A Paranormal Therapist's Guide to Divorce: And Falling in Love Again

by Sylvia Steere

316 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 5, 2026

Reviews

[Rmplift, Rachel Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

This starts off incredibly strong with a unique and intriguing premise that immediately pulled me in. The author lays the groundwork for a great story, introducing multiple fascinating directions the plot could take and countless opportunities for surprising twists or a truly memorable ending.

Unfortunately, that potential never quite pays off. Instead of taking any of the bold or imaginative paths that were teased throughout the story, the narrative ultimately settles for the safest and most predictable route possible. What began as something fresh and exciting gradually transforms into a very straightforward, almost vanilla conclusion. While the ending is realistic, it lacks the impact, creativity, and emotional payoff that the earlier chapters seemed to promise.

ARC Received by NG*

[Dozelina 666 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The blurb for this book sounded absolutely ridiculous in the best possible way. Paranormal couples therapy? A draconic egg? A bodyguard romance? I was IN.

And I have to say, the first half of the book was genuinely really fun.

The paranormal therapy aspect worked well at the beginning. The weird supernatural couples, the awkward relationship issues, the humor… all of that was honestly my favorite part of the story.

Maxine herself was chaotic but entertaining, and the whole “recently divorced from a celestial” situation added a lot of messy energy to everything she did...

Then… the egg plot fully kicks in.

Aaand from there, the story becomes WAY more action-focused. Suddenly we have conspiracies, political intrigue, secret experiments, kidnappings, people chasing Maxine everywhere trying to steal the egg, aaand the therapy side of the story slowly disappears into the background.

Which honestly made me a little sad because that was the part I enjoyed the most. *sniff sniff*

I also had mixed feelings about Maxine herself. I understood why she was reckless and emotionally messy after her divorce, but sometimes her decisions crossed the line from understandable chaos into “girl WHAT are you doing??” territory.

I had a bit of hard time with the romance too. There were a few moments where I thought “okayyy, now we’re getting somewhere...” but then the tension would disappear and I felt like we went back to square one.

Overall, I think this is one of those books where I really loved the setup and several individual elements, but the second half became a bit too chaotic for me personally.

Still, I had fun with it overall and I’m honestly curious enough to see what book two does next.

⭐ 3.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

[Katelyn Mae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to all involved in receiving this ARC from netgalley.

I liked the concept, not so much the execution. I still interested in the spin off teased in the back

[Eva_812 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! I requested this book because I saw this was an urban fantasy and it was supposed to be funny. But this book really let me down. I debated dnf'ing this around 50%, but as it was an ARC, I pushed through. I don't think it was worth it.

Let's start with it being "funny"
It tries too hard to be funny. I could see the jokes, but they fell completely flat. There were a lot of egg puns, as promised, but I just didn't think they were so funny as to say this book is 'funny'. And then there were the titles, which all refer to eggs or chickens, but which don't make any sense to the story. It actually undermines it, honestly would've been better if the chapters didn't have any titles at all. If this is supposed to be a whimsical story, it is not whimsical enough. And if it's supposed to be a serious story (which I'm guessing considering it's pretty serious with the politics and human trafficking), it is too whimsical.

The title is what drew me to this book. Maxine is a paranormal therapist. Maxine is not a good paranormal therapist. She is biased towards other species, she doesn't listen, she jumps to conclusions and she even causes people to just walk out (she also just cuts a session short because she thinks his problems are unimportant and something more interesting came up). And it doesn't even matter if she is a therapist or not. She has like 3 sessions in the book and then she's off on an adventure. It's honestly too small a part of the story for it to be in the title.
A couple of times I spotted "She could tell from his body language x was being y", but not actually telling us what the body language is, makes this very Sherlock Holmesy.
Maxine is also not a very fun MC. She is hard to get to know. She gets a bit better later on, but she starts of basically devoid of personality. Most of her character is 'being a divorcee' and 'really misses Jehudin'. (It's weird how insanely dependent she still was on Jehudin after being separated for a whole year, and how she as a therapist 1) didn't see the dependance was kinda toxic and 2) didn't go into therapy herself). And the celestials thinking she was 'perfect' or something were weird and annoying as hell. Perfect mc's are boring.
And considering her personality (or lack therefor), a lot of her choices I just couldn't understand or get behind. They didn't feel logical for me at all. And lastly: why does she not have any friends?? What's wrong with this supposedly perfect human being that she has NO single friend?

