Sometimes there are books or films that you feel on an almost spiritual level. This really fits that mould, for me at least. I imagine it won't be for everyone, but I had SO much fun reading Fan Service. In a way, it reminded me of Galaxy Quest, in that it is very funny about fandom in a way that's not always complementary but is never less than fond. This is for everyone who remembers (and mourns) LiveJournal; who migrated to tumblr during the Great Exodus and remembers the chaos before AO3 of fandom-specific archives and sites and message boards.

If I were to elevator-pitch this book, it would be Galaxy Quest, but instead of Star Trek make it SPN, and make the blorbo from your shows a former teen hearthrob turned SFF lead and part of a major queerbait ship. And make the Justin Long character a former fandom mod and this story's love interest.

The MMC, Devin, is gloriously lacking in self-awareness, which might make him a little unsympathetic for some, but I feel like if you read his PoV as being very tongue in cheek (on a Doylian level) it will land as intended. Ultimately his backstory is pretty awful, and the author shows his journey as a process of growing and facing up to his baggage; he is called out on his behaviour, and finding peace with himself is not just subtext but the literal theme of the story. Alex, the FMC, is a great foil for Devin: not only is she able to help him through his trials (literally and figuratively), but she has her own journey to make. While Devin is (unwittingly) a catalyst for some of her own issues, her trauma has deeper roots and has led her to fairly aggressively isolate herself from her community. It's great to see this from both sides: there are plenty of legitimate reasons for Alex to feel like she doesn't belong, but we also see that she's somewhat complicit in things. It's great to see her open up to real-life friendships and relationships, although I loved the group chat between Alex and her online friends from the now-dormant The Arcane Files fandom.

I feel like the audience for this one might be like the best niche fandoms: small but fiercely loyal. But I had a total blast reading and already know plenty of friends who will devour this, too.

Fan Service follows Alex Lawson, who runs an online fan forum for her favourite werewolf show. After the show goes off air, the former star, Devin Ashwood, finds his career and life spiralling. After turning into a real-life werewolf, Devin seeks out Alex and tries to form an alliance with her to find out some answers.

The premise of this book sounded so fun, and I really enjoyed the werewolf and fandom aspect. Although it was a little cheesy at times, it was still a fun reading experience.

However, the romance fell flat for me. I enjoyed the FMC’s character, but the immaturity of the MMC and some of the things he thought and said gave me the ick. He was supposed to be 42 years old, but acted like a college student. He also said some very insensitive and hurtful things to the FMC - I just could not root for their romance.

I think if you’re looking for a story centred around fandom that feels reminiscent of early teen wolf, you may really enjoy this. However, if you’re looking for a great romance, I wouldn’t recommend this one, as the romance just didn’t work for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK/Piatkus for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME THIS WAS SOOOOO GOOD OMG!!!! Wholeheartedly if you are a fan of Bride by Ali Hazelwood then this will a thousand percent be up your alley and a hugely enjoyable read!! Ugh, I’m not over just how good this was and will be running out to grab a physical copy when it is available!

As someone who enjoys paranormal/supernatural romances like no other genre I was simultaneously super freaking excited to get my hands on a copy of this, and also hella freaking scared that it wouldn’t live up to the idea I had of it in my head.
Spoiler; IT WAS SOOOOO GOOOD

The only way I can describe this without giving anything away (because I strongly urge you to give this a chance and read it) is that it read like, and had the same overall vibes as early seasons of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Supernatural and Teen Wolf. It was amazing and I don’t think I will stop thinking about it any time soon

Another huge thing for me was that this really did feel like connecting with my younger self in the wildest way possible. I was a huge fanfic reader when I was like 13-17, read tons off of AO3 and Wattpad, and having all of these callbacks to that culture within this book felt like such a warm hug. It felt like there was some little joke that I was fully part of, and honestly it felt like this book was written for me. It was a wild ride.

The fact that Devin is actually turning into a werewolf would be crazy enough in a contemporary romance setting, but throw in the fact that he is a washed up actor who used to play a werewolf heart throb in a tv show had me cracking up! It just felt like the perfect set up, and I seriously loved how he enlisted the help of Alex who was the ultimate fan girl (created and ran a web page dedicated to the show, read tons of fanfics and fixated on his character HARD).
I also couldn’t get enough of how they used the formula of this old tv show that he was on to try and help him connect and live in harmony with his werewolf side.

Obviously this is a romance book focusing on Devin and Alex, but it was a slow burn in the best way possible! I wouldn’t necessarily say that this was exclusively plot or character driven because it really did feel like a good balance of both. I loved the fact that they have a shared history/connection and that really serves as the foundation for everything that comes later on.
There’s no insta love, if anything they both try to fight it for their own reasons, but they just keep getting into the most stereotypical ‘fanfic’ kind of situations that Its inevitable. Think of it as a lot of forced proximity, enemies to lovers, golden retriever/black cat energy, mutual benefit kinda thing.

Again I don’t want give anything away because this was for sure one of my favourite books so far this year (possibly of all time?) but if you do enjoy fanfics and one shots then please please please read this!! It was so freaking good.
There were so many different tropes thrown into this, and so many callbacks to “fan” behaviour and culture.
By far one of the best books in this genre that I’ve read!

