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The Sanctuary for Supernatural Creatures #1
How to Help a Hungry Werewolf: A Novel
What We Do in the Shadows with the small town feels of Gilmore Girls in this swoon-worthy romance that will leave readers delightfully cozy and hungry for more.
When Cassandra Camberwell returns to her hometown of Hollow Brook to clear out her late
grandmother’s ramshackle old house, the last thing she expects is Seth Brubaker on her doorstep. Her
former best friend was responsible for the worst moment of her high school life, and she can’t
imagine he wants to do anything but torment her all over again.
Until she unearths the real reason this annoyingly gorgeous beast of a man keeps hanging he’s
an actual werewolf, who’s certain she’s the witch that will ease his suffering. But Cassie just isn’t sure
if she can trust him again. So Seth offers a he’ll teach her all about her undiscovered magic, and
she will brew the potions he needs. No feelings, no funny business, just a witch and a werewolf
striking a deal.
Totally doable. Until they get hit with a do-or-die mating bond. And now the heat is rising, in
between fights with formers bullies and encounters with talking raccoons. They just have to not give
in. Unless giving in just might be the very thing they never knew they always wanted.
When Cassandra Camberwell returns to her hometown of Hollow Brook to clear out her late
grandmother’s ramshackle old house, the last thing she expects is Seth Brubaker on her doorstep. Her
former best friend was responsible for the worst moment of her high school life, and she can’t
imagine he wants to do anything but torment her all over again.
Until she unearths the real reason this annoyingly gorgeous beast of a man keeps hanging he’s
an actual werewolf, who’s certain she’s the witch that will ease his suffering. But Cassie just isn’t sure
if she can trust him again. So Seth offers a he’ll teach her all about her undiscovered magic, and
she will brew the potions he needs. No feelings, no funny business, just a witch and a werewolf
striking a deal.
Totally doable. Until they get hit with a do-or-die mating bond. And now the heat is rising, in
between fights with formers bullies and encounters with talking raccoons. They just have to not give
in. Unless giving in just might be the very thing they never knew they always wanted.
357 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2024
161 people are currently reading
16654 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Stein
117 books2,131 followersCharlotte Stein is the RT and DABWAHA nominated author of over fifty short stories, novellas and novels. When not writing deeply emotional and intensely sexy books, she can be found eating jelly turtles, watching terrible sitcoms and occasionally lusting after hunks. For more on Charlotte, visit: www.charlottestein.net
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 936 reviews
September 10, 2024
Charlotte Stein’s latest paranormal romance,
How to Help a Hungry Werewolf,
is the first book in a new series, The Sanctuary for Supernatural Creatures. It features Cassandra (Cassie) Camberwell who returns to her hometown to clear out her grandmother’s house. What she doesn’t expect is for her ex-best friend Seth Brubaker to show up. He’s the reason she was homeschooled during the last part of high school. When she finds out why he’s hanging around her, they make a pact to help each other. But things don’t go smoothly.
Cassie was rejected, hurt, and embarrassed when she was seventeen, but it still affects her today. She’s afraid to make friends with anyone and she only takes temporary jobs. Seth is terrible at keeping a story straight when forced to lie. Despite his strength, there’s an under lying vulnerability.
The book starts out strong with Cassie learning more about herself, her grandmother, and about Seth. It’s sprinkled with humor throughout and the world-building is done well. However, at about the 60 per cent point and going until 90 per cent or so, there isn’t much happening other than steamy, spicy scenes. The last 10 per cent is back on track, but the ending felt rushed. Themes include bullying, friendship, trust, abandonment, protectiveness, and possessiveness, as well as learning about one’s abilities and forgiveness.
Overall, this novel has a great premise, but nearly a third of the book interrupted the story line that I expected. There are several humorous moments, especially with the microwave and the raccoon. I would like to see where the author takes the series in book two.
St. Martin’s Press – St. Martin’s Griffin and Charlotte Stein provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for October 01, 2024.
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My 2.47 rounded to 2 stars review is coming soon.
Cassie was rejected, hurt, and embarrassed when she was seventeen, but it still affects her today. She’s afraid to make friends with anyone and she only takes temporary jobs. Seth is terrible at keeping a story straight when forced to lie. Despite his strength, there’s an under lying vulnerability.
The book starts out strong with Cassie learning more about herself, her grandmother, and about Seth. It’s sprinkled with humor throughout and the world-building is done well. However, at about the 60 per cent point and going until 90 per cent or so, there isn’t much happening other than steamy, spicy scenes. The last 10 per cent is back on track, but the ending felt rushed. Themes include bullying, friendship, trust, abandonment, protectiveness, and possessiveness, as well as learning about one’s abilities and forgiveness.
Overall, this novel has a great premise, but nearly a third of the book interrupted the story line that I expected. There are several humorous moments, especially with the microwave and the raccoon. I would like to see where the author takes the series in book two.
St. Martin’s Press – St. Martin’s Griffin and Charlotte Stein provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for October 01, 2024.
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My 2.47 rounded to 2 stars review is coming soon.
Want to read
April 14, 2024I started reading this book, and the prologue features the male lead (the supposed hero) fat shaming the heroine in front of their entire high school. I almost threw my phone across the room. I don't think I can make myself keep reading. It's a theme I've noticed a lot in romance, with women ending up with guys who bullied them at formative times in their life just because he got hot and maybe apologized. I just think that the message shouldn't be for women to settle for their bullies. Not to mention, the gist of the plot is him asking for help from her (since he thinks she's the one who turned him into a werewolf). I'm not saying don't read this book, but heavy heavy trigger warning. Even thinking about it makes me upset again.
