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Cryptid Creek #1
Mothman Is My Boyfriend: Ten Tales of Cryptid Love and Lust
Fall in love with a secret town and its mysterious inhabitants in ten charming tales of human–cryptid romance.
Welcome to Cryptid Creek, an invitation only a rare few receive! Stumble into this hidden place full of undiscovered creatures, from yetis to lake monsters, who will lure you into their cozy community. Stay for the hospitality, the enigmatic fantasy locale, and—most of all—the sense of belonging.
Allow ten of your new neighbors to share their most intimate stories and heart-racing trysts, ’s coffee-shop meet-cute with MothmanSloane’s sweet skate-park romance with Fresno, a nightcrawlerSasquatch’s butch/femme karaoke bar encounter with June
Cryptid Creek chose you, chose to let you in—so if you loved Legends and Lattes and That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf, dust off your cutest outfit and delight in all it has to offer.
Welcome to Cryptid Creek, an invitation only a rare few receive! Stumble into this hidden place full of undiscovered creatures, from yetis to lake monsters, who will lure you into their cozy community. Stay for the hospitality, the enigmatic fantasy locale, and—most of all—the sense of belonging.
Allow ten of your new neighbors to share their most intimate stories and heart-racing trysts, ’s coffee-shop meet-cute with MothmanSloane’s sweet skate-park romance with Fresno, a nightcrawlerSasquatch’s butch/femme karaoke bar encounter with June
Cryptid Creek chose you, chose to let you in—so if you loved Legends and Lattes and That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf, dust off your cutest outfit and delight in all it has to offer.
164 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
May 10, 2026
I’ll admit it: I didn't think I would enjoy this book. I went into it expecting the same "lovey-dovey" tropes we’ve seen rewritten a thousand times over. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find an anthology that is fresh, campy, and genuinely funny. It’s a rare find that manages to be sweet, hot, and sarcastic all at once.
The vibe of Cryptid Creek
The setting of Cryptid Creek is a character in its own right. Between the adorable map at the beginning of the book and the interconnected nature of the stories, the atmosphere is incredibly immersive. Reading it feels like being teleported directly into the town; you don't just read about the community, you feel like a resident. The writing style is so vivid and charming that I could easily see this being adapted into a sweet, animated TV series. And it should get turned into some short TV series.
Trope vs. Comedy
This book leans into some exaggerated tropes, but it does so with a wink and a nod. Whether the cheesiness is a deliberate stylistic choice or just for the sake of fun, it works perfectly here. It avoids being cringeworthy by blending that sentimentality with:
- Witty banter and sharp sarcasm
- Clumsy, flawed, and relatable characters
- A ‘perfect formula’ of romance and comedy that keeps the pacing brisk
Some of the stories are absolutely heartwarming, one of them (Ripple) is gut-wrenching (a real tearjerker), but most are just so fun to read. I liked this sad one too. I also liked ‘Yearn for it’. But, my 2 absolute favorites are:
- ’The Moon and the Mothman’: it is incredibly adorable and wholesome, the kind of story that leaves you with a smile on your face and giggling throughout the story like you’re suddenly a little girl
- ’Skin and Fur’ Obviously. This was the other standout for me, not only because, well…wolfman, but also because of the rather more mature topic it tackled. It shifts into a more adult gear, tackling grown-up themes like the complexities of marriage, of divorce, and the nuances of how two partners can be simultaneously right and wrong. It’s a beautiful look at how individuals can misunderstand one another.
Many, many thanks to McKayla Coyle, Quirk Books, and NetGalley for the ARC. This is a voluntary review, reflecting solely my opinion.
The vibe of Cryptid Creek
The setting of Cryptid Creek is a character in its own right. Between the adorable map at the beginning of the book and the interconnected nature of the stories, the atmosphere is incredibly immersive. Reading it feels like being teleported directly into the town; you don't just read about the community, you feel like a resident. The writing style is so vivid and charming that I could easily see this being adapted into a sweet, animated TV series. And it should get turned into some short TV series.
Trope vs. Comedy
This book leans into some exaggerated tropes, but it does so with a wink and a nod. Whether the cheesiness is a deliberate stylistic choice or just for the sake of fun, it works perfectly here. It avoids being cringeworthy by blending that sentimentality with:
- Witty banter and sharp sarcasm
- Clumsy, flawed, and relatable characters
- A ‘perfect formula’ of romance and comedy that keeps the pacing brisk
Some of the stories are absolutely heartwarming, one of them (Ripple) is gut-wrenching (a real tearjerker), but most are just so fun to read. I liked this sad one too. I also liked ‘Yearn for it’. But, my 2 absolute favorites are:
- ’The Moon and the Mothman’: it is incredibly adorable and wholesome, the kind of story that leaves you with a smile on your face and giggling throughout the story like you’re suddenly a little girl
- ’Skin and Fur’ Obviously. This was the other standout for me, not only because, well…wolfman, but also because of the rather more mature topic it tackled. It shifts into a more adult gear, tackling grown-up themes like the complexities of marriage, of divorce, and the nuances of how two partners can be simultaneously right and wrong. It’s a beautiful look at how individuals can misunderstand one another.
Many, many thanks to McKayla Coyle, Quirk Books, and NetGalley for the ARC. This is a voluntary review, reflecting solely my opinion.
May 13, 2026
I absolutely adore these characters. The mothman hooked me, but some of these stories were so much more.
All 10 stories stay sweet or fade to black, but the main theme is always people (and /or monsters) finding love. And I mean love in every definition of the word. These different relationships had me swooning and yearning had me a little teary and just plain embarrassed. I loved every single one of them. Each in their own unique way.
The art in the book is fabulous and magical, you can feel the love that has been poured into the creation of this book.
Thank you so much to the author McKayla Cole and NetGalley for the eARC.
All 10 stories stay sweet or fade to black, but the main theme is always people (and /or monsters) finding love. And I mean love in every definition of the word. These different relationships had me swooning and yearning had me a little teary and just plain embarrassed. I loved every single one of them. Each in their own unique way.
The art in the book is fabulous and magical, you can feel the love that has been poured into the creation of this book.
Thank you so much to the author McKayla Cole and NetGalley for the eARC.
July 22, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, publisher Quirk Books, and author McKayla Coyle for providing an eARC for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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Readers beware, this is not monster smut.
This is clean/sweet/closed door/fade to black/ kissing-only monster romance.
Bearing that in mind, consider the Mothman is named Mothman, the Swamp Monster is named Swampy, the Jersey Devil is named Jersey, and thesasquatch Bigfoot is named Sas. The Nightwalker, aka Fresno Alien, is named Fresno. This would make a tiny bit of sense if the cryptid were the only one of their species, but there are other swamp monsters and other Nightwalkers with names like AJ and Ollie.
Every story is LGBTQ so the book gets points for that, but otherwise, calling this tales of love and lust is a serious misnomer because there is no lust here, and not even every story features love.
While this wasn't badly written, it was not what I expected at all, and honestly, I'm kinda mad about it. Rename it to "sweet tales of cryptid companionship" and you might be closer to what this book actually is.
