Book Description 

Heartstopper meets Buffy in this queer paranormal rom-com where a college sophomore must navigate suddenly becoming a vampire, the underground society he’s now part of, and the cute boy who discovers his secret.

It’s only natural nineteen-year-old Brennan’s life would be upended by something as ridiculous and unexpected as turning into a vampire. But if there’s one thing Brennan can do, it’s pretend everything’s fine when he’s close to losing his mind. Brennan has just clawed his way back to Sturbridge University after recovering from a suicide attempt, and this is not the new life he was hoping for.

Brennan’s newly bloodthirsty existence gets way more complicated when Cole, the super cute librarian and everyone’s campus crush, stumbles on Brennan drinking from a stolen blood bag. Luckily, adorable Cole is happy to keep Brennan’s secret, and even seems to maybe like him? Navigating a new relationship is hard enough without the added struggles of vampire puberty, an eclectic clan of self-proclaimed “good” vampires, and growing feelings for the one person who makes Brennan feel normal. With swirling rumors of a missing student and a rise in strange “animal attacks” near campus, Brennan must uncover the secrets of the clan and figure out how to balance vampirism and humanity, or risk losing the first real friends he’s ever had.

Filled with humor and heart, The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood & Boyfriends has a gentle bite.

My Review 

This is an adorable YA queer romance with the surprising addition of vampires. The comps of Buffy meets Heartstopper are pretty accurate. 

Brennan finds himself navigating completely unfamiliar territory as a baby vampire. Finding a support network seems to cause more problems than it solves because he’s not sure who he can— and for that matter, should— trust among the various factions. He’s certainly not looking for romance when he strikes up a friendship with Cole, but it’s nice to find an empathetic soul who is not immediately repulsed by Brennan’s situation. 

There’s an interesting mystery element with the case of the missing student as well as the “animal attacks” near campus. Brennan has a vested interest in sleuthing because he doesn’t want to be implicated as the cause of the animal attacks. 

I would recommend The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood & Boyfriends. This is YA, so there’s nothing too explicit in terms of violence or sexual content, and so the book delivers a satisfying plot without having to rely on anything lurid to draw readers in. Maybe I’m getting too old, but there were a couple of moments that felt a bit too twee for my taste, but overall, this was an enjoyable and interesting read. 

I received a digital ARC of this book from St. Martin’s/NetGalley.