3.5 rounded up to 4

TW: This book opens with fat shaming and bullying in full force. However, I kept going because this happened in High School and Cassie moved on with her life. And I'm glad I did!

This book is a wild ride from start to finish. I just kept begging the MCs to have a real converstaion and not just talk around the real issues. There was a lot of back and forth that didn't help the story (but some was very well done spice) that I felt could have been removed, but overall I really enjoyed it. I love a book where the MC gets dropped into the supernatural world and I look forward to seeing more from this series in the future. Most of the book felt like world-building to set up the series, but the ending felt rushed to me. It was very funny in a lot of parts and I got sucked into Cassie and Seths' rekindling friendship (and more) banter and really enjoyed them together. I think if they'd had a converstaion about their feelings sooner (leaving the one big revelation for the end) and then moved some of the fluff after they finally figured themselves out before the big conflict in the last 1/3 of the book that would have improved everything significatly.

Regardless, I had a great time!

Curvy, Cozy, and a Whole Lot of Chemistry: My Review of How to Help a Hungry Werewolf

Fall is finally here, and what better way to embrace the cozy season than with a heartwarming fantasy romance that's also hilariously chaotic? Today, I'm diving into a delightful read that perfectly captures the autumnal spirit (and somehow manages to make me laugh out loud): How to Help a Hungry Werewolf by Charlotte Stein

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Perfect for: Cozy fantasy lovers seeking a character-driven tale with a spicy second-chance romance.

A Curvy Girl's Magical Journey...With a Side of Mischief
This book follows Cassie, a plus-size heroine who finds herself drawn back to her hometown after a tragic event. As she navigates the familiar streets, she's confronted with old friendships, a mysterious connection to the town's magical secrets, and a whole lot of accidental mayhem. The cozy atmosphere, complete with autumnal foliage and a touch of paranormal magic, creates a truly enchanting backdrop for Cassie's very eventful journey.

A Spicy Second-Chance Romance
For those seeking a little spice to go with their cozy fantasy, How to Help a Hungry Werewolf delivers. The relationship between Cassie and her paranormal love interest is both youthful and exciting, with plenty of chemistry, playful banter, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting. While the second half of the book does get a bit steamy, I appreciated that it avoided the knotting trope, which is a personal ick for me.

Overall, How to Help a Hungry Werewolf is a delightful blend of fantasy, romance, and cozy charm that will leave you wanting more...and probably laughing until your sides hurt. If you're looking for a character-driven tale with a touch of magic, a dash of spice, and a whole lot of hilarious chaos, this book is a perfect choice for your autumnal reading list.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars rounded up!

This was a delightful read! In a similar vein to Jenna Levine’s My Vampire books, this felt like a raunchy D-COM original storyline. Cassie and Seth were such fun together and I absolutely loved watching them come back together (I also loved watching them being the horniest beings alive. 😂) Also I can’t forget to mention Pod, Cassie’s raccoon familiar - the absolute love my life. 😍🦝

Both the print and audio versions of this book were perfection so I think either route will be a fun time! A big thanks goes to NetGalley, SMP, and MacMillan Audio for the advanced copies of this book. How to Help a Hungry Vampire drops Oct. 1 (just in time for spooky season!)

This is my third Charlotte Stein book, and if you had asked me before reading it, I would have said it would probably be my last. It won't be my last. 🤣 I adored this quirky, fumbly, sweet book so much! It made me laugh out loud several times, and tear up at the emotions of the characters. They were well drawn and fallible, with so much heart and angst. 😍 And it was witches, werewolves, familiars (Pod the raccoon! 🥹), and all kinds of supernatural goodness. What I'm saying is I am all the way in on Stein if this is what she is writing moving forward. Fair warning: schmexytime is a slooowwww burn. 😝

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for access to an e-arc for review.

2.5 stars rounded up. I think I chalk this up to simply being "not for me".

