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Love Bites #1
Love Bites
Angela likes Chloe. Chloe likes Angela. It should be simple enough - there's just the small matter of Angela's aversion to sunlight. And crosses. And mirrors . . .
In 1998, Angela was a smart, gothy astronomy student - until her then-girlfriend accidentally turned her into a vampire. A year later, she divides her time between her post-graduate degree (working on it in a dark, basement room, and only at night) and controlling her need for human blood.
Then she meets lonely but wryly humorous slush-pile reader Chloe, who's battling demons of her own. Chloe's anxiety and depression can make it hard for her to leave the house, while memories of her ex haunt her at night.
As sparks fly and romance blooms, Angela and Chloe struggle to hide their difficulties from each other - but sometimes the only way out is to let someone else in.
In 1998, Angela was a smart, gothy astronomy student - until her then-girlfriend accidentally turned her into a vampire. A year later, she divides her time between her post-graduate degree (working on it in a dark, basement room, and only at night) and controlling her need for human blood.
Then she meets lonely but wryly humorous slush-pile reader Chloe, who's battling demons of her own. Chloe's anxiety and depression can make it hard for her to leave the house, while memories of her ex haunt her at night.
As sparks fly and romance blooms, Angela and Chloe struggle to hide their difficulties from each other - but sometimes the only way out is to let someone else in.
384 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2020
29 people are currently reading
1996 people want to read
About the author
Ry Herman
6 books232 followersBorn in the US, Ry Herman is now a permanent Scottish resident. Their debut novel, the queer supernatural romcom Love Bites, was published by Jo Fletcher Books in July of 2020. Ry is bisexual and genderqueer.
Their most recent book, This Princess Kills Monsters, is a retelling of “The Twelve Huntsmen”, one of the Grimm Brothers’ weirdest fairy tales. It takes that tale’s jilted, trouser-wearing fiancée, her eleven identical crossdressing doppelgangers, a talking lion, and of course, the princess, on an extravagant, fantastical quest to save a kingdom, subvert destiny, and fall in love with the perfectly right wrong person.
Ry has worked at a variety of jobs, including submissions editor, theatre technician, and one job which could best be described as typing the number five all day long. Ry acts and directs, and has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Hobbies include baking bread, playing tabletop roleplaying games, and reading as many books as humanly possible.
Their most recent book, This Princess Kills Monsters, is a retelling of “The Twelve Huntsmen”, one of the Grimm Brothers’ weirdest fairy tales. It takes that tale’s jilted, trouser-wearing fiancée, her eleven identical crossdressing doppelgangers, a talking lion, and of course, the princess, on an extravagant, fantastical quest to save a kingdom, subvert destiny, and fall in love with the perfectly right wrong person.
Ry has worked at a variety of jobs, including submissions editor, theatre technician, and one job which could best be described as typing the number five all day long. Ry acts and directs, and has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Hobbies include baking bread, playing tabletop roleplaying games, and reading as many books as humanly possible.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
May 17, 2021
This was honestly one of the most enjoyable rom-coms I've ever read! The best way I can describe it is that it's a sapphic paranormal-rom-com featuring a goth vampire studying a PHD in astronomy, a depressed twenty-something working in publishing who has to sort through the piles of rubbish stories many of which involve angels or weird fishtank BDSM, a great-aunt who just wont move out and who might have met sappho, and a nice but dim flatmate who has started his own religion, oh and a bizarre cat called Entropy, but even that doesn't do it justice! Ry Herman's writing is so witty and I found myself laughing out loud to myself several times while reading this book. However they also don't shy away from the tough topics, such as abusive relationships and depression - in fact the depression representation was done so well and there was so much I could relate to, including the main character getting a horrible headache after forgetting to take her Sertraline! This book is also great in that the main characters both say on page that they are bisexual and a lesbian respectively, which sadly doesn't happen as often as it should in traditionally published books. My girlfriend who is a non-reader actually picked this book up for me, and I'm so glad she did because it was just so much fun and I'm really excited to pick up the sequel!
Want more sapphic books? You can find me here: Book Blog | Twitter | Instagram
Want more sapphic books? You can find me here: Book Blog | Twitter | Instagram
definitive-tbr
May 28, 2020May 28, 2020: I've just been enlightened that Ry, the author, is gender-queer so my previous assumption and worry around the romance is lowered. Definitely excited to read this!
April 18, 2020: Ahem, I might be a little skeptical about a male author writing a f/f romance but thank you, Quercus Books, for the digital review copy via Netgalley.
April 16, 2020: Are we talking about queers, vampires, and mental health rep all while finding love? Sure, I'llpun intended take a bite of this.
April 18, 2020: Ahem, I might be a little skeptical about a male author writing a f/f romance but thank you, Quercus Books, for the digital review copy via Netgalley.
April 16, 2020: Are we talking about queers, vampires, and mental health rep all while finding love? Sure, I'll
June 9, 2021
2/5 stars
I’m really struggling to collect my feelings about this book. There were certainly parts I really enjoyed and the overall premise was very captivating, but I’m left feeling like I didn’t enjoy the book overall. I love the idea of a reluctant vampire trying to deal with her ‘disorder’ so to speak. I am also always an advocate of mental health representation, especially in romance, so I loved that both of our characters were deeply flawed and just trying their best. But something about the book also just felt off. It was slightly uncomfortable to read, I wasn’t a huge fan of the setting and the relationships felt very artificial to me. All of the features of a good book were there, but something was missing.
The writing style of this book was super unique. I think that some people will really love the way the book was structured. There were short story chapters that broke up the overall arc, and the perspectives also changed throughout. While I appreciate the premise of an almost vignette-style storytelling, I ended up just feeling like the book was disjointed. I also found it very hard to connect to any of the characters, even in the more tender or emotional scenes. The structure of the book and the narration style made it feel like the characters were distant. While this is fine for some stories, for me, I need to feel a connection to the characters in a rom-com. And because I felt distant from the characters, the romance wasn’t enough to keep me engaged.
While overall I didn’t enjoy the book, strangely I also want to read the second book. I’ve just been accepted for the book on netgalley and am honestly stoked. So take that as you will, as I said, my thoughts on this one are honestly muddled. I’m intrigued and engaged by the interesting storytelling and the premise, I just hope I feel more engaged in the second book.
I’m really struggling to collect my feelings about this book. There were certainly parts I really enjoyed and the overall premise was very captivating, but I’m left feeling like I didn’t enjoy the book overall. I love the idea of a reluctant vampire trying to deal with her ‘disorder’ so to speak. I am also always an advocate of mental health representation, especially in romance, so I loved that both of our characters were deeply flawed and just trying their best. But something about the book also just felt off. It was slightly uncomfortable to read, I wasn’t a huge fan of the setting and the relationships felt very artificial to me. All of the features of a good book were there, but something was missing.
The writing style of this book was super unique. I think that some people will really love the way the book was structured. There were short story chapters that broke up the overall arc, and the perspectives also changed throughout. While I appreciate the premise of an almost vignette-style storytelling, I ended up just feeling like the book was disjointed. I also found it very hard to connect to any of the characters, even in the more tender or emotional scenes. The structure of the book and the narration style made it feel like the characters were distant. While this is fine for some stories, for me, I need to feel a connection to the characters in a rom-com. And because I felt distant from the characters, the romance wasn’t enough to keep me engaged.
While overall I didn’t enjoy the book, strangely I also want to read the second book. I’ve just been accepted for the book on netgalley and am honestly stoked. So take that as you will, as I said, my thoughts on this one are honestly muddled. I’m intrigued and engaged by the interesting storytelling and the premise, I just hope I feel more engaged in the second book.
October 24, 2020
I received this book from Jo Fletcher Books in exchange for an honest review.
It's 1999, and Angela is still trying to get used to life as a vampire since being turned a year earlier - and figuring out which ways Buffy the Vampire Slayer got it right, and where it got it really wrong. When Angela meets Chloe, there's a connection but can she really date someone when she sleeps all day, never ages, has super strength and flashes fangs every time they make out?
This was, to say it simple, a really enjoyable book. Two girls meet and fall in love but oh wait - one of them is a vampire! This is a story that has a lot of fun with the vampire trope, and keeps it sexy and mysterious while also adding in all the ups and downs and bumbles that dating a vampire brings. The book lacks the danger and gothic horror of Dracula, and the stupid intensity and dramatics of Twilight. Instead we have a submissions editor whose aunt may be a witch, and an astrophysicist who needs to dine out in goth clubs.
There was an added element of discussion and analysis of toxic, abusive relationships (both physical and emotional) as both women had previous experience of one and we see them both grapple with their past experiences and getting over how it made them feel. Chloe also suffers from severe depressions - I feel like this could have been explored a little bit more in the book. It got a bit lost in amidst everything else going on.
I would love more stories set in this world that has a whole array of fantasy creatures - vampires, werewolves, witches and even guardian angels! But I had a really good time reading this one.
It's 1999, and Angela is still trying to get used to life as a vampire since being turned a year earlier - and figuring out which ways Buffy the Vampire Slayer got it right, and where it got it really wrong. When Angela meets Chloe, there's a connection but can she really date someone when she sleeps all day, never ages, has super strength and flashes fangs every time they make out?
This was, to say it simple, a really enjoyable book. Two girls meet and fall in love but oh wait - one of them is a vampire! This is a story that has a lot of fun with the vampire trope, and keeps it sexy and mysterious while also adding in all the ups and downs and bumbles that dating a vampire brings. The book lacks the danger and gothic horror of Dracula, and the stupid intensity and dramatics of Twilight. Instead we have a submissions editor whose aunt may be a witch, and an astrophysicist who needs to dine out in goth clubs.
There was an added element of discussion and analysis of toxic, abusive relationships (both physical and emotional) as both women had previous experience of one and we see them both grapple with their past experiences and getting over how it made them feel. Chloe also suffers from severe depressions - I feel like this could have been explored a little bit more in the book. It got a bit lost in amidst everything else going on.
I would love more stories set in this world that has a whole array of fantasy creatures - vampires, werewolves, witches and even guardian angels! But I had a really good time reading this one.
Read
June 30, 2020DNF at 15% unrated
I stopped at 5%, then 10%, then 12%, managed to get to 15% and I just couldn't push anymore. It was confusing, uninteresting to me from a writing style perspective and I didn't connect with these particular characters. I loved the blurb but for some reason, I just could not get into it.
I stopped at 5%, then 10%, then 12%, managed to get to 15% and I just couldn't push anymore. It was confusing, uninteresting to me from a writing style perspective and I didn't connect with these particular characters. I loved the blurb but for some reason, I just could not get into it.