The romance was actually okay. But as soon as the author introduced the "big, huge, gigantic male" I knew who the love interest was. Very boring choice, did roll my eyes at that. However, he did have wonderful communication skills, but it needs to be said that for someone who needed fixing (according to certain characters in this book), he was a little too perfect, too. Except for the racism. Tom being allowed to continue being racist the whole book is weird. Maxine calls him out on the slur for draconics and he just goes "well I deal with them all the time and I hate them, so I'm just going to keep saying it" and then she just is fine with that. If that would've happened to a non-fictional group of people, there would be outrage.

We also need to talk about the egg. Is the author equating an actual egg with a child? Especially not knowing whether it is viable or not? And Maxine went to all that bloody trouble to keep it safe, just to go 'ehh well you did this to me, so you have it. Good luck'. Honestly, this really feels like those people that protest abortion and then don't want to take care of the child when it's born.
And if she cared about the egg so much, why did she not once look up how to care for it?

(SPOILER TIME)
I also have several questions about the plot:
1. How she got the egg is weird. If a woman is found injured by unknown circumstances, why wouldn't the police investigate? They were right there as well!!
2. Why did they need the egg back for it's rare mutation when already more people (like Amanda) were carrying eggs, presumably with the same mutation, because otherwise these humans couldn't carry the eggs?
3. Why did it take Amanda so long to put together that Amanda was carrying an egg, not a baby?
4. Why does she believe she can just walk out after knowing the secret information? Even in exchange for the egg? Why would they even consider her alive at all?? Are these bad people who stop at nothing (as shown before) or is she just wearing some very convenient plot armour?
5. How did she lose her pants when drugged and why didn't they give her any pants when she woke up???

And has an editor even looked at this yet? I've spotted several spelling and writing mistakes, the worst ons being coliseum instead of Colosseum.

I was really underwhelmed by the book and if there is going to be a sequel, I won't pick it up.

[Plants Rants and Romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had mixed feelings about this book overall.

The beginning was difficult for me to get into because of both the slow pacing and the focus on social and political themes. Between those two things, I honestly almost DNFed it. I am glad I stuck with it, though, because the second half became much more engaging and enjoyable once the plot finally picked up.

My biggest issue was Maxine’s characterization. She felt very contradictory throughout much of the story, and I didn’t really start liking her until the second half. For example, she claims she didn’t do volunteer work for her husband’s approval, yet later admits that without his praise, even her dinner no longer tasted good to her. Moments like that made it difficult for me to fully understand who she was supposed to be.

I also struggled with the way she viewed other species. Maxine took pride in being a therapist who helped paranormal couples build healthy relationships, but at the same time she often came across as deeply prejudiced toward several species herself. Her repeated assumptions about infernals “mind controlling” people or robbing them of free will made her feel hypocritical considering her profession.

Speaking of therapy… she honestly felt terrible at her job. She misled a client into thinking someone was after them, even though that person was actually trying to help. She admitted at one point that she stopped caring about what a client was saying, and she repeatedly jumped to conclusions that certain boyfriends were abusive largely because of their species. For someone portrayed as an experienced paranormal couples therapist, her behavior often felt unprofessional and biased.

Another thing that felt strange to me was the ending arc involving the egg. The entire book builds Maxine up as someone willing to sacrifice everything to protect it, only for her to make the decisions she ultimately does. The emotional payoff just didn’t fully land for me.

I also wasn’t a fan of how much Maxine seemed to tie her self-worth to Jehudin and the opinions of the celestials. The celestial belief that Tom could somehow “taint” her made the messaging around her value and goodness feel overly dependent on the men around her, which frustrated me.

