I’m not sure what I expected, but it definitely wasn’t tears. And that’s what I got here at the end! 🥹

Mere Mortals is all about humans— who used to be vampires! They’ve been sentenced to life and are adjusting to high school, while holding out hope for an appeal to become vampires once more!

Charlotte (Charlie) and Reginald (Reg) are the sibling best friends everyone wants to know. They’re new in town, new in school, and new to humanity. The story is from Charlie’s point of view, and she pretty much detests humanity. She knows immortality is better and has her eyes set on reclaiming her immortality at all costs. Her brother is making friends and enjoying his humanity, making the best of a bad situation.

Things I loved:

👴 Sal, their foster uncle. He’s grumpy and hilarious. And has a soft side you eventually get to see. It had me tearing up.

💚 The chapter names. I love when books do chapter titles, especially if they’re funny. Love it.

😎 Charlie. She was so flipping irritating, but she grew so much, and I ended up really loving her character. GROWTH. 🌱

🧛🏻 the Vampire Slayer Lore in this. It’s really neat, and a little different than other books I’ve read… not that I’m an expert on vampire and vampire slayer lore, but I liked it a lot.

🎃 It’s autumnal. Perfect for right this moment and I to October if you’re looking for a read that has autumn vibes, but isn’t scary. 🍁

A big thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for gifting me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Forget everything you've ever known about vampires. Simply because this isn't a book specifically about vampires. Instead it is about a duo vampires getting turned back into humans in order to face the horrors of high schoo.

Mere Mortals by Erin Jane Lange is YA paranormal (with just the right amount of hilarity and coming-of-age spice) novel that revolves around the tumultuous life of Charlie. Who just so happened to be a vampire, until she did an unspeakable thing and was turned back into a human as punishment. And like the famed Cullens, she has to tackle high school. While also dealing with the many horrors that is being a human teenager. Boys and insatiable blood thirst included.

I think I would have liked this novel a bit more, if it were not slapped so hard with the 'modern and edgy' stick. As I found the writing style was a bit hard to get past a few times, as it often read as Charlie simply talking to the reader. Instead of being a narrator to her story. (If you get what I mean) Not to mention a few scenes were nothing short of cringe and eye rolling.

Regardless, it was fun read and proved to be the adequate side path to the many fantasies piling up in my TBR. Should you want a fresh take on the vampire overload that is the YA section, definitively check this title out.

Mere Mortals is such an incredibly fun and unique take on the vampire genre! I mean, we have all read about vampires, and folks turning into vampires, but who here has read a book about becoming mortal again!? I certainly had not! I found it really refreshing and enjoyable, frankly!

We are introduced to Charlie, who kind of loved being a vampire, and is pretty salty to find herself and her vamp brother Reg in a cabin in the boonies, having just been sentenced to mortaldom for Vampire Crimes™. Reg is way less angry about it than Charlie, who vows she's going to get them back to all their undead glory. But until she figures out how, they must coexist with other humans of their current mortal age- which means heading to high school!

The book was fun, and sweet, and heartwarming. I loved Charlie figuring out who she was as a person, vampire shenanigans aside. I loved that she found people to care about, too, as she thought she was kind of incapable to such things. Her relationship with Reg was really complex too, as they basically considered each other siblings, even though they had no recollection of their prior mortal lives.

The vampire lore was also really fun- I loved the hierarchy of the vampires, and learning about their rules and systems. I also really loved the story about the older man they end up living with, and finding out what his role in the vampire society is.

Bottom Line: Fun and unique, this was an entertaining and enjoyable read!

I adored this vampire book! Vampires have been incredibly over done in the past decade but this book was refreshing! I really enjoyed the vampires in this book and how well they align with our ideas of vampires.

“Mere Mortals” by: Erin Jade Lange

There are so many vampire stories in the world. Stories of evil and villainy, stores of fantastical love and glitter. There are stories where they are simply people who were turned and have to navigate their new lives and old, parenting, working, and avoiding stakes at all, um, stakes. I’ve never read a vampire tale where the vampires were turned human.

Reginald (Reg) and Charlotte (Charlie) Drake were sentenced to life. Rather than being staked for risking the exposure of the existence of vampires, they are changed to Mere Mortals. Teenaged Mere Mortals. Zits, hair, hormones, and (the horror of all horrors) aging all in Nowhere, Iowa. Ew.

What do they have to do to become vampires again? Why the heck do they have to go to school and meet people? Why did Sal quit slaying and why did Charlie’s beloved Prada not slay the first day? So much to learn before they can turn into vampires again, instead of Mere Mortals.

