, but by the end it all made sense.
Absolutely a fun read, and a solid 4/5 star book. Make sure you put a reminder down for this one!
April 30, 2026
That first chapter with Cat was so good—I caught myself laughing a lot right from the start, which immediately hooked me.
From there, though, I was honestly pretty lost about the connection between “Mine” and the cat. But at the same time, I adored the cat, so I didn’t even mind being confused.
The concept itself is really interesting, and it kept me invested because I just wanted to see what was going to happen next. I’m especially curious about the Nots—there’s clearly more going on there.
I do like the relationship, but I won’t lie, I spent a lot of this book feeling bloody lost—and still desperate to read more.
Character-wise… I did not like Bailey or Ollie for most of the book. And Wes? Total butt munch.
What surprised me most is that I saw some of the developments coming, and I was convinced I wouldn’t like them—but the writing is so good that I ended up getting completely bamboozled into enjoying it anyway.
By part 3, I genuinely felt like Oliver was the only one I actually liked. He’s the only one who didn’t feel super manipulative. Like… why is Bailey acting like it’s her decision for Cleo to be in the house when it’s literally Cleo’s house??
This book is addicting and kind of haunting. I would put it down to do something else and then immediately pick it back up—I was fully enthralled the entire time.
By the end, I still don’t like Bailey, but I do understand Ollie and Wes a lot more. I can see why things had to play out the way they did for the twist and everything to land.
The ending… I didn’t like it, but only because I wanted more. It also didn’t end the way I expected, but honestly, it ended better than I anticipated. It just left me wanting more of the story.
Overall, this was a solid four-star read for me—confusing, addictive, and really well written.
I received this as an ARC from Atri
From there, though, I was honestly pretty lost about the connection between “Mine” and the cat. But at the same time, I adored the cat, so I didn’t even mind being confused.
The concept itself is really interesting, and it kept me invested because I just wanted to see what was going to happen next. I’m especially curious about the Nots—there’s clearly more going on there.
I do like the relationship, but I won’t lie, I spent a lot of this book feeling bloody lost—and still desperate to read more.
Character-wise… I did not like Bailey or Ollie for most of the book. And Wes? Total butt munch.
What surprised me most is that I saw some of the developments coming, and I was convinced I wouldn’t like them—but the writing is so good that I ended up getting completely bamboozled into enjoying it anyway.
By part 3, I genuinely felt like Oliver was the only one I actually liked. He’s the only one who didn’t feel super manipulative. Like… why is Bailey acting like it’s her decision for Cleo to be in the house when it’s literally Cleo’s house??
This book is addicting and kind of haunting. I would put it down to do something else and then immediately pick it back up—I was fully enthralled the entire time.
By the end, I still don’t like Bailey, but I do understand Ollie and Wes a lot more. I can see why things had to play out the way they did for the twist and everything to land.
The ending… I didn’t like it, but only because I wanted more. It also didn’t end the way I expected, but honestly, it ended better than I anticipated. It just left me wanting more of the story.
Overall, this was a solid four-star read for me—confusing, addictive, and really well written.
I received this as an ARC from Atri
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I don't really know how to classify this novel because I have never read anything quite like it. Is it Romantasy? Perhaps. Witchcraft? Maybe. Erotic literature? Oh, yes. But however I characterize it, it is almost 4 1/2 stars.
Cleo is a young veterinary student. She lives in an old house she inherited, but sleeps in its shed while she rents out rooms to students at the nearby college. But Cleo is also Cat, a marmalade kitten who sometimes shape-changes into Cleo and vice-versa. And Cleo/Cat is also deeply in love with Wes, a handsome songwriter/musician who rents a room from her. Interested yet? Wes is a witch and Cat is his familiar. They fall in love and have some steamy sex.
Enter Ollie, a dog and also shape shifter into Ollie, a young man, familiar to Bailey, also a witch, both from England. Phew! There's more! There's Gilly, Cleo's friend and a host of memories among the two witches and their familiars having to do with a fire. Do you know what runes are? I thought I did but these are not predictive throws but rather spells for or against certain events. Oh, and don't let me forget the not-animals and critters like skunks, birds, moths that are demons or servants of devils. Still interested? You should be because the book is gripping and readable and interesting. It's not my usual choice, but I really liked this book. I can see how Amanda Mortlock is a successful screen writer and can see this novel as a film.