August 25, 2023
🦇 SOUNDTRACK 🦇
✨ Bauhaus - She's in Parties
✨ Love and Rockets - Holiday on the Moon
✨ Third Eye Blind - Jumper / God of Wine
✨ Le Tigre - Eau d'Bedroom Dancing
✨ Darling Violetta - Blue Sun (and also the Angel main theme lol. The amount of times I listened to this within the last days is not even funny)
✨ Concrete Blonde - I Want You
✨ Eels - Not Ready Yet
✨ The Sundays - Wild Horses
✨ The Cure - To Wish Impossible Things
✨ Smashing Pumpkins - Stumbleine
✨ Mazzy Star - Into Dust
✨ What Moon Things - The Vampire
✨ Florence + The Machine - Cosmic Love
(ik this last one crashes the party a bit, but I just know Angela would LOVE this song and it reminds me of her so much)
The even longer version of this playlist can be found on my spotify @fionamatilda xx
-------------------------------------------
tw: depictions of past abusive relationships, domestic violence, suicidal ideation, depression, brief mentions of internalized homophobia
---------------------------------------------
✨ "All bleeding stops eventually." ✨
guys. this. book !! This is so underrated I want to scream from the rooftops and shove it into the face of everyone I meet.
I didn't plan on reading this. Two weeks ago, I didn't even know of its existence. But I was kind of having a hard time at work, and therefore on the verge of a mental breakdown, so I went to the mall next to my workplace and did what I do best: I made the conscious decision to impulse-buy some books. Now, the bookstore at the mall doesn't normally have the best selection of books, and I half expected to go home with some German new adult fantasy trash romance (I live in Germany) that I probably won't even read or only make it 50 pages in before I want to smack something with it (it has happened before). But then I saw this book. Granted, it was next to the usual German new adult trash romance books, but the German cover had pink roses and little coffins on it and it looked so shamelessly cute that I couldn't stop myself. I read two sentences of the blurb to register that it was about lesbian vampires in the 90s - and this made it practically an auto-buy. Still, I was a little skeptical - it was no German new adult trash romance, but I hadn't heard any buzz about it before and it was the first translated book I've picked up in ages. And okay, yeah, the translation was very odd at times (German slang should not be in books). But other than that, it was exactly what I needed.
✨
This is just such a 'me' book. Everything about it made me feel as if it was written exactly for me, to read it in this exact moment. Here are some fun facts about me:
🦇 i love vampires
🦇 I'm a flaming bisexual
🦇 I would give my soul for a time machine to go to the 90s and I always pretend as if the 4 months I was alive in the 90s count for anything lol (I was born in August 1999)
🦇 Buffy the Vampire Slayer is my whole personality
This book has (among other things of course):
🦇 the soft vampire goth girl of my dreams
🦇 a sapphic romance that made my heart melt
🦇 90s fashion, obscure 90s music, 90s everything
🦇 a gang of characters who meet up every Tuesday to watch the latest episode of a certain 90s TV show that is very dear to me 🖤
Among these obvious reasons why this was an absolute delight to read, this book also features:
🦇 a cat that likes to jump in people's faces as a display of affection
🦇 the most precious guardian angel !! (And also some werewolves and witches thrown in for good measure)
🦇 a very unique and weird style of writing and storytelling that might not be for everyone but was exactly for me, for some reason
🦇 an interestingly scientific approach to vampirism
🦇 astrology
🦇 never before published details about the mysterious love lifes of Marlene Dietrich and Eleanor Roosevelt
🦇 lots of hilarious shade against the very interesting book market of the 90s
🦇 important discussions about wayyy deeper things than I expected
✨ ABOUT THAT LAST POINT ✨
Yeah. While this book presents itself as very cute and lighthearted and funny (and there ARE tons of moments where it delivers on that!), it also takes on much more serious tones and deals with a lot of dark yet important topics (much like this one 90s tv show that is very dear to me - okay okay I'll stop). This might be about vampires, but the themes it explores are very much human and relevant. While also dealing with depression, religion, and briefly touching on being gay in the 90s (would've loved to see more of that btw!), probably the biggest theme of this book is recovering from past abusive relationships and learning to let someone new into your life, despite being scared. The journeys and growth of both Chloe and Angela were beautiful to witness, but I feel like especially the flashbacks to Angela's past are pretty intense and could be potentially triggering for survivors, which is why I'm putting so much emphasis on this. Also, Chloe's depression is often represented via very intense intrusive thoughts that kind of pop out at random, much like they do in real life - which also could be triggering for someone who goes into this book not expecting that kind of thing. Don't get me wrong, I always like it when romances explore deeper things and love how the book dealt with this, but given the marketing as this entirely fluffy rom-com, it's important to give a heads-up for those who might need it. That being said, love me some books who make me laugh AND make me cry, since I'm an emotional wreck anyway, so it's fine, I'm totally fine :')
✨
Okay I gotta talk a bit more about the characters, because they are all so incredibly precious and I'd protect them with my life !!
(Except Tess. Tess is not getting her own section, because Tess can choke.)
🦇 ANGELA 🦇
Okay ngl, when I say I would die for these characters? I, first and foremost, would die for Angela. And here i was last month, thinking about how sad it is that I haven't had a real book crush in such a long time. Maybe the universe wanted to tell me something. Because here I am, once again (insert victorious intro) simping over a fictional character and crying over the fact that she's fictional. What is it the universe is trying to tell me? That I'm doomed for the rest of my life to pine after book characters and nurture my unrealistic expectations? Most likely.
Anyways, let's talk about Angela !! It's entirely plausible Chloe fell head over heels for her, because, um, same. I said it before and I'll say it again: Angela is the soft vampire goth girl of my dreams and she deserves all the nice things in the world and I'm so happy she finally found someone who can give her that (but, I mean -- if she hadn't found that person, just hypothetically speaking - I'd be free this weekend). She's such a sweet and sensitive person and to see her forced into this situation where she basically has to act against that? It hurt. It also hurt to see her so full of self-loathing, and watching her gradually overcome at least some of that and starting to accept herself was truly wonderful. That scene with her and Ari is probably my favourite out of the whole book, just saying. Oh, and Angela geeking out about astrophysics is honestly the most wholesome thing in the world and needs to be aporeciated. I suddenly want to learn about astronomy really badly. Or just keep listening to Angela simping about stars.
🦇 CHLOE 🦇
While I wasn't as invested in her character as in Angela, I still really enjoyed reading about her awkward yet charming personality. Chloe also deserves all the nice things. And better books to read. She's not only my antisocial bi spirit animal, her struggle with depression and anxiety was also depicted very authentically. As someone who has my own experiences with intrusive thoughts - this is exactly how these little shits work, thank you! I do feel like her getting her life together was a tiny bit rushed in the end, but I want a happy ending for her and Angela so badly that I'm not even mad about it. She deserves that happy ending.
🦇 ARI 🦇
This guy took me completely by surprise. I mean, I figured out why he was there pretty early on, but I didn't expect him to grow on me so much ?? But on he went, stealing my heart, or at least what Angela has left of it. Very rude, sir. I know I talked about the ominous ~scene~ before, and I don't want to spoil anyone, so I have to stay ominous, but damn. I didn't know wether to laugh or cry, so I did both. And then I reread it, and did it again. His arc (if you can call it that) and connection to Angela might have been only a minor part of the book, but I'm so glad they're in it. I wish there was more. Oh, and the random scenes of him "preaching"? An absolute delight.
🦇 ESTHER 🦇
She's not only a feminist gay witch icon, she also kind of serves a key character to bring things into motion in the first place, so we all need to take a moment to say "thank you Esther." And you know what I also want more of? Her stories. So you're saying you had some very delicate encounters with Eleanor Roosevelt and Marlene Dietrich during your very long, very interesting life? I'm listening.
🦇 SHELLY AND MIKE 🦇
They didn't really do that much, but they did host the weekly btvs sessions, so that's reason enough for me to like them. They also radiate wholesome couple energy !!
🦇 ENTROPY 🦇
aka chaos in cat form aka the actual star of the book. I'd totally die for him, too.
✨ Bauhaus - She's in Parties
✨ Love and Rockets - Holiday on the Moon
✨ Third Eye Blind - Jumper / God of Wine
✨ Le Tigre - Eau d'Bedroom Dancing
✨ Darling Violetta - Blue Sun (and also the Angel main theme lol. The amount of times I listened to this within the last days is not even funny)
✨ Concrete Blonde - I Want You
✨ Eels - Not Ready Yet
✨ The Sundays - Wild Horses
✨ The Cure - To Wish Impossible Things
✨ Smashing Pumpkins - Stumbleine
✨ Mazzy Star - Into Dust
✨ What Moon Things - The Vampire
✨ Florence + The Machine - Cosmic Love
(ik this last one crashes the party a bit, but I just know Angela would LOVE this song and it reminds me of her so much)
The even longer version of this playlist can be found on my spotify @fionamatilda xx
-------------------------------------------
tw: depictions of past abusive relationships, domestic violence, suicidal ideation, depression, brief mentions of internalized homophobia
---------------------------------------------
✨ "All bleeding stops eventually." ✨
guys. this. book !! This is so underrated I want to scream from the rooftops and shove it into the face of everyone I meet.
I didn't plan on reading this. Two weeks ago, I didn't even know of its existence. But I was kind of having a hard time at work, and therefore on the verge of a mental breakdown, so I went to the mall next to my workplace and did what I do best: I made the conscious decision to impulse-buy some books. Now, the bookstore at the mall doesn't normally have the best selection of books, and I half expected to go home with some German new adult fantasy trash romance (I live in Germany) that I probably won't even read or only make it 50 pages in before I want to smack something with it (it has happened before). But then I saw this book. Granted, it was next to the usual German new adult trash romance books, but the German cover had pink roses and little coffins on it and it looked so shamelessly cute that I couldn't stop myself. I read two sentences of the blurb to register that it was about lesbian vampires in the 90s - and this made it practically an auto-buy. Still, I was a little skeptical - it was no German new adult trash romance, but I hadn't heard any buzz about it before and it was the first translated book I've picked up in ages. And okay, yeah, the translation was very odd at times (German slang should not be in books). But other than that, it was exactly what I needed.
✨
This is just such a 'me' book. Everything about it made me feel as if it was written exactly for me, to read it in this exact moment. Here are some fun facts about me:
🦇 i love vampires
🦇 I'm a flaming bisexual
🦇 I would give my soul for a time machine to go to the 90s and I always pretend as if the 4 months I was alive in the 90s count for anything lol (I was born in August 1999)
🦇 Buffy the Vampire Slayer is my whole personality
This book has (among other things of course):
🦇 the soft vampire goth girl of my dreams
🦇 a sapphic romance that made my heart melt
🦇 90s fashion, obscure 90s music, 90s everything
🦇 a gang of characters who meet up every Tuesday to watch the latest episode of a certain 90s TV show that is very dear to me 🖤
Among these obvious reasons why this was an absolute delight to read, this book also features:
🦇 a cat that likes to jump in people's faces as a display of affection
🦇 the most precious guardian angel !! (And also some werewolves and witches thrown in for good measure)
🦇 a very unique and weird style of writing and storytelling that might not be for everyone but was exactly for me, for some reason
🦇 an interestingly scientific approach to vampirism
🦇 astrology
🦇 never before published details about the mysterious love lifes of Marlene Dietrich and Eleanor Roosevelt
🦇 lots of hilarious shade against the very interesting book market of the 90s
🦇 important discussions about wayyy deeper things than I expected
✨ ABOUT THAT LAST POINT ✨
Yeah. While this book presents itself as very cute and lighthearted and funny (and there ARE tons of moments where it delivers on that!), it also takes on much more serious tones and deals with a lot of dark yet important topics (much like this one 90s tv show that is very dear to me - okay okay I'll stop). This might be about vampires, but the themes it explores are very much human and relevant. While also dealing with depression, religion, and briefly touching on being gay in the 90s (would've loved to see more of that btw!), probably the biggest theme of this book is recovering from past abusive relationships and learning to let someone new into your life, despite being scared. The journeys and growth of both Chloe and Angela were beautiful to witness, but I feel like especially the flashbacks to Angela's past are pretty intense and could be potentially triggering for survivors, which is why I'm putting so much emphasis on this. Also, Chloe's depression is often represented via very intense intrusive thoughts that kind of pop out at random, much like they do in real life - which also could be triggering for someone who goes into this book not expecting that kind of thing. Don't get me wrong, I always like it when romances explore deeper things and love how the book dealt with this, but given the marketing as this entirely fluffy rom-com, it's important to give a heads-up for those who might need it. That being said, love me some books who make me laugh AND make me cry, since I'm an emotional wreck anyway, so it's fine, I'm totally fine :')
✨
Okay I gotta talk a bit more about the characters, because they are all so incredibly precious and I'd protect them with my life !!
