I've been a fan of Charlotte Stein's books in the past, and unfortunately this one just didn't hit for me - I think part of what bothers me is that despite the fact the book is in first person POV, our FMC keeps describing characteristics and making assumptions of the male character that simply aren't realistic and almost feel like they're being used to cue in the audience, taking us out of the story. I also have to admit that this MMC isn't my type - though I've enjoyed books where that is the case, this one was just too over the head with it, reminding us over and over about his like two notable characteristics - that he's massive and a little oafish.

📖 Bookish Thoughts
I was so excited for this paranormal romcom, but it didn’t quite land for me. I had a hard time getting into the story from the start. It opens with Nancy being scared of Jack, and that just set a strange tone that was hard to shake. The pacing felt really slow for most of the book, then everything wrapped up way too fast at the end.

The one thing that really bugged me? Jack calls Nancy “kid” the entire book. And yes… even during the spicy scenes. 😬 You do eventually find out why, but still there had to be a better nickname!

That said, I don’t think it’s a bad book. It just didn’t click with me. If you’re into cozy paranormal romance this might still work for you.

📅 Pub Date: October 7, 2025
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

This is my first time with this author, but had heard good things about the initial book in this series. The vibes were beyond fantasy- the references to a famous horror author and the fact that the MCs are supernatural (one literally from Hell) gave romcom meets Pan’s Labyrinth vibes. Even while fighting off the bad things sent to chase them, the romance acted like candy floss insulating the impact of the horrific situations each MC had experienced.


Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC

Jack is the son of Satan, which made me laugh because my brother is also named Jack... and jokingly I would agree on their fathers. I loved Jack and Nancy's dynamic completely, it was such a wonderful read for me.

Dealing with a Desperate Demon Novel by Charlotte Stein ✍🏼👹❤️‍🩹 - These are my personal reviews.

Rating 5/5 😚: THIS WAS SO GOOD. I could see the ending coming a mile away, but that is NOT a bad thing. Especially not to me, a girl who loves a wholesome HEA. The lore was deep with this one. It was a unique plot!

Spice 4/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️: Jack was a timid guy who needed some guidance, but that doesn’t mean the spice was lacking!!!! He was just a consent king.

Overall Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I read through some of the reviews and was honestly baffled at how people didn’t enjoy it. It was cute. It had a great plot. I thought the writing was good. I got my HEA and the spice was there. I am a sucker for anything paranormal but most of the time I totally forgot that was the point. It was just a spin on a classic love story. I’ll definitely be looking forward to more reads from this author. Charlotte, you have a new fan! 🥰🥰

Dealing with a Desperate Demon releases Oct. 7th. Go show this author some love!💞

Nancy's in a bit of a pickle. After accidentally embarrassing Jack in her bookstore, she makes an effort to reach out to the surliest resident in town. Which...doesn't quite go as she thought. After all, she got a peek at the inside Jack's ramshackle cabin, got to see him in only a towel, and incited his legendary temper. Which sent her beating feet and resulted in an accident when she spotted something that absolutely shouldn't exist.

When Jack came to her assistance after the accident, suddenly Nancy starts seeing him in a whole new lights. He's a little awkward, has a house she could easily love, and isn't nearly as terrifying once she starts spending time with him. In fact, the more time Nancy spends with Jack, the more she starts wondering what it would be like to kiss him. Among other things.

On Jack's end, he's completely clueless about how humans interact. He also has a deadline looming over him that he's starting to think he might not meet. Because becoming the type of man a woman would want to spend the rest of her life with seems like an insurmountable task. He keeps trying, mind you, because the lady in question is worth it, but figuring out all the intricacies of dating and living in the human world is a lot harder than he expected.

A little witchy power, a sassy familiar, complicated family dynamics (even when the parents aren't around), friendship, a demon trying his best to be a good human male, and a lady who has to figure out how to unbury a part of herself that's been pushed down before it's too late. SO GOOD!

This is definitively 18+. As a recreational reader I would not mind recommending this to other adults. Good pacing, great chemistry and pining. I think some parts toward the end with the magic could have been explained better, but overall enjoyable!

