Misery and Lowe are voluntarily entering into an arranged marriage for the good of their respective species. The Vampyres and Werewolves would form a shaky truce between them if their wedding could conclude without anyone killing each other. As the Vampyre Councilman's daughter, Misery is used to sacrificing her happiness and safety for the good of their kind. Her father sent her to live among the humans when she was a child to be what is called the Vampyre Collateral. This is a grudging agreement between humans and Vamps in which a child is exchanged on both sides to live on the alternate side. If the treaty is broken by either side, it's understood that the Collateral child will be killed. Misery's father had no regrets about placing his daughter in danger then, and definitely not now for this dangerous marriage of "convenience." She takes it all in stride though-if there's one thing she's used to, it's being an outcast with a target on her back. Besides, she has her own motivation for agreeing to marry Alpha Were Lowe Moreland.

Misery is a tough, gritty heroine, and very much a loner-with one exception. Serena Paris is her one and only best friend that she met while growing up with in human territory. Their relationship goes beyond friendship, she's like the sister she never had. Vampyres are notorious for being aloof and undemonstrative with their emotions, but Serena is her weakness. She may not be the touchy-feely type, but she has her own snarky, sarcastic way of showing her that she cares. They are very similar in that way, which is why I really enjoyed their scenes together when we finally meet her in the later chapters. I honestly wish we could have gotten more page time with Serena to establish her character early on and their friendship dynamic. She was a fantastic secondary character that held her own and I'm looking forward to hopefully reading her story in the future. There is foreshadowing at the end that hints that she will be paired with a certain Were character and I'm totally down for it.

Lowe is a strong, respected alpha who has also lived a life of sacrifice. He and Misery have that in common and it is one of the first things that they see and respect in each other. They try to keep their physical and emotional distance, but fate has a way of turning plans upside down. Bride has a "he falls first" trope which I actually really enjoyed. You don't really see that with Were/shifter books so I found that to be pretty unique. You also get forbidden romance vibes from them, because they have a lot of obstacles to overcome due to the prejudices of their species towards each other.

Lowe is a very caring, giving person, so despite the intensity of his feelings for her, he conceals his true emotions for much of the book to protect her. This is something that bothered me a bit because it caused a huge conflict in their potential relationship. Lowe unilaterally makes the decision to hide important information from her as well as his true feelings in order to give her the "freedom of choice." He feels that she's been pushed into situations her whole life that trapped her, and he does not want to do the same. My issue is...by not being completely open and honest with her, he is making the choice for her instead of allowing her the free will to make an informed decision. I don't exactly view that as freedom. So the non-communication and dishonesty on his part caused some mildly irritating issues that could have easily been avoided.

There is a mystery side story which didn't have a lot of page time once Misery was living in Were territory which seemed a bit unrealistic for me. She felt desperate to find answers to all of her questions, but we barely see her looking into the matter at all. Also, I found the antagonist very easy to guess from the beginning, so it lacked any surprise towards the end. None of these things were big issues, but noticeable enough to bring up.

I enjoyed the romance between Misery and Lowe quite a bit and felt that they made a complimentary, supportive pair. You get third person POV snippets of Lowe's thoughts regarding her at the beginning of the chapters as well as the epilogue. This gives you some insight into his private internal battle as he struggles with his very uncomfortable attraction. Misery really blossoms under his care and protection. You see a softer side emerge by the end because Lowe is able to make her feel safe and wanted for the first time in her life. She never fit in quite right with any of the species, but he finally gives her a true home and sense of what family should feel like.

I'm glad I chose this book as my first read by Ali Hazelwood. It was a good first impression to her work and I'll definitely be checking out any future additions to this potential series in the future. There is no series listed yet, but all signs are pointing in that direction.

Misery Lark, the only daughter of the powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, finds herself called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres. As she becomes part of this dangerous alliance, she must surrender herself to the Weres, led by their Alpha, Lowe Moreland. The dynamics between the two are marked by distrust and an impending marriage of convenience, but Misery harbours her motives, unrelated to political alliances. As she navigates a life in Were territory, she discovers that the wolf, Lowe Moreland, may hold more than just a position of authority.

Bride is a captivating paranormal romance that seamlessly weaves together elements of politics, alliances, and personal motives. The author takes readers on a journey into a world where Vampyres and Weres must come together to maintain a fragile peace, and Misery Lark finds herself at the centre of this complex alliance.