(Except Tess. Tess is not getting her own section, because Tess can choke.)
🦇 ANGELA 🦇
Okay ngl, when I say I would die for these characters? I, first and foremost, would die for Angela. And here i was last month, thinking about how sad it is that I haven't had a real book crush in such a long time. Maybe the universe wanted to tell me something. Because here I am, once again (insert victorious intro) simping over a fictional character and crying over the fact that she's fictional. What is it the universe is trying to tell me? That I'm doomed for the rest of my life to pine after book characters and nurture my unrealistic expectations? Most likely.
Anyways, let's talk about Angela !! It's entirely plausible Chloe fell head over heels for her, because, um, same. I said it before and I'll say it again: Angela is the soft vampire goth girl of my dreams and she deserves all the nice things in the world and I'm so happy she finally found someone who can give her that (but, I mean -- if she hadn't found that person, just hypothetically speaking - I'd be free this weekend). She's such a sweet and sensitive person and to see her forced into this situation where she basically has to act against that? It hurt. It also hurt to see her so full of self-loathing, and watching her gradually overcome at least some of that and starting to accept herself was truly wonderful. That scene with her and Ari is probably my favourite out of the whole book, just saying. Oh, and Angela geeking out about astrophysics is honestly the most wholesome thing in the world and needs to be aporeciated. I suddenly want to learn about astronomy really badly. Or just keep listening to Angela simping about stars.
🦇 CHLOE 🦇
While I wasn't as invested in her character as in Angela, I still really enjoyed reading about her awkward yet charming personality. Chloe also deserves all the nice things. And better books to read. She's not only my antisocial bi spirit animal, her struggle with depression and anxiety was also depicted very authentically. As someone who has my own experiences with intrusive thoughts - this is exactly how these little shits work, thank you! I do feel like her getting her life together was a tiny bit rushed in the end, but I want a happy ending for her and Angela so badly that I'm not even mad about it. She deserves that happy ending.
🦇 ARI 🦇
This guy took me completely by surprise. I mean, I figured out why he was there pretty early on, but I didn't expect him to grow on me so much ?? But on he went, stealing my heart, or at least what Angela has left of it. Very rude, sir. I know I talked about the ominous ~scene~ before, and I don't want to spoil anyone, so I have to stay ominous, but damn. I didn't know wether to laugh or cry, so I did both. And then I reread it, and did it again. His arc (if you can call it that) and connection to Angela might have been only a minor part of the book, but I'm so glad they're in it. I wish there was more. Oh, and the random scenes of him "preaching"? An absolute delight.
🦇 ESTHER 🦇
She's not only a feminist gay witch icon, she also kind of serves a key character to bring things into motion in the first place, so we all need to take a moment to say "thank you Esther." And you know what I also want more of? Her stories. So you're saying you had some very delicate encounters with Eleanor Roosevelt and Marlene Dietrich during your very long, very interesting life? I'm listening.
🦇 SHELLY AND MIKE 🦇
They didn't really do that much, but they did host the weekly btvs sessions, so that's reason enough for me to like them. They also radiate wholesome couple energy !!
🦇 ENTROPY 🦇
aka chaos in cat form aka the actual star of the book. I'd totally die for him, too.
September 9, 2023
Probs like a 1.5 :’)
“Laugh out loud feel good romance” is not the set of words I’d use to describe this book. I’d use something more like “uncomfortable, triggering and kinda disturbing thriller with a little romance sideplot” tbh.
I feel like the description of this book did not prepare me for what happened here. I really wanted to like this because of the premise like queer vampires? Love that! But this just felt off and uncomfortable. I’m all for MH rep but…there was absolutely 0 warning of what was gonna be in this book ANYWHERE. Chlöe’s constant suicidal ideation and intrusive thoughts, Angela’s acts of SH??? I did not expect to have that going into this book, I was not prepared at all. Like sure it’s relatable but I feel like this book was not marketed in a way that said it discussed such serious and heavy topics?? I wouldn’t have picked it up if I knew! So many things were weird and disturbing too like the amount of domestic abuse and lack of consent was not expected at all and def not “laugh out loud”.
I did read this entire thing because i was hoping it was just a bit heavy handed with the beginning but it just got weirder as it went. Like there was so much unexplainable weird shit in the plot too like the side characters and a lot of the supernatural world building kinda made no sense at all.
“Feel good” is the last way I’d describe this I just felt bad. Idk if I’m being too harsh but a warning on the contents in this book woulda been nice???
“Laugh out loud feel good romance” is not the set of words I’d use to describe this book. I’d use something more like “uncomfortable, triggering and kinda disturbing thriller with a little romance sideplot” tbh.
I feel like the description of this book did not prepare me for what happened here. I really wanted to like this because of the premise like queer vampires? Love that! But this just felt off and uncomfortable. I’m all for MH rep but…there was absolutely 0 warning of what was gonna be in this book ANYWHERE. Chlöe’s constant suicidal ideation and intrusive thoughts, Angela’s acts of SH??? I did not expect to have that going into this book, I was not prepared at all. Like sure it’s relatable but I feel like this book was not marketed in a way that said it discussed such serious and heavy topics?? I wouldn’t have picked it up if I knew! So many things were weird and disturbing too like the amount of domestic abuse and lack of consent was not expected at all and def not “laugh out loud”.
I did read this entire thing because i was hoping it was just a bit heavy handed with the beginning but it just got weirder as it went. Like there was so much unexplainable weird shit in the plot too like the side characters and a lot of the supernatural world building kinda made no sense at all.
“Feel good” is the last way I’d describe this I just felt bad. Idk if I’m being too harsh but a warning on the contents in this book woulda been nice???
June 5, 2021
A fucking masterpiece!! cannot wait for the second book to come out next week
June 23, 2021
This is a very weird little book, and I really liked it!
June 18, 2023
I loved loved loved this as much as I hoped I would when I found it. It’s a cosy romance with humour, heart, and hurt and wrapped up in the world of the paranormal. That means lesbian vampires!
My favourite thing, other than the seamless, entertaining writing, Ari the angel, and Aunt Esther the sapphic witch, was the exploration of abusive relationships and mental health. I saw myself in Chloë for all her messiness, her depression, her suicidal thoughts, and it is so rare that characters like her, (people like me), have a place in a romance — so rare we are told that “hey, just because you’re too depressed to get out of bed and clean your house, it doesn’t mean you can’t be loved!”
My favourite thing, other than the seamless, entertaining writing, Ari the angel, and Aunt Esther the sapphic witch, was the exploration of abusive relationships and mental health. I saw myself in Chloë for all her messiness, her depression, her suicidal thoughts, and it is so rare that characters like her, (people like me), have a place in a romance — so rare we are told that “hey, just because you’re too depressed to get out of bed and clean your house, it doesn’t mean you can’t be loved!”
October 15, 2021
3,5/5 ⭐
April 1, 2022
3.5 stars
September 24, 2020
This paranormal romance is thoughtful and disturbing in some places, and funny in others. The characters and their voices are so strong and consistent.
Bonus points for the characters doing stupid things *in character* so that even though you see the mistakes coming, you understand why, and sigh, and say "oh honey, no" to the character.
Bonus points for the characters doing stupid things *in character* so that even though you see the mistakes coming, you understand why, and sigh, and say "oh honey, no" to the character.
March 2, 2023
I really enjoyed this sapphic paranormal romance. Herman did a great job making me care about both characters and rooting for them to find a path to each other. I particularly appreciated how the story is told not just through POV chapters from the two MCs, but journal entries, short POV chapters from two friendly SCs, and scenes of one MC’s past that show us how she got to where she is now. Herman stepped a bit outside of "traditional" romance storytelling with those choices and I think it was perfect for the story they were telling.
(Note: This is billed as “laugh out loud” and some readers call it a rom-com, but there are some heavy themes here, including depression, on-page suicidal ideation by the mortal MC, on-page suicide attempts by the immortal MC, and extensive flashbacks to an emotionally and physically abusive relationship that ended very badly. Heavy themes aren't a bad thing! I actually really appreciated this aspect of the book! But I wouldn't want anyone picking it up unaware.)
(Note: This is billed as “laugh out loud” and some readers call it a rom-com, but there are some heavy themes here, including depression, on-page suicidal ideation by the mortal MC, on-page suicide attempts by the immortal MC, and extensive flashbacks to an emotionally and physically abusive relationship that ended very badly. Heavy themes aren't a bad thing! I actually really appreciated this aspect of the book! But I wouldn't want anyone picking it up unaware.)
May 22, 2025
Honestly I really loved this but I don't think the cartoon cover and back blurb give the right vibe for the story. It's definitely not a light hearted romance by any means. I mean it has a fun romance but it's a book that heavily features themes of escaping abuse, processing trauma, and dealing with intense thoughts of suicide. I feel like it features so many trigger worthy subjects, including self-harm and drugged assault so that's something to keep in mind when picking it up. That being said, parts of the story really resonated with me and I'm genuinely glad I read it.
August 13, 2020
Love Bites
Author: Ry Herman
Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books
Page count: 384pp
Release date: 9th July 2020.
Angela was dead to begin with.
Please indulge my deliberate misquote of Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' there, but I can find no better way to indicate the state of the first main protagonist.
This fun, well-written LGBTQ Vampire romantic comedy, starts in 1998, Scottsdale, Arizona, with Angela awakening mid rigor mortis and rather discombobulated.
As Angela spends three nights, as per vampire lore, coming back to a semblance of life, Tess, her girlfriend, watches her, noting changes, in between processing photos in her darkroom.
On the third night, Angela wakes, confused and very thirsty, and wonders what the hell Tess has done to her.
Tess on the other hand is quite happy, afterall, Angela can't leave her now. Or so she presumes.
A year or so later, she's escaped Tess, is in Massachusetts with a couple of housemates Shelly (submissions editor) and Mike, whilst working on her thesis and hitting the clubs in goth gear to grab a quick bite.
Literally.
Second main protagonist Chloe has the delightful job of going through Shelly's slush piles. And desperate for help, she sublets her rental to Ari (Ariel) a very androgynous guy with long hair and a strange air about him. He seems quite nice, well, that is until he tells her about the religion he's created.
