Unfortunately I DNF'd this one even though the concept sounded so fun. I couldn't connect with the writing style and wasn't a huge fan of the characterization.

I could not get into this book. I really tried, but it was not grabbing me. I love supernatural romances, but this just felt a little boring? It didn’t hook me. I stopped reading about 40% in. I’m sure it’s someone else’s cup of tea but it’s not mine!

3 ⭐

This was...okay. It was entertaining and the story idea itself was a good one. An unknown witch and a weird werewolf, best friends to enemies to best friends again. I love a good paranormal blend to a modern world...I really liked the integration of the fantasy/paranormal to the town and the differences that she saw once the veil was lifted.

BUT THE PACING - omg, the pacing was like whiplash. Everything was going about 100 miles an hour and there was no downtime to really get to know the characters. The dialogue could be funny at times, but there were moments where it was nothing but volleying retorts that felt forced.

Oh, and definitely recommend reading the trigger warnings - there is some highly fatphobic commentary going on and the main characters downs herself a lot because of her weight which could difficult for some readers.

I was excited by the summary of this book. Seemed like it’d be right up by alley. However I couldn’t even pay attention to the plot because the grammar and writing quality of this book is horrific. I’m rereading every other sentence multiple times just to try to figure out what she means. The second sentence of the book was “But though she’d hated the way she’d responded.” What?? Where was your editor? Almost every sentence either features a comma or hyphen when there should’ve just been two sentences or the sentences is a complete or grammatically correct sentence. I’m FAR from an English expert, so my bar for basic grammar is pretty low, and this book can’t even see the bar from how far below it is.

Ok so this book by this author was a first for me. I really really wanted to like the book, but the beginning half of it just did not draw me in at all and the characters did not feel fully developed. I couldn’t wait to finish this book and not in a good way either.

Ok this was terrific! It feed my need for a small town second chance romance. Truly a dirty little witchy read.

I am now a permanent fan of this author. The writing style is so easy to fall into. I love that the characters are so relatable. Being a full figured gal that was bullied in school. I felt for the female lead. She was hurt. As much as no one wants to admit this type of pain sticks with you, forever. It affects who you are and who you trust. So I seriously feel deeply in the pages and hung on every word. I couldn’t wait to pick it up again. I laughed and swooned when this little raccoon comes into the story.

If you’re looking for a full course meal of smut with a side of second chance romance and a sprinkling of witchy ness. Pick this little beauty up and just enjoy what the offer serves up. This werewolf has quite the appetite and so will you after it’s done.

I really wanted to like this book but it just wasn't for me. I love paranormal romance but I feel like the characters weren't fleshed out enough. I think if they were more fleshed out it would've helped the chemistry between Seth and Cassie. The writing was a little confusing at times as well. I loved the description but the book wasn't for me.

The book was fine. Parts of it were funny but nothing in it stands out as being a really great read.

First things first, thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this digital ARC.

I try my hardest to only request advanced reader copies of books I'm sure I will enjoy, I think every author deserves a chance for their book to get glowing reviews and recognition/publicity before it is published...that being said, sometimes a book is chosen that I end up just not loving. Sadly this was one of those.

This story centers around Cassie and Seth, former childhood best friends turned enemies-- and I do mean centers. There are a few outside characters aside from Cassie/Seth, but we get zero backstory or time in those character's heads, leaving us feeling disconnected from them.

Best friends turn enemies one fateful day in high school, when Seth is trying to get in with the "popular" boys, and calls Cassie a fata$$ while she is on stage, in front of the whole school. She is understandably hurt and feeling betrayed by the person she thought would always be on her side. Now 10 years later he reappears in her life, in the form of a werewolf. Lo and behold, the only person who could possibly help him is Cassie, his supposed best friend that he chose to humiliate then just stop talking to??? We eventually (like literally 60% of the way through) get an "explanation" of what happened in hs and a semi apology, but honestly it felt weak and I wished there was more.

We see the story almost exclusively through Cassie's eyes (with small snippets where we get Seth's POV, out loud/never in his head). We see them grappling with romantic feelings for each other for the entirety of the book, but instead of getting to a point where they realize, "of course I'm in love with this person who has been in my life for so long/is so excellent to me in x,y,z ways..." we get no real climactic moment in that regard. Instead we get waffling about, and trying to blame all feelings on "weird werewolf hormones". So frustrating!!! And don't even get me started on Cassie as our plus-sized MC. She briefly mentions that she has come to love herself and that is what is important, which is great- we love that! Definitely could have been more evident in her character, which displayed zero hint of that confidence. Then Seth, who is allegedly so in love with her and believes her to be his fated mate- who is literally PAINFULLY (dangerously??) horny for her does not pay adequate homage to Cassie's figure. We get maybe two mentions of soft curves. We love a curvy queen, we do, but if we are centering a plus sized character then please for the love of god show them the love they deserve.

