This book started being adorable and sensible. A bit amusing too. Jack had my heart from the start with all his nervous insecure energy. Then it added some steam and oh my! It felt like a fun spicy fairytale. Jack and Nancy make a cute couple. One of those were they lift each other up. Plus I really liked all the supernatural bits.

Okay despite my average rating, if you are a fan of Charlotte Stein and are in the mood for her trademark slow burn, stream of consciousness style, then this book will welcome you home like a warm hug (literally how I felt when I started it). I also kind of wish I didn't request an early copy because I would have enjoyed reading this in October more than in June...but lesson learned.

The magic: I didn't understand how Nancy's or Jack's magic worked, and honestly grew more confused by it as the book went on. At the same time, I was intrigued, and still want to learn more, but I'm not convinced I'll gain clarity as this series continues (if it continues).

The romance: Again, if you are already a fan of Stein, you'll like the shy, sweet, and spicy moments between Nancy and Jack...and there will be squeal-worthy moments. If this is your first Stein novel...maybe don't start here. At the very least start with the first book in the series, but also keep in mind that Stein writes for the overthinkers, the introverts, the self-conscious among us. I think her style can be very polarizing, so I will be honest and say that I am typically one to give her books 4/5, even when they often have average ratings of ~3.5/5.

The conflict: The issue, and honestly I've felt this way about a lot of Stein's books, is that the central conflict is weak, centered around miscommunication, and too drawn out. I appreciate Stein's attempt at paranormal romance with this book and with the first one in the series, but I think she needs to put a little more thought into what the rules of this world are. I don't mind a loosely-shaped paranormal romcom, but this is too loose.

Overall, it was funny, it was cute, and I wanted to shake the main characters by the 2/3 mark. Classic Charlotte Stein.

I couldn't put this one down & kept reading bits and blurbs to my partner.

I fell in love with Jack's grump. He's really a big ol cinnamon roll trying to be the best Human he can be.
Nancy is my soul animal. She is sunshine, she is kindness, she is awkward and strange. She is a delight.

I adored the banter & healing/comfort. This book handles deeper topics than book 1, but did it gently.

This book had everything I adore. It was spicy & cozy, magic and more magic. The grump was a huge plus.

I don’t know what it is, but the newer, dare I say more mainstream romances published by Charlotte Stein just haven’t worked for me like her previous works. I keep chasing the high I had when I first read Sweet Agony and Sheltered. Stein’s trademark whit and the banter between the leads is there but it just isn’t working for me like it used to. I’m giving it 3 stars purely for the writing and because I have a soft spot for Stein but I really miss the magic of her early work.

A nice read!

It kept me going but there were moments that I had some time with getting through them. It was hit and miss with somethings, loved Jack.

Charlotte Stein keeps hitting it out of the park - this book was a delight.. She blends heart, humour, and spice so well, and this is no exception. I think my favourite thing (especially with her more recent releases) is that she writes heroes that are absolutely gone for the heroine, and I am here for it. If that's your thing, I absolutely recommend this book. I would read her paranormal contemporaries forever.

Very well written. An interesting read. Perfect balance of plot and romance.
Was provided free copy of this book. All opinions are honest and my own.

I was approved by the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review of this book.

3/5 ⭐️

This book was cute and the idea was there but it felt lacking. It was a struggle to get through. It took me almost a month to read it and I can usually finish a book this small within a day.

Jack honestly made my heart melt. What a cutie! Nancy was super supportive the entire book and I loved the mature relationship they had between each other. Had some Harry Potter vibes to it and will definetly enjoy this book on a nice fall day. I'm happy for the good happily ever after and was satisfied by the end.

I received Dealing with a Desperate Demon by Charlotte Stein for free in exchange for my honest review. I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked this book up to read. I really enjoyed it! It really drew me in. It was funny, but also a great romance. The fact that Jack is actually a demon and not human, is interesting. Most books really romanticize demons that I've read. This one does not. It makes him awkward and not sure how to interact with someone he "likes." It was great. I plan to look for more books by this author!

Charlotte Stein’s Dealing with a Desperate Demon is a slow-burn paranormal romance that sneaks up on you, then sets you on fire—in the best possible way.

Nancy is a lonely bookstore owner who’s just about given up on finding her “person” when Jack Jackson walks into her shop. He’s huge, intimidating, and the town’s resident loser—but something about him makes her take notice. He doesn’t ask for help, but somehow ends up getting it anyway. Nancy takes him under her wing, offering lessons in dating, tenderness, and maybe even how to be a halfway-decent man.

The catch? Jack is the literal son of Satan. A demon from hell trying (and failing) to live up to his father's terrifying legacy, now bound by a cosmic pact to win over his so-called “fated” mate—or else risk destruction for everyone he cares about.

As Nancy and Jack grow closer, the lines between teacher and student blur. The chemistry builds slowly, but when it hits? It’s scorching. (Seriously, if you read this and don’t wish for a big sweet demon of your own, you’re lying.)

What makes this story special isn't just the steamy tension—though there’s plenty of that—it’s the tenderness, humor, and quiet magic that creeps in as two broken people try to believe they’re worthy of love.

