Love and Lake Monsters

by T.J. Alexander

From the nationally bestselling author of Chef’s Kiss and A Lady for All Seasons, a COVID-conscious trans romance in which a cryptid hunter searching for a mythical lake monster finds love with a grumpy skeptic.

Twenty-something Nathan Camber is fresh out of both grad school and ideas on what to do next. Dealing with a dire job market is hard enough as a gay neurodivergent man—so he doesn’t. Instead, he decides to pursue his lifelong cryptids. Leaving the city behind for the rugged, pine-scented landscape of upstate New York, Nathan sets his sights on the Salamander Man, a Nessie-like local legend with none of the Loch Ness clout. (Start small, his therapist always tells him!) But Nathan’s new fifty-something landlord, Mack, is a grumpy, grizzled, handsome skeptic who wants to protect his peaceful isolation and hard-earned safety deep in the woods.

Nathan refuses to settle for a lackluster, normie life, though, and convinces the stoic recluse to help him find the creature. As the hunt (and their growing attraction) heats up, Nathan and Mack realize there’s more than one mystery to uncover in the lake. But if the secrets they’re keeping from each other come to light, they might both get dragged under. Kinky hijinks and monstrous mayhem abound in this queer, trans love story for our bizarre modern age.

Genres: Romance, LGBT, Fantasy, Queer, Contemporary, Fiction, Adult

368 pages, Paperback

Expected publication February 9, 2027

About the author

TJ Alexander is a Lambda Literary Award winner and USA Today bestseller who writes trans and nonbinary love stories. Originally from Florida, they received their MA in writing and publishing from Emerson College in Boston. They live in New York City with their wife, cats, and various houseplants.

Reviews

[Nenia Campbell]

I AM SO FUCKING READY LET'S GOOOOO

[Kara Jorgensen]

Absolutely adored this book. There's an older trans man mc with a younger cis gay mc, plenty of steamy moments, scary ass lake monsters, AND a covid conscious romance. It was sooo freshing to see that in a story as a person who still masks and is on immunosuppressants. This book just so charming and lovely even if both men are their own worst enemies at time, lol. Oh, and there's a cute, crusty little dog. It has everything you could possibly want.

[Brenda Marie]

Alexander had be at Leather Daddy. Um YES!
Nathan is on the brink of adulthood - his 30th birthday looming over him, he is desperate to find a way to avoid a full time job, stationary adult life.
With the help of his aunt, Nathan rents a cabin in the woods with their urban legend of a hellbender. As a young child, Nathan has been obsessed with cryptids - and is determined to prove their existence.
His nearest neighbor and current landlord, Mack, saves him from a risky situation - bringing them a tentative agreement to work together.
Banter - Perfection
Silly Flirting - Total Brat Behavior
Steamy - Absolutely
Great Ending - Indeed!

[B K178]

From the bestselling author of *A Lady for All Seasons* and *A Gentleman's Gentleman* comes the delightful new rom-com *Love and Lake Monsters*. While the premise is different, the same mix of heart and humor is at play in this novel.

We follow neurodivergent late twenties-something-year-old Nathan as he tries to prove the existence of a cryptid at an upstate New York lake. During his attempts, he encounters his grumpy neighbor and landlord, Mack. Mack is an older queer trans man who, because of COVID precautions, isolates and is not interested in Nathan's attempts to unveil the creature.

What you get is a very fun and lovable tale that features: grumpy/sunshine and age gap tropes, plus neurodivergent, LGBTQ+, and immunocompromised representation.

As a queer and disabled person who still masks, I greatly appreciated this representation and the showcasing of what feels like an invisible population. Many of us are isolated. It was heartwarming to see people take active steps to support and care for the lives of those who are vulnerable, especially when the world stopped caring and decided the bottom line was more important.

I would recommend this book to others. MM fans will appreciate this fun X-Files meets rom-com adventure. Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Gee]

Thank you to TJ Alexander and Atria Books (Emily Bestler Books) for providing me with this complimentary eARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The narrative voice was so charismatic and amiable— it felt like I was hearing a story from a friend and instantly drew me in from the first page. The comparisons and quips had me chuckling immediately.