Despite my issues, I did enjoy the second half significantly more than the beginning. I really liked the side characters — Tom, Samzen, and the professor especially. I enjoyed learning more about Tom as the story progressed and seeing the hardships he had been through. Samzen was the perfect amount of sass, and knowing the second book will be from his point of view definitely makes me excited to continue the series. Those three characters were really what made the book for me. I just wish I would have connected with Maxine more.

A BIG thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Caitlin Teaches · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maxine is a therapist who specializes in inter species relationships, and is falling apart because her marriage to her world's version of an angel is ending with no explanation. Cue her making questionable survival choices that end up with her in possession of an egg, a sexy bodyguard, an infernal FBI tail, and a target on her back from shady organization. An action adventure full of world building, human trafficking, and weird pregnancy/child analogies ensues.

There is a level of chaos that comes with Maxine that feels well written in context. She works too hard in a care profession while being emotionally burnt out and completely unaware of who she is outside of work. There are a lot of strong hints that her relationship with her ex was toxic and controlling. This ranges from her isolation to his fetishization of her emotional come down after really difficult volunteer work to the fact she believe she'll never be able to have sex again. He definitely used his identity as a celestial to manipulate and control her in ways she later projects onto an infernal. The contrast from that generally makes her relationship with Tom extra sweet. They communicate well, challenge each other, and he seeks consent consistently. I also really appreciate the bi guy rep. He is clearly still attracted to both men and women throughout, and love that it doesn't make Maxine either weirded out or weird to him about it.

A lot of the named side characters are really strong additions, but it's hard for a few things to not stand out. The only women other than Maxine are victims, the villains, or unnamed and undeveloped trafficking women. The trafficking victims are non-white immigrants who never really get screen time other than helping their white lady rescuer. This sits a little extra weird when compared to Tom's outright bigotry towards Draconics (the source of the egg that is the center of most of the chaos.) Yes, he has trauma because of a history of violent treatment by them, but the bigotry and social dynamics of the world feel...undeveloped. Which, fair, this is the first book the series.

And I would definitely read the next book in the series despite these shaky places. The author writes good intimacy, I like the cheesy humor, and I'm curious to see how the world building continues to develop. The ending of this first book was unexpected, and focusing on two of the more charming side characters for the next is a bonus. Even with my concerns, the book was fun and had enough humor to make it a quick and easy read.


Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ARC of this book.

[Janusch · Rating 3 out of 5]

So… this was a weird book. Fun, but weird. Not the carefree romcom I was expecting, for sure. This was a fast-paced humorous urban fantasy mystery with a side of romance - sort of - and quite a large helping of wow, these are some big topics to be throwing in so casually. I enjoyed reading this, but some of the themes were unexpectedly *very* heavy*. This didn’t always fit with the lighthearted, almost flippant writing.

Our MC Maxine is.a mess, after her recent divorce from a guy she put way up high on a pedestal. It’s making it hard for her to do her work as a couples therapist well, on top of generally feeling like shit. This was presented in a way that was kind of funny, but also made her seem like an asshole. Now, being a bit of an ass after your heart gets broken makes sense, but I’m don’t think the book quite pulled off the balance between an unlikeable but still lovable character.

This is an imbalance that keeps popping up: believing things because you don’t know better isn’t as understandable when you’ve made it your work to talk to all species, and you’ve literally taken zero steps to mitigate your unawareness. That’s just… being a bigot because you don’t **need** to not be one.

We don’t really learn too much about who Maxine is outside of her work and failed marriage, and the same goes for her love interest. Both of them can apparently just lay down their work at no notice for a week and it’s… fine? There are zero repercussions anyway. Very: quirk your way through life, ha ha, oopsy, oh well!

I enjoyed the dynamic between Maxine and her bodyguard quite a bit. He definitely gives comfort character vibes (straightforward, predictable, and dependable). Their banter was a highlight, though as said, the romance side of this is not the main point of the story.

Then there’s the egg. And the eggy chapter titles. Oofff. That’s a no from me. Unnecessary and not funny. Also, the ending? What??

All in all, I enjoyed reading this well enough, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, quirky urban fantasy read. Quirky here doing the heavy lifting in good and bad ways. Realism does not really come into play, so suspend your disbelief before diving in. Works well as a beach read, I can say.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!


