I have a new favorite Ali Hazelwood book! I straight up adored this book! It’s very different from her STEMinist romcoms and dare I say I love this more?! This book has Twilight elements while giving romcom vibes and I’m 100% in. Misery is the only daughter of the head of the vampyre council. She spent most of her days with a fake id as a human but the time has come where she must become the wife of the alpha werewolf.
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This is going to be one of my fave paranormal books. I loved it and it’s getting some well deserved hype at the moment. I listened to the audiobook version from @prhaudio and the audio was so well done and entertaining! I really hope there’s a sequel because the end of this book had me wanting so much more!
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Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads @prhaudio and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book, Ali hazelwood is always a autobuy author and for a good reason. This fantasy romance was so sweet and so much fun. Love Love Love

01.31.24 Full Review:
This book seriously had absolutely NO BUSINESS being that good. This was an extremely fun read and I'm so excited for the world to read it in less than a week!

Bride is the perfect book for anyone looking to broaden their contemporary romance genre into the paranormal as this features fated mates, and wolf shifters and vampires, and *cough*knotting*cough*

THIS IS FATED MATES AT ITS FINEST. I've always said I hated fated mates cause the majority of authors use it as the easy way out. Oh they're mates? Ok, then here they are together without even needing to prove to the reader WHY they even deserve to be together. I need there to be character growth and romance and all of the struggle to make me believe that YES THESE TWO BELONG TOGETHER without literally just plopping names in the same book and calling it a day - and Ali Hazelwood DOES ALL OF THAT AND MORE!!! I thoroughly enjoyed my reading experience of this book. I loved the romance, THE SMUT, the characters, and the plot was really damn intriguing as well.

Misery surprisingly is really tall (but ofc the MMC is way taller, it's Ali Hazelwood, duh), naive, oh-so-kind, and sadly, she's also completely taken advantage of by her entire species. She's sad and very much alone and I honestly loved her so much. She's so extremely relatable, it was frustrating. I loved the way she clung onto the belief that her friend was missing no matter what everyone else said and her perseverance in finding out the truth of what happened, even to the point of giving herself away in an arranged marriage with the enemy was such an interesting way to weave the plot into the narrative.

Lowe. Is. An. Idiot. but I love him so much. He's a cinnamon roll of a boss werewolf who just has WAY too much on his shoulders. I really just wanted to give him the biggest hug and tell him it's gonna be okay. This dude literally slept less than the actual vampire in the novel cause he worked too damn hard for the good of his people.

I also loved how Ali Hazelwood used the epigraphs in the book as a way to add a wider perspective to the narrative without having to write dual POVs. What an incredibly smart choice that really added to the reading experience.

Just.... I love this so much. And I hope you do too. If you don't... like. Just don't tell me.


Here are some out-of-context and spoiler free quotes and my thoughts on them:
"Vampyre society has evolved past monogamy."
"As it turns out, when your species sucks at producing children, encouraging sexual walkabouts and the search for reproductively compatible partners takes precedence over romance. I doubt Vampyres were ever particularly romantic, anyway."
>> poly AND aromantic vamps!!!! AHHHHHH

"Spending time together and watching him be terrified of me sparks joy."
>> YES. IT SPARKED JOY FOR ME TOO.

"Fuck children for being little assholes who manipulate people into wanting to protect them."
>> I vehemently agree with this.

"All I care about is machinating and like, three people."
>> I also. vehemently. agree. with this.

"for reasons I cannot fully articulate, because feelings are fucking hard for me,"
>> Same.

""Okay?" he asks, wrapping his finger around the base of my throat."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ... .... ...

"Smitten."
>> I am too. With them. With this book. With everything,

(removed first part cause spoiler) "His smile looks sad. "You already have, Misery.""
>> *insert giant shattering sobs*

"I would not like to thank: Ticketmaster"
>> AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

12.17.23 Initial Thoughts:
I REFUSE TO HEAR ANY CRITICISM FOR THIS BOOK.
DO NOT @ ME. DO NOT TALK TO ME. DO NOT SAY ANYTHING TO MY FACE.
FRTC(?) MAYBE(?) AT SOME POINT(?)
WHEN I LITERALLY AM NOT IN VISCERAL PAIN FROM READING THIS BOOK AND FINISHING THIS BOOK MY GOD.
KNXBYE

I really enjoyed this paranormal romance from Ali Hazelwood! I didn't have any expectations going in because she has never published a paranormal book but we jump right into the action with these characters. I loved the dynamic between the Vamps and Weres and Humans in this book. It was very fast paced and kept me intrigued the whole time!

