My Selling Pitch:
Gay werewolf copaganda. Even better than the first!

Pre-reading: My finger slipped 😬

Look, it’s 96° in New England. In May. Memorial weekend is all rain. Girls can have a little gay werewolf cops, as a treat.

(obviously potential spoilers from here on) Thick of it: A KID DID WHAT. Poor little piggie, omg!

A me!

Oof that parents vs the medical system is familiar.

I like how these and the Nascosta books are like haha werewolf smut and then they can’t help but add in larger political themes.

This shoe scene is so cutie.

I hate when my namesake is evil lol.

I do think it’s extremely funny that they’re police dogs with police dogs.

I really do like this audiobook narrator.

The murdered Alphas have to be the ones that raped him, no? (Nailed it.)

You know, I’d ask how do all these criminals come to work for the police, but that’s actually pretty realistic lmao.

Why do the girlies like werewolf books so much? Because it’s fantastical period care. That’s why. That’s all it is.

Ayyy title drop.

I know I was snarking earlier, but this is hot. Go off British grandpa audiobook narrator man.

IT’S MY FAVORITE TROPE. ‘Not God, only me.’ SIR, PLEASE.

I might shamelessly four star this. You all mind your business.

Your honor, I’m sorry. I love this. I love a werewolf book.

LMAO IF THERE WAS ANY QUESTION ABOUT ME LOVING A SOFT DOM. Trust me to keep a level head so you can lose control!?! Sir, I’m barking.

Gspot sin lol

I’m evil AND I die?!? Rude.

A nonsexual talk me through it is-why it gotta be my name though.

The little legs nickname is ruining this. I think it’s because America has daddy long legs, and like all I’m getting is spider.

This is some next level cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.

I was like ah yes, what a cute found family ending, and then it’s like we still have an hour to go, and we haven’t finished solving the murder.

I do think it’s so funny how it’s lol silly little werewolf book, and then it’s like women should have bodily autonomy. Why is this a debate, society?!? We love an ally.

How would he not know he’s with the police if he knows that he’s Maya‘s coworker?

Are Johnny and Taylor gonna be the next book??? Kind of an odd place to leave it. (OMG IT IS! Himbo supremacy omg.)

Post-reading: I really picked this series up as a silly goofy time, and now I’m addicted. If you’ve read or watched a crime procedural before, you’re gonna see the whodunnit from a mile off. It’s still so well structured and paced that you’re not gonna mind. There’s banter. There’s family drama. The smut is a marked improvement from the first book, and even though it’s not exactly my taste, it’s still kinda hot.

There’s a shocking amount of world-building and thought put into this series. Werewolf dick piercings didn’t exactly prep me for critical feminism disguised behind secondary sex designations and doggy style. Like it’s goofy! It’s aware it’s goofy. And it still has this earnestness in pointing out the flaws in the justice and healthcare systems. It’s bafflingly well done for what it is. Like you’re not picking up a Pulitzer, you’re not picking up anything life changing, but you are getting quite a bit more than a cozy paranormal romance. It’s a fun series. They’re police dogs with dogs. It’s an easy 3.5, if not a 4 for the genre. Taken in the larger context of everything I read, I think I have to keep this at a 3 because it doesn’t quite have the mystery chops it needs to be a four, and 500 pages is a little too long for it to be a one note cozy romance. But good lord, give me the next one immediately. The audiobook narrator for these is stellar. I will absolutely be back for the next one.

Who should read this: Werewolf girlies Hazelwood’s Bride fans Police procedural fans Romantic suspense fans

Ideal reading time: Anytime

Do I want to reread this: I think I’ll just remember it, but I’m continuing the series.

Would I buy this: Yes!

Similar books:

• Bride by Ali Hazelwood-urban fantasy, paranormal romance, family drama, thriller
• The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim-urban fantasy, myth retelling, workplace romance
• The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson-urban fantasy, paranormal romance
• Run, Run Rabbit by C. M. Nascosta-urban fantasy, workplace, paranormal romance
• Muscles and Monsters by Ashley Bennett-urban fantasy, cozy, monster romance, family drama
• The Collector series by Dot Hutchison-crime thriller, FBI agents
• You Can Run by Rebecca Zanetti-crime thriller, romance, family drama

My Selling Pitch:
A graphic novel about mommy vlogger kids advocating for online privacy reform.

Pre-reading: What a cute cover!

(obviously potential spoilers from here on) Thick of it: The art reminds me of my sister’s style.

Ayyy Rutgers.

You can’t just post revenge porn of your mother.

Her dad SUCKS. I’ll exploit my kids because I’m such a misunderstood artist. Get real.

I feel like all the vlogger kids have legit grievances. Celiac boy does not. It’s so easy to change packaging, and he’s literally inheriting a fortune. He can still be an actor.

I know this is a graphic novel, and it’s probably aimed at a younger audience, but I think they’re neglecting an extremely dark side of the child social media content, especially with the rise in AI.

Post-reading: I love love love the art, but I don’t think this is the most successful story. It’s a pretty disjointed narrative, and the cast is so large that a lot of their stories only feel partially explored. There’s a handful of budding romances, but they never feel romantic because all the relationship development happens off page. For a book concerned with the impact of social media on children, I think it misses one of the biggest talking points. I don’t know if the book avoided addressing pedophiles and child stars’ images used to train AI for nefarious purposes to keep the story appropriate for a YA audience, but it felt like too obvious of a gap. It’s probably the strongest argument they could make to push for better legislation. Ironically, the book also has a revenge porn plot line. You’re not embarrassing your mother by posting or not posting that photo, you’re committing a crime. It’s incredibly weird to me that showing your bestie a topless video without either party’s consent is presented as just a laugh.

The book also attempts to acknowledge how some of the kids have ‘champagne problems,’ but that really falls flat for Casper’s story. I just didn’t buy that his parents were exploiting him. Everything they built came from such a good place. They’re making safe food more accessible and profiting. It’s a little hard to muster sympathy for a kid turning down that kind of stable business for a career in the arts, especially when we’re not given any evidence that he’s a good actor. It’s such an easy fix to change packaging, and that’s even the solution the book uses. His parents seemed the most levelheaded and like they’d be more than willing to change the packaging if he asked. This is counterbalanced by Daisy explicitly asking her mother not to post her and her wishes being ignored. Her mom’s a piece of work, but I especially hated her dad. What a loser! I don’t think the book rags on him enough. The book almost seemed to suggest that he was finally stepping up in the end by getting a job which is too little, too late, and not an appropriate solution at all.

It’s just a story with confusing messaging. I think the big takeaway is that it’s trying to empower young adults to advocate for change at their local government level, but pushing that message in this political climate, especially for queer youth, feels a little tone deaf and short sighted.

Who should read this: YA graphic novel fans Queer romance fans

Ideal reading time: Anytime

Do I want to reread this: No

Would I buy this: No, I would get this one from your library.

Similar books:

• Pink Monsters by Claus Daniel Herrman-graphic novel, family drama, queer romance
• Forevr by Brian Brown-graphic novel, dystopian horror, family drama, social commentary, queer
• Punk’s Heads by Dave Baker-graphic novel, family drama, queer, romance, autism, musicians
• My Friends by Fredrik Backman-lit fic, family drama, social commentary, autism, queer
• Is This a Cry for Help by Emily R. Austin-lit fic, family drama, social commentary, queer

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.