The Devil She Knows is a light-hearted take on the "sold you soul to the devil' trope. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and know exactly a few others who I will pass on the recommendation. It was a tad on the nose but sometimes, that's just what is needed, right?

scattered thoughts, proper review TBD:

-I'm trying to pull my punches with this one because it was an attempt on my part to enjoy a contemporary romance novel in good faith and I . . . didn't. Which might be a me problem! But even if that is the case, then:
-the structure of this book is such that the character development is lopsided: we see all of Sam's journey (although it's mostly just Daphne alternately poking at and handholding her through her personal growth) and absolutely none of Daphne's. Daphne has some funny lines, but a compelling love interest she is not. She doesn't grow, she doesn't change, she doesn't overcome any personal defects. She's just there.
-also Sam is supposed to be this amazing person who's so attractive that she makes a demon fall in love with her, but she, uh. Isn't. There's nothing wrong with her, but nothing makes her stand out either. She's just a nondescript twentysomething who's good at baking and has cats. I don't want to sound like I'm siding with her shitty ex when I say she's too boring for all this fuss, but . . .
-also her arc is about not chasing a relationship that was bad for her, but then she immediately dives into a new relationship and also attempts <spoiler><i>to sell her soul</i> for this woman?</spoiler> I do not think the right lessons were learned here.
-why do I feel like this book only has a sex scene because the editor insisted on it.
-Hannah is way too obviously shitty for Sam's pining to be sympathetic for more than five minutes. Like, she sucks from minute one, and then we also find out that she's <spoiler>cheating on Sam with her mean boss?</spoiler> WE GET IT.
-on a personal note, I cannot wait until this trend of chef protagonists is over because every time I have to read another extended description of croquembouche de flambe au chocolat or whatever, it makes me queasy. Reading about food is never as fun as making or eating it.

anyway. no more contemporary romance for me.

omg. daphne [redacted] CALL. ME. i need her badly, i fear. i’m about to start putting out some eau de woe to attract a sexy demon of my own. she was so much fun to read about, especially as her dynamic with sam developed — she’s such a little freak!! personally if i was sam i would’ve gotten on board the daphne train a lot faster, but i get it. she had some work to do.

i absolutely tore through this in the airport & on my flight to vienna, which feels like a perfect setting for reading this book — after all, liminal spaces are a demon’s favorite place. this was such a fun read, and an incredibly unique one, too. even though everything happened incredibly quickly (which i’m usually not a fan of), it somehow didn’t feel rushed to me. i’ve been a fan of alexandria bellefleur for a while now, and i think this one might be my favorite of hers yet!

thank you to netgalley & the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I started reading this book with a cursory glimpse at the cover and blind faith in Alexandria Bellefeur. God did it pay off. Every single doubt I had about the romantic buildup between Daphne and Sam was tossed out the window. This book was so funny and weird and tender and cute perfectly dramatic for the paranormal romance that it is. Phenomenal.

Thank you, NetGalley & Berkley Publishing Group, for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was cute! I loved the concept—girl down bad meets a hot demon in an elevator and makes a soul-selling deal to win her ex back? Sign me up. The vibes were right, the banter was fun, and I was definitely entertained.

That said… I never fully bought into the romance, and the pacing felt off. We spent a lot of time chasing the ex before things shifted, and by then, the chemistry just didn’t fully land for me. Daphne started out spicy and intriguing, but got a little too soft too fast.

Still, if you’re in the mood for a sapphic romcom with some supernatural sparkle, this one could be a fun weekend read.

So, here's the thing. This was alright. I'm quickly realizing that horror-adjacent romcoms are not my cup of tea because they lean closer to romcom than horror. Which is to say, that my main critique of this book is that Daphne is not nearly evil enough. Also I didn't buy the romance. That's related to my second critique. The pacing in this is just Not It for me. For the first 3/4 of the book, Samantha is going through her wishes and desperately trying to win Hannah back. It takes her soooo long to finally realize that their relationship is not going to work. And then once she does, she's like... totally fine. No mourning period. Then we jump immediately into the romance with Daphne, whose personality changes once they get together and she loses her bark and her bite. And then the solution kind of had me rolling my eyes but I wasn't expecting any different, really.

All in all, this is a serviceable and cute sapphic romcom with a supernatural twist. It's not a very good demon romance because it's not super interested in developing Daphne as a demon (in my opinion!! I like when people are evil in books lol evil people deserve romance too!) I was drawn in my the super cute cover and by lesbians......... and I didn't dislike my time within the world of the book but it wasn't everything I was hoping. Leaps and bounds better than the last demon romance I read though. I'd recommend this to people who like more supernatural facets rather than true monster elements. It's still a fun read.

The devil she knows is sooo fun, from the start we’re thrown into an elevator where our main character meets the devil and their banter is e v e r y t h i n g. I was actually laughing out loud while reading it. I’ve never read anything with a similar premise so I was so intrigued. I couldn’t put it down! I loved the wishes and the different ideas that the love interest (devil) threw our main character Sam into. It was so so fun!

while this had such a compelling premise, i’m honestly let down by the execution of it all. daphne was giving the genie in a bottle vibes and the wishes were of course all teaching a moral lesson, but the romance was so underdeveloped i can’t say i was ever really rooting for them to end up together. i think sam’s internal struggles were the most interesting part of this book and the rest was not utilized to its full potential. as a long-term reader of bellefleur’s novels, this is my least favorite thus far but i will be eagerly anticipating her next release!

