This is just FUN. This book doesn't take itself too seriously, but it still has heart that makes it a tad more grounded than some other sillygoofytimes romance books. It's a love letter to fandom. Both of our main characters deal with facing other people's expectations in opposing ways, and learn from each other that there can be a middle ground. I really liked both of them, and I liked the supernatural element as well. The pacing in the last 30% or so dragged a bit, so I think there could have been a bit of tightening up there that would have made it a 5 star, especially since the third-act conflict felt a bit flimsy to me. But overall this was super fun! I also really enjoyed Do Your Worst from last year, which was in a similar vein, so I hope Rosie Danan continues writing these types of books!

Oh Rosie Danan gave us a paranormal romance, and I love her for that. I loved her other books, and this was even better. I find a lot of romance authors right repetitive spicy scenes... not Danan! These scenes are so hot and sexy, and also the characters are funny and serious and kind. I just love Danan, and loved this book!

Fan Service is such a wonderful nostalgic feeling romance. Who doesn't remember the days when you were obsessed with a tv show as a teen? This brings you right back to that but with a werewolf twist that makes it such a fun ride.

Rosie Danan is back with a paranormal romance and it's kinda good?

Let me explain before you start throwing tomatoes at me.

An arrogant, stuck in 2010s, forty something year old accidentally becomes a werewolf, but lo and behold, his long time fan and a werewolf lore expert, is ready to help after he sends her an email. They meet up and she's somehow on board with helping him. (Money) Long story short, they get to know each other, she thinks he's an ass at first but he *changes*. He is, once again, a 40-something year old Teen Wolf that only cares about his show being back on air, but "his wolf likes her". So off they go to complete trials to get his wolf under control and fall in love.

We have a very basic character development here. She's a misunderstood outcast in a small town and he's a stuck in the past child actor. Pretty interesting character arcs to develop, right? RIGHT?

Well, they both go sorta nowhere. He throws money at her problems and the bullying stops after he donates to her campaign and stands up to her enemies a couple times. Meh. Wolf boy is still an arrogant asshole, but he's got a backstory now. The extent of character development was a couple talks and a happily ever after epilogue.

Also, on a side note. The arc of him making fun of her 17 years ago goes nowhere. He was heartbroken about not having a role in a reboot of a show he's known for goes, you guessed it, nowhere.

The main conflict of the third act was predictable and shouldn't have lasted for so many chapters.

Would I recommend this? No.
Did I enjoy it? Kinda.

Thank you to Berkley for sending me an early eARC copy to review.

Fan Service was a fun, wild ride through the supernatural, fandoms, and celebrity crushes.

Growing up, The Arcane Files, a werewolf detective show, was Alex’s favorite TV show. It inspired her to create an online forum dedicated to everything about the show and its lore. But after a horrific incident meeting her celebrity crush from the show in person, she grew to dislike the leading actor. And she never expected, after years of the show being off the air, that he would reach out to her asking her for help about a potential werewolf problem.

I love how Rosie Danan morphs elements of the supernatural into her contemporary romances. It makes my autumnal heart so happy! And this book was filled with nostalgia for those days when you found a new favorite fandom to be immersed in.

I really liked Alex’s character. She was a great grump to Devin’s bright demeanor. I enjoyed seeing them work together, and some parts made me chuckle from Danan’s signature humor.

I wish I had fallen completely in love with this story, but I couldn’t lose myself in its pages. However, overall, it was a fun read, and I can’t wait to see what Danan writes next!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

4⭐️
3🔥

Quick Breakdown

Celebrity Romance
Paranormal - Werewolves
Fandom
Childhood Crushes
Black Cat x Golden Retriever
Dislike to Love
Dual POV
Open Door - Moderate

Thank you to @berkleyromance for the eARC & finished copy & @prhaudio for the gifted ALC #berkleypartner

After her mom walks out, teenage Alex looses herself in her favorite “TW network” werewolf show, The Arcane Files. She develops a serious crush on the leading man Devon Ashwood - that is, until one interaction between them ends it.

Present day, Devon is a washed up actor, trying & failing to get the show that was once his life rebooted. It’s then that he starts acting funny, believing that he is turning into an actual werewolf after years of playing one on TV. Not sure what else to do, he reaches out to the moderator of his show’s intricately documented online database - who happens to be Alex, his now least favorite fan.

