an easy lighthearted read. i love cosy fantasy and hadn’t read one like this before so i was pretty excited to start. i’d say generally though that this book didn’t work for me sadly.

at the start of the story there were so many named characters being introduced, so i spent a good while being confused about who was who. and i know it’s a fiction book (and fantasy on top of that), but some of miriam’s reactions to things just felt really weird to me.

i will say i’ve been in a bit of a reading slump for a few months so maybe some of my apathy is down to bad timing when i picked this up in the middle of said slump.

and all of that said, i did enjoy the last 15% or so of the book more (particularly chapter 20 which i just thought was really funny). i’m more interested in the story now than i was for most of the time reading it, so i think i would like to pick up the sequel when it’s out. i’m intrigued to see how the romance goes and hopefully i’ll be able to wrap my head around all of the different characters quicker having read this book already.

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for allowing me early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sadly, this book wasn’t for me and I did DNF it at 37%.
I have been reading this book on and off for around 5 days, and I’ve actually been dreading picking it up as I wasn’t enjoying it at all.
The idea of this story was intriguing and something I was really looking forward to trying out, but the execution of it didn’t meet my expectations.

One positive I would say about the book is that it is quite witty at times.

If the book sounds like something you would enjoy, I do recommend still giving it a go. Just because I didn’t enjoy it doesn’t mean someone else won’t.

If you liked assistant to the villain this might be the perfect read for you. It's a mix of fae fantasy and corporate America, I'd describe it as office comedy.
It's funny and shows the oddities of Americans and fae.
This is a very American office culture book. The work ethics were as foren to me as the Fae. But the MFC is very passionate about her work and wants to help integrate the Fae in human society.

Loved this cute and cozy read! Great palate cleanser between heavier reads and I do hope there's more to this story because Id love to read more!!

Thank you NetGalley and OrbitBooks for the ARC!

A Fae in Finance is quite unique in terms of theming, where two unlikely worlds collide. As Miri ventures forth both worlds, both struggles, and all the characters involved in each, I come to admire the wide array of the cast of characters. Sahir is such a personal favorite of mine!

That being said, I really wish that there were more references of Miri's skills as an investment banker interlaced into the story. I feel like the only main thing about her was "that she's human!". Does she have the same problem solving skills and attributes as an investment banker? How is she able to use those skills of hers into the story? To me, I wish there were more of that! There's so much about Miri that I would like to think should be further fleshed out. With that, I found her humor and expressive persona likeable! However, I also found myself wanting more out of her as the main protagonist of A Fae in Finance.

I was expecting a romance, but instead got a delightful workplace comedy.

I'm a sucker for sffictional bureaucracy, and wouldn't have minded more in the way of Fae contract negotiations, but ANY amount of fae contract negotiations is a positive for me.

This was a lot of fun, would definitely read more if it were a series, and will also be checking out Brooks' future work.

3.5 ⭐️

Such a fun read. If you liked Encyclopaedia of Faeries then you’ll LOVE this! It had me giggling with all the miscommunication between fairies and humans “No, we do not like to be gifted corpses.” 😂 Miri handled all of this crazy fairy chaos along with her condescending jabs from Jeff with poise and grace. As much as one can while constantly fighting off food poisoning.

I loved the world-building and the ways in which Sahir attempted to show his affections.

You will be thoroughly enchanted and giggling by reading this book. Such a fun and cozy read.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Juliet Brooks for the opportunity to share my honest review!

Thank you to Net Galley and Orbit Boots for the ARC!

I liked this book - it’s a unique plot and the unusual and satiric take on the usual fae storyline was good! You won’t be disappointed if you’re not expecting a complex and world building book, more like a lighthearted and humorous take on 21st century work dynamics!

It took me a little while to get into the book due to the lack of introduction to characters/context at the start. I was also put off by the first few bits of dialogue, thinking the characters would be speaking like that for the whole book. Not sure if the excel commands were necessary but the were much less as the book progressed.

ARC READ

The best part of the book for me was Lena and her connection with the cat. I see the appeal for this book, I do, I just think it was moving too slow for my personal preference. You knew something was coming, but then it just consistently never did.

Overall, I think this book might not have been for me, because I can definitely see the appeal of it. The pacing just wasn't right (FOR ME). If someone wanted a fantasy with a more urban setting and zero spice, I can see myself recommending this book to them, despite my personal rating.

