THE GOOD VAMPIRE’S GUIDE TO BLOOD AND BOYFRIENDS – Day’s YA

THE GOOD VAMPIRE’S GUIDE TO BLOOD AND BOYFRIENDS by Jamie D’Amato
9781250321206
8/26/25
Wednesday Books
Ages 13-18

E-galley available on Edelweiss and NetGalley

After a rough freshman year struggling with anxiety and depression, Brennan has low expectations for his sophomore year of college, but things take a turn when he gets in a car accident that should have killed him and wakes up with fangs, an aversion to garlic, and an unquenchable thirst. For a while, he gets by with the occasional drink from a squirrel, but that’s not going to cut it. Overcome with thirst, he steals blood from a recent blood drive and starts downing the bags, only to be spotted by Cole, the cute librarian. Cole is happy to keep Brennan’s secret, as long as Brennan A) answers his questions, and B) reads the Twilight Saga. After all, it’s research. Pretty soon, Brennan isn’t just thirsting for blood, and he and Cole fall into an adorable relationship. But being a vampire makes everything more complicated, and when Brennan is brought into a clan of self-proclaimed “good” vampires, he has to figure out how to balance his vampirism and humanity in a way that works for him.

I don’t know about you, but vampires are everywhere right now, and I love it. On movie screens, in books, in tv shows—vampires are definitely having their well-deserved moment in the sun (so to speak). THE GOOD VAMPIRE’S GUIDE TO BLOOD AND BOYFRIENDS breathes new life into the genre, with a fresh perspective and an excellent sense of humor. Brennan is a very relatable (and slightly awkward) kid who is just trying to get through college, despite his new fangs and thirst for blood. The college setting is perfect for both upper-YA and adult readers, hitting a crossover sweet spot. And there are rom-com tropes galore! Friends-to-lovers, found family, grumpy/sunshine, and not to mention the A+ banter. This is the type of book that readers build fandoms around. With its adorable queer romance and quirky paranormal creatures, this debut is the perfect combination of Heartstopper and Buffy, and will have you laughing, swooning, and rooting for Cole and Brennan.

“With fun, relatable characters, this is an excellent addition to the diverse resurgence of teen vampire fiction.” —Booklist, starred review