Behooved is a good, but not a great book. It's an original story that piggybacks on countless other romantic fantasies. The heroine has a mysterious and at times debilitating illness that she valiantly endures and when necessary, ignores. She is able to ride a noble steed with whom she can communicate telepathically. (Yes, he's also her husband, but that's a minor detail, at least in the beginning.) There's treachery afoot in the kingdom (perhaps BOTH kingdoms?!), and assistance to be found from simple country folk. And there's magic, of course. The love story is plausible in that it grows slowly and survives misunderstandings that could easily be avoided through honest communication. (We've never seen that in a romance, have we?!) Of course, both main characters are physically attractive and intelligent, and their dialog is never boring. I listened to the audio book, and both the cover and the narrator's voice/inflection convey a "younger" feel even though the characters (and their bedroom activities) seem geared towards an older audience. The writing itself was good, so I'm generously rounding up to four stars, but I won't put future books from this author on my auto-buy list. But because I admire her efforts, I'm not going to share this somewhat half-hearted review on social media.

My inner horse girl was so delighted for this book and couldn't wait to read it. The premise was so unique and the cover is beautiful.

This book was funny, lighthearted, and somewhat cheesy but in I way that I enjoyed. The horse puns were pretty great. I saw quite a few other reviews suggesting not to take it too seriously, and I definitely agree. I do wish Bianca and Aric had more chemistry (other than turning into horse, I found him to be kind of boring) and as a result I felt the romance a little lacking since I didn't feel all that connected to the MMC. I also wish the world building had been more immersive as there was lots of potential, and I still didn't really get the magic system by the end of the book. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook version. It was a fun listen and kept me engaged throughout. I would definitely recommend Behooved as an easy-to-read palette cleanser.

Thank you Macmillian Audio and NetGalley for the ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

Behooved is pure magic—equal parts whimsical, heartfelt, and refreshingly original. If you’re a fan of My Lady Jane and love a cozy fantasy with bite, banter, and a bit of spice, this one absolutely belongs on your shelf.

At first glance, the premise sounds like a fairytale fever dream: a chronically ill duchess forced into a political marriage with a cursed king who turns into a literal white stallion by day. But what unfolds is so much more than a quirky setup. It’s a slow-burn romance and a thoughtful, character-driven adventure that quietly knocks you off your feet.

Aric, the cursed bookworm king, is the kind of soft, introverted hero you can’t help but fall for—his awkwardness at parties and quiet strength made me feel seen in ways I wasn’t expecting. And Bianca? She’s incredible. Fierce, pragmatic, deeply human. The way her chronic illness is represented with nuance, care, and honesty, elevates this story beyond a simple fairytale. It becomes a celebration of the fact that strength comes not from the absence of struggle, but from moving forward through it.

Their chemistry is top-tier grumpy x grumpy gold, with just the right amount of tension, tenderness, and heat. The “one bed” trope? Nailed it. And the spice? Perfectly balanced, never overwhelming the story, but woven in with meaning and impact.

The supporting cast deserves a standing ovation too—lesbian lady knights, hilariously blunt siblings, and loyal friends who actually feel like real people. Everyone has a purpose, a motivation, and a voice. Marya, Tatiana, Catalina… I’m genuinely hoping we get spinoffs because I wasn’t ready to let any of them go.

The queer-normative world is a breath of fresh air—seamless, inclusive, and lovingly done. You don’t realize how much you’ve been craving this kind of representation until M. Stevenson hands it to you with grace and zero fanfare. And while the world-building is rich and imaginative, the tone remains cozy, even during moments of darkness. It’s an adventure with warmth, humor, and heart.

At just over 300 pages, it’s a fast read, but one that lingers. This story made me laugh, ache, swoon, and reflect. It reminded me that anyone can be a hero.

So if you like your fairytales with sass, softness, slow-burn romance, and social commentary wrapped up in a cursed-horse-shaped bow? Behooved will charm the hooves off you.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ — A Cozy, Magical Rom-Com with Laugh-Out-Loud Banter

Behooved is a fun and light-hearted standalone fantasy romance that had me laughing out loud—especially in the beginning! The banter was absolutely hilarious, and the audiobook brought it to life even more. I signed up for this ARC because the plot sounded delightfully ridiculous in the best way, and it definitely delivered on the humor.

Big thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this early! I really enjoyed the magical elements woven into the story, though it’s worth noting that this isn’t an epic fantasy with a deep, complex magic system. It’s more of a cozy, feel-good tale, perfect for readers looking for charm over world-building depth.

I loved watching Bianca and the prince grow individually and together. Their romance was sweet, and their journey to discover inner strength (and each other!) was heartwarming. While it didn’t quite reach favorite status for me, Behooved was still an enjoyable read filled with charm, whimsy, and a lot of laughs.