Thank you to Atria /Emily Bestler books for offering me this early read. And to Net Galley as well. These are my own and honest opinions.
Cleo is a young veterinary student. She lives in an old house she inherited, but sleeps in its shed while she rents out rooms to students at the nearby college. But Cleo is also Cat, a marmalade kitten who sometimes shape-changes into Cleo and vice-versa. And Cleo/Cat is also deeply in love with Wes, a handsome songwriter/musician who rents a room from her. Interested yet? Wes is a witch and Cat is his familiar. They fall in love and have some steamy sex.
Enter Ollie, a dog and also shape shifter into Ollie, a young man, familiar to Bailey, also a witch, both from England. Phew! There's more! There's Gilly, Cleo's friend and a host of memories among the two witches and their familiars having to do with a fire. Do you know what runes are? I thought I did but these are not predictive throws but rather spells for or against certain events. Oh, and don't let me forget the not-animals and critters like skunks, birds, moths that are demons or servants of devils. Still interested? You should be because the book is gripping and readable and interesting. It's not my usual choice, but I really liked this book. I can see how Amanda Mortlock is a successful screen writer and can see this novel as a film.
Thank you to Atria /Emily Bestler books for offering me this early read. And to Net Galley as well. These are my own and honest opinions.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This one was tricky for me to rate. Let me start with the positive: the writing was great. The rune system was interesting, and witches and familiars are always fun. The main point of the plot was good. I like that we got POVs from both familiars and then also in both their human and animal forms. They way the animal form POVs were written definitely felt like how a cat and dog could possibly think. Mortlock captured the attitude and overall vibes of cats and dogs.
Now where I got derailed.
When I got into this “dark and steamy” novel I got wrapped up in it almost immediate.
It started off feeling like this was going to be a fantasy romance. Now, this part is my fault. When I received this widget, I read the blurb and it sounded right up my alley. The blurb even talks about the romance between Clio and Wes. When things started to go sideways and I revisited the page, I then noted the genre was listed as Sci-Fi & Fantasy, which definitely fits this more than what I thought it was going to be in the first part of this book. As we get further into it, the story takes a turn into something almost horror-adjacent. Now, I like all the above genres I just mentioned, but I think had I noted the genre prior to going into this, and therefore had a different mindset, I wouldn’t have felt so blindsided by some of the events in this book. Specifically two things.
First. The overall top-down view of the plot is great. The girl who is sometimes a cat, what she’s doing, and what she’s done in the past is very interesting and kept my attention, but I found myself not liking Clio very much after she commits to a trope that I just do not like. I get her logic behind why, but I didn’t enjoy it.
Secondly, the ending. I can’t speak on this too much because obviously I don’t want to spoil the ending. Let’s just say the ending made me angry. Maybe that was the author’s intended goal? If so, congrats, Ms. Mortlock, you have succeeded in upsetting me.
With the manner the ending wrapped things up, and also the unanswered questions concerning Chogan, this feels like the setup to a continuation. I would absolutely read further books in this story.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinions are my own.
Now where I got derailed.
When I got into this “dark and steamy” novel I got wrapped up in it almost immediate.
It started off feeling like this was going to be a fantasy romance. Now, this part is my fault. When I received this widget, I read the blurb and it sounded right up my alley. The blurb even talks about the romance between Clio and Wes. When things started to go sideways and I revisited the page, I then noted the genre was listed as Sci-Fi & Fantasy, which definitely fits this more than what I thought it was going to be in the first part of this book. As we get further into it, the story takes a turn into something almost horror-adjacent. Now, I like all the above genres I just mentioned, but I think had I noted the genre prior to going into this, and therefore had a different mindset, I wouldn’t have felt so blindsided by some of the events in this book. Specifically two things.