The character dynamics between Misery and Lowe Moreland are richly developed, showcasing a blend of distrust, authority, and an underlying current of emotion. The narrative unfolds with layers of intrigue, as Misery navigates her way through a world where allegiances are crucial, and personal desires may disrupt the delicate balance.

Hazelwood's world-building skills shine as she creates a paranormal realm filled with supernatural beings and political intricacies. The romance aspect is heightened by the tension and chemistry between the protagonists, making "Bride" a compelling read for fans of the genre. The plot's twists and turns keep the reader engaged, and Misery's hidden motives add an extra layer of mystery to the narrative. The exploration of the complexities of love, trust, and sacrifice in a fantastical setting elevates "Bride" beyond a typical paranormal romance.

With its well-crafted characters, intricate world-building, and a blend of romance and politics, Bride promises to be a thrilling addition to the shelves of paranormal romance enthusiasts.

listennnnnnnnn. i had zero expectations going into this book and the only reason why i picked it up was because it was miss ali’s first paranormal romance. talk about out of my element

and it truly ate.


twilight vibes but make it marriage of convenience and without the cringe. i was absolutely ADDICTED to this storyline. the banter between the weres, vampires, and humans were hilarious. misery and serena were a force to be reckoned with. lowe was an absolute gem. this book was utterly weird, but that’s why I LIKED IT SO MUCH. it was so so different !! i can’t even put my finger on it other than i was intrigued up until i didn’t have any pages left to read.

i highly recommend picking it up if you want a different kind of romcom!!

Bride is out today and it's my favorite book by Ali Hazelwood yet! It follows some of Hazelwood's usual tropes--big grump who's actually a marshmallow inside, she thinks he hates her but he very much doesn't--but I really enjoyed the supernatural aspects. Growly works so well when the character is an actual wolf, you know? Even better when the love interest is a vampyre capable of sticking up for herself.
Fighting the mate bond is (problematically?) one of my favorite things in PNR and the MMC didn't want Misery to know about it because she's never truly been in control of her own life. He doesn't want to be another person who--unintentionally or not--takes away her choices. Likewise, Misery's trust issues made absolute sense given her upbringing. Some of the political parts dragged a smidge, but I was still having a great time throughout. This is exactly the kind of book my partner and I read together and discuss in our little two-person book club.

This was DELICIOUSLY KNOTTY IN THE BEST WAY. HERE for the Vampyre Were relations.

Lowe freaking Moreland. That could be the full review and it would be perfect. But I can't stop there. Y'ALL. EVERYTHING ALI WRITES IS GOLD, but this book was SO FUN.

Misery agrees to a forced marriage of convenience in order to enter Were territory to find the only friend she's ever had, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. What she never expected was:
1. A thoughtful "husband" who tried taking care of her, despite her "smell"
2. Ana, whom she comes to care for quite quickly, and whose relationship had me LOLing any time the two conversed
3. To find her sense of humor
4. To find people who like her for her for the first time in her life and DESPITE the fact that she's an enemy to them in the rules of the natural world

Things I LOVED about this book:
- THE BANTER and joking between the two main characters was so fun and flirty yet dry and clever
- THE TWIST... to say I GASPED at the third act drama would be an UNDERSTATEMENT
- Ana, Sparkles, Ana's shenanigans, Ana's replacement of words that *almost* make sense, all of Ana's existence in this book
- Lowe's softer, gentler, more loving side (which is in no way saying he's a soft or gentle lover for Misery... but he is those things at the same time and it's MAGIC)
- Lowe's obsession with Misery's fangs
- Lowe "reading Misery's file" but also just his general need to know things about her
- HONEY
- Scenting
- Feeding
- Horny-ing
- Mates
- Misery seeing Lowe as a wolf *woof*
- Misery's obsession with baths that leads to Lowe's obsession with baths ;)
- The way Lowe makes Misery feel like she BELONGS to someone, finally

This book took me through all of the emotions, but mostly I just ENJOYED this book SO MUCH. Ali stan forever. Can't wait for book two! :)

Thank you to Berkley for the ARC of this one through NetGalley, these are my honest thoughts!

The Vampyre and Were worlds exist alongside each other, but the two species are mortal enemies. In order to form an uneasy alliance between them, Misery Lark, daughter of the most powerful Vampyre, weds Alpha Were Lowe Moreland in an arranged marriage. Misery has her own secret reasons for agreeing to the arrangement, but will this marriage of convenience end up being true love?