This is the second Charlotte Stein I have read (I started Never Loved bofore starting this one but have not yet finished it). How to Help a Hungry Werewolf is the first book in a series and I think suffers a bit with respect to pacing because of it. It starts slow and the world building feels like the focus of the first 2/3. Then Cassie is suddenly an extremely powerful witch and Seth is a werewolf. I don't think the romance is given enough on page time - we only get Cassie's POV and she's a mess. She and Seth have a history and it is messy and I didn't feel it was ever addressed as if they are adults. As their relationship progresses the tone goes from feeling very light and cheery to explicit. To be clear - I expected the explicit, but it didn't feel earned. The plot felt shoved into the last quarter of the book.

The way the paragraph above is a bit of a mess is sort of the way I felt about the book.

I like Cassie and Seth (this matters to me in a romance). In spite of my complaints above, I buy them as a couple and I think this series could go somewhere good.

Read if you like:
👯‍♀️ Friends to Enemies to Lovers
✨ Supernatural Romances
🧙‍♀️ Witches, Magic, & Potions
🐺 Werewolves
🥵 Horny Banter
🏫 High School Bullies

This book is the epitome of don’t take yourself seriously and just have fun!

I truly loved the spicy and tension filled banter, all the innuendo, and awkward relationship of ‘what is going on’ mixed with ‘I guess I’ll help you out’ and everything that comes out of this combo bringing former besties turned high school enemies back together when our FMC returns to her hometown after her grandmother passes away and leaves her home to her, and then catching her ex bff trying to break into said house looking for her grandma.

Then comes all the tension, one liners, awkward banter, sexual comments mixed with the supernatural aspects of what happens when you bring together a witch and a werewolf…

Thanks so much to the Macmillan publishers for my ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review!

I first want to say thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Net Galley & Charlotte Stein for providing an advance copy of How to Help a Hungry Werewolf for me to read and review.

I’m glad I picked this as my first fall read! I truly adored the cosy, hallmark-esque energy baked into the story and setting. Stein’s attention to magical details made this book so enchanting and whimsical I couldn’t help but have a sense of nostalgia. I even became emotionally attached to a microwave! The modern references, body positivity and adult spice level felt perfectly appropriate for light hearted supernatural romcom with high school and hometown themes.

About halfway in, I did start to wonder when the conflict(s) would develop, but I had enjoyed the world building and fast paced montage style progression of the first act. The story felt classic and fun while still being unique and having interesting discoveries along the way. I look forward to more books in this series, as I really think Stein's classic Halloween magic style was what kept me reading! I would have loved to get more substance in this book even, as the bulk of the end chunk (where we see all the mating stuff come into play, which is totally fine by me, but it's several scenes of just that) plus the final arc of the interconnected high school bully conflict left me wanting more explanations on the details of the hows and whys of the "Jerks" final plotting, which would have been a great opportunity to build upon much of the broad scope of the supernatural world Stein had already developed.

Many of the scenes I adored were well written, I even re-read some! However, there were a couple times I noticed the tone being slightly mismatched in various sections which interrupted the overall momentum for me. The language of some scenes (the final confession monologues, where the characters were also suddenly speaking in a really formal manner) was more polished and refined, while other scenes (one of my favorites, the adorable and hilarious faerie forest scene) were just as well written but had a much more casual tone. In the same vein, there were some phrases and snippets of dialogue where I had to re-read to understand what was being conveyed because it was not clear enough.

Overall, this is a 3.5/5 for me! I’d recommend this for anyone looking for a spicy, funny fall novel, for lovers of romcom and supernatural romance, and for anyone who wants to light a candle, turn on the TV for background noise (my choice is YouTube Halloween ambience) and immerse themselves in the spooky season energy with a new book!

(I will round up half-star ratings where applicable)

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

On paper, this should be THE book for me. Many of the individual elements should work; however, I don’t know if it was the pacing or the writing style, but the book just didn’t seem to come together for me. The plot was rather thin and vague. Seth and Cassie were best friends until Seth betrayed Cassie in high school, a scene which plays out at the very beginning of the book. Now, nearly a decade later, they are forced back together when Seth enlists Cassie’s help with a problem he has. Oh yeah, and Seth is now a werewolf.

