This is a light, quick paranormal romcom about a human hero and a vampire heroine. They enter into a marriage of convenience, and the bride’s vampire relatives cause plenty of chaos—especially since the groom has no idea she’s not human.
I liked that the vampire role went to the female lead—there just aren’t enough stories with women as the vampires. The story is told only from her perspective, and while I found her likable, I didn’t really get a strong sense of the male lead by the end. Still, I think most people picking up this book will be here for the vampire fun more than the hero. Their relationship was cute, and while the breakup toward the end was pretty easy to see coming, it worked fine for the story.
The writing was okay, though I did notice “OK” popping up in the dialogue a lot, which got a little distracting. Scene changes sometimes felt abrupt, making me wonder if I had missed a page. There are also quite a few nods to the bookish community, which shows the author is clearly a reader too.
It’s not reinventing the vampire romance genre, but it’s a light, enjoyable read. It looks like the next book might follow the heroine’s best friend—a werewolf—and another vampire, and I’d be happy to check that one out too.
Thanks to Avon Books for the ARC!

The title had more bite than the book 🧛‍♀️

Vampires are everywhere right now, including cute covers like this, and I loved "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" when it first came out (I assume that’s where the allusion in the title comes from). I was hoping for something funny, light-hearted, and still readable, but unfortunately I didn’t get that from this book.

The main character needs to get married to get her inheritance (she’s already in her 100s after all). Enter her coffee shop crush, who agrees to help with a marriage of convenience because he needs to fund his PhD programme in… vampire studies (of course, he doesn’t know vampires are real). The big vampire family was fun. I liked the best friend - and that’s pretty much it...

I thought there was no chemistry between the characters, and the MMC “was just there”, there wasn’t much of him and he felt a bit flat??. The plot dragged, and I found myself irritated. The first half of the book kept me somewhat invested, but by the second half, I’d mentally checked out. It just didn’t feel fun enough for me.

I still think that if you enjoy lighthearted books, it could be a quick-ish autumn read, but it wasn’t what I was looking for.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

2.75/5 ⭐

Oh my goodness what an adorable book. I entirely loved the concept of fake marriage with a vampire. Normally, the man is the vampire, so it was nice that the women was this time. The characters were entirely lovable and quirky.

The book really focused on respecting family traditions while also paving your own way. Inclusion was a huge part of the story with the characters navigating and fighting species prejudices.

The romance of course starts with a fake marriage, but you definitely feel the realness from the beginning. This truly was a book to sink your teeth into!

This book was an absolutely fabulous paranormal rom-com, delivering on every aspect I look for in this type of book, with its lighthearted and humorous nature while still allowing depth it tells the story of a spooky vampire x human romance where the main characters enter into a fake engagement that begins to feel less fake as time goes on. Honestly, you’ll find everything in this book from a hilarious vampire family that can't keep their notse out of eachothers business, a werewolf bestie, a human love interest, a vampire rival love interest and an introverted vampire FMC who is very much single and trying to get her freedom from her vey traditionalist family.

Pandora has real problems, finding out that in order to get her inheritance she must get married before her birthday in three months time, the catch being is that indeed Pandora is hopelessly single. Working with her brother and her werewolf work bestie Pandora comes up with a plan to find someone to enter a fake marriage agreement with her in order to reach an end goal that with benefit them both. Little does she know that this someone will end up being her crush, Victor, a PhD student with huge student debt. The plan seems perfect, provided Victor doesn’t end up finding out that she is indeed a vampire. Their road to the alter was never going to be a straightforward one though with her meddling vampire family and a huge secret lingering over them. Will they make it down the aisle and with their vows be as fake as they are meant to be after all?

I loved Pandora from the very beginning, you can tell she just wants to be free to do what she wants without being hounded by her family, working at the local coffee shop while keeping her dreams alive and admiring her crush, caramel macchiato cutie. I love that she is a massive fan of bodice ripper romances and prefers cozy clothes to dressing up, she really is representing all of the introverts and I am a huge fan of this. She finds someone that accepts her in Victor and I love that so much even if he doesn’t realise she is a vampire, a romance that seems so impossible with them living in what feels like worlds apart. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Pandora come out of her shell, and learning about her family and seeing the unique relationship she has with each of its different members. Victor is so adorable and awkward, he initially feels very closed off but at the same time he is so accepting of the nuances that her family presents. Despite the awkward communication between these two they slow burn is delicious and as they grow to know each other more and more the witty banter and comforting feeling between the two of them begins to show. Their love story was exactly what I was looking for in this book, and I wouldn't have it occurred any other way.

The story itself was perfect for a rom-com, it was slightly predictable but I personally really enjoy that about these types of books, I know what I am in for and that is part of the allure. I thoroughly enjoyed reading as Pandora and Victor slowly fall into one another despite trying to keep their distance while faking it until they make it. This book felt to me like a blend of a classic vampire romance and the Addams family, if they were all vampires and Wednesday wanted to be more normal and aligned with modern times. I found myself laughing out loud to this book while also crying at points so it was an emotional roller coaster as well as being a good time where you are just along for the ride. Highly recommend this lighthearted paranormal romance for anyone looking for a more refreshing read in between bigger books.

In order to receive her inheritance, Pandora has to be married. The only problem is, she's chronically single...plus she's a vampire. When Pandora learns that her long-time crush, Victor, doesn't have the funds to complete his PhD program, she proposes a deal: Victor marries her and stays with her for a year, and she'll pay for his schooling with her inheritance. Victor agrees, but now comes the hard part: convincing Pandora's family they're really in love while also not spilling the beans about the whole vampire thing.