May 28, 2025
Who are these people leaving 1 and 2 star reviews? Have you never read a quirky Stein erotica before? And if not, why are you requesting ARC's? Lol. Let me say it this way, if you've read CS, if you like CS's older stuff, you will enjoy this. If you're part of this new, uptight, "I saw your panties and that's wrong" generation? Stay far, far away from me.
This is classic Charlotte Stein with a heroine who is quite insecure, a bit socially awkward but always has a great comeback......... in her head and maybe an hour later, lol.. Hero? He's an oblivious jerk who's not quite sure how she can't know he's bonkers for her. Ensuring many peek through our fingers moments, endearingly stupidly want to be thoughtful moments, red faced, huh? moments and just laugh out loud moments. If this is your first Stein, maybe start with an earlier book and work yourself up to her paranormals. But, you must love well written sex scenes (erotica, duh) and some funny, embarrassing (horribly, in some scenes) dialogue and a satisfying ending. But this is a series, so there were some info dumps (I thought so, anyway) that pulled me out of the setting for a bit. All in all, I enjoyed it and had I not received an ARC (with a totally honest review expected, cause I knew going in how she writes) I would have bought this puppy on the first day of release. Stein stopped writing for a while and When Grumpy Met Sunshine came out earlier this year I was on cloud nine. I have complete faith that she will maintain her core fans and gain many new less uptight fans with both of these new literary offerings. Looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
I will say whichever editor wrote that blurb about the Gilmore girls meeting blah blah blah, was totally out of line. CS is as far from the Gilmore Girls as a politician is from honesty. That's really far away. Srsly, IYKYK. Sorry, I hate acronyms too. ;)
This is classic Charlotte Stein with a heroine who is quite insecure, a bit socially awkward but always has a great comeback......... in her head and maybe an hour later, lol.. Hero? He's an oblivious jerk who's not quite sure how she can't know he's bonkers for her. Ensuring many peek through our fingers moments, endearingly stupidly want to be thoughtful moments, red faced, huh? moments and just laugh out loud moments. If this is your first Stein, maybe start with an earlier book and work yourself up to her paranormals. But, you must love well written sex scenes (erotica, duh) and some funny, embarrassing (horribly, in some scenes) dialogue and a satisfying ending. But this is a series, so there were some info dumps (I thought so, anyway) that pulled me out of the setting for a bit. All in all, I enjoyed it and had I not received an ARC (with a totally honest review expected, cause I knew going in how she writes) I would have bought this puppy on the first day of release. Stein stopped writing for a while and When Grumpy Met Sunshine came out earlier this year I was on cloud nine. I have complete faith that she will maintain her core fans and gain many new less uptight fans with both of these new literary offerings. Looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
I will say whichever editor wrote that blurb about the Gilmore girls meeting blah blah blah, was totally out of line. CS is as far from the Gilmore Girls as a politician is from honesty. That's really far away. Srsly, IYKYK. Sorry, I hate acronyms too. ;)
September 5, 2024
Boycott is officially over so I can finally say that I hated this-- it's one of the worst books I've read all year. Nay, in my life.
This is so incredibly immaturely written and makes no sense. But I also feel like I'm reading from the mind of a child so the fact that there are sex scenes later on feels ethically and morally icky.
Basic Writing Nits:
"For some reason" showed up on 12 different occasions and is just sloppy. eg "For some reason, he looked sick." Why would you say that? Why would anybody say that? Especially when "He looked sick" is also an available option to say instead and makes the character sound like less of an airhead.
Down The Writing Nits Rabbit Hole (aka I did a ctrl+f, oh no):
Symptoms:
- she didn't know why 7x
- she wasn't sure why 2x
- she had no idea why 4x
- for some reason 12x
But before you think that's all, do not underestimate the hidden variants that are harder to search for. We additionally have "for some inexplicable reason," "for some ungodly reason," and "for some unaccountable reason" among others that are not included in the tally.
Diagnosis: the MC has no thoughts. Purely head empty.
Immature Characters:
“You think I’m so awful that I can somehow bully someone from beyond the grave? What do you think I’m going to do, dig her up and give her wedgies and a wet willy?"
How tf did we end up here? Is this really what passes for adult thought processes and banter and enemies-to-lovers? I cringed sooooooooooo hard and felt secondhand embarrassment that this made it to even the ARC round of publishing.
Does he wear a Henley?:
-----------------------------------------------------
The boycott is ongoing. The demands are very reasonable. I hope that St. Martin's Press will do the right thing and take action to protect -and not actively be complicit in harm to- their BIPOC authors and influencers.
It's 2024; I don't think it's too much to ask for large businesses to do the bare minimum.
Boycott info here: https://r4acollective.org/
I have DNFd this book and will post my thoughts (for now it's written in my private notes) once the boycott is over.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for granting me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is so incredibly immaturely written and makes no sense. But I also feel like I'm reading from the mind of a child so the fact that there are sex scenes later on feels ethically and morally icky.
Basic Writing Nits:
"For some reason" showed up on 12 different occasions and is just sloppy. eg "For some reason, he looked sick." Why would you say that? Why would anybody say that? Especially when "He looked sick" is also an available option to say instead and makes the character sound like less of an airhead.
