I was able to listen to this as an audio.
I really enjoyed this. It had me laughing and gasping it as the story went on. The ups and downs of trying to travel with a partner that keeps turning into a horse was very humorous, and finding acceptance for all your faults and flaws was touching.
This does end in an HEA.

A delightful and surprisingly spicy stand-alone fantasy romance. The beautiful cover made me think it was YA fantasy, and I was pleasantly surprised that is wasn’t. Well rounded characters, lush world building, and a yummy forced marriage with magical quirks, fun banter. Pick this up if you love magical fantasy with cursed shapeshifting royalty, a quest to save a kingdom with a side of romance. Automatically recognized the narrator’s voice as she also does Sue Lynn Tan’s Daughter of the Moon Goddess series and has flawless delivery.

This book has a little bit of everything: differing magic systems, political intrigue, romance, whimsy, and vulnerability. This enchanting stand-alone is one of my new favorites. It's perfect for fans of Stardust (the movie more than the book), Thief Liar Lady, and Ella Enchanted. The sex scenes were gorgeously written, and Nataile Naudus is up there with Julia Whelan as far as favorite audiobook narrators. Absolutely adored - I preordered a shelf trophy copy for myself, and I cannot wait to yap it up with folks this summer!

Pleasant, Quirky Romantasy

Overall Rating: 3.5 ⭐ Rounded up to 4
Spice Rating: 🌶️

Thanks to Macmillian Audio for providing me with an ALC of this book through NetGalley. I am reviewing it voluntarily and all opinions are my own.

This book was cute! As always, Natalie Naudus did a great job of bringing the story to life. The horse puns were hilarious, and I laughed out loud several times while listening. It was refreshing to read a fantasy that didn't take itself too seriously. The romance between Bianca and Aric was lovely and felt like a true slow burn despite the story taking place over only a handful of days.

I loved how Bianca isn't the stereotypical tough, badass fantasy FMC. But she is strong nonetheless, and not just because she knows how to handle a weapon. Behooved is a celebration of a quieter kind of strength, the kind that enables you to fulfill your duty with courage and your head held high. The kind that allows you to be vulnerable. But it's also a reminder to not let duty get in the way of following your heart. As cliché as that last part sounds, the story conveys this well-worn message beautifully.

I also appreciated that this book had chronic illness and bisexual representation. While the story did a great job of illustrating that having a chronic illness wasn't a weakness, I wish the author had gone into a little more detail about Bianca's condition. I felt that the bi rep was done really well though! I loved how in this world, gender didn't matter when it came to love.

However, the mystery aspect of this story mostly fell flat for me. The villain was somewhat expected (in my opinion), and I felt that their reveal and the protagonists' quest to defeat them could have been better executed. I also felt that the story could have used a bit more depth and character development. While the world-building was decent, it was a bit simplistic and left me wanting more.

I agree with other reviewers who have noted that if not for the spice, this would read more like a middle-grade or a YA than an adult novel. That isn't necessarily a bad thing! I love a good YA, and I even enjoy the occasional middle-grade book. But it is something readers and listeners should be aware of so they can go into this with the right expectations.

This is M. Stevenson's first novel, and despite the parts that didn't work for me, it shows a lot of promise. I look forward to seeing what's next from this author!

4 stars...first off thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this audioARC of the book. I enjoyed this one. I liked the premise and how the story was laid out. The characters are likeable and well rounded. There's magic, assassination attempts, plots to usurp the throne, adventuring, thieves, and some spice to round things out. I enjoyed the narrator, she kept me engaged and the story ended well. Yes I would recommend this book to readers.

This wasn't at all what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it. The MMC was such a marshmallow, and I absolutely adored him. The FMC was a bit of a conundrum, though... spoiled royal that was trained with a blade and yet naive as could be. She was barely tolerable at times. Eric carried this story (in my opinion).

I will admit that I didn't have high hopes for this when I requested it because the idea seemed silly, but this absolutely blew me away. Perfect for fans of My Lady Jane. Quite literally, it's My Lady Jane but a bit spicy and wrapped up in a happy neat bow. It's cute and not that serious while being everything I needed from a romantasy book.

Behooved is an easily digested romantasy. I enjoyed the beginning and the humor, but I started to feel disconnected around 40%. Ultimately I wanted more from the world-building and character development and was left feeling underwhelmed.

Narration performed by Natalie Naudus was well done.

I received an ALC from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had a lot of fun with the first half of this book. The offbeat humor hits early and sets the tone for a wonderfully weird story in all the right ways. I liked how quickly we’re thrown into Bianca’s world—we get a solid sense of who she is, her relationship with her sister, and the traditions and responsibilities shaping her life.

