What do you think?
The Beetle's Hucow Pet
After two decades as an intergalactic refugee, Celeste has given up on finding a place where she belongs; she just wants a place to stay.
That place could be Zairion Prime, where mysterious half-man, half-bug Arthropoids turn women into hucow pets. To Celeste, as long as it’s predictable, it doesn’t need to be pleasant.
Razul isn’t in the market for a pet; he prefers the solitude of tending to his desert ranch of picky six-legged reptiles. But when he sees shy, hopeful Celeste, he can’t walk away.
With their translators off, there are no words to hide behind. They’re at the mercy of the most unpredictable force in the
Love.
THE BEETLE’S HUCOW PET is a human (F) x beetle alien (M) romance (20k words, 130 pages) that features hucow transformation, pet play, language barrier, and ASD/ARFID representation. Soul-soothingly sweet yet relentlessly hot, it’s sure to make you say moo.
That place could be Zairion Prime, where mysterious half-man, half-bug Arthropoids turn women into hucow pets. To Celeste, as long as it’s predictable, it doesn’t need to be pleasant.
Razul isn’t in the market for a pet; he prefers the solitude of tending to his desert ranch of picky six-legged reptiles. But when he sees shy, hopeful Celeste, he can’t walk away.
With their translators off, there are no words to hide behind. They’re at the mercy of the most unpredictable force in the
Love.
THE BEETLE’S HUCOW PET is a human (F) x beetle alien (M) romance (20k words, 130 pages) that features hucow transformation, pet play, language barrier, and ASD/ARFID representation. Soul-soothingly sweet yet relentlessly hot, it’s sure to make you say moo.
130 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 19, 2026
About the author
Bethany Baker
17 books33 followersBethany Baker (she/they) writes erotic romance that blends the familiar and the fantastical, the erotic and the emotional, the silly and the sexy—into one downright tasty concoction.
When she's not baking cookies or writing smut, she enjoys collecting weird animal facts and going for walks with her partner. She has two cats, who go by "Disaster Bean" and "Chaos Baby" more often than their actual names.
Content advisories for all works are available on her website.
When she's not baking cookies or writing smut, she enjoys collecting weird animal facts and going for walks with her partner. She has two cats, who go by "Disaster Bean" and "Chaos Baby" more often than their actual names.
Content advisories for all works are available on her website.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 24, 2026
At this point, I don’t really care if that happiness comes from a pill, as some people claim. I don’t even need to be happy. I just need a place where I can stay, and I never have to leave again.
I came for the lactation kink/hucow aspects but it seems the series is branching more into pet play as the main kink/theme of the stories.
There is an aspect of age regression without it being in the "standard" aspects, which I am not a fan of. Celeste is carried in a sling, she gets to play with colourful rocks, she gets bottle fed, she's constantly in a basket. She coos or wails and throws tantrums. There is the aspect of Daddy/little girl play but without those express titles being used.
If you are into those kinds of kinks, I'm sure you'll love this story. I'm personally not a fan so for certain scenes I was either cringing or eye rolling.
The part that I find funny, eye rolling, what the hell for me is when Celeste is in the pet play aspect...but you're also playing with another animal that is a pet in the house. Like you're in your bell, but you're also petting what is for all intents and purposes your dog in this world.
The other aspect that I wasn't a fan of, and I had mentioned it in book 1, was the miscommunication trope. In this story it is more of language barrier/actively turning off your translator. Celeste just goes with it. My problem is they never discuss anything. Razul just does, she just goes with it. You have to really buy that they want the best for each other and they just intuitively fall into step with each other, which I honestly do not buy. Magical contract notwithstanding.
Then we have Andromeda and Celeste playing together, no prior discussion needed. The translators are turned off for most of the story but this person can parse what the other means by their actions/non-understood words, they cannot communicate verbally but one person knows intrinsically what the other is saying? Like it's a high trust scenario with people she's never met, has only lived with at most a few months, it's very cult adjacent vibes, only these ones are the "good ones".
One aspect that is again not explained is
All in all though, I'll give points for the caretaking aspect and that on paper, Celeste and Razul both got their base needs for being with each other fulfilled and the story line all through is well written.
I most likely won't be going forward with this series.