Down The Writing Nits Rabbit Hole (aka I did a ctrl+f, oh no):
Symptoms:
- she didn't know why 7x
- she wasn't sure why 2x
- she had no idea why 4x
- for some reason 12x
But before you think that's all, do not underestimate the hidden variants that are harder to search for. We additionally have "for some inexplicable reason," "for some ungodly reason," and "for some unaccountable reason" among others that are not included in the tally.
Diagnosis: the MC has no thoughts. Purely head empty.
Immature Characters:
“You think I’m so awful that I can somehow bully someone from beyond the grave? What do you think I’m going to do, dig her up and give her wedgies and a wet willy?"
How tf did we end up here? Is this really what passes for adult thought processes and banter and enemies-to-lovers? I cringed sooooooooooo hard and felt secondhand embarrassment that this made it to even the ARC round of publishing.
Does he wear a Henley?:
-----------------------------------------------------
The boycott is ongoing. The demands are very reasonable. I hope that St. Martin's Press will do the right thing and take action to protect -and not actively be complicit in harm to- their BIPOC authors and influencers.
It's 2024; I don't think it's too much to ask for large businesses to do the bare minimum.
Boycott info here: https://r4acollective.org/
I have DNFd this book and will post my thoughts (for now it's written in my private notes) once the boycott is over.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for granting me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 18, 2024
2 stars.
I did not like "How to Help a Hungry Werewolf" by Charlotte Stein. I am disappointed because I was really looking forward to it based in its description. This book should have been a young adult novel, especially considering the main characters act like they are 16. There was no reason this book needed to focus on adults because they certainly don't act like it. The spicy scenes feel added at the last minute in an effort to broaden the reading audience. I totally understand why the main character, Cassie, is mad about what her supposed best friend, Seth, did to her in high school. Rightfully so! He fat-shamed her in front of the entire school, embarrassed her, and then ditched her for the "cool kids" while making fun of everything they used to love together. I get it, and I know what that feels like, so I can totally empathize. I don't need to read about it in a romance. It may have felt a little easier to believe if there was a big redemption, but Seth *barely* apologizes. Excuse me??! I did not like these characters. Cassie is SUCH A WHINER!!!! Oh my GOD, I wanted to slap her so frequently. On top of that, she deserves SO MUCH BETTER. She's just supposed to forgive Seth because he needs her help? Because he got hot? I say "F that!," BUT THEN SHE GOES AND DOES IT after complaining about him for over half the book!!! And Seth is *barely* a functioning person. He still doesn't know how to communicate in a basic conversation and she's falling for this dude?!? GIRL WHAT!?!? Baffling!!! AND!! Why are women still writing characters who fall for their bullies and not labeling them bully romances?! There is nothing lighthearted or funny about demeaning people only to turn around and let that person walk all over them years later. Even with the reason given, I was still pįssed off about how Seth treated Cassie. This is my second Charlotte Stein novel, and I have come to the conclusion that she is not the author for me. Despite the cool paranormal premise, I had a difficult time swallowing this book. It drags and drags and drags, and when I felt like it was nearly over, there was still 37% OF THE BOOK LEFT. Nothing happens except talking for long stretches of time. It's plodding and infuriating. I appreciate that Stein writes about plus size characters, but they are almost always bleeding hearts with no backbone who let people trample over them for just one ounce of "love." Contrary to popular belief, you *can* have a good heart and not continue to accept disrespect from those who have wronged you. There are so many wonderful, funny, diverse paranormal romances out there with spectacular characters who have a genuine connection and know how to communicate with one another. Read those instead.
Thank you to NetGalley, Charlotte Stein, and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
I did not like "How to Help a Hungry Werewolf" by Charlotte Stein. I am disappointed because I was really looking forward to it based in its description. This book should have been a young adult novel, especially considering the main characters act like they are 16. There was no reason this book needed to focus on adults because they certainly don't act like it. The spicy scenes feel added at the last minute in an effort to broaden the reading audience. I totally understand why the main character, Cassie, is mad about what her supposed best friend, Seth, did to her in high school. Rightfully so! He fat-shamed her in front of the entire school, embarrassed her, and then ditched her for the "cool kids" while making fun of everything they used to love together. I get it, and I know what that feels like, so I can totally empathize. I don't need to read about it in a romance. It may have felt a little easier to believe if there was a big redemption, but Seth *barely* apologizes. Excuse me??! I did not like these characters. Cassie is SUCH A WHINER!!!! Oh my GOD, I wanted to slap her so frequently. On top of that, she deserves SO MUCH BETTER. She's just supposed to forgive Seth because he needs her help? Because he got hot? I say "F that!," BUT THEN SHE GOES AND DOES IT after complaining about him for over half the book!!! And Seth is *barely* a functioning person. He still doesn't know how to communicate in a basic conversation and she's falling for this dude?!? GIRL WHAT!?!? Baffling!!! AND!! Why are women still writing characters who fall for their bullies and not labeling them bully romances?! There is nothing lighthearted or funny about demeaning people only to turn around and let that person walk all over them years later. Even with the reason given, I was still pįssed off about how Seth treated Cassie. This is my second Charlotte Stein novel, and I have come to the conclusion that she is not the author for me. Despite the cool paranormal premise, I had a difficult time swallowing this book. It drags and drags and drags, and when I felt like it was nearly over, there was still 37% OF THE BOOK LEFT. Nothing happens except talking for long stretches of time. It's plodding and infuriating. I appreciate that Stein writes about plus size characters, but they are almost always bleeding hearts with no backbone who let people trample over them for just one ounce of "love." Contrary to popular belief, you *can* have a good heart and not continue to accept disrespect from those who have wronged you. There are so many wonderful, funny, diverse paranormal romances out there with spectacular characters who have a genuine connection and know how to communicate with one another. Read those instead.