While the plot is driven by the cryptid sightings (both firsthand and through articles recalling past sightings), the relationship between Nathan and Mack was definitely the focal point. Neurodivergent social butterfly X reclusive mountain-man grump… honestly is the perfect matchup. Throw in a rather significant age gap, where the older party is an immunocompromised trans man and you have me sold. Nathan’s hyperfixation on proving the SalaMANder’s existence was adorable, and I could see myself in Mack’s gruff but cinnamon roll personality. I loved their dynamic; their completely bipolar opposite personalities complimented one another perfectly. Both are so likable for completely different reasons, and you just want to root for them in all their endeavors every step of the way. I also appreciated the fact they just argued out their feelings about their deceptions and omissions like actual adults in a relationship would, and did not have a big, performative third act break up (which are the bane of my existence).

I’m giving this 4 stars because the whole cryptid storyline felt fleeting at best and the climax involving *it* did not feel high-stakes at all (despite involving children in it) because there was not much build up and the conflict resolved so quickly.

If you like cryptid stories and a lot of representation (neurospicy, queer, trans, immunocompromised, kinks), be sure to grab a copy when it’s released on February 9, 2027!

[Amelia Rachelle]

4.5 ⭐️’s
The title and cover for this book are what got me interested to read this! The book takes place in a small town and Nathan is staying at a cabin in the middle of no where, with the closest neighbor over a mile away, but that grumpy neighbor is Mack, who is the one the cabin is rented from! Mack is grumpy and rugged and Nathan finds them super attractive! He flirts with them in order try and get on their good side and ask them to help to find the “lake monster.” On this adventure, Mack and Nathan get closer and the more they spend time together, the more the sparks surprisingly fly! I loved that we had an “older” Trans character who falls for young gay guy who’s trying to find himself. I loved the story and especially how our side characters tied into everything that happened along the way. I really wished we would shave had dual POV so that we could also get Mack’s perspective!

[Mathter Works]

Some of my only complaints about the book have to do with just how good it is in other places. Emotion is portrayed strongly and spot-on, except for one main part of the plot, which makes it feel even more lacking by comparison. This was also one of the few times a character arc manages to go from likeable to dislikable then fully back to likeable.

[MJ]

Love and Lake Monsters is my first book by TJ Alexander. I was immediately drawn to the premise of Cryptid hunting in a small town, it sounded so fun.

This story is written in 3rd person and follows Nate's POV. Nate is recently out of grad school and trying to figure out what to do with his life. He has always been interested in cryptids and hears about a salamander man in a small town and rents a cabin hoping to find proof. Along the way he meets Mack, who reluctantly helps him and, of course, love happens.

I have such mixed feelings about this book.
I liked the premise a lot. Nathan had such determination, he set out a goal and was going to reach it. I like his relationship with his friend Sam. I liked his honesty and lack of filter. My favorite character was Mack. Mack is a trans man, who lives a pretty isolated. Because of health reasons, he needs to practice Covid precautions, and most people don't, so there are limited spaces he can go. It was heartbreaking to hear his story and how people that are close to him have acted. I also love his grumpy attitude and I love that there was trans representation in this book.

Now, there are some things I didn't love as much. Although I think Nathan was a kind person, I found him almost aggressively naïve. He was almost 30, but it truly felt like he was maybe 15; he seem a bit ignorant of other's views, esp regarding Mack not wanting to publicize the salaMANder and bring people to the area. I just didn't think the secrets they kept from each other were interesting and only existed to fuel the story conflict; they weren't needed. He also was a terrible writer, it's like he didn't go to school for anything. This leads into the fact that his aunt is bankrolling his life, so there were never any real stakes for him regarding money or finding a job. I do appreciate that he educated himself on Covid precautions for Mack and took them seriously. By the end of the book I believed that they loved each other, but I didn't feel that way until near the end; I didn't know why they felt the way they did. Also, just a personal preference, I wish the age gap was less, it seemed unnecessary for it to be as large as it was.

All in all, I think it was a cute love story with a fun backdrop. There were some funny moments and I thought the ending was done really well, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me in terms of the romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this eARC!

[K.C. Norton]

Liiiiisten, there are parts of this book that are just plain goofy. places where the plot doesn't quite make sense (there's one scene in particular that I'm still wondering wtf was happening as it is never explained), and if I sat here I could poke holes in some of the larger storyline.