And then there's strange aunt Esther who teaches Ari to play cards, whilst also predicting various futures, and sharing centuries old stories from her life.
There's a wonderfully wry wit to the narrative as stereotypes are embraced and played with: from cult leader to goth wanabee, I chuckled very often as I recognised the characters and got the meta references.
Ari's faux sermon in chapter three 'The Parable of The Monster and The Girl', whilst being a fun parody, is also frighteningly realistic. It's an accurate allegory of domestic abuse and gaslighting. This is one of the serious issues explored within the novel, as well as self harm and depression.
For anyone who writes, edits or has worked within the publishing industry, it's also a great look through the lens of the slush pile reader, and also has very witty moments, with examples of horrendous submissions.
For this '90s ex rock-goth youth, the scene setting is incredible and the whole thing is like a love child of Nancy A Collins' Sonja Blue books with a generous helping of LGBTQ Pride. Ascension, the club Angela chooses the first night we see her hunt, is painted black, but still vibrant with flashing lights, very much reminding me of my time at The Nightingale, a well known haunt in the Gay Village, Birmingham. Herman paints it so well, I can hear the music and feel the warmth of the community and almost smell the sweat of all those dancing bodies. It's terrific writing.
Herman, writing about depression and loneliness, captures the aching loneliness Angela feels, her guilt at biting to stay alive, the need to connect in a real way with someone, just as Chloe, sitting alone in her room at night, is lost and seeking comfort.
Even her cat is called Entropy.
It’s clear Chloe’s depression is bordering on suicidal ideation, not surprising when we find out about her last partner, but even in the midst of such thoughts, Herman offsets the darkness with humour aimed at poor unfortunate slush pile readers. One word folks; pineapple.
Chloe’s incredibly messy apartment is a metaphor for her life, and her Aunt Esther who comes to visit is a breath of fresh air.
The thing about these characters though, is that they're all connected in some way, which is revealed as the book progresses.
Chloe is destined to meet Angela.
Given she’s taking her post grad in Astrophysics, it could almost mean it was destined in the stars.
The hints at world building here, reminded me in part of Kelley Armstrong’s ‘Otherworld’ and there’s much that could be explored.
Overall though, this is a romance.
It’s not actually a rom com in the traditional sense, because the humour is acerbic and definitely grounded in the tropes of supernatural fiction, but it is most definitely funny.
I laughed out loud quite a few times, but also loved the wider story and the romance between Angela and Chloe.
A terrific, vibrant, emotional and funny read.
Author: Ry Herman
Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books
Page count: 384pp
Release date: 9th July 2020.
Angela was dead to begin with.
Please indulge my deliberate misquote of Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' there, but I can find no better way to indicate the state of the first main protagonist.
This fun, well-written LGBTQ Vampire romantic comedy, starts in 1998, Scottsdale, Arizona, with Angela awakening mid rigor mortis and rather discombobulated.
As Angela spends three nights, as per vampire lore, coming back to a semblance of life, Tess, her girlfriend, watches her, noting changes, in between processing photos in her darkroom.
On the third night, Angela wakes, confused and very thirsty, and wonders what the hell Tess has done to her.
Tess on the other hand is quite happy, afterall, Angela can't leave her now. Or so she presumes.
A year or so later, she's escaped Tess, is in Massachusetts with a couple of housemates Shelly (submissions editor) and Mike, whilst working on her thesis and hitting the clubs in goth gear to grab a quick bite.
Literally.
Second main protagonist Chloe has the delightful job of going through Shelly's slush piles. And desperate for help, she sublets her rental to Ari (Ariel) a very androgynous guy with long hair and a strange air about him. He seems quite nice, well, that is until he tells her about the religion he's created.
And then there's strange aunt Esther who teaches Ari to play cards, whilst also predicting various futures, and sharing centuries old stories from her life.
There's a wonderfully wry wit to the narrative as stereotypes are embraced and played with: from cult leader to goth wanabee, I chuckled very often as I recognised the characters and got the meta references.
Ari's faux sermon in chapter three 'The Parable of The Monster and The Girl', whilst being a fun parody, is also frighteningly realistic. It's an accurate allegory of domestic abuse and gaslighting. This is one of the serious issues explored within the novel, as well as self harm and depression.
For anyone who writes, edits or has worked within the publishing industry, it's also a great look through the lens of the slush pile reader, and also has very witty moments, with examples of horrendous submissions.
For this '90s ex rock-goth youth, the scene setting is incredible and the whole thing is like a love child of Nancy A Collins' Sonja Blue books with a generous helping of LGBTQ Pride. Ascension, the club Angela chooses the first night we see her hunt, is painted black, but still vibrant with flashing lights, very much reminding me of my time at The Nightingale, a well known haunt in the Gay Village, Birmingham. Herman paints it so well, I can hear the music and feel the warmth of the community and almost smell the sweat of all those dancing bodies. It's terrific writing.
Herman, writing about depression and loneliness, captures the aching loneliness Angela feels, her guilt at biting to stay alive, the need to connect in a real way with someone, just as Chloe, sitting alone in her room at night, is lost and seeking comfort.
Even her cat is called Entropy.
It’s clear Chloe’s depression is bordering on suicidal ideation, not surprising when we find out about her last partner, but even in the midst of such thoughts, Herman offsets the darkness with humour aimed at poor unfortunate slush pile readers. One word folks; pineapple.
Chloe’s incredibly messy apartment is a metaphor for her life, and her Aunt Esther who comes to visit is a breath of fresh air.
The thing about these characters though, is that they're all connected in some way, which is revealed as the book progresses.
Chloe is destined to meet Angela.
Given she’s taking her post grad in Astrophysics, it could almost mean it was destined in the stars.
The hints at world building here, reminded me in part of Kelley Armstrong’s ‘Otherworld’ and there’s much that could be explored.
Overall though, this is a romance.
It’s not actually a rom com in the traditional sense, because the humour is acerbic and definitely grounded in the tropes of supernatural fiction, but it is most definitely funny.
I laughed out loud quite a few times, but also loved the wider story and the romance between Angela and Chloe.
A terrific, vibrant, emotional and funny read.
November 14, 2021
Vielen lieben Dank an den Heyne-Verlag und das Penguin-Randomhouse-Bloggerportal für das Rezensionsexemplar!
Meine Rezension spiegelt selbstverständlich trotzdem meine ehrliche Meinung wider.
Aufmachung:
Das Cover ist ein absoluter Hingucker! Mir gefällt vor allem die pastellige Farbgebung und das Verspielte super; sowohl die kleinen Särge wie auch der Titel selbst sind außerdem ein Hinweis darauf, dass einen hier ein Vampirroman erwartet.
Was für mich allerdings unverständlich ist, ist der stolze Preis: Das Buch ist „nur“ ein etwas größeres Taschenbuch, es weist keine Besonderheiten wie eine übermäßig schöne Innengestaltung oÄ. auf, die die 15 € rechtfertigen könnten. Im Laden würde ich alleine deshalb das Buch nicht mitnehmen.
Meine Meinung:
Ich habe mich auf das Buch gefreut, da sowohl Titel als auch Klappentext auf eine leichte, humorvolle sapphic love story hindeuten – es gibt immer noch viel zu wenige queere Bücher auf dem deutschen Markt, insbesondere wlw-Geschichten! Das alles waren also die ausschlaggebenden Gründe dafür, weshalb ich das Buch letztlich lesen wollte, obwohl Vampire jetzt nicht unbedingt zu meinen Lieblingswesen zählen.
Sapphisch ist das Buch zwar, und zumindest anfangs ist es auch ein bisschen humorvoll, aber leichte, schöne Lesestunden hatte ich damit trotzdem nicht.
Der Anfang ist noch ähnlich vielversprechend wie der Klappentext. Die Geschichte fängt mit einem Rückblick an, der einen direkt dazu veranlasst, Theorien darüber, was passiert sein könnte und wie es zur Gegenwart gekommen ist, aufzustellen. Sowas mag ich sehr gerne (vor allem dann, wenn auch kenntlich gemacht wird, dass es sich um eine Rückblende handelt. Sonst bin ich verwirrt.).
Außerdem konnten mich sowohl Angela als auch Chloe auf den ersten rund 100-150 Seiten noch super unterhalten: Beide haben zu Beginn noch einen trockenen, sarkastischen Humor, der mich gut mitnehmen konnte.
Dann lässt das jedoch schlagartig nach. Irgendwann fällt einem auf, dass schon länger keine amüsante Unterhaltung mehr stattgefunden hat, man wartet auf den nächsten humorigen Satz, wird mit dessen Ausbleiben aber bis zum Ende enttäuscht.
Das fällt vor allem deshalb negativ auf, weil das Buch sonst nichts hat, mit dem es punkten kann. Insbesondere ab dem Zeitpunkt, als Angela und Chloe aufeinandertreffen, passiert nichts Neues mehr. Stattdessen gehen beide Protagonistinnen bloß zwei Schritte vorwärts und dann gleich wieder drei zurück, sie drehen sich nur noch im Kreis, ohne wirklich einander und sich selbst mit ihren Problemen zu konfrontieren.
Sie reden nicht miteinander, handeln irrational, statt das Offensichtliche zu tun, was alle Probleme lösen würde, und verursachen dadurch unnötiges Drama, das nur noch mehr unnötiges Drama mit sich zieht und dem Leser den letzten Nerv raubt.
Das wiederum sorgt dafür, dass ich auch ihre Beziehung an sich nicht wirklich nachfühlen konnte. Sie ist einfach von jetzt auf gleich da, ohne dass sie überhaupt erstmal entsteht, und eine Weiterentwicklung ist (natürlich) schon mal gar nicht zu sehen. Warum haben die beiden sich jetzt ineinander verliebt? Warum wollen sie zusammenbleiben? Das ist mir nicht klargeworden. Ihrer Beziehung fehlt es also an Tiefe, aber das ist wenig überraschend, wenn die beiden Protagonistinnen selbst auch nicht wirklich durch Mehrdimensionalität glänzen.
Wie ihre Beziehung zueinander sind sowohl Angela als auch Chloe als Hauptfiguren einfach „da“. Ich kann im Nachhinein nichts benennen, was sie in irgendeiner Weise besonders macht, weshalb man unbedingt mit ihnen mitfiebern müsste – da ist nichts! Zwar haben sie beide durchaus Schlimmes durchleben müssen und mit Dämonen zu kämpfen, aber wirklich nachvollziehen kann man das als Leser nicht. Angela und Chloe bleiben stattdessen eindimensional und farblos und man könnte sie beliebig durch andere Figuren ersetzen.
Gleiches lässt sich im Übrigen auch auf das Vampirthema übertragen. Der Vampirismus ist in diesem Buch nicht besonders ausgeprägt; es wird mit Klischees gespielt, was an sich nicht unbedingt schlecht ist, vor allem nicht in einem humoristisch angelegten Buch. Aber mehr als darauf eingegangen wird hier nicht; der Autor geht nicht in die Tiefe, trägt nichts Eigenes dazu bei. Hinzu kommt, dass der Vampirismus eigentlich auch gar nicht wirklich plotrelevant ist – genauso gut könnte man das Vampirthema einfach aus dem Buch streichen, und zurück bleibt die gleiche Geschichte.
