This was not what I was expecting. It's been a while since I read the synopsis, so I went in pretty blind with this book and thought it was just a contemporary romance. Instead it's an urban fantasy with an ever optimistic main character who discovers there are demons in her new small town. She runs into demon hunters, humans with a few extra abilities and is recruited to help stop the deaths.

Michaela is constantly positive despite having gone through several terrible things. I admire her for pushing through and being happy, though it does grate on you after a while. Sometimes it's okay to be angry or hurt and pushing it back doesn't seem healthy. I also didn't love that she wanted mercy for serial killers, believing that she can talk to them and they'll be reformed. Uh, no sorry. It doesn't usually work like that.

The demon hunting was the best part and I had fun watching Ness and Mason take down the monsters. Mason is witty and made me chuckle, Ness is serious and moody and could stand to lighten up a bit. I liked Ness' relationship with Michaela, but they have a ways to go if they want to be together.

I felt like this had a religious tone to it and promoted peace and acceptance at all times. While these aren't bad things, in a monster story they aren't always possible and I hope Michaela eventually realizes that sometimes hard decisions need to be made. The ending of this is a bit abrupt and didn't tell us where it's going next. I'll be waiting to see if there's a sequel coming out.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. Thank you to Wandering Roots and NetGalley for the copy.

This was a fun book but nothing caught my attention enough to want to recommend this book to my friends .

The easiest way to pitch this book is <i>Supernatural</i> meets Kaylee, from <i>Firefly</i>, if she was queer.. and also sixteen. Look, the pitch isn't perfect but that's the vibe. Our main character is a relentlessly cheerful and hopeful human and honestly if Kaylee isn't the first person you think of, who is? But I digress.

Michaela, the protagonist of HAVOC & HAPPINESS, has been dealt a hand that would bring lesser humans low. And somehow she keeps on going, and with a smile on her face. Add to that the fact that she's left the foster system, emancipated herself, and willingly thrown herself into a new school, trying to make new friends, all while living on her own. Said new school comes with plenty of drama.. even before she stumbles across a dead body and the siblings who are hunting the thing that did the killing.

The <i>Supernatural</i> vibes are strong in this one but it's balanced by the total opposite of that show's dark and brutal aesthetic. The tone is light even as it tackles heavy topics like grief, abandonment, and a few other things I don't want to mention because spoilers, and as a bonus it's also diverse af.

Also? This is the first book in what might be a trilogy, but I think will actually be a duology. So if you're looking for a new paranormal series to lose yourself in that's got a healthy portion of romance, angst, trying to find one's place in a world that is more complex than at first glance, as well as the strangeness of monster hunting stakeouts, all while balancing homework and highschool parties, this would be one to try!

3.5 stars

Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Havoc & Happiness in exchange for an honest review.

This was fun! Like... very, very, zany but in a way that really worked. Part teen coming of age comedy, part monster fighting, and very very queer, Havoc & Happiness throws you tonal curveball after tonal curveball and it all kind of works? Right when you're expecting a typical teen drama with a fun perspective character you're thrown into monsters and cults and angels and it was honestly a really fun time.

My one issue would be just how charismatic our lead is. She's the queen of banter and falls into it within seconds with everyone she meets which was entertaining to read but it doesn't give most of her relationships any real way to grow *cough cough Ness cough cough*. If you're looking for a fun read you don't need to take too seriously, give this a go.