And I just remembered, two separate stories referred to, and I quote, "slutting it up" so you know what, I'm taking a star away for that. First of all, there was nothing slutty about this book whatsoever. Secondly, engaging in hookups and noncommitted sexual relationships is not a bad thing as long as all parties are aware and consenting. We do not slut shame in the year of our lord two thousand twenty-six.
If this book had been any longer, I would have DNF'd it, but it was a quick read so I finished it to count towards my yearly goal.
.
.
.
Readers beware, this is not monster smut.
This is clean/sweet/closed door/fade to black/ kissing-only monster romance.
Bearing that in mind, consider the Mothman is named Mothman, the Swamp Monster is named Swampy, the Jersey Devil is named Jersey, and the
Every story is LGBTQ so the book gets points for that, but otherwise, calling this tales of love and lust is a serious misnomer because there is no lust here, and not even every story features love.
While this wasn't badly written, it was not what I expected at all, and honestly, I'm kinda mad about it. Rename it to "sweet tales of cryptid companionship" and you might be closer to what this book actually is.
And I just remembered, two separate stories referred to, and I quote, "slutting it up" so you know what, I'm taking a star away for that. First of all, there was nothing slutty about this book whatsoever. Secondly, engaging in hookups and noncommitted sexual relationships is not a bad thing as long as all parties are aware and consenting. We do not slut shame in the year of our lord two thousand twenty-six.
If this book had been any longer, I would have DNF'd it, but it was a quick read so I finished it to count towards my yearly goal.
September 7, 2026
Not my usual read, but these were really cute and fun stories.
March 5, 2026
((review from an ARC))
this book is for lovers and fun-lovers only!! everyone else go home!!
if you’ve ever wanted to date a cryptid or felt like a cryptid (on the outside of everyone else, different, etc.) this book is here to let you know that you’re not alone and that there’s a beautiful community out there for you
the sweetness and vulnerability of the characters and their stories are well balanced with wit and bad decisions, so it feels warm and rich rather than cloying—like drinking a nice glass of red wine that warms you from the inside and has lots of adjectives that connoisseurs know like oaky and fruit-forward
seriously i cannot overstate how absolutely delightful this book is!!!! do yourself a favor and have a good time!!!!
this book is for lovers and fun-lovers only!! everyone else go home!!
if you’ve ever wanted to date a cryptid or felt like a cryptid (on the outside of everyone else, different, etc.) this book is here to let you know that you’re not alone and that there’s a beautiful community out there for you
the sweetness and vulnerability of the characters and their stories are well balanced with wit and bad decisions, so it feels warm and rich rather than cloying—like drinking a nice glass of red wine that warms you from the inside and has lots of adjectives that connoisseurs know like oaky and fruit-forward
seriously i cannot overstate how absolutely delightful this book is!!!! do yourself a favor and have a good time!!!!
May 22, 2026
im not sure what i expected from this book, and i am not a romance reader at all, but this was alright. i feel like i have plenty of critiques of this book, but instead i want to highlight how celebratorily queer this text is. it is gay and weird and unashamed. sometimes this borders on a cringey tumblr post, but sometimes it is truly beautiful
June 14, 2026
Sauceless, but too short to bother DNFing. This was my fault as a resident cozy naysayer. If you like that sort of thing, it’s all yours.
I will say that the Loch Ness monster story was the best of the bunch. I liked that one a lot, mainly because it was more about grieving and less about weirdly sanitized flirting that heel turns into out of nowhere sex that isn’t actually sex. Do you get me?
I will say that the Loch Ness monster story was the best of the bunch. I liked that one a lot, mainly because it was more about grieving and less about weirdly sanitized flirting that heel turns into out of nowhere sex that isn’t actually sex. Do you get me?
September 9, 2026
A review by Jessica, who learned that apparently cute cryptids alone cannot sustain her. 🦋🧟
This was a fun little collection, but ultimately not really for me.
I loved the idea of it—sweet, quirky romances featuring various cryptids and creatures is objectively adorable—and there were a few stories I genuinely enjoyed. Mothman 🦋, Cactus Cat 🌵😺, Bigfoot , and Nessie were easily my favorites.
“Is it possible to loom in a cute way?” remains an excellent question. 😂
But overall, most of the stories just didn't grab me. I found myself thinking “aw, that's cute” more often than actually getting invested (or interested at all) in the characters or romances.
I can absolutely see this being a really fun read for the right person! I'm just apparently not that person. 🙃
⭐⭐✨
2.5 cute-but-not-my-cryptid stars
This was a fun little collection, but ultimately not really for me.
I loved the idea of it—sweet, quirky romances featuring various cryptids and creatures is objectively adorable—and there were a few stories I genuinely enjoyed. Mothman 🦋, Cactus Cat 🌵😺, Bigfoot , and Nessie were easily my favorites.
“Is it possible to loom in a cute way?” remains an excellent question. 😂
But overall, most of the stories just didn't grab me. I found myself thinking “aw, that's cute” more often than actually getting invested (or interested at all) in the characters or romances.
I can absolutely see this being a really fun read for the right person! I'm just apparently not that person. 🙃
⭐⭐✨
2.5 cute-but-not-my-cryptid stars
June 25, 2026
This collection was a fun read! I'm always down for some queer monster lovin'. While this book has discussions about sex and sexual attraction, I don't recall anything explicitly spicy. The focus is definitely more on the romance. My favorite part was being introduced to some new-to-me cryptids (Cactus Cat?? Heck yeah). Thanks to the publisher for the chance to check out a copy through Netgalley. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
September 8, 2026
This is a perfect little sweet read of cozy comfort — cryptids and love, and I sank into it happily. What really stood out was how different the approach felt: strong queer representation throughout, including non-binary characters and transgender swamp creatures running around. I also really appreciated the illustrations dotted throughout the book — they gave a much better sense of what each character was meant to look like.
There's a lovely slow burn between older characters — finding love later in life — and every character gets their own story, all set in one small town. It's structured almost like an anthology, with everyone's threads dipping in and out of each other.
Heads up if you're after something really spicy: this isn't that. It's much more about diving straight into the cryptids and the fun of it all than steam. That said, it's a genuine, unashamed celebration of queerness, and it's beautiful.
One small gripe — there's a bit of a lack of imagination in the naming. I was confused that Mothman is just... Mothman, when everyone else gets an actual name. It leans hard into what they are rather than who they are. I'll respect that as part of their story and experience, but it did stand out.
The writing itself is beautiful, but I do think the title oversells things a bit — "lust" sets up an expectation of heat that the book doesn't really deliver on. That's really my only reason for landing at 3.5 rather than higher: this book needs to reach the right readers, and I don't want anyone going in expecting spice and coming away disappointed. If you're looking for a cute, wholesome found-family, small-town vibe to ease into spooky season, this one's absolutely right up your alley — just know it's cozy, not steamy.
Read during ARC August, finished just after. Thank you to the author/publisher for the ARC via NetGalley!
