2⭐️ 1.5🌶️
GENRES: Contemporary

MAIN CHARACTERS: May, Sam, Dana

I struggled with this book. It's 190 pages and while reading it (June 18-July3) I read 2 other books that were longer and like 5 novellas - I'm not sure if it was the pacing or the writing style that made the pacing seem slow which made it difficult to read/hold my attention.

I really should have put the book down when the character Mary was described: "...she just stood there smiling with those enormous front teeth. Combined with her plump, heavily freckled cheeks, she looked lin a human-sized bunny dressed up in girls clothing. May tried not to think of it, certainly, she'd never say anything so horrible." But she does think of Mary as the Bunny girl several times later throughout the book, when she's not thinking about how huge Mary's breasts are. Later in the book, seemingly out of nowhere, May also starts calling her Aunt the "fat old woman" for...reasons. I guess that's character growth?

I read a variety of romance genres and this is not a Monster romance also
it's not a romance - it's a love story. The HEA is questionable at best. I was left with more questions than any type resolution at the end and I normally don't rate books this low because I don't finish books I don't like, I only finished it because it was an ARC.

WHAT DREW ME IN:
This list in the BookSirens blurb:
"Book Features:
1. Intense Provocative Scenes: Explore the depths of desire in this steamy paranormal romance.
2. Uncanny Atmosphere: Immerse yourself in a meticulously crafted world of shadows and secrets.
3. Mystery and Intrigue: Unravel the mysteries of Springdale and discover the true nature of the Mothman.
4. Powerful Character Development: Witness May's transformation as she confronts both her darkest fears and deepest desires.
Unlock the mystery—read "Mating with Mothman" today!"

WHAT I GOT:
1. Slightly more than "behind closed door" scenes in a town full of horny (and hinted at incestuous) idiots with the Sexual Assualt scene being the most descriptive
2. A contemporary world - there are cell phones - but the characters spend much of their time in a backward small town that feels like a stereotype of any southern town from the 1950s
3. The mystery is old family drama that has nothing to do with the town itself cause the town only functions as the setting and while the basics of the Mothman is learned, not sure what "true nature" was supposed to be
4. If this was supposed to be May's coming of age story then it failed. She doesn't grow as a character unless "character development" is code for having sex for the first time. She's kind of horrible to everyone and starts & ends the story as an incredibly naive person who doesn't think about the consequences of her actions. She learns about her family history - that's the mystery that is uncovered - and it seems odd that no one in the whole town mentioned that she was half-white and half-black, that wasn't part of the mystery but race/ethnicity isn't mentioned at all till the end, but we were supposed to get that because she has long black hair? 


CW:  Provided by the author, this is a summary: Explicit sexual content, Sexual assault and harassment, violence, gore, physical abuse, kidnapping and confinement, stalking and obsessive behavior, emotional abuse and manipulation, alcohol abuse, death, and suicide.
DISCLAIMER: I received an advance review copy. This is my honest review.