Ok, now for my opinion. Love it. I love this new take on the vampire trope. Erin Jade Lange not only had an amazing plot line, but she carried it out beautifully. Is there blood? It’s a vampire novel, but it’s not gory. Perfectly appropriate for all age levels. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This books was so fun! I loved the twist on a vampire story where the vamps become human. I really enjoyed Charlie’s snark. She was such a fun character to read.

Main my thing was the ending didn’t seem to follow how the characters acted throughout the book. It seemed a little too much of a 180, personality wise.

This is a whole new look for vampire reads. What happens when two hundred year old vampires are suddenly turned normal and have to go to regular highschool? This is a very fun and light hearted read.

Mere Mortals by Erin Jade Lange, 368 pages. HarperTeen (HarperCollins), 2022. $18. lgbtqia
Language: R (33 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Vampire life is to die for – too bad Charlie and Reg messed up. Their punishment: banishment to mortal life in Nowhere, Iowa. Being mortal is bad enough, but their caretaker has enrolled the siblings in high school too. Charlie is determined to get her vampire life back, even if it kills her.
I love this new take on vampires and vampire slayers – excuse me, vampire healers. The discussions that the various vampires and slayers have about immortality versus being human are thought-provoking, and the war Charlie has within herself about what she really wants is so real. While readers might guess how Charlie’s story will end, her journey is definitely worth the read.
Charlie and Reg are White, Dexter is described as having “tan” skin, and their other friends are implied White. The mature content rating is for innuendo and mentions of sexting. The violence rating is for mentions of vampire feedings and suicide, blood, and use of stakes to kill vampires.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

This book was an absolute delight. There are so few vampire stories where the vampires have to deal with mortality, so I was excited to read this from the get-go. It did not disappoint. Charlie, the protagonist, is a self-centered spoiled child when we first meet her, but the way she was written makes her feel like a relatable character. She is stuck in a bad situation facing the consequences of her mistakes, and as her character grows, she becomes easier to connect with. And her relationship with her brother is beautiful to see. The world building is also wonderful, it adds a new layer to the typical modern vampire story. These vamps (specifically the two main characters), act like people and not like all-powerful beings. Yes, they have heightened senses and immortality, but Charlie frets over what to wear on her first day of school and flashes her fangs at her brother when he annoys her. The one thing I didn't like about the book was a decision one of the characters made at the end, it just didn't feel in line with what we learned about them throughout the course of the book. I won't specify to avoid spoilers, but I do hope that the author chooses to write a companion novella or a sequel to this story so we can see what became of the characters post that moment. There are so many wonderful things about this book, and unfortunately I can't just gush about it for the rest of the day. I will definitely be re-reading this closer to Halloween. I hope you pick up a copy and enjoy it as much as I did.

Two teenage vampires are forced to live as mortals as a punishment for nearly killing a young man. As I am sure you can imagine, this leads to some very unique shenanigans, especially when they enroll at the local high school. Mere Mortals by Erin Jade Lange follows these two new humans throughout their first fall as mere mortals.

Charlie and Reg have been vampires for more than a century, and sure they are technically eternal teenagers, but with all that life experience behind them they believe themselves to have more maturity than most. However, the vampire elders don’t agree, so they jump at the chance to punish Reg and Charlie at their first mistake, and turn them back into mortals. They two siblings are banished to Nowhere, Iowa, where they must live with a vampire hunter and attend the local high school, while they adapt to mortal life. But, Charlie and Reg will not simply accept their punishment, no, they are going to appeal the decision and fight to become vampires again, no matter what it takes.

This was a really unique and fun story to read. Watching Charlie and Reg try to adapt to being mortal, the present time, and living in a small town on top of it, made for lots of funny moments. This was the primary focus of the plot, so while interesting and funny, it was also a bit slow, with very little action until the very end of the novel. This wasn’t a bad thing for me, but may be a bit of a sticking point for readers that are used to more plot heavy Young Adult books.

The story is told from Charlie’s point of view, and her character can come across as very unlikable at times. She is very self centered and conceited, but we are talking about a teenager (and a vampire at that). Even though it makes reading a bit difficult at times, it did allow for a lot of growth to happen with her character, and that made the ending far more satisfying.

Overall, Mere Mortals is something new, and in a very saturated vampire market, that alone makes it worthy of a read. But it is also a lovely story about friendship, family, and the worthiness of small towns.

Super cute book that will make you laugh out loud several times. Super enjoyable and it goes by quickly. Loved it!!

A fun twist on classic vampire tropes, Mere Mortals follows siblings Charlie and Reg as they are forced back into mortality after a feeding gone wrong. Very enjoyable, loved the relationship between the siblings, as well as the relationships Charlie cultivates with Lina, Sal, and the friends she makes in school.

What on the surface seems just like a funny twist on the vampire tale, turns out to be a commentary on humanity, friendship, and family. I really enjoyed visiting this world and reading this take on vampire lore.