Thank you to NetGalley, Charlotte Stein, and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
October 25, 2024
This is one of those frustrating three stars that really gets me. You were almost there! You almost had it! Ugh. One second I was cackling and swooning, the next second I was frustrated and yelling at the page for being dumb. In that, it has the advantage over most three-star reads, which is usually a rating I give out when I'm feeling 'meh' about something, not much feeling either way, bad or good. So at least this got me in my emotions. It's just so frustrating for me to read something that was so close to being really good, and with some more edits it really could have been.
This was going to be a three and half star book, probably rounded up to four, until what appears to be this author's bugaboo reared it's little unwelcome head (same exact thing in her last book). The sentient microwave and select other bits of this had me DYING and the sexual chemistry was off the charts good, and then BOOM despite a literal Mount Everest sized pile of evidence that Seth is EXTREMELY sexually attracted to our girl Cassie (including her hearing him ) this girl is still like, he couldn't POSSIBLY be attracted to ME. And look, there's a way to do this kind of conflict, but this isn't it. Someone as smart and awesome as Cassie would know rationally that Seth was attracted to her, but emotionally maybe not be able to get there, or have her fear (particularly in this case) overcome her rationality. But that's not what's going on here. It is so FRUSTRATING. Ugh.
I'm gonna go cool my head in a bucket.
Anyway, wonky pacing and flow aside, I did still like this, the really good moments carried it, but I hope someone edits her a bit more thoroughly next time, including telling her that this bugaboo of hers does not work the way she's doing it.
This was going to be a three and half star book, probably rounded up to four, until what appears to be this author's bugaboo reared it's little unwelcome head (same exact thing in her last book). The sentient microwave and select other bits of this had me DYING and the sexual chemistry was off the charts good, and then BOOM despite a literal Mount Everest sized pile of evidence that Seth is EXTREMELY sexually attracted to our girl Cassie (including her hearing him ) this girl is still like, he couldn't POSSIBLY be attracted to ME. And look, there's a way to do this kind of conflict, but this isn't it. Someone as smart and awesome as Cassie would know rationally that Seth was attracted to her, but emotionally maybe not be able to get there, or have her fear (particularly in this case) overcome her rationality. But that's not what's going on here. It is so FRUSTRATING. Ugh.
I'm gonna go cool my head in a bucket.
Anyway, wonky pacing and flow aside, I did still like this, the really good moments carried it, but I hope someone edits her a bit more thoroughly next time, including telling her that this bugaboo of hers does not work the way she's doing it.
April 12, 2025
I’m a little upset. I liked A LOT about this book, I liked the characters, the magic, the world building, the themes. A LOT. But the prose is an utter mess. I’ve found books written several hundred years ago easier to read than whatever this is. This is a perfect example when something is TOO stream of consciousness, I feel I never knew what was going on. The author often abruptly switched from describing feelings to describing actions to describing setting back and forth several times within a paragraph.
I don’t know if this just wasn’t my particular flavor or ADHD, but I struggled way too much through reading this to be a lighthearted romcom about a witch and werewolf. Also, the author references Tik Tok, once. I need to go read Dramione fan fiction to reset.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I don’t know if this just wasn’t my particular flavor or ADHD, but I struggled way too much through reading this to be a lighthearted romcom about a witch and werewolf. Also, the author references Tik Tok, once. I need to go read Dramione fan fiction to reset.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 21, 2024
I love a good paranormal romance so I thought this was right up my alley. But unfortunately, it was not for me. I was immediately put off with fat shaming and info dump.I also didn't feel any connection towards the MC's. But just because I didn't like with this book, doesn't mean it's not for you.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 26, 2024
**𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘** 𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝑯𝒆𝒍𝒑 𝒂 𝑯𝒖𝒏𝒈𝒓𝒚 𝑾𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒘𝒐𝒍𝒇 𝒃𝒚 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒊𝒏 (𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝑪𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 1)
Release Date: October 1, 2024
4⭐️5🌶
This book was bright and adorable! A full of fluffy paranormal friends-to-lovers romance between a witch and a werewolf.
An extra fluffy teenage girl who wants nothing more than to hang out with her nerdy guy friend, when he slowly starts to associate with the "cool kids" in school and then permanently leaves her behind when he teases her ruthlessly in front of the whole school.
Years later, she finds him writhing in pain in her grandmother's basement. She decided to help him, because he has no other options, and he seems sincerely sorry for what he did so long ago.
Release Date: October 1, 2024
4⭐️5🌶
This book was bright and adorable! A full of fluffy paranormal friends-to-lovers romance between a witch and a werewolf.
An extra fluffy teenage girl who wants nothing more than to hang out with her nerdy guy friend, when he slowly starts to associate with the "cool kids" in school and then permanently leaves her behind when he teases her ruthlessly in front of the whole school.
Years later, she finds him writhing in pain in her grandmother's basement. She decided to help him, because he has no other options, and he seems sincerely sorry for what he did so long ago.
September 1, 2024
This was spicy, and I was here for it! I loved the main character (Cassie). She was so relatable. I also loved that she was a plus sized girl, and the MMC tried to help her love herself more. Was WILD to learn about supernatural beings. Cassie was literally the funniest thing ever throughout the story, I giggled OUTLOUD because of her so many times. This was a cute fall read with lots of spice! Worthy read for sure, 4 stars!
I received this ARC from St Martin's Griffin to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
I received this ARC from St Martin's Griffin to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
May 10, 2024
1.5⭐️
This was… not good.