First. The overall top-down view of the plot is great. The girl who is sometimes a cat, what she’s doing, and what she’s done in the past is very interesting and kept my attention, but I found myself not liking Clio very much after she commits to a trope that I just do not like. I get her logic behind why, but I didn’t enjoy it.
Secondly, the ending. I can’t speak on this too much because obviously I don’t want to spoil the ending. Let’s just say the ending made me angry. Maybe that was the author’s intended goal? If so, congrats, Ms. Mortlock, you have succeeded in upsetting me.
With the manner the ending wrapped things up, and also the unanswered questions concerning Chogan, this feels like the setup to a continuation. I would absolutely read further books in this story.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Y'all, this was a fun and wild ride.
Cleo is a veterinary student who inherited a house that she rents out to other college students . . . but she stays in a shed out back. She is also a shapeshifter who can turn into a cat (named Cat), and as Cat she goes into the house to stay with Wes, a hot and brooding musician, who feeds and takes care of Cat. Cleo and Wes meet at a party and have an intense instant attraction, which develops into a steamy and toxic relationship. It comes out that Cleo is Cleo/Cat, Wes is a witch, and Cat is his animal familiar. And that's only the beginning.
There are several things I loved about this book. I genuinely could not predict where the story was going; it was creative with plenty of twists and turns. This book is written from multiple POVs, and I super enjoyed the writing from Cat's perspective as well as the other shapeshifters throughout the book. The magic (Nordic paganism) was so fun, though a bit complex, however if you don't want to study the runic alphabet at the back of the book I don't think you miss too much and can just enjoy the other parts.
While there were some issues of character continuity (above and beyond what you'd, uh, expect from shapeshifters) and sometimes I felt a little whiplash, this was a FUN, feral, creative, batshit book that has me contemplating. A hybrid of romantasy/magical realism/horror/drama/I don’t even know. I will definitely read the next book in the series if there is one.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Cleo is a veterinary student who inherited a house that she rents out to other college students . . . but she stays in a shed out back. She is also a shapeshifter who can turn into a cat (named Cat), and as Cat she goes into the house to stay with Wes, a hot and brooding musician, who feeds and takes care of Cat. Cleo and Wes meet at a party and have an intense instant attraction, which develops into a steamy and toxic relationship. It comes out that Cleo is Cleo/Cat, Wes is a witch, and Cat is his animal familiar. And that's only the beginning.
There are several things I loved about this book. I genuinely could not predict where the story was going; it was creative with plenty of twists and turns. This book is written from multiple POVs, and I super enjoyed the writing from Cat's perspective as well as the other shapeshifters throughout the book. The magic (Nordic paganism) was so fun, though a bit complex, however if you don't want to study the runic alphabet at the back of the book I don't think you miss too much and can just enjoy the other parts.
While there were some issues of character continuity (above and beyond what you'd, uh, expect from shapeshifters) and sometimes I felt a little whiplash, this was a FUN, feral, creative, batshit book that has me contemplating. A hybrid of romantasy/magical realism/horror/drama/I don’t even know. I will definitely read the next book in the series if there is one.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*** I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley, in return for my honest review. ***
So….just, Wow! I went into this not really having any expectations. I’d never heard of the author (i think this is a debut). The description sounded interesting. But the book starts off strong and takes off at a run. Cleo is a girl. But she’s also a cat. No one but her late aunt knew about her shifting. When her aunt died, leaving her a run down house, Cleo moves into the shed out back with the very barest of bare essentials. She rents out rooms in the house to college students, with the proviso that they feed the cat (her!). Despite technically living in the shed, Cleo continues to sleep (in her cat form) in old bedroom, with its new occupant. That occupant, Wes, eventually becomes her boyfriend, and the second person to know her secret. What follows is a love story, of sorts. It’s also a mystery. It’s a discovery of found family. Nothing is as it seems and the reveal is parceled out in bite-size bits throughout. The multi-POV was sometimes a bit clunky, especially when the animals were in charge. But overall that was not a dealbreaker. My only point of mild annoyance was that nothing in the description indicated that this was the start of a new series, but the ending sure felt like there should be more to come. It’s not a cliffhanger, but it certainly left the door open for additional books.
