This was my first Ali Hazelwood book and I was curious to see what all the hype is about. I quite enjoyed it. The writing is witty and fast paced and the story was emerging. Although I have to admit it was not the most innovative book I've ever read story wise. Nevertheless it was a good, fun read.

2.5 ★

Firstly, I would just like to say a huge thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was super excited to get stuck into this one and was so intrigued by the idea of a paranormal romance from Ali Hazelwood!
I read The Love Hypothesis last year and absolutely adoredddd that book!

Unfortunately though, Bride didn't end up being for me, but that's not to say you won't enjoy it! Please don't let my thoughts deter you from reading this as soon as it releases!

I think the main aspect that was missing for me was depth. I didn't really feel any connection towards the characters or the romance between them.

I was also a little unsure on what was happening and where the plot was going at some stages of this book.

Again though, please don't let my thoughts discourage you from reading Bride. I've seen some incredible reviews - this one just unfortunately wasn't for me.
Will absolutely continue checking out the rest of Ali Hazelwood's work however! ❤

🍁Book Review🍁

“Of all the good things I’ve felt in my fucking life, you are the best.” Lowe, Bride.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spoiler-Free Review of Bride by @alihazelwood

I just want to first thank @rebireads for buddy reading with me, this is my first time doing it and I loved every hyping up we’ve done is like 3-4 days while reading this book. Thank you for @littlebrownbookgroup_uk for approving me for an ARC of this too.

It has almost been 2-3 years since I’ve last read a werewolf-vampire romance and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This book has the necessary elements present with the were & vampires society that makes them mortal enemies.

At first, I have been thinking of how Ali would be able to integrate STEM in a fantasy setting so imagine my surprise on how swift Ali’s personal brand was integrated here and I only have high praise for that. The plot itself seems shallow at first but it made me spin and spin for hours thinking of how things happened because of how amazingly written it is. Rebi and I told our theories and @rebireads was right with hers!

Don’t even get me started with the angst because the way it gripped me was exhilarating it left me panting for more. If you are finding the smut you want from the love hypothesis then this book will satisfy you to no ends.

Lastly, the side characters are to die for!! If you’ve read my past reviews, you all know that I live for good side characters because they make the books way more interesting and with life. I can’t wait for the second book so bad

This was surprisingly enjoyable. I was skeptical when Ali first introduced this book, about the theme and everything bc I’ve read a book or two of werewolf-vampire romantasy and let’s say that i wan’t impressed. But now I admit that Ali excelled the plot department.

It’s about an arranged interspecies marriage between a werewolf and a vampyre (the spelling gave me an ick at first but after I read the story for a while, I realized that I didn’t mind it at all). The thing is, in this book, Human, Weres, and Vampire coexist in the same world, but they hate each other that even the slightest offense can trigger a war. And it’s been happening since the dawn of an age. No one knows what started it anymore. So naturally the FMC & MMC were enemies.

There’s not a lot of complicated fantasy stuffs happening here, and other than the fact that there are werewolves and vampires involved, everything else was basically contemporary and normal. And Misery, being Ali Hazelwood’s MC, is basically a woman in STEM (she’s a software engineer and very competent at that).

As usual I love the characterization and the dynamics. The plot wen’t really well, with unexpected twists (plural) that concluded nicely. BUT tbh I’m not a fan of the smut part, because it’s too feral to my liking. Not that it's badly written, it’s just… not for me.

Ali once again has proved that she has the creativity range, and she still becomes my auto-read romance author. (Speaking as someone who doesn’t read a lot of pure romance books)

Ok as a fantasy girlie this was my first experience with Ali Hazelwood and I ATE.IT.UP!

Vampires and Werewolves territories are looking to make stronger ties and are thinking that interspecies wedding is the way to go. In this marriage for alliance romance and we meet Misery (vampire) and Lowe (werewolf). Add a disappearance mystery to the mix and you get this book!

I loved it to be honest, I just could not put it down, I love the main characters and the tropes in this book and I was invested to my core.