*trigger warning: human trafficking and forced pregnancy in particular

[meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 4/5 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read for an honest review.

A Paranormal Therapist’s Guide to Divorce and Falling in Love Again is a witty, fun and chaotic read. It follows Maxine, a paranormal therapist who lives in a world where humans and paranormal creatures live together. Despite them living together in the world, there are a lot of human-paranormal rules and laws and inter-species issues. As a therapist, Maxine focuses on inter-species relationships, which makes her divorce to a Celestial even more humiliating for her. After a client leaves her with a Draconic egg, Maxine vows to protect this egg any way she can but there are paranormal creatures that want the egg back .. and will do anything to get it.

Firstly, this is a really easy, fun, light-hearted read.
Maxine, the FMC, is really well-written. She is compassionate woman who is clearly struggling with her divorce and I felt genuine sympathy for her, as she tries to process it throughout the novel. Maxine is relatable, and so easy to like. I loved her sarcasm and humour and her compassion throughout the novel. The only thing I didn’t like about her was they way a lot of her self-worth was focused on her husband leaving her and tied to a man’s opinion of her. However, I do feel like every woman has, at times, felt like that and it was completely believable.

As the story revolved around paranormal creatures and a stolen egg, it had the potential to maybe be silly or overdramatic. This isn’t the case though, and everything felt realistic. I could really believe this world existed and I was living in it right now. It was detailed and the rules and laws etc, were really well done.

I would definitely read book 2, as I really enjoyed this one. Again, it’s the perfect light-hearted summer read.

[Sylvi Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A chaotic, irrational, paranoid, and enjoyable twist on paranormal life stories. I was unsure going into the reading of this book. The description pulled me, but I had been burned by similar enticing descriptions before. Maxine—and the man she meets—the dark humor, the supernatural beings in counseling settings, and a mystery that kept me on my toes, won me over in the end.

Maxine is relatable in a way that you will either connect with her instantly, or you will feel the exhaustion she carries daily. Dragging herself begrudgingly through life after her divorce to a celestial while trying to save other people’s marriages at work would be enough to break anyone. Her commentary during the counseling sessions is some of my favorite writing throughout the book.

Despite the many outlandish characters or situations, nothing in this book felt like a caricature. Even the eccentric professor felt so multidimensional that the humorous descriptions felt like people I knew more than some character in a book. The puns, her new friend’s observations, and the witty banter, took this book from great to amazing for me.

It can be a bit tough if you are going through some difficult things in your own life. Maxine’s clinical descriptions of herself and her clients strip bare the difficulty of coping with, and after, relationships. Regardless of your own relationship status, this book is the perfect mixture of paranormal creatures, romance, humor, and mystery.

I promise it will exceed all "eggspectations."

[Gauri · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

DNF @ 43% (Read up to chapter 17/36). Rated 1 star as is my policy for DNFs.

I was really excited for this book. I love a good urban fantastical romp that is filled with well meaning, down on their luck characters who somehow end up in trouble.

This book has all that and yet it wasn't enough for me.

It's pitched and reviewed as funny, and to some it is (as seen through the 4/5 star reviews), but not to me. I didn't crack (egg pun unintended) a single smile.

It was a combination of the plot and writing that didn't work. I felt like the stakes and the tone were both too serious for this to be any fun. But at the same time it wasn't serious enough for me to get emotionally engaged. There was just no personality to Maxine and I had a hard time understanding/ rationalising the things she said or did making it hard for me to care for her goals and well being.

And while I loved the egg pun chapter titles, I don't think they are representative of the content in the chapters, which then made having the chapter titles be egg puns seem weird.

But there isn't anything really egregious about this book and I'm sure many would love it.

I'd recommend this book to someone who enjoyed the Finlay Donovan series (for the crime and silly time), and The Teller of Small Fortunes (for the estranged from loved ones aspect and fantasy).

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC!

This was a cute, light-hearted read set in a world where humans co-exist with paranormals. These paranormals come from other planes, so there's some friction with humans, the original inhabitants of the 'mortal plane'. Maxine is a therapist specialising in interspecies couples, who is currently going through a divorce with a celestial; something that is exceptionally mortifying given his divine status.