There's a lovely slow burn between older characters — finding love later in life — and every character gets their own story, all set in one small town. It's structured almost like an anthology, with everyone's threads dipping in and out of each other.
Heads up if you're after something really spicy: this isn't that. It's much more about diving straight into the cryptids and the fun of it all than steam. That said, it's a genuine, unashamed celebration of queerness, and it's beautiful.
One small gripe — there's a bit of a lack of imagination in the naming. I was confused that Mothman is just... Mothman, when everyone else gets an actual name. It leans hard into what they are rather than who they are. I'll respect that as part of their story and experience, but it did stand out.
The writing itself is beautiful, but I do think the title oversells things a bit — "lust" sets up an expectation of heat that the book doesn't really deliver on. That's really my only reason for landing at 3.5 rather than higher: this book needs to reach the right readers, and I don't want anyone going in expecting spice and coming away disappointed. If you're looking for a cute, wholesome found-family, small-town vibe to ease into spooky season, this one's absolutely right up your alley — just know it's cozy, not steamy.
Read during ARC August, finished just after. Thank you to the author/publisher for the ARC via NetGalley!
May 30, 2026
I loved this book of cozy, sweet, and heartfelt short stories featuring a diverse variety of humans and creatures, all trying to connect and find love and friendship in their community. At its core is a group of chosen friends and family who are all looking for people they can be themselves around, who love them for who they are, no reservations. I love that there a celebration of differences, joy in admiring the beauty of others, and the thrill of finding someone that understands who you are. My favorite stories were about Lucy and Mothman, Swampy and Mason and their not-really-practice dates, and Slone and Fresno and their skater friends, but I would happily read more stories from this place—though as small as Crypid Creek seems to be, perhaps we’ve already met everyone who lives there?
I have to also mention, I love the design of this book, the beautiful illustrations, and the charming map. Even if the layout of the town isn’t vital to the plot of the stories, I love being able to visualize how a town is laid out.
I have to also mention, I love the design of this book, the beautiful illustrations, and the charming map. Even if the layout of the town isn’t vital to the plot of the stories, I love being able to visualize how a town is laid out.
June 24, 2026
Okay don’t @ me because I read this fully expecting it to be like 1.5 stars but ITS NOT. Like it’s obviously silly goofy but it’s very camp on purpose so I’ll allow it. Reading descriptions of what the cryptids look like as if they’re a six pack on a hot person is very funny. I thought this would be silly smutty stories that were cheesy but also had mothman and they kinda were, but they were way less smutty than i thought (like most of them not at all and only a couple a little bit). Most of the stories were heartwarming? And displayed a plethora of different relationships and the ways people form them? Like huh? Was not expecting to delve into grief and the ways it touches your life in a book about dating cryptids 😭. Anyways, it was pretty good ngl but also definitely a bit ridiculous and the romance parts were all very instalove which I’m never a fan of, especially in an anthology I’m gonna need some of them to be different.
June 4, 2026
3.5 rounded to 4
Alright, I am ready, sign me up to move to Cryptid Creek! This is a fun cozy, a little bit of spice book of interconnected monster romances. I really like how these all take place in the same town and you get to see the characters again in other stories.
Just like with any anthology, some stories will resonate with you more. Some of my favorites where the haunted house story, the wood worker one, and the one about the old lady friends that move in together. Something also special about all these stories is they all feature LGBTQ+ characters. Each romance is different and I loved the variety in types of creatures, personalities, and even ages.
Alright, I am ready, sign me up to move to Cryptid Creek! This is a fun cozy, a little bit of spice book of interconnected monster romances. I really like how these all take place in the same town and you get to see the characters again in other stories.
Just like with any anthology, some stories will resonate with you more. Some of my favorites where the haunted house story, the wood worker one, and the one about the old lady friends that move in together. Something also special about all these stories is they all feature LGBTQ+ characters. Each romance is different and I loved the variety in types of creatures, personalities, and even ages.
June 15, 2026
Cute short stories
I picked this up for my summer bingo reading list for a book in the PNW. It’s been on my TBR since it came out. It was overall really cute and sweet. I love that. It was really inclusive. I overall enjoyed all the little stories. I definitely recommend it.
I picked this up for my summer bingo reading list for a book in the PNW. It’s been on my TBR since it came out. It was overall really cute and sweet. I love that. It was really inclusive. I overall enjoyed all the little stories. I definitely recommend it.
September 13, 2026
So cute, charming, and sexy. Every story is so different and fun and wonderfully impactful! A really beautiful collection of stories, love is real!!!!! Mothman IS my boyfriend and when you read this you’ll want him to be yours too.
May 7, 2026
Sooo many cute stories. I think my favorites were the Mothman one (of course) and the gay wolven one (of course).
May 22, 2026
very wholesome🥺
September 20, 2026
Weird little book. Not bad but YA (although not labeled that).
November 2, 2025
"Mothman Is My Boyfriend" was a different read for sure! Composed of vignettes that follow various townsfolk from Cryptid Creek, Coyle introduces us to a really dynamic set of characters (both human and cryptid). It is a fresh spin on cryptid tales that is so perfectly cozy. The vignette style made me feel less pressured to keep up with it, but I also loved how light it was enough to not put it down.
Aside from the second person introduction that borders on the self-insert style the title almost hints at, the world meshed well together throughout the chapters. It was fun getting to flip back and forth between chapter and map to memorize the town layout and each characters commutes from chapter to chapter. I feel the nature of the creek itself might've been better introduced throughout the chapters, though, instead of in the Prologue.
The illustrations were adorable, especially of the cover character, Mothman, in his barista getup, and I found myself wanting to see each namesake character instead of just the occasional one. On this note, I will also add that I found myself disappointed by the fact that it is not *just* Mothman, as that was my original expectation, and that we *began* with Mothman, once I came around to the idea of reading about various cryptids. I feel like the cover & title both really set you up for it being Mothman-centric (and he is mentioned the most out throughout the chapters as far as references go), but it's very once & done with him at the end of the day.
As for my review of the actual contents, I feel like each chapter felt so separate from the last that they need their own reviews. I think this comes from the fact that each chapter made me form a different opinion of the writing, if I'm being honest. Like, overall it was a cute, cozy read that was the perfect breather in-between longer books on my TBR, but some chapters were stronger than others. I do think its worth noting, though, that its hard to get attached to any one character in particular since each chapter is just bordering on not being fleshed out / long enough. Even when I would get attached to a character, I'd end up just missing them when/if they were mentioned later on. I'll list my reviews below in order of how much I liked the chapter:
BEWARE!!!! SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!