May 20, 2026
She crossed the stars for a cage soft enough to call home.
After twenty years of being moved from place to place, Celeste has learned not to ask for much. She’s shy, anxious, and worn thin by a system that keeps tearing away every fragile routine she builds. When she finds a dangerous path to Zairion Prime, she isn’t chasing romance. She’s chasing permanence.
Razul doesn’t want a pet. He likes the silence of his desert ranch, his six-legged herd, and a life where nothing delicate depends on him. Then Celeste looks at him with all that hope she’s trying not to show, and his restraint starts to fracture. He wants responsibility, protection, and the right to learn every small thing that keeps her safe.
Their bond grows through routine, touch, hunger, trust, and the dangerous relief of being understood without explaining everything first. Celeste’s neediness becomes something Razul treasures, while his possessive care gives her a structure strong enough to rest inside. What begins as a trial starts to feel anything but temporary.
Celeste believes permanence is something she has to earn by being easier to keep, but Razul’s care lets her soften without disappearing. Razul avoids emotional disruption, yet Celeste awakens a protective devotion that turns restraint into intimate caretaking. Together, they build a bond where surrender, ownership, routine, and desire become safety and chosen home.
A dark, kink-forward, alien-human erotic romance featuring hucow transformation, pet play, language barrier intimacy, caretaking dominance, size difference, and soft ownership. It’s about control, surrender, sensory need, trust, autonomy, vulnerability, and a bond where being claimed becomes less about losing freedom than finding a place safe enough to rest.
The Elevator Pitch: After twenty years of being moved through the stars like a problem no one can solve, Celeste risks everything for a forbidden kind of permanence on an alien world. Razul is a solitary beetle-like rancher who has no room in his life for a fragile human pet, until her quiet hope awakens every possessive, protective instinct he’s tried to keep buried. Without easy words between them, their bond forms through care, hunger, surrender, and the dangerous comfort of finally being wanted.
Heat Level: 🖤🔥 Erotica / Kink-Forward
After twenty years of being moved from place to place, Celeste has learned not to ask for much. She’s shy, anxious, and worn thin by a system that keeps tearing away every fragile routine she builds. When she finds a dangerous path to Zairion Prime, she isn’t chasing romance. She’s chasing permanence.
Razul doesn’t want a pet. He likes the silence of his desert ranch, his six-legged herd, and a life where nothing delicate depends on him. Then Celeste looks at him with all that hope she’s trying not to show, and his restraint starts to fracture. He wants responsibility, protection, and the right to learn every small thing that keeps her safe.
Their bond grows through routine, touch, hunger, trust, and the dangerous relief of being understood without explaining everything first. Celeste’s neediness becomes something Razul treasures, while his possessive care gives her a structure strong enough to rest inside. What begins as a trial starts to feel anything but temporary.
Celeste believes permanence is something she has to earn by being easier to keep, but Razul’s care lets her soften without disappearing. Razul avoids emotional disruption, yet Celeste awakens a protective devotion that turns restraint into intimate caretaking. Together, they build a bond where surrender, ownership, routine, and desire become safety and chosen home.
A dark, kink-forward, alien-human erotic romance featuring hucow transformation, pet play, language barrier intimacy, caretaking dominance, size difference, and soft ownership. It’s about control, surrender, sensory need, trust, autonomy, vulnerability, and a bond where being claimed becomes less about losing freedom than finding a place safe enough to rest.
The Elevator Pitch: After twenty years of being moved through the stars like a problem no one can solve, Celeste risks everything for a forbidden kind of permanence on an alien world. Razul is a solitary beetle-like rancher who has no room in his life for a fragile human pet, until her quiet hope awakens every possessive, protective instinct he’s tried to keep buried. Without easy words between them, their bond forms through care, hunger, surrender, and the dangerous comfort of finally being wanted.
Heat Level: 🖤🔥 Erotica / Kink-Forward
May 29, 2026
A wild, unapologetically spicy sci‑fi romp with creature romance energy and a surprisingly sweet emotional core. It leans fully into its kink‑heavy worldbuilding while still delivering character moments that land. Perfect for readers who enjoy alien romance chaos with heart.
September 21, 2026
This was freaky-deaky but in a sweet(?) way… kind of.