Fazit:
Titel und Klappentext versprechen eine humorvolle, leichte sapphic love story, die man leider nur ganz oberflächlich bekommt. Der Humor ist da – anfangs jedenfalls, dann verschwindet er einfach irgendwann und kommt nicht mehr wieder. Sowohl die Protagonistinnen als auch die Geschichte an sich, insbesondere die Liebesbeziehung und der Vampirismus bleiben sehr oberflächlich und farblos. Es gibt eigentlich nichts, was dieses Buch besonders macht oder dafür sorgt, dass es einem im Gedächtnis bleibt – außer diese eine Situation, in der Angela absolut unsinnig handelt und unnötiges Drama verursacht. Wenn die beiden nur miteinander kommunizieren würden!!!
Es ist nicht anstrengend zu lesen, aber wirklich viel Spaß macht es aber auch nicht.
2/5 Lesehasen.
Meine Rezension spiegelt selbstverständlich trotzdem meine ehrliche Meinung wider.
Aufmachung:
Das Cover ist ein absoluter Hingucker! Mir gefällt vor allem die pastellige Farbgebung und das Verspielte super; sowohl die kleinen Särge wie auch der Titel selbst sind außerdem ein Hinweis darauf, dass einen hier ein Vampirroman erwartet.
Was für mich allerdings unverständlich ist, ist der stolze Preis: Das Buch ist „nur“ ein etwas größeres Taschenbuch, es weist keine Besonderheiten wie eine übermäßig schöne Innengestaltung oÄ. auf, die die 15 € rechtfertigen könnten. Im Laden würde ich alleine deshalb das Buch nicht mitnehmen.
Meine Meinung:
Ich habe mich auf das Buch gefreut, da sowohl Titel als auch Klappentext auf eine leichte, humorvolle sapphic love story hindeuten – es gibt immer noch viel zu wenige queere Bücher auf dem deutschen Markt, insbesondere wlw-Geschichten! Das alles waren also die ausschlaggebenden Gründe dafür, weshalb ich das Buch letztlich lesen wollte, obwohl Vampire jetzt nicht unbedingt zu meinen Lieblingswesen zählen.
Sapphisch ist das Buch zwar, und zumindest anfangs ist es auch ein bisschen humorvoll, aber leichte, schöne Lesestunden hatte ich damit trotzdem nicht.
Der Anfang ist noch ähnlich vielversprechend wie der Klappentext. Die Geschichte fängt mit einem Rückblick an, der einen direkt dazu veranlasst, Theorien darüber, was passiert sein könnte und wie es zur Gegenwart gekommen ist, aufzustellen. Sowas mag ich sehr gerne (vor allem dann, wenn auch kenntlich gemacht wird, dass es sich um eine Rückblende handelt. Sonst bin ich verwirrt.).
Außerdem konnten mich sowohl Angela als auch Chloe auf den ersten rund 100-150 Seiten noch super unterhalten: Beide haben zu Beginn noch einen trockenen, sarkastischen Humor, der mich gut mitnehmen konnte.
Dann lässt das jedoch schlagartig nach. Irgendwann fällt einem auf, dass schon länger keine amüsante Unterhaltung mehr stattgefunden hat, man wartet auf den nächsten humorigen Satz, wird mit dessen Ausbleiben aber bis zum Ende enttäuscht.
Das fällt vor allem deshalb negativ auf, weil das Buch sonst nichts hat, mit dem es punkten kann. Insbesondere ab dem Zeitpunkt, als Angela und Chloe aufeinandertreffen, passiert nichts Neues mehr. Stattdessen gehen beide Protagonistinnen bloß zwei Schritte vorwärts und dann gleich wieder drei zurück, sie drehen sich nur noch im Kreis, ohne wirklich einander und sich selbst mit ihren Problemen zu konfrontieren.
Sie reden nicht miteinander, handeln irrational, statt das Offensichtliche zu tun, was alle Probleme lösen würde, und verursachen dadurch unnötiges Drama, das nur noch mehr unnötiges Drama mit sich zieht und dem Leser den letzten Nerv raubt.
Das wiederum sorgt dafür, dass ich auch ihre Beziehung an sich nicht wirklich nachfühlen konnte. Sie ist einfach von jetzt auf gleich da, ohne dass sie überhaupt erstmal entsteht, und eine Weiterentwicklung ist (natürlich) schon mal gar nicht zu sehen. Warum haben die beiden sich jetzt ineinander verliebt? Warum wollen sie zusammenbleiben? Das ist mir nicht klargeworden. Ihrer Beziehung fehlt es also an Tiefe, aber das ist wenig überraschend, wenn die beiden Protagonistinnen selbst auch nicht wirklich durch Mehrdimensionalität glänzen.
Wie ihre Beziehung zueinander sind sowohl Angela als auch Chloe als Hauptfiguren einfach „da“. Ich kann im Nachhinein nichts benennen, was sie in irgendeiner Weise besonders macht, weshalb man unbedingt mit ihnen mitfiebern müsste – da ist nichts! Zwar haben sie beide durchaus Schlimmes durchleben müssen und mit Dämonen zu kämpfen, aber wirklich nachvollziehen kann man das als Leser nicht. Angela und Chloe bleiben stattdessen eindimensional und farblos und man könnte sie beliebig durch andere Figuren ersetzen.
Gleiches lässt sich im Übrigen auch auf das Vampirthema übertragen. Der Vampirismus ist in diesem Buch nicht besonders ausgeprägt; es wird mit Klischees gespielt, was an sich nicht unbedingt schlecht ist, vor allem nicht in einem humoristisch angelegten Buch. Aber mehr als darauf eingegangen wird hier nicht; der Autor geht nicht in die Tiefe, trägt nichts Eigenes dazu bei. Hinzu kommt, dass der Vampirismus eigentlich auch gar nicht wirklich plotrelevant ist – genauso gut könnte man das Vampirthema einfach aus dem Buch streichen, und zurück bleibt die gleiche Geschichte.
Fazit:
Titel und Klappentext versprechen eine humorvolle, leichte sapphic love story, die man leider nur ganz oberflächlich bekommt. Der Humor ist da – anfangs jedenfalls, dann verschwindet er einfach irgendwann und kommt nicht mehr wieder. Sowohl die Protagonistinnen als auch die Geschichte an sich, insbesondere die Liebesbeziehung und der Vampirismus bleiben sehr oberflächlich und farblos. Es gibt eigentlich nichts, was dieses Buch besonders macht oder dafür sorgt, dass es einem im Gedächtnis bleibt – außer diese eine Situation, in der Angela absolut unsinnig handelt und unnötiges Drama verursacht. Wenn die beiden nur miteinander kommunizieren würden!!!
Es ist nicht anstrengend zu lesen, aber wirklich viel Spaß macht es aber auch nicht.
2/5 Lesehasen.
December 25, 2021
I gotta be honest I was quite sceptial of the book when I started reading it, especially because I dont trust lesbian books written by none lesbians BUT I quite enjoyed this one!
It feels really good to read a light hearted romcom situation with characters that also identify as lesbians (at least one of them)
Though It did catch me quite off guard how many paranormal figures are in it. Looking back at how they described the person I shouldve figured but just like Chloë I was quite surprised to find out that vampires weren't the only thing around.
The way it was written was also very fun imo. The different views from Chloë back to Angela but also the other little parts of the side characters revealing more depth about them than just being there as side characters. Also the flashbacks on how things happened before the present in the book were also great and tbh stressed me out for a good bit!
But overall the moments in which the two were together made me giggle and my heart flutter. All I can say is ME AND WHO?!?! 😩
It feels really good to read a light hearted romcom situation with characters that also identify as lesbians (at least one of them)
Though It did catch me quite off guard how many paranormal figures are in it. Looking back at how they described the person I shouldve figured but just like Chloë I was quite surprised to find out that vampires weren't the only thing around.
The way it was written was also very fun imo. The different views from Chloë back to Angela but also the other little parts of the side characters revealing more depth about them than just being there as side characters. Also the flashbacks on how things happened before the present in the book were also great and tbh stressed me out for a good bit!
But overall the moments in which the two were together made me giggle and my heart flutter. All I can say is ME AND WHO?!?! 😩
July 17, 2020
An interesting premise but a bit of a mess. The romance doesn't spark, and there are a lot of weird plot threads that don't get tied up or that are weirdly jammed in there - like Chloe's weird roommate, or the revelation about Chloe's heritage.
Want to read
May 31, 2021I need to read this for my ARC
December 3, 2021
I feel like this book should’ve had trigger warnings on it, although I have read worse, this has subjects that could be quite triggering for some people. Although, I loved the premise, I just wasn’t sold on it sadly.
July 28, 2020
It is possible that I might be biased. But I honestly do like the book.
October 27, 2021
Achtung, diese Rezension kann Spoiler enthalten!
Das erste, was ich zu diesem Buch loswerden will, bevor es losgeht mit dem Inhalt und meiner Rezension ist, dass mir definitiv eine Triggerwarnung gefehlt hat. Und zwar zu den Themen Selbstmordgedanken, toxische Beziehungen und evtl auch häusliche Gewalt. Vor allem das Thema Selbstmordgedanken hat mich unerwartet getroffen, denn Chloe denkt vor allem am Anfang des Buches sehr uneindrucksvoll darüber nach, wie es wäre, sich selbst umzubringen und wie sie das am besten anstellen kann. Gut begründet sind diese Gedanken in jedem Fall, ich hätte mir nur gewünscht, darauf vorbereitet zu sein.
So. Das wars auch schon an allgemeinem Gemeckere, lasst uns eintauchen in diese wunderschön tragische und dennoch liebevoll erzählte und befriedigende Geschichte.
Wir begleiten Angela und Chloe, die bald nach Anfang des Buches aufeinandertreffen. Chloe ist hin und weg von Angela, doch Angela hat ein Problem: Sie ist ein Vampir. Und auch, wenn sie sich meist halb aushungert, bevor sie jagen geht, kann sie das dennoch nie mit ihrem Gewissen vereinbaren, was sie mir sehr sympathisch gemacht hat. Denn wir haben hier nicht den klassischen selbstbewussten sexy Vampirtyp Frau sondern eine teilweise unsichere und liebevolle Frau, die nicht mehr möchte, als aufrichtig geliebt zu werden. Denn in ihrer vorherigen Beziehung mit Tess war vielleicht einiges gegeben, doch Liebe nur auf eine sehr verquere und toxische Art und Weise. Angela hing leider viel zu lange mit Tess zusammen, umso mehr hat mich dann das Ende erfreut.
Chloe und Angela lernen sich in einem Club kennen, nachdem Chloes Tante die Schnauze voll hat und die depressive Chloe aus dem Haus jagt. Angela hat sie eigentlich als ihr Opfer auserkoren, aber als sie erfährt, dass Chloe für ihre Mitbewohnerin arbeitet, rudert sie schnell zurück und möchte sie lieber kennenlernen, statt sie zu beißen und ihr Blut zu trinken. Schnell kommen die beiden sich näher und verlieben sich schließlich ineinander. Die Frage ist nun, ob Angela es schafft, ihren Vampirismus unter Kontrolle zu halten oder ob Chloe und sie daran zerbrechen werden. Das nehme ich euch nicht vorweg.