However, this book does center four of my favorite things:
1. Cryptids, a delight to me, a certified Cryptid Gay(TM)
2. Queer romance
3. Grumpy transmasc mountain man
4. Disability rep in multiple forms

I also laughed aloud many, many times while reading, and in the year of our lord 2026, that's quite a nice feeling. Alexander really said, "Subtly? Never met her," and proceeded to write a true idiots-to-lovers-who-are-still-idiots story, starring a himbo twink I could read a dozen more books about. To call Nathan a golden retriever might well be to overestimate his street smarts. This man has zero survival instincts, would quite literally die for the opportunity to see a cryptid in the wild (same), and generally bumbles through the world relying on his single brain cell to see him through. Fortunately for the readers, and for Mack, Nathan's lone brain cell spends every waking hour trying to do the right thing. Does he always know what that is? Absolutely not. But he's trying his best and can learn from some of his mistakes. Specifically, the mistakes that lead to other people getting hurt. The mistakes that might lead him to improve his survival skills, not so much. There's also some ongoing COVID care rep.

So we've got Nathan, a man who can't stop thinking about sexy shoulders for literally two seconds; Mack, a cranky short king who is rocking that plaid and apparently has arms to die for; and a one-eyed little dog who might ultimately be the brains of the operation. Delightful. I swear, as the world gets darker, TJ Alexander does the exact opposite. This was my second book in a very short period starring snarky gays in the woods -- keep 'em coming, please. <3

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I love TJ Alexander's work so much and am always eager to see what we'll get next.

[Meagan]

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! This comes out February 9th 2027.

This romance between a cryptid hunter, Nathan, and a grumpy skeptic, Mack, was tender, funny, and romantic without ever being overly sentimental or cheesy. I’ve never given a TJ Alexander book under 4 stars and this is no exception. It’s a very solid four star read.

Age gap romances are never something I reach for but I thought TJ Alexander did it really well, making their romance realistic and putting the two men on an even playing field.

I loved the trans representation in this. Mack doesn’t use the “right” words according to some to describe his gender. Mack says “when I was a girl” and Nathan is surprised, saying that most trans people he knows say “before I transitioned.” I thought this was a really important scene because it goes to show that it’s actually up to the person what language they use to describe their trans experience. Not everyone says the same things and that’s perfectly fine.

I was happy and relieved that Nathan and Mack were able to speak truthfully about the lies they’d told each other without a drawn-out third act breakup.

I do think that the conflict may have resolved a bit too quickly and easily but I still really enjoyed my time with Love and Lake Monsters. It further proved that TJ Alexander will always be on my auto-read author list.

[Molly]

3.5 ⭐️ Nathan is a cryptid hunter and heads to rural New York to search for a local lake monster. He rents a cabin from Mack, a recluse, but soon learns there is more to Mack than he thought. They search for the monster together, and feelings develop.

This book was pretty good, but nothing super amazing. It had cute moments and I liked the relationship between Nathan and Mack. The cryptid part took a turn I wasn’t expecting, and I always enjoy when that happens.

Mack tried to play it like he was a grumpy hermit, but there were reasons he’s closed himself off from society, and I was happy when Nathan found out why. Mack choosing to open up to Nathan was wonderful to read. I do feel Nathan was a bit naive and wanted to hide away from “growing up,” but by the end of the book he really came into his own. His autism and ADHD definitely affected how he acted, so it was understandable that he struggled at times. I liked the epilogue and where things ended up though.

I want to thank Atria Books via NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to leave a review.

No third act breakup

4/5 on the Spicy Scale

[Naomi]

Thank you to Atria Books & netgalley for this ARC/eGalley of “Love and Lake Monsters” by TJ Alexander.
“Love and Lake Monsters” is sexy and atmospheric, with a hint of gore and a touch of horror. If you liked the power play in Alexis Hall’s “For Real” or the otherworldly elements of Emily Rath’s “Devour Me” then this quirky, kinky, queer, and neurodivergent romance should have you giggling with glee.
As an ADHD queer myself, I saw a bit too much of myself in Nate. One of my favorite things about this book is that it explores how neurodivergence and kink are complementary to each other.
A note about covid - I work in a hospital, and mask as part of my job. I’d like to think that many of us would be willing to test and isolate and mask if we fell in love with someone who needs that kind of support. If the covid/masking element of this book is off-putting to you, think of it as just one more way we show love to each other. :) My only complaint: I wish there was more spice!

