Review - Only a Monster (Monsters, #1) by Vanessa Len

 

 

Title: Only a Monster (Monsters, #1)

Author: Vanessa Len

Pages: 349

 Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Release Date: 17th February 2022

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

In every story there is a hero and a monster.

It should have been the perfect summer. Sent to stay with her late mother's eccentric family in London, sixteen-year-old Joan is determined to enjoy herself. She loves her nerdy job at the historic Holland House, and when her super cute co-worker Nick asks her on a date, it feels like everything is falling into place.

Then a Good Samaritan attempt gone wrong sends Joan spinning through time, and her life quickly begins to unravel.
Her family aren't just eccentric: they're monsters, with terrifying, hidden powers.And Nick isn't just a cute boy: he's a legendary monster slayer, who will do anything to bring them down.

As she battles Nick, Joan is forced to work with the beautiful and ruthless Aaron Oliver, heir to a monster family that hates her own. She'll have to embrace her own monstrousness if she is to save herself, and her family. Because in this story . . .

. . . she is not the hero.

 

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My Review:

*I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley*

Joan is staying in London for the summer with her mother's family while her father is away.

Her summer is going very well - Joan has a job at a local historic house, and Nick, the colleague she has a crush on, has asked her on a date.

But then everything changes when Joan learns that her family can travel through time and aren't human - Joan's family are monsters.

Things go from bad to worse when Joan learns that Nick is the hero that the monsters tell stories about, the hero that kills monsters.

While fighting Nick, Joan finds herself allying with Aaron Oliver, who is from a rival monster family.

Can Joan stop Nick from killing monsters?

Can Joan and Aaron work together?

The concept for this book intrigued me, especially the main character not being a 'hero'.

Joan was a likeable and relatable protagonist, but I didn't feel that I especially connected with her. I also felt that I didn't get to know her very well.

None of the characters really shone for me, but I liked Joan's relationships with her family, who I would have liked to see more of.

The settings were interesting, as was the concept of how the monsters time-travelled. However, I'm left with a lot of questions about the monsters and would have liked more world-building as some of it was a bit vague.

The plot was enjoyable to begin with, but as the book went on I did find myself losing interest. I wasn't invested in what happened and was a little bit glad when I reached the end.

The writing style was easy to follow.

I am disappointed that I didn't enjoy this more.

Overall, this was a mixed read.