Mir haben beide Hauptprotagonisten sehr gut gefallen. Ich konnte die Handlungen von Chloe und Angela sehr gut nachvollziehen, außerdem haben die Charaktere den Lauf der Geschichte bestimmt, was ich sehr schön fand. Sie wirkten gut durchdacht, waren dreidimensional und wirklich spannende Charaktere. Beide machen Fehler, doch beide entwickeln sich und lernen, dass sie es wert sind, geliebt zu werden.
Die Geschichte selbst geht teilweise etwas schleppend voran, es gab nicht wirklich große Action. Zwischendrin erfährt man etwas über Angelas Vergangenheit, sie ist religiös erzogen worden und landete schließlich in einer toxischen Beziehung mit einer Frau, die sie dann in einen Vampir verwandelt hat. Doch Angela schafft es, sich aus dieser Beziehung zu lösen und findet zu Chloe. Das Ende war dann aber doch sehr actionreich und hat mir gut gefallen.
Zwischendurch gibt es einzelne Kapitel, die aus der Ich-Perspektive geschrieben sind. Sie beleuchten beispielsweise Chloes Tante oder ihren Mitbewohner.
Diese Geschichte ist kein klassisch kitschiger Liebesroman, sondern erzählt die Geschichte von zwei Frauen, die vom Leben (oder Sterben) gebeutelt sind und versuchen, mit ihrer Vergangenheit zu schließen, um in die Zukunft sehen zu können.
Der Autor hat hier wirklich ein tolles Buch geschaffen, das sich vor allem abends sehr gut liest, bei einer Tasse Tee und eingekuschelt in eine Decke. Ich bin sehr gerne in die Geschichte von Angela und Chloe eingetaucht und werde die beiden vermissen.
Ich würde sogar wagen zu behaupten, dass auch Menschen, die nicht auf Vampirromane stehen, dieses Buch gefallen könnte, da der Vampirismus zwar natürlich eine wichtige Rolle spielt, jedoch nicht künstlich in den Vordergrund gedrängt ist. Stattdessen ist er eine Gegebenheit, mit der man eben umzugehen lernen muss.
Alles in allem ein sehr authentischer Roman, der sich leicht lesen lässt und mir (abgesehen von der fehlenden Triggerwarnung) sehr gefallen hat. Und keine Sorge. So düster, wie es in meiner Rezi am Anfang klingt, ist es nicht. Allerdings auch nicht so lustig, wie der Klappentext vermuten lässt. Gäbe es Vampire, würde ich diesen Roman glatt als realistisch empfinden.
Achso, und natürlich ist das Cover ein echter Blickfang, oder nicht? Macht sich sehr schick im Regal :D
Das erste, was ich zu diesem Buch loswerden will, bevor es losgeht mit dem Inhalt und meiner Rezension ist, dass mir definitiv eine Triggerwarnung gefehlt hat. Und zwar zu den Themen Selbstmordgedanken, toxische Beziehungen und evtl auch häusliche Gewalt. Vor allem das Thema Selbstmordgedanken hat mich unerwartet getroffen, denn Chloe denkt vor allem am Anfang des Buches sehr uneindrucksvoll darüber nach, wie es wäre, sich selbst umzubringen und wie sie das am besten anstellen kann. Gut begründet sind diese Gedanken in jedem Fall, ich hätte mir nur gewünscht, darauf vorbereitet zu sein.
So. Das wars auch schon an allgemeinem Gemeckere, lasst uns eintauchen in diese wunderschön tragische und dennoch liebevoll erzählte und befriedigende Geschichte.
Wir begleiten Angela und Chloe, die bald nach Anfang des Buches aufeinandertreffen. Chloe ist hin und weg von Angela, doch Angela hat ein Problem: Sie ist ein Vampir. Und auch, wenn sie sich meist halb aushungert, bevor sie jagen geht, kann sie das dennoch nie mit ihrem Gewissen vereinbaren, was sie mir sehr sympathisch gemacht hat. Denn wir haben hier nicht den klassischen selbstbewussten sexy Vampirtyp Frau sondern eine teilweise unsichere und liebevolle Frau, die nicht mehr möchte, als aufrichtig geliebt zu werden. Denn in ihrer vorherigen Beziehung mit Tess war vielleicht einiges gegeben, doch Liebe nur auf eine sehr verquere und toxische Art und Weise. Angela hing leider viel zu lange mit Tess zusammen, umso mehr hat mich dann das Ende erfreut.
Chloe und Angela lernen sich in einem Club kennen, nachdem Chloes Tante die Schnauze voll hat und die depressive Chloe aus dem Haus jagt. Angela hat sie eigentlich als ihr Opfer auserkoren, aber als sie erfährt, dass Chloe für ihre Mitbewohnerin arbeitet, rudert sie schnell zurück und möchte sie lieber kennenlernen, statt sie zu beißen und ihr Blut zu trinken. Schnell kommen die beiden sich näher und verlieben sich schließlich ineinander. Die Frage ist nun, ob Angela es schafft, ihren Vampirismus unter Kontrolle zu halten oder ob Chloe und sie daran zerbrechen werden. Das nehme ich euch nicht vorweg.
Mir haben beide Hauptprotagonisten sehr gut gefallen. Ich konnte die Handlungen von Chloe und Angela sehr gut nachvollziehen, außerdem haben die Charaktere den Lauf der Geschichte bestimmt, was ich sehr schön fand. Sie wirkten gut durchdacht, waren dreidimensional und wirklich spannende Charaktere. Beide machen Fehler, doch beide entwickeln sich und lernen, dass sie es wert sind, geliebt zu werden.
Die Geschichte selbst geht teilweise etwas schleppend voran, es gab nicht wirklich große Action. Zwischendrin erfährt man etwas über Angelas Vergangenheit, sie ist religiös erzogen worden und landete schließlich in einer toxischen Beziehung mit einer Frau, die sie dann in einen Vampir verwandelt hat. Doch Angela schafft es, sich aus dieser Beziehung zu lösen und findet zu Chloe. Das Ende war dann aber doch sehr actionreich und hat mir gut gefallen.
Zwischendurch gibt es einzelne Kapitel, die aus der Ich-Perspektive geschrieben sind. Sie beleuchten beispielsweise Chloes Tante oder ihren Mitbewohner.
Diese Geschichte ist kein klassisch kitschiger Liebesroman, sondern erzählt die Geschichte von zwei Frauen, die vom Leben (oder Sterben) gebeutelt sind und versuchen, mit ihrer Vergangenheit zu schließen, um in die Zukunft sehen zu können.
Der Autor hat hier wirklich ein tolles Buch geschaffen, das sich vor allem abends sehr gut liest, bei einer Tasse Tee und eingekuschelt in eine Decke. Ich bin sehr gerne in die Geschichte von Angela und Chloe eingetaucht und werde die beiden vermissen.
Ich würde sogar wagen zu behaupten, dass auch Menschen, die nicht auf Vampirromane stehen, dieses Buch gefallen könnte, da der Vampirismus zwar natürlich eine wichtige Rolle spielt, jedoch nicht künstlich in den Vordergrund gedrängt ist. Stattdessen ist er eine Gegebenheit, mit der man eben umzugehen lernen muss.
Alles in allem ein sehr authentischer Roman, der sich leicht lesen lässt und mir (abgesehen von der fehlenden Triggerwarnung) sehr gefallen hat. Und keine Sorge. So düster, wie es in meiner Rezi am Anfang klingt, ist es nicht. Allerdings auch nicht so lustig, wie der Klappentext vermuten lässt. Gäbe es Vampire, würde ich diesen Roman glatt als realistisch empfinden.
Achso, und natürlich ist das Cover ein echter Blickfang, oder nicht? Macht sich sehr schick im Regal :D
July 9, 2020
[b]CONTENT NOTE: This review discusses issues of physical and emotional abuse, depression, and anxiety as presented in the book, as well as a date rape allegory used in the book.[/b]
Judging by that back cover copy, this book sounds exactly the way it was pitched to me, as a “tender and unforgettable … feel good queer romance with a surprising paranormal twist” (as per the promo email I received). And it is indeed all of those things, though not quite in the manner I had anticipated.
Don’t worry, this is going to be a good review of a really good book. I just have to talk about the … oddity of it? At least, the oddity from my point of view.
Let’s take Angela and her story first. Angela is a passionate astronomy student with a goth aesthetic, and thanks to a horribly abusive past relationship, she’s also a vampire. She’s presented as the perfect candidate for stereotypical vampirehood, perhaps: she already dresses in black, immerses herself in goth culture, and she’s studying astronomy so only coming out at night is surely not a hardship, right?
But almost right away, I got a bit stuck on the matter of that past relationship. That, plus certain aspects of Angela’s own behaviour, clouded the humorous angle of this book for me. To put it bluntly, Angela deals with the issue of having to drink human blood by going to bars and clubs, choosing a ‘safe target’, spiking their drink under the pretence of flirting/getting to know them and taking them somewhere quiet to feed.
There is no escaping the predatory behaviour this method evokes, and to continue being blunt, there is nothing funny about it – though to be fair, and to the author’s credit, it’s not played for laughs. Angela is never entirely comfortable with what she feels she needs to do, and she puts off feeding for as long as she can. But the fact remains that this is how she chooses to do it, and whatever the social justifications in her situation might be, it’s still a violation.
However, I can (somewhat) appreciate that being a vampire is not presented as sexy or romantic here. This isn’t that type of vampire love story, and I’ll admit that my feeling of being caught off-guard by it has a lot to do with my own past relationship baggage. I’ve been in an abusive relationship; I know how much fun it isn’t. Angela’s ex-girlfriend, the vampire who turns her, is never presented as sympathetic beyond the scenes in which Angela first meets her, when she’s the beautiful, intriguing, swoon-worthy object of Angela’s head-over-heels fascination. Because isn’t that always the way?
[b]Content note addendum[/b]: The book’s opening scene describes, in plain and entirely un-romantic language, the process by which Angela dies and becomes a vampire. It reads more like ‘scene of a crime’ than anything Dracula-esque, and while I can appreciate that approach, it was naturally the first hint I got that this was perhaps not going to be a cute, fluffy story…
So in that light, there is very little that’s funny to me about Angela’s story, and that’s as it should be.
Enter Chloë.
If Angela hits my aesthetically-pleased buttons, then Chloë is the character who hits me in the emotions. She’s also dealing with the fallout from a terrible relationship, but she’s doing it with a big old double-scoop of those old pals, depression and anxiety. Her house is a mess, she never goes out, she deals with it by burying herself in work (she’s a slush-reader for a publishing company, hello nerdy appreciation) and in denial.
You could say I can relate, yes. Just a bit. (It’s a big bit.)
She also ends up with two housemates in the form of a roommate who helps with the rent and is an angel? Apparently? But he’s not very good at it, though I absolutely appreciate the wry irony of an angel who tries to make a go of the street preacher life while bumbling through the guardian thing and … is not very good at that either.