I feel like I was seriously duped by the What We Do in the Shadows meets Gilmore Girls description of this book. The first half felt like the cute, cozy paranormal rom-com I was looking for, but then halfway through the plot jumped ship entirely and I got smacked in the face with straight up werewolf smut - which is fine, but not what I signed up for. On top of that bait and switch, the writing itself was just not there and could do with a hefty dose of editing. It felt like the author was trying to force every single line of dialog be a quippy one-liner (ala Gilmore Girls) so I couldn’t take either MC seriously.
This could have been a really great paranormal friends to enemies to lovers, second chance romance, but it just felt like a mess and left me with whiplash.
This was… not good.
I feel like I was seriously duped by the What We Do in the Shadows meets Gilmore Girls description of this book. The first half felt like the cute, cozy paranormal rom-com I was looking for, but then halfway through the plot jumped ship entirely and I got smacked in the face with straight up werewolf smut - which is fine, but not what I signed up for. On top of that bait and switch, the writing itself was just not there and could do with a hefty dose of editing. It felt like the author was trying to force every single line of dialog be a quippy one-liner (ala Gilmore Girls) so I couldn’t take either MC seriously.
This could have been a really great paranormal friends to enemies to lovers, second chance romance, but it just felt like a mess and left me with whiplash.
October 25, 2024
The fact that this book was published really makes me question the publishing industry because it was actually one of the worst books I’ve ever read and so stupid. It made me want to unlearn how to read.
October 16, 2024
DNF at 19%
Stein needs to sack her editor. The neverending tryhard banter was grating and eventually became unbearable.
Stein needs to sack her editor. The neverending tryhard banter was grating and eventually became unbearable.
October 7, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
Back in town to clean out her late grandmother’s house, the last person Cassie expects to see is Seth Brubaker, her former best friend turned tormentor, whose arrival completely turns her life and everything she thought she knew upside down.
Honestly How to Help a Hungry Werewolf was such a fun and quirky, but oh so steamy listen! Cassie and Seth’s dynamic and the shenanigans they got up to had me cackling, and then blushing and fanning myself when things got steamy.
Back in town to clean out her late grandmother’s house, the last person Cassie expects to see is Seth Brubaker, her former best friend turned tormentor, whose arrival completely turns her life and everything she thought she knew upside down.
Honestly How to Help a Hungry Werewolf was such a fun and quirky, but oh so steamy listen! Cassie and Seth’s dynamic and the shenanigans they got up to had me cackling, and then blushing and fanning myself when things got steamy.
November 14, 2024
These two dipshits, I swear to god. I enjoyed it, especially the worldbuilding, the magic system, and the setup to the rest of the series, but it was too shaggy for me. A painfully slow burn. Too slow, too much dipshitting around. I believed the romance, but, dang, she really dragged it out. It was rolling along as a four-star read and then they did like TWO MORE misunderstandings and I was over it.
November 4, 2024
Where do I even begin with this book?
No, seriously, I’m asking. This book disappointed me so hard. If it was bad from the beginning to the end, at least I could give it a pass just for being a terrible book, or at least I could claim that I didn’t mesh with the writing style, or that the book just wasn’t meant for me (I maintain that there really isn’t a werewolf romance book out there that isn’t for me, but I digress.) But I really enjoyed the first 30% of the book or so! Minor things about it annoyed me for sure, but I still thought it was mostly good! I liked the two leads well enough, and though I really despise the miscommunication trope, I could get behind it enough in this instance. Everything after the 100-page mark, however…
There’s a lot of things I just absolutely hated, so let’s just get into it. Just a warning, spoilers ahead.
The FMC is annoying as sin. She is a veritable 27 year old loser - I’m sorry, it must be said. She is hung up on high school drama that literally happened a decade ago. She kind of outright refuses to apply to college or even get a job because of her extreme fear of failure, so she just…doesn’t? And if her arc was about learning to overcome these fears, that’s fine, but she just learns that she’s totally amazing and a natural at being a witch so she doesn’t need anything else? She just needed something she didn’t have to work at all to be good at? Also, she’s whiny, she complains literally all the time, and is just overall deplorable.
Speaking of which, while I thought the general magic system was pretty interesting, I thought it was a total cop-out to just have the answer be that she just…knew how to work magic instinctively and without practice and could immediately do these huge, complex spells? It just took so much joy and whimsy out of all of it. It’s lame, and, frankly, it’s lazy!
I also hated the B-Plot with the whole “oh we need to have sex but oh surely he doesn’t want to have sex with me,” because it felt SO redundant? Like he told he multiple times that he loves her, he wants to be with her, he yearns for her biblically, etc….and then the next chapter, it’s back to square one? It was genuinely the laziest, most infuriating thing. It read as the author wanting to have 300-or-so pages in the book, maybe for editing or marketing purposes, I wouldn’t know, but didn’t want to trouble themselves with actually having their heroine grow or change at all, or have to learn anything new, so…they just repeated the same scene (literally, almost the same scene, word-for-word) 3 times, at LEAST! Also, I just felt like the whole synopsis was extremely misleading!
God, what a waste of time. I apologize to all the trees that died so this book could be published.