- The Moon and the Mothman: Okay, yeah, I got the ARC for this book because of Mothman on the cover & I thought it would be a silly read for when I was curled up with my little Mothman build-a-bear. Sue me. However!!! This chapter was my favorite for reasons other than it being the Mothman chapter. Like I said before, I was a bit sad we got this one right off the rip, which was a feeling which stuck with me as I kept reading. "The Moon and the Mothman" felt like it was the most fleshed out/strongest chapter of the collection to me, so I feel like it diminished the rest of the collection for me. I started this one near the end of my shift at the bookstore I work in (so, maybe Lucy is just my vibe rn) and ended up finishing it in my car before I drove home at the end of my shift because I *needed* to know what happened in the next one. The relationship felt smooth and unforced and I was drawn in by both Lucy & Mothman- not just one or the other- which was nice. Cryptid Creek is framed nicely in this chapter too! The town felt natural in this segment, and I didn't feel inclined to look at the map. I like looking at the map, so not a bad thing, but in some of the other stories I was lost and HAD to look at the map. I also love love LOVE the way Coyle approaches the whole Mothman-having-no-mouth situation. The projection of thoughts, memories, and feelings was so well executed.
- A New Leaf: The second chapter in the collection, and a great follow up to "The Moon and the Mothman." I couldn't put the book down and had to keep reading after the first chapter, and "A New Leaf" didn't disappoint. Friends-to-Lovers done right. This romance was soft, gradual, and natural. It hit that spot in my chest the way a warm chocolate cookie hits my sweet tooth. From pining across the way, to bonding over different forms of grief, and the sweetest conclusion... this chapter felt like peace. Def one of the strongest in the collection.
- Skate God: Love the inclusion of a younger group of kids and the platonic love as well! Yes, the crushes of the young are present, but its never something that becomes a solid at the end of the chapter like most other chapters which I appreciated. Sometimes you can be just friends with your crush and its better that way, especially at that age. Fresno & Sloane both felt very real to me. Sloane, in particular, struck a chord as very relatable. Their shows of vulnerabilities and fuck-ups were great and really made their dynamic more complex & solid. I do wish we got a bit more detail & moments of the others in the group though! More of them interacting outside the boundaries of the skate park would've been fun too.
- Night Shift: I almost put this one above "Skate God," but it fell a bit short in development. I wish we had more... moments. The couple was super cute, and I love the miscommunications and realizations, but I wish we got more scenes of Theo struggling with her methods to try and make contact with the cause of the abnormalities. We hear a lot about how she is failing, but I wanted to see it myself. Not a lot of the night shift for a chapter titled "Night Shift." Also, the one like... tangible moment of physical attraction we see from them is a bit forced, in my opinion. Awkward, yeah, I get that, but... this was a step more than that. Theo and Flatwoods are super cute though, was super happy to see them again in "Skin and Fur." Also, it was interesting to explore a cryptid I didn't know before!
- Dumb Little Crush: As much as I wasn't a fan of "The Moon and the Mothman" being the first chapter, having Lucy and Cleo be the protagonists on the receiving end of love at opposite ends of the book was soooo perfect. The whole book I was itching to see more Cleo, and this chapter scratched that itch for sure! It is also the perfect closer to the book, especially with those last two paragraphs. This one had me laughing out loud... Cleo is so me. Yes girl, lock in. I did feel the writing of their romance was more flat and unrealistic than the rest of the stories above. I think it is more so tied with "Night Shift" than below it, but the 'first, we did this, and then...." format & the all-in-one-day romance is the reason its not above it. That's definitely a personal thing, though... I love slowburn.
- Yearn For It: I'll get right into it. I'm not really a smut reader, which is something I was a bit worried about with reading this book because of the whole "Ten Tales of Cryptid Love and Lust" thing. So, obviously, you could see why I would've been a bit nervous about getting to this chapter by the title. However! It really defied all my expectations!! Another one that I would say is tied for fourth place, to be honest, if not a little short of fourth. They really DID yearn, and I loved that. The incorporation of the bet to not hookup was really interesting here, but I don't know if I really got that vibe from Romy. I did love the tension (both romantic and sexual) between Romy and Cactus Cat, and I love that we were left hanging here. It worked that we get sucked into their game... and I think its great they were reminded about literally being at work because I was freaking out about that myself! Critique wise, I wanted more.... emotion? dynamicness? vulnerability? from Cactus Cat, for one. I liked the few small showings of his feelings that we got, but overall it was very much just 'he's so chill' and he felt kind of flat because of it. The whole bet threw me off too since we got the Mason romance chapters before and I was hung up on it because like... Romy would've known this about her best friend even if he didn't tell her since she'd be seeing it around town as Mason & Swampy went on all these dates, no?? Plus, they were working together all this time but we get thrown into the beginning as if they've just met? Logistically, I had a few gripes. Maybe I'm picky. I also definitely needed to see CC in this style, to be honest.
- Ripple: The grief was so tangible in this one. It was a mournful piece that didn't really fit the vibe of the rest of the collection, but in a way that I liked! I wish we got more Nessie from the Nessie chapter, and I wish it was just a focus on Nessie being the last of her kind from this unique lens without the elements of lust and love that it did incorporate. I didn't care much to learn about Bridget and Beth, if I'm being honest. I appreciated Bridget as a vehicle to learn about Nessie, but found myself racing through the solo parts and reflections. As for the elements of love and lust, the desire for Nessie felt... weird and didn't really match the tone I wanted from this chapter. I think this should've been a piece on love lost and grieving... regardless of the shape it takes, rather than a cryptid lust/love story, especially since its mentioned a few times with no pursual (which I was glad about). This one was also one that gave me a problem location wise. Where as in "The Moon and the Mothman," I felt a sense of trust in the author while navigating the town, I did not have the same here. In fact, I had a vision in mind based on the text and was SOOO off base when I actually checked the map. Loved Nessie though.
- Skin and Fur: I thought this one was really fun! To be honest, I'm glad it addressed some of the whole cryptid/human romance stuff, because I had so many questions throughout and, as much as I can just go with as a fantasy reader, there were a few things I just was curious about and wanted to know. Did I need to know, no, but I wanted to. That is especially true considering the prologue and the fact that we barely ever address the type of being the MC of the chapter is in favor of the type the love interest is. I do like the humanness (lol) of Griffin... his flaws that he both acknowledges and realizes later on and his passive aggressive attitude and the way he leans into the gossip about his ex rather than acts too good for it. I think them hashing out their issues and just making complaints about the way they were at the end was great, but the ending felt unearned. I get tension and all that, but I wanted us to build a bit more to getting back together instead of it being instant the way its hinted at. I cared for the chapter, but was more drawn to the other characters instead. Theo and Flatwoods being here was the highlight of the chapter to me, too, which isn't the best sign. Soo,,, I guess more so an appreciation of the context it provided? I wanted more tension and almost craved a not happy ending too.
- Practice Makes Perfect: A cute spin on the fake dating trope!! I don't know that I have enough complaints to place it this low, but I also don't have enough praise to really place it higher either. Let me put it this way... this chapter made me take my first break when reading, and I didn't pick it up for a day or two after. Also important to note that I stopped in the middle of the chapter. I just didn't really care too much for either character, and the story felt a bit too predicatable, especially considering how heavy the flirting was on fake date one and the fact that they never DID set up rules. Maybe the fake dating rules would have made this chapter a bit more... worth it to me! I was looking forward to seeing them. Maybe a personal thing, too, but Mason felt hard to place for me. I could never really "see" him despite all the descriptions we got about him, if that makes any sense.