This is an ARC review. I want to thank Charlotte Stein and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me the chance to read this book ahead of release day!

Nancy & Jack practicing to date with each other after both were mostly considered outcasts in their town. Jack did all he could do from learning from books and movies on how to be the best boyfriend he could be. Nancy while attempting to help was absolutely clueless to the fact that she was that witch. Granted I can see how any normal human would not think they are a witch and the things they saw/heard as a kid was all real. Even if her parents thought she was hallucinating and forced her to be in an inpatient mental hospital for it.

I fell in love with her dog! Once she was able to hear him talking, I just knew he immediately became my favorite character. My second favorite character was Jack’s car (who reminded me of Bumblebee) who played the BEST songs right on time! Jack and Nancy going on dates and doing all things people who date do was so sweet! Nancy accepted all of Jack…what he considers the good the bad and indifferent.

Overall this book didn’t really hit as much as I thought it would. I did push through and found parts I did enjoy. It’s written in third person and I am not a fan of dialogue written in clumps rather than in actual dialogue.

This one is definitely not for me. I love a good monster romance. These characters are so awkward it's actually painful. I only made it 10% of the way in before I had to DNF. The sentence structure is really bizarre periodically, forcing me to reread about 4-5 times, because I simply can't comprehend 1. What the author is saying and 2. Why they would word it this way.

I deeply appreciate the ability to review this and am disappointed it wasn't a favorable one. I think a decent editor could get this into something that provides a much more pleasant reading experience.

This book and its subject matter ended up turning me off. I probably should not have selected to read it but I didn’t want to go back on it once I did because I can’t DNF. I should have. I’ll def do better about researching the book more before I read it

This one I have mixed feelings on. I really enjoyed Jack, but at the same time I felt the way he acted was kind childish. It felt like certain parts of the story dragged on a bit.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book, but I was very pleasantly surprised. I ended up finishing the book in just a few sittings and really enjoyed the story and characters.

Stein did a good job of keeping the reader enthralled. I loved the main couple. Their chemistry was through the roof!!!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5 rounded up)

Charlotte Stein delivers a delightfully offbeat romance that feels like stepping into a dreamy, witchy fairytale—with a cinnamon roll demon and a heroine who might just be a Disney princess in disguise.

The prologue left me a little confused, but in the best way—hooked and intrigued. From there, the story unfolds with a hint of misconception trope, slow-burn chemistry, and a charming “beauty and the beast” undertone. The writing itself is whimsical, sweet, and mirrors the FMC’s romantic, slightly scattered headspace beautifully. I truly enjoyed being in her mind—it was like living inside a warm daydream.

The banter is quirky, the romantic tension is thick with yearning, and there are echoes of classic slow-burn pairings (think Luke and Lorelai from Gilmore Girls). I especially loved the way both characters struggled with their feelings—raw, honest, and often unable to hold back their words.

That said, the pacing felt fast, almost jumping from one emotional beat to another without fully fleshing them out. I also really wanted more clarity around the FMC’s magical abilities and desperately wished for Jack’s POV—he’s such a mystery, and getting into his head would’ve added depth to the emotional tension.

In the end, while a few moments didn’t quite land for me (the “kid” nickname and some early cringe), I found myself thinking about this book long after finishing it. And to me, that’s the mark of a good read.

I love all of Charlotte Stein's work, and this book is no exception. It focused on Nancy, who struggles to find love and Jack who is clueless about dating, mostly because is the son of satan, and has to learn lots about being a human as he goes along. Nancy offers to help Jack become a better boyfriend, and while the two start getting closer and closer to each other, Nancy begins to be able to access her witch powers and begins to understand how much more there is to the world than she ever imagined.

📚🔥 Book Review 🖤💘
This hilarious and heart-melting supernatural rom-com will steal your heart and maybe your soul too! 😈💫📖

Nancy, the bookstore owner with a soft spot for romance and a secret witchy streak 🧙‍♀️✨, thinks she’s done searching for “the one”... until Jack Jackson, aka the town’s terrifying outcast (and low-key Satan’s son) strolls in looking for love advice. 😳💀❤️

She offers dating lessons, practice dates, and tender pep talks 💌🥀—but it turns out Jack’s dating issues go way beyond awkward small talk. He’s cursed with a Beauty and the Beast–style bond, and his “dream girl” might not be Nancy at all... or is she? 🤔🌹

This book gives:
🧡 Grumpy x sunshine energy
📚 Bookstore magic and demon drama
🔥 A demon with a heart of gold
💘 Slow-burn tension that sizzles
🕰️ A deadline that will have you turning pages at warp speed

Every scene between Nancy and Jack is filled with banter, longing, and heart-aching hope. As hell looms and secrets unravel, you’ll be rooting for this unlikely duo with your whole soul. 💞🔮

A huge thank you to the author for this funny, steamy, and surprisingly tender tale—equal parts romance and redemption! 🖤📚🔥
Get ready to fall for the literal bad boy from hell! 😈💘📖