June 30, 2026
Gleeful Goblin Review: This author is responsible for introducing me to a "Huh, didn't know that was a thing I'd find interesting," when it comes to tropes as well as aliens. In everyday life I'm 0% a fan of insects or arachnids but the way this author writes her aliens...you can't help but find them endearing! And similarly, their human counterparts are absolutely darling. I especially connected with FMC Celeste in this book though. In the introduction she's telling the reader how she got to be assigned to where our story eventually takes place but in that description Celeste talks about things a lot of people, myself included, can connect to such as not quite finding a niche when it comes to work. Being either way overqualified or hopelessly lost tending to be the only results, never quite feeling like you "fit it", and most of all was a snippet that I picked up on and interpreted as neurospicy because SAME GIRL, SAME: "99.9% of ICSS human assignments are successful. It sounds pretty good until you realize that leaves 9 million people without a sense of place or purpose. I’m one of those people. The longest I’ve lasted in a role is 2 1/2 years. I’m either out of my depth or overqualified. Failing to bond with my fellow assigned humans, or bonding too much. I’ve tried and failed to convince the ICSS caseworkers that I’d rather be bored or picked on than constantly uprooted. I ask to be given more time. A longer shot somewhere, anywhere. “Humans are extremely adaptable,” they tell me. “We would know in 2 years if you’d be able to adjust. The next assignment has a tenfold higher statistical likelihood of compatibility.” But I know the truth. I am not extremely adaptable. I feel on the verge of tears when the cafeteria is out of my usual breakfast. Even small changes to my schedule send me reeling for weeks. I’m like moss desperately trying to grow on a stone that won’t stop rolling. I’m an anomaly. An outlier." The feeling of not belonging is a huge driver for Celeste and is directly responsible for how she ends up as the alien equivalent of an exotic pet, like a tiger, but with some...ahem...additional benefits as a sapient rather than being strictly an animal pet. Without giving away details, I also adored the overlap of Celeste's story with characters from the prior book. Though again, we get enough context in scene that you'll still understand everything going on.
The moment when Celeste and Razul meet is totally electric and the chemistry is off the charts. Razul, despite being part of the indigenous species on the planet, feels just as isolated and apart from others as Celeste does and it's this shared understanding that creates a bridge for them initially. While this is DEFINITELY a spicy times book I found it equally comforting and reassuring because there was so much layering in of neurospicy style experiences like food texture/taste sensitivity for Celeste that Razul not only accepts but understands intuitively. Being able to see both character's perspectives around those kind of moments is enchanting and I may have sighed with envy several times. Razul is beautifully patient and kind, with a TON of "Good girl..." energy that Celeste (and I) swoon for. I loved this book immensely and I can't wait for more in this series. 5/5 Stars
The moment when Celeste and Razul meet is totally electric and the chemistry is off the charts. Razul, despite being part of the indigenous species on the planet, feels just as isolated and apart from others as Celeste does and it's this shared understanding that creates a bridge for them initially. While this is DEFINITELY a spicy times book I found it equally comforting and reassuring because there was so much layering in of neurospicy style experiences like food texture/taste sensitivity for Celeste that Razul not only accepts but understands intuitively. Being able to see both character's perspectives around those kind of moments is enchanting and I may have sighed with envy several times. Razul is beautifully patient and kind, with a TON of "Good girl..." energy that Celeste (and I) swoon for. I loved this book immensely and I can't wait for more in this series. 5/5 Stars
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5⭐
Omgoodness these precious, awkward babes, I just love them so much! Celeste is almost 40, been forcefully moved about the galaxy for the last 20 years, and ya girl is tired. Tired of never being able to stay in one place, tired of never have a routine or consistency, and tired of being too much for every damn body. Razul keeps to himself and likes his isolation. Because he's a beetle he doesn't thrive in the humid major city with the rest of the creatures of Zairion Prime and prefers to live out in the desert taking care of his caimites. Becoming a hucow is Celeste's last chance at finding a permanent place to call home. Obtaining a hucow is the last thing on Razul's to-do list when he meets with Sylvus in the city to deliver caimite eggs. When they see each other across the room it's like a switch is flipped and our lovely couple from the first book springs into action getting these two locked into a contract.
