While I did enjoy parts of it, I just never felt completely hooked. The chemistry between Meph and Iris was great: the banter, the tension, and their whole enemies-with-benefits dynamic kept things interesting. But for some reason, I didn’t feel as emotionally invested as I wanted to be.
Iris’s anger made sense given her past, and Meph’s hidden depth was a nice surprise, but I think I just struggled to connect with them fully. Some parts of the book felt a bit slow, and while the romance was fun, I wasn’t as obsessed with it as I was expecting. That said, the family moments were really sweet, and the spicy scenes? Definitely a bonus.

Overall, it was a solid read, just not my favourite in the series.

This is a spicy enemies-to-lovers paranormal romance with a Beauty and the Beast twist. I loved the first book by Aurora Ascher and this second book doesn't disappoint. If you don't like spicy, just skip those parts but the story writing is amazing! Highly recommend!

Demon with Benefits is a compelling blend of paranormal romance, humor, and emotional depth that Focuses on the jokester demon Meph and the fiercely independent witch Iris, the story delves into the complexities of their individual traumas and the unexpected connection that forms between them.
Ascher masterfully crafts two characters grappling with their inner demons (pun intended!). Meph, the outwardly lighthearted demon, hides a deep-seated darkness beneath his humor, making him instantly relatable. Iris, with her guarded heart and sharp tongue, is equally compelling. Her past trauma has left her wary of relationships, creating a fascinating push-and-pull dynamic with Meph.
The chemistry between Meph and Iris is electric. Ascher expertly balances the playful banter and simmering attraction with genuine emotional vulnerability. The "enemies-to-lovers" trope is well-executed, fueled by their shared vulnerabilities and the undeniable connection they try so hard to deny.
Beyond the romance, the story explores themes of overcoming trauma, embracing self-acceptance, and the importance of finding strength in vulnerability. The threat of a returning enemy adds a layer of suspense and forces Meph and Iris to confront their pasts and choose whether to fight for their future together.
Overall, this book is a highly enjoyable read for fans of paranormal romance, especially those who appreciate a healthy dose of humor and emotionally resonant characters.

Wow! The dark vibe and energy that the story radiates is addictive. The characters are easy to love with each of their personality traits and emotional hang ups. I would definitely classify this book as YA but I was still completely enamored and satisfied. Aurora Ascher did a great job bringing intense storylines to a depth of deep existential thought. It's really good in my opinion!

A witch who can't stand demons finds herself falling for the happy go lucky demon who has wormed his way under her skin. Iris has been deeply traumatized after seeing her parents be murdered by demons and has hated them ever since. Yet she's trying to get along with them better after her twin sister started dating a demon... the only demon she has an actual problem with is Meph, tattooed ,pierced up, and absolutely hot charming guy who is constantly joking. Iris can see past the jokester attitude and the calls him out on it... and Meph, who has always hidden behind his jokes and smile finds himself thrown. Meph hates human touch yet fell for Iris the moment he met her, yet for some reason she can't stand him. Despite how much they get under each other's skin, they can't deny the physical attraction they have for one another and decide to give in and become friend's with benefits. Meph isn't looking for a serious relationship and Iris is sick of always dating the worst guys, so why not enter into an easy no strings attached friends-with-benefits situation right? Too bad things only get out of hand as Meph's past drags him back to hell just as he is beginning to realize that he is in fact in love with Iris... and Iris has to open her heart up and face the difficulties she's been haunted by all her life if she wants to get her demon back. This is the third book in the amazing paranormal romance series and I also loved this one. The romance is so well done and both Meph and Iris are dealing with their own difficulties but grow and become better together. It's just such a well done romance and the character growth was great. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!!

Release Date: July 29, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Kensington Publishing | Kensington for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Although not as entertaining as the earlier books, Demon with Benefits still captures the humor and heart of the series. Ascher makes you invested in the characters.

I started reading this expecting something completely different and hating the simplistic writing style. BUT ended up loving it! The characters are unique and although Iris is a complete bitch and Meph is an idiot, they were both lovely. In fact all the demons are. I’ll definitely be checking out other book in the series.

This third installment was just as enjoyable as the second one! I was really interested as to how our new main characters would grapple with their chemistry and was pleasantly surprised. I'm a sucker for a no-strings attached romance, only for our main characters to fall for each other later on. The tension and heated gazes between the characters had me constantly kicking my feet up in the air and squealing the whole way through the book. I can't say too much else without spoiling certain parts of the story, but I would highly recommend this read for any lover of all things paranormal romance with dashes of witty humor.

This series just gets better and better. The character development is incredible, and I love that it's earned and Ascher's characters don't just change on a dime without the necessary growth. Meph deserves everything and more! And I love how much we see of characters from other books in the series. Peeking in to see how they're doing is so fun and adds something really special to this series.

I requested this in a moment of… I honestly don’t know, but somehow I missed that this is book 3, and also that is essentially pure romance with a bit of fantasy thrown in for kicks. It was alright, and I understand the story just fine without having read books 1 and 2, but… I can’t say that I ever really cared about the characters, and I don’t think I would have even if I had read the first volumes. There’s not a whole lot of depth here, and much (nearly all, now that I think about it) of the conflict came from poor communication between different characters.

Also, Meph was a caricature of Bad Boyness. And sweatpants and sneakers as formalwear is just… I don’t care how expensive your limited edition Nikes (child labour, look it up and watch a documentary, they’re evil) are. You wanna wear them to a formal party, then by all means, but don’t present it as equivalent to a suit and don’t expect me to be impressed.

3 stars because it’s not the author’s fault I wasn’t paying attention when I requested the ARC.