SWIPE RIGHT FOR MONSTERS by R. O’Leary (THE MONSTER BOTHERER)
Welcome to our brand new feature – THE MONSTER BOTHERER!
We are thrilled to welcome a new reviewer to the Fantasy Hive, Emma Penman, who exclusively reviews monster romance. We decided that as all her reviews have a specific aim, we’ll house them all in one handy feature-cage!
Whilst not necessarily bothering many monsters herself, Emma will be letting us know which monster romance books are worth bothering with…
Content warning: These books are explicit.
Swipe Right for Monsters didn’t initially appeal to me. As an elder millennial who had to hunt her man down deep in the forest with nothing but a big stick, the thought of modern technology – especially dating through it – makes me clutch my imitation pearls, but the blurb intrigued me and I am so glad I read it.
While out celebrating the end of her studies with her best friends, Nicole is cajoled into downloading MONSTR, the dating app for monsters. Her love-life has been lacking recently and her friends think this is just what she needs, bonus if she can hook herself up with a sugar daddy. The next morning she wakes with a hangover and more matches than she thinks she can handle, but she steels herself up for the task. What she doesn’t realise is that these monsters are more than happy to share if it means they also get a taste of her.
After a disastrous first date and some mild threat/drama her monsters move in with her, and this is where the book really starts to shine. Each monster (two vampires, a werewolf, a were-cougar and a fae) has a unique personality that causes friction and fun in the home. From stealing pickle mugs just to feel close to their favourite human, to eating her out on the breakfast bar to start her day off right before starting her new job, R. O’Leary has balanced characterisation and chemistry incredibly well.
In fact, the monsters are so well written our female main character becomes a bit lost in the fray. The focus doesn’t leave her, but the monsters are just so much more alive than her, which I wouldn’t say is a black mark against this book, I just wish she was a little bit more fleshed out. The only character growth really comes from her acceptance of a big multispecies polycule in her life and her home, which honestly is a big enough change for one human to handle at a time. Nicole likes her monsters, she enjoys her monsters (a lot) but while there are jokes and an accusation of her being after what they can give her, nothing in her words or actions deny this. She takes a hell of a lot from them (financial, emotional and physical support) without giving anything at all really. Not a great look.
Spice wise this is fairly moderate. The two vamps like to tag team, and of course there is some nibbling involved, the weres are rough and always ready and the fae, while being the subdued shy one, knows exactly how to treat his human right. The air in the home is always tinged with sexual chemistry and it’s great. You never know when there’s going to be a smutty scene, so it keeps you on your toes (or curls them). I will say that when they all get together in bed, it’s a bit underwhelming. O’ Leary definitely writes one on one (or two on one) better. Mmm were-sandwich.
The underlying plot is resolved, Nicole and her monster boyfriends all get a happily ever after and I would absolutely bother with this book as long as you don’t mind the main character being a little problematic. The monsters more than make up for it and while I would have liked a bit more bedroom time with each guy but it’s not a long book and there’s only so much smut you can fit in if you want an actual plot.
This is the first in the series, the second following one of Nicole’s besties comes out on 30th June, 2025.