I love that we got to see Andromeda and Sylvus again and not just for a brief encounter. We get them at the beginning and the end and I loved it so much, especially the girls together at the end. So sweet omg. I love the way that Razul wanted to take care of Celeste. Every single difficult thing she threw his way he was ready and eager to overcome that obstacle for the both of them. So much so that I wasn't even a little bit upset that he bottle feeds her and then I was even tickled when I found out what's in the bottle 😏🤭 I love that he used creative tactics to work around her issues, like biting the fruit in half and turning the translator off. I love that he was there to reassure her every step of the way and encouraged her to just be and exist, no worries beyond that. Her gesture at the end had me smiling from ear to ear and I, too, teared up a little. This was so sweet. 😭😭😭 aaaaannnnnnd it was so hot 😅🥵 lactation/milking, hand feeding, light bondage, cum obsession, copious fluids (from both of them), orgasm denial, unknowingly consuming semen are just some of the featured items on the menu, enjoy 😘
Omgoodness these precious, awkward babes, I just love them so much! Celeste is almost 40, been forcefully moved about the galaxy for the last 20 years, and ya girl is tired. Tired of never being able to stay in one place, tired of never have a routine or consistency, and tired of being too much for every damn body. Razul keeps to himself and likes his isolation. Because he's a beetle he doesn't thrive in the humid major city with the rest of the creatures of Zairion Prime and prefers to live out in the desert taking care of his caimites. Becoming a hucow is Celeste's last chance at finding a permanent place to call home. Obtaining a hucow is the last thing on Razul's to-do list when he meets with Sylvus in the city to deliver caimite eggs. When they see each other across the room it's like a switch is flipped and our lovely couple from the first book springs into action getting these two locked into a contract.
I love that we got to see Andromeda and Sylvus again and not just for a brief encounter. We get them at the beginning and the end and I loved it so much, especially the girls together at the end. So sweet omg. I love the way that Razul wanted to take care of Celeste. Every single difficult thing she threw his way he was ready and eager to overcome that obstacle for the both of them. So much so that I wasn't even a little bit upset that he bottle feeds her and then I was even tickled when I found out what's in the bottle 😏🤭 I love that he used creative tactics to work around her issues, like biting the fruit in half and turning the translator off. I love that he was there to reassure her every step of the way and encouraged her to just be and exist, no worries beyond that. Her gesture at the end had me smiling from ear to ear and I, too, teared up a little. This was so sweet. 😭😭😭 aaaaannnnnnd it was so hot 😅🥵 lactation/milking, hand feeding, light bondage, cum obsession, copious fluids (from both of them), orgasm denial, unknowingly consuming semen are just some of the featured items on the menu, enjoy 😘
Review of advance copy received from Author
This novella is part of one of my favourite series all year! It is dual POV, fantastically written and edited, and a highly erotic, sweet and spicy, lactation focused, surprise romance between Celeste, the female human lead with ASD/ARFID, who desperately wants a permanent home and place to belong, and Razul, the male beetle/humanoid lead, who is perfectly content with his isolated herdsman’s life. The explicit kink in this story is one of my favourites, so I was *very* happy with the intimate scenes. I also appreciated Celeste’s refusal to accept a life situation that continued to cause her distress. I enjoyed her persistence and the work she’d done to find the hucow options in life. I enjoyed Razul’s genuine contentment with his life pre-Celeste. I also enjoyed his focused determination to ensure positive outcomes for her, once he’d committed to having her as his pet. Whilst the story was definitely kink forward, I adored the sweetness of the relationship development and the genuine satisfaction both characters felt with the relationship they established. I also enjoyed the cameos from the characters in the first story. I’m enjoying the world-building and looking forward to more from this series!!!
I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.
August 1, 2026
I received this advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was just as weird as the first book, and strangely every bit as comforting and warm. Bugs shouldn't be cuddly, but somehow they are in this world. I love it, and I do really like insects in real life too.
It's very heavy on the forced nonverbal pet play, which might not be for everyone. I found it interesting, and it's not something I've read before. It might not be my sort of spicy thing, but I liked the characters so much that it didn't bother me in the slightest. The spice and milking were plentiful. Even with the nonverbal stuff, consent was always there every minute.