While the world-building didn’t always feel fully fleshed out, and there were moments where the plot seemed to stall, the characters, especially Bianca and Aric, kept things engaging. Their early interactions were hilarious. Watching them figure out their situation (which, yes, includes the whole bizarre marriage setup) had me genuinely laughing. The tone stayed playful and light, which made the story easy to sink into.

The second half didn’t hold me quite as well. A lot of the narrative leaned heavily on Bianca’s inner thoughts rather than moving things forward through action or dialogue, which slowed the momentum. Without getting into spoilers, the assassination plot felt underdeveloped and left me wanting more complexity or tension.

Still, this is a fun, off-kilter fantasy read if you’re looking for something light and a little unconventional. Just go in knowing it’s more quirky than epic.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for sending me an early copy of this audiobook!

This was such a cute, fresh breath of a book! From the adorable romance to the hilarity of the plot itself, everything was just wrapped in a warm hug! But don't forget that what's wrapped up also has a great depth to it with the best character development and discovery of self-love and confidence.

I found myself giggling way too much with this book. I loved the world, the characters, and their adventures. The world was so easy to get into but did not feel as though it was too simple. The characters were all endearing and made you love them as soon as they came in. Their adventures were hilarious, heartfelt, and fun.

And then don't get me started on the disability/chronic illness representation. It was so well done, and I adored how it was treated. From our FMC to the MMC and his own feelings, the condition was treated with care at every turn and with every emotion it brought out.

This book has it all! It will make the perfect summer read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Machmillan Audio and M. Stevenson for this ARC audio! This was one of my most anticipated reads, and it didnt let down! I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator and felt she did a great job. I really loved this story! This was very much swan lake mystery vibe. It was super cozy and definitely could see myself reading this again as a comfort read. Bianca was a very likable MFC, and I especially liked her presentation of chronic illness and appreciated she was in her mid 20s. She is dutiful, and overall a good moral character. Initially, I wasnt sure about Aric - however by the end of this story, I only wish I too had an Aric! Hes perfection! The journey of these two - is just that the journey between them. You dont get much world building or outside perspectives/characters. But for me, it was perfect because I only wanted to know about their journey together. I gave this a 4 star, and have my special edition ordered from The Bookish Box. Im very pleased with how the story ended.

Thank you first to NetGalley for providing a copy of this audiobook.

I loved, loved, LOVED this story. Everything about it just felt right for me. The plot was well done, the character development and growth, the balance between the humor, romance, and serious parts was all perfect. This was such an endearing story to me, and I think I spent most of my listening time laughing or wearing a goofy grin.

Bianca and Aric worked well together, both in their banter and chemistry, and nothing ever felt forced or unreal, and the supporting characters were also great. The author does a great job of world building without it being overbearing, to the extent that I hope there are additional stories in this world in the future. This was just a wonderfully endearing story for me, and tremendously enjoyed it.

This was a unique standalone romantasy centered around a girl with a chronic condition who finds herself in an arranged marriage with the king of a neighboring, war-torn country. Early on, she accidentally curses him, and the two are forced to embark on a shared adventure—part quest, part misadventure—to undo the spell.

The novel is a solid length and appears to be the author’s first full-length work. I’m definitely curious to see what they do next, as there’s clear potential here. The worldbuilding and premise were intriguing, and the pacing kept me engaged throughout.

That said, there were a few elements that didn’t quite work for me. The heroine’s chronic condition is referenced frequently, but we’re never told exactly what it is or how it meaningfully affects her day-to-day life—beyond others, and herself, perceiving it as a weakness. It felt like a missed opportunity for deeper character development and started to feel repetitive without payoff.

The curse on the husband was an interesting twist, but the progression from reluctant allies to lovers felt rushed. I didn’t fully buy the chemistry or emotional connection—it could have used more buildup to make the romance believable.

Finally, the ending wrapped up a bit too neatly and conventionally for my taste, especially given the more complex setup earlier in the story.

All in all, this was a decent read with an original concept. While it wasn’t perfect, the author shows a lot of promise, and I’ll be keeping an eye out for their future work.

I really enjoyed listening to this tale that was pretty unique and fun. I liked how the author wrote the FMC, Bianca, as a character who has to almost constantly have a mask on due to being ill and her family not wanting to show weakness. It hits home that people live like that every day, having to appear strong when they really just want to give in and give up. Unfortunately they don't get married off to an heir to the throne of another kingdom and end up on a crazy adventure after turning said heir into a horse. The banter between the characters was amusing, and I loved the tension that built up between them. Who doesn't love a good, well done slow burn?

That said, the story was read perfectly by the narrator. My interest was kept through the whole story, I purposely took the back roads home so I could keep listening.

I enjoyed this adventurous romantasy by M. Stevenson. Although it’s being marketed as an adult romance, it would likely appeal to a younger audience, or those who are young at heart and looking for a light, entertaining read.