Was this the literary masterpiece? Not really, I predicted all the major plot line twists right at the start. Nevertheless this was so ENTERTAINING! I was reading through the night and I never do that! NEVER!

Anyways, loved loved loved met some vampire werewolf smut and I trully am blessed to receive a digital and physical ARC copy of this book from Hachette Australia

This book is SO GOOD! Paranormal romance really isn't my go-to genre, but as a recently turned AH fanatic I couldn't wait to dive into my ARC of this book and I devoured it in about 3 hours. The slow burn, the political wrangling, the sassy exchanges, every word had me captivated and I loved every second

My first ever Ali Hazelwood and I dare say it will not be my last.

Her books have been very popular these past few years, every latest release has flown off the shelves and I can now see why. When I heard that Hazelwood was released a paranormal romance with Vampires and Werewolves (or Vampyres and Weres in this case) I thought there was no better time than the present to pick up one of her books.

I loved the concept, I loved the story, I loved the romance, the world building and the chemistry. And it was so sassy!! I love sass!
The graphic erotica however was…not my thing. It won’t stop me from reading other books of hers, but not having read any from her before, I wasn’t expecting it. The story had enough sizzle without graphic sex scenes and I think it may have detracted a little from my overall enjoyment. I don’t know, maybe I’m becoming more prudish as get older, but I find that well-written connections, chemistry and sizzle don’t need the full on descriptive play-by-play. In saying that though, I hope there’s more books set in this world.

Solid 4.5 stars.

Thanks go to Ali Hazelwood, Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for an arc of this book.

This was an enjoyable paranormal romance with Ali’s trademark humour and charm. I thoroughly enjoyed the set up, and being easily introduced the omegaverse. I really enjoyed the romance and the world building at the start was pretty easy to follow - my only issue was how rushed the ending felt, particularly with the small twists that came into play.

Solid 3.5 stars, and I hope she continues writing in this world.

This just proves that anything Ali Hazelwood writes, I will read. Especially enjoyed all the tropes such as found family, fated mates, he falls first and of course angst galore! I adored the world in which Ali created and the hierarchy system as well while keeping it her usual humour I’ve come to enjoy! I also could not put this one down either and next thing I know it was 5am and I had finished the book while still itching for more so I hope that there will be more in this world that Ali comes back to! However, it did take me a while to get into this book but after the first 40% I flew through it! Was definitely her most slow burn to date but will definitely be re-reading when it comes out next year!!

Another fabulous book from Ali Hazelwood, who's already an auto-buy author for me.

While it took me a few chapters to get my head around this one (I'm so used to Hazelwood in STEM mode!) I pretty quickly came to the conclusion that - despite appearances - this novel is more akin to her existing back catalogue than to standard romantasy fare.

Instead of indulging in magical worldbuilding, the author plunges us into a story of political intrigue where the main players just happen to be from different species. This may not appeal to readers who demand the depth of mythology found in books by the likes of Sarah J Maas and Leigh Bardugo, but to me it felt fresh and authentic. In fact, it's precisely the practical, unfussy, oddly realistic way I'd have expected Hazelwood to approach writing about creatures that (*checks notes*) don't actually exist.

The central love story pushes all the best buttons: trope-spotters will delight in the forced proximity / fated mates plot, not to mention all the 'he falls first' pining. The spicy scenes are classic Hazelwood, which is to say *chef's kiss* - but with the added excitement of knotting. (If you know, you know...)

Overall, a compelling, indulgent, sexy read.

It is common knowledge that Vampyres and Weres hate each other. But Misery has always been hated also by her own kind - too human for the Vampyres, too supernatural for humans. Will she find herself hated again when she lives among the Weres, as the wife of their Alpha, in an attempt of an alliance? Misery has her own reasons for crossing to the Were territory, and she will do anything to get what she wants - even if it means enduring loneliness once again… or staying close to the wolf.