Rosie Danan has proven once more why she is an auto-buy author for me!

Paranormal romances are really solidifying themselves are a new favourite sub-genre of mine and this is up there as a favourite of mine. This has a classic almost early 2000s film vibe, with all the niche aspects of fandoms and A03. The tension was so delicious, all the hidden easter eggs was such fun element its like all my favourite fantasies moulded into one book. The ice bath scene followed by some absolutely necessary forced proximity was my favourite or maybe it was Devin's last trial that had me hot and sweaty. The was so funny and it definitely mirrored some of my fandom experiences. Take this for what it is, a fun, enjoyable steamy little paranormal romance.

If this was an AO3 fic its tags would be - golden retriever/black cat, enemies to lovers, agegap, ratedE, forced proximity, small town romance, praise kink, mates?

I think I agree with the other comments, I think the age gap could reduced as it often felt like Devin's and Alexx's actions/personality did not match the given ages - perhaps 28 & 38 would be a more suitable difference.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book group for the arc

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0 STARS

This, by far, has been one of the best contemporary/paranormal romances I've read in a while. A really fun time from start to finish and the main characters Alex and Devin felt so real and relatable. I cannot wait to list to the audio book once its out!

Such an easy 5 star read!

Thank you to Rosie Danan, Little Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for a digital copy of an ARC.

A steamy paranormal rom-com with eyes, claws, and jaws!

Alex is The Arcane Files, and Devin Ashwood's biggest fan until one day something awful happens, which changes her opinion of Devin entirely. So you can imagine it's quite the surprise 17 years later when the same man comes to ask for her help when he fears he may have become just like his TV counterpart.

My inner teenage sci-fi nerd was in love! For me, my fandom was always Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel, but hey, they featured werewolves too, right? (Hello Oz!?) This book brought back all the nostalgic feels of the love I had for those series and characters, although I fortunately did not have the same experience as a young teen as the FMC Alex does. Unfortunately, so far, I also haven't gotten the experiences adult Alex gets either (lol).

The grumpy/sunshine/black-cat/golden retriever vibes were brilliant. I especially enjoyed Devin's charm, and the banter between them was brilliant.
*save Devin's knees*

I loved the trials, and re-enacting what they thought might work from old series' of 'TAF' but do wish that maybe there could have been a bit more explanation about Brian Dempsey's great great grandfather and more about what this all meant rather than just a general acceptance that tada I am now a werewolf. Alas, I loved it anyway.

I'd also like to suggest 13 seasons of The Arcane Files to netflix, please. I'd most definitely be interested.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book.

It's rare that it feels SO much like an author looked in your head and then wrote a book, but Rosie Danan did it with Do Your Worst, and then again with Fan Service.

I loved Alex, and I really enjoyed seeing Devin grow through the story and come to terms with his wolf side, while Alex grew in her own way.

I can't wait to see what Rosie writes next!

Alex & Devin
Age Gap
Werewolf x Normal Girl
She had a crush on him as a teenager

This one piqued my interest from the first time I saw it, but I didn't really know what to expect from it.

I really enjoyed the story, however I struggle with 3rd person so I didn't enjoy this one as much as I know I could have (and I know this is totally on me, not the author)

Devin was a bit of an idiot and isn't very nice to Alex. We did see his inner monologue to get a better understanding of why he says certain things, but he never actually communicates this to Alex, but she still forgives him?

I love how Devin used to be a Werewolf actor and the Wiki pages 😍

Overall great story!

Fan service is Rosie Danan’s love letter to fandoms and it really delivers.

How is it possible that a book with the phrase “Jacob Elodi hive rise up” can elicit 4.5 star review from me… or maybe it is because of that phrase it got 4.5 stars from me…This book is just a good time , it’s laugh out loud, toe-curling, steamy fun, an ode to all the fandoms out there. The pop culture references are rife and it doesn’t take itself too seriously in the best way. The characters were self aware and we get to see some emotional growth throughout their story. I couldn’t stop picturing Jensen Ackles as Devin.

However, there was a little bit of a slow start were I was thinking that the FMC was written a little bit too pitiful, but once the FMC and MMC met after around 10% , things really picked up. The characters were explored more and I empathised with them both. Though I’m not really sure why she decides she wants to stay in a town that didn’t really warm up to her, I would have liked more redemption/karma for them - maybe some apologies and more friends in town. At some points I wasn’t quite sure what was happening with the plot but I honestly didn’t care because I was enjoying the characters so much.

If the Arcane Files was a real TV show I would 100% have watched it. This book is funny, it has heart and soul and is definitely worth a read.

I wanted to like this… but it just wasn’t for me sorry! It’s great for those who want a fun romance though!

Love love love loved this and had the most fun time reading!

Tropes included:

🐺Werewolf
🎞️TV Star x Vet
🖤Enemies to Loves
🙄She hates to love him
👥Found Family
📺Fandom core

This was such a fun read, the story follows Alex Lawson, a hardcore fan of werewolf drama "The Arcane Files," and Devin Ashwood, the show's former star who finds himself turning into a real werewolf. After seeking out Alex, the pair form an alliance. The chemistry between Alex and Devin is electric, and their journey from reluctant allies to something more is both funny and realistic.

