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Suddenly Shifters #5
Suddenly Squirrel
In a small town where unusual things are happening to ordinary people...a squirrel is born.
Gary's neighbor Marie is an uptight librarian with no sense of humor.
Marie's neighbor Gary is an obnoxiously loud and footloose theater guy with no sense of boundaries.
When Gary wakes up with a sudden and unpredictable ability to shift into a squirrel, he's desperate for answers. When he hits up the library for research, he runs into Marie and discovers an unexpected ally in uncovering the mysteries of transformation that are spreading through the sleepy town of Anders Canyon...and an unexpected interest in his former enemy-next-door.
Suddenly Squirrel is a hot and hilarious grumpy-and-sunshine, opposites-attract shifter short romance romp, with copious musical theater references, an undercover shifter book club, and side-splitting shifting mishaps. An early draft of this story was previously published on Vella and at Patreon.
Gary's neighbor Marie is an uptight librarian with no sense of humor.
Marie's neighbor Gary is an obnoxiously loud and footloose theater guy with no sense of boundaries.
When Gary wakes up with a sudden and unpredictable ability to shift into a squirrel, he's desperate for answers. When he hits up the library for research, he runs into Marie and discovers an unexpected ally in uncovering the mysteries of transformation that are spreading through the sleepy town of Anders Canyon...and an unexpected interest in his former enemy-next-door.
Suddenly Squirrel is a hot and hilarious grumpy-and-sunshine, opposites-attract shifter short romance romp, with copious musical theater references, an undercover shifter book club, and side-splitting shifting mishaps. An early draft of this story was previously published on Vella and at Patreon.
134 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 23, 2023
111 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Elva Birch
115 books273 followersElva Birch is an author of the impossible and irresistible. She is a fire dragon Gemini living in Alaska who belly dances outside at twenty below in the winter and loves to find tiny fairy moss worlds in the summer with her camera.
Elva also writes SHIFTING SANDS RESORT, GREEN VALLEY SHIFTERS, and FAE SHIFTER KNIGHTS as Zoe Chant.
Join her Reader's Retreat on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/elvab... for sneak previews or join her mailing list and get a free novella at: http://www.elvabirch.com/join-the-mai...
Not sure where to start? Take the quiz at her site to find your perfect book! https://www.elvabirch.com/find-a-book/
Elva also writes SHIFTING SANDS RESORT, GREEN VALLEY SHIFTERS, and FAE SHIFTER KNIGHTS as Zoe Chant.
Join her Reader's Retreat on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/elvab... for sneak previews or join her mailing list and get a free novella at: http://www.elvabirch.com/join-the-mai...
Not sure where to start? Take the quiz at her site to find your perfect book! https://www.elvabirch.com/find-a-book/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
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May 30, 2023I have a hard time rating reads as short as this. I will say that for as short as it is we get a decent amount of depth to the FMC. I'm not sure I really felt the same about the MMC. The whole paranormal aspect wasn't nearly fleshed out enough for me, but this is the only book from the series that I've read, so I'd imagine there is a lot of context that I'm probably missing. We just got a few scenes of shifting out of nowhere and then...not much else about it.
January 24, 2023
Sweet, funny, magical and musical
Part of the Suddenly Shifters series, I feel the author does a good job of setting this book up to be read as a standalone. Reading the earlier books in the series does help fill in the world building, though, and give you background information on a lot of secondary characters.
I feel like I say this every time with this author, but I think this is my favorite in the series so far. To start, I love the premise of ordinary people dealing with the sudden intrusion of magic into their lives, and as a fan of musicals and musical theatre, I loved all the musical references in this particular book—I’m still singing Suddenly Seymore all the time (occasionally interspersed with Secret Agent Man), lol. The characters are intelligent, competent, and occasionally achingly vulnerable: I related almost too strongly to Marie, having recently had my own milestone birthday, as well as occasional bouts of social awkwardness and ongoing introversion.
