I was not sure about this book based on the description, but it is by TJ Klune, and I will pretty much pick up anything he writes.
As I hoped, this book was kind of like a big hug, full of comfort and love. Readers who enjoyed his other works are sure to love this series as well!

I literally have no words for the greatness that is this book.

⭐️ 10 stars!

There is so much emotion in this book and such an AMAZING storyline!

💛 wolves! 🐺
💛 pack / protective brotherhood
💛 witches
💛 romance (lgbtq+ friendly)

The cover of this book is so beautiful. This is definitely in my Top 10 reads of 2023.

Hold on while I try to replenish the water I lost due to all the tears this book made me cry....

Alright! Well this was a shocking read for me. I started it at work during a lunch break and I was immediately sucked into the world. I made sure not to look to much into other reviews because I wanted to go into the book blind. And it was great!!!

The only thing is that I was not expecting was the explicit scenes. But that is partly my fault since I didn't look into any tags or lists that this book was a part of.

Overall I loved this book, even if I cried so much it gave me a headache! Haha!

Summary:
Ox was sixteen when the shape shifting Bennett family moved in next door. The Bennetts can transform into wolves at will. Shy and quiet Ox is drawn into their world of magic, wonder, and connection. As his love grows for the family, danger approaches and puts it all at risk.

Written from Ox’s POV, Wolfsong explores what I means to be family, what it means to love, and what it means to heal, grow, and forgive.
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Tj Klune’s first book in the Green Creek series, Wolfsong, kept me hooked from the first page to the last. I read the entire thing in less than 24 hrs!

If you like paranormal, romance, queer love, werewolves, etc. This is the book for you. It was not unlike other Klune books in the way he makes readers feel so deeply for his characters. I’m not one to cry *much* when reading books, but I was crying a bit while reading Wolfsong. It was such a surprising and interesting story.

I did not like the age gap in this book. Though it’s only 6 years, they meet when joe is 10 years old and were just friends. Having them meet so young, then start the romance aspect once Joe was 18? Still weird. I tried to trust the process but I still felt weird by the end. I think if they met when Joe was a little older, their love story would have been much better. The author uses a lot of werewolf logic to make sense of this and make it “okay” but it didn’t land for me.

I do admit some of the werewolf stuff felt awkward/cringey to me anyways. This type of story (paranormal) is a bit out of my usual territory. However, the whole family group (love a found family!!!) and tense plot kept me reading.

Thank you to the author, the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I would love my students to read this in one of our literature classes. The fantasy and romance in the story is interesting as it is also an eye opener to the rainbow community. A lot of people, specially the younger generation, will relate to the internal and external struggle of Ox.

Great read! Twilight vibes with far fewer problematic elements. Ox is an utter cinnamon roll. Klune does an amazing job showing us the other characters' motivations through Ox. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series!

I swear Klune puts crack in his books, because I really liked this one, but can’t put my finger on why. The second half definitley dragged quite a bit. The author/main character kept saying the same thing over. and over. And over. the characters kept having the same conversations, everyone was annoying at some point, characters weren’t extremely loveable and werewolves just aren’t my thing. And yet I enjoyed this book a lot. I have no clue why. Maybe the storytelling style? Other than that I dunno but despite all my problems with it, I enjoyed it.

Thank you Tor Publishing Group for for accepting my request for this arc so quickly

But this book is absolutely boring. I pushed through until about 32% but still nothing has happened even though I feel like I've read a lot. The romance which I heard was a majority of the story makes me very uncomfortable because it's is between two people that met when one was 16 and the other was 10. I did not know that before starting the book so it completely turns me off from finishing it. Especially when the writing in this is very weird and repetitive.

This book is every supernatural fanfic reader's dream. From werewolves and magic to found family tropes and mates, TJ Klune pulls out all the stops in this debut for his new Green Creek series. Is it a bit cringey? Sure, but what good furry romance book isn't? It's important to know the type of story you're getting into before you start, since this type of book isn't for everyone, but it's a good time to be sure.

The positives of this book, to name a few, would be the overwhelming coziness of the character relationships, the queer representation, and the way it manages to ride the line between a low- and high-stakes plot line. Readers are able to enjoy lovable characters whose connections to one another are irresistably heartwarming, while also having a driving force to the story to keep it going. The found family trope is extremely strong throughout, and LGBTQ+ characters are able to exist without needing to fight for acceptance. It brings a normalized tone to coming out and being queer, something we can always use more of in literature.