Through a series of twists and turns, she ends up with a draconic egg given to her by a previous client who is in danger, and Maxine is determined to keep the egg safe as she ends up in the middle of a draconic and anti-human group politics. Alongside her is Tom, the guy she met at the courthouse, who is also getting a divorce from his ex. Tom has a complicated relationship with the draconics, and he's the perfect guy to help Maxine.

Maxine was well written, and I liked that she kept to her morals as long as she could and even then, she tweaked them based on what she felt. Tom started out interesting, but there was a lot I would've liked to explore with him. There were some implications that he wasn't entirely human, but they never went anywhere. We also didn't find out anything about his ex, which would've been nice to see.

I can't wait for the next book, as the infernal ended up one of my favourite characters!

[Lucy Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars

This was a wild ride! If you had asked me to explain what I thought would happen in the book based on the description, I never would have guessed the twists, turns and ending. I am a big fan of Urban Fantasy and felt that this was an excellent example of a fun Urban Fantasy with elements of mystery, intrigue and romance throughout. The book was well paced; it started slow but built into a fast-paced read that kept me guessing and reading 'just one more chapter'. I would have liked to see some deeper world building at the start of the book during the slower scenes to really immerse the reader in the world, but I welcomed the way the author delivered key details in a way that felt natural to the progression of the story.

I wish we had some more background on the characters, especially Maxine's role as a paranormal therapist as this is what drew me into the book initially. I was left wanting to know more about the characters and felt that the epilogue nicely set up the spin off book that was teased at the end. I would love to see this become an extended series and I am looking forward to engaging with the characters again in the future and I feel that the world has a lot of potential.

Overall, an enjoyable, witty and original read.

[Mya Joan Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another five star read for me. I know it can't last, but wow! I absolutely loved this book and everything it had to offer.

I had SO much fun reading this. The humor was sharp, the paranormal chaos was entertaining, and somehow underneath all the supernatural drama was a genuinely sweet and heartfelt story about healing, love, and starting over again.

The characters absolutely made this book for me. Every single one of them felt lovable, messy, and hilarious in their own way. I got way too attached to them way too quickly, and honestly, I would happily read ten more books just to keep hanging out with them. The banter alone had me laughing out loud more than once.

And the story itself? Completely addictive. It had the perfect mix of funny, quirky, emotional, and paranormal weirdness. One minute I was cracking up, the next I was rooting so hard for these characters to figure their lives out and find happiness again. It’s rare for a book to balance comedy and heart this well, but this one nailed it.

This was charming, witty, chaotic in the best way, and just an overall great time. If paranormal rom-coms with lovable characters and ridiculous supernatural situations are your thing, pick this up immediately.

[Amy A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was such a pleasant surprise!
Ms. Steele’s descriptive writing was beautifully done and made it easy to picture the characters, settings, and emotions exactly as intended. The story had the perfect mix of romance, humor, and an engaging plot that kept me hooked from beginning to end. I genuinely enjoyed spending time in this world.

I also appreciated that the spice level was kept to a minimum. I enjoy romance, but I don’t think excessive spice is needed to carry a story, and this book proved it wasn’t necessary. The storyline stood strongly on its own, the characters were likable and memorable, and the witty dialogue and smart humor made me love it even more.

We also get a sneak peek at the next book centered around the Incubus FBI character, Agent Samzen, and I am already excited for that one! Ms. Steele definitely has the potential to become one of my new favorite fantasy authors.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Alcovia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book honestly sounded right up my alley. A relationship therapist for inter-species couples accidentally becoming the guardian of a dragon egg while dealing with her own divorce felt like the perfect setup for something funny, heartfelt, and a little chaotic in the best way.

There’s definitely an audience for this book, and I can see why some readers will really connect with it. For me personally, the social and political themes came through more heavily than I expected, and it kept pulling me out of the story instead of letting me fully disappear into the world. I tend to read fantasy as a way to step away from real-world discourse for a while, so that aspect didn’t fully work for me.