3.5/5 stars
What happens when vampires are forced to once again be human, and even worse teenagers? Unfortunately, Charlie and her brother Reg are about to find out. Cast out of the vampire world into rural Iowa, they are way out of their element. As they try to adapt, they are also trying to find a way back into the vampire world.

Overall, I liked this book. I think it lost some points for me because I felt like the character development was very last minute and was surprisingly reversed for some characters. Despite that, it was an interesting spin on the vampire story.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a fresh take on the vampire trope! Instead of becoming immortal and adjusting to the vampire life, two "teenage" vampires are turned human as a punishment for committing a wrongdoing. Charlie and Reg are forced to face their mortality as they navigate human life including, of course, high school. While Charlie thinks she has a handle on teenage humans based on the tv shows she's seen during her immortal life, it is her brother, Reg, who finds it easier to adjust.

There is a chance for them to become vampire again, but it involves betraying the town they've come to love. One of my favorite parts was Charlie continuing to find "the worst part of being human," which continued to change as she experiences new aspects of being human.

I look forward to adding this to my library's collection!

I though this story was really great! I love how Charlie had a change of heart at the end and how Reg was the one wanting to go back! The way Charlie teamed up with Sal at the end! I just really like the story! I would love to be able to see this book adopted into a movie and even a sequel!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Teen for this eARC. These opinions are my own. This is a interesting take on vampires! Probably not my favorite one but it is nice to get some new ideas surrounding the mythology of vampires! Charlie and Reg were made vampires during there teens and are now being punished with mortality because they did something against the vampire rules! Desperate to find her way back to being a vampire Charlie reaches out to anyone she can think of but as time passes and her and Reg make friends and experience love is being a vampire really the most important thing anymore! I did enjoy both Reg and Charlie, and I felt some Clueless vibes but with vampires! The storyline was good and the transition from immortality to mortality really brought some new perspective to vampire books! I was surprised by the ending, didn’t necessarily see that coming. I would definitely say check this out if your interested on fresh takes about vampires!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this novel. I am rating this book based the stars due to lack of time to leave a full review.

Charlie and Reg have been vampires together for a century, but after an indiscretion the Elders punish them to a life as mortals. Now Charlie and Reg are left to navigate the world as teenagers, filled with high school, dating, friends, party planning, and all in a small town. Eager to return to their immortality they appeal to the Elders to turn them back. After weeks of attempting an appeal, they are finally granted an audience. But over the course of those weeks they've found a friend group, love interests and maybe mortal life isn't so bad after all. When their wish for immortality is granted it comes with a cost, the upheaval of their new friends' lives and the whole town. Is their immortality worth the sacrifice?
This story is so much fun. It is a twist on the typical vampire stories with the loss of immortality. But while the book is fun, it also touches on the important themes of friendship, family, mortality, humanity, and sacrifice. There are so many thought-provoking moments and ideas in the story that get you thinking. You'll find yourself wondering what you would do if you were in Charlie's shoes. I recommend this book for a fun read with some depth.

"It took three thousand years to find him. It will take an eternity to forget him.” ~Lina

It’s been a long while since I’ve read a YA paranormal and this is just the perfect reintroduction to getting back. I was not sure if I was going to enjoy the book but when I started reading this book, I found myself chortling at some of the troubles Charlie was having and can picture how this perfectly coiffed “Vampire Diaries meets Riverdale with a little Twilight” former vampire have the hardest time getting acclimated to her new mortal life. Then there’s Reg, her older “brother” who was going to be the Brandon Walsh, from Beverly Hills, 90210, where Charlie feared he would not know how to stop acting like an old-timer and it was he who was able to get used to their new life and make friends with the kids in school.

They were punished by the Elder Vampires for breaking the golden rule and for that, both Charlie and Reg were stripped of being immortal and made into what they were previously: zit and sweaty teenagers. Normally, when the Elders did that, they also took away the Vampire’s memories but instead, Charlie and Reg were able to retain all their glorious vampiric memories. Was this a punishment or was this an indication that they will be added back into their Immortal lives?

As the dynamic sibling get acclimated, they befriend Poe, a literature-loving person who attends Hope High, and his group of friends, Dex, Sydney, and her twin, Sophie. As they are forced to mingle with the moving snacks on legs, the siblings find themselves enjoying their new lives with their new friends.

A fun read and you find yourself start caring about the siblings and rooting for them, as well. Plus there are a little few other romance connections you root for too but I’ll try not to spoil that for you.

I received an e-audiobook arc in exchange for an honest review, so thank you to NetGalley, Erin Jade Lange, and HarperTeen for this great e-audiobook arc. The book and audiobook will be coming out on September 27, 2022.

I give this book a 3.5/5. I smell a sequel in the works.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. The publication date is September 27, 2022.