The second roommate is Chloë’s aunt, who turns up out of the blue claiming she just needs to stay overnight on her way elsewhere and ends up staying. Oh, and she’s a witch who has been alive far longer than most mortals? She’s got some stories to tell, at any rate. And while these two characters undoubtedly shoulder the responsibility for the ‘comedy’ side of things here, I have to admit I spent more time giving them the amused side-eye than I did laughing out loud.
That’s absolutely not a bad thing, to be clear! Humour is entirely subjective, and were it not for the fact that I’d already been put on the back foot by the aforementioned sensitive content, I might have found it all funnier.
As far as dry, quirky humour goes, however, Ry Herman does it well and I have to declare that I’m here for it. In a rather curious way. For a pair of characters whose purpose is apparently to help smooth the way for Angela and Chloë both to find a happier path in life, whether together or not, they keep to that purpose and don’t overshadow the central romantic aspect of the book – but I want to know more about them! I want to follow the bumbling, wandering, goodnatured himbo angel to wherever he goes next and see what happens when he gets there. I want a story about the meddling, tarot-reading auntie who tells tales about having flings with Marlene Dietrich and Julie d’Aubigny.
Yes, you read that right. You’re welcome.
But we’re talking about Angela and Chloë here, and to my relief, from the point where they meet, fall in attraction and eventually fall in love, the story does climb toward a brighter, more positive point. I have a deep appreciation for romance novels because while they’re often perhaps formulaic, they are also deeply comforting. If there’s the guarantee of a Happily Ever After, then I don’t have to worry too much about what might happen before the characters get there. And while this formula is there for these two characters, I felt the lack of that kind of reassurance along the way, a little bit. (Looking at you, Ex-Girlfriend Tess.)
I’m absolutely putting this down to my own personal reactions to the darker aspects of the story, though – your mileage may vary. I’d simply feel like I wasn’t being entirely honest if I didn’t say that Angela’s treatment at her ex-girlfriend’s hands, and her own treatment of the people she feeds upon – one such example is included on-page – made me profoundly uneasy at first, and that this had an undeniable effect on how I felt about her, moving forward.
(Despite all this, she’s still not much like her ex. Thank all the gods.)
I am glad Angela and Chloë find each other, and find happiness with each other, and given the issues they both have I’m glad that their path involves the kind of vulnerability that lets them heal and move on, together. That’s the kind of romance I’m here for. But in retrospect, considering the whole package of this story – I wish I had had a bit of warning about the early content before I’d begun reading.
This is why I firmly advocate for the use of content notes/trigger warnings in books, even ones that are promoted as romantic comedies. Perhaps more so in those cases. I’d have felt better prepared than I did, if there had been one here. Take note, authors and publishers both!
To sum this one up, because this turned into a bit of a ramble, didn’t it: I would certainly recommend this book. Even with my reservations, I appreciated it because at the time I read it, I was brain-deep in a lot of very self-reflective feelings about my own past relationships, not to mention my own queerness. It’s not entirely a coincidence that I finished reading Love Bites shortly before I wrote a post here, talking about both of those things.
So for that, I am grateful. I think I’m probably going to go back and read it a second time soon, to see what I make of it all now that I know the score. But regardless of what second thoughts might form, this was a book that I needed, in a time when I certainly needed it. Maybe you do too? If so, and if you give this book a shot, come back here and let me know what you thought.
Once again, thank you to Jo Fletcher Books for the review copy; this review is rambly but it is entirely honest.
Judging by that back cover copy, this book sounds exactly the way it was pitched to me, as a “tender and unforgettable … feel good queer romance with a surprising paranormal twist” (as per the promo email I received). And it is indeed all of those things, though not quite in the manner I had anticipated.
Don’t worry, this is going to be a good review of a really good book. I just have to talk about the … oddity of it? At least, the oddity from my point of view.
Let’s take Angela and her story first. Angela is a passionate astronomy student with a goth aesthetic, and thanks to a horribly abusive past relationship, she’s also a vampire. She’s presented as the perfect candidate for stereotypical vampirehood, perhaps: she already dresses in black, immerses herself in goth culture, and she’s studying astronomy so only coming out at night is surely not a hardship, right?
But almost right away, I got a bit stuck on the matter of that past relationship. That, plus certain aspects of Angela’s own behaviour, clouded the humorous angle of this book for me. To put it bluntly, Angela deals with the issue of having to drink human blood by going to bars and clubs, choosing a ‘safe target’, spiking their drink under the pretence of flirting/getting to know them and taking them somewhere quiet to feed.
There is no escaping the predatory behaviour this method evokes, and to continue being blunt, there is nothing funny about it – though to be fair, and to the author’s credit, it’s not played for laughs. Angela is never entirely comfortable with what she feels she needs to do, and she puts off feeding for as long as she can. But the fact remains that this is how she chooses to do it, and whatever the social justifications in her situation might be, it’s still a violation.
However, I can (somewhat) appreciate that being a vampire is not presented as sexy or romantic here. This isn’t that type of vampire love story, and I’ll admit that my feeling of being caught off-guard by it has a lot to do with my own past relationship baggage. I’ve been in an abusive relationship; I know how much fun it isn’t. Angela’s ex-girlfriend, the vampire who turns her, is never presented as sympathetic beyond the scenes in which Angela first meets her, when she’s the beautiful, intriguing, swoon-worthy object of Angela’s head-over-heels fascination. Because isn’t that always the way?
[b]Content note addendum[/b]: The book’s opening scene describes, in plain and entirely un-romantic language, the process by which Angela dies and becomes a vampire. It reads more like ‘scene of a crime’ than anything Dracula-esque, and while I can appreciate that approach, it was naturally the first hint I got that this was perhaps not going to be a cute, fluffy story…
So in that light, there is very little that’s funny to me about Angela’s story, and that’s as it should be.
Enter Chloë.
If Angela hits my aesthetically-pleased buttons, then Chloë is the character who hits me in the emotions. She’s also dealing with the fallout from a terrible relationship, but she’s doing it with a big old double-scoop of those old pals, depression and anxiety. Her house is a mess, she never goes out, she deals with it by burying herself in work (she’s a slush-reader for a publishing company, hello nerdy appreciation) and in denial.
You could say I can relate, yes. Just a bit. (It’s a big bit.)
She also ends up with two housemates in the form of a roommate who helps with the rent and is an angel? Apparently? But he’s not very good at it, though I absolutely appreciate the wry irony of an angel who tries to make a go of the street preacher life while bumbling through the guardian thing and … is not very good at that either.
The second roommate is Chloë’s aunt, who turns up out of the blue claiming she just needs to stay overnight on her way elsewhere and ends up staying. Oh, and she’s a witch who has been alive far longer than most mortals? She’s got some stories to tell, at any rate. And while these two characters undoubtedly shoulder the responsibility for the ‘comedy’ side of things here, I have to admit I spent more time giving them the amused side-eye than I did laughing out loud.
That’s absolutely not a bad thing, to be clear! Humour is entirely subjective, and were it not for the fact that I’d already been put on the back foot by the aforementioned sensitive content, I might have found it all funnier.
As far as dry, quirky humour goes, however, Ry Herman does it well and I have to declare that I’m here for it. In a rather curious way. For a pair of characters whose purpose is apparently to help smooth the way for Angela and Chloë both to find a happier path in life, whether together or not, they keep to that purpose and don’t overshadow the central romantic aspect of the book – but I want to know more about them! I want to follow the bumbling, wandering, goodnatured himbo angel to wherever he goes next and see what happens when he gets there. I want a story about the meddling, tarot-reading auntie who tells tales about having flings with Marlene Dietrich and Julie d’Aubigny.
Yes, you read that right. You’re welcome.
But we’re talking about Angela and Chloë here, and to my relief, from the point where they meet, fall in attraction and eventually fall in love, the story does climb toward a brighter, more positive point. I have a deep appreciation for romance novels because while they’re often perhaps formulaic, they are also deeply comforting. If there’s the guarantee of a Happily Ever After, then I don’t have to worry too much about what might happen before the characters get there. And while this formula is there for these two characters, I felt the lack of that kind of reassurance along the way, a little bit. (Looking at you, Ex-Girlfriend Tess.)
I’m absolutely putting this down to my own personal reactions to the darker aspects of the story, though – your mileage may vary. I’d simply feel like I wasn’t being entirely honest if I didn’t say that Angela’s treatment at her ex-girlfriend’s hands, and her own treatment of the people she feeds upon – one such example is included on-page – made me profoundly uneasy at first, and that this had an undeniable effect on how I felt about her, moving forward.
(Despite all this, she’s still not much like her ex. Thank all the gods.)
I am glad Angela and Chloë find each other, and find happiness with each other, and given the issues they both have I’m glad that their path involves the kind of vulnerability that lets them heal and move on, together. That’s the kind of romance I’m here for. But in retrospect, considering the whole package of this story – I wish I had had a bit of warning about the early content before I’d begun reading.
This is why I firmly advocate for the use of content notes/trigger warnings in books, even ones that are promoted as romantic comedies. Perhaps more so in those cases. I’d have felt better prepared than I did, if there had been one here. Take note, authors and publishers both!
To sum this one up, because this turned into a bit of a ramble, didn’t it: I would certainly recommend this book. Even with my reservations, I appreciated it because at the time I read it, I was brain-deep in a lot of very self-reflective feelings about my own past relationships, not to mention my own queerness. It’s not entirely a coincidence that I finished reading Love Bites shortly before I wrote a post here, talking about both of those things.
So for that, I am grateful. I think I’m probably going to go back and read it a second time soon, to see what I make of it all now that I know the score. But regardless of what second thoughts might form, this was a book that I needed, in a time when I certainly needed it. Maybe you do too? If so, and if you give this book a shot, come back here and let me know what you thought.
Once again, thank you to Jo Fletcher Books for the review copy; this review is rambly but it is entirely honest.
September 15, 2020
Review of Love Bites by Ry Herman: NO SPOILERS ;)
OK, yes. So it's a Lesbian Vampire book--which is a fun lure, for sure. However, it really is a lot more "layered" than you might think!
Yes, there are at least two very well-written love scenes, and they are that--it's written in a sweet, sensitive tone that honors the characters and does not debase them. They are perfect for someone who knows what that's like, I imagine, but also for someone who does not, and is curious.
There is some necessary "gore," but if you have dark humor, it's pretty funny, in my opinion. If you have a weak stomach, don't worry--"it'll only hurt for a second." ;)
It may be billed as a Genre book, but it certainly has elements of comedy, romance, drama, horror, and even mystery with its interwoven households and alternating time lines. Some chapters are devoted purely to a correlating story or legend which adds another layer of richness and understanding (and the occasional epiphany) for the reader's gain.
The author succeeded not only in entertaining, but I believe, in educating the reader indirectly on what it's like to be in the book-writing industry, of astronomy/astrophysics, mythology, and even what it feels like to be a survivor, or at least, one who is trying to recover from and addiction or abuse, and figure out how to move on.
I highly recommend buying at least one copy, as it's fun to have a friend read it at the same time.
Enjoy, and please let me know what you think!!
OK, yes. So it's a Lesbian Vampire book--which is a fun lure, for sure. However, it really is a lot more "layered" than you might think!
Yes, there are at least two very well-written love scenes, and they are that--it's written in a sweet, sensitive tone that honors the characters and does not debase them. They are perfect for someone who knows what that's like, I imagine, but also for someone who does not, and is curious.