So….just, Wow! I went into this not really having any expectations. I’d never heard of the author (i think this is a debut). The description sounded interesting. But the book starts off strong and takes off at a run. Cleo is a girl. But she’s also a cat. No one but her late aunt knew about her shifting. When her aunt died, leaving her a run down house, Cleo moves into the shed out back with the very barest of bare essentials. She rents out rooms in the house to college students, with the proviso that they feed the cat (her!). Despite technically living in the shed, Cleo continues to sleep (in her cat form) in old bedroom, with its new occupant. That occupant, Wes, eventually becomes her boyfriend, and the second person to know her secret. What follows is a love story, of sorts. It’s also a mystery. It’s a discovery of found family. Nothing is as it seems and the reveal is parceled out in bite-size bits throughout. The multi-POV was sometimes a bit clunky, especially when the animals were in charge. But overall that was not a dealbreaker. My only point of mild annoyance was that nothing in the description indicated that this was the start of a new series, but the ending sure felt like there should be more to come. It’s not a cliffhanger, but it certainly left the door open for additional books.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you for the ARC
📚 Strange Bedfellows
🖋️ Amanda Mortlock
✨ Standalone
🏛️ Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
🖤 One phrase: horny, haunted cat girl chaos.
I do not even know what lane this book is driving in and that is exactly why I’m obsessed.
A girl who is sometimes a cat. A brooding musician who turns out to be a witch. A romance that sounds equal parts toxic, magical, eerie, and completely unhinged. This is being pitched as a dark and steamy debut about Cleo and Wes, with Cleo hiding the fact that she sometimes takes the form of his pet cat, while older threats and their tangled history start closing in.
What makes this one special is that it does not sound like it wants to stay in one genre. It feels like romance, horror, magical weirdness, obsession, feminine rage, and fever dream energy all got thrown in a blender and somehow came out hot. My favorite part is honestly the entire absolutely feral premise. The realization that you might be your man’s pet cat? I’m sorry, that is insane. I’m listening.
And the Nordic paganism on top of all that? Unreal.
✨ Tropes & vibes
🐈 girl who is sometimes a cat
🕯️ witchy romance
🖤 toxic but magnetic chemistry
🌙 eerie magical realism vibes
🔮 animal familiar lore
😵💫 unhinged relationship energy
🔥 dark and steamy debut
📖 Read this if you like
🖤 weird girl fiction
🐾 gothic romance with bite
🔮 books that feel like a beautiful fever dream
🌙 stories that blur love, control, and identity
Anyway I would now like to interrogate every cat I’ve ever met.
#StrangeBedfellows #AmandaMortlock #DarkRomanceReads #WeirdGirlBooks #Bookstagram
📚 Strange Bedfellows
🖋️ Amanda Mortlock
✨ Standalone
🏛️ Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
🖤 One phrase: horny, haunted cat girl chaos.
I do not even know what lane this book is driving in and that is exactly why I’m obsessed.
A girl who is sometimes a cat. A brooding musician who turns out to be a witch. A romance that sounds equal parts toxic, magical, eerie, and completely unhinged. This is being pitched as a dark and steamy debut about Cleo and Wes, with Cleo hiding the fact that she sometimes takes the form of his pet cat, while older threats and their tangled history start closing in.
What makes this one special is that it does not sound like it wants to stay in one genre. It feels like romance, horror, magical weirdness, obsession, feminine rage, and fever dream energy all got thrown in a blender and somehow came out hot. My favorite part is honestly the entire absolutely feral premise. The realization that you might be your man’s pet cat? I’m sorry, that is insane. I’m listening.
And the Nordic paganism on top of all that? Unreal.
✨ Tropes & vibes
🐈 girl who is sometimes a cat
🕯️ witchy romance
🖤 toxic but magnetic chemistry
🌙 eerie magical realism vibes
🔮 animal familiar lore
😵💫 unhinged relationship energy
🔥 dark and steamy debut
📖 Read this if you like
🖤 weird girl fiction
🐾 gothic romance with bite
🔮 books that feel like a beautiful fever dream
🌙 stories that blur love, control, and identity
Anyway I would now like to interrogate every cat I’ve ever met.
