Mothman Is My Boyfriend

When I read the title - and saw the cover art - of Mothman Is My Boyfriend by McCayla Coyle, I thought I’d be reading a cute, breezy, potentially clever light romantasy  - like a G-rated version of one of Chuck Tingle’s infamous cryptid eroticas. 

This is not that. 

There were cute - and clever - moments, and there were sweet some art panels - the Flatwoods was a standout for me just for the dress, but in Mothman Is My Boyfriend’s Cryptid Creek, McCayla Coyle has built a world where humans and cryptids of all kinds interact as equals. 

Through the interconnected stories, we see new romances and grieving widows and a few lightly spicy (but not gratuitous) sex scenes. 

The stories assume the reader has knowledge of the cryptids, with many of the names being shortened versions like “Sas” and “Lovey”, and their characteristics and personalities referencing the mythologies while making them feel like real, sympathetic, sentient humanoids interacting naturally with each other and the humans in the progressive town of Cryptid Creek.  

So, Mothman Is My Boyfriend is not a cute, breezy light romantasy, but it is an introduction to an inclusive hidden town where cryptids and some special humans co-exist, live and love, embrace their found families and is full of heart, humor, and some sadness - just like life - all while showing a softer side of our favorite cryptids.

Stray Thoughts: 

My now-spouse brought his dog Lucy while I brought my cat Cleo to our relationship, so I loved seeing a Lucy-Cleo partnership running the bookshop. 

Javalope is the perfect name for the coffee shop. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Quirk Books for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review. Pre-order now for 5/5 release. Support your favorite indie bookstore (and give us both 20% off if it’s your first purchase) by using my link at https://refer.bookshop.org/candidanorwood.