Full disclosure – I am not a paranormal girlie (my last vampire/werewolf read was when Twilight came out), so take my review in that vein (lol), but I adored this book! I’m a huge fan of Ali Hazelwood’s STEMinist romances, so when she decided to branch off, I had no choice but to follow her! Bride has all the witty prose and spicy chemistry that I’ve come to expect from Ali but with a dark, steamy Vampyre/Were twist. As a romantasy newbie, I think that Bride is the perfect way to dip your toe into the genre; it’s contemporary and the world-building is fairly straightforward and presented through conversations in an organic way. I love the smoldering forbidden romance between Misery and Lowe, and when the interspecies spice finally arrived, it was scorching! Also, without any spoilers, I’ll just say that the door was left open for the universe to grow in the future, and Ali if you’re listening, I really need that to happen.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me an advance copy of this book.

I will never not read an Ali Hazelwood book. Everything she writes has been *chef's kiss* and this is no different. Not her usual STEM contemporary romance, "Bride" is a paranormal romance with shifters and vampires but still has her typical brand of hunky hero and spunky lovable main character.

Misery Lark, only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, and Lowe Moreland, Were Alpha, are forced into a marriage of convenience to keep the peace between the Vampyres and the Weres. Neither are particularly thrilled about this arrangement, but both are resigned to do what is best for their people -- plus Misery has her own motives for agreeing to be the Bride. But, the more time they spend together the more their chemistry becomes undeniable, and Misery learns that everything is not always what it seems.

I LOVE Misery and Lowe! Everything about this book worked for me and if I could give it more than five stars I would -- it deserves ALLLLL the stars. Lowe is a broody Were Alpha that is protective and just like hot 😂 aka the perfect leading man. Misery is a fantastic leading woman, willing to do whatever it takes for the ones she loves. She's funny, sarcastic and lovable and our Alpha definitely agrees. Ahhhhh I just love their love, ya know? While the characters and romance are fantastic, this book is also very plot-drive with great world building and politics. It's a really fun, silly, happy, dramatic read and I would recommend it to anyone who loves romance, fated mates, forbidden love, vampires and werewolves, and fun witty banter. This book is a freaking delight!!!

I absolutely cannot wait for the next book because this has to be a series!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ to infinity (:

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced digital copy of this book from Berkley via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Published 2/6/24 -- go check it out!

Loved, loved, loved this book! I wasn't sure I would enjoy it, but Ali Hazelwood did a magnificent job! Vampires and werewolves! Definitely a must read!

Ali wrote this for the fanfic girlies..

But really, if you like her other books, you'll like this one and if you liked her stuff back in her fanfic days, you'll love this one. It's all the lighthearted romance and banter we know her for plus her own take on vampires and werewolves. And a lot of Twilight references.

“You’re not a problem, Misery. You’re a privilege.”

Tropes:
• Marriage of convenience for political peace
• Forbidden paranormal romance (Vampyre & Were)
• Single guardian, he takes care of his little sister
• Forced proximity
• Found family

Summary: Bride follows Vampyre Misery Lark who enters a political marriage of convenience with Alpha Were Lowe Moreland. Misery has her own reasons for accepting the union as she is trying to find her missing best friend, Serena. Lowe is willing to do whatever he can to keep his people safe from harm and unnecessary bloodshed. The book begins on the day of their wedding, which also happens to be the first time they meet. Due to the rules of the pact, Misery must live among the Were’s for one year to ensure peace between their people.

My thoughts
OK, this book was EVERYTHING. Bride is a forced proximity, slow burn, with forbidden vibes (their species hate each other). Although it is single POV, readers get small insights into Lowe’s perspective at the beginning of each chapter in a small paragraph or sentence. Between the slow burn and the suspense developments, the book pulled me in and would KNOT let go.

Lowe is just a God amongst Were’s/ Vampyres/ Humans. His relationship with his little sister Ana was precious- there is a scene where he cuts the crusts off her PB&J and I mean!!! He is so dedicated to being the best big brother/ guardian he can. He is so protective of Misery and quietly worships her.

Misery is a computer genius (Ali included her signature STEM rep), has a quirky sense of humor and is learning to open herself up to love and friendships. I loved her interactions with 6-year-old Ana and Alex who is petrified of her. She is fearless, brave and has the biggest hidden heart.