Ali Hazelwood set up the next book and I CANT wait for those characters.

Misery Lark, daughter of a powerful Vampyre councilman, faces a pivotal role: to maintain peace between Vampyres and Weres. Forced into an arranged marriage, she confronts Alpha Were Lowe Moreland. Amidst distrust, Misery harbors hidden motives, driven by personal stakes. As she navigates a marriage of convenience, her true intentions intertwine with secrets, promising a solitary life with the wolf she seeks, regardless of the consequences.

I really enjoyed this, but it was also a step out of my comfort zone. Twilight didn’t interest me in middle school like all the other girls, and while I wasn’t a part of that fandom, I suspect this book shares a lot of similarities for fans to enjoy (maybe I should step back in time and give Twilight a chance?). I love Ali’s whimsical and entertaining writing style in her STEM romances, and it was fun to see how it translates to fantasy in a quirky, amusing way. To me this felt more like fun rom-com featuring Werewolves and Vampyres than a dark, suspenseful paranormal fantasy (and I’m so glad!). Whenever I would sit down to to read, I didn’t want to stop. I was drawn into the characters and their world, just waiting for Misery and Lowe to let down their walls.

I’m guessing there’s going to be a sequel 👀

Perfect for you if you like:
Fun, entertaining writing style
Mystery sub-plot
Steamy enemies-to-lovers, marriage of convenience romance
Intelligent, quirky software genius FMC
Werewolf fated-mates fantasies

Similar to:
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (I have not read this)
The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson (I have not read this)
Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

⛔️chapters 17, 21, 22, 25 & 30 explicit romance scenes (open door)
⚠️explicit language, talk of death/war, previous death of loved ones, mild violence

Bride was everything I didn’t know I needed in a paranormal romance.

This has got to be the easiest five stars I’ve ever given. I cannot stress enough how much I loved this book. The world building and the set up of the romance were both superbly well done. I loved the little snippets of thoughts at the start of each chapter. And even though the story is only told from Misery’s viewpoint, it was always fairly easy to guess at Lowe’s feelings.

Both Lowe and Misery were complex, well-developed characters, and I was completely invested in their relationship and in their quest to discover what had happened to Misery’s friend. The exquisite and palpable attraction between them and the equally tense development of events kept me glued to the pages.

If you like steamy paranormal romance or have ever thought of giving it a try, then you’ll love this book. This is one I will definitely read again.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Totally different than anything I have read by Ali Hazelwood, but I enjoyed it. I like the world she is building and can't wait to read more about the other characters if she continues this as a series.

WOW. This book is truly a masterpiece. As a fan of Ali Hazelwood and paranormal romance, this combination of my two favorite things is a dream come true. I think BRIDE will be an introduction for many readers into the fun and steamy world of paranormal romance, and I can't think of anyone better to write this book than THE Ali Hazelwood. The characters, the chemistry, the nail biting situations they get put in? I wouldn't change a single thing about this. I need this book framed and in museums, I need everyone to read it as required reading for how a romance book should be properly done, and I need more paranormal romance by Ali Hazelwood, please and thank you.

We all know Ali Hazelwood can write a damn good contemporary romance but she was on a whole other level with this paranormal romance! It was amazing! I guess I’m not over my vampire era yet.

I’m not really a wolfie of gal but I absolutely loved Lowe. I loved how protective he was towards Misery and his little sister, Anna. He also really cared about his pack and wanted to make changes for the better.

The forbidden romance (hello, vampyre and werewolf?!) and the slow burn of it made me root for them even more. I also learned something new, knotting.

I did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did. With Bride, Ali Hazelwood ventures into paranormal romance to tell the story of an arranged marriage between a werewolf and a vampyre.

The world-building is relatively straightforward, with an urban city split between humans, vampyres, and werewolves. A fragile truce keeps the groups from conflict but relationships between them are strained. I would have liked to see a bit more of the city politics simply because I found them interesting.

