Eighteen year old Avery Williams is dead. She doesn't figure it out right away, but it kinda tips her off when Lilith, the Queen of the Damned, sends her off with her incubus chaperone, Cole. And those rivers of burning souls truly open Avery's eyes to her dangerous new predicament. Go to one high school party and end up in Hell? Even Avery isn't sure why. Cole isn't thrilled to have a succubus partner, especially one so clueless and unwilling to do even the basic things necessary to keep her strong and virile in the human realm: like make out with people and mark their souls for Hell. It's a lot for a virgin to take, though few of the folks Avery encounters can actually tell she's still a virgin.

Thing is, she's a bit of a prude, and some well-placed rumors had Avery's schoolmates believing she was less wholesome than she truly was. And now, as a succubus she's meant to feed of the life force of strangers...through acts of intimacy she'd barely tried as a living person. In fact, Avery'd like to just give the whole thing up except Cole makes it clear that doing so would result in swift and gruesome punishment from Lilith. More pressing is Avery's immense need to learn if her sister died in the same accident that ended her own life. If Gracie still lives Avery has some important messages about living a good life and saving a mutual friend from a Hell-damned fate. If only she could contact Gracie! Lilith severed every connection Avery can make to her past life, and it's up to Cole and a band of misfit paranormals to help Avery breach her own wake to say her final goodbyes--without Lilith finding out. Because she didn't become Queen of the Damned without frying a few souls. And, Avery's soul won't survive Lilith's wrath.

This was an unexpected treat of a contemporary paranormal romance, with Avery being a conniving and petulant succubus whose attitude problems are redeemed by her aversion to marking souls and stealing even hours off the life of unsuspecting humans. Cole is a stable presence, and their attraction is both unconventional and unprecedented. Cole and his chums can see the good in Avery, to the point they aren't sure why she's not in Heaven. Unfortunately, being reborn in Heaven would not necessarily facilitate Avery's plans--which do include getting some contact with her family. It's a bit of a caper, actually, how she and Cole enlist his contacts to do the unthinkable--hide her transit from Hell just long enough to get her message across. I liked it lots, and the connection between Avery and Cole has a slow build that suits Avery's sensibilities surrounding love and how to make it.

This is a YA suitable read, with a fun and dynamic cast of characters I'd love to experience more adventures with. Can an incubus and a succubus find love with one another? Well, Avery sure is willing to find out.

I was a bit afraid that i wouldn`t like it. Because sometimes the story is too clichè and awkward to work out. But i really liked it, Cole was such a softie and Avery had character development and became likable fast. She did not back down when facing danger or problems. She was not annoying or clichè.

Damned When I Didn't was an interesting take on the afterlife and the notion of demons. Avery dies, not really sure how, and winds up working for the Queen of the Damned as a succubus - she will need to steal life essence and mark souls for hell to continue her own existence. The only problem is that Avery is a virgin, never really kissed a boy and now she's expected to go way farther than she's every been before. Enter a cast of loveable side characters - both demonic and human - and the decision becomes even more fraught.

I really enjoyed the multiple levels of moral dilemmas in this novel. Avery has to think about what is right for her, try not to judge other people for who she thinks they are and really delve into the notion of harm. She's definitely a heroine who is at odds with herself and is unique compared to a lot of the other girls in books in this genre.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book!
I really wanted to love this book, however, I wasn't that into it.
Avery dies and she wakes up in the hospital as she's being guided to hell to serve her punishment.
Why is a 17-years-old girl punished? NO IDEA!
Her punishment is to walk the earth as a succubus and offer the souls of her victims to Lilith. Does Avery wonder why she's been there? Is she afraid of anything similar....NOPE
Avery appears to be angry with Lilith not for her fate, but bcs Lilith doesn't allow her to visit her family, lol!
Girl, you are technically dead!
Avery acts really childish from the moment she "awakes", all her interactions lack realism and reason. . I mean if I had died and awakened as a succubus, I would be in a total state of terror. All of her reactions and responses seemed too unrealistic! Let's not talk about Cole, her fellow incubus, and "jail-mate", as they have to live together until she starts to adapt to her new lifestyle. Their romance was ridiculous/ rushed and generally, the whole storyline, which was basically Avery's attempts to go to her own funeral and see her family, was pretty pointless too. Like in this book nothing really happens! Nothing important to be exact, there was no intrigue, there was nothing to keep you hooked.
I am afraid, I really disliked the book.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. I thought this book was ok. Definitely geared for the YA/NA audience. I don't read much in that genre and this is why. I was intrigued about the character being a virgin and a succubus. I felt that to really do justice to the story it needed to be more of an adult book. I didn't like the labeling, pressure and coercion that she had to face to change who she was.