Danan's writing is engaging and witty as ever and she balanced a fun, entertaining book with in-depth characters and emotional moments perfectly. The book felt nostalgic to my teen fangirl days and was a delight to read from start to finish. If you enjoyed Tessa Bailey's Fangirl Down and like a touch of the paranormal, this is perfect for you.

Truly, for the fans.

I usually love Rosie Danan’s books. ‘The Intimacy Experiment’ was a 5 star read for me but I struggled with this one. I really enjoyed the concept of this book and the involvement of fanfic and fandom lore was enjoyable. What I didn’t like was the MMC. he came across horribly. He implies at one point, in his internal monologue, that he’s too good for the FMC, that’s she’s strange, and because of this he couldn’t possibly find her attractive. From this moment forward, u found him irredeemable, especially considering the FMC is highly insecure and doesn’t feel like she’s lovable because of bullying in her past.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc!
I was absolutely chuffed to be approved for this cause boy have I been waiting to get my hands on this!! I have enjoyed most of Rosie's books so this was exciting and did not disappoint.This lowkey made my Teen Wolf dreams come true like imagine if Stiles Stilinski was real, werewolves were real. Yeah, this is the book for you then. Also, the aspects of being a fan girl of the actor from the show like don't we all wish we could date Dylan O'Brien irl?? Well, in this book, we can certainly pretend to..

This is a fabulous book and with all the hype surrounding a Buffy reboot it is very ‘of the moment!’ Devin was the star of a werewolf detective show and hasn't really had much success since it ended. But when he finds himself naked on his front lawn after a full moon and slightly more growly than before, he enlists the biggest fan of the show to help him prove he’s not a werewolf - unfortunately she hates him! This is hilarious and romantic and incredibly cute! A perfect rom com for binge reading as it is such a good time.

4 ☆
Firstly thank you so much for approving me for this ARC! I really enjoyed Rosie's previous book 'The Roommate' so I was super excited to read this new paranormal/romance by her.
It was such a fun read and really reminded me of 90's - 2000s TV show nostalgia. I'm talking shows like Teen Wolf, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural, Charmed type of vibes.

I enjoyed the character growth, although at the beginning I'll admit I didn't think I could get past Devin being quite so immature on occasion *eye roll* But i did warm up to him as the story progressed.

Overall a cute fun and quick read mixed with a bit of spice :)
(*spoiler warning* Knot as spicy as I wanted but the tension when it did kick in, hit the spot)

4⭐

Thank you Rosie Danan, Piatkus Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

𝑭𝒂𝒏 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆 by Rosie Danan is about Devin Ashwood, the lead actor of an infamously long running werewolf detective television show, wakes up naked in the woods outside his LA home with no memory of the night before, coincidentally, once-in-a-century Wolf Blood Moon crested that night. Desperate for answers, he reaches out to Alex Lawson, a longtime fan of the show and Mod of the internet archives with an offer she can't refuse.

For those who enjoyed Teen Wolf, this one is for you! The online fandom in the book had minor presence yet major lore and played a major role throughout.

I enjoyed the dynamic between Alex and Devin. We get to see the deeper parts of them and their trauma that shaped them become the people they are. The fact that Alex was in her mid-thirties and Devin in his early-forties made it more enjoyable to read. The romance and tension between them was sizzling with chemistry and they make such a good pair for each other emotionally too!

I loved how the side characters left an impact on the book. Some of them did not even appear yet left a significant impact on the entire storyline.

The fandom and Hollywood aspect of the book showed the harsh realities in Hollywood and toxicity of fandoms. I also liked how they showed the positive side of being a part of a fandom and hit a sense of deja-vu to me.

For fans of contemporary paranormal romance with spice and slow burn with sizzling tension, this one is for you.

When Rosie Danan announced a werewolf book, I was hesitant. I should have known better. What an absolute DELIGHT! A fantastic couple you could barely tear your eyes away from, a fantastically told history between them, and the romance was a notch up from everything she's done before (and all those books have five stars in my eyes as well!)
Fun setting, hilarious plot, and honestly, just bloody amazing!

This book was a lot of fun, and a wonderful love letter to fandom culture.

There was a lot of character growth for both Alex and Devin, and I really enjoyed their interactions. There was an element of miscommunication happening, which we could understand from Devin's perspective but that I wish had been more fully resolved between the two in story. I also liked the secondary characters and would have loved to have seen more from them throughout.

Overall this book was fab, and I'd highly recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you netgalley for this arc.

This was such a joy to read, an absolute hoot from the get go! This book is written with so much love and affection for fandom and tackles the stickier areas that come with fandom and celebrity really nicely. There’s so much love in here for the types of shows that obviously inspired TAF and the fandoms that sprung from it, it was really lovely to see some nods to real life fanfiction that were so subtle and well enmeshed! This was just a gorgeous bit of work all the way down, incredibly fun to read and also: boner.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.