No, seriously, I’m asking. This book disappointed me so hard. If it was bad from the beginning to the end, at least I could give it a pass just for being a terrible book, or at least I could claim that I didn’t mesh with the writing style, or that the book just wasn’t meant for me (I maintain that there really isn’t a werewolf romance book out there that isn’t for me, but I digress.) But I really enjoyed the first 30% of the book or so! Minor things about it annoyed me for sure, but I still thought it was mostly good! I liked the two leads well enough, and though I really despise the miscommunication trope, I could get behind it enough in this instance. Everything after the 100-page mark, however…
There’s a lot of things I just absolutely hated, so let’s just get into it. Just a warning, spoilers ahead.
The FMC is annoying as sin. She is a veritable 27 year old loser - I’m sorry, it must be said. She is hung up on high school drama that literally happened a decade ago. She kind of outright refuses to apply to college or even get a job because of her extreme fear of failure, so she just…doesn’t? And if her arc was about learning to overcome these fears, that’s fine, but she just learns that she’s totally amazing and a natural at being a witch so she doesn’t need anything else? She just needed something she didn’t have to work at all to be good at? Also, she’s whiny, she complains literally all the time, and is just overall deplorable.
Speaking of which, while I thought the general magic system was pretty interesting, I thought it was a total cop-out to just have the answer be that she just…knew how to work magic instinctively and without practice and could immediately do these huge, complex spells? It just took so much joy and whimsy out of all of it. It’s lame, and, frankly, it’s lazy!
I also hated the B-Plot with the whole “oh we need to have sex but oh surely he doesn’t want to have sex with me,” because it felt SO redundant? Like he told he multiple times that he loves her, he wants to be with her, he yearns for her biblically, etc….and then the next chapter, it’s back to square one? It was genuinely the laziest, most infuriating thing. It read as the author wanting to have 300-or-so pages in the book, maybe for editing or marketing purposes, I wouldn’t know, but didn’t want to trouble themselves with actually having their heroine grow or change at all, or have to learn anything new, so…they just repeated the same scene (literally, almost the same scene, word-for-word) 3 times, at LEAST! Also, I just felt like the whole synopsis was extremely misleading!
God, what a waste of time. I apologize to all the trees that died so this book could be published.
May 9, 2024
ARC REVIEW (Thanks NETGALLEY!)
This book is not for the weak. If you’re not used to Charlotte Stein’s writing style I don’t think you’ll like it.
I don’t think anything worse could happen to any of Charlotte Steins neurotic characters than finding out you’re a paranormal being. Bad enough your childhood best friend fat shamed you back in high school but now you’re back in your hometown and he needs your help. Cassie is a bleeding heart and still sees the boy she loved behind the wtf? WEREWOLF?! Oh and btw he fills you in on the fact that you’re a witch, a pretty powerful witch at that. I very much enjoyed the fact that there’s a lot of time spent on Cassie actually coming to terms with all this information. Most pnr books characters just dive right in, Cassie needs reassurance and who better to give it to her than the person that knows her best.
I do think book was kind of long and there was some fluff in there that wasn’t necessary. The fated mate/sex spell stuff seemed to come out of left field and I wish it had been explained a little more/better. The will they won’t they went on a little too long for my taste. I did enjoy Seth’s omission on how he became a werewolf. I hope this is the beginning of a series though because I did enjoy it.
If you’re into knotting look elsewhere; our boy Seth is knotless 😭😭
TW: fat shaming
This book is not for the weak. If you’re not used to Charlotte Stein’s writing style I don’t think you’ll like it.
I don’t think anything worse could happen to any of Charlotte Steins neurotic characters than finding out you’re a paranormal being. Bad enough your childhood best friend fat shamed you back in high school but now you’re back in your hometown and he needs your help. Cassie is a bleeding heart and still sees the boy she loved behind the wtf? WEREWOLF?! Oh and btw he fills you in on the fact that you’re a witch, a pretty powerful witch at that. I very much enjoyed the fact that there’s a lot of time spent on Cassie actually coming to terms with all this information. Most pnr books characters just dive right in, Cassie needs reassurance and who better to give it to her than the person that knows her best.
I do think book was kind of long and there was some fluff in there that wasn’t necessary. The fated mate/sex spell stuff seemed to come out of left field and I wish it had been explained a little more/better. The will they won’t they went on a little too long for my taste. I did enjoy Seth’s omission on how he became a werewolf. I hope this is the beginning of a series though because I did enjoy it.
If you’re into knotting look elsewhere; our boy Seth is knotless 😭😭
TW: fat shaming
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2024
Very cute and silly. It's a really fun book if you don't take it too seriously. I will say the characters do read younger than they're meant to be, last time I heard so many sexual inuendoes was in my late teens/early 20's haha. I loved seeing Cassie learn and develop her witchy abilities. I did also like Seth as a character but I wish there would have been a little bit more to him other than being a horny werewolf.
I did skip the majority of the spicy scenes, since they were a little too cringe for me. I will say the plot is primarily spice driven, I do wish we would have had more relationship building between the two characters. The writing isn't my personal favorite, I'm not sure if its the way the characters were written but the book did have a bit of a fanfiction vibe to it.
If you're not looking for spice don't pick this one up but if you go into it with the mindset of just having a silly, spicy good time for Halloween I think you'll love this book! Side note: I need a raccoon familiar omg!
The audiobook narrator was great! Really brought Cassie to life and helped the jokes land so well.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the audiobook for an honest review!
I did skip the majority of the spicy scenes, since they were a little too cringe for me. I will say the plot is primarily spice driven, I do wish we would have had more relationship building between the two characters. The writing isn't my personal favorite, I'm not sure if its the way the characters were written but the book did have a bit of a fanfiction vibe to it.