As far as complaints go, I'll admit that the pacing was a bit erratic. At times the story would be jumping through years at a time, and then all of a sudden it would be crawling through a single week. It's understandable why there'd be time jumps given the age gap between the main characters, but that brings me to the second con of the book, which is the fine line it rode with Joe's age and his relationship with Ox in the first half of the story. No lines were definitively crossed, but personally I think there were better ways to navigate that part of the plot.

Overall, a good start for a new series, and I'm excited to see what happens next!

I find myself struggling to write any kind of nuanced review for this book. On the one hand, I absolutely devoured it in just a little over a day. I read the first 300 pages in one sitting. I found the characters and their voices to be absolutely compelling, even if their arcs felt circuitous and repetitious at times. Ox especially had an absolutely wonderful narrative voice and made it so easy to be immersed in his story when normally, I find the first person POV absolutely grating. Every single one of his platonic relationships were compelling and interesting and I wish had been fleshed out even more than they were. The interpersonal dynamics here were fascinating and so much fun to read.

On the other hand, I don't know if I was really sold on the romance here. Next to Ox and the rest of the cast of characters, Joe did not feel nearly as fleshed out or strong of a character. Throughout the book, he was the only character whose voice I felt did not land for me. Considering he is the main romantic interest and driving force behind Ox's actions, it made it difficult to invest myself in the romance. What I find myself most distracted by, however, is that I was completely unable to look at the world-building and plot and not think that the author had to have been inspired by fandom for a very specific television show popular in the 2010s. Nearly every world-building element felt like a detail I had already seen before, to the point where I wouldn't be surprised to have found this on AO3. I don't want to outright say that this is a negative quality because I do think that it absolutely worked for this story, but it made for a very distracting read even as I sped through it.

Overall, I'm not sure if I will personally continue with the series, but this is absolutely the kind of book that has a very particular audience who I hope is able to find it.

I think I am officially admitting that I'm not the target audience for Klune. They've written several very intriguing and unique books, but they really don't get me excited. A solid purchase for libraries with a strong SF/Fantasy?Magical Realism reader base.

I loved the book overall. I was a little disappointed in a few things at the end. And I have to agree with one of my friend’s review, that I like Joe and Ox separately, but that their relationship was hard to accept. I don’t like some of the “you have a choice” but really “you were mine already because I chose you.” I don’t feel like Ox had that much choice, so it felt adjacent to abusive. I do feel like Ox has enough say in the matter to make it not quite abusive, but it was too close for comfort. The world was amazing, the characters were deep, the bonds and pack were so cool. So I had to give it a good rating, with some reservations.

I had previously enjoyed TJ Klune’s three recent stand alone adult novels The House in the Cerulean Sea, Under the Whispering Door, and In the Lives of Puppets so I was curious when I saw the Green Creek series he had written, was now being republished in new hardcover editions. Each of the novels in the four book series deals with a different members of a pack of werewolves in Green Creek, Oregon. The first book, Wolfsong, focuses on Ox a human boy who befriends the eccentric family that moves in near his house in the forest. He becomes particularly close friends with the youngest pack member and then as they reach adulthood their feelings evolve into something more. The novel has more sex and violence than his stand-alone works of fiction so if you are looking for gentler reads these might not be your jam, but for those looking for a complex mix of fantasy, bildungsroman, romance, and horror, Wolfsong will resonate. I received advanced reader copies of Wolfsong and Ravensong from NetGalley and the publisher to provide you with honest reviews.

DNFing at 30%.

I could not get into this book. I loved House in the Cerulean Sea. It’s my favorite book. I keep trying all of TJ Klune’s book and haven’t liked one other than THITCS. Makes me so sad.

Tj Klune always leaves me a little lovesick. Klunes characters have depth and so well rounded they feel so realistic. The story was beautiful, it broke my heart and then knit it back together. Perfect Found family, and a heartwarming lgbtq love store sit at the center of this shifter novel unlike anything I’ve picked up before. I will be jogging to pick up book two. I laughed out loud and cried twice, this book was a rollercoaster and I loved the ride.

If TJ Klune writes it, I will read it and I will LOVE it. Like all of his other work, Wolfsong broke my heart and made me feel whole at the same time. Could not recommend enough, and I can't wait to see where he goes with the rest of the Green Creek series.

4.75 / 5

Wolfsong is the first book in the Green Creek Series.