#StrangeBedfellows #AmandaMortlock #DarkRomanceReads #WeirdGirlBooks #Bookstagram
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you, Net Galley, for the invite to read this. This story is told from multiple points of view. Cleo is a girl who can shift into a cat/Cat. Both are strong, independent, and messy personalities. They interact and bond with Wes. Wes and Cleo have a toxic relationship from the get-go. They go from love to rage in the flip of a switch. Things get even more complicated when they meet Ollie and Bailey. Ollie, like Cleo, can shift, but instead of a cat, he shifts into a dog. Ollie and Bailey reveal to Wes and Cleo about magic and familiars. The four of them become a coven and we see how the magic draws them in. As they dig deeper in the magic, we see the invisible thread that connects them and past secrets are revealed. More complications and drama ensue as the feelings between the four of them become twisted and dynamics change. This was an interesting and unique read. I enjoyed learning about the Nordic inspired magic system and seeing the past connections revealed. The characters are flawed and messy, but I liked seeing them grow, own up to their choices, and make peace with who they are and each other. If you are looking for a book with paranormal vibes and lots of interpersonal drama, this is the perfect read for you.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of an advanced reader copy from Publisher.
Clever like a cat!
This book was a very interesting read to say the least. There is so much going on, I almost had whiplash. There were moments were the transition was a bit harsh and I had to reread to understand what was going on. The plot and concept is definitely unique and one of a kind.
The magic aspect was complex. The characters behavior was a bit annoying and childish but then again the characteristic traits kind of have to be parallel to their familiars so that is understandable. But, I couldn't really connect with any of them? I love the mystery and a bit of dark horror added to it. Honestly, there was so much going on...
There was a lot of wtf moments but the ending?!?! I'm confused, I'm angry, like huh? Why? I'm just feel like I was kind of left hanging there.
Clever like a cat!
This book was a very interesting read to say the least. There is so much going on, I almost had whiplash. There were moments were the transition was a bit harsh and I had to reread to understand what was going on. The plot and concept is definitely unique and one of a kind.
The magic aspect was complex. The characters behavior was a bit annoying and childish but then again the characteristic traits kind of have to be parallel to their familiars so that is understandable. But, I couldn't really connect with any of them? I love the mystery and a bit of dark horror added to it. Honestly, there was so much going on...
There was a lot of wtf moments but the ending?!?! I'm confused, I'm angry, like huh? Why? I'm just feel like I was kind of left hanging there.
May 8, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
i love a good book with magic and witches, the shifter thing is still new to me but i don’t hate it!!
there were a few bits that left me a little confused but i did enjoy it overall.
the 4 main characters we meet in this were all so good in different ways. i loved to hate Wes, i loved Ollie and Bailey just a little differently than Cleo. now with this being said, there was some heavy toxicity and that was tough to read at times but not a dealbreaker.
the toxicity kind of helps them grow and you can really see it as the book progresses.
this book reminds me of one of the bravo shows you can’t stop watching, just supernatural based and i enjoyed it overall.
thank you Atria for this eARC!!
i love a good book with magic and witches, the shifter thing is still new to me but i don’t hate it!!
there were a few bits that left me a little confused but i did enjoy it overall.
the 4 main characters we meet in this were all so good in different ways. i loved to hate Wes, i loved Ollie and Bailey just a little differently than Cleo. now with this being said, there was some heavy toxicity and that was tough to read at times but not a dealbreaker.
the toxicity kind of helps them grow and you can really see it as the book progresses.
this book reminds me of one of the bravo shows you can’t stop watching, just supernatural based and i enjoyed it overall.
thank you Atria for this eARC!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you for the ARC!
Okay, so, I honestly had no idea what to expect going into this. And I came away itching my own whiskers because it was so unique and... strange (lol). I genuinely applaud the author, Amanda Mortlock, for managing to concoct something so different, clever and bonkers in the best way. I loved the multiple viewpoints, especially—as always, I think it creates a level of depth to a novel that is otherwise tougher to achieve. It really worked for Strange Bedfellows.