That said, the writing itself is thoughtful, emotionally aware, and very intentional about what it wants to say. If you enjoy fantasy that directly engages with current social themes, there’s a good chance this will land much better for you than it did for me.

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

[Vanessa Konopacki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a slow story at first. We meet our main character and find out what’s going on in her life, her work… and I just did not care. Three chapters in and I was really wondering if I would be able to keep reading this. So many books you get the draw, that “hook” in the story so early. This one takes its time, but not in a bad way. It just starts as a day in the life of a person going through, and dealing with a lot.
Once the story gets going it’s interesting world building. Explains that structure of world or culture, even race/species within this world, without treating the reader like they are stupid. Which is not easy. There are so many layers within all that can make or break a good story, it’s difficult to dive into without seemingly “mansplaining” it.
I thought this was a fun, witty, humor filled book with good character development and really liked the characters. Would not mind reading more from the main characters as well as some of the minor ones.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Oh my, I adored this book. The humor and sassy vibes had me kicking my feet and giggling.
Samzen is definitely my favorite character. He is all sass and attitude with a splash of sarcasm. I found myself laughing out loud to certain things he would say.
And Tom, you tall glass of water you. The over protective burn the world down for her personality? I am all HERE for it.

The plot was fast paced, full of action, and kept me interested.
I did sort of guess one of the twists early on, but the way she worked that twist into the story more than made up for it.

Im rating this book 5 stars because I had a fantastic time reading it. I will definitely be recommending it to some of my fellow readers that love a sassy, comedic, fast paced novel.

My rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Rugz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley

4.5 out of 5 ⭐️

How would I sum this up - A gripping mystery with paranormal elements and creatures and just the most wonderful yearning romance and terrible (sarcasm intended) egg puns.
Absolutely enjoyable story depicting Maxine, a paranormal therapist, and the mystery she gets tangled up in after being stood up at her divorce hearing. The world is an alternate to our reality where paranormal entities such as vampires, werewolves, draconics, infernal and celestials exist and live within the world. It’s well written, with good world building and descriptions, and the romantic tension and yearning is better than most books I’ve read so far this year. If you like tv shows like Supernatural and Lucifer, you’ll enjoy this. Highly recommend and will be buying myself a copy when it’s released.

[Amira (a.muses_) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a witty and easy read, definitely chaotic but also, somehow feels light-hearted!

The book follows our FMC who was clearly struggling with her own divorce and at the same time, she's a therapist for paranormal beings trying to resolve relationship issues. 🫪 I KNOWWW, how did this girl cope?!

Its world building was intriguing and the overall concept of its paranormal culture was interesting especially with the different races/species involved. All the main and supporting characters were so relatable and messy but also, so funny and adorable!! They're quite irrational and a little dramatic at few times too but it added charm to its storyline which I also loved and enjoyed.

Personally, even with a slightly slow start, this still delivered such an "eggcellent" and layered paranormal novel!! 👀 If you into this kind of urban fantasy, this one's made for you! Recommended! ✨️

[Laura Kenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read as an ARC. I had such a fun time with it, I found it an easy read, and it wasn’t complicated to follow what was going on. The characters were entertaining and showed a good amount of emotion; they also had great character development. I found the romance between the main characters to be sweet and mature. I like how the book dealt with consent and communication, as well as sticking up for what you believe in. It also deals well with the loss and grief of a relationship and how we all deal with these emotions in different ways. I thought the story was good. I couldn’t put it down. I hope there is more from this universe, as I really enjoyed the other characters as well. There was tension right up until the ending, but there was also a lot of humour running through the story, and that helped break it up a bit.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Paranormal Therapist’s Guide to Divorce: And Falling in Love Again by Sylvia Steere is a witty, imaginative urban fantasy that blends humor, romance, mystery, and emotional healing into an entertaining read. In this novel, we follow the story of the FMC Maxine, a relationship therapist specializing in inter-species couples, and the MMC Tom. One of the book’s greatest strengths to me is its unique premise. Steere takes familiar paranormal creatures; vampires, werewolves, celestials, and dragons and places them in relatable situations that explore communication, trust, and relationship challenges. Overall, A Paranormal Therapist's Guide to Divorce: And Falling in Love Again is a delightful blend of paranormal romance and laugh-out-loud urban fantasy adventure.

