Title: The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood and Boyfriends
Author: Jamie D’Amato
Series: N/A
TW: Attempted Suicide, anxiety and depression.
About this Book: 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.
My Thoughts:
Brennan might be one of the worst vampire’s I’ve heard about since well…that guys vampire in the movie version of that TV show. The one being rebooted. The vampire played by Paul Reubens.
Brennan is a character who made me want to wrap him in blankets and kiss his forehead from the very beginning and it’s funny because without the kissing is Cole is that kind of person, caring in spite of himself. Brennan is a student, Cole is a student and a librarian and god, if that didn’t just make me love this right from the beginning.
Brennan is a bit of a fail vampire because of his inability to hide what he is, getting caught stealing blood bags from a lab by none other than Cole who agrees to keep his secret because vampire’s are cool. That Cole then subjects Brennan to the Twilight series of books might be one of the funniest portions of the novel, hearing both their feedback on the books. He is recovering from depression and an attempt on his own life, and now he is going to live forever, or well, until someone kills him, a hunter maybe. It’s a hard thought but despite that the novel remains light and does discuss mental health in an impressive way. It’s not a snap your fingers or fall in love and it’s gone, it’s there and it hurts.
Following the two mains is a cast of characters who are lively and hysterically funny (Oh Tony, no), and the most interesting vampire coven that I’ve seen in the history of ever.
It’s also worth noting that there’s a lot of people getting stoned, which if you’ve ever been to college can be a reality, especially in countries like mine. If that’s offensive to you, you definitely don’t want to be reading this book.
There is tension and mystery in this book but being YA it never gets too gruesome or hard to read, but definitely was a real page turner.
It was charming, funny and cute.
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