This novel will keep you on your toes, have you chasing your tail, laughing, smiling, and confused, and then will have you doing it all over again in the most satisfying way.
Okay, so, I honestly had no idea what to expect going into this. And I came away itching my own whiskers because it was so unique and... strange (lol). I genuinely applaud the author, Amanda Mortlock, for managing to concoct something so different, clever and bonkers in the best way. I loved the multiple viewpoints, especially—as always, I think it creates a level of depth to a novel that is otherwise tougher to achieve. It really worked for Strange Bedfellows.
This novel will keep you on your toes, have you chasing your tail, laughing, smiling, and confused, and then will have you doing it all over again in the most satisfying way.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This sounded like such an interesting and unique book with a very unique premise.
It had a little bit of everything, so I do think a lot of readers would be interested in this.
I thought the different POVs (one was even a cat!) were so unique and added some comedy and perspectives that you really don't see often in books, especially of this genre.
I did want more from the FMC. I didn't like her enough for a main character. There was just something off and hard to get into about her. It felt like she was trying too hard to be the main character.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
It had a little bit of everything, so I do think a lot of readers would be interested in this.
I thought the different POVs (one was even a cat!) were so unique and added some comedy and perspectives that you really don't see often in books, especially of this genre.
I did want more from the FMC. I didn't like her enough for a main character. There was just something off and hard to get into about her. It felt like she was trying too hard to be the main character.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I feel like this book could have been really good, it had an interesting premise. I did not enjoy the writing at all! Chapters going from cat to Cleo were rough. The writing style for cat was especially rough and confusing, I found it confusing when the "roommates" were talking you didn't know who was speaking at that moment. None of the characters were likable. The first part of the book was ok, but after the others were introduced I feel it went downhill quick.
Thank you to Netgalley, Atria, and Amanda Mortlock for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date for Strange Bedfellows is September 22, 2026.
Thank you to Netgalley, Atria, and Amanda Mortlock for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date for Strange Bedfellows is September 22, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was invited by the publisher to read and review this book through NetGalley. It seemed like an interesting concept. The first half was intriguing. The premise is interesting and the POV switches are a unique way to tell this story. I found though the story felt stagnant. As I got into part two I was just overwhelmed with the new characters and new POVs. I feel like there needed to be better world building. I am huge fan of paranormal romance and while this is an interesting premise it just didn't work for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this book when I started it, but I wound up really liking it. The overall concept was interesting, especially having some chapters from the perspective of a shapeshifting girl/cat witch's familiar who is trying to navigate life. The slow trickle of information about what was going on in the story and the characters' past kept me reading. The FMC was really irritating in her abrasiveness, but it made perfect sense when comparing her to a cat. Her character had major personality flaws, but she was understandable and I felt myself truly feeling for her and hoping she would come out with some kind of positive resolution. There was a lot going on in this story outside of the magic/witch aspect - toxic relationships and co-dependence, loss and grieving, found family and finding oneself. The book does have a fair bit of spicy scenes in it, but they play a central role in the relationship dynamics between characters, so I wouldn't say they were out of place.
Overall, I felt that this was a creative story with a fresh twist on the witch/familiar dynamic. It was a fast, smooth read that I enjoyed. It seems like this will be the first in a series, so I'm interested in picking up the next one when it comes out!
I received an ARC through NetGalley from Atria Books.
Overall, I felt that this was a creative story with a fresh twist on the witch/familiar dynamic. It was a fast, smooth read that I enjoyed. It seems like this will be the first in a series, so I'm interested in picking up the next one when it comes out!
I received an ARC through NetGalley from Atria Books.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Cleo is a human who has the ability to change into a cat. So she stays with a guy while she is in cat form and scares all of the women he brings home after drunken nights. Eventually, her secret comes out. Which is both a good thing and a bad thing. Their meeting might not be as much of a coincidence as they thought.
