How absolutely cozy and delightful! Cryptid Creek was such a fun community to explore, and I loved that the characters popped up in other stories. This would make an adorable TV series.

This is a really funny lighthearted rom com style book about cryptids. Ive told all my friends who enjoy strangeness about it and they're excited. The first chapter had me hooked and ive enjoyed it

This is an exceptional anthology of cozy cryptid romances. Each story is unique, from the variety of cryptid to the LGBTQIA+ elements to the plot itself. Most of the stories had main characters who fall under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella, but it never feels heavy-handed. We have multiple non-binary MCs, late-in-life lesbians, trans characters, gay couples, a masc-presenting lesbian who uses he/him pronouns, and more. Truly a wonderland of representation. Additionally, there are multiple characters with disabilities, but they never prevent them from being the MC/main love interest.
Brief highlights/summaries of each story.
The Moon & the Mothman is the love story between our non-binary MC and the non-verbal Mothman. It's a slow burn, of sorts, and progresses adorably from crushes to dating.
A New Leaf is a friends-to-lovers story of late-in-life lesbian empty-nesters. One of our FMCs is a frog person.
Practice Makes Perfect is a trans-for-trans story between a swamp monster and a charismatic human, that is strangely relatable.
Ripple is a sweet prelude to a budding friendship that could develop into something more down the line. Another trans MC and the Loch Ness monster.
Night Shift is a sapphic romance between our human FMC and an alien/robot woman who mercilessly teases her.
Yearn for It was a top pick due to that title. I love a sweet yearning story. This is the ostensibly hetero story between our human FMC and a cactus man.
Skate God is a coming-of-age story about friendship that might lead to something more. We have another human FMC and her new friend (love interest?) is a nightcrawler, a creature that is described as armless. That doesn't stop him from being an excellent skateboarder.
Skin & Fur is a second-chance story between our human MMC and a wolf-man. It leaves the audience with questions... did they make up? Could they not look past their differences? Are they better off not married?
Dream Girl was easily my favorite story. Our Sasquatch butch lesbian with he/him pronouns falls for a delightful disco-ball of a FMC. We get yearning, flirting, awkward moments, and sweet endings.
Dumb Little Crush is another sapphic love story, this time between our human FMC and the Jersey Devil. The flirting gives me life.

Thanks to NetGalley for the early access! This is one of my new favorite books and I'll be recommending it for NYPL's top 50 romance releases of 2026.

Mothman Is My Boyfriend is pure serotonin. McKayla Coyle creates the kind of warm, magical world you want to pack a suitcase for. Cryptid Creek feels like a queer fairy tale filtered through cottagecore and gentle monster romance. Each story is bursting with charm and heart, but the Mothman dates are especially delightful—awkward, tender, bookish, and sweet in a way that made me grin the whole time.

The anthology format keeps the pacing lively, and every tale puts a fun spin on classic romance tropes (fake dating! friends-to-lovers! second chance! butch Sasquatch hookup!). It’s inclusive, whimsical, and quietly affirming.

Campy sexy adorable queer cryptid fun. This book was pure delight and so very gay, I loved every kooky second of it.

I love Cryptids, so these stories are absolutely perfect and adorable. Full of heart and fun reads. I have already recommended to 3 different people!

Love is in the air in this small town co-inhabited by humans and cryptids.

This is not just a book about falling in love, but also does a beautiful job of illustrating many types of love from platonic to hot and heavy. As someone who is usually not impressed with romance books, I was delightfully surprised at how invested and immersed I felt in the stories.