This was such a fun book. As a big fan of Rosie’s writing, I was thoroughly entertained and engaged while reading - especially with all the werewolf aspects. Yay for paranormal vibes 🙌🏻 And as someone who crushed on everything as a teenager, I lived for the childhood crush trope!

I ended up knocking off a star because of my complex feelings on Devon. He’s this superficial himbo werewolf puppy you actually learn to love, but it bummed me out that he didn’t grow much as a character. There’s some things he does and says that are mildly cringe and he does apologize for, but they continue throughout the book & it felt like Alex let him off the hook easy.

That said, the spice was deliciously hot & the audiobook was expertly narrated by Brittany Pressley & Aaron Shedlock. Overall, if you like Rosie‘s writing like I do and can geek out over mythical creatures, fandom, the CW then I think you’ll enjoy it.

This was a title I was excited to read around Halloween. It was truly one of the funniest books I have read in 2024. Devin is hilariously self-centered and while I could see that putting some people off, it worked for me. He's turned on his head and seeing him navigate through his new normal cracked me up. His and Alex's romance also was very sweet while still maintaining substance. Maybe a paranormal romance isn't for everyone, but I felt this was a good one to dip your toes into the genre.

Rosie Danan is one of my favourite auto-buy authors - she could literally publish her grocery list and i would read it and love it. I don't know what kind of magic she put into this book, but it was absolute perfection. I don't think I have been so entertained by a book in my life.

I adored Alex's character - she is who i aspire to be when i grow up. Strong, independent, yet soft in all the right places. she felt relatable and i loved her alternative vibe.

Devin was a self-centered and obnoxious MMC at first, but as the book went on he grew on me a bit. Watching him navigate life and learn to consider others was such a rewarding journey.

The nostalgia this book gave me was unreal - it brough me back to my early teens, reminding me of my love for fandoms and supernatural CW shoes. It was crazy how both entertaining and comforting this book was.

To every little kid who was television obsessed and made a tv show or movie your entire personality this book will hit you right in the nostalgia center of your brain and heart. The book was fun, laugh out loud funny and surprisingly heartfelt.

Alex and Devin were seemingly opposite but in the end had so much in common and were perfectly matched. Rosie Danan books always trigger the giggles for me. Her pop culture references and Whitty banter had me laughing out loud. A few times my husband had to ask me what was going on LOL.

What to expect:
-paranormal romcom
-Forced proximity
-movie star AMMC and an ex-fangirl (who hates him now LOL)
- black cat x golden retriever
-reverse grumpy sunshine
-age gap
-reluctant allies
-dual POV
-pop culture references

Thank you to Berkley Romance, Berkley Pub, Rosie Danan, and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

"I don't know if it was the moon or fate or the universe that made me a werewolf, but baby, you made me human."

This blew away my expectations!! I will admit I almost DNF'd this in the beginning because I couldn't get past Devin's first POV chapter. He was so egotistical and came off as such a jerk until we dove more into his character.

"That was the trouble with fandom. Spend enough time thinking about a fictional character and you started to believe that your version of them was real. That they belonged to you in some small, private way."

He's actually an insecure golden retriever (wolf?) and it was kind of sweet how open he was about his feelings. It was a nice change of pace that his character desperately needed. Although, his constant inner monologue about how Alex was "goth" and "not his type with her tattoos and piercings" was a little cringe and annoying at times. It was redeemed later on though when she tried to dress "normal", and he hated it lol. I really enjoyed the scenes where he would correct his own toxic thoughts and when he would communicate with his wolf to chill out.

"F*ck the moon, I'd like to spend the rest of my life howling at your door." SCREAMING!!

Alex was the star of the show in my opinion. I loved her character so much and she had some of the best quotes. The part where she was barking at men in a parking lot to keep them away from her is totally something I would do and have contemplated doing many times. It made me cackle so loud. Her character was so relatable in the fact that she shied away from everyone in her life and didn't like giving "everything" to anyone. Her thoughts on fandom culture were so spot on and the Archive Wiki sections were so fun to read.

"It took a lot of gall to maintain a superiority complex when you'd accomplished nothing. When the only person you liked less than everyone else was yourself."

BRB going to rewatch Supernatural because I fan casted Devin as Jensen Ackles the whole time in my head.