[Steph1216]

Nathan is 29 and done with grad school. His aunt is funding his time in a cabin situated in a remote, wooded area so he can write what she thinks is a fictional novel. What she doesn’t know is Nathan has picked that spot because of an urban legend of a cryptid living in the area. Nathan is determined to find proof of its existence and document it. Nathan’s neighbor, Mack, is the handsome town recluse that Nathan tries desperately to win over. Nathan convinces Mack to help him and what ensues is a series of dangerous and hilarious adventures that prove the cryptid exists and also brings the two men closer together. This was a mix of laugh out loud moments with very real issues tied throughout. Mack is the total grumpy & stoic opposite to the goofy and open Nathan. Both learn from one another and the road they go down together is full of obstacles. I received an ARC copy of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.

[Yuuto]

I received a digital review copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Yet another fun one from TJ Alexander! I admit, this one took a little longer to really hook me, but once it did, I was locked in.

And I must say, thank you SO much for having a character that I kinda saw myself in, at least as far as Mack’s irritation toward just about everyone for not being accommodating in any way regarding his Covid concerns. 6 years later and seeing people going about like it just magically disappeared, yet acting so surprised if there’s a sudden surge at the same time every year. I have not stopped masking since the get-go and I’m still taking precautions, and it’s so damn frustrating when you see maybe one other masked person at the grocery store.

All in all, this was a great time, and I’m so glad to have gotten the chance to read this nearly half a year early. Everyone else, Check this out in February 2027!

[Luv2TrvlLuvBks]

Campy?

Not. At. All.

There's that chance, of course, given the title and quest of main character, Nathan.

Instead, the Author bequeaths their readers with a soft, sweet romance while also addressing societal expectations. From ageism and gender identity to immunocompromised conditions and the pressure to achieve professional goals, this novel explored all these concepts beautifully. They are blended into the respective characters' backstories. As a result, when the two main characters, Nathan and Mack interact, the Reader is gently prodded to take a moment and step back to consider what they are facing. How do they deal with these challenges individually? As a couple?

Thank you Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

#LoveandLakeMonsters #NetGalley

[RK]

I love how deliciously absurd the premise of this book is, but Alexander made a cryptid monster hunter romance hit all the right notes.

I loved how Nathan and Mack both have their issues but manage to find love in each other. They do this all while hunting an amphibian monster creature roaming the woods.

I personally felt like the romantic conflict was a bit more low-stakes than the monster hunting one, but maybe that's because I read way more books with third act breakups and not ones with mysterious monster protagonists.

Without spoiling too much, I loved this book's horny ending, lol.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for an advanced copy if this book.

[Darci Kester]

A grumpy/sunshine, age-gap romance for those who believe in the Loch Ness Monster. Or even if you don’t believe in it… just have an open mind and enjoy the swoony romance.

I really liked how the author addressed masking in this time “after” covid. Knowing it’s still an issue and there are people who need to protect themselves, when there seems to be a stigma about doing so.

Thanks to Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for Love and Lake Monsters to come out February 9, 2027.

[Kellie Windsor]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
This is the 3rd TJ Alexander book that I’ve read and it is by far my favorite. This was weird and wonderful. I was taken on a ride of figuring out the mystery of the hellbender and also watching Nathan and Mack figure each other out. It was a great mix of action and romance, with a touch of spice. I truly hope Alexander writes more novels like this one, because it’s changed my view on their books for sure!

[Michelle]

Dnf at 20%

I’m already not enjoying the main character Nathan. He is immature. I’m just not vibing with the way the book started. It’s not for me. That sucks because I thought I would love a book about cryptids with a romance.

Thank you to NetGalley, TJ Alexander, and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Rayne]

So hyped for this one!

[Rachel]

I really enjoyed this sweet and spicy romance. The premise of hunting cryptids from a cozy cabin in the woods was unique and made for a fun, atmospheric read. I also really appreciated the queer representation, as well as the thoughtful disability representation among the main characters.
While there were a few plot details that felt like they could have been explored more deeply, I think that’s easy to overlook given that this is ultimately a romance first and a fantasy second. Overall, this was a cozy, enjoyable read that I think fans of queer romance will especially appreciate and is perfect for next fall’s reading list!

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria books and TJ Alexander for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.