This book was damn relatable as a woman working in the corporate world. Working a boring horrible job with terrible bosses is the last thing anyone wants to deal with. Enter Miri, who’s doing just that but one day gets stuck in faerie world. Her whole world changes, she makes friends, goes on quests all while worried about her cat. This book was goofy and silly but really showed how to make the best out of your circumstances. Miri was a character you really rooted for and found myself in while reading this story. It was a good cozy fantasy read that I can see people enjoying this fall.

This is undoubtedly a fun read. There are so many zany scenarios and the characters are all a fun time to read, This went a little too far for me in a few cases but a quick read for sure!

3,75 stars

I don't even know how to review this because I just finished reading it and am still confused.
I have no idea what genre this is except maybe slight fantasy/comedy?
Going into it I didn't expect anything at all and was honestly pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this. This is the story of how an overworked woman ends up trapped in fairie and how she spends here time remotely working there and making friends. Theres a TON of funny instances where the fae just don't understand human customs and/or are just weird in general. I think this was the best part of the book. Oh and the cat. LOVED that. There is also some romance and bi representation, but it's not the main topic of the book and it doesn't get farther than surface level. It's a short book, so a quick read for when you need a palate cleanser or just something with low emotional stakes to be pleasantly entertained for a short while.
I think I am actually going to look out for this author now because I usually only read fantasy/romantasy and never cozy/comedic fantasy but this was a nice surprise. I also wouldn't mind a sequel since there's room for the romantic plotlines!

I received this arc, A Fae in Finance by Juliet Brooks, from NetGalley and Orbit Books. In the beginning we meet Miri, an investment banker who believes she can help unite all species, human and other worldly, with one investment deal at a time. She works for a boss, who could frankly care less that he helped get her trapped in the Fairie realm. This book takes us through Miri’s time in the Fairie realm and all the obstacles she will encounter, new friends and possibly a love interest? While I did enjoy reading this book I feel like I need a sequel to wrap up a few things at the end. Would love to see what adventures Miri would get into next.

🎶
“I’m looking for a man in finance
Trust fund
6’5”
Blue eyes…”
🎶


Thank you to NetGalley and OrbitBooks for this ARC!

That’s the energy we bring into A Fae in Finance—except swap the dating app for enchanted contract negotiations, the trust fund for a manipulative fae prince, and the “man” for Miri Geld, our overworked investment banker heroine who’s literally just trying to finish a deal and maybe not burn out along the way.

⸻

🌿 The Premise

Miri Geld is a human investment banker teetering on the edge of burnout. She’s sharp, dry, and way too overqualified to be this underappreciated. When she’s sent to negotiate with a fae client—an arrogant but charming Princeling—things spiral out of control fast as she is peer pressured into eating the enchanted faerie food which traps her in their realm lest she explodes into bone shard and blood mist.

But Miri doesn’t lose her job. Of course not. She’s expected to keep working. Even while trapped in a magical world of moving murals, literal cat ladies and slightly unhinged fae knights. She’s tasked with teaching “Human Lessons” to the fae court while juggling corporate deliverables back home.

Cue: magical chaos, workplace absurdity, and some genuinely touching moments of connection.

⸻

🧚‍♀️ Characters to Watch

• Miri Geld: Witty, burned-out, bisexual, and just trying to survive both the fae court and her toxic corporate job. She’s never the wide-eyed fantasy heroine and that’s why she works so well.

• The Princeling: Not quite a villain, not quite a love interest, but absolutely manipulative. His obsession with Miri is more political than romantic, and it adds a subtle tension throughout.

• Sahir: A fae colleague who becomes a close companion. Loyal, curious, and the emotional backbone of many scenes.

• Jeff (her boss): Your classic overbearing boss, but turned up to ELEVEN. He’s the corporate machine personified. You’ll hate him—and then laugh at how absurd he is.

⸻

✨ Tone & Satire

What I loved most is how this book pokes fun at fantasy tropes without mocking them. It’s a gentle roast of both fae romantic clichés and soul-crushing capitalism. Think: “Yes, he’s a centuries-old prince—but let’s talk about the Q3 reports first.”

The humor is dry and deadpan. Whether it’s Miri’s inner monologue or the bizarre rituals of the fae court (or human world, actually), it kept me smirking the whole way through.

