Fan Service feels like a new take on the werewolf romance subgenre, taking an actor known for playing a werewolf and casting him as the ‘wrong place, wrong time’ receiver of werewolf powers. Coupled with a gothic former fan and a setting split between rural Florida and Hollywood, it’s a great ride through overcoming the many bumps of an enemies-to-lovers romance and the unexpected results of waking up in a field realizing you’re no longer fully human.

The Best Bits

A Few of My Favorite Things

Polar Opposite Main Characters

The main female character, Alex Lawson, was a brilliant choice – a gothic rebel sort who is hated by her town and she DGAF about it. From fangirl to hater of the male protagonist, we see what that kind of shift in late teens does to someone as they enter adulthood. Alex is relatively well-adjusted for living in a small town where people treat her like an outcast, but it’s clear she’s stunted in this 2000s-era blog/wiki that consumed so much of her life. Her nonchalance toward everything made this a very interesting story. There weren’t any “oh my god” moments from her where she panicked and couldn’t accept he was a werewolf. She laughed at him, then she accepted him for what he was and resolved to help him. Coupled with a 30-day window that is constantly counting down, it made for a satisfying story. 

The main male character, Devin Ashwood, is her exact opposite – a 2000s heartthrob who time forgot when his werewolf TV show was cancelled. He spends years trying to get a reboot, he definitely gets washed up, and one drunken night results in him accidentally getting these powers in a somewhat vague sort of way. Even with these changes, he remains the always polished, always charismatic Hollywood actor. That demeanor makes his later transformations all the more impactful as he opens up and allows his feelings for her to grow. Underneath that polished facade is a guy who just wants to be cared about for more than his money, and there are many surprisingly sweet moments sprinkled throughout their story. 

The 2000s Front and Center

This was the best part in my opinion. We all remember the 2000s obsession with supernatural TV shows and the thousands of webpages and fan fictions devoted to them. I admittedly was not a part of any of these fandoms, but can appreciate an in-depth culture moment when I see one. Props to the author for incorporating such a realistic portrayal and for making this werewolf show one based on in-text historical content. Who would have thought that a CW-style show could be a guide to how to be an actual werewolf?

Small Town Vibes

As expected, the small town setting was central to the character development, and we see that deeply in the book. Alex has lived there her whole life and, while the townspeople have treated her poorly, it’s her home and she wants to see it become a better place for those who are different and can’t leave. She’s passionate about the community center and about helping others, a passion that spills into the primary story of her helping Devin through his transformation and growth into controlling his powers. We get a town hall meeting, we get a town carnival, we get a comeuppance for the town bully. And in the end, there is no moving to Hollywood. It’s all about keeping up with that small town life alongside retired racehorses (another unexpected but heartwarming detail). 

The Actual Werewolf Transformation

In my opinion, this was a different take on werewolf transformations and I found it an interesting approach. I expected violent outbursts, given the start of the novel and Devin’s difficulty with controlling his powers. Instead, you get a soft, scared werewolf who retreats into his home because his human life has given him nothing but heartache. There aren’t any moments of terrorizing locals or destroying anything beyond his own property. Instead, it’s about the love between him and Alex pulling him back to humanity. It was surprising and a great final note in this well-done romance.