MoodReads - Romance Book Discovery

Beta soft launchEvery book’s tags are being checked by hand ✨ some categories are fuller than others while I work through them all ✨

Cover of The Reluctant Incubus

The Reluctant Incubus

by Alex Woolfson

🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate·spoiler·Alvin Alonso's Secret Files #1

Why Read This?

A laugh-out-loud, soul-stealing romp through San Francisco's supernatural underworld with a hero who's trying so hard to be good despite literally being born a sex demon. It's the gay adult Buffy you didn't know you needed — warm, funny, and surprisingly tender.

Synopsis

A hilarious, high-action M/M Buffy the Vampire Slayer —but all grown up, made spicier, and with a scrappy and lovable monster as the hero. Perfect for fans of TJ Klune, David R. Slayton, and K.D. Edwards. I was born an incubus, a literal soul-sucking sex demon. But I’ve deliberately never fed, so I don't have any powers. Still, that doesn't stop an arrogant fae prince from blackmailing me into stealing a magical watch from a creepy San Francisco mansion. Turns out, the artifact contains Collin, an all-knowing spirit with serious golden retriever vibes who looks like a cute twentysomething guy my age. If I can keep him from the fae, he swears we can be together—even physically—without anyone getting hurt. The wrinkle? He’s also being hunted by bloodthirsty vampires who need the watch to end the world. And my only ally? A smoking-hot monster slayer who's all "touch him and die" whenever I'm in danger but who would most certainly kill me if he ever discovered what I was. I’ve spent my whole life trying to be good—and okay, maybe dreaming of someone who could make me feel less alone. But to save Collin and stop the apocalypse, I'll have to feed. And once I taste a soul, there might be no coming back. The Reluctant Incubus kicks off the New Adult MM urban fantasy duet Alvin Alonso's Secret Files . There is a cliffhanger in Book 1—but don't worry: Book 2, Incubus Vampire Slayer , will be released on the same day. You will be able to binge the whole story, all the way to Alvin's deeply satisfying HFN.

At a Glance

4.44 ★ Goodreads
Spice Level🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate
Endingspoiler
PairingM/M
Romance Pacingslow burn

Top Tropes

demon romancemonster romancesecret relationship

Mood

weird/quirkyadventurouswhimsicalromanticheartwarming

Book Details

Goodreads Rating

4.44 ★

Page Count

308 pages

Published

2025

Primary Genre

Urban Fantasy

Pairing

M/M

POV

First Person

Romance Pacing

Slow Burn

Audiobook

Available

No

Tropes

RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

sign in to see all 4 tropes

Mood & Vibe

Mood

sign in to see writing style, pacing & more

Characters

MMC: reluctant hero sign in to unlock

Spice Details 🌶️

playful / funny sign in to unlock

violenceblackmail / coerciondubious consentsoul manipulation

World & Setting

urban fantasy sign in to unlock

Reading Context

feel-good sign in to unlock

Similar Books

Cover of Sorcery and Small Magics

Sorcery and Small Magics

Maiga Doocy

🌶️🌶️🌶️·third person
forced proximitymagic bondsurvival romance
Cover of The Charm OffensiveKU

The Charm Offensive

Alison Cochrun

🌶️🌶️🌶️·dual POV
forced proximityhidden identitysecret relationship
Cover of All The Young Dudes

All The Young Dudes

MsKingBean89

🌶️🌶️🌶️·third person
secret relationshipsingle parent romance
Cover of Swordcrossed

Swordcrossed

Freya Marske

🌶️🌶️🌶️·dual POV
arranged marriagebodyguard/protection detailfake dating
Cover of The JockKU

The Jock

Tal Bauer

🌶️🌶️🌶️·dual POV
sports romancebet/wager romancecelebrity / rockstar romance
Cover of Lord of the White Hell

Lord of the White Hell

Ginn Hale

🌶️🌶️🌶️·third person
hidden identitymagic bondcursed love interest
Cover of Wolfsong

Wolfsong

T.J. Klune

🌶️🌶️🌶️·first person
fated matesrevenge romanceroad trip romance
Cover of The High King's Golden Tongue

The High King's Golden Tongue

Megan Derr

🌶️🌶️🌶️·third person
arranged marriageforced proximitymarriage of convenience

Short Takes

quick 280-character reactions for this book. drop a thought, rate the vibe, keep scrolling.

Sign in to share your take.

Loading...

Book Chat

Talk about The Reluctant Incubus with other readers