If you're not looking for spice don't pick this one up but if you go into it with the mindset of just having a silly, spicy good time for Halloween I think you'll love this book! Side note: I need a raccoon familiar omg!
The audiobook narrator was great! Really brought Cassie to life and helped the jokes land so well.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the audiobook for an honest review!
May 9, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to have early access to this in exchange for an honest review!!
okay so, I love supernatural fics as much as the next person but it’s hard to get past certain aspects of this book imo. Another simple Saturday read, not amazing but not terrible. Theres cute scenes but the male MC bullies the female MC so bad??? I don't think that was necessary., and I guess he makes up for it but again it felt unnecessary/very fatfobic.
I’’m giving this 2 stars
okay so, I love supernatural fics as much as the next person but it’s hard to get past certain aspects of this book imo. Another simple Saturday read, not amazing but not terrible. Theres cute scenes but the male MC bullies the female MC so bad??? I don't think that was necessary., and I guess he makes up for it but again it felt unnecessary/very fatfobic.
I’’m giving this 2 stars
August 14, 2024
Thank you, Goodreads, the author and publisher. Cute fun story. Easy to read
4 stars
Stacey Bankey
4 stars
Stacey Bankey
June 5, 2024
2.5/5 stars. I really didn’t like this book and I knew I wasn’t going to within the first chapter. I almost DNF’d this one, and I never not finish books. The banter between the two main characters was very juvenile for 27.-year-olds, It was hard not to cringe while reading. It feels like there was a lot of unnecessary information that I ended up skimming over because it was very dry and felt like a highschooler’s English assignment trying to reach a word count. It was also very predictable and easy to see what the next move was going to be.
On the positive side, I do like how the author wrote the spicy scenes. And the last half of the book is mostly the spicy scenes. This writing was a lot more grown-up and flowed a lot better, and most of the juvenile banter was gone.
On the positive side, I do like how the author wrote the spicy scenes. And the last half of the book is mostly the spicy scenes. This writing was a lot more grown-up and flowed a lot better, and most of the juvenile banter was gone.
November 3, 2024
I absolutely loved this book. It was heartwarming, hilarious, captivating, magical, and very sexy in a great way! I would love to read more books with magical witches and sweet, nerdy but buffy and tasty werewolves who have been in love forever but didn't know how to say it. Seriously, if you're burned out on romance, I recommend this one.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.
Advanced Review Copy provided by Netgalley courtesy of St. Martin's Press
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.
Advanced Review Copy provided by Netgalley courtesy of St. Martin's Press
June 14, 2024
Friends to enemies to lovers - I’m here for it. Love that Charlotte Stein embraced the campiness of the genre and wrote so much humorous banter! A nerdy himbo, cute animal side kick, and endless magic potions. Thanks to NetGalley, Charlotte Stein, and St. Martin’s publishing group for an ARC.
June 3, 2024
Enemies to lovers, childhood best friends turned mortal enemies after Seth starts to hang with the “cool crowd” and fat shames Cassie. So there is a bit of a bully romance here but it’s not extreme. Anyway, Cassie hasn’t seen her ex best friend since the incident in high school but now she’s back in town cleaning out her grandmother’s house, who recently passed, only to discover that Seth was close friends with her grandmother and she had no idea.
A cute, quirky small town paranormal romance perfect for fall. Plenty of spice. CS has a way of writing that is a bit exaggerated in this story and I’m not sure I was a fan. There is a general tone of nothing being too serious and the sentences are a bit choppy and quippy. I think a reader will find it fun and lighthearted or just obnoxious. I teetered between the two. I can't say I loved this but it was a cute read with some interesting storylines set up for future books.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!
A cute, quirky small town paranormal romance perfect for fall. Plenty of spice. CS has a way of writing that is a bit exaggerated in this story and I’m not sure I was a fan. There is a general tone of nothing being too serious and the sentences are a bit choppy and quippy. I think a reader will find it fun and lighthearted or just obnoxious. I teetered between the two. I can't say I loved this but it was a cute read with some interesting storylines set up for future books.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!
October 18, 2024
2024 reads: 285/250
i received an advanced listening copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
content warnings: bullying, fatphobia, violence
when cassandra camberwell returns to her hometown to clean out her grandmother’s house, the last thing she expects is to find seth brubaker, her former best friend and the cause of her worst moment, on her doorstep. she’s sure he’s just hanging around to torment her some more…up until she discovers the real reason: he’s a werewolf who’s sure she’s the witch that will relieve him from his suffering. cassie isn’t sure if she can trust him again, so he offers a deal: he’ll teach her about her magic, and she’ll brew him potions. seems simple enough, but this gets trickier when they’re hit with a do-or-die mating bond.
this was a pretty interesting book. i enjoyed the element of magic, as i haven’t read many books where potions are this prominent. i also enjoyed cassie as a main character. she was a dynamic and strong person. seth wasn’t the best person, especially prior to/at the start of the story, but i do think he grew as a person, which was good to see.
narration: yael rizowy did a great job bringing this story and its characters to life!
i received an advanced listening copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
content warnings: bullying, fatphobia, violence
when cassandra camberwell returns to her hometown to clean out her grandmother’s house, the last thing she expects is to find seth brubaker, her former best friend and the cause of her worst moment, on her doorstep. she’s sure he’s just hanging around to torment her some more…up until she discovers the real reason: he’s a werewolf who’s sure she’s the witch that will relieve him from his suffering. cassie isn’t sure if she can trust him again, so he offers a deal: he’ll teach her about her magic, and she’ll brew him potions. seems simple enough, but this gets trickier when they’re hit with a do-or-die mating bond.
this was a pretty interesting book. i enjoyed the element of magic, as i haven’t read many books where potions are this prominent. i also enjoyed cassie as a main character. she was a dynamic and strong person. seth wasn’t the best person, especially prior to/at the start of the story, but i do think he grew as a person, which was good to see.
narration: yael rizowy did a great job bringing this story and its characters to life!
