At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I'll say it again, but I'll read anything that Hazelwood writes and will absolutely love every second of it. This title marks her venture into fantasy and it did not miss the mark. It still has the charm and witty banter of her contemporary STEM romances, but Hazelwood holds her own with the world-building and unique brand of Vampyres and Weres.

The story follows Misery Lark, the daughter of prominent Vampyre councilmen, who finds herself in an arranged marriage that will broker between her kind and the Weres. She's used to being her father's strategic pawn as she grew up as the collateral Vampyre held by the humans to keep peace between their people. This time Misery finds herself married to the Alpha of the Weres. However, Misery did not agree to this arrangement for her father, but to find out what happened to something she cares deeply for even in a new hostile environment.

This is the perfect blend of romance and fantasy, as well as, plot, character development, charming banter, and romance thrown into the mix. Hazelwood successfully crafted an enjoyable fantasy world with enough rules and lore to feel realistic, but without involving any heavy lifting to understand a complex internal system. It feels appropriate to the setting and fleshes out the world enough so the romance does not become the focal point.

Hazelwood also introduces a lot of exciting and contrary notions that have become a staple in many fantasy/romance titles. I liked her take on vampires and werewolves as well. She establishes a lore that pays homage to what the reader is familiar with but also inverts it to create a sense of these mythical creatures without the ritual and mystery or tired cliches. Speaking of which, Hazelwood also doesn't adhere to any of the expected standards when it comes to romance, which is refreshing. Anyway, I'm fully aboard with Hazelwood fantasy train!

I really wanted to love this book, but, sadly, it didn’t live up to the hype for me. The writing style felt different from Ali Hazelwood’s other works and didn’t fit with this story. I was super intrigued by the Romeo and Juliet aspect of this book, but I couldn’t connect with the characters the way I was hoping I would. They felt very bland with little-to-no chemistry. The plot of the story also dragged for more than half of the book, which is partly due to the writing style. Otherwise, it was just very predictable. This book is definitely quirky and cute at some points, so I can see how it’ll appeal to others. It just wasn’t for me.

a classic ali hazelwood romance. I've enjoyed it but it wasn't something memorable and the ali hazelwood formula continues even in this one and looks like it'll continue in her next book too. there's only so much exciting one can make a book when sticking to a unflinching formula.

me? reading this in LESS THAN A DAY?
YES.
I ate this upppp- Lowe and Misery are #otp for sure 😭🙌 I DID NOT EXPECT TO LOVE THIS BOOK AS MUCH AS I DID HOLY
AND THE EPILOGUE?? IS IT A HINT FOR A SECOND BOOK WITH THE SIDE CHARACTERS?? PLS????
I NEED.
all i know is that i will purchase and cherish every single one of ali hazelwood's books GLADLY🏃🏻‍♀️🤝

Is there a genre where Ali Hazelwood can do any wrong?

She returns in style with BRIDE, her latest pièce de résistance and New Adult debut that alchemizes werewolf and vampyre lore into a bitingly good romance. The sizzle is off the charts here, as the story protagonists are embroiled in a fake political marriage from the jump, that may just lead to (you guessed it) very real feelings—as well as bizarrely raunchy, but mightily entertaining, scenes that delve into the anatomy of interspecies copulation. (Any longtime Hazelwood fan knows now to expect at least one cringe-worthy exchange in her spiciest chapters.)

Although much of the plot is predictable, BRIDE is hilarious and saucy and thoroughly fun. I, of course, felt compelled to read it in just one sitting. To absolutely no one’s surprise, Hazelwood has cemented herself as the reigning monarch of literary romance, once again.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for an ARC. All opinions my own.

I will read anything Ali Hazelwood writes. This one blew me away - it’s a perfect blend of 🌶️🌶️, suspense, and gave me vibes of Nalini Singh and Amanda Bouchert while also being wholly original. Ali - this is what you’re meant to be writing. More of this, please!

First, thank you Berkeley for this advanced copy!

Ahhhh, I loved this one so much and I’m so sad it’s over. I was instantly intrigued by the concept of Bride, and I was especially curious to see how Hazelwood would deliver since her other romances are more STEM/academic based. Was she going to convince me of this fantastical world? How was she going to fare with a more romantasy style romance? The answer: deliciously. I couldn’t put this book down. Misery was such a fun woman to read and the romance that blossoms between her and Lowe was such a treat to sink into. I can’t wait for the next book!

