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A review by inkdrinkers
I'm in Love with Mothman by Paige Lavoie
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"I am spoon-feeding a 7-foot moth-creature oatmeal: this is my life now."
Heather is a 22 year-old influencer burnt-out on the constant of being online. Growing up with a mommy-blogger mother, she's used to sharing every instance in her life, but after a bad breakup and a seriously poor choice in a brand-deal post, Heather feels like she needs a break. So she quits it all, buys a little cabin, and moves into the forest. It's only there that she stumbles on an ancient cryptid that she may be catching feelings for.
Oh man, this is exactly what the doctor ordered. A silly, lighthearted mothman romance with a heroine who was equal parts ridiculous and wonderful. I really loved Heather by the end of the story - despite her bad decisions and unwavering way she trusted the people she met in the town. There are moments she really shows her age, being only twenty-two, she's definitely not young, but I really looked at her mistakes fondly because I, too, was entirely too trusting at the same age. She's just an incredibly well-rounded character and I loved the inclusion of her disability (Hashimoto's) and her bisexuality!
Now let's talk about MOTH. I'm going to keep this vague so it isn't full of spoilers, but WOW I loved this version of Mothman! I think Lavoie made some incredible choices with his characterization and it really ties up nicely in the end. He's also just such a swoon worthy lead, he has the perfect mix of gruffness at the beginning that fades into a nice, warm and fuzzy feather-covered man who is too cute. I'm so eager to read more about these two in the sequel, the snippets and hints for the overall world Lavoie has created has made me so excited.
My only issues with this book was the fact it feels so short! I understand why the pacing is what it is - but the epilogue really frustrated me with how it glosses over a certain someone's entire arc that the book brings to a head in the ending chapters. I feel like this book wasn't sure if it wanted to fully commit to the lighthearted tone, or address the harder topics included (like hunting, misogyny, and homophobia) but I wish it had. I feel like it could have packed such a punch to make a firm statement on those topics instead of brushing it away with a paragraph at the end. This book did have a ton of charming moments, and while I loved it for that, I wished it had committed a little more to the harder topics too.
Overall, I'm so excited for Lavoie's other installments in this series. I can't wait to get into the backstory in book two and see where Heather and Moth end up next. This is also me begging for an eventual Scottish Loch Ness Monster cryptid book PLEASE.
Content warnings: gun violence (present in discussions about hunting, ending chapters), kidnapping (ending chapters), sexual content (one to two pepper spice, no graphic descriptions but a handful of scenes!)
Heather is a 22 year-old influencer burnt-out on the constant of being online. Growing up with a mommy-blogger mother, she's used to sharing every instance in her life, but after a bad breakup and a seriously poor choice in a brand-deal post, Heather feels like she needs a break. So she quits it all, buys a little cabin, and moves into the forest. It's only there that she stumbles on an ancient cryptid that she may be catching feelings for.
Oh man, this is exactly what the doctor ordered. A silly, lighthearted mothman romance with a heroine who was equal parts ridiculous and wonderful. I really loved Heather by the end of the story - despite her bad decisions and unwavering way she trusted the people she met in the town. There are moments she really shows her age, being only twenty-two, she's definitely not young, but I really looked at her mistakes fondly because I, too, was entirely too trusting at the same age. She's just an incredibly well-rounded character and I loved the inclusion of her disability (Hashimoto's) and her bisexuality!
Now let's talk about MOTH. I'm going to keep this vague so it isn't full of spoilers, but WOW I loved this version of Mothman! I think Lavoie made some incredible choices with his characterization and it really ties up nicely in the end. He's also just such a swoon worthy lead, he has the perfect mix of gruffness at the beginning that fades into a nice, warm and fuzzy feather-covered man who is too cute. I'm so eager to read more about these two in the sequel, the snippets and hints for the overall world Lavoie has created has made me so excited.
My only issues with this book was the fact it feels so short! I understand why the pacing is what it is - but the epilogue really frustrated me with how it glosses over a certain someone's entire arc that the book brings to a head in the ending chapters. I feel like this book wasn't sure if it wanted to fully commit to the lighthearted tone, or address the harder topics included (like hunting, misogyny, and homophobia) but I wish it had. I feel like it could have packed such a punch to make a firm statement on those topics instead of brushing it away with a paragraph at the end. This book did have a ton of charming moments, and while I loved it for that, I wished it had committed a little more to the harder topics too.
Overall, I'm so excited for Lavoie's other installments in this series. I can't wait to get into the backstory in book two and see where Heather and Moth end up next. This is also me begging for an eventual Scottish Loch Ness Monster cryptid book PLEASE.
Content warnings: gun violence (present in discussions about hunting, ending chapters), kidnapping (ending chapters), sexual content (one to two pepper spice, no graphic descriptions but a handful of scenes!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Gun violence and Sexual content