- Dream Girl: This one is at the bottom simply because I did not like it. Sas did not feel like a real character to me at all. There would be random details thrown out about him that just didn't really feel like they matched the way the character was described and I just could not place him at all. Was he a player? No? Was he charismatic and charming to the alt girls or did he like to stay in and hone his craft and not talk to people? Was he really skilled or did he miss a pivotal step in the carpentry process that would matter regardless of if it was furniture or 'stage?' June was cute, but felt a bit flat herself. Part of me wishes it was from her POV, part of me wishes Sas was just. different. Can you tell I did not like Sas.... sorry! The chapter itself also felt weak to me. Similar to how "Night Shift" had a summary instead of scene problem, but on a bigger scale that made me struggle to find redeeming qualities with it. I also wish we had a more interesting turn with their relationship. It felt very... straight line and predicatable.
OK.... whew... longest review I've ever done. Overall, well-written, cozy, & compelling. You'll like some chapters more than others and that makes this book feel like an interesting slice of life! 3.25 stars...? Doesn't feel like quite 3.5, so we'll say that.
Aside from the second person introduction that borders on the self-insert style the title almost hints at, the world meshed well together throughout the chapters. It was fun getting to flip back and forth between chapter and map to memorize the town layout and each characters commutes from chapter to chapter. I feel the nature of the creek itself might've been better introduced throughout the chapters, though, instead of in the Prologue.
The illustrations were adorable, especially of the cover character, Mothman, in his barista getup, and I found myself wanting to see each namesake character instead of just the occasional one. On this note, I will also add that I found myself disappointed by the fact that it is not *just* Mothman, as that was my original expectation, and that we *began* with Mothman, once I came around to the idea of reading about various cryptids. I feel like the cover & title both really set you up for it being Mothman-centric (and he is mentioned the most out throughout the chapters as far as references go), but it's very once & done with him at the end of the day.
As for my review of the actual contents, I feel like each chapter felt so separate from the last that they need their own reviews. I think this comes from the fact that each chapter made me form a different opinion of the writing, if I'm being honest. Like, overall it was a cute, cozy read that was the perfect breather in-between longer books on my TBR, but some chapters were stronger than others. I do think its worth noting, though, that its hard to get attached to any one character in particular since each chapter is just bordering on not being fleshed out / long enough. Even when I would get attached to a character, I'd end up just missing them when/if they were mentioned later on. I'll list my reviews below in order of how much I liked the chapter:
BEWARE!!!! SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!
- The Moon and the Mothman: Okay, yeah, I got the ARC for this book because of Mothman on the cover & I thought it would be a silly read for when I was curled up with my little Mothman build-a-bear. Sue me. However!!! This chapter was my favorite for reasons other than it being the Mothman chapter. Like I said before, I was a bit sad we got this one right off the rip, which was a feeling which stuck with me as I kept reading. "The Moon and the Mothman" felt like it was the most fleshed out/strongest chapter of the collection to me, so I feel like it diminished the rest of the collection for me. I started this one near the end of my shift at the bookstore I work in (so, maybe Lucy is just my vibe rn) and ended up finishing it in my car before I drove home at the end of my shift because I *needed* to know what happened in the next one. The relationship felt smooth and unforced and I was drawn in by both Lucy & Mothman- not just one or the other- which was nice. Cryptid Creek is framed nicely in this chapter too! The town felt natural in this segment, and I didn't feel inclined to look at the map. I like looking at the map, so not a bad thing, but in some of the other stories I was lost and HAD to look at the map. I also love love LOVE the way Coyle approaches the whole Mothman-having-no-mouth situation. The projection of thoughts, memories, and feelings was so well executed.
- A New Leaf: The second chapter in the collection, and a great follow up to "The Moon and the Mothman." I couldn't put the book down and had to keep reading after the first chapter, and "A New Leaf" didn't disappoint. Friends-to-Lovers done right. This romance was soft, gradual, and natural. It hit that spot in my chest the way a warm chocolate cookie hits my sweet tooth. From pining across the way, to bonding over different forms of grief, and the sweetest conclusion... this chapter felt like peace. Def one of the strongest in the collection.
- Skate God: Love the inclusion of a younger group of kids and the platonic love as well! Yes, the crushes of the young are present, but its never something that becomes a solid at the end of the chapter like most other chapters which I appreciated. Sometimes you can be just friends with your crush and its better that way, especially at that age. Fresno & Sloane both felt very real to me. Sloane, in particular, struck a chord as very relatable. Their shows of vulnerabilities and fuck-ups were great and really made their dynamic more complex & solid. I do wish we got a bit more detail & moments of the others in the group though! More of them interacting outside the boundaries of the skate park would've been fun too.
- Night Shift: I almost put this one above "Skate God," but it fell a bit short in development. I wish we had more... moments. The couple was super cute, and I love the miscommunications and realizations, but I wish we got more scenes of Theo struggling with her methods to try and make contact with the cause of the abnormalities. We hear a lot about how she is failing, but I wanted to see it myself. Not a lot of the night shift for a chapter titled "Night Shift." Also, the one like... tangible moment of physical attraction we see from them is a bit forced, in my opinion. Awkward, yeah, I get that, but... this was a step more than that. Theo and Flatwoods are super cute though, was super happy to see them again in "Skin and Fur." Also, it was interesting to explore a cryptid I didn't know before!
- Dumb Little Crush: As much as I wasn't a fan of "The Moon and the Mothman" being the first chapter, having Lucy and Cleo be the protagonists on the receiving end of love at opposite ends of the book was soooo perfect. The whole book I was itching to see more Cleo, and this chapter scratched that itch for sure! It is also the perfect closer to the book, especially with those last two paragraphs. This one had me laughing out loud... Cleo is so me. Yes girl, lock in. I did feel the writing of their romance was more flat and unrealistic than the rest of the stories above. I think it is more so tied with "Night Shift" than below it, but the 'first, we did this, and then...." format & the all-in-one-day romance is the reason its not above it. That's definitely a personal thing, though... I love slowburn.
- Yearn For It: I'll get right into it. I'm not really a smut reader, which is something I was a bit worried about with reading this book because of the whole "Ten Tales of Cryptid Love and Lust" thing. So, obviously, you could see why I would've been a bit nervous about getting to this chapter by the title. However! It really defied all my expectations!! Another one that I would say is tied for fourth place, to be honest, if not a little short of fourth. They really DID yearn, and I loved that. The incorporation of the bet to not hookup was really interesting here, but I don't know if I really got that vibe from Romy. I did love the tension (both romantic and sexual) between Romy and Cactus Cat, and I love that we were left hanging here. It worked that we get sucked into their game... and I think its great they were reminded about literally being at work because I was freaking out about that myself! Critique wise, I wanted more.... emotion? dynamicness? vulnerability? from Cactus Cat, for one. I liked the few small showings of his feelings that we got, but overall it was very much just 'he's so chill' and he felt kind of flat because of it. The whole bet threw me off too since we got the Mason romance chapters before and I was hung up on it because like... Romy would've known this about her best friend even if he didn't tell her since she'd be seeing it around town as Mason & Swampy went on all these dates, no?? Plus, they were working together all this time but we get thrown into the beginning as if they've just met? Logistically, I had a few gripes. Maybe I'm picky. I also definitely needed to see CC in this style, to be honest.