This book was a bit more YA than I was expecting. There is a lot of hidden secrets and identities which add depth to the story. I didn't care for most of the characters besides Cleo. Cleo is continously shut out by her closest friend/lover Wes, even after sharing her secrets. I didn't care for Bailey as she seemed to have so many selfish motives. This story was a bit chaotic, but overall I enjoyed it! Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
This book was a bit more YA than I was expecting. There is a lot of hidden secrets and identities which add depth to the story. I didn't care for most of the characters besides Cleo. Cleo is continously shut out by her closest friend/lover Wes, even after sharing her secrets. I didn't care for Bailey as she seemed to have so many selfish motives. This story was a bit chaotic, but overall I enjoyed it! Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
thank you NetGalley for an early copy!!!
this whole book felt like fever dream in a good way but also bad😅 it took me a bit to put my thoughts together.
the only thing i knew about this book was a girl who can turn into a cat. THATS IT. and i feel like you should go into this blind. this book will take you on so many rides you'll think "wait what does this book fall into"
i did enjoy reading the main plot of this story and the turn this book took but at the same time the ending was like wtf. it was really easy to read and once you get into the magic element of it it's not too complicated to understand.
this whole book felt like fever dream in a good way but also bad😅 it took me a bit to put my thoughts together.
the only thing i knew about this book was a girl who can turn into a cat. THATS IT. and i feel like you should go into this blind. this book will take you on so many rides you'll think "wait what does this book fall into"
i did enjoy reading the main plot of this story and the turn this book took but at the same time the ending was like wtf. it was really easy to read and once you get into the magic element of it it's not too complicated to understand.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was completely unhinged, and I mean that as the highest compliment! I read this in a day I just could not put it down.
You’ve got Cleo… who is also sometimes a Cat. Then there’s Wes, a moody punk rocker who also happens to be a witch, complete with his cat familiar of course. It’s chaotic, it's weird, and it works.
The entire time I was reading, I genuinely had no idea where the story was going next, which made it so much more fun! I also really enjoyed how the POVs were done, and any time an author plays around and ditches the traditional route I'm so sat.
Strange Bedfellows is one of those genre-bending reads that refuses to fit into just one box. Is it fantasy romance? Weird girl fic? Magical realism? Horror? Honestly… strap in because it has a little bit of everything.
You’ve got Cleo… who is also sometimes a Cat. Then there’s Wes, a moody punk rocker who also happens to be a witch, complete with his cat familiar of course. It’s chaotic, it's weird, and it works.
The entire time I was reading, I genuinely had no idea where the story was going next, which made it so much more fun! I also really enjoyed how the POVs were done, and any time an author plays around and ditches the traditional route I'm so sat.
Strange Bedfellows is one of those genre-bending reads that refuses to fit into just one box. Is it fantasy romance? Weird girl fic? Magical realism? Horror? Honestly… strap in because it has a little bit of everything.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
3.5 ⭐️
This book was definitely entertaining. I loved Cat and Ollie POV chapters. It had me hooked and I read it quickly! The magic was unique but not hard to follow, but the character development was a little off in this book. Going from very immature to suddenly wise in like 2 chapters. The ending- meh- didn’t really do it for me at all.
3.5 ⭐️
This book was definitely entertaining. I loved Cat and Ollie POV chapters. It had me hooked and I read it quickly! The magic was unique but not hard to follow, but the character development was a little off in this book. Going from very immature to suddenly wise in like 2 chapters. The ending- meh- didn’t really do it for me at all.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I wasn’t sure how this was going to go. The synopsis was interesting, but would it be too cutesy for me? Nope! It was adorably cute and a slight departure from my normal reading choices and I enjoy it. I think my daughter will enjoy this one, so I’m sending her a copy to read when it’s released.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC.
This was one of my favourite reads so far this year and I could not put it down. An emotional punch to the gut with humour and a magic of its own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I don’t even know what genre I just read but I do know I’ve been spiritually unwell since finishing Strange Bedfellows.
Like… was that a romance? A horror? A fever dream where your situationship literally turns into a cat and still somehow has better emotional boundaries than most men?? Because same.
Cleo and Wes are the definition of toxic but make it mythological. The chemistry? Immediate. The vibes? Unsettling. The realization that you might be your man’s PET CAT?? I would simply pass away.