There is a lovely progression to the story as Gary and Marie get to really know each each other beyond the assumptions and pigeon holing they each had done, with plenty of humor as well as touches of heat and suspense. Overall, a highly entertaining and enjoyable read both on its own and as a part of the larger series, and I’m already looking forward to the next installment.
Part of the Suddenly Shifters series, I feel the author does a good job of setting this book up to be read as a standalone. Reading the earlier books in the series does help fill in the world building, though, and give you background information on a lot of secondary characters.
I feel like I say this every time with this author, but I think this is my favorite in the series so far. To start, I love the premise of ordinary people dealing with the sudden intrusion of magic into their lives, and as a fan of musicals and musical theatre, I loved all the musical references in this particular book—I’m still singing Suddenly Seymore all the time (occasionally interspersed with Secret Agent Man), lol. The characters are intelligent, competent, and occasionally achingly vulnerable: I related almost too strongly to Marie, having recently had my own milestone birthday, as well as occasional bouts of social awkwardness and ongoing introversion.
There is a lovely progression to the story as Gary and Marie get to really know each each other beyond the assumptions and pigeon holing they each had done, with plenty of humor as well as touches of heat and suspense. Overall, a highly entertaining and enjoyable read both on its own and as a part of the larger series, and I’m already looking forward to the next installment.
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February 3, 2023Heat Factor: Gary was more forward than I expected
Character Chemistry: Suddenly don’t hate each other, suddenly sex…It all happens pretty suddenly
Plot: Gary feels unwell one night and wakes up able to shift into a squirrel. When he goes to the library for answers, he gets some help from his neighbor, Marie, who is super grumpy.
Overall: The amount of musical theater tune references in this book is really something
If you already enjoy reading Birch’s books, you’ll probably have fun with this one, but if you’re new to the author, I’d suggest starting with one of her full-length book series first.
Read our full review at The Smut Report
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.
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Character Chemistry: Suddenly don’t hate each other, suddenly sex…It all happens pretty suddenly
Plot: Gary feels unwell one night and wakes up able to shift into a squirrel. When he goes to the library for answers, he gets some help from his neighbor, Marie, who is super grumpy.
Overall: The amount of musical theater tune references in this book is really something
If you already enjoy reading Birch’s books, you’ll probably have fun with this one, but if you’re new to the author, I’d suggest starting with one of her full-length book series first.
Read our full review at The Smut Report
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
March 15, 2023
Gary is in a quandary, suddenly he's too small for his pants and his cat Lulu is trying to eat him! He's turned into a squirrel and he has no idea what to do. He can't ask his friends what to do, because although they are in the theater, they would laugh at him. What's he going to do, go to the library and try to find some answers in a book that's what.
Marie can't believe her eyes when she sees her rowdy neighbor walk into her safe place, her library. But what ensues is beyond her wildest dreams. He's not parking in front of her house, or leaving party favors thrown around, he's actually trying to make a move on her and the weird thing is she likes it! A stick in the mud librarian like her being hit on by a smart sexy hunk, something has to be a foot.
What could be happening in the little town of Anders Canyon, maybe something in the water, turning some people into animals?
Marie can't believe her eyes when she sees her rowdy neighbor walk into her safe place, her library. But what ensues is beyond her wildest dreams. He's not parking in front of her house, or leaving party favors thrown around, he's actually trying to make a move on her and the weird thing is she likes it! A stick in the mud librarian like her being hit on by a smart sexy hunk, something has to be a foot.
What could be happening in the little town of Anders Canyon, maybe something in the water, turning some people into animals?
January 27, 2023
Cute short read.
Marie Yen, a librarian, is upset that her neighbor Gary is having another party at his house. They tend to get loud. Gary sends people home early because he is suddenly very tired and seriously hungry. If you have read the series, you know what this means. Gary finds out the hard way that he can change into a squirrel! You have to read this book to find out what happens next! It does help to read these books in order. This helps you keep it all straight. I plan on rereading this shortly.