Fan Service felt like a love letter to my fandom loving heart. I know what it's like to be obsessed with TV shows. I may not have been as obsessed as Alex, but I completely relate. The pop culture references were so much fun and Rosie Danan had me laughing out loud. I loved the little pieces added in from Alex's forum. These little things fit perfectly in this story and it wasn't too much.

Alex was an interesting character and I loved how they showed us that she used The Arcane Files as a way to cope when things were going on in her life. She's a hardworking character who just wants everyone to have services they deserve and work with animals. As someone who isn't really accepted in this town, she still does what she thinks is right. I do love how she started to believe in herself more.

Then we have Devin. All he's known is show business and this hasn't always been a positive thing. Mentally it's taken a toll. He's not sure how to go on, but a reboot of his popular show is what's on his mind. That is until he starts turning into a werewolf. I can't imagine how scary that is! So when he finds Alex's forum, he has to ask for help from someone who seems to know it all. Like Alex, Devin starts trusting people more and really thinking about what he wants.

Alex and Devin working together had some laugh out loud moments, but also some really heartwarming ones. I really enjoyed them slowly opening up to each other. It really helped their bond. The wolf wanting Alex was really funny and it was a great touch. The way Alex tried to help him were interesting and I loved how they were based on the show he was in. At times, the pacing of this book felt a bit slow, but I did really appreciate the slow burn romance. I really hope Rosie Danan gives us more books like this!

This book was so much more fun than I was anticipating, so much so I read it in less than a day!

The premise of it is SO entertaining. A washed-up actor finds he's turning into a werewolf in an eerily similar fashion that was once depicted in the CW-style show that made him famous, prompting him to turn to the show's number one fan for help? Made all the more complicated by the fact that the only time the two had previously met, she overheard him saying some not so nice things about her? Sign me all the way up.

I loved how messy both the main characters were. Devin was, at many times, a bit of an asshole (even when he wasn't trying to be). What I appreciated, however, was that I could understand his behavior. His experiences as a child star compounded by the toxicity of Hollywood culture made for a lot of moments where he either doesn't understand the feelings he's having or doesn't know how to express his feelings clearly. I loved how his experiences in Alex's small town made him learn more about himself and the things we wants for his life. Alex, on the other hand, has plenty of wounds from both her parent's divorce and the way the town has treated her, and I enjoyed watching her open herself up to not only Devin, but also others around the town.

The romance in this one is *chef's kiss*. Part of why I couldn't put it down was because I was waiting for these two idiots to just SHUT UP AND KISS ALREADY. Because yes, their chemistry is that good. Alex and Devin's dynamic, their banter, their chemistry, is so good that I genuinely could have read it all night. I also appreciated the way the third-act conflict was handled (which is rare for me lmao).

Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough. It's a wacky, unique, steamy paranormal romp, and I loved every second of it.

This one started out so strong, but never really went anywhere. I really enjoyed the humor, but needed to see more growth out of Devin. I feel like Alex just capitulated to him because of his celebrity and not because he earned it. This was the rare book where I liked the FMC more than the MMC.

2.5 ⭐️ At least she had chemistry with the wolf.

"I don't know if it was the moon or fate or the universe that made me a werewolf, but, baby, you made me human."

WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ paranormal rom-com
✨ small town romance
✨ central Florida setting
✨ she's a vet nurse an internet archivist / former fangirl of the TV show The Arcane Files
✨ he's played a werewolf on The Arcane Files and now is turning into one
✨ age gap (42 and 34 years old)
✨ slow burn
✨ bad first impression: they met years ago but he doesn't remember
✨ dislike to friends with benefits to love (her)
✨ strangers to friends with benefits to lovers (him)
✨ opposites attract
✨ 2.5/5 🌶️ (chase scene)
✨ miscommunication
✨ LGBTQIA+ rep
✨ HEA


My Thoughts:

I was a fan of Do Your Worst, so I was excited about this one. But unfortunately, I didn't really enjoy this book.

I liked the FMC, Alex. She's smart and a bit prickly and rough around the edges, but at her core, she cared deeply for the ones she loves. I liked her relationship with her father as well as her involvement in the queer youth mentorship program at the community center. It broke my heart that her unique style and 'differences' led to the town treating her like an outcast. Alex deserved the world and someone who loved and adored every little piece of her. And while the MMC, Devin, supposedly does in the end, it seemed like he loved her in spite of her 'weirdness', and it rubbed me the wrong way.