This also has one of the best depictions of ARFID I've seen in a book, and I'm wondering if there is some degree of autism for Celeste as well with how much difficulty she has with change too. It's really nice to see, and I liked that it wasn't presented as a medical diagnosis sort of thing, just something that Celeste had to live through. There is a lot of trauma around food and eating too, and it's so nice to see a partner that really understands how to deal with it.
Overall this was an unusual read, and I enjoyed it a lot!
This was just as weird as the first book, and strangely every bit as comforting and warm. Bugs shouldn't be cuddly, but somehow they are in this world. I love it, and I do really like insects in real life too.
It's very heavy on the forced nonverbal pet play, which might not be for everyone. I found it interesting, and it's not something I've read before. It might not be my sort of spicy thing, but I liked the characters so much that it didn't bother me in the slightest. The spice and milking were plentiful. Even with the nonverbal stuff, consent was always there every minute.
This also has one of the best depictions of ARFID I've seen in a book, and I'm wondering if there is some degree of autism for Celeste as well with how much difficulty she has with change too. It's really nice to see, and I liked that it wasn't presented as a medical diagnosis sort of thing, just something that Celeste had to live through. There is a lot of trauma around food and eating too, and it's so nice to see a partner that really understands how to deal with it.
Overall this was an unusual read, and I enjoyed it a lot!
May 16, 2026
The Beetle's Hucow Pet - Bethany Baker
I love this author’s work. I love their characters and their chemistry, and the representation that this author writes about. Celeste and Razuel were absolutely adorable. I can’t wait to read more from the series and I can’t wait to see what other creatures this author comes up with.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Out of 5 Stars ⭐️
🔥 / Spice Rating ☀️
# of Pages 🌙 130 Pages
Release Date 🌟 5/19/26
Format 💫 Gifted Digital Copy
Series 🌙 Pet Hucows of Zairion Prime, #2
Genre/Tropes ✨ fated mates, autism representation, sci fi, aliens, bug aliens
Favorite Character ☀️ Celeste
Favorite Line 🌟 “Humans can do a lot of damage. Cause a lot of chaos. I think part of why the ICSS keeps us under such close wraps is less because we’re so ‘unevolved’ and more because we’re… unpredictable. We prove an algorithm wrong faster than any other species.”
I love this author’s work. I love their characters and their chemistry, and the representation that this author writes about. Celeste and Razuel were absolutely adorable. I can’t wait to read more from the series and I can’t wait to see what other creatures this author comes up with.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Out of 5 Stars ⭐️
🔥 / Spice Rating ☀️
# of Pages 🌙 130 Pages
Release Date 🌟 5/19/26
Format 💫 Gifted Digital Copy
Series 🌙 Pet Hucows of Zairion Prime, #2
Genre/Tropes ✨ fated mates, autism representation, sci fi, aliens, bug aliens
Favorite Character ☀️ Celeste
Favorite Line 🌟 “Humans can do a lot of damage. Cause a lot of chaos. I think part of why the ICSS keeps us under such close wraps is less because we’re so ‘unevolved’ and more because we’re… unpredictable. We prove an algorithm wrong faster than any other species.”
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Book 2 of Hucows of Zairion Prime is a heartbreakingly tender exploration of wish fulfillment for the chronic overthinker.
Service Top Razul finds Needy Sub Celeste at the Hucow Tryouts organised by the stars of book 1, Andromeda and Sylvus.
They were a delightful cameo who also returned in the sugar sweet epilogue.
Spicy, piping hot, and above all kind, I was enchanted with how the human and Scarab Beetle Centaur played off each other and explored each other's bodies.
I was thrilled by the real, relatable POV's - of both the Autistic High Support Needs Earthling AND the Service Top Zairionite. Vividly imagined with no missteps.
A must read for anyone who is okay with the content and trigger warnings.
This ARC was a joy to read.
Service Top Razul finds Needy Sub Celeste at the Hucow Tryouts organised by the stars of book 1, Andromeda and Sylvus.
They were a delightful cameo who also returned in the sugar sweet epilogue.
Spicy, piping hot, and above all kind, I was enchanted with how the human and Scarab Beetle Centaur played off each other and explored each other's bodies.