This book gave me so much joy. It's cozy, it's fun, it's silly, all in the best possible way. It definitely satisfies the My Lady Jane withdrawal, and I really enjoyed the narrators!

Absolutely love Natalie Naudus narrating this! She brought me further into this world and I absolutely adored it!

The writing style, the magic, the suspense. I loved it so much and can’t wait to see what’s next.

-finished this late so didn’t write a proper review. I’ll add the links and the full review a bit later!

This was such a fun and unique fantasy! It was so well written and expertly crafted. I enjoyed every single second. Oh the conflict in this one! Our heroine, Bianca, accidentally turns her new husband into a white horse. He’s a complete stranger to her but she’s willing to sacrifice to avoid war between her country and his. So much fun was had trying to get the spell unbroken and save themselves from someone else’s deceit. I really enjoyed listening to this book. I was hooked from start to finish. I even chucked a few times. This is definitely a slow burn as advertised, but it’s worth the wait. I love the character growth in this one too! This is a new author for me, but I can’t wait to read more. The narrator did an amazing job bringing Bianca to life! I received this book from Macmillan audio and Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Summary: This was a different take on a fairytale! A young girl is given as a peace deal as a bride to another country. The prince would soon be king and a new wife would ensure peace and commerce between the two thrones. When Bianca is shipped off to a country unknown, she’s accepted her fate and family duty. What she doesn’t know is her new husband has been told a different version of the deal made. Starting a marriage on resentment and a lack of trust, the marriage doesn’t look promising. When a threat is presented on their wedding night, Bianca makes a rash decision to use a spelled locket from her sister for protection. The result? A prince turned horse! Fleeing and trying to determine who is the enemy and how to remove the curse, Bianca and Eric are forced to work together, ride together, and find a solution.

Review: I liked the characters enough to be interested in their story. The horse magic in the plot was a little strange, but it seemed to work. The story flowed well and the plot flowed with action and intrigue. There was angst, brutal honesty, an honorable prince who comes through in emotional rescue the way we’ve all wanted, and I felt satisfied with the ending. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for gifting me an ALC of this title. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a cute and magical romantasy! This one reminded me of princess and the frog and assistant to the villain! The romance was slow-burn but oh so good!🔥 I’d def recommend this one!

✅political marriage
✅rivals to lovers
✅he turns into a horse
✅must break the curse

If you are looking for a fun and easy read, this is it. Just a book to make you giggle and relax with all of the fantasy vibes. I think this is a really cute read and the narration was done really well. If you're looking for a super serious fantasy, this is not it. I had so much fun listening to this with the banter and romance. This however has an insta love vibe because the story only takes place over a few weeks (if that). I am much more of a slow burn drawn out romance but this was a cute change up

"I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
I really enjoyed this book. It was well done and an interesting story. I think it came together well and had good character development. My only note is that overall it seemed like a plot for juvenile fiction but it was too spicy for that audience so it was definitely an adult book. It just could have easily skewed younger,

I absolutely loved this book. Behooved gave me all the cozy, comforting feels I didn’t know I was craving—until I couldn’t stop listening. The narration was spot-on, drawing me in and keeping me hooked from beginning to end. The plot twist? Brilliant. Just when I thought I had it figured out, it completely surprised me in the best way. Every element—character development, pacing, atmosphere—was perfectly balanced. This is one of those stories that stays with you long after it’s over. I wholeheartedly recommend Behooved to anyone looking for a heartwarming, cleverly crafted read (or listen). You won’t regret it.

In Behooved we follow chronically ill princess Bianca as she marries a prince, turns him into a horse and travels across the countryside trying to turn him back into a human before his coronation to be king. I LOVE the premise of this book and I was super excited to read it, but it fell flat for me.

We are constantly told about Bianca’s chronic illness/pain, but it was never explained or gave significant representation for what life with a chronic illness is like. Instead it just shoved the representation in your face making it feel disingenuous to me. Prince Aric was SO boring, he had more personality as a horse than a man.

If you removed the spice and just made Behooved YA maybe it would have been more enjoyable for me. The storyline felt clunky, the pacing was slow, the magic system was never really explained, the world building was lacking, the plotlines were halfbaked and confusing. Was her chronic illness her being poisoned? Who arranged their marriage and why? Was she a witch? I feel like so many things were thrown out there but NEVER resolved or talked about again. Also why did we have to listen to her talk about training with blades a bunch only for her to be afraid to use it when she needed to defend herself and Aric…..and then I’m sorry did she just get shot? Idk what world I thought I was in while reading this, but it definitely wasn’t one with guns 💀

It really felt like NOTHING happened in this book. Just a princess riding a horse for three days.

Thank you Netgalley for an audio arc of Behooved.