The pace is fast and the tone is uncertain yet hopeful with a character oriented storyline that has some steamy scenes. The characters are vibrant and engaging. Wait until you meet Lulu! Enjoy this very fast paced shifter romance with a lot of musical references!
Marie Yen, a librarian, is upset that her neighbor Gary is having another party at his house. They tend to get loud. Gary sends people home early because he is suddenly very tired and seriously hungry. If you have read the series, you know what this means. Gary finds out the hard way that he can change into a squirrel! You have to read this book to find out what happens next! It does help to read these books in order. This helps you keep it all straight. I plan on rereading this shortly.
The pace is fast and the tone is uncertain yet hopeful with a character oriented storyline that has some steamy scenes. The characters are vibrant and engaging. Wait until you meet Lulu! Enjoy this very fast paced shifter romance with a lot of musical references!
February 15, 2023
A sweet shifter novella
This is a sweet, fun and sexy shifter novella with a side of meant to be. I really enjoyed Gary and Marie’s grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers, opposites attract love story. Gary, a theater and music college professor, starts to randomly shift into a squirrel and does not know who to ask about it. Marie, a librarian and his neighbor who has always seemed standoffish seems like the least likely person to confide it. But fate, circumstances and a seemingly uncoordinated squirrel sighting start their HEA journey. While short, the writing was good, the characters were well developed, and the storyline was engaging. The series story arc of the mysterious origins of the sudden shifting continues.
This is a sweet, fun and sexy shifter novella with a side of meant to be. I really enjoyed Gary and Marie’s grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers, opposites attract love story. Gary, a theater and music college professor, starts to randomly shift into a squirrel and does not know who to ask about it. Marie, a librarian and his neighbor who has always seemed standoffish seems like the least likely person to confide it. But fate, circumstances and a seemingly uncoordinated squirrel sighting start their HEA journey. While short, the writing was good, the characters were well developed, and the storyline was engaging. The series story arc of the mysterious origins of the sudden shifting continues.
January 24, 2023
Do you love musical theater?
There are a LOT of musical theater references in this book. If you don't like it, you probably won't get this book. I love musical theater and still didn't get all the references. Gary is a theater and voice teacher who directs during the summer.
Marie is a librarian. She also loves musical theater, but more from an audience perspective. She is reserved and introverted and grumpy. I love that the "grumpy" in grumpy/sunshine is the girl in this one!
This story is funny and sweet, with no violence. The conflict is entirely in the relationship between the characters, with shifting being a catalyst.
There are a LOT of musical theater references in this book. If you don't like it, you probably won't get this book. I love musical theater and still didn't get all the references. Gary is a theater and voice teacher who directs during the summer.
Marie is a librarian. She also loves musical theater, but more from an audience perspective. She is reserved and introverted and grumpy. I love that the "grumpy" in grumpy/sunshine is the girl in this one!
This story is funny and sweet, with no violence. The conflict is entirely in the relationship between the characters, with shifting being a catalyst.
January 24, 2023
Elva Birch hits it AGAIN
Guarantee this short novel will make you laugh. A bit of shameless promotion for a book the author didn’t write, but cropped up as a lawn ornament. I mean I like enemies to lovers stories, but they usually involve wolf shifters or angry faeries, a heroine in a dungeon, etc. This could be your neighborhood, especially if you have ever tangled with a HOA! The book is fun, clever and I will never look at that squirrel in my backyard that chases the crows the same again!
Guarantee this short novel will make you laugh. A bit of shameless promotion for a book the author didn’t write, but cropped up as a lawn ornament. I mean I like enemies to lovers stories, but they usually involve wolf shifters or angry faeries, a heroine in a dungeon, etc. This could be your neighborhood, especially if you have ever tangled with a HOA! The book is fun, clever and I will never look at that squirrel in my backyard that chases the crows the same again!
January 26, 2023
loving this series!