I really loved a lot of this book but what I liked the least was actually the romance. It really seems out of left field and it took them very long to get together because Sam was trying to be with someone else. I loved the concept and the ending but I just felt like the romance fell flat for me.

The Devil She Knows by Alexandria Bellefleur is a fun, fiery romance with a supernatural twist that delivers on both charm and chemistry. The characters are instantly engaging, and the witty dialogue keeps the story moving at a satisfying pace. Bellefleur blends humor, heart, and a touch of magic effortlessly, creating a world that’s as enchanting as it is emotionally resonant. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable read that fans of paranormal romance will devour.

A charming story that’s romantic, a little devious, and thoughtful. I really liked the premise and the middle of the book really shined for me. The ending felt a bit rushed, however, the bases were covered and the ending left me satisfied. I did find myself skimming through text so I could get to the dialogue quicker. Regardless, I would recommend!

This was the strongest of Bellefleur’s romances that I’ve read. I loved the focus on getting over a bad breakup and going from wanting to do anything to get it back to realizing that maybe it was for the best. The actual romance between Sam and Daphne felt more like a subplot and the pacing of it felt a little rushed in order to make room for the main story, but I didn’t mind that.

Overall this was a fun read! I’d recommend it.

4/5

The Devil She Knows is the latest in a long line of incredible romances from author Alexandria Bellefleur, but her first dabbling in romance of the paranormal variety. A Faustian type bargain between a contracted demon and a down on her luck chef becomes the love story of legend in this devilish contemporary romance that takes place—for the most part—entirely in an elevator. From the moment the premise for The Devil She Knows was first revealed I knew Bellefleur was going to deliver another romance masterpiece. This is truly a story only Alexandria Bellefleur was capable of drumming up. The Devil She Knows is like It's a Wonderful Life, but instead of an angel saving you from cashing in that life insurance policy it’s a demon showing you six alternate realities and how deeply terrible your ex is. Cloaked in Bellefleurs classic wit, The Devil She Knows details an unlikely love story with a contemplative center. Hot as hell takes on a whole new meaning in this romance where hell is the backdrop affording bargains and stealing souls for dark purposes. Hellish romance is the new standard thanks to Bellefleur and The Devil She Knows has me wanting to bargain for more.

My full review is now published on my blog!

The Devil She Knows is a lovely quick read that truly just made my heart happy. Spooky queer romance where our heroines are victorious? Spooky meet cute? Absolutely! I can see myself going back to this book whenever I need a sweet pick me up, and I can't wait to recommend it to everyone I know.

The Devil She Knows by Alexandria Bellefleur is an absolute rollercoaster of emotions, packed with witty banter, sizzling chemistry, and just the right amount of supernatural chaos. Samantha’s bad day takes an even worse turn when she ends up stuck in an elevator with Daphne, a demon who’s everything but what Samantha expected. The premise—a woman making a deal with a demon to win back her ex—sounds wild, and it certainly is, but Bellefleur’s trademark humor and heart shine through.

From the very first interaction, the dialogue is sharp, hilarious, and full of tension. Daphne, the devil in disguise, is as charming as she is mysterious, and watching her and Samantha navigate their increasingly complicated relationship had me both laughing and tearing up in equal measure. Each wish that Samantha makes brings unexpected twists, and the slow burn between them is absolutely addictive.

Bellefleur masterfully blends the charm of a romcom with the spice of paranormal romance, creating a dynamic that’s as emotional as it is hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud one moment and holding my breath the next. If you’re a fan of enemies-to-lovers, supernatural twists, and a love story that’s as fiery as it is tender, The Devil She Knows is an absolute must-read.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for approving me to read this early. I’ve always been a fan of the author’s books since Written in the Stars. While this book was more emotional for me I did enjoy Daphne and her way of getting under Sam’s skin. I found myself laughing out loud to things she would say. While also sobbing with things that happened later in the book. I would have liked more scenes with Daphne and Sam without the ex being mentioned. It was still a beautiful story.

This truly is Alexandria Bellefleur at her best. Witty dialogue, sexy banter and an emotional but hilarious dynamic between our two main characters. This paranormal take on a slight forbidden enemies to lovers hits all the right spots, while also hitting the beats of a traditional romcom.

The Devil She Knows is about Sam and Daphne (Human and Demon respectively) who go on an adventure of sorts for Sam to win back her ex girlfriend (by going into alternate realities of course). My favourite part about this book was the banter between our main characters. It was so sharp yet so sexy — you could cut the tension with a knife. However, we also had a few very emotional moments that genuinely made me tear up! Overall, I think this was a perfectly well rounded fast paced paranormal romcom that I’d definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is perfect for someone like me, who loves the idea of spooky season but, is not a thriller or suspense girlie. I adore this whole plot and the romance that Alexandria writes is so sweet and cute.