September 29, 2024
Okay so I liked this. A lot. But oh my god. These two were so incredibly stupid. The highest level of idiots to lovers there ever has been. I wanted to smack their heads together and yell at them. But then hold them. Idk. Truly liked it. And also hated parts of it????
There was both too much happening and yet not enough. But the narrator was PHENOMENAL and I will absolutely be listening to more audiobooks read by her.
Thanks to SMP for the ARC and McMillan Audio for the ALC.
There was both too much happening and yet not enough. But the narrator was PHENOMENAL and I will absolutely be listening to more audiobooks read by her.
Thanks to SMP for the ARC and McMillan Audio for the ALC.
Want to read
April 19, 2024obligatory add because the mc has the same name as me
July 10, 2025
Book Review 🐺🌿🫚✨
How to Help a Hungry Werewolf
by Charlotte Stein
About the book 👇🏽
When Cassandra Camberwell returns to her hometown of Hollow Brook to clear out her late grandmother’s ramshackle old house, the last thing she expects is Seth Brubaker on her doorstep. Her former best friend was responsible for the worst moment of her high school life, and she can’t imagine he wants to do anything but torment her all over again.
Until she unearths the real reason this annoyingly gorgeous beast of a man keeps hanging around: he’s an actual werewolf, who’s certain she’s the witch that will ease his suffering. But Cassie just isn’t sure if she can trust him again. So Seth offers a pact: he’ll teach her all about her undiscovered magic, and she will brew the potions he needs. No feelings, no funny business, just a witch and a werewolf striking a deal.
Totally doable. Until they get hit with a do-or-die mating bond. And now the heat is rising, in between fights with formers bullies and encounters with talking raccoons. They just have to not give in. Unless giving in just might be the very thing they never knew they always wanted.
🌿 My thoughts:
Werewolves and witches, oh my! I had such a good time with this book! It was not at all what I was expecting and much spicier than I was prepared for but all in a good way and good fun. This is the first book I’ve read by Charlotte Stein and will definitely not be my last. It’s quirky, spicy, and dare I say… swoony. Cassie was seriously so relatable and hilarious! While Seth ended up being a good werewolf just trying to make Cassie see and love all the things about herself. I love myself a curvy main character and was delighted to see this in the book! I really really enjoyed the friends to enemies to lovers and it amped me up for all things fall.
Happy reading 📖🌿✨🐺
How to Help a Hungry Werewolf
by Charlotte Stein
About the book 👇🏽
When Cassandra Camberwell returns to her hometown of Hollow Brook to clear out her late grandmother’s ramshackle old house, the last thing she expects is Seth Brubaker on her doorstep. Her former best friend was responsible for the worst moment of her high school life, and she can’t imagine he wants to do anything but torment her all over again.
Until she unearths the real reason this annoyingly gorgeous beast of a man keeps hanging around: he’s an actual werewolf, who’s certain she’s the witch that will ease his suffering. But Cassie just isn’t sure if she can trust him again. So Seth offers a pact: he’ll teach her all about her undiscovered magic, and she will brew the potions he needs. No feelings, no funny business, just a witch and a werewolf striking a deal.
Totally doable. Until they get hit with a do-or-die mating bond. And now the heat is rising, in between fights with formers bullies and encounters with talking raccoons. They just have to not give in. Unless giving in just might be the very thing they never knew they always wanted.
🌿 My thoughts:
Werewolves and witches, oh my! I had such a good time with this book! It was not at all what I was expecting and much spicier than I was prepared for but all in a good way and good fun. This is the first book I’ve read by Charlotte Stein and will definitely not be my last. It’s quirky, spicy, and dare I say… swoony. Cassie was seriously so relatable and hilarious! While Seth ended up being a good werewolf just trying to make Cassie see and love all the things about herself. I love myself a curvy main character and was delighted to see this in the book! I really really enjoyed the friends to enemies to lovers and it amped me up for all things fall.
Happy reading 📖🌿✨🐺
October 13, 2024
Oof this was disappointing. I was really looking forward to this but honestly, it was low-key bad. It felt really disjointed. Like maybe it was written in parts with a lot of time in between, or the tone was switched to something different when it was almost done. Idk. I can't explain it but things didn't mesh. Conversations didn't flow or feel authentic. I enjoyed the second half of the book a lot more than the first, but that isn't saying much. I hate when things are super sexual the whole book but we only get one scene. Like what's the point. Idk, all the feelings and sexy times were at the very end. But it didn't feel like slow burn, it just felt like bad writing and bad pacing.
I have a lottttt more negative things to say than positive and I don't feel like making a bitch post. So, all I will say is if you decide to skip this, you honestly won't be missing much. But pick up the audiobook and do chores so you aren't totally wasting your time if you do decide to read this.
I have a lottttt more negative things to say than positive and I don't feel like making a bitch post. So, all I will say is if you decide to skip this, you honestly won't be missing much. But pick up the audiobook and do chores so you aren't totally wasting your time if you do decide to read this.
December 18, 2024
Such a cute book!! I laughed so hard through most of it, and kicked my feet through the rest. Very wholesome with some spice. LOVE ❤️
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