The second I saw the cover for Behooved I knew I was going to pick it up. The cover is not only gorgeous, but also promises whimsy. I love fantasy books that deal with curses, magic and bargains, so I knew I would have fun with this story. And while I did really enjoy the overall premise of this book, as well as the chronic illness representation, the writing really fell through for me. The overarching story of Behooved is quite silly, but in an endearing way. On her wedding night, a woman's husband turns into a horse. They work together to break the curse during the night time hours, when he is back in his human form. It's very reminiscent of East of the Sun, West of the Moon, but a bit more goofy (I mean this in a good way). And though this plot was good and fun, it wasn't enough to carry the book on it's own. It needed strong writing to match it. Unfortunately, I found the writing of Behooved very shallow. The main character felt like a template for any generic 'romantasy' protagonist. The enemies-to-lovers romance felt rushed and based on nothing other than physical proximity. And the themes of self-image, insecurity, and duty, though all good themes in theory, felt very blunt and surface level. So overall, I'd recommend Behooved as a fun palette cleanser between heavier reads, but don't go into it expecting too much from the politics or characters. It's just a fun little story, and that's okay.

This is a fantasy where you get to just turn your brain off and enjoy, there’s no heavy details you need to piece together to enjoy the story.
The narrator did a wonderful job reading both POV’s.
The first half of this book was good, it was fast paced and the horse puns were on point. But I feel like the second half started to taper off and could have been cut short. All in all the book was cute and quirky, and I’ll probably end up picking up more of this authors work in the future .

Narrator Natalie Naudus did a phenomenal job of bringing this beautiful novel to life for the listener. I absolutely flew through this audiobook in just one afternoon because I was so immersed in the world that was created by the author and the life brought to the audiobook by the narrator.
Behooved by M. Stevenson is a gripping, thought-provoking novel that pulls the reader into a fairytale world with royalty, magic, and lush landscapes. One of the book’s greatest strengths lies in its atmosphere. I absolutely fell headfirst into the world and it kept me thoroughly engaged.
The characters are nuanced and authentic, each contributing meaningfully to the book’s themes. Stevensen reverses the stereotypes of prince charming and the damsel in distress by having Bianca rescue Aric from several deadly situations. Stevenson invites the reader to think, reflect, and question—making Behooved intellectually engaging as well.
Behooved is absolutely worth your time. Highly recommended for readers who appreciate depth, atmosphere, and identity exploration.

I don’t usually read blurbs—honestly, I skip them more often than not—but this one caught my eye, and I’m so glad it did. The idea of a prince turning into a horse? Instantly intriguing. I couldn’t wait to see how that kind of magical twist would play into the story, especially in terms of the character relationships. It ended up being a fun challenge for them, but I really appreciated that it didn’t become a huge dramatic obstacle. The emotional connections stayed strong, which gave the story a solid, grounded feel even with all the fantasy elements in play.

What did leave me feeling a bit disappointed, though, was the unresolved plotline around the main character’s illness. Since this isn’t the first book in the series, I expected more development or at least some kind of reveal. The way her symptoms and those constant tonics were described had me convinced there was a deeper, magical explanation—like some hidden power trying to break through. But in the end, there was no closure. Her husband was clearly trying to help and understand what she was going through, but the mystery never unraveled, and it felt like a missed opportunity in an otherwise creative and compelling story.

I had NO idea what I was getting into when I started this, and honestly I was pretty skeptical, but I had an absolute blast!

This strikes a really funny, really unique balance. Its a romantasy with some political elements to it, and a big quest to break a curse. Its also got a bit of a cozy fantasy feel because of the humor involved in the horse-shifting (lol), and it even has a decent amount of spice. I didn't know at first how well these would all blend together, but I was definitely really pleasantly surprised. I laughed, I was intrigued, I swooned. I really, really enjoyed the audiobook narrator, and had no trouble staying engaged with the story. For a romantasy with a really goofy premise, I think this was a delightful read!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for this early audio copy!

*ARC review from Macmillian Audio and NetGalley*

To me, "Behooved" felt like a hallmark movie. Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE hallmark movies, especially around the holidays, however there is that sense of cheesy predictability that you get with each one. I felt that the plot was quite predictable, easy to go along with, and overall underwhelming. The characters were fine, not too much or too little, but again, preditable in their choices and dialogue given their character trits and roles in the narrative.

If you are looking for a cute and quirky, easy read, then I defintely recomend this book! It was less gimmicky than a contemporary romcom given the fahtastical nature, however it defintly gives the same feel.

This was a cute romantasy. While there was some high stakes conflict, it definitely leans more to the cozy side. I enjoyed the comedic elements and appreciated the LGBTQIA+ representation. It definitely skewed more romance than fantasy for me.