When I saw that Ali Hazelwood was writing a romance between a vampire and werewolf, I was interested, but hesitant. Her STEMinist romances are top tier, but I wasn't sure about her departure into paranormal romance. Looking back, I feel silly for having any doubts at all. Ali Hazelwood is an incredibly consistent and talented author, no matter the genre.

When Alpha Lowe Moreland and vampyre Misery Lark are forced into a marriage of convenience, they are determined to keep out of each other's way in order to keep the peace between the warring species. When Lowe's six-year-old sister Ana and Misery's best friend Serena both find themselves the fixation of the dangerous Vampyre Council, the two realize they need to get over their differences in order to protect their loved ones.

Actually falling in love with their spouse was never part of the plan, but that can be really difficult when an Alpha of the most powerful pack in North America realizes that his vampyre wife is his true mate.

This book brought me right back to my Twilight-loving days (but with way more spice!). From page one, I "wolfed" down this story. (Get it?)

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I read it in a day, so I definitely enjoyed it. I love paranormal romance, and I thought Hazelwood's book was a really good addition to the genre. Nalini Singh-esque while also a force on its own. Loved the romance along with the politics. Very good.

First I would like to say that I love Ali Hazelwood and will gladly read whatever she writes! Having said that, this was a book that you really just have to read to understand.

There were some turns that I saw from the very beginning and some turns the genuinely took me by surprise. There was mystery and intrigue, betrayal and romance, some interesting biology and a little girl that stole the show.

Was it the best book that's ever been written? No. Was it a fun read? Absolutely! It was a little slow to start, but once the story gets going, it's a wild ride.

A solid 4 star read, and another incredible read from Ali Hazelwood.

Reading "Bride" was thoroughly enjoyable- the characters were fun, the plot had enough intrigue, but really wowed with it's sense of community the characters gave us, and even though we are dealing with different species here, the characters were also relatable.

Now, there are a few things our MMC did that I hate in ANY book, and that was stupidly think they can decide the emotions of our FFM. So dumb, but overlookable in the scheme of things. However, this book definitely did not lack for any of Hazelwood's out-of-the box descriptions of everyday objects, nor a witty, sardonic dialogue from our FMC. In short, once again, a solid read from the author.

Hazelwood has won us over with her STEM Rom-Coms, and now she definitely made a case for herself with creatures of lore. And 100% please give us more (I think there's more).

A good read. The romance aspect of it was too slow paced for my liking, but the overall story was captivating.

I loved it, a re-read for me for sure. I loved h's name, H and h's relationship, I can't wait to listen to the audio, all of it. If you're a reader of Ali Hazelwood and fantasy set in a more modern world, Bride is just what you'd expect from a marriage of the two. The world building/lore could use a little more finesse, so readers should come for the characters and romance. Hazelwood has set Bride up nicely for a Book 2!! Recommended for fans of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy.

[Though, I did think Serena was going to end up being some kind of shifter and was disguised as the cat the whole time 🤣🤣 (hide spoiler)]

You know, sometimes you come across a book that just completely consumes you as you read it and you think about it for years afterwards. This is one of those books for me. Not only did Hazelwood take a chance in the romantasy genre but she executed it flawlessly.

A Romeo and Juliet retelling with Weres and Vampyres is everything I didn’t know I needed. Heartbreakingly devastating, swoon worthy, and full of spice, this book will have you literally falling in love. Hazelwood has mastered the ability to make her characters come to life for her readers and make them truly feel for them. I felt like I knew Misery and Lowe personally and could connect with them. This book is going to be talked about for years after it comes out.

Beautifully written, brilliantly executed, and flawlessly put together, I truly cannot put into words how magical this love story is. Truly well done.

I really enjoyed this. I cannot stop thinking about Bride. I adored these characters. For building a new world, incorporating paranormal elements, and a truly unforgettable romance. I guarantee you will want to clear your to-do list to read this one! Congrats to Ali Hazelwood on a fantastic new release!

I’m intrigued. This was a fun, fast paced paranormal romance. It felt different than her Steminist novels in a way that I (a bookseller and not a scientist) really enjoyed!