⸻

💭 Themes (Scratched, Not Excavated)

The story teases some deeper commentary:
• What it means to be a woman in an elite, male-dominated workplace.
• How corporate culture flattens identity and burns people out.
• The cultural disconnects between fae immortality and human hustle.

I honestly wish the book had explored those a little more. The setup was perfect for it. But that’s also not what A Fae in Finance set out to do. It wanted to be fun—and it was. So I’m not mad, just greedy for more.

⸻

🌟 Final Thoughts

This was such a refreshing, quirky fantasy. A little absurd, a little heartfelt, and a lot of fun. It’s cozy without being cliché, clever without being smug, and magical without losing its grounding in very human struggles.

Would I read more from Juliet Brooks? Absolutely.

4 out of 5 stars for sharp humor, lovable characters, and one of the most original takes on fae I’ve read in a while.

4.2 ✨

This was the exact story I needed! I knew I had to read this after seeing the title. Once I started reading I couldn't stop!

Miri is everything I look for in a FMC! She's sassy and hardworking. The effort she put into her work was inspiring no matter how tough or crappy her boss is (literally he is the worst) I liked her relationship dynamics with her friends in family. I loved her inner monologue so much.

After being stuck in Faerie (at least someone brought her Doctor Kitten OBSESSED) she's trying to find every possible way to leave even making an insane bargain. From still working remotely to teaching human classes which I found super funny along the way she makes incredible friends and even journeys on a quest.

While I felt the pacing lagged around the middle it picked up and I absolutely loved this low stakes, minimal romance, cozy read!

Thank you orbit and NetGalley for the gifted ebook!

Thank you to NetGalley, Juliet Brooks, and Orbit Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

It was a fun, cozy read. It was unforently too cozy for me. I know that sounds crazy, but it just means that there wasn't a lot of depth to the characters and a lack of understanding of the world-building. I can see a lot of people enjoying this book more than I did. There were some hilarious and outrageous moments. I loved the fact that Miri is bisexual. She does have a few love interests, but it's in the background. I mean, I loved Doctor Kitten. I wanted more of the judgmental and silly cat. If you love a lower-stakes cozy fantasy with humor, then you will enjoy this book. I would recommend it!

This was fun, and I always appreciate unique fairy takes. I think I missed out on some corporate humor, since I've not really worked in an office. Some of the characters felt a little bit thin, and I think the marketing is implying more romance than there actually is here, which is not the book's fault, but is something to be aware of. I had a good time with it!

This was a book that wasn't my cup of tea, but I genuinely think it will be up a lot of people's street. The mixture of Fantasy in a modern setting with romance at it's heart, will be something that many will love. The FMC is one who could be very relatable to many, and the brooding Fae is very fitting for those who love the romance and the dynamic of the Fae all mixed in together. It reminded me a bit of like the TV show Mythic Quest, in the office setting, but with a fantastical twist and setting also.

Don’t judge a book by its name! Or do, if it means you’ll read this book!

A Fae in Finance starts with Miri, our overworked and stressed FMC, working for an absolute d-bag. During a client dinner, she ends up getting stuck in the fae world. This is where our story really starts, and I became obsessed! Seriously I stayed up until 2:30am to finish this.

I was so genuinely surprised with how good this book was, because I’ll be honest, I didn’t have the highest hopes due to the name. The title doesn’t quite capture the silly cuteness that is this book! It will have you (me) feeling mad and trapped, feeling touched (I cried), and feeling plenty of ‘giggling and kicking my feet’ moments (with multiple potential love interests, you go Miri our bi queen!)

Cons: the name, the first 15 pages (push through, I’m personally of the opinion 97% of books start weak)

Pros: literally everything else, especially Doctor Kitten and Sahir ❤️‍🔥

I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley and Orbit Books, but the opinions and feelings are all my own.

This was a well-written and unique take on the modern fae stories that are so popular. I liked the world building and enjoyed the overall plot. However, I went into this expecting a bit more. It was a little slow. At 30% in I found myself getting bored because there was nothing much besides Miri talking about work and navigating the faerie court but without all of the intrigue/drama readers may expect in this type of setting (i.e. The Cruel Prince). This is more for readers who enjoy a cosier story and slower plot. If that kind of story sounds up your alley I definitely think you will enjoy this!