Listen, I don't know what Ali put in this book, but I devoured this one in just 2 days! Did I think I would be obsessed with a Vampire/Werewolf book? No, I did not have that on my 2023 bingo card, but here we are and I am.

This is hands down my favorite book from her and I am going to scream about how amazing it is now.

Read this for:
- Marriage of convenience
- Forbidden love
- Found family
- Forced proximity
- He's GONE FOR HER and SHE DOESN'T KNOW IT
- All the knotting and spice

Misery Lark must marry the Alpha Lowe Moreland in order to create an alliance between Vampires and Weres. She also is on her own secrete mission to find her missing best friend and only person she cares about.

Misery has long had a history of being the outcast even though she was the Collateral for the Vampires she was not welcome with her own people and then forced to leave among the humans for years. As she develops a sweet friendship with Lowe's younger sister, you as the reader she has a huge capacity for love and caring but has never been given the opportunity.

Misery is funny, witty, smart, and rather strong but she has only ever been cared for and loved by her best friend. As she is forced to live among the Weres, she starts to see what real family and caring is. She also starts to see who Lowe is as an Alpha, a brother, and as just a man and it all stacks up to be one of the most loyal men with so much integrity.

Misery and Lowe being to realize they can trust one another and then they see how both of their missions are tied together in a twisted mystery that they must work together to solve. As they continue to be forced to work together, they open up to one another and their connection continues to grow.

I loved Lowe and how much he was obsessed with Misery. It was really a nice treat to get his POV in the beginning of each chapter and then at the end. There's some romantic suspense in this book because of everything going on with the three different species and everyone wanting to kill one another.

It all unfolded so well and I was hooked to the story from the beginning. The chapters of Misery and Lowe together were so freaking hot! Thank you Ms. Hazelwood!

I am hoping that the ending is leading to the next book focused on Misery's best friend because I am ready for it now and am fully on board for more books in this universe from Ali.

Thank you to Berkley romance and NetGalley for providing the Joyful Chaos Book Club with ARCS in exchange for an honest review.

First, thanks to Berkeley and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I will read literally anything Ali Hazelwood writes. But this book far surpassed my expectations. This was such a good, fun, and well written fantasy romance. I really enjoyed the little world Ali created and the political dynamics.

And the romance? Ooooof. The tension was SO GOOD. I was panting. It had a slight hint of enemies to lovers while mostly just having a golden retriever (golden wolf?) MMC who falls first and an oblivious FMC who is just trying to survive. Their romance was so freaking cute. Plus you add in a little girl that the MMC treats as his own child? *Swoons* I’m sold. Immediately.

I’m excited to read more about this world Ali Hazelwood is creating, and I love getting to see this new side of Ali’s writing!

Ali Hazelwood's writing improves with every book and while Bride is a very different genre than her past novels, it still reigns true. I have never read anything even remotely related to the Omega-Verse so this was a fun introduction! Overall, I had fun and knotting is lowkey also fun.

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 5!

OK THIS WAS ACTUALLY SO AMAZING!!!

I will say the beginning was a little slow to start for me but once it was going I was LIVING!!!! when the tension was building between misery and lowe I was actually dying (but in a good way!!!) they had me squealing like a little girl!!!!!! you could tell there was an attraction between them but they were trying to fight it SO BAD!!!! miss hazelwood truly wrote the tension between them impeccably!!! like the moment lowe first had to scent her on the plane I was actually deceased!!!!!!! like who knew that would turn me on like a mf LIGHT BULB!!! and the first time lowe called misery “my wife” AHHHHHH!!!! never gets old in marriage of convenience!! seeing lowe and misery slowly open up to one another and trust each other was beautiful 😭 and the spice between them SHEEEEEEESH!!!! that shit was so hot— elemental!!!!! AHHHH I was feral over them and kept wanting more!!!!!

“of all the good things i’ve felt in my fucking life, you are the best.” LIKE COME ON!!!

ana, lowe’s sister, added so much excitement to the story. she was so damn cute and charming and I loved seeing how she helped lowe to lighten up. the scene where lowe was meticulously making a sandwich in the kitchen while talking to misery and then later gave it to ana when she woke up from a nightmare was just too damn sweet. I love when there are side characters that help us to see the softness within a character that’s seen as “hard” and “tough” 🥹 and seeing ana become friends with misery (someone who everyone is trying their hardest NOT to befriend) was so sweet 🥹. loved seeing their friendship grow so much it was too sweet 😫

my other fav side character was alex!! it was so funny how he went from being so scared of misery to becoming good friends w her and genuinely caring about her well being 🫂 we stan an interspecies friendship 🫶🏼

the serena storyline was very interesting! I loved seeing little pieces of that puzzle unfolding throughout the story. I didn’t expect it to lead to where it did but wow was that a cool turn of events!!!

overall I loved this book sm!!! once I got into it around the 20% mark I couldn’t stop!!!! I genuinely had THE BEST time!!! at this point I feel ali hazelwood can do it all! contemporary, YA, and now paranormal!! WHAT’S NEXT!!? 😍

"We’re a seesaw, Lowe and I. Constantly pushing and pulling for a precarious balance on the brink of this . . . whatever this is that we are always about to fall into. Alternating in chaos."