The arranged marriage (hostage exchange) situation was the perfect setup for this romance. The forced proximity leads to reluctant cooperation and friendship between Misery and Lowe. It was really entertaining watching Misery interact with the other werewolves in the pack. Her snark and critical view of her fellow vampyres make for amusing banter. I particularly love how the book pokes fun at some of the more ridiculous stereotypes of these paranormal species. Bride also has one of my favorite tropes in romance books: bonding over shared care for a small child.

I really enjoyed the romance between Misery and Lowe. I feel like they had a lot of chemistry even outside of the mating bond and they weren't too quick to get together. It was nice to see something a bit different from Hazelwood’s STEM romance dynamics (I mean he is still big and strong but she wasn't as ~ quirky ~). However, for an arranged marriage, it moves from the reluctant allies to lovers stage a little bit quickly. I would've liked to see more yearning and tension between them. But I can also see how the mate/paranormal elements played into the escalation.

A lot happens at the end of the book. There is a third act conflict for the relationship, there are betrayals, plot twists, and fights. Because of all this drama, the resolution to the third act conflict “breakup” is unfortunately sidelined. Lowe says some incredibly hurtful things and, though I understand he had his reasons, I needed to see that man GROVEL. Misery and Lowe reconcile pretty quickly which makes the ending feel a bit rushed or incomplete.

Bride serves as an entertaining introduction to paranormal romance with just enough supernatural elements to make it fun and different without becoming overwhelming to readers new to the genre. I am curious to see how this will go for Ali Hazelwood stans.

SO MUCH FUN!! When was the last time you read a book where the heroine is cheeky and sarcastic but also smart and utterly enjoyable? Well, let me introduce you to Misery, in Ali Hazelwood’s delightful little PNR- Bride.

I really had a blast reading this one. The writing is smart, entertaining, and downright fun. I love Misery and Lowe. Their relationship starts off as an arranged marriage, then becomes complicated when their chemistry is undeniable, even tho one is a Werewolf and one is a Vampyre. Nothing about this fantasy was difficult to understand or follow. It’s just fun! This isn’t my typical read, but something about the blurb totally drew me in. I’m so glad I read it. The ending was also….perfection.

This was my first Ali Hazelwood book but it won’t be my last. Can’t wait to read more!

“𝚈𝚘𝚞’𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎. 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗. 𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚠.”

Jacob Black girlies, rise <3

Hazelwood’s signature charm totally works in this Werewolf x Vampire Fantasy - didn’t know I needed it, but so glad we have it!

— Misery is a Vampire who was previously living in the human world as the collateral to help keep the peace between the species. Now for a similar reason, she is betrothed to a Werewolf Alpha. He is dangerous, she will be surrounded by enemies, and he seems to hate her instantly. But Misery has her own reasons for accepting the dangerous task of being the lone Vampire in enemy territory, again.

I feel like Ali Hazelwood just picks a vibe and runs with it. Her books always feel so effortless and this one is no exception. It was a fun genre swap for her! It took me a minute to get used to her tone in a fantasy book, being so used to it in contemporary STEM settings - but again, the charm works its magic and you just fall into the story.

Three standard Hazelwood tropes are present here: the FMC being a genius of some kind, the miscommunication trope, and what should be an awkward but is actually an incredibly endearing and HOT conversation between our mains about getting together physically.

And it all just works! It always works for her. If you like Hazelwood’s style this is gonna be a fun romp for you.

My favorite thing is that we are not bogged down by unnecessary world-building, we get right to the fun and games which I think all romance readers really appreciate!

This is a FUN, FUN time with a lil’ spice <3 please prepare for some it should not be that hot but it really is knotting and blood-drinking <3

My only 'want' was a bit more character insight for them both. I loved the chapter headings that give you insight into Lowe's thoughts but I craved a more emotional depth of field with these two, to mix in with their spark.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Pub for the free e-Arc in exchange for an honest review <3

This is my favorite book of 2024 so far!! I am so impressed by Ali's ability to shift (see what I did there) into paranormal romance. The dynamic between the two main characters was amazing. I loved the banter, loved the unique plot, loved the spice, and totally binged this book. I really hope she continues to write in this genre.

The world building was fantastic for a romance. It leaves an opening for more related books. The side characters were lovable and deserve their own stories!