I received an ARC copy from Netgalley. Thank you so much for giving me a chance to read and voluntarily review this novel!

[Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maxine and Tom’s story is an action packed mystery with some things the reader knows before the characters do and some things that make you say “okay, I did not predict that part!”

The romance is slow burn, fade to black and low spice, and the character development… turns some tropes and cliches on their heads.

There’s a lot of humor, but also some serious topics, trigger warnings below because they are a little spoilery so if you don't have any triggers you can skip them.

I’ll definitely be reading the next book in the series when it’s available.

TW: spousal retaliation, traumatic pregnancies, threatened harm to children, human trafficking

I received an advance copy at no charge, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Leiah Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, this was weird, quirky, and utterly delicious! Being a therapist for the Weird and weirdest is hard, but Maxine loves her job. At least she does, until her own love life falls apart when her Celestial husband walks out the door. Cue ongoing disasters, draconians on sick missions, an incubus with almost as many issues as Maxine, and overwhelming Celestial snottiness and a lack of comprehension of human reality and Sylvia keeps us on a roller coaster of compassion, prejudice, action and twisted politics - and then, there is Tom, my favorite of all the characters. Honesty truly Is the best medicine!

This is a fresh and desperately needed addition to the urban fantasy genre! Grab your copy as soon as it comes out. I was lucky enough to get a review copy and couldn't be more pleased.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always looking for new and fun series, so I thought I’d try this one. This book was so much darned fun. Maxine is still a little torn up about her husband leaving her, and when she gets drawn into a crime, she must turn to another recent divorcee to help her before she is killed for her participation. I just loved Maxine, Tom, and all the rest of the characters. While this wasn’t perfect, I enjoyed every minute of reading this. I’m excited there is going to be another book with one of the major side characters. Give this a try! Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Jennifer Richter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maxine is about to get divorced when she meets Tom (also freshly divorced) and accidentally gets custody of a draconian egg. The egg is wanted by some nefarious parties though, and Maxime and Tom have to do everything to protect it.

This was a fun quick read! The writing was easy to follow and the story was suspenseful and entertaining. A couple therapist's perspective felt refreshing and new, I enjoyed it! I'm happy that there'll be a spin-off!

Thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for a review.

[Parker parkers_bookshelves · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a super fun read. It felt like all good vibes, not a whole lot of depth or complexity. If you're looking for a short quick good read. This is it! It's well written. I thought the FMC was well written. She had a ton of relatable lines and moments. She's struggling after a rough divorce finding herself again. It's a really good story. I just didn't feel like it was particularly relating to me- and that's 100% okay!!! Still a good read. I don't regret picking it up. Go in with an open mind looking for good vibes and you'll have a great time.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent beginning for a series! The author uses the perfect descriptive words for me to really see the setting and characters in my mind, which I love. The story sucked me right in, and I enjoyed the unpredictability of the story as I read. I can't wait to read the next book!

* I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Claire-Louise Armstrong-Brealey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent book!

You have shifters, vampires, dragon/lizard-like creatures, celestial beings, incubi, oh, and humans!

This book is above the normal love story, above the usual crime story, above the ordinary.

I won't give spoilers, but suffice to say, you will need to give it a read. It is worth it, I promise you!

[Madison Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Characters: 4⭐
Setting: 5⭐
Plot: 4⭐
Themes: 4⭐
Emotional Impact: 5⭐
Personal Enjoyment: 5⭐
Total Rounded Average: 4.5⭐

This was so unique and fun. I was laughing out loud a lot. It felt like a buddy cop movie, but higher stakes and sprinkled with romance. I loved it. Do I think everyone is going to love this as much as I did? No. I think it found me at the right time.

[Hannah]

3 stars

This was such an interesting book. I liked the plot and how it wove into the FMC's own story. I also loved reading what the FMC was really thinking during her therapy sessions versus what she actually said. It was really interesting to read.