I cannot believe I am about to say this about an alpha shifter romance (because any time a cishet man IRL says the word “alpha,” & especially in a podcast dudebro setting, I vomit a little), but ……. holy shit, this really worked for me!
It’s that tone again. The Alpha one. The one that makes me want to say yes to him, over and over again.
Wtf is this?! ^^ The corniest shit I’ve ever read and yet, I am hot & mf bothered over it…

Before we dive into the sizzling hot chemistry that Misery Lark has with Lowe Moreland, let me just say that this may be AH’s best work purely based on the banter and apathetic humor. The banter between Misery and *everyone* in this book is so delightfully goofy and delectable. Misery’s general malaise with life speaks to my existential-crisis-millennial soul and her glib nature was perfect. And she has a right to be! She spent ~15 years in Human territory as a hostage, and after a tiny taste a reclusive life away from the Weres and Vampyres, she is whisked away to marry the Alpha Werewolf, again acting as a peace offering amongst Weres and Vamps. I’d be resigned to a fate bound to service and lost autonomy too.

The mystery element of her best Human friend Serena Paris going missing was intriguing enough to keep my attention, and I was very satisfied with the investigation and unraveling! If AH makes this an interconnected series of standalone romances, Serena’s romance is next👀

"The hazard, I guess, of being alone in the world: no one to care that she was safe, and healthy, and alive. No one but me, and I didn’t count. I shouldn’t have been surprised, and I wasn’t. But apparently I still had the capacity to feel hurt. Because no one cared whether I was safe, or healthy, or alive. No one but Serena. The sister of my heart, if not of my blood. And even though I’d been plenty alone, I’d never felt so lonely as after she was gone."

The buildup between Lowe and Misery is explosive yet staggering. I was pulled in slowly and then all at once! I can’t describe how enamored I was with their connection. Lowe is your typical broody, mysterious love interest, but Misery peels back those layers of defense slowly and surely. She does so with her straightforward and unimpressed questioning and tone, but also with the way Misery cares for his younger sister, Ana, whose parentage is a major puzzle piece of this story.

"There is something disarming about the way she leans against me, soft and trusting, as though our people haven’t been hunting each other for sport in the last couple of centuries."
Like this^???? So fucking precious and as someone with an ideal, hopeful heart for the state of the world, that shit *touched* me🥹

I have been SO over the “fated mates” trope but I may have been locked back in. I have no idea who is writing this review because only yesterday, I said, “couldn’t be me!” 😅😂 The third-act breakup is a bit rough, *but* very obvious if you’re a seasoned romance reader so just enjoy the ride!

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

If this series of standalone romances continues, you can guarantee I will be eating it the fuck up like I did with Bride!

steam rating: 4/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ at first, I blew a raspberry and whispered, “this is SO CRINGE” when Lowe said he had to *lick* Misery on the plane scene. I was not prepared for how AH turned this seemingly goofy scene into a super hot one. Anyway, from 50% on, it ramps up and it is fantastic. Again, I think her best work.

side note for AH author lore: AH continues her EXTREMELY BIG MUSCULAR HUMONGOUS MAN trope in this — Lowe wears a size 14 in men’s shoes.

read if:
-you were a twilight, true blood, or vampire diaries fan
-you enjoy shifter romance
-you’re curious what “knotting” is in werewolf/mating sex hahaha
-you enjoy unraveling a missing persons mystery
-you are a fan of fated mates, forced proximity, marriage of convenience, found family, paranormal romance, or “my wife” moments hehehehehe

content warnings:
Graphic: Kidnapping, Violence, Sexual content, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, and Confinement
Minor: Death and Grief

Ali truly never misses. To be honest I was a little hesitant when I heard her next book would be omegaverse but I’m so glad I dove right in! Honestly I think it’s a great first read for people that haven’t read the genre before.
Bride follows Misery, the daughter of the leader of the vampyre territory, in an arranged marriage with the Alpha of the Were territory. If you love One Bed, hurt/comfort, fated mates, “who did this to my WIFE”, and love bites you will love Bride. It was so fun to read a classic witty Ali Hazelwood FMC who also happens to be a vampire.
I might be in the minority but I absolutely love a single POV story because I want to follow along with the main character as they are clueless to the motivations of the love interest and that’s what made Bride so good. Each chapter we got a one sentence little sneak peak into Lowe’s mind and that was such a fun little look into what he was experiencing.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC! I looooved it!

I have loved all of the Ali Hazelwood books I have read so far, but I am LOVING this dive that she is taking into fantasy. This book was *chefs kiss*.