Here is where I start to struggle. Seth’s explanation for what happened in high school comes too far into their interactions with one another. And then, there never is a real apology from him. The situation just felt glossed over. It’s brought up again near the end of the book, and I am still struggling to follow the events that lead to the betrayal. This all played into my struggles to root for them as a couple. I just don’t want to see my heroine in love with her tormentor/bully. Which leads me to the fact that I didn’t really feel any actual vibes between Seth and Cassie beyond extreme horniness until the last chapter or two. Throughout the book, it is left very vague on if Seth actually likes Cassie beyond friendship or if his wolf side is the driving factor in his desire for her.

A main plot point is that Cassie is a rather powerful witch and was not aware of this until Seth tells her, at the age of 27. She then is instinctually able to make any potion to do anything she needs or could ever think of. I feel like there should have been a learning curve. A few spells or potions that go awry or not according to plan. She was too good at being a witch what felt like instantly.

My final point, is there is a distinct lack of any depth to the characters outside of our main two. Sure, there is a dead grandma who is referenced, a cute raccoon familiar, and some high school bullies who are the “villains”, but I don’t think any of them were utilized to their fullest potential.

Overall, the story and world felt small when a world with magic and supernatural beings should feel infinite and full.

I’m not going to say anything negative about this book or author.

Sometimes readers don’t connect with an author. Maybe it’s the writing style, or tone, or characters, or storytelling. Whatever it is, sometimes readers and authors don’t connect and THAT IS OKAY.

This is my second book by this author and I have solidified she’s just not for me. Thanks for the arc though!

3.5 Stars
I really loved the idea but the book just feels short. This book had great moments of humor but not enough to carry the story to the end. I struggled with the MMC and the first half of this book really struggled to keep my attention but I am on the fence about picking up the next book but might try it because this book showed promise but just did not get all the way there.

I've been a huge fan of Charlotte Stein's since reading When Grumpy Met Sunshine at the beginning of this year, so I was beyond excited to see what she could do with her latest, a paranormal rom-com, How To Help A Hungry Werewolf!

So, what happens when a werewolf and a witch re-connect in Hollow Brook after sharing a mortifying high-school experience? How about being forced together by a do-or-die mating bond, which results in some steamy scenes that had me longing for more dirty talk between Cassie and Seth! It was extremely refreshing that neither character harbored some huge resentment towards the other for that high-school drama, yet their feelings didn’t just get swept under the rug either; it was exactly the right amount of bitterness to create the perfect enemies to lovers’ recipe!

I didn't know I needed to read a book about werewolf mental health until this book came along! OMG what amazing rep for those werewolves among us, plus an everyday bonus for those of us that fall into that mere mortal category!

This book was a fabulous mash up, two-creature-for-the-price-of-one-admission book that had me eating out of one hairy palm while simultaneously desperate to figure out how to get the spell book that the other hand held (because, yes, of course I'd want to be part of a mating bond with Seth)!!!

Bonus? This title seriously has me lusting after it! The use of the word “hungry” has me obsessed!

OMG Yael Rizowy did a great job with this audiobook narration! Between Seth's breathy, bulky, angry voice and the cute, cuddly, Oompa-Loompa voice used for the raccoon familiar... it was just so perfectly fitting to mirror the fun plot!

This is the first book in Stein's new series, The Sanctuary for Supernatural Creatures, and I will be howling at the moon until the next book comes along!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

How to Help a Hungry Werewolf by Charlotte Stein

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review!

If you followed along in my stories you know that I read this book in about a 30 hour period. I had a WONDERFUL time, and it was a ridiculous ride.

Here’s the thing though, despite me enjoying this book, I probably wouldn’t recommended it to the entirety of my audience! Let me explain! If you are not already interested in the ridiculous plots found in witchy and paranormal romcoms this will not be the one to make you like them! However, if this is something you like to dabble in, it is one of the most fun I’ve read in a while and you should for sure pick it up!