One of my least favorite dynamics in a romance is when the MMC says the FMC is not his type. And Devin says this word for word about Alex. Listen, I don't need insta-lust but I also want there to be some sort of attraction. The only time this is acceptable is if it's a monster or alien romance because they're different species and it takes time for them to get used to each other's physical differences.

Devin is a 42-year-old washed up TV actor with the emotional maturity of a teaspoon. It honestly felt like I was reading about a boy in his early 20s, not a grown ass man. And the shit he says really aged him, and not in a sexy fine wine type of way. Only a middle aged man would refer to pay-per-view porn (because hello, Porn Hub). He also used words like homeboy, chub, tough nuts, weirdo. And some of the actual sentences he said or were written from his POV:

"What kind of conditioner do you use?" If it was nontoxic, he could buy some and use it as lube.

He took a big slutty inhale and then had to stop so he didn't go half-chub within ten feet of a bunch of grandmas.

Erica (his ex-wife) mostly avoided him while surfing the crimson wave. I cannot.

Also, he's a HUGE jerk and so rude to Alex. His comments about her are rarely positive, and when they are, it’s like he’s only interested in spite of her old clothes, gothic vibes, and 'weirdo' behavior. It's condescending and makes him seem like he’s tolerating her rather than genuinely appreciating her.

I really didn’t feel like Alex and Devin had chemistry. She was clearly attracted to him, but his feelings seemed forced, mainly because his wolf was drawn to her scent. Honestly, if it weren’t for that connection, I don’t think these two would have ended up together, even if they’d met under different circumstances.

There were some good spicy moments (the cabin scene in particular, but there's one scene that, while hot, gave me mixed feelings. There was a chase that definitely piqued my interest and the smut was great! But the logistics . . . they bang in a forest. But not just any forest - a central Florida forest. Do you know the kinds of disgusting bugs and snakes that would be around them?? It's also hot and humid AF. Definitely would not be a pleasant experience at all.

Fandom and fanfic have played a huge role in Alex’s life, and that world is essentially the foundation of this story. If you’re not familiar with it, though, it might be a bit confusing. I’ve been part of fandoms and read fanfics throughout the years, and I honestly believe that unless you’ve experienced it firsthand, it’s tough to fully understand the unique language and dynamics of these communities. While this book will likely resonate deeply with those who are deeply involved in fandom, it might not fully connect with someone unfamiliar with the nuances and subtleties of fanfic culture.

While there was quite a bit that didn't work for me, I did enjoy the trials, when Devin claps back at Pete Calabasas, and when Devin's wolf would come out to play because he was playful and actually into Alex.

Overall I enjoyed this one. The plot was strange, but interesting and I really loved Alex. Honestly I am still on the fence with how I feel about Devin, he just rubbed me the wrong way with some of the things he said to Alex and it was hard to let go of that. I will definitely be reading more from this author!

Alex Lawson doesn't fit in within her small town and is most comfortable in the online forums she created for The Arcane Files, a werewolf detective show. Its star Devin Ashwood spiraled, and after the Wolf Blood Moon woke up naked outside his home in LA. He can't explain away the claws, fangs or howling, and tracks down Alex for answers. She's only willing to help him once he makes her an offer she can't refuse. But getting close might not be a good thing...

Fan Service is a loving tribute to fandom and the relationships it can foster. The fans can create archives, as Alex did, write fic as her online friends did, and other endeavors to showcase their ideas and wishes for the original piece of art, or as commentary on its contents. In this case, it was for the show The Arcane Files, where Devin played a werewolf detective for thirteen years after being a child star at his parents' insistence. He has little else going on in his life after the show ended, and his agent essentially fires him as a result. He has started to shift into a werewolf the same way his character did, so Googling what to look for leads him to Alex. She's a bisexual Goth vet tech taking care of her ill father, strapped for cash in a town that had never accepted her. Devin will pay her for help, so she'll do it even though she recalls the harsh things he had said about her once upon a time at a convention.

The forced proximity leads the pair to get to know each other. Devin reveals his real self without the LA bluster, and Alex opens up. He sees small-town life, the connections that he never had before, and that having an acting role doesn't define him. Alex learns to let people in and stop assuming the worst about everyone. The emotional climax at the end is truly heartfelt, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's definitely one to return to for me.