I am highly impressed by this book and will be recommending it to everyone.

Ahh what a ride! This book has a very different than her others and I am here for it! 👏🏽 The story is told from Misery’s (the female MC) POV with internal thoughts of Lowe (the male MC) sprinkled in. Misery is being forced to marry in order to keep the peace in her family. I enjoyed all of the characters and they were interesting and well developed. I was so curious to see how the plot was going to unfold and there is quite a bit of world building in the beginning which. This book was very creative, entertaining, and mysterious. Ali’s writing is so smart, and witty, the banter is great and oh my are there some spicy scenes!

Read if you like:
❤️marriage of convenience
❤️fated mates
❤️paranormal romance
❤️found family
❤️forbidden love

I will read anything Ali Hazelwood writes. She is truly one of my favorite authors and I love her ability to craft complex relationships with so much chemistry and tension.

That being said, this book is *very* different from her other books since she usually writes about women in STEM and this one was about vampires and werewolves. And you know what? I LOVED EVERY PAGE. I started and finished the book in a single night. Literally couldn’t stop reading. 5/5 stars, my favorite read of 2024 so far!

I wasn't sure about this book because it sounded so different from the other books written by Ali Hazelwood, but I was more than pleasantly surprised how much I liked it. Misery Lark, a vampire, has to marry Lowe Moreland, a werewolf, to create an alliance between age-old mortal enemies.

I enjoyed both main characters and the story is action-packed, quirky, and has an intricate world-building. Misery is a strong character who agrees to the marriage in an attempt to locate her human best friend. While Lowe is a reluctant alpha who is trying to make new and better alliances for the pack.

I hope to see more from this author in the fantasy genre.

I received this advance review copy from NetGalley & the publisher for my honest review.

A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance.
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I'm in agreement with @flaviareadss this book made me feral.
Like I think I unlocked a new kink and need my husband to do some of that Were stuff. I didn't know I was into biting or licking to claim but here were are. We are all in this together now.
But as usual Ali brings in the hilarious banter with a arranged marriage between a Vampyre who doesn't know how to Vampyre and she's a bit of a grump. And this alpha were who is standoffish for the most delicious reason and there's only miscommunication cause damn there needs to be.
So will I read every damn thing this woman writes. Yes! Will I screenshot pages to my husband to see if he do these things, tmi but yes. But the knotty stuff he's not of a canine variety but if he was. Hmmm hey Google.

This was a pleasant surprise! I love vampire & werewolves as a pairing and I CERTAINLY love a Fated Mates romance. Add in a dash of a marriage arrangement and you've pretty much written my favorite book.

While this did miss the mark a smidge with a very rushed 3rd act conflict and the dreaded "white fanging" of Misery, I was still very pleased with this romance.

I enjoyed both Lowe and Misery, he was grumpy and she was a bit jaded but always upbeat. I loved watching their relationship develop and a begrudging respect growing between them.

I also do feel like the paranormal elements are kept pretty light but I think that is to possibly make it more accessible to Ali Hazelwood fans who have only read her Contemporary Romances. So if you are a die-hard for that sub-genre, you may find yourself a tad underwhelmed.

However, I liked the world building and the side characters are ripe for their own stories. I think this was a win.

4 stars
2.5 on the spice scale

I really liked this one! I have been in a terrible reading slump and this helped pull me out of it. Hazelwood's books are always really bingeable and this was no different - I flew through it. I liked that she took a break from her typical women in STEM theme - I loved her previous books but it was getting a bit repetitive after a couple in a row. This was a welcomed change!

Bride has a lot of Twilight elements of course but enough differences to stand out from it. I loved Twilight back in the day so I didn't mind the nostalgic feelings it brought to the surface. I loved Misery (and her name, lol) and Lowe - they were great MCs to root for and I liked Lowe's little snippets of thoughts sprinkled throughout the novel - I love a dual POV but this was definitely a nice touch for a book without them! Overall it did feel a tad YA to me which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 - the characters were a bit young and green for an adult novel. I would definitely recommend this one!

My Rating: 1/ DNF.

My Review: Thank you so much for arc of this book but this was not best for me I only got to chapter two for me there was to much info dump at you and did not like the author writing style there parts were I was interested in and wanna to keep on reading but it was a bland book.