The story is told from Lady Bianca’s point of view. Bianca has been sent to a neighboring country for an arranged marriage to Aric, who will soon be king. On their wedding night, Aric is attacked, Bianca accidentally turns him into a horse, and they ride away searching for help. Thus begins their journey of adventure, courtly intrigue, secrets, violence, magic, and romance.

I enjoyed main and secondary characters and especially enjoyed how Bianca was a talented fighter, while Aric was gentle and studious, preferring libraries to social events. I also loved how Bianca’s chronic illness was incorporated into the story. I also liked the way no one is assumed to be heterosexual here, and Bianca’s bisexuality is casually discussed.

This was a fun, action-filled story. It’s definite a quick, light read, with a surprisingly cozy feel given the plot. It included some of my favorite tropes, such as an arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, and only one bed. The magic here is unpredictable, which keeps things humorous. Aric’s curse causes him to turn into a horse each morning and then back into a man each night, leading to exactly the sorts of misfortunes you might expect.

This was a lovely distraction, and the ending made me smile. I recommend it for fans of light, humorous romantasies.

The audiobook production was excellent, and Natalie Naudus’s fantastic narration really contributed to my enjoyment of the story. She’s fun to listen to, with good pacing, clear pronunciation, distinctive voices to suit each character, and the ability to convey mood and emotion effectively. The story works well as an audiobook.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for providing me with a free advanced review copy of the audiobook through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.

Behooved had a lot of potential, but ultimately didn’t quite deliver for me. Though marketed as an adult novel, the writing style often felt more appropriate for a young adult or even middle grade audience. There was a lot of telling rather than showing, with overexplained character emotions and plot developments that left little room for reader interpretation.

That said, there were some elements I appreciated. The setting, in a universe where gender equality and queernormativity are the norm, was refreshing and welcome. I also enjoyed the dynamic between the main couple—a strong, duty-focused woman with combat skills and a bookish, non-warrior man. The early setup of a slow-burn romance was promising and could have added depth to their relationship. Unfortunately, that slow burn was short-lived. The romance suddenly accelerated without enough development, making it feel unearned.

The magic system and broader world were intriguing, but the world-building felt rushed. Key elements were introduced and then quickly glossed over, giving the impression that shortcuts were taken to move the plot along.

Overall, while Behooved had some original and thoughtful ideas, the execution left me wanting more depth, consistency, and trust in the reader’s ability to follow the story without constant explanation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was not for me, is it for someone? Yes I am sure it is. It read like a young YA book with a spoiled prince, predictable plot, and forced spice. The plot revolves around the prince turning into a horse....the horse puns were nonstop. Both main characters seemed young and naive.

I did really enjoy the chronic illness representation and how a person's sexuality didn't matter.

As for the audiobook it was okay, the narrator was a little slow and speeding it up I lost some of the clarity.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for access to the audiobook ARC via NetGalley!

Behooved is a fun, charming, and lighthearted romantasy read. I especially appreciated the realistic chronic illness rep, which made perfect sense after reading the author’s note. I also really liked that the MMC wasn’t hypermasculine or the typical “dark and brooding” type that seems to dominate the genre. It was refreshing to see a softer, more reserved love interest.

I found the concept of magic being controlled and weaponized by the government particularly compelling. The transformation of something inherently natural and untamed into a tool for technological advancement and warfare was clever world-building in a fantasy world, made even more believable by the government’s manipulation of public perception by framing untrained, unpredictable magic as dangerous and outlawing it to maintain control.

The book is a standalone, which is totally fine, but it did mean that the plot felt a bit underdeveloped and somewhat predictable at times. I also wasn’t entirely sold on the romance between the FMC and MMC (it’s hard to believe in a deep, lasting connection that was formed over just a few days). I would have loved to see more of the magic system explored as well. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed following Bianca and Aric along on their journey!

I had the privilege of listening to the audiobook, and I do think it enhanced the experience. It took me a little while to get used to the narration style: the narrator’s voice was a bit breathy for my taste, and the dialogue sometimes felt over-exaggerated. However, the performance matched the lighthearted and often humorous (occasionally bordering on cringey) tone of the story and brought the characters, especially Bianca, to life in a vivid way.

Was this particularly well-written? Did it have some plot holes I ignored? Despite this, did I have a really good time? yes

I don't know about you, but characters turning into animals is one of my favorite tropes, so I just had to read this. And yes, it was everything I expected and needed this story to be, especially for a romance.

I think this has an interesting premise. It does have that cozy fantasy vibe which was nice. The horse jokes loved lol. Other than that parts of the book fell a little flat to me. The narration was good though.

Thank you to Macmillan audio for the gifted audiobook.