I fully did not expect this to be a five-star read for me even after having started the book, but I absolutely fell in love with this story. Our MMC Devin used to play the main character in a show that reads as 50% Supernatural, 25% Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 10% X-Files, 5% Teen Wolf— and the character himself is clearly a lot Ackles with some Padalecki and SMG thrown in. And as someone who has spent/will continue to spend many years in fandom (BtVS especially)— but also has never equated the actors with the roles in quite the same way— I wasn’t sure this was for me. But I absolutely adored the way Devin is portrayed as a fan of his own show, while simultaneously getting in his own way because of it. The deeper dive into child actors and their money grabbing parents hit pretty solidly with a lot of the stories that have come out lately, and the way Alex’s perspective of him changed over the course of the story, where she comes to understand him as a real and flawed person, was gorgeous. She’s such a wonderful ball of angst also, and I loved that that doesn’t really change for her and he loves her that way too. It isn’t a fix-it relationship, it’s a place for them both to grow from. Absolutely stunning. This was my first Rosie Danan book and I’ll definitely be picking up more.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC to review.

Rosie Danan is an expert storyteller. This book was so good, I couldn’t put it down. I finished this within 24 hours and every time I turned the page I kept wanting more, more, more.

“Fan Service” is a love letter to those early 2000s paranormal shows with weekly installments to keep you on the edge of your couch, glued to the TV, as well as those of us who lived in our favorite fandoms’ fan fiction. Danan nailed it all: the indulgence of youth, the dichotomy between fantasy and reality, and the balance between who we were and who we could become, all while keeping the story simplistic and relatable.

Devin is at the end of his career and a little self absorbed. Fiction becomes reality for him after an eventful evening out, and he comes to rely on the moderator of his ex-show’s fandom site. These two are oil and water, couldn’t be more different, but Alex is a bleeding heart wrapped in teflon. She takes the time to help Devin acclimate to his new life. Devin, well, he acclimates to Alex instead.

I adored the chemistry between these two. They paired so well together and balanced each other’s shortcomings. The only thing that bothered me slightly is that the dialogue didn’t quite read as 42 for Devin. He came off much more immature. Maybe early 30s. I would have expected him to be slightly more mature, but it worked for him in the end because clearly he hadn’t grown up and developed the way someone out of the spotlight would have.

Rosie Danan keeps playing in different sandboxes and I’m here for whatever comes next!

Finished this one on release day!

This was a solid rom com but I wanted a tiny bit more dig into the supernatural aspects (I mean, hello! The man was actually a werewolf??? And seemed a little too calm about it?!)

The fandom and fanfic aspects were great. Lived the peak into what it’s like to live in the fanfic world of teen werewolf show.

It's been a very LONG time since I read a M/F romance (like... a couple of years?) but the premise of Fan Service was just too good so I had to give it a go. (And it's not really a "straight romance" anyway, since I'm pretty sure Alex is bi?) Anyhooo....

This book is SO GOOD, I'm not even sure where to start yelling about it! This is for every nerd who made a fan site on Geocities back in high school to their favorite show/movie/book series. (Mine was a Newsies fansite - I will admit it, I have no shame!) Or who has written copious amounts of fan fiction, or spent way too much time trawling through various fan theories on plotlines and relationships and whatever else in online forums, or drawn fanfic of their favorite ship, or... Yeah, basically if you're a giant nerd, this book is for you. (Also, let's be friends!) Bonus points if you were/are part of the Teen Wolf and/or Supernatural fandoms - this one is definitely for you!

Devin is kind of a douche canoe, but he also has his moments (and a convenient tragic backstory and soft underbelly that make his flaws and foibles both understandable and forgivable!) And Alex I obviously fell immediately in love with, because who can resist a tattooed vet tech goth chick with a massive chip on her shoulder to disguise how much she actually cares? (Not me, I cannot resist.) The chemistry between Alex and Devin is a push-and-pull throughout the book as they try to navigate what's going on with Devin's apparent werewolfy-ness. I laughed, I cried, I started rewatching Supernatural.

I read Rosie Danan's debut novel (The Roommate) and wasn't really a fan, and I ALMOST didn't give Fan Service a try... But I'm SO GLAD I did, as this book was so good I devoured it in a day! I'm definitely going to go back and check out her previous book (Do Your Worst), which also has supernatural themes (though less nerdy vibes, sadly).