There is some necessary "gore," but if you have dark humor, it's pretty funny, in my opinion. If you have a weak stomach, don't worry--"it'll only hurt for a second." ;)
It may be billed as a Genre book, but it certainly has elements of comedy, romance, drama, horror, and even mystery with its interwoven households and alternating time lines. Some chapters are devoted purely to a correlating story or legend which adds another layer of richness and understanding (and the occasional epiphany) for the reader's gain.
The author succeeded not only in entertaining, but I believe, in educating the reader indirectly on what it's like to be in the book-writing industry, of astronomy/astrophysics, mythology, and even what it feels like to be a survivor, or at least, one who is trying to recover from and addiction or abuse, and figure out how to move on.
I highly recommend buying at least one copy, as it's fun to have a friend read it at the same time.
Enjoy, and please let me know what you think!!
July 30, 2020
Extremely well written: characters that were gripping, relatable, and entirely believable, it builds to the very end, and you can't help but root for Chloe and Angela. You will like this if you like fantasy, or romance, or even science fiction. It is definitely not the usual vampire novel, or monster novel, or angel novel, or supernatural romance novel, or anything else you want to characterize it as. It is absolutely not an Irish potato famine musical novel, but it does make you wonder what one would be like, and shudder at the thought in a way that surpasses any horror novel.
I loved how Angela and Chloe's romance develops but was fascinated by the glimpses of the supporting characters; you get the impression that their lives are far richer and weirder than you get to see since there is only so much you can pack into one book. It is also possible that Boston is just weirder than I ever imagined: perhaps an angel trying to tell a parable to a slightly drunk fire marshal with an eye for building code violations in fairy tale castles is more common a sight there than I had thought.
I also loved how the details of the book are tight and clear; it is nice to see a really well edited book with a lot of research done to make the small points perfect.
I hope Ry Herman publishes much more.
I loved how Angela and Chloe's romance develops but was fascinated by the glimpses of the supporting characters; you get the impression that their lives are far richer and weirder than you get to see since there is only so much you can pack into one book. It is also possible that Boston is just weirder than I ever imagined: perhaps an angel trying to tell a parable to a slightly drunk fire marshal with an eye for building code violations in fairy tale castles is more common a sight there than I had thought.
I also loved how the details of the book are tight and clear; it is nice to see a really well edited book with a lot of research done to make the small points perfect.
I hope Ry Herman publishes much more.
June 28, 2020
I'm grateful to Jo Fletcher books for an advance e-copy of Love Bites via NetGalley.
CW: Love Bites, and so this review, includes themes of physical and emotional abuse and also suicide.
Love Bites is an absorbing, modern romance novel that just happens to concern a vampire. In events set in and around Boston leading up to Christmas 1999 we see Chloë and Angela struggle with their pasts, with the ways they've been hurt, to imagine a future together.
Graduate astrophysics student Angela has escaped an abusive relationship with photographer Tess. Abusive, but formative: Tess very much shaped the person that Angela is, from her taste in clothes to her lifestyle. But Tess hurt Angela badly and Angela is concerned that she may inflict the same pain on others - if she gets too close. She may not be able to help herself. So she's wary when the pattern seems to be playing itself out again.
Publisher's reader Chloë has suffered from mental health problems. She is on medication, but sometimes harbours dark thoughts ('Gun, the thought enters her mind, unbidden. You could shoot yourself in the head. It'd be quick and simple.') Coming from a strictly religious background and having entered into a disastrous marriage, her self-esteem is often low. ('Cooking is too much of an effort, anyway. She's worthless.')
When the two women meet, it's bound to get complicated...
If that wasn't enough, Love Bites also introduces a (possibly) centuries old witch, who might play the role of fairy godmother here but then again she might just be talking rubbish, and an angel who seems to be branching out and setting up his own religion. We also see a lot of Chloë's workmate Shelley and her partner Mike - together the characters form a believable group (Herman has a knack of making the weird seem credible - maybe something to do with grounding the unbelievable in the dilemmas of everyday life - work, rent, relations with an ex, cat sitting) and in fact a very sympathetic one. The paranormal element is here but the meat and drink of the story (perhaps I should say the blood...) is relationships, not doomy overcoming-supernatural-evil. I enjoyed that.
I liked the notes that one character penned in seeking to understand her, totally inexplicable, staten of being. What are the limits now being a vampire? What can you safely do and not do? How many of the myths are true? Subjected to a scientific investigation, maybe there might be answers... or maybe just more frustration.
There is also some sharp writing here, from scene setting as our protagonists go about their daily lives ('Brookline is still sleepy, not yet hurrying along in the caffeinated press of rush hour', 'She is, after all, young and over-educated') to the intoxication of a new relationship ('She's young and in love and dancing') to some very tender sex scenes (not going to quote) to the sadness of a chilly family (Chloë's parents, whose main reaction to her attempted suicide is irritation that have to pay for the ambulance). It also has a great, if chilling, exposition of the progress of an abusive relationship leading up to 'And then, once day, when she slaps you...'
There's a lot of fear here, and guilt, and a hope to be better but honest doubt whether you can be and whether it is fair, or just demanding, to seek forgiveness. And risk and trust and the potential, perhaps for new starts, not knowing all the answers but seeking honestly to find them. It's funny in places ('It gives him the vague impression that he's a member of a depressed drum-and-bugle corps. Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Goth Club Band') but can turn poignant in a flash ('Sweat is already soaking the ridiculously impractical waist cinched dress Tess is having her wear today', 'She can't spend her life not trusting anybody').
It's a heady mix and a book I greatly enjoyed. Do try it. (It would also, I think, make a great Christmas present for just the right person...)
CW: Love Bites, and so this review, includes themes of physical and emotional abuse and also suicide.
Love Bites is an absorbing, modern romance novel that just happens to concern a vampire. In events set in and around Boston leading up to Christmas 1999 we see Chloë and Angela struggle with their pasts, with the ways they've been hurt, to imagine a future together.
Graduate astrophysics student Angela has escaped an abusive relationship with photographer Tess. Abusive, but formative: Tess very much shaped the person that Angela is, from her taste in clothes to her lifestyle. But Tess hurt Angela badly and Angela is concerned that she may inflict the same pain on others - if she gets too close. She may not be able to help herself. So she's wary when the pattern seems to be playing itself out again.
Publisher's reader Chloë has suffered from mental health problems. She is on medication, but sometimes harbours dark thoughts ('Gun, the thought enters her mind, unbidden. You could shoot yourself in the head. It'd be quick and simple.') Coming from a strictly religious background and having entered into a disastrous marriage, her self-esteem is often low. ('Cooking is too much of an effort, anyway. She's worthless.')
When the two women meet, it's bound to get complicated...
If that wasn't enough, Love Bites also introduces a (possibly) centuries old witch, who might play the role of fairy godmother here but then again she might just be talking rubbish, and an angel who seems to be branching out and setting up his own religion. We also see a lot of Chloë's workmate Shelley and her partner Mike - together the characters form a believable group (Herman has a knack of making the weird seem credible - maybe something to do with grounding the unbelievable in the dilemmas of everyday life - work, rent, relations with an ex, cat sitting) and in fact a very sympathetic one. The paranormal element is here but the meat and drink of the story (perhaps I should say the blood...) is relationships, not doomy overcoming-supernatural-evil. I enjoyed that.
I liked the notes that one character penned in seeking to understand her, totally inexplicable, staten of being. What are the limits now being a vampire? What can you safely do and not do? How many of the myths are true? Subjected to a scientific investigation, maybe there might be answers... or maybe just more frustration.
There is also some sharp writing here, from scene setting as our protagonists go about their daily lives ('Brookline is still sleepy, not yet hurrying along in the caffeinated press of rush hour', 'She is, after all, young and over-educated') to the intoxication of a new relationship ('She's young and in love and dancing') to some very tender sex scenes (not going to quote) to the sadness of a chilly family (Chloë's parents, whose main reaction to her attempted suicide is irritation that have to pay for the ambulance). It also has a great, if chilling, exposition of the progress of an abusive relationship leading up to 'And then, once day, when she slaps you...'
There's a lot of fear here, and guilt, and a hope to be better but honest doubt whether you can be and whether it is fair, or just demanding, to seek forgiveness. And risk and trust and the potential, perhaps for new starts, not knowing all the answers but seeking honestly to find them. It's funny in places ('It gives him the vague impression that he's a member of a depressed drum-and-bugle corps. Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Goth Club Band') but can turn poignant in a flash ('Sweat is already soaking the ridiculously impractical waist cinched dress Tess is having her wear today', 'She can't spend her life not trusting anybody').
It's a heady mix and a book I greatly enjoyed. Do try it. (It would also, I think, make a great Christmas present for just the right person...)
July 10, 2020
This is a debut novel which I was drawn to by the cover in all honesty plus, vampires!
So firstly, my favourite character was the cat, Entropy. Loved that it was crazy and opened drawers to empty them. Secondly, the main characters themselves were really interesting. Throughout the book, Angela and Chloe faced their mental health issues left from previous relationships and I think this was handled really well to be honest. Herman tackled anxiety and depression without being condescending, including some symptoms not usually used in books which I really appreciated.
The downside for me was how long it took me to actually get into the story, it was a really slow burn for me in the beginning and because of the multiple character narratives I found it quite disjointed. This did get easier the more I read and got into the characters but it did take away some of the enjoyment in the beginning and made me feel it was a little unnecessary having so much back and forth early on.
All in all it was a cute little story with some sweet f/f romance. Plus vampires!
So firstly, my favourite character was the cat, Entropy. Loved that it was crazy and opened drawers to empty them. Secondly, the main characters themselves were really interesting. Throughout the book, Angela and Chloe faced their mental health issues left from previous relationships and I think this was handled really well to be honest. Herman tackled anxiety and depression without being condescending, including some symptoms not usually used in books which I really appreciated.
The downside for me was how long it took me to actually get into the story, it was a really slow burn for me in the beginning and because of the multiple character narratives I found it quite disjointed. This did get easier the more I read and got into the characters but it did take away some of the enjoyment in the beginning and made me feel it was a little unnecessary having so much back and forth early on.
All in all it was a cute little story with some sweet f/f romance. Plus vampires!
October 20, 2022
The cover of this book is quite misleading. It is a romance and it is contemporary, but it deals with a lot in its short run time (CW: mentally and physically abusive relationships, both hetero and gay; child abuse via a strict and religious family; depression and suicidal ideation; murder and attempted murder). It's also a Christmas movie, kind of, and has some silly elements that lighten it all up a bit (and sometimes do distract from the more serious narrative, but I didn't mind). Everything was handled well, I thought, and I couldn't put it down - I really wanted everyone in this to be okay. Looking forward to dipping into Herman's other stuff.
Side note: this is book-about-vampires no.3 this month (counting Salem's Lot as no.2 even though I haven't finished it yet), I think I'll just go ahead and have a bloodsucker themed October 🦇
Side note: this is book-about-vampires no.3 this month (counting Salem's Lot as no.2 even though I haven't finished it yet), I think I'll just go ahead and have a bloodsucker themed October 🦇
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