Misery is a vampire princess who is arranged to marry the local alpha werewolf, Lowe, to create peace between their two species.

Through all the differences in species, politics, personalities, etc…there seems to be a spark between them that is undeniable and it only burns hotter the more they’re together.

THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING. I already want to reread it.

“Mine. You smell like you’re mine, Misery.”

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was so much FUN to read! Ali Hazelwood shines writing paranormal romance. This book was full of tension, chemistry, and adventure.

This was a fun and campy fantasy book about a werewolf and vampire. I went into it with zero expectations so really enjoyed most of it. Unfortunately, I now know what knotting is which is something I have been afraid to google and could have gone without knowing for the rest of my life.

I was a bit hesitant to read a book about vampires and werewolves but I should NOT have been. Ali Hazelwood truly does it all!! This book is addicting and the characters are so wonderful. I fell in love with this world and already want to reread.

I just want to gush about this book!! Ali Hazelwood has done it again, and she is quickly proving that being at the top of my favorite authors list is well deserved!!

Bride is going to be one that I shove at anyone that I can to recommend. The world building! The characters!! Ali does amazing with all of these things, and I shouldn’t be surprised! (I do have to admit that I had some hesitation since this is her first book that deviates from reality into fantasy/sci-fi. However, she easily proved that this is a genre she can write easily in!)

I adored Misery and Lowe so much! This was like the grumpy/grumpy romance I never knew I needed! And the TWIST AT THE END?! After that epilogue I’m absolutely hoping we get more from this series/world! (Please, Ali!!)

PLS ALI, MAY I HAVE SOME MORE

Let us pray this is not her only venture into pnr romance because this book was so fun. Slow burn, enemies to lovers, lots of 'MY WIFE'. It has a little spice, like any Ali Hazelwood book but not overly explicit. I feel like this book is for the people who grew up with Twilight and wanted her to choose Jacob (aka me). She is clearly a lover of shifter/omegaverse/pnr romances and it shows, in the best way!

5 ⭐️ Bride had everything nerdy and adorable like all your other Ali Hazelwood favorites, but this time with vamps and werewolves!
A few of my favorite elements included:
*fated mates
*forced proximity
*enemies to friends
*a little whodunnit
*quirky, dorky humor

I look forward to more supernatural nerd fiction in the future.

Bro—
That was so good!! So fun and well rounded. This is a must read for fantasy romance readers but I think it will draw in contemporary readers too!!

Thank you Berkeley and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

The world building really missed the mark for me and I think I was expecting something completely different here based on the dark gothic vibes of the cover. This is more standard paranormal romance with a contemporary feel.

This was one of my most anticipated releases. I love a good paranormal romance and I was looking forward to seeing how Ali would handle the genre shift. But truthfully, this book was a swing and a miss for me.

The plot and pacing were slow and boring and I struggled wanting to pick up this book. I didn't care about the romance or really any of the characters. If the love interests had chemistry, I couldn't see it.

Ali Hazelwood, Queen of the STEM romance, has ventured into fantasy. The main character, Misery, has the same assertive sarcastic qualities as Hazlewood’s other protagonists, but this time, Misery happens to be a vampyre. Misery Lark is a vampyre used as “collateral” in Were/ Vampyre relations. She is forced to marry the Alpha of the Weres in order to keep peace. Of course, this marriage of convenience trope leads to both species having very real feelings for each other. The premise of this book is interesting and the mystery of finding Misery’s missing best friend definitely moved the story along. However, it feels like Hazlewood put more effort into using a thesaurus for her adjectives, thinking of ways for Misery to be ignorant of others’ customs to the point that her knowledge ends up being inconsistent, and imagining ways that interspecies sex can be the weirdest it can possibly be. The world in this novel has potential, and the ending definitely leaves an opening for more books to be set in this universe, but this is not Hazelwood’s best.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Pub for this earc

I read this book in one sitting. If this is not your first Ali Hazelwood book, that’s all you need to know.

If it is your first book of herself, be ready for scenes full of heart, drama and lots of very good and hot smut.

It’s been so long since I’ve read a good paranormal and this book was exactly what I needed.

Would I like a little bit more of the world building? Definitely (that’s the plot reader in me) but the romance. H. O. T. The mystery was great and the found ish family? Awesome.

P. S. This is the second shifter book I’ve read recently and both have knots in them. Is this an old thing or did I miss something? lol

Combining Ali Hazelwood’s on-the-nose storytelling style with the sexy danger of paranormal romance will have readers looking for more.
While I wasn’t a huge fan of the female protagonist in the beginning of the book, by the middle I felt comfortable enough with her and her story to sit back and enjoy the ride. It turned out to be very enjoyable and romantic, and I think the author’s fans and those unfamiliar with her will be pleased.

I love vampires, so I really wanted to love this one, but I wasn’t a fan of the world building. I’m all for authors trying new rules for vampires , but this one just wasn’t for me