This book sinks its claws into obsession, control, and that terrifying human urge to possess someone you claim to love—and then wraps it all in this eerie, magical realism haze that has you side-eyeing your own bedroom at 3am like… “if something whispers my name right now, I deserve it.”
And can we TALK about the Nordic paganism?? Miss Mortlock really said “you will learn or you will drown” and I did both willingly.
It’s intense. It’s haunting. It’s lowkey unhinged in the best way. One minute you’re reading about love, the next you’re questioning identity, autonomy, and whether turning into a cat is actually the healthiest option in a relationship.
Did I just read a coming-of-age story? A gothic romance? A cautionary tale about emotional entanglement and feminine agency under late capitalism?
Yes. Yes I did.
Anyway… I’m going to go stare at my cat and wonder what she knows.
Like… was that a romance? A horror? A fever dream where your situationship literally turns into a cat and still somehow has better emotional boundaries than most men?? Because same.
Cleo and Wes are the definition of toxic but make it mythological. The chemistry? Immediate. The vibes? Unsettling. The realization that you might be your man’s PET CAT?? I would simply pass away.
This book sinks its claws into obsession, control, and that terrifying human urge to possess someone you claim to love—and then wraps it all in this eerie, magical realism haze that has you side-eyeing your own bedroom at 3am like… “if something whispers my name right now, I deserve it.”
And can we TALK about the Nordic paganism?? Miss Mortlock really said “you will learn or you will drown” and I did both willingly.
It’s intense. It’s haunting. It’s lowkey unhinged in the best way. One minute you’re reading about love, the next you’re questioning identity, autonomy, and whether turning into a cat is actually the healthiest option in a relationship.
Did I just read a coming-of-age story? A gothic romance? A cautionary tale about emotional entanglement and feminine agency under late capitalism?
Yes. Yes I did.
Anyway… I’m going to go stare at my cat and wonder what she knows.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to Read
May 7, 2026thanks for the arc Atria!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was different in a good way, Ohhh I love that it's a woman who can turn into a cat. I am completely entertained here. The cat's point of view is interesting. I love that it switched between Cleo and Cat. This story was witchy, hot and dangerously fun. I couldn't put it down.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A haunting portrayal of obsession, control, and the cataclysm that can occur when we feel as though as we have entitlement to another.
This book is told in the metaphor inherently gifted us by the paranormal genre, symbology stacking up page after page so that the end result is to lie awake in bed at four in the morning to let the possibilities ebb from your brain just to find sleep.
Scorching in its intensity, while keeping more a magical realism tone than an outright paranormal one, I would not be shocked at all to find an imp in my bed this evening or the next.
The most beautiful thing about this book was its love for Nordic paganism. It did not ask the reader to know, but it did ask the reader to learn through the pages in order to keep up.
Did I read a coming of age? A horror? A biting entreaty on the state of late-capitalist womanhood?
Yes. Now give me more.
This book is told in the metaphor inherently gifted us by the paranormal genre, symbology stacking up page after page so that the end result is to lie awake in bed at four in the morning to let the possibilities ebb from your brain just to find sleep.
Scorching in its intensity, while keeping more a magical realism tone than an outright paranormal one, I would not be shocked at all to find an imp in my bed this evening or the next.
The most beautiful thing about this book was its love for Nordic paganism. It did not ask the reader to know, but it did ask the reader to learn through the pages in order to keep up.
Did I read a coming of age? A horror? A biting entreaty on the state of late-capitalist womanhood?
Yes. Now give me more.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was fortunate to have an opportunity to read this one early... and I did so in less than 48 hours. Yes, this is the one I won't shut up about. The one about the hot guy and his cat (who is also a girl and is also his familiar because they are also witches!). It's sexy, it's devastating, it's dark and magical in all my favorite ways. Prepare to meet your new obsession, friends.
Want to Read
April 7, 2026I don't read a lot of romance - but She is also his pet cat?! I'm in! 😂🤣
Want to Read
April 8, 2026⋆˚ʚɞ
pre-read: she is a cat shapeshifter and also his familiar? okay, i'm intrigued.
pre-read: she is a cat shapeshifter and also his familiar? okay, i'm intrigued.
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