Something mysterious is going on in this town, and this one is building up on the previous stories. Each one deals with one character who suddenly craves lots of food, sleeps the day away, and something happens to make them shift. Poor Gary becomes a Squirrel (he has a lot of friends in the theater community), and his cat starts chasing him around. His neighbor Marie comes to his rescue, and then she is startled to see her neighbor naked in her yard! Such a fun story!
Something mysterious is going on in this town, and this one is building up on the previous stories. Each one deals with one character who suddenly craves lots of food, sleeps the day away, and something happens to make them shift. Poor Gary becomes a Squirrel (he has a lot of friends in the theater community), and his cat starts chasing him around. His neighbor Marie comes to his rescue, and then she is startled to see her neighbor naked in her yard! Such a fun story!
January 28, 2023
Loved it
I simply enjoy this series. The fact that he becomes a squirrel and has to escape from his own cat is just hilarious. I like the humor especially when all the sudden he changes and ends up naked in his neighbors backyard. The book club for shifters was a great idea. The romance that begins with the neighbor is wonderful. You just never know when love will find you. I love how they play off each other with musicals and parts of plays. This book is humorous and fun with a little romance on the side. I recommend the entire series as well.
I simply enjoy this series. The fact that he becomes a squirrel and has to escape from his own cat is just hilarious. I like the humor especially when all the sudden he changes and ends up naked in his neighbors backyard. The book club for shifters was a great idea. The romance that begins with the neighbor is wonderful. You just never know when love will find you. I love how they play off each other with musicals and parts of plays. This book is humorous and fun with a little romance on the side. I recommend the entire series as well.
January 17, 2023
I simply enjoy this series. The fact that he becomes a squirrel and has to escape from his own cat is just hilarious. I like the humor especially when all the sudden he changes and ends up naked in his neighbors backyard. The book club for shifters was a great idea. The romance that begins with neighbor is wonderful. You just never know when love will find you. Its humorous and fun and a little romance on the side.
February 15, 2023
This was an interesting take on shifters where people just suddenly shift with no prior warning and no discernible genetic differences. When Gary suddenly becomes a squirrel shifter he goes to the library to research his condition. There he realizes his neighbor Maria is a librarian. They get to know each other and we end with a HFN.
This is part of an ongoing series but could be read as a standalone. I would recommend reading the prior books in the series first, however.
February 25, 2023
This was a fun and easy read that takes librarian Maria and her theatre neighbour Gary and tosses them together with an unexpected shifting problem. Gary went to bed not feeling well and woke as a squirrel... While these two started off rather antagonistically, they find common ground in researching what's up with Gary. Expect humour, musical theatre tunes and steam to give you a great reading escape ;)
September 3, 2025
Wonderful
Another wonderful story in the Suddenly Shifters series. These quick stories are so sweet and fun. This time we get Marie and Gary's story. He's the sunshine and she's the grumpy but opposites attract. We Gary suddenly finds himself able to shift into a squirrel he goes to the library where she works to see if he can find anything to help him. I think they make a fantastic couple. I hope there are more of these stories to come.
Another wonderful story in the Suddenly Shifters series. These quick stories are so sweet and fun. This time we get Marie and Gary's story. He's the sunshine and she's the grumpy but opposites attract. We Gary suddenly finds himself able to shift into a squirrel he goes to the library where she works to see if he can find anything to help him. I think they make a fantastic couple. I hope there are more of these stories to come.
March 5, 2023
I enjoyed this story, it is hilarious. Very interesting take on shifters, haven't read any of the others in this series so I do wonder if I missed out on some info concerning the uniqueness of this one. Neighbors, not really friends but he is patient and definitely up to convincing her otherwise. Short and entertaining. I received a free copy and voluntarily chose to leave this review.
December 22, 2023
Another cute instalment in this series - this is the final instalment so far, and I'm hoping Ms Birch isn't finished with the series: I really want to find out what's going on that's causing the sudden rash of shifting in Anders Canyon, as well as who and what Lena and Torque are.
Fingers crossed for more shifting hijinks soon!
Fingers crossed for more shifting hijinks soon!
April 30, 2025
interesting couple
She is grumpy and he is sunshine. Personally I didn’t even think about it being interracial until I glanced at the title while typing this, (I mean, they are just people) except it let her have the delightful name of Marie Yen which lends itself wonderfully to the librarian song.
And I want more!!!
She is grumpy and he is sunshine. Personally I didn’t even think about it being interracial until I glanced at the title while typing this, (I mean, they are just people) except it let her have the delightful name of Marie Yen which lends itself wonderfully to the librarian song.
And I want more!!!
did-not-finish
January 24, 2023DNF 48%
I expected similar cute and fun as Day Care series but it’s just not tickling me and honestly feels a little boring. Definitely me and my brain and not the book, just not hitting the happy buttons for me.
I expected similar cute and fun as Day Care series but it’s just not tickling me and honestly feels a little boring. Definitely me and my brain and not the book, just not hitting the happy buttons for me.
May 15, 2023
Suddenly Shifter Series
Loved all the different stories. Elva has quite the imagination. Couldn’t put the books down finish the whole series in in three days. Highly recommend you read very entertaining.
Loved all the different stories. Elva has quite the imagination. Couldn’t put the books down finish the whole series in in three days. Highly recommend you read very entertaining.
December 31, 2023
Suddenly Squirrel
This can't be the end. So many questions and say to few answers. Even so, this was a short sweet romance of "enemies" to friends to lovers. She finally figured he was a squirrel shifter and he eventually won her heart.
This can't be the end. So many questions and say to few answers. Even so, this was a short sweet romance of "enemies" to friends to lovers. She finally figured he was a squirrel shifter and he eventually won her heart.
September 9, 2024
Too grumpy for me.
I found it very hard to warm up to Marie. She was too rigid and to judgemental to change so quickly. I didn't relate to her at all. I couldn't understand Gary's attraction to someone who had given such clear indications that he was not welcome.
I found it very hard to warm up to Marie. She was too rigid and to judgemental to change so quickly. I didn't relate to her at all. I couldn't understand Gary's attraction to someone who had given such clear indications that he was not welcome.
October 27, 2024
cute short story
I enjoyed this book. It is a HEA shifter story. Marie and Gary are interesting main characters. I really want to know where this series is going. They are all fun reads
I enjoyed this book. It is a HEA shifter story. Marie and Gary are interesting main characters. I really want to know where this series is going. They are all fun reads
January 4, 2023
Super funny, and steamy! Really enjoyed it.. and loved these adorable characters! This story made me smile :)
January 9, 2023
A continuation of a series that is unique. I am loving how these characters interact with each other during their time of discovery.
January 24, 2023
Suddenly squirrel
Couldn't put it down loved the characters and the storyline so it's a well deserved five stars and I would recommend it to everyone
Couldn't put it down loved the characters and the storyline so it's a well deserved five stars and I would recommend it to everyone
February 5, 2023
Fun story in a fun series
What do the quiet local librarian and a boisterous theater professor have in common? More than might be expected if they can get over a few hurdles.
What do the quiet local librarian and a boisterous theater professor have in common? More than might be expected if they can get over a few hurdles.
February 10, 2023
The squirrel and the librarian
One day a college professor some up as a squirrel. He went to the library to research shape shifting. The librarian noticed a lot of interest in that.
One day a college professor some up as a squirrel. He went to the library to research shape shifting. The librarian noticed a lot of interest in that.
February 26, 2023
I loved this book. It’s very well written and leaves roomfor questions.
March 28, 2023
Very cute story about a man who suddenly becomes a squirrel shifter and his next door neighbor who's a librarian.
July 30, 2023
😁😁😁😁💜
More and more "suddenly shifters" are coming out of the woodwork. There is still no reasonable explanation, but it is definitely NOT the water...
More and more "suddenly shifters" are coming out of the woodwork. There is still no reasonable explanation, but it is definitely NOT the water...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews