⭐️: 3
🌶️: 2

This story had so much potential. A human steps into their favorite vampire novel and is tasked with savings the heroes and killing the villains. As a fan of magical realism and a day one twihard millennial, I am literally the target audience. Unfortunately, this story was just downright unoriginal and poorly written. It lacked imagery and character development, and left me as the reader unable to fully connect with the story.


Potential spoilers ahead:

The more I sit on the this one, the more mad I become. Partially because of the time wasted reading it, but more because it had SO MUCH POTENTIAL.

* Tess just all of a sudden loved Callum. Why? Did they have anything in common? She barely knew if she could trust him or not. An hour ago she was a Felix stan.

* Human drops a glass in front of a vampire and nicks their finger. I nearly closed the book and just gave up then and there.

* I hate when the solve to every problem comes from an unexpected source. Turns out Flora can create portals, all problems solved.

* Am I crazy or did we get two August Lirio confessions?


🌶️🌶️ = open door, minimal detail

Fang Fiction isn't perfect. But if you watched Buffy, read Twilight, and just KNOW that if you really were able to meet a vampire that you'd be more excited than scared- then this is actually the perfect book for you. I thought it was sweet and funny. There are big issues at the base here, but they are dealt with in a considerate manner, and the heroine's past does not have to define her- a message we could all hear over and over again.

Four frothy fun vampiric stars. I would date these vampires, or this book, too!

perfect for fans of buffy, twilight, (really any vampire media), and/or Long Live Evil

what if your favorite vampire series... was based on real vampires?

that's what happens to tess, a former PhD candidate at colombia who now manages a trendy williamsburg hotel.
and it's up to her to help the villains of the story.

“Of all those people on your message boards, your—what do you call them? Friends?”
“Mutuals.”
“That’s a stupid term, I’m not repeating it.”

#TeamFelix wants to be loved, while #TeamCallum wants to get fucked.

this was so fun and campy, with many pop culture references even outside of paranormal romance. it touches on fandom, fan fic, the general entertainment/media industry and how it treats vampires and women, and more. extremely meta and indulgent, in the best way.

also shoutout to the crazy rich asian inspo for callum and octavia, i dug it. and sapphic side relationship yayyyy!

“It’s so stupid he doesn’t sleep with men,” Hamish groused. “It’s like, hello, we’re immortal, maybe live a little?”

“You think witches don’t go to high school? Have you not seen The Craft?”

it also tackles the more serious topics of assault and trauma/ptsd. i thought this was handled with care. it's clear from early on something happened, so the reader isn't taken by surprise at any point, and it's quite deep into the story before details are revealed.

What about all the women who’ve fallen in love with schools or cities or careers, who’ve had our futures derailed because we had to make impossible choices to navigate our trauma as best we could, to keep going, to stay alive?

overall, this was a pleasant surprise read and i had a lot of fun. i think the only things i didn't like were the glamouring (it felt a bit too convenient but it ended up not having quite a big part of the story) and there was one point where i didn't feel quite as drawn in. but i thought the story wrapped up excellently!

I think the way we stay good is by standing up for each other. Finding some small way in our own lives to emulate the heroes we admire in our favorite books. It’s probably easier to turn a blind eye, to shut our mouths and move on. But don’t we owe each other something more?

an honest arc review ♡
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i'm already loving the meta vampire media vibes and set in present day nyc? always a win!

Mostly unserious and deeply funny, vampires, witches, lesbians AND Twilight mention, this book has all my favorite things! A mix between light read for spooky season with serious themes of SA, I had a great time with Fang Fiction!

Thank you to Random House for the ARC!

This book was a lot of fun and felt like a perfect read for fans of Twilight and Vampire Diaries. I really enjoyed the way the writer incorporated different POV's and types of storytelling through book excerpts, podcast transcripts, and more. The story was a bit predictable and campy but that didn't take away from the enjoyment of reading it.

I wanted to love this one, but it left me underwhelmed. The writing felt very immature and the topic of sexual assault not only overshadowed the story, but I don’t feel it was handled with care. Not to mention the novel is marketed as a fun vampire romance, and I just did not get that from what I read at all.

I have mixed feelings on this book unfortunately because, while I do think it has its moments and I flew through reading it pretty quick, I... I truly did not care for the fact that the catalyst used as this book's jumping off point plot-wise.... centers on the FMC getting drugged & r*ped, leading her to thus leave her "old" life behind for an entirely new one [with vampires]??? I don't know, I just feel like there were so many other/better/literally less or non-traumatic ways to get to that point, especially given that a) the rest of this book reads like a standard romcom with supernatural elements and b) the writing just isn't strong enough, imo, to handle balancing such a heavy topic and its own light-hearted/silliness in an equal or meaningful way. I was honestly really excited for this book, so the sharp disappointment and head-shaking I feel & did does sting, but I will still look out for this author's work in the future and am open to giving her another shot!