The Vibes:
-childhood friends to enemies to lovers
-Accidental werewolf and accidental witch
-magical world lurking just below the surface of the real one with surprisingly adorable world building
-sentient house with sentient household goods that are your friend!
-adorable raccoon familiar
-🌶️👀

I also enjoyed that the book stayed very magical all the way through! A lot of witchy romcoms seem to mostly be normal romcoms and don’t have much of the magic front and center. This one maintains its Halloweentown feel throughout!

Overall 4 stars from me! This book will be out October 1st, and I’ll be grabbing a copy to add to my witchy romcom trophy shelf!

I am usually a fan of paranormal romance but this wasn’t really the case this time. I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters and I really didn’t enjoy the plot.

Friends to enemies to friends to lovers. The slowest of burns. Overall I really enjoyed this book. The friendship was sweet. Seth was adorable. The main character talks about how fat positive she is, but at the same time hints at how unlikeable her body is and there is some blatant fat shaming as well. The spice was great and I really enjoyed the build up.

This was a little slow in parts but my curiosity about the world the author was building kept me hooked. Her writing style might not suit everyone but it kept me engaged. Seth the werewolf was an interesting sometimes adorkable guide into the supernatural. Cassie was had exactly the reaction I would to finding out the supernatural and sometimes terrifying things you spent your childhood nerding out about are real. Given their history and the hurt Seth caused I did like that he worked to earn Cassie’s back trust and friendship. When things progressed between them I thought they had pretty good chemistry. Overall 3 🌟

What a wild ride this book was. It started out kind of slow but once the werewolf stuff starts it Picks up and never slows down. I love Cassie’s magic in this story and all the crazy things that happen because of it. Seth is such a cinnamon roll even though he turns into a giant werewolf. I’m excited to see what happens next in the series

This book started awkwardly but found its way by the end. I didn't care for the underlying conflict or how easily all the magic stuff worked. I liked the jokes and the spicy scenes. I didn't get a Gilmore Girls vibe from it at all, as there were barely any interactions with the bland townspeople (probably saved for a future book in the series).

3.5

This had the potential to be one of my favourite books of all time, but the execution ruined it.

The first 60% of the book was mind-numbing. Nothing happened. It was just meaningless dialogue that didn’t move the story forward.

Once it gained momentum and plot actually happened, I found myself eager to keep reading. The angst paid off and the reveals were done well. Bonus points for Pod the raccoon.

I’m disappointed. I enjoyed When Grumpy Met Sunshine and had high hopes for a werewolf romance. I do think that the next instalment may be more enjoyable now that the groundwork has been laid.

This book was camp as hell. (Which is a compliment - that is exactly what I want from a book called "How to Help a Hungry Werewolf".) Some of the dialogue felt childish, which is a bummer, because with a little finesse this could have been a super fun spooky season read. (It still is, but with the caveat that some of the dialogue might make you cringe.)

I should have DNFed. I was at about 70% when I realized I really was not enjoying myself, but by that point, I felt like I should just push through and finish the last 30%.

With it being spooky season, I've been enjoying some paranormal romances to mix up my normal fantasy reads. I have stumbled across both good and bad ones, but unfortunately this one was not for me.

The story itself was decent - FMC moves back to her high school town after her grandmother dies to find out that her grandmother was part witch and her ex-bestfriend (MMC) is a werewolf. This turns her world upside-down as she discovers there is a whole supernatural world right under her nose that she never knew about, and that she is also a witch.

This book features friends to enemies to friends to lovers. I am not sure how I feel about the oversized/fat "rep" in this book - sometimes I feel like it was going in the right direction, and other times I felt like it really did not do it justice. The dialogue between the FMC and MMC felt very immature and cringey. I don't dislike spice in books when it is done well, but the yearning/outright "horniness" of the characters and their continued denial that they liked each other became incredibly annoying. This made up probably 30-40% of the book, at least, from approximately the 60% to 90% point of the book, which is a big reason I was very close to DNFing as it completely lost the plot.

Anyways, not all books are for everyone, and maybe this book will find the right reader.

I am appreciative of NetGalley and SMP for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.