Spice: Slow burn, open door, knotting (which was new to me)

I don’t want to give any major plot points away but add this to your TBR. I’ve read 17 books this year and I think if I had to pick one, this would be my favorite.. Keeping my fingers crossed for book 2!

Thank you for the free e-ARC Berkley Romance; all thoughts are my own.
#berkley #berkleypartner

I loved everything about this book!! But then, it's Ali Hazelwood, so are you surprised it's a favourite of mine? I am not. I honestly cannot get enough of her writing, her quirky heroines, fun side characters, the interactions full of banter and this TENSION she can make happen between two characters, I.Just.Love.It!

I read my first shifter romance about a month ago and damn I kind of became obsessed with it, which made me even more excited about Bride. My expectations were over the top, and even then, no disappointment, it was even better than I could imagine.

Read if you like (read even if you don't like these... just READ IT):
☆ Werewolf/Vampyre
☆ Marriage of convenience
☆ Forced proximity
☆ Found Family
☆ Forbidden romance

About the book:
The story follows Misery, a vampyre who's been pretty much sacrificed all of her life. What is one more time, then? So she agrees to a marriage of convenience with a powerful alpha werewolf to ease conflicts between both species. But Misery has her own secret motive to accept this arrangement and soon enough she might be in more danger than she thought.

My thoughts:
It was an absolute pleasure to discover this world created by Hazelwood. The differences between the ways and personalities of these different groups were pretty interesting. It was such a clash and it made it all more fun. The first meeting between Lowe and Misery was so delightful. I was screaming and kicking my feet! You just knew at that moment that it would be fire! I mean, I'm a slow burn lover but I'm here for the tension and the burning desire so it made me look forward to all of their interactions like crazy. I enjoyed seeing Misery make friends without wanting to. It's no secret, the found family vibe is one of my favourites and it just makes me entirely content.

Lowe was an amazing character; so powerful, so sure of himself and always ready to act. It was impossible not to love him, especially after seeing him interact with his sister *swoon*. Once again, the characters felt so relatable and I love when Hazelwood's write stuff that makes me go: is she in my head?, it's the main reason I enjoy her books so much, I cannot help feeling such a deep connection and this one was no exception.

One of my new favourite things (cause remember I'm new to this paranormal romance world) is the whole mate thing! UGH, IT'S SO GOOD. Especially when they fight it (I love suffering, thank you). It's just such a powerful feeling and it makes me ecstatic! I feel like I'll never get enough of this. I mean, the way Lowe explained it all and his fears and all, it was just perfection.
"I would take anything she chose to give me- the tiniest fraction of her entire world."


The mystery part of that story was really enthralling and I enjoyed it all. Didn't see the end coming, so I really couldn't put this book down. And then that ending... in one sentence it got me screaming I NEED A BOOK 2. I seriously need it. Anyways, if you like Ali Hazelwood this won't disappoint you, it has all the usual things that make you fall for her books and it's different/refreshing at the same time.

I cannot say thanks enough to Penguin Random House Canada for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Nothing like a making enemies have a marriage of convenience to try and develop a truce of sorts! I love a good paranormal romance with vampyres and werewolves! This was definitely a SLOW burn romance, but I enjoyed the tension and buildup and make some of the moments super steamy! (Like the office/library scene!)

It definitely had me giggling at times, I enjoyed Misery and thought she was such a fun and funny character! The interactions between her and just about everyone were just so great, especially her brother! Of course I have such a soft spot for Lowe, typical Alpha who sacrifices everything for everyone he loves and cares for and him struggling with his feeling for Misery and the banter back and forth was wonderful!

I will admit I struggled a little at the beginning to get into the story and find some of the writing a little pretentious for me (mainly the word choices at times), but flew through the last half and there was a hint at another book and cannot wait for it if it’s the couple I think it will be!

I don't usually read books in the romance genre, but decided to give this one a try after seeing how excited the booktok community was for it - I am glad I did, because this was such a fun ride! The story flowed very well, and the characters were endearing and easy to root for. I thought the pacing was also well managed, and liked how the paranormal elements were blended in seamlessly in a modern society. The banter was entertaining, and overall, I had a great time reading this!

Wow! Ali Hazelwood can write anything!

Ms. Hazelwood has written several STEMinist romances, a brilliant YA novel, and now she’s dipping her toe into the paranormal romance pool. And I am totally here for it! She absolutely slays it!

