[Book Review] Muscles & Monsters

Muscles & Monsters (Leviathan Fitness #1) by Ashley Bennett

I think your enjoyment of this book will depend on what you're looking for.  

I don't think this book is quite accurately marketed, and that's going to impact reader expectation and enjoyment.  It might be exactly what you're looking for or it might be a confusing experience.  By blurb and cover, Muscles & Monsters comes across as a cozy romance.  It's content heavily assumes its readers are familiar with A/B/O and "wolf porn" tropes, so readers expecting a more cozy paranormal romance might be a bit surprised when it gets to knotting et al (note: this book does not get into excessive/over the top power dynamics).  Muscles & Monsters would more accurately be described as an erotic novel based on page count of sex (and masturbation) scenes alone.

That being said, it has its cute and cozy elements.  We have a meet cute, we have adorable details like Atlas' tail wagging, none of the stakes are even remotely high, and we get a HEA.  But the plot is very light, and when the central premise of them connecting is her going to the gym and wanting to be less physically weak I was honestly hoping that she'd experience some strength gains (this is NOT a weight/fat loss wish, muscle is heavy and she's just as likely to gain muscle bulk).

This is a good read for folks that want meet cute, monsters, and spice.

Advance Reader Copy courtesy of Penguin RandomHouse in exchange for an honest review; changes may exist between galley and the final edition.

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