One minute Avery Williams is alive, the next minute she’s dead. The afterlife is nothing like it is in books or the movies. Avery’s confusion hits new heights when she meets Cole and her new boss, Lilith. Avery is a succubus now, which is even stranger than it sounds because she’s a virgin. Lilith pairs her with Cole, an incubus, and instructs her to suck souls for a living. Avery knows she’s not cut out to be some sultry succubus so she devises a plan to skirt her duties until she can see her family one final time. But skirting her burgeoning feelings for Cole is a whole different matter. If she gives her heart to Cole, will he chuck it away or will he give her afterlife the one thing she never got as a human?

Damned When I Didn’t is such a fun paranormal romance, I loved every minute of it. The characters I connected with most are Avery and Cole, though I relished the scenes with Lilith, too. Cherie Colyer does such a magnificent job with her world-building. I let myself escape inside Avery’s world and it was hard for me to put it down. The plot moves at a nice clip with plenty of characters to interact with. The attraction between Avery and Cole was obvious from the start but Cherie Colyer threw in just the right amount of conflict to keep me turning the pages. The ending surprised me yet completed the story arc. I wish it would become a series because I honestly didn’t want to leave Avery and Cole and all the other characters. If you’re looking for a paranormal romance with a fresh take and snarky dialogue, pick up Damned When I Didn’t. Highly recommend!

Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I'd review it.

My Rating: 5+ stars

I got a free copy of 'Damned When I Didn't' from Netgalley.

This is a fun fast paced read that is good for anyone who is looking for a good pick-me-up reading while you're not sure what to read next. Avery can be a little granting at first but she does have a good reason for wanting to do what she wants.

I did enjoy Cole and Avery's relationship, Cole is surprisingly a gentleman for being an incubus. He is a lot of fun and I did end up rooting for the two of them towards the end. The cast is also a joy to read about though I got a little lost with remembering who was who when it came to Cole's friends.

Damned When I Didn't by Cherie Colyer
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc
Genre: New Adult | Sci Fi & Fantasy | Teens & YA
Release Date: November 18, 2020

Damned When I Didn't is a standalone paranormal romance novel by Cherie Colyer. I'm really hoping there will be more books featuring this world/characters because I am here for it! (Please write more of these books!)

A virgin succubus, how much cooler can this book be? Honestly, this execution of this book was incredible! I loved the characters and their stories are so much fun. Avery, the main character, is a girl with fight, snark and quick wit. I want her to be part of my squad!

I look forward to reading more books by the author. I love her writing style. The story had a great pace and was a fast read. Once I started reading it I couldn't stop. Please keep them coming, I need more Avery and Cole!

I'm so grateful to Cherie Colyer, The Wild Rose Press, Inc, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

DNF @40%. I kept trying to push through but I just couldn’t. Avery is 18 but acts like a spoiled tween without any sense of consequences. And how anyone could be so naive is beyond me. Plus she is ignorant. She is so unlikeabke of a character that I had no desire to continue. That plus the incessant slut shaming made this book a no go for me.

This was an easy book to get sucked into. The descriptions pulled me in. The story idea was one I hadn’t read before. I loved the world the author created and the detailed characters. I enjoyed the dynamic between Avery and Cole, and I was surprised when Wyatt quickly became one of my favorite characters. I would looovvee to see a book from his point of view.

If you’re looking for a unique read with interesting dynamics between angels and demons, this is a good read for you.

4.5 stars

Demons, Nephilim, and so much more... If you're looking for your next paranormal read, you can't go wrong with Damned When I Didn't!

They say not to judge a book by its cover, but I rather like the cover for Damned When I Didn't. In fact, it's a large part of what made me want to read this particular title. I saw it and needed to know more. But when it comes to people, what you see isn't always what you get. It's a lesson Avery has to learn, especially when it comes to her mentor, Cole. It never occurred to Avery that just as she didn't earn her way to hell, and her new position as a succubus, that perhaps the super hot Cole didn't earn his place there either.

I loved seeing the push and pull between Avery and Cole. Both drawn to one another, yet not willing to accept their attraction. Not only does their budding romance draw the reader in, but the banter between them, and the mix of other awesome characters, makes Damnmed When I Didn't a page-turning read you won't want to put down. A half-demon, a Nephilim, and another incubus are just some of the charming characters you'll find in this intriguing, must-read book. I truly hope we'll get to see more of them in the future.

Damned If I Didn't is the perfect mix of romance, drama, and friendship. You won't be disappointed!

**Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of Damned If I Didn't. The review above is my honest opinion.