This was a fairly quick, fast paced read. The characters were fun, and the world was interesting. I would definitely recommend this book to those looking for a light-hearted vampire romance.

A vampire heiress can only inherit her fortune if she gets married by her birthday...in three months and with zero romantic possibilities, except for the hot PHD student who's been coming to her work place for months that she's had a crush on. Can she pull off the perfect fake engagement while also trying to keep her secret that she's a vampire from her crush? Pandora is a vampire who spends her days working at a coffee shop while waiting to inherit her ancient family fortune... a fortune her parents tell her she can only inherit if she gets married by her birthday... her birthday in 3 months. She's never had any romantic possibilities and the only guy she has a crush on is the cute PhD student with a mountain of debt, Victor. When she finds out that Victor might have to drop out because he can't afford it anymore she offers him a deal: she'll pay him if her marries her and they can fake their marriage and get a divorce... but the only problem is that he doesn't know she's a vampire or the fact that she has a very real big crush on him. This was like My Big Fat Greek Wedding meets The Addams Family with a ton of quirky family members, a touch of spice, and a cute romance. This was definitely an easy read and a fun one to add to your spooky season romance tbr. It's quirky and fun and easy.

Release Date: August 14,2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Avon Books UK | Avon for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

The perfect fall read. Funny, sweet, and slow burn romance. Vlad the talking Raven was so fun. The eccentric, extended vampire family felt like a real problem for a modern day vampire. There was a modern gothic to feel to it. And who doesn't love a romance between two bookworms reveling in their shared passion for reading.

This was a fun, light-hearted blend of fantasy and romance. I'm a huge fan of Vampires and I'm loving the resurgence of Vampire stories we're getting recently.

This was quite silly-goofy and didn't really have any serious topics, but I still enjoyed the story.

I loved the fake dating aspects and there was plenty of humour that kept me turning the pages.

Overall, a fun, quick Vampire read!

A trope-y rom com with vampires! This is actually funny. Pandora must marry soon or she will lose her inheritance. Victor seems like good husband material except he doesn't know she's a vampire and can't find that out. There are hijinks to maintain the facade. This has a good cast beyond Pandora and Victor. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc. A good read.

This was such a fun, fast-paced paranormal romance. Pandora is a vampire, and she has to get married by the end of the year to inherit her ancient family fortune, but being single and working a dead end job is a bit of a problem. Then she meets her crush, Victor (not a vampire) who is in debt and she forms a plan. Get married, pay off the debt with the inheritance and then divorce. But can things really be that simple?

Jessica Gadziala’s writing is addictive. Equal parts witty, gritty, and just the right amount of steamy. The world-building is light but immersive, and the characters are easy to root for. If you’re looking for something quick, clever, and a little bloody (in the best way), this is great.

Tropes: Fake Marriage, Found Family, Grumpy/Sunshine Spice Level: 3.5/5
Vibe: Sharp banter, tension, lighthearted chaos

This was a lighthearted read that delivered on the synopsis. It focuses on a female vampire and the marriage of convenience to her coffee shop customer who is a PhD student. Family shenanigans, meddling relatives, vampire traditions, and secrets surround the couple. Added in are a few familiars, lots of pets, along with a werewolf bestie. There are a few open door scenes to up the spice factor.

Thank you Avon Books UK for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

A fun and fast paced paranormal romance featuring a marriage of convenience between a vampire and a human.

Pandora was adorable and charming, but Victor felt a little flat at time. Still a cute read.

This was a fun, chaotic ride with the right mix of sass, heat, and paranormal drama.

Fake dating/marriage where he's unaware she's a vampire provided the perfect amount of lighthearted romcom vibes. Add in her over the top, meddlesome supernatural family and it's a recipe for wacky shenanigans.

Read this for an entertaining, cozy and sweet time.

This book was so cute, i flew through it. I love vampire books so much especially with humour you often don't get from books filled with vampires. I hope there is more to read in the future!

This was such a surprisingly cute read! I went in with no expectations and ended up loving it. I absolutely loved the dynamic between Victor and Pandora (their chemistry was super sweet), and Lucy and Elias’s banter was another highlight for me. I found myself smiling constantly, especially whenever Pandora’s family was there (their scenes added so much personality to the story), and also when the book leaned into traditional vampire lore. The garlic allergy, the whole sunburn situation... Some of the aunt’s comments (forgot her name, sorry!) had me literally laughing out loud.

Vampire romances are coming back and we are so excited! This was such a fun new paranormal rom-com that has so much heart and humor. We can't wait to see what Jessica Gadziala writes next!

I feel I should start by saying that I haven’t seen Hotel Transylvania. If that’s what was supposed to be happening here based on the other reviews, it was lost on me. It would make a bit of sense it being loosely based on a movie for children, as Pandora is 124 and acts like she is 14. Victor is as exciting and personable as keto toast (which is basically edible cardboard).

I had a hard time connecting with the characters and the storyline. I like vampire books, and I generally like marriage of convenience. I also like that the FMC was the vampire, but My Big Fat Vampire Wedding did not draw me at all. I started and stopped this book at least eight times over 3 months, and just never could get into it the way I wanted to.

My Big Fat Vampire Wedding was pure, chaotic fun. Hilarious, hot, and completely over-the-top in the way only Jessica Gadziala can pull off. I had the best time with this one. Total blast.

My Big Fat Vampire Wedding was quirky and super cute, but didn't pack a punch like I was expecting. I did love the snarky banter between Pandora and Victor, but overall pacing was just ehhh.

Thank you for the ARC - this was such a cute, fun read. I really loved the modern take here, and the book kept me laughing throughout!