Ok, end rant.

I do think there are people who will enjoy this story, and I did not rate it lower for that reason. The story line is simple, there are a few steamy love scenes, there are werewolves and witches! Lot's to love for the right person!

Okay…I really devoured this book in an evening! I just thought it was so fun and imaginative and I loved the story and the world Charlotte Stein created. At some parts of the book, I wished Cassie and Seth would speak plainly to each other and got over the high school drama sooner. BUT as I said…I devoured it! I did enjoy the spiciness, as well (4/5🌶️)!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Charlotte Stein for this ARC read!

Oh gosh where do i begin?! This book… this. BOOK!
*slow clap*

On a serious note this book was everything and more for me. Being bullied myself for my appearance and then growing up to be a bigger girl and hating my body and being self conscious of what everyone thought from past trauma really made me resignate with this book. I was able to put myself into the fmc’s shoes and picture the story as if i was going through it myself. Every aspect of this story was very whimisical and blundered and just the akward in between stages of figuring out your feelings for someone through your own self doubts and wondering if they feel the same way too while skirting around the bigger picture thats right in front of the both of you. I loved that the story worked its way up to being a love story while maintaining all of the right amounts of magical elements to make it even better. The amount of sarcasm and jokes also had me laughing out loud because it is definitely something i would do so it made it even more relatable!! Only thing i found weird was rhe mmc’s name is the same as my best friends name so i was like welp- we are not going to go there because this is NOT our story in the slightest haha but it made me smile nonetheless at the true friendship between the true characters that you were able to see be rebuilt and rekindled as if it never went away. Overall fantastic story !!

DNFing pretty early cause I really don’t see a way for him to come back from that… it’s a nope for me.

I loved the idea of this but was ultimately disappointed with the book overall. Of course, this was a very silly premise but it veered away from silly into the ridiculous. I found myself cringing at how ridiculous it was but I also couldn't stop reading. The tension and the spice were top tier but I couldn't fully enjoy it because of the whole....plot.

I wish I could rate the plot and the spice separately. Truthfully, the spice was so good that I fully intend to keep reading the authors future books but I would never recommend this to anyone unless they were able to fully set aside their expectations and just prepare for a silly, goofy, sexy time.

This was so cute. Forget grumpy / sunshine, this is sunshine / golden retriever! Adorable, engaging, and I loved the plot! Who among us hasn't wished powers would one day magically manifest within ourselves?!? Cassie was so sweet and heartfelt and still hurting, and Seth was just...major golden retriever vibes. Sweet, happy, eager to please. I loved him.

The trauma from childhood was tough, so I really appreciated the heads up prior to starting the book.

I heart Pod!! But the microwave was my favorite side character!!

I will say, this book has a lot of sex. Like....a lot. I do wish it had more story and less obsessing over sex. But still a great story overall!

This book was a fun read. The banter between the MMC and the FMC was hilarious at times. The story line was ok. I found this book to drag on quite often.

I really wanted to like this book but fat shaming is never ok especially at this time in this world like why was that even necessary. Ive read a few paranormal romance books and plenty of them are able to make a good love story without putting people down. Idk I hope that this gets a bit of editing before it gets published but who knows.

The banter!!! Charlotte Stein's dialogue makes me wheeze with laughter!

Cassie and Seth go from childhood best friends to enemies to lovers in such a satisfying way. Seth wasn't what I was expecting at all when I read the synopsis because he actually has giant golden retriever energy. I loved Cassie's magic and her raccoon familiar. The spice was giving too!

As for the bullying aspect, I thought Stein handled it in a sensitive way and made Seth's actions pretty understandable for a dumb kid. Get through the rough first flashback, and that part of the plot gets a lot better.

Add me to the Charlotte Stein fanclub!

The flashbacks and incredibly mean mmc characters need to stop. The writing was good but if someone called me what the mmc called her in the first chapter I would not give them a second chance. DNF instant turn off 😭 sad because I was really intrigued by the premise of the book

Took me a little bit to get into but it was good! I struggled with the characters a little because they didn’t feel like they had a lot of depth in the beginning but as the story went on I felt like I fell into their story more and more. It was an enjoyable read!

This book adds quirkiness to the normally darker in tone paranormal romance genre. I enjoyed that a lot.

I'm sure fans who want a quick shifter read would enjoy this!