I was thrilled by the real, relatable POV's - of both the Autistic High Support Needs Earthling AND the Service Top Zairionite. Vividly imagined with no missteps.
A must read for anyone who is okay with the content and trigger warnings.
This ARC was a joy to read.
May 20, 2026
I love Razul and Celeste so much! I think I love this book even more than the first (crazy I know). Everything about these two was just pure cozy, fluffy, sweet goodness. Reading this book honestly felt like getting the best hug. I could go on and on about how much I loved it. I don’t want to spoil anything so just trust when I yell, READ THIS BOOK!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes/Content:
🪲Beetle x Hucow
🪲Lots of 💦
🪲Lots of 🥛
🪲He feeds her his 💦 in a 🍼
🪲Exploration of different k!nks specifically ones that depict c0n$en$ual power exchange and cathartic loss of aut0n0my
🪲FMC with strong food aversions
🪲Language barrier
Content warning:
🐮FMC has strong food aversions that cause her to g a g
🐮FMC panics from a nightmare
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes/Content:
🪲Beetle x Hucow
🪲Lots of 💦
🪲Lots of 🥛
🪲He feeds her his 💦 in a 🍼
🪲Exploration of different k!nks specifically ones that depict c0n$en$ual power exchange and cathartic loss of aut0n0my
🪲FMC with strong food aversions
🪲Language barrier
Content warning:
🐮FMC has strong food aversions that cause her to g a g
🐮FMC panics from a nightmare
May 19, 2026
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Hucow is slowly becoming a favorite of mine. To be honest, I wasn’t sure about a man beetle at first because I’m not a fan of beetles or bugs in general. However, Razul is my absolute favorite man beetle! 🤣 This concept and world-building are so unique and intriguing. I know I’m hooked! I arc read the first book with Andromeda and Syvlus, who is part spider, so the chance to continue the series has me so excited.
Razul and Celeste’s love is truly beautiful. I admire how Razul looks after Celeste’s needs without complaint. He’s patient and kind. It was wonderful to see Celeste so cared for and free. It might have taken her some time to realize it, but once she did, she could truly enjoy the safety of it all.
If you’re curious about Hucow, I recommend checking out this series! It’s incredibly hot, warming, and fuzzy. If it’s your first time, please take a look at the trigger and content warnings. I still had to navigate some parts (like the dehumanizing kink), but overall, the story was so captivating that it made any discomfort worth it. After all, I read about a man beetle and I loathe bugs! 😅
Hucow is slowly becoming a favorite of mine. To be honest, I wasn’t sure about a man beetle at first because I’m not a fan of beetles or bugs in general. However, Razul is my absolute favorite man beetle! 🤣 This concept and world-building are so unique and intriguing. I know I’m hooked! I arc read the first book with Andromeda and Syvlus, who is part spider, so the chance to continue the series has me so excited.
Razul and Celeste’s love is truly beautiful. I admire how Razul looks after Celeste’s needs without complaint. He’s patient and kind. It was wonderful to see Celeste so cared for and free. It might have taken her some time to realize it, but once she did, she could truly enjoy the safety of it all.
If you’re curious about Hucow, I recommend checking out this series! It’s incredibly hot, warming, and fuzzy. If it’s your first time, please take a look at the trigger and content warnings. I still had to navigate some parts (like the dehumanizing kink), but overall, the story was so captivating that it made any discomfort worth it. After all, I read about a man beetle and I loathe bugs! 😅
May 20, 2026
ARC review!
Bethany Baker always has the ability to write books that both make me want to fan myself due to spiciness and kick my feet due to cuteness. This is the perfect combination of spicy and sweet. You'd think with the title and cover art that this is gonna just be straight smut--and let's be real, there's a lot of that--but the plot threads that tie it together were really enjoyable and everything contributed to a satisfying story and conclusion. I loved how Celeste found her home and place, how patient Razul was, and how Celeste's ARFID was portrayed. If you read and loved Pet Project as much as I did, you'll definitely want to pick this one up.
Bethany Baker always has the ability to write books that both make me want to fan myself due to spiciness and kick my feet due to cuteness. This is the perfect combination of spicy and sweet. You'd think with the title and cover art that this is gonna just be straight smut--and let's be real, there's a lot of that--but the plot threads that tie it together were really enjoyable and everything contributed to a satisfying story and conclusion. I loved how Celeste found her home and place, how patient Razul was, and how Celeste's ARFID was portrayed. If you read and loved Pet Project as much as I did, you'll definitely want to pick this one up.
May 20, 2026
I'm not sure how long it's been since I related this hard to a character, but as a neurodivers individual with sensory issues and an anxiety disorder. Reading about Celestes struggles felt a bit like getting smacked in the face with a mirror. However I absolutely loved this book. Razul was such a perfectly attentive partner, and was so dedicated and caring towards Celeste. I almost didn't want this one to end. I can already tell that this book is going straight to my comfort reads pile. I sincerely hope to get a paperback copy for my personal favorites shelf sometime in the future.
May 21, 2026
loved it !! love Celeste and Razul... this is their story... a fun fast paced shorter rom/com drama set on Zairion Prime... Celeste just wanted a place to belong.. she's been drifting for a long time... so maybe on Zairion Prime, she will find a place and be a pet... Razul just takes care of his ranch and reptiles.. he likes it that way... he doesn't need a pet ... but... he just can't help himself and takes Celeste home... it's sweet !!! and funny !!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was an interesting read. Book one was fun and this one followed with another hit.
Celeste just wants to stay in one location so gets to a place where that will be possible. Being a hucow is just something she will do to accomplish that goal. So when she is introduced to Razul and feels something she will go for it. A trial period isn’t what she wants but if that’s what he will agree to so be it.
Celeste just wants to stay in one location so gets to a place where that will be possible. Being a hucow is just something she will do to accomplish that goal. So when she is introduced to Razul and feels something she will go for it. A trial period isn’t what she wants but if that’s what he will agree to so be it.
May 19, 2026
Once again, Bethany Baker is making insects endearing. Not only endearing, but also sinfully attractive, with a side of caring that will bring you to tears. This is a spicy novel (obviously), but the way Razul takes care of Celeste, especially how he addresses her food needs, is so perfect it made me cry. As an ASD gal, the representation made me all sorts of happy. Celeste is not 'too much', and her and Razul are amazing.
May 9, 2026
I loved quick spicy read and the tender care that Razul provides for Celeste. What I found a little funny but cute was how Razul is loving and caring to Celeste is the same way he cares for his ranch animals.
Plus, I love the cameo from the first book two MCs. Watching the friendship blossom and witness old friends.
Plus, I love the cameo from the first book two MCs. Watching the friendship blossom and witness old friends.
May 21, 2026
This story was very spicy and kinky, but beneath it all it had heart and substance. The main characters had such great chemistry and cared for each other.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 21, 2026
Hear me out
Okay, hear me out. It's a little silly, very sweet fluffy story, with PLENTY of spice and good neurodiversity rep.
I've read plenty of aliens, but never bug aliens, but I can honestly say it was good.
Okay, hear me out. It's a little silly, very sweet fluffy story, with PLENTY of spice and good neurodiversity rep.
I've read plenty of aliens, but never bug aliens, but I can honestly say it was good.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a quick and spicy read! Absolutely loved it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved the arfid and autism representation and how Celeste felt more and more secure with Razul at the end ❤️
Review of advance copy
This book had me smiling and interested in what was going to come next. I enjoyed it to the end.
May 20, 2026
love it!
I have never read an alien hucow book before and this one was great! It was so fun and the beetle aspect was just so sexy. I look forward to the series!!!!
I have never read an alien hucow book before and this one was great! It was so fun and the beetle aspect was just so sexy. I look forward to the series!!!!
September 12, 2026
Sweet and spicy Hucow romance. I appreciated the neurodiversity rep and how it was done well and not just slapped in there.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was absolutely adorable! I loved the way these two fit together and he gave her a home. As a girliepop with food issues this story spoke to me deeply
Review of advance copy
I really thought I had read all the sub-genres of this (also) sub-genre. I stand corrected, and I am SO glad. Honestly this is the best of both worlds, and I highly suggest you read this series ASAP. I loved the relationship between these two, and how it grew organically. There is also a ridiculous amount of world building and plot development smushed into this small word count. I was shocked from start to finish, and honestly I wish I could read this for the first time over and over.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews