THE GOOD VAMPIRE'S GUIDE TO BLOOD & BOYFRIENDS

As if being a depressed college student weren’t hard enough, one day Brennan wakes up as a newly turned vampire.

After a suicide attempt in his freshman year, white 19-year-old Brennan did a lot of therapy and is now back at Sturbridge University. Becoming a vampire wasn’t part of the plan, but the self-sufficiency he honed in childhood still runs strong, so he tries to figure out what this new life means and how to obtain what he’ll need—namely, blood. With no interest in harming anyone, he steals donated blood, only to be caught in the act of drinking it by Cole, the cute white student library worker who’s known for his skills in comforting others. Surprisingly, Cole agrees to keep Brennan’s secret and even wants to help him. Their flirtatious friendship blossoms into more, but navigating a new relationship is tricky while Brennan is dealing with a memory gap and questioning if he had anything to do with a student who’s been missing since the day Brennan turned. An overarching plot about a vampire clan provides drama but sometimes feels shoehorned in alongside the more compelling romance arc, which is full of adorable moments and relatable uncertainty. While Brennan’s pretentiousness can be off-putting, Cole is incredibly charming, and their mutual support is lovely. Brennan’s anxiety and depression are thoughtfully and gently interwoven in this ultimately hopeful story.

An uneven yet cozy queer paranormal romance with moving mental health representation.