David Carew and his roommate, Meredith Schwarzwelder, live on the outskirts of the Midnight Wood, an eerie, enchanted place filled with dryads and talking mice. But the wood is the least of David’s worries. He can’t stand his eclectic, loud, chaotic, overly affectionate roommate who has no social graces whatsoever. He is roped in to helping organise the wedding between Meredith’s brother and the boss’s daughter, and David hopes he can sweet talk his way into a promotion. However, after an encounter with the fabled Erl King, David decides that protecting Meredith is more important.

I would describe Midnight Wood as a cosy romance with very low stakes. It is technically a fantasy book (especially with the Erl King as the villain), but the magical creatures play a small part, and you often forget their presence. I was left wishing there was a touch more fantasy. Despite the cosiness, the book still managed to pack an emotional gut punch, as a major through-line is Meredith struggling to explain his sense of identity, coupled with trauma from his unsupportive family.

However, the love story is the selling point. Fans of an INFURIATING slow-burn with lots of yearning: you will love this book. I didn’t buy for a second that David actually hates his roommate. He has a little list he keeps in his head of all the ways Meredith annoys him, and it is adorable watching the way these gripes change into endearments. David is rather buttoned-up, so he makes the perfect foil to Meredith’s loud and loving chaos. I adored their relationship, and thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who loves queer romance.

Reviewed by Rachel Denham-White

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alexandra McCollum is the author of Into the Midnight Wood. They grew up in rural northeast Ohio and now live in Nevada. Among other jobs, they’ve worked in a bakery in Austria, managed a coffee shop in Ohio, and taught high school in Las Vegas. When not writing, they can be found studying languages and exploring local coffeehouses in search of the perfect americano.

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