Bride opens up a new world where Vampyres and Weres (wolf shifters) exist alongside humans. There’s currently an alliance between the Vampyres and humans and a shaky cease-fire between the Vampyres and Weres–with a long history of bad blood, literally and figuratively.

To stay at the top of the food chain, Vampyres and Weres decide to create an alliance by marrying a Vampyre–Misery, to a Were–Lowe, Alpha of the Weres. I mean, what could possibly go wrong? Turns out, a lot actually!

The prologue captured my attention and the story held me in thrall until the very end! The characters are diversely and brilliantly crafted. The dialogue is witty, the storyline is engaging, and the chemistry between Lowe and Misery is fierce in its intensity. Nothing gets the blood pumping like a good enemies-to-lovers story.

If it wasn’t Misery’s funny inner (and outer) monologue or Lowe’s heavy alpha workload keeping me entertained, it was the political climate of this exciting new world that had me hungry for more. I was completely engrossed in the politics and subtle (and not so subtle) nuances between the races that were dangerous, deadly, and ever-changing.

And can we talk about Misery? She is a fun character that’s personable, loyal, easily relatable and funny as hell. I absolutely love her!

I LOVE this book!!! I am PRAYING Ms. Hazelwood is developing more stories in this universe. An absolute MUST READ for any paranormal romance lover, or any book lover in general!

I’m running out of words to describe how awesome Bride is so just go git yourself a copy, today!

🐺BRIDE by Ali Hazelwood🐺

📆PUB DATE: Today!
➡️Swipe for synopsis
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Format: Ebook
Read if you like:
🐺Paranormal romance
💨 Fast paced plot
💍Marriage of convenience

Thank you @berkleyromance for letting me be on the book tour for Bride! This book surprised me a ton with how much I enjoyed it! If you like Ali Hazelwood’s signature wit and humor, you will love this. Even if you don’t read a lot of paranormal romance, I encourage you to give this a try! There is a mystery element that kept me turning the pages, and the romance was perfection. I am not a big paranormal romance reader, but I appreciate a fantasy every now and then and love when a great romance has an equally great plot, so this was perfect!

In Bride, Misery, a vampyre, is forced to marry Lowe, a werewolf in order to bring peace to the two groups who have historically been enemies. There’s lots of world building to set the scene, but that doesn’t take away from the central romance or plot. Swipe for the full synopsis! Thank you again @berkleyromance for letting me be a part of this tour and for the #gifted copy of Bride🫶 I highly highly recommend picking this one up today!

4.5/5 stars

I am a big Ali Hazelwood fan. This is her first paranormal romance.

I used to read a lot of paranormal romance. So it’s a genre that I am familiar with. It was very interesting to see Ali write a book that is so different from her other books. I really liked that this book felt more low fantasy/urban fantasy. It seems like our world just with Werewolves and Vampyres.

Misery is a Vampyre who has grown up around humans. She is asked to marry the Alpha Werewolf (Lowe). I loved Misery. She is a fierce heroine. I love that she is a computer hacker. I love that there is a cat. And a little girl.

I was fascinated by this world. I was very interested in Lowe and his pack. I also was really invested in the Vampyre world. Misery’s father is the most powerful Vampyre councilman. I was fascinated by the alliances that the Weres, Vampyres and Humans created.

I loved the premise of the book. Also there is a mystery to solve surrounding Misery’s best friend Serena. And this added so much to the story.

When I started this book I wondered if this was a standalone or a series. At 85% I did not see how everything was going to get resolved by the end. This definitely reads as a standalone. There is no cliffhanger ending. However something happens on the last pages that makes it seem possible that this could end up being a series (most likely with different narrators).

I really did love this book. The romance is very intense. And the last few chapters were mesmerizing and full of action. I really enjoyed them. However it got very sexy. Probably too sexy for me. I definitely enjoyed this book. And it would have been 5 stars except for some stuff with Lowe that didn’t really make sense to me. And their was some sexual knot stuff (that is apparently part of omegaverse) that was too much IMO.

However that said this is such a daring and unexpected book. If you love Ali Hazelwood’s contemporary romances then give this book a chance. You won’t be disappointed.

A big shout out and thank you to the publisher for including me in the blog tour for Bride and providing me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’m no stranger to Ali Hazelwood. If I’m not wrong, I think I’ve read everything that she’s ever written in the adult category. I think when you’ve read almost everything an author has written, there’s a certain expectation you develop. You understand the patterns, you recognise the style and you generally know where things are going and you expect them. At least that was me with Hazelwood so far. She’s followed a certain template that works for her time and time again and the last time she broke it was in her previous book—Love, Theoretically—which was my favourite book of hers before Bride.