I love Vampires. I love fiction about vampires. And I loved this book about fictional vampires. It's that simple.

I really love Stayman-London’s writing. One to Watch was one of my absolute favorite books which is why I was so excited to read Fang Fiction. I will say, I don’t think vampires are for me. I was not into True Blood or Vampire Diaries when I was younger. That being said, I found myself so intrigued by this story. The story within a story, the podcasts and emails at the beginning of some chapters, and the different perspectives made this such a fun book to read. While I won’t be seeking out vampire books in the future, I would be happy to come back to this world!

If you're somebody who might have been a part of the Twilight fandom back in the day, this is your sign to read this book. This was such a fun book involving vampires, which is a bit different than my other spooky season reads this year. Due to this, it made it stand out a bit. I thought it was entertaining. I loved the concept that there is a series of books that is popular involving vampires, and it turns out they are based very much in truth. The bits and pieces of the book, podcast transcripts, and text messages were a fun addition, but I did think they might have taken away from the story at first. It is also important to read trigger warnings for this book as it deals a lot with a sexual assault. I thought it was done in a decent manner, however, if it is a trigger it does show up on page over and over. With that being said, I found the book to be fun and I enjoyed my time with these characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

DNF at 35%. I tried so hard to get through this book, but I really struggled to connect. I found that each chapter beginning with some kind of off-course intro, be it a podcast, article, book chapter, to be very disorienting. It took me out of the story when I feel like it was meant to immerse me. The same effect was achieved with Tess on the island but getting chapters of...the gals in New York. I can't even remember their names because I struggled so hard.

I truly wanted to like this book; on its face it looks like it was basically written for me; it's all my favorite things. But my ADHD can't stay engaged with so many shifts.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing for sending me this arc, I appreciate you taking the chance on sending me a copy. 🖤

I unfortunately have made the decision to DNF this arc. The writing was very juvenile and the constant flipping around of stories was very confusing. Going from podcast transcripts, to book chapters, to POV from the Isle to POV in NY was just a lot. I've made it 55% and I'm just not connecting with the characters or plot, or even what the story still needs to do aside from connect the worlds. Like what was the point?

The concept is fantastic! I love this idea that "fiction" books are actually based on true paranormal characters wandering around like you and me, and would love to see what the author does next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

This book was so fun! What would happen if the characters in your favorite book were real? Tess Rosenbloom is about to find out. After a life altering event smashes her life to bits, Tess turns her back on her future and her friends, becoming a night manager at a boutique hotel. Her one solace in life is the book series Blood Feud by the elusive author August Lirio. Then one night her world is upended when one of the people in the books shows up at her hotel and asks for her help. Well, person is not the right word. Octavia is a super powerful vampire. And she needs Tess's help to get a message to her brother, Callum, also a vampire.

I don't care what anyone says, this book was a blast. It was quirky and fun. I didn't want to put it down. Is it high brow literature? Of course not! But sometimes you need to just read a book for fun and this absolutely fit the bill!

I have recommended this book to many people. It's the Vampire Fan Fiction fantasy that every romcom or vampire stan needs to read. It was lush, funny, and the characters were surprisingly well written. The romance was good and the world building was so interesting. I truly loved the alternate universe sci fi aspect that connected our world to the magical little vampire island in Blood Fued--just some multidimensional bar that was the hub of time and space? Such a neat touch.

I also really felt for Tess, our MC. Trauma responses are real and the disconnection she felt she had to make was so difficult, but watching her grow and reclaim the parts of her life she missed was super empowering. And finding that power to fight for the truth and liberation of good folks and found family? Awesome.

Again. Highly recommend. ❤️

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 3.5/5 stars.

TW: r*pe and SA.

I really enjoyed this from the perspective of someone who went through the crazy fanfiction, conspiracy theory (and still do) parts of fandoms. No, I never thought vampires were real, but the love and adoration toward a series is real...so I loved that. I also loved how it was a PhD student and the slight hints of academia.

Tess is a great character who is trying to overcome the trauma of SA, but she is trying to do it without resources. I really liked how the fictional world became the coping mechanism for her and legit helped her overcome the trauma.