Jack is what I would call the village misfit and Nancy owns the bookstore. Book started off a little slow but was actually very enjoyable and entertaining. The themes and tropes of this story include overcoming personal flaws, a monster and human relationship, redemption and dating a bad boy! This book kept me entertained, most of the time. It started off a little slow for me, but thankfully the second half of the book picked up! This book is a great twist on beauty and the beast, except with a demon instead of a beast. Overall, I rate this book a 4 stars out of 5! This book will make you laugh because it does come with a lot of humor in it. Overall was a very enjoyable arc read.

This book relied too heavily on stereotypes and troupes for my enjoyment. The male demon character utilized 90s rom-com references and the female main character was a nerdy not like other girls type.

If you’re looking for a fun read featuring a cinnamon roll of a demon you just want to hug and a woman unlocking all the secrets of who she is, this is your read!

This is so much fun and full of paranormal goodness. The truth of exactly where the characters fall on the paranormal scale are unlocked as the story is told. Nancy and Jack end up being puzzle pieces to one another and it’s adorable to see how they figure it all out.

Charlotte Stein!! I might just read every single thing that this author puts out. I liked the little misfit main characters she brought to life in this one.

So far I have really enjoyed the Charlotte Stein books I have read, but I did find this one a bit underwhelming. The premise was good and it seemed like the wacky/weird kind of monster romance that we all love. Alas, it missed the mark a bit.

The characters were OK, I mean once you get past "he is trying to human but all he has is 90s rom-coms for reference" it became less cute and more exhausting. She is a bookworm who leans just a tough too far into "not like other girls" territory. After the first book in this series, here the banter felt off, the chemistry kind of meh and the resolution cam fast and furious in comparison to the pace of the rest of the plot.

Knowing what Stein is 100% capable of when it comes to romances, I am hoping this is a one off that just didn't hit for me. I look forward to more in the series and more from this author even though this particular novel was a miss.

I didn't know if this was going to be my cup of tea, as I am generally not into supernatural dark romances. This is not a dark romance. This is a cinnamon roll hero who happens to be a buff and giant son of Satan. He is trying so very hard to be a good human and a good boyfriend. It's a sweet romance that is spicy and you just really want them to get a happily ever after.

Dealing with a Desperate Demon by Charlotte Stein was such a fun, spicy, and weirdly sweet read. I didn’t totally know what I was getting into, but it ended up being this perfect mix of steamy romance, humor, and just the right amount of supernatural chaos.

The demon character was actually hilarious, not the brooding, dark type you usually see. He was desperate in the best, most ridiculous way, and I couldn’t help but root for him. The back-and-forth between him and the main character was sharp, funny, and had great chemistry. It was playful but still managed to sneak in some real emotional moments.

If you’re in the mood for something a little offbeat with charm, heat, and a touch of the supernatural, Dealing with a Desperate Demon is a great pick. It’s quick, funny, and left me smiling the whole way through.

4⭐️

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Charlotte Stein is the master of the deep dive third person limited POV. I have always loved her books because you get so deep into the main character’s head and feel like you totally get them by the end of the story, and Dealing with a Desperate Demon was no exception. I glommed this up in the midst of my house flooding, and even the stress of that didn’t detract from how much I enjoyed the read!

The premise is an almost fairy tale/real world mashup. The reader knows from the beginning that Nancy is special, but it takes her longer to realize this. I loved the way Jack was so embarrassed but also willing to push through that feeling because of his love for Nancy. I loved how goofy both of them were, and that they were able to be themselves with each other. I loved all the references to classic romance novels and the little homages to specific scenes or tropes throughout the book.

The only thing that kept this from being a 5 star read for me was that ending felt a little rushed and the magic rules that lead to the HEA ending were a little too easy. That said, the ending did fit with the overall vibes of the story so far.

I’m also very intrigued by Cassie and her werewolf boyfriend - I somehow completely missed that they already got a book earlier in the series, I will be going back to read that one asap!

All in all, I think this is a lovely, cozy romp of a book that made me squee and sigh and kick my feet. I can’t wait to see if the author will visit more couples in this world!

Thank you netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this story. It is a story full of magic and romance, and adventure.