As a big Ali Hazelwood fan, I was so so so hyped to read this book as an ARC reader. And by all means, it did not disappoint!! I take pride in adoring omegaverse as well as the fated mates trope and HOLY GOODNESS… this book was perfection. Ali’s subtraction from her usual genre of rom-coms turned out to be such a great idea, not that I expected anything else from the Reylo Fanfics Queen herself. The world building and historical background was carried out really well, just like the creation of this supernatural world within the modern setting fit great with Hazelwood’s style. As a romance lover - I have no words to describe how much I loved the relationship in this book. Hello, the pining??? The knotting?? The freaking fated mates trope??? My heart could not handle it at times, in the best way possible. I could not get over Lowe quietly simping to Misery and her being totally in the dark😭😭. And I have to mention, the blood sucking was phenomenal, groundbreaking, and never-done-before. But I might just be a horn-dog. As for Ana’s character: I don’t usually like children on romance books, as they can get reeeally annoying, but I was pleasantly surprised with her and her relationship with Misery - the Vampyre being a total grump was so in character!! The romance plot alone would be enough for me, and yet, the mystery subplot really complimented the main focus of the book (yes, I absolutely mean the “supernatural erotica” bit).
All in all, this is definitely a 5 star read - OH MY, SUCH A SHOKER (no, it really isn’t), and I will recommend this book till the end of my days. Just… vampires, werewolves and lots of teeth, what else does a girl need??

Loooooved this!! I was so excited the second this book was announced and it definitely did not let me down. I love Ali's writing and it genuinely made me laugh and smile so hard that my cheeks ached. I finished this at 3am on a WORK NIGHT and have no regrets. There were a few things I was getting confused about, such as characters' names and me having to go back to remind myself who they are, but that was it really.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. Part romance, part mystery, 100% purrfect in every single way.

After being sent to the Humans as the Vampyre Collateral at age 8 for ten years, Misery adopts a fake human identity after being scorned by her kind.
This changed when Misery is arranged to marry the Alpha of the Weres to secure a political alliance and prevent another bloody war between them and the Vampyres.

Misery comes from a place of feeling like she belongs no where. Rightfully, she feels angry, sometimes resigned. Mostly expendable. Above all, she’s taught herself not to care. About anything. She’s just waiting for time to pass - a husk. But maybe a certain honourable Were and his loveable 6-year-old sister will create a space where she can feel like she belongs. Like she has something she cares for.

Hazelwood’s wit is just so fun and makes this book so bingable and devourable (yes, that’s a vampire pun).

“Humans kill all the time."
“Yeah, but indirectly. By making health insurance too expensive or stubbornly opposing gun control. You guys suck people dry to survive!”

I have to mention Anna, Lowe’s younger sister. She is just so utterly adorable and Misery’s initial distaste but eventual utter devotion and hellmother protector instincts is just too sweet. She forces Lowe to take on a big brother and paternal role and this responsibility, as well as being the new Alpha, weighs heavily on him. Forces him into a role he would rather be free from.

She does tend to use words that I had to look up the definition for in normal conversation which frustratingly sometimes pulled me out of the story. I know she’s mega-smart, and probably has double the intelligence I have, but cheesy romances to me should be easily accessible and breezy.

I have to admit to not buying into the hype of The Love Hypothesis when I first read it (again a preface, I am not typically a romance reader), however I thoroughly enjoyed this!
Yes, there’s spice - around 64% of the way in, and yes, I did cringe and skip. Again, caveat - I am not that kind of reader! But, I am sure this will appeal to a wide audience. I mean, a werewolf and a vampire, how many fanfictions are out there for that?

”We'll try, then. Isn't that what any relationship is, in the end? Meeting someone and wanting to be with that person more than with anyone else, and trying to make it work. And I. maybe I don't have the hardware, but the software is here, and I get to program it.”

Oh, and there’s got to be a book 2 after that teasing end!

I would recommend this if you wanted a lighter version of Crescent City by Sarah J Maas.
If you enjoyed Shadowhunters or A Court of Thorns and Roses, I would also recommend this!

Thank you to Little Brown Book Group for the arc in exchange for a review!