- Ripple: The grief was so tangible in this one. It was a mournful piece that didn't really fit the vibe of the rest of the collection, but in a way that I liked! I wish we got more Nessie from the Nessie chapter, and I wish it was just a focus on Nessie being the last of her kind from this unique lens without the elements of lust and love that it did incorporate. I didn't care much to learn about Bridget and Beth, if I'm being honest. I appreciated Bridget as a vehicle to learn about Nessie, but found myself racing through the solo parts and reflections. As for the elements of love and lust, the desire for Nessie felt... weird and didn't really match the tone I wanted from this chapter. I think this should've been a piece on love lost and grieving... regardless of the shape it takes, rather than a cryptid lust/love story, especially since its mentioned a few times with no pursual (which I was glad about). This one was also one that gave me a problem location wise. Where as in "The Moon and the Mothman," I felt a sense of trust in the author while navigating the town, I did not have the same here. In fact, I had a vision in mind based on the text and was SOOO off base when I actually checked the map. Loved Nessie though.
- Skin and Fur: I thought this one was really fun! To be honest, I'm glad it addressed some of the whole cryptid/human romance stuff, because I had so many questions throughout and, as much as I can just go with as a fantasy reader, there were a few things I just was curious about and wanted to know. Did I need to know, no, but I wanted to. That is especially true considering the prologue and the fact that we barely ever address the type of being the MC of the chapter is in favor of the type the love interest is. I do like the humanness (lol) of Griffin... his flaws that he both acknowledges and realizes later on and his passive aggressive attitude and the way he leans into the gossip about his ex rather than acts too good for it. I think them hashing out their issues and just making complaints about the way they were at the end was great, but the ending felt unearned. I get tension and all that, but I wanted us to build a bit more to getting back together instead of it being instant the way its hinted at. I cared for the chapter, but was more drawn to the other characters instead. Theo and Flatwoods being here was the highlight of the chapter to me, too, which isn't the best sign. Soo,,, I guess more so an appreciation of the context it provided? I wanted more tension and almost craved a not happy ending too.
- Practice Makes Perfect: A cute spin on the fake dating trope!! I don't know that I have enough complaints to place it this low, but I also don't have enough praise to really place it higher either. Let me put it this way... this chapter made me take my first break when reading, and I didn't pick it up for a day or two after. Also important to note that I stopped in the middle of the chapter. I just didn't really care too much for either character, and the story felt a bit too predicatable, especially considering how heavy the flirting was on fake date one and the fact that they never DID set up rules. Maybe the fake dating rules would have made this chapter a bit more... worth it to me! I was looking forward to seeing them. Maybe a personal thing, too, but Mason felt hard to place for me. I could never really "see" him despite all the descriptions we got about him, if that makes any sense.
- Dream Girl: This one is at the bottom simply because I did not like it. Sas did not feel like a real character to me at all. There would be random details thrown out about him that just didn't really feel like they matched the way the character was described and I just could not place him at all. Was he a player? No? Was he charismatic and charming to the alt girls or did he like to stay in and hone his craft and not talk to people? Was he really skilled or did he miss a pivotal step in the carpentry process that would matter regardless of if it was furniture or 'stage?' June was cute, but felt a bit flat herself. Part of me wishes it was from her POV, part of me wishes Sas was just. different. Can you tell I did not like Sas.... sorry! The chapter itself also felt weak to me. Similar to how "Night Shift" had a summary instead of scene problem, but on a bigger scale that made me struggle to find redeeming qualities with it. I also wish we had a more interesting turn with their relationship. It felt very... straight line and predicatable.
OK.... whew... longest review I've ever done. Overall, well-written, cozy, & compelling. You'll like some chapters more than others and that makes this book feel like an interesting slice of life! 3.25 stars...? Doesn't feel like quite 3.5, so we'll say that.
June 11, 2026
Honestly I wasn’t expecting much with this one but was pleasantly surprised! Heartwarming short stories in a cute cryptid town. The Loveland frog story had me in a chokehold.
September 3, 2026
Sweet and cute!
October 18, 2025
This was not at all what I was expecting, but it was an adorable surprise, though a bit too brief for me to feel fully engaged.
Mothman Is My Boyfriend is not like other monster romances. It's not incredibly steamy. It's not very comedic. It's not full of adventure. It is mostly understated, cozy, and cute. Each story captures a vignette of a pairing, from a bookseller and barista to a grieving spouse and the last nessie. Some are sweet, some are sad, some are empowering... It's a good mix of content and the representation is great, plus the themes are emotive.
The beginning being in second person almost had me DNFing right at the start. It stops this very quickly, but it was a baffling introduction to the collection.
I did find it very difficult to connect with the characters as each story is so short. I found myself wishing for a novella that expanded the relationship, world, and atmosphere more as this felt like a teaser. I enjoyed each vignette, and most do feel complete in their telling, but they're all so short it was hard to stay engaged as you're constantly shifting POV within the same town.
This wasn't quite for me, but it is a good collection of stories that will leave you feeling uplifted and thoughtful if you're wanting a quick and easy read.
Mothman Is My Boyfriend is not like other monster romances. It's not incredibly steamy. It's not very comedic. It's not full of adventure. It is mostly understated, cozy, and cute. Each story captures a vignette of a pairing, from a bookseller and barista to a grieving spouse and the last nessie. Some are sweet, some are sad, some are empowering... It's a good mix of content and the representation is great, plus the themes are emotive.
The beginning being in second person almost had me DNFing right at the start. It stops this very quickly, but it was a baffling introduction to the collection.
I did find it very difficult to connect with the characters as each story is so short. I found myself wishing for a novella that expanded the relationship, world, and atmosphere more as this felt like a teaser. I enjoyed each vignette, and most do feel complete in their telling, but they're all so short it was hard to stay engaged as you're constantly shifting POV within the same town.
This wasn't quite for me, but it is a good collection of stories that will leave you feeling uplifted and thoughtful if you're wanting a quick and easy read.
August 31, 2026
2.5 stars Thought I would get something a little freakier in here but then Nessie helps a grieving widow process their emotions and the Michigan Dogman is going through a divorce so…. Bit different than I expected but very cozy meet cutes!
November 15, 2025
—• 4.0 •—
Arc Review: very cute and fun read! I don’t usually read short story compilations like this but i very much enjoyed it. These shorts include so many flavours of queerness that don’t usually get touched upon which is wonderful.
includes:
- nonbinary mcs
- t4t relationships
-bi4bi relationships
- he/him lesbian
-sapphic relationships
-achillean relationships
-sex positivity without being nsfw
Arc Review: very cute and fun read! I don’t usually read short story compilations like this but i very much enjoyed it. These shorts include so many flavours of queerness that don’t usually get touched upon which is wonderful.
includes:
- nonbinary mcs
- t4t relationships
-bi4bi relationships
- he/him lesbian
-sapphic relationships
-achillean relationships
-sex positivity without being nsfw
October 20, 2025
This book is a lot of fun. It is unique, creative and heartwarming. I really appreciated the inclusivity/diversity in these stories. I would love to see the author expand on these characters and concepts! Each story left me wanting more, but in a good way. My favorite one of the collection was Ripple.
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February 9, 2026Shut up, this was so freaking cute.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the e-ARC!
The title for this book immediately had me request it from NetGalley. I also saw that is was a short story collection and I was like SIGN ME UP.
I like the way the stories take place in the same little town and the characters interact within stories. It feels like you are a resident of this little town with them and they are all your friends. The art that is sprinkled in is also so fun and unique. I would have loved to see more of it.
Some stories were stronger than others but that’s how it always is in a short story collection. The stronger stories were put in the beginning so it was a very strong start. The stories that I loved, I really loved and the ones I didn’t love, I only had a few issues with. Overall, this is a solid collection. The author does a fantastic job at writing lovable and memorable characters. If you enjoy getting to know a bunch of quirky and fun characters that live in this cozy little town you’ll enjoy it a lot. I want to live there!
My Favorites: The Moon and the Mothman, A New Leaf and Practice Makes Perfect
Here are a couple of individual reviews so you can get an idea of what to expect:
A New Leaf 4.5/5
Best friends to lovers, slow burn
Loveland Frog and Lillian
They move in together after living next door to each other for decades. Lilian lost her husband and Loveland divorced hers. They come together to fix up the garden that Lilian let go after her husbands passing. A story of new beginnings and helping each other heal from old wounds. Very sweet and comforting. The garden is really symbolic of their new beginnings. I felt so much love and warmth coming from this story, similar to a good bowl of soup when you aren’t feeling well.
Practice Makes Perfect – 4/5
Fake dating, meet-cute
Mason and Swampy
Mason and Swampy meet in the bookstore owned by a character from a previous work. Their meeting is nothing less than adorable and quirky. Mason has a chill aura that immediately interests the anxiety-ridden Swampy. They decide to “fake” date. This is a very cute twist on the fake dating trope and the love teacher/student trope. From the first couple of words of this story, you can just tell the characters are a perfect match with how they interact and their immediate chemistry. The way Swampy talks about Mason gives me butterflies. They are so adorable. I also like how they can relate with each other in regard to coming out and are able to talk about their issues with someone who truly gets it.
The title for this book immediately had me request it from NetGalley. I also saw that is was a short story collection and I was like SIGN ME UP.
I like the way the stories take place in the same little town and the characters interact within stories. It feels like you are a resident of this little town with them and they are all your friends. The art that is sprinkled in is also so fun and unique. I would have loved to see more of it.
Some stories were stronger than others but that’s how it always is in a short story collection. The stronger stories were put in the beginning so it was a very strong start. The stories that I loved, I really loved and the ones I didn’t love, I only had a few issues with. Overall, this is a solid collection. The author does a fantastic job at writing lovable and memorable characters. If you enjoy getting to know a bunch of quirky and fun characters that live in this cozy little town you’ll enjoy it a lot. I want to live there!
My Favorites: The Moon and the Mothman, A New Leaf and Practice Makes Perfect
Here are a couple of individual reviews so you can get an idea of what to expect:
A New Leaf 4.5/5
Best friends to lovers, slow burn
Loveland Frog and Lillian
They move in together after living next door to each other for decades. Lilian lost her husband and Loveland divorced hers. They come together to fix up the garden that Lilian let go after her husbands passing. A story of new beginnings and helping each other heal from old wounds. Very sweet and comforting. The garden is really symbolic of their new beginnings. I felt so much love and warmth coming from this story, similar to a good bowl of soup when you aren’t feeling well.
Practice Makes Perfect – 4/5
Fake dating, meet-cute
Mason and Swampy
Mason and Swampy meet in the bookstore owned by a character from a previous work. Their meeting is nothing less than adorable and quirky. Mason has a chill aura that immediately interests the anxiety-ridden Swampy. They decide to “fake” date. This is a very cute twist on the fake dating trope and the love teacher/student trope. From the first couple of words of this story, you can just tell the characters are a perfect match with how they interact and their immediate chemistry. The way Swampy talks about Mason gives me butterflies. They are so adorable. I also like how they can relate with each other in regard to coming out and are able to talk about their issues with someone who truly gets it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is an exceptional anthology of cozy cryptid romances. Each story is unique, from the variety of cryptid to the LGBTQIA+ elements to the plot itself. Most of the stories had main characters who fall under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella, but it never feels heavy-handed. We have multiple non-binary MCs, late-in-life lesbians, trans characters, gay couples, a masc-presenting lesbian who uses he/him pronouns, and more. Truly a wonderland of representation. Additionally, there are multiple characters with disabilities, but they never prevent them from being the MC/main love interest.
Brief highlights/summaries of each story.
The Moon & the Mothman is the love story between our non-binary MC and the non-verbal Mothman. It's a slow burn, of sorts, and progresses adorably from crushes to dating.
A New Leaf is a friends-to-lovers story of late-in-life lesbian empty-nesters. One of our FMCs is a frog person.
Practice Makes Perfect is a trans-for-trans story between a swamp monster and a charismatic human, that is strangely relatable.
Ripple is a sweet prelude to a budding friendship that could develop into something more down the line. Another trans MC and the Loch Ness monster.
Night Shift is a sapphic romance between our human FMC and an alien/robot woman who mercilessly teases her.
Yearn for It was a top pick due to that title. I love a sweet yearning story. This is the ostensibly hetero story between our human FMC and a cactus man.
Skate God is a coming-of-age story about friendship that might lead to something more. We have another human FMC and her new friend (love interest?) is a nightcrawler, a creature that is described as armless. That doesn't stop him from being an excellent skateboarder.
Skin & Fur is a second-chance story between our human MMC and a wolf-man. It leaves the audience with questions... did they make up? Could they not look past their differences? Are they better off not married?
Dream Girl was easily my favorite story. Our Sasquatch butch lesbian with he/him pronouns falls for a delightful disco-ball of a FMC. We get yearning, flirting, awkward moments, and sweet endings.
Dumb Little Crush is another sapphic love story, this time between our human FMC and the Jersey Devil. The flirting gives me life.
Thanks to NetGalley for the early access! This is one of my new favorite books and I'll be recommending it for NYPL's top 50 romance releases of 2026.
Brief highlights/summaries of each story.
The Moon & the Mothman is the love story between our non-binary MC and the non-verbal Mothman. It's a slow burn, of sorts, and progresses adorably from crushes to dating.
A New Leaf is a friends-to-lovers story of late-in-life lesbian empty-nesters. One of our FMCs is a frog person.
Practice Makes Perfect is a trans-for-trans story between a swamp monster and a charismatic human, that is strangely relatable.
Ripple is a sweet prelude to a budding friendship that could develop into something more down the line. Another trans MC and the Loch Ness monster.
Night Shift is a sapphic romance between our human FMC and an alien/robot woman who mercilessly teases her.
Yearn for It was a top pick due to that title. I love a sweet yearning story. This is the ostensibly hetero story between our human FMC and a cactus man.
Skate God is a coming-of-age story about friendship that might lead to something more. We have another human FMC and her new friend (love interest?) is a nightcrawler, a creature that is described as armless. That doesn't stop him from being an excellent skateboarder.
Skin & Fur is a second-chance story between our human MMC and a wolf-man. It leaves the audience with questions... did they make up? Could they not look past their differences? Are they better off not married?
Dream Girl was easily my favorite story. Our Sasquatch butch lesbian with he/him pronouns falls for a delightful disco-ball of a FMC. We get yearning, flirting, awkward moments, and sweet endings.
Dumb Little Crush is another sapphic love story, this time between our human FMC and the Jersey Devil. The flirting gives me life.
Thanks to NetGalley for the early access! This is one of my new favorite books and I'll be recommending it for NYPL's top 50 romance releases of 2026.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGalley, when I saw this book I had to read it! I am a huge fan of Mothman and Cryptids in general and this just sounded like such a fun and quirky read.
Cryptid Creek is a small town that’s hidden from the outside world, a refuge for outcasts and people who want a new start. This extremely fun, cosy and queer normative town is brilliant and absolutely full of amazing, weird and wonderful creatures that we get to meet and read about. I really enjoyed how diverse the Cryptids and others were, we have swamp monsters, yetis, Bigfoot, night crawlers, aliens and even the jersey devil got a story!
Each story introduces characters to us and takes us on a little adventure, mostly a romantic one but others were just about friendship, belonging and acceptance. Honestly for a book about horny monsters this was very wholesome. Some stories I preferred to others, I think the only thing that detracts from the experience is that because its an anthology we only get a short amount of time and as the characters are so livid and fun I just wanted more!! I found it harder to get invested but I had a really fun time so that’s what matters. I really loved the addition of a map it really helped to tie all of the stories together and remember details as all the short stories intertwined. The illustrations too are so great! It does help to visualise how sexy Mothman is.
I really recommend this to anyone who likes books that are weird, funny, queer and romantic. Even though it’s mostly romance I still think horror fans will love this because it features so many familiar faces. Also this book is very queer which made it just so so much better, of course Cryptids are LGBTQIA+ it wouldn’t make sense any other way. I feel like this would be the coolest tv show and I would BINGE it! I would also really be interested in the author creating longer works set in this town. Overall this is a super fun read and I really liked it.
Cryptid Creek is a small town that’s hidden from the outside world, a refuge for outcasts and people who want a new start. This extremely fun, cosy and queer normative town is brilliant and absolutely full of amazing, weird and wonderful creatures that we get to meet and read about. I really enjoyed how diverse the Cryptids and others were, we have swamp monsters, yetis, Bigfoot, night crawlers, aliens and even the jersey devil got a story!
Each story introduces characters to us and takes us on a little adventure, mostly a romantic one but others were just about friendship, belonging and acceptance. Honestly for a book about horny monsters this was very wholesome. Some stories I preferred to others, I think the only thing that detracts from the experience is that because its an anthology we only get a short amount of time and as the characters are so livid and fun I just wanted more!! I found it harder to get invested but I had a really fun time so that’s what matters. I really loved the addition of a map it really helped to tie all of the stories together and remember details as all the short stories intertwined. The illustrations too are so great! It does help to visualise how sexy Mothman is.
I really recommend this to anyone who likes books that are weird, funny, queer and romantic. Even though it’s mostly romance I still think horror fans will love this because it features so many familiar faces. Also this book is very queer which made it just so so much better, of course Cryptids are LGBTQIA+ it wouldn’t make sense any other way. I feel like this would be the coolest tv show and I would BINGE it! I would also really be interested in the author creating longer works set in this town. Overall this is a super fun read and I really liked it.
August 29, 2026
Rating: ⭐️⭐️☆☆☆ (2/5)
Spice: 🌶 / 5 (doesn't meet expectations; character-driven focus)
The full book title, Mothman is my Boyfriend: Tales of Cryptid Love and Lust, feels quite deceitful - the chosen word "love" does fit, yet these tales are certainly not spicy enough to warrant the additional "and Lust" marketing.
The phrasing throughout is often vague and simplified, with the extreme shortness of each story behaving as a detriment overall. This is worsened by ties with forced representation, which can be equally harmful to the queer community and doesn't add meaningful impact to any of these stories.
The illustrations included were an appreciated touch yet lacking consistency, as it would have been nice to see more creatures from the town in visual form. All my favorite characters (such as Jersey Devil) were ommitted from these illustrations.
PROS:
• Quick, low-commitment read
• Includes interior illustrations
CONS:
• Misleading title and marketing regarding spice level
• Vague and simplified phrasing throughout
• Rushed story length prevents meaningful character depth
• Inconsistent artwork that leaves out key cryptids
Cute yet overall forgettable, with concepts reeking of fanfiction-esque energy - not the writings of an official published text. Mothman is my Boyfriend is an easily skippable yet quick read meant only for hard-core cozy cryptid fans. 2 out of 5 stars.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this approved DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Spice: 🌶 / 5 (doesn't meet expectations; character-driven focus)
"Desire moves through me like a living thing, unspooling in my chest and slithering below my stomach. It's hot and viscous and sweet. It leaves a trail of wet." (p. 112)
The full book title, Mothman is my Boyfriend: Tales of Cryptid Love and Lust, feels quite deceitful - the chosen word "love" does fit, yet these tales are certainly not spicy enough to warrant the additional "and Lust" marketing.
The phrasing throughout is often vague and simplified, with the extreme shortness of each story behaving as a detriment overall. This is worsened by ties with forced representation, which can be equally harmful to the queer community and doesn't add meaningful impact to any of these stories.
The illustrations included were an appreciated touch yet lacking consistency, as it would have been nice to see more creatures from the town in visual form. All my favorite characters (such as Jersey Devil) were ommitted from these illustrations.
"He could knock every tea they ever drank off of every table they ever sat at if it meant they got to be near him." (p. 13)
PROS:
• Quick, low-commitment read
• Includes interior illustrations
CONS:
• Misleading title and marketing regarding spice level
• Vague and simplified phrasing throughout
• Rushed story length prevents meaningful character depth
• Inconsistent artwork that leaves out key cryptids
Cute yet overall forgettable, with concepts reeking of fanfiction-esque energy - not the writings of an official published text. Mothman is my Boyfriend is an easily skippable yet quick read meant only for hard-core cozy cryptid fans. 2 out of 5 stars.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this approved DRC in exchange for an honest review.
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