TL/DR: So hopefully you have read the synopsis? Great! If you liked it, get the book. If you think you will like it, get the book. I loved it, by the way. The magic system in this book is original, and the story itself is original. It’s also funny, quirky, sexy and sweet. There are witches, a demon, a werewolf (not a main character in this one), and two familiars! Although one we only meet in passing in this book, the other is very funny, very judgmental but can be easily be swayed with bacon and tots. Not judging that at all, bacon and tots are delicious!

I would like to thank the author, St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and my review is voluntarily given. As always, I wish you happy reading!

Okay....ever since I read Stein's book When Grumpy Met Sunshine, I've been hooked on her writing. Sometimes along the journey, I have had a few ups and downs with regards to the plot of some of the stories. However, Stein's ability to create witty banter and spicy scenes is still some of my favorite writing.

That conflict is something that I experienced in this book. I devoured it in a day because I was enthralled by the story. I will say that I knew what the plot twists were well before they were resolved on the page, but the steamy connection between Nancy and Jack had me hooked. Even though there is a miscommunication troupe lightly peppered into this book, a troupe I hate, I was still highly invested in the connection between these two.

However, after finishing the book I did feel a bit like there was such a large build-up of tension throughout the book that never really quite paid off. Not to draw direct comparisons between the first book in the series, How to Help a Hungry Werewolf*, the tension of facing off against an enemy in this book did not have the same satisfying resolution as it did in book one. It felt a bit anticlimactic. I mean you bring up Jack's dad, but he never makes an appearance? It just felt like a missed opportunity and also somehow made the stakes feel lower than they did while reading the climax of the book.

I also am super confused about Nancy's family. In the first book, there is a lot of background information to set up revelations that occur in the book. However, there are only really two things that I know about Nancy's family by the end of the book. Her parents are divorced and her dad was very emotionally abusive. While this information does help to frame certain aspects of her character other parts are left wide open and it is very unclear where her abilities come from.

I also truly thought that Hannigan was going to be the villain in this book because I seem to remember he was a person in the first book who was lurking about the bookshop. Now, I might be misremembering, but he did come up a few times in this book so I'm not sure if that was a misdirect or what.

I am not entirely clear on if this is a fairytale retelling. There were some broad strokes and a few mentions of Beauty and the Beast however, it did not entirely map onto the story in a way that I was more than 63% certain that it was trying to capture the same vibes. If that was the goal I think that it wasn't explicit enough within the text because the direct parallels only happened after I had finished.

I enjoyed the ride of this book. I was entertained from start to finish and I enjoyed Jack and Nancy's dynamic throughout. However, once I started to look a little deeper at the story it did leave a few things to be desired and I was a little confused in some places. I would still recommend this book. It's a fun, spicy, Halloween vibe.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

*While this book is part of a series, you do not have to have read it to understand the plot of this book. Although it is fun to see the appearance of the first couple in this book if you have that background.

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Mental illness, Torture

Minor: Physical abuse, Violence

Minor: One of the townspeople is trying to censor queer books from being sold at the store. It's unclear if her father is out of her life or deceased.

This was a fun steamy fairytale romance. This author tends to write a lot of stream of consciousness for her characters, it would be a better read if there was more showing than telling.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️.5

Dealing with a Desperate Demon by Charlotte Stein is like a cozy, chaotic hug from a paranormal rom-com 🐾. It’s funny, sweet, steamy, and filled with all the awkwardness you’d expect from a demon trying to learn how to date like a normal human.
Firstly, the author explains depictions of places and people AMAZING! I was drawn in from the first chapter! Also, the magic system once introduced was also extremely cool how her magic works! I enjoyed the writing style as well. It was a very quick and easy read perfect for whenever it comes out on October 7, 2025!

I do wish Nancy’s magic development had a bit more depth. She accepts the whole supernatural reality really quickly after one big moment, and I found myself wanting her to have more time to process and grow.

Overall, I had a blast reading it, like I said her descriptions throughout the book was done so so well! If you love romance with talking trucks, flustered demons, and just the right amount of spice 🌶️—this is 100% worth picking up.