Hello Readers,
Thank you so much to NetGalley and CLASH Books for the early copy of Van Helsing’s Guide to Monsters and Dating. I received a complimentary eBook in exchange for an honest review. With the book publishing yesterday there’s no need to worry this review is completely spoiler-free
Thank you so much to NetGalley and CLASH Books for the early copy of Van Helsing’s Guide to Monsters and Dating. I received a complimentary eBook in exchange for an honest review. With the book publishing yesterday there’s no need to worry this review is completely spoiler-free
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the cover image featured in this post. It is used under Fair Use for the purposes of review and recommendation, in line with sections 29 and 30 of the Copyright Act.
Happy Belated Publication Day
Title: Van Helsing’s Guide to Monsters and Dating
Author: Ben Crew
Genre: Horror, Humour
Pages: 175
Cover Image:
Synopsis: Meet Jefferson Van Helsing, descendant of the greatest vampire hunter of all time, as he faces horrifying monsters and even more terrifying first dates in Portland, Oregon.
Polite conversation is quite limited when you’re a descendant of the man who hunted Dracula, and it makes going on nice dinner dates damn near impossible. But Jeff, Portland's local monster hunter, revels in the gore of his not-quite-day job.
In this guidebook, Jeff teaches the reader how to face an encounter with the most evil creatures of darkness, be they an 800-year-old blood-sucking fiend or a finance major who only has "coffee!!!" listed as their interest. He may still be learning the ins and outs of romantic etiquette, but killing monsters is in his blood.
Van Helsing’s Guide to Monsters and Dating is an illustrated monster/dating companion where readers will learn how to identify and fight ghouls, ghosts, vampires and more. In this harrowing debut by Ben Crew, Jeff stumbles into true love, discovers the importance of bro-time, and accidentally triggers a century-old prophecy all in a good-natured attempt to better the world by bettering himself.
Miniature Review
I thought this book was ridiculously charming. It’s bizarre in parts but perfectly so. I have not laughed so hard in a book in ages I mean I full-on snort-laughed more than once.
Van Helsing’s Guide to Monsters and Dating is a clever mash-up of paranormal rom-com and monster-hunting satire. The story follows Jefferson Van Helsing, the modern descendant of the man who battled Dracula himself.
Jefferson disastrous date sparks the idea to write a guidebook on surviving monsters and navigating modern romance. With the help of his werewolf and invisible roommates, Jeff builds a handbook that blends laugh-out-loud anecdotes, monster lore, and witty Q&As.
The format is brilliant: part narrative, part monster manual, part tongue-in-cheek dating guide. It delivers equal parts horror satire and heartfelt rom com, balancing awkward encounters with endearing friendships and supernatural mayhem. The humour is sharp, self-aware, and refreshingly nerdy, with plenty of knowing winks to horror fans. At the same time, the book’s fast pacing, quirky journal style, and surprisingly sweet moments make it more than just a parody book it’s genuinely engaging.
Yes, some scenes lean into absurdity, but that’s half the fun. The result is a supernatural romantic comedy that feels fresh, inventive, and delightfully offbeat. It’s the quirky supernatural rom com you didn’t know you needed.
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