When I walk into a Hazelwood book, I always know what’s to come, what I’ll enjoy, what I’ll likely tolerate and how it’s going to end. Love, Theoretically broke that and I enjoyed it. By stepping out of her comfort zone genre-wise and taking the jump into fantasy/paranormal, I think Hazelwood had me extremely curious about what’s to come, especially when I read the blurb for Bride and wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve always thought that her writing preferences (how she writes/characterises her heroes, for example) I’ve always felt would be better suited to the fantasy genre and I absolutely wanted to be there for Bride to see if my intuition was right.

Spoiler alert: I. Was. Right.

My favourite thing about this book? Another spoiler: a tall heroine.

I think what fantasy does to a contemporary author is push them out of the typical narrative they have to provide; because in fantasy as much as you have personal problems that share borders with the contemporary genre, all this is usually lesser problems in comparison to the bigger threat in fantasy which is often having to fear for one’s life. Yes, contemporary can have that too, but there’s a otherworldly element added here that makes the stakes and the situation that much more. No shade on contemporary—I love a good contemporary romance myself—but fantasy is my sweet spot and I’ve come to believe it’s Hazelwood’s as well. I do wish to commend Hazelwood for having taken this risky leap, especially after having only worked on contemporary before and having done rather well in that genre as well. I also personally feel this genre (fantasy, I mean) is made for Hazelwood and she should explore further in it.

(Hopefully I’ll never write the word genre again from this point of the review.)

The writing let’s be honest has always been something that from book one Hazelwood has just unalived. Her writing has kept us all with her through every new book she releases. Even if we know what the book is going to have, there’s lots of warmth, love and humour that has us always coming back to her work again and again. Bride is no different. I was hooked from page one and swallowed this whole book in perhaps two sittings.

The world building was done surprisingly well, given that this is the first book in fantasy Hazelwood is writing. The concepts were unique (as unique as they can be with two previously well-explored species) and the set up was done with lots of thought. She started strong and just kept going. It was smart to have a heroine being as clueless about the rules and practices of the culture (a great way to build world, by the way) and the way it was entwined with the FMC’s backstory, emotions and personality was a great plus.

The plot for Bride was both really simple and also extremely complex. I loved all the big plot points and the smaller ones that all work together both in chaos and perfect synchrony. The politics, hierarchy, emotion and roles that were unique to Bride was built from page one and acted as a great booster to our understanding of the world, the primary characters and the situation. I think it’s inevitable to speak about power dynamics, corruption, inequality and injustice as social evils in a fantasy book and Hazelwood does just that. I was very curious to see where the author would take this book and I was so pleasantly surprised with the outcome.

The FMC, Misery, might just be my favourite heroine Hazelwood has ever written. She’s tall (which already inclined me towards loving her, not gonna lie), she’s got humour to offer at really inappropriate times (which we all love), she’s brave—both emotionally and physically, she’s vulnerable and strong and she won’t simper. She’s whip smart, loyal, trusting and my favourite? She’s a grump with a heart of gold. I loved watching her grow and being so brave at the face of hurt and danger. My heart broke at her backstory and I loved the simplicity with which it was written and how it affected her overall personality. Her growth arc of finding her feet and risking her heart was very heartwarming. She was so brave. So brave. I’m so proud. Loved Misery. Loved her. Contrary to her name she brought me a lot of peace.

The MMC, Lowe, was both very unique to himself and shared some similarities to Hazelwood’s previous heroes. He’s big, of course, but it’s not mentioned as much, he’s a gentle giant which is very well-portrayed. His style of being in love—not too different from the previous heroes—works because of the set-up. I was pumping my fists into the air saying, “See? It works in fantasy, Ali!”. All of Hazelwood’s heroes make you feel like you’re wrapped in a hug and Lowe is no different. There’s a lot of emotion he brings to the page, given that as a reader you’re more aware of what he’s doing through than the FMC. It was smart writing to include snippets of his thoughts into the book, it really helped keeping us fairly abreast on what’s happening with him.

The secondary characters are all so very lovely. While some characters stuck to me immediately, the rest of them were introduced all at once so I did take a little time to put them all together. But the relationships Hazelwood writes between all of them, the connections, history and love is so heartwarming and I enjoyed almost every character on scene.