I do think it was interesting that she jumped into activities with Callum without any hesitation, but Callum also acknowledges he was prepared for start/stop sort of things.

Was the plot a mess? I mean...yeah. Was it fantastic? no? did I enjoy it still? yes.

Kate Stayman-London’s "Fang Fiction" is a rom-com that invites readers into the dream (and sometimes nightmare) of books-turned-reality. Stayman-London excels at creating an immersive world where fantasy meets reality, making Tess’s escapist journey feel relatable and rewarding. The novel strikes a nice balance between humor and suspense, blending darkly glamorous vampire lore with a contemporary, sardonic take on love and self-discovery. While "Fang Fiction" is mostly an engaging, fast-paced read, the plot sometimes felt like it did sometimes drag on. Overall, "Fang Fiction" is a highly entertaining read with an original twist on the classic vampire romance. For readers who love a romance wrapped in vampire lore, "Fang Fiction" delivers an enjoyable escape into a world where fantasy and reality collide.

Quite the fun read! Tess is a huge fan of the Blood Feud books, a popular series about two vampire clans trapped on an island & locked in perpetual conflict. Think the Twilight or ACOTAR fan bases to get an idea! Imagine her surprise, when she finds out that vampires do exist, they are trapped on island, and her help is needed to save them!

There's a fun campiness underlying the tale, as well as tackling some heavy issues. You see, Tess, is a sexual assault survivor, and she has created a life for herself of safety, security, and familiarity due to that trauma, and this new situation is pushing her out of her comfort zone. Part of her journey is dealing with the impact of her trau,a on her life. The other characters, from Tess' best friend to the vampires she knows so well from the books, are engaging & well developed. I like the story & the tongue in cheek nods from fandom throughout the book. The relationships between characters are great, and there is some decent world-building.

I went into the book not knowing about the survivor aspects of the story, and if that had been blasted all over the book, I might not have picked it up. I feel like there should be a trigger warning on the book for those who choose to avoid that subject. The assault is described in limited detail in the book, and the long term impact is pretty detailed. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London from Dial Press Trade Paperback via NetGalley. It is available for purchase now!

I don't usually read romance, but I make an exception for Kate Stayman-London. Fang Fiction is really for anyone who is into vampires, romance or not. With Halloween coming up, this was a perfectly timed read. I mean, what if vampires are real? And what if you accidentally found yourself thrust into their very dramatic lives because you just happened to be a fan-atic of a book series about vampires. It could happen. It might be a dream come true even. It could also be your worst nightmare if you didn't really pay attention to the details. Besides having interesting characters and a unique plotline, I love the way this is also told in an epistolary-type fashion with commentary from a variety of characters. If you want something delightful, and a little steamy, to read this holiday, check it out! If you aren't into romance, I suggest making the Kate Stayman-London exception.

Bonus points: I usually reserve bonus points for a very particular inclusion in books. I'm making another exception here. Kudos to Kate for including diverse characters so that many people can see themselves reflected here.

Kate Stayman-London gained a new fan with this book. I loved a lot of things about this one, from the very concept of a mega-fan of a vampire book series discovering that her favorite characters are not in fact fictional, what we can learn about consent from Tess's experience and vampire lore, and way both environments in this book were so distinct (and honestly very cool). The characters in this one are fantastic and interesting, and I enjoyed interstitial bits of podcasts, texts, etc. that were used just enough. It's got enough of that vampire sexiness that seems to always accompany these stories but also the main quest that furthers the story and adds tension along the way.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This was pretty cute! I think it was a perfectly cute, nice, funny read for the Halloween season! I think it was adorkable, inoffensive, and fun! It reminded me of classic Meg Cabot books. I really enjoyed the different ways of storytelling, between texts and emails and podcasts, etc. I think it added a really nice layer of dimension and really unique storytelling! I always love when stuff like that is incorporated into the story!
I would say my only big complaint is that it does seem a bit dated…kind of. It does actually seem very current, with references to modern day things and even popular actors, like Timothee Chalamet, etc. The humor is a bit millennial-coded, but the main character is also a millennial, so I think that fits fine. But because it is so firmly grounded in modern times, it already feels slightly dated by association? I’d be curious to see how this book ages going forward. At the same time, I think it also lets the reader connect to the story more, and, in the future, it will probably feel comfortable and nostalgic (much like Meg Cabot books).
Overall, I don’t have any super strong opinions on it, but I liked it just fine! The plot and characters are engaging, and there’s nothing that I have any real criticisms about! It’s a light, fluffy, humorous read, perfect for the spooky season!