Oxnard Matheson is just a boy from a small town who thinks himself worthless because his father told him so when he left when Ox was only 12. <i>"Dumb as an ox."</i> He creates a home with his mom and his father's old coworkers at an auto shop and is content but doesn't feel complete. <b>Then the Bennetts come to town</b>. Rather, they come <i>back</i> after being gone for years. Beautiful and mysterious, just at the end of the lane.

On his 16th birthday, 10 year old Joe Bennett finds Ox walking home and is instantly curious about him. He introduces Ox to his family and they receive him happily right away. But they have a major secret: they’re <i><b><u>shapeshifters</i></b></u>. And it’s an emotional rollercoaster from there. From laughter on one page to gut-wrenching sobs the next, TJ Klune is a poetic storyteller.

The first half of the book is playful and fun because they’re kids. Ox finds a family in the Bennetts. When Ox is 23 and Joe, 17, tragedy strikes, people die, and choices are made. They’re forced to be adults. The second half is darker; raw and full of emotion. But surprisingly still a lot of action. The divide is clear and impactful and it was amazing to watch the characters grow as themselves and with each other. Even with Ox as the narrator, you can feel what the others feel and watch them evolve throughout the novel because they are so well developed.

Though there is a psychotic killer they are hunting for, the romance that blossomed between Joe and Ox is in the undercurrents throughout the entire book. Though the age gap is a hard pill to swallow (for me personally, since they met when Joe was so young), when you look at the “wolfiness” and development of feelings, it’s hard not to root for them. They <i>go through it</i>. So you do.

I will also say though that there is a lot of repetition when it comes to Joe and Ox’s feelings/conversations which seemed unnecessary because their emotions are already so evident. On the other hand, I couldn’t get enough of their possessiveness. I don’t know what that says about me, but it was hot especially because Ox started out this innocent, naive boy and Joe the sweetest cinnamon roll. The <u>spice</u> is on page, fantastic, but only a couple of drawn out scenes though it didn’t feel lacking.

Green Creek is full of magic and love and family and this story engulfs you in one giant bittersweet hug. I definitely recommend it, but to a mature audience. And I feel like there should be trigger warnings for rape (even though it doesn’t happen on page and only mentioned) and violence. Though there is not a cliffhanger, there are still some questions left unanswered about things that were introduced— like witches!— and I can’t wait to read more about it in the next book(s) in the series.

<i>Thank you to the author, the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.</i>

This book is an absolute gem that had me hooked from start to finish. This book is like a warm hug wrapped in a sprinkle of magic and a dash of humor. It's the kind of story that tugs at your heartstrings, makes you laugh out loud, and leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

Ox, the main character, is a total sweetheart who starts off thinking he's as smart as a potato but ends up discovering his worth and finding his place in the world. And let's not forget Joe, the love interest, who is an absolute cinnamon roll with a hint of mystery. Their journey together is an emotional rollercoaster ride that will make you squeal, cry, and feel like a lovestruck teenager.

The village of Green Greek and its quirky inhabitants add so much charm to the story. It's like stepping into a world where werewolves fix cars and magic lingers in the air. The friendships formed and the sense of belonging that permeates the pages will make you wish you were part of their gang.

TJ Klune's writing style is pure magic. The way they blend heartache and humor is simply genius. One moment you're snorting with laughter, and the next, you're wiping away tears. It's an emotional rollercoaster you won't want to get off.

In a nutshell, Wolfsong is a book that will take your heart and refuse to let it go. It's a well crafted story, and exactly what I expected from the author. So, grab a copy, snuggle up with a cup of tea, and prepare for an unforgettable adventure that will make your heart sing and howl with joy.

After reading and reviewing Klune’s last three novels, I have come to the conclusion that he is just not the right author for me. I understand why people love his books, but I do not feel the same way.

Thanks to Netgalley I was able to read Wolfsong by TJ Klune.
It is a story of Ox and Joe throughout years of being neighbours, friends and eventually something more. The first part of the book is so easy and fun to read, they are kids, doing kids and staff not thinking about anything except each other and their family. Ox greeting walls when flustered was the funniest and the most embarrassing thing ever. The second half was much darker in narration and I loved the difference because it showed the divide between being kids and adults and having to deal with responsibilities, feelings and more. I didn’t cry during some of the most heartbreaking episodes but I was close to it. I loved the book to pieces and can’t wait to read the second one!
As for my students, I think the ones who love fantasy and magical realism would really love it too. So definitely going to recommend it.