There were two things Hazelwood did in Bride that I’d like to say I didn’t expect. One is little reminiscent of her past writing which honestly I hadn’t even predicted so didn’t mind so much; the other I truly truly didn’t ever think would happen and was honestly little disappointed it did. I won’t knock starts off for it… because I do think it was perhaps written as a plot carry-forward. I wished it hadn’t been there… but I do feel that Hazelwood was also building up to it and I should have expected it. But it broke my heart. Well, that’s probably why she did it. But anyway, no character can be written perfectly and I loved the heroine all the more for the way she dealt with it.

Five stars. Honestly, the way the book ended, I have lots of hope and faith for the future. I can’t wait. Happy reading my friends. Check trigger warnings!

(I think I skirted around using the g-word and I’m going to give myself a pat on the back for that.)

Ali’s paranormal debut is here!! this was such a fun ride.

misery gets sent off to marry lowe, alpha of the werewolf pack. it’s enemies to lovers, hate to love, and marriage of convenience in the best way. while she was sent there by her father, she has other reasons for wanting an inside look at the pack.

this book is full of tension, twists and turns, and was generally such a fun read. I love paranormal romances and ali’s debut was done in such a cute and ali way. and yes, lowe is big and grumpy and hates everyone but her.

misery’s development and learning to trust those she was taught to hate most were some of my favorite parts. I’m a sucker for the found family trope and it was done so well!

lowe is a big grump and misery slowly learning to understand him and the two of them opening up to each other? chef’s kiss.

the tension was soooo good!! and when they finally get together? omfg.

read if you like
✨ marriage of convenience
✨ vamps & werewolves
✨ enemies!!!! to lovers
✨ found family

thank you berkley romance & NetGalley for an early review copy.

I am obsessed with this novel! Her first novel in the paranormal genre and Ali Hazelwood hits a home run. The world building….wow! Vampyre, Humans, and Were live in the world together but in separate, heavily guarded regions. The humans are about to have a shift in leader which jeopardizes their vampyre relationship. When this new pact is made between Vampyre and Were – the first since a previous reunion ended in a massacre, Misery is asked to sacrifice her secret life among the humans to move into the unknown. Coming from a species who has very few emotional expressions, Misery finds the Were’s and their passionate responses dangerous but shows no fear and only increases her sassy, quick witted responses. She was fearless and funny.

Lowe was the perfect contrast to Misery’s coolness. She pretty much ignored his alpha stature and advanced into were life with humor and bravery- and had her own agenda. Lowe was conflicted in wanting to protect this little vampyre and see what she was up to. I loved their interactions and was fascinated with the differences in their species. This was a book where once I got lost in the world and the plot I COULD NOT PUT DOWN. It’s truly been awhile since I’ve said that.

Do you love Ali Hazelwood’s STEM romances? This one is different but there are many similarities too! Misery is smart, sassy, difficult, and brave. Just like the STEM heroines. Lowe is a bit more alpha, but he’s pretty similar to STEM romance heroes. Tall, handsome, in over his head with the female he’s interested in- definitely! It is just a different world that they live in, but everything Ali Hazelwood quirk that you love from her previous books are in this novel too. I am so eager for a second book in this series. We get a hint at the end so there better be one!!!

Bride is everything I could have dreamed of. Combining two of my ultimate loves—Ali Hazelwood's writing and the fantasy romance genre—I honestly did not want it to end.

Lowe is the MC who redefined book boyfriends for me—unbelievably attractive, sensitive, SO attentive, and just all-round swoon-worthy. And Misery was a masterpiece of character development. Her complex backstory and growth throughout the book hooked me in and made her, in my opinion, one of Ali Hazelwood's best characters.

I loved the found family trope in this book, especially the amazing bonds that Misery ends up developing with the Weres. But let's talk about my absolute favourite trope that Hazelwood delivers perfectly: fated mates. Watching Misery and Lowe figure out that they're meant for each other, amidst all the chaos, was adorable, a bit messy, but totally perfect. Their journey from 'just met' to 'meant to be' was the heart of the book.

Hazelwood was so good at maintaining a sense of mystery throughout 'Bride'. The detail and thought put into this world are nothing short of remarkable, leaving the door wide open for more stories about these amazing characters—especially for characters like Owen.

I’m so grateful to Berkeley Publishing for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley.