Flowers, Passive-Aggressive Bouquets, and Monster Romance? Sign Me Up!
Alright my monster lovers... If you've fallen in love with the cozy little town of Cambric Creek, then He Loves Me Not is another fantastic visit that perfectly blends wholesome romance, hilarious banter, and the wonderfully creative monster spice this series is known for.
By the fifth book, C.M. Nascosta has built a world that feels like home, and this story was the perfect reminder of why I adore this series so much.
Meet the Couple
Sumi (FMC): Half human and half Sylvan, Sumi has always dreamed of owning her own flower shop. After inheriting a house from an aunt she never had the chance to know, she moves to Cambric Creek to start fresh while reconnecting with the culture her late mother never had the opportunity to fully share with her. She's witty, sarcastic, caring, confident, and refreshingly comfortable in her own skin. I also loved seeing a plus-size heroine who embraces herself without making her confidence the entire focus of the story.
Ranar (MMC): A naga florist who's doing everything he can to keep his family's flower shop afloat while helping care for his ailing father and raising his young daughter. Divorced, overworked, and more than a little grumpy, Ranar has a huge heart buried underneath all those scales.
What I Loved
This book has one of my favorite relationship dynamics in the entire Cambric Creek series.
Sumi and Ranar spend half the book competing as rival flower shop owners while unknowingly falling in love through anonymous online messages. Watching them complain about each other to... each other... was absolutely hilarious.
Their passive-aggressive flower deliveries quickly became one of my favorite running jokes. Instead of arguing face-to-face, they send bouquets with flowers whose meanings act as sarcastic little insults. Honestly? That's probably one of the funniest ways I've ever seen two romance characters flirt without realizing it.
More Than Just a Romance
While the romance is definitely the heart of the story, I also loved watching Sumi reconnect with her Sylvan heritage.
Learning more about her late mother through relatives she'd never met, discovering more about her aunt's life, and becoming involved in the local community gave the story an emotional depth that balanced the humor really well.
At the same time, Ranar's dedication to both his family and his daughter made him incredibly easy to root for. He's grumpy on the outside, but every decision he makes comes from wanting to protect the people he loves.
The Chemistry Is Fantastic
Once the truth about their online identities finally comes out... Things get complicated.
Their relationship goes through some bumps, but I appreciated that both characters were given the chance to work through their hurt instead of everything being magically fixed overnight.
And because this is a Cambric Creek novel... The spice absolutely delivers.
Monster lovers already know C.M. Nascosta never disappoints when it comes to creative anatomy, and this book continues that tradition in exactly the way fans have come to expect.
I'll let you discover the details for yourselves.
The Verdict
Highly Recommended For: Fans of enemies-to-lovers romances, anonymous online friendships, cozy fantasy, small-town romance, monster romance, witty banter, and readers who enjoy equal parts sweetness and spice.
He Loves Me Not was another wonderful addition to the Cambric Creek series.
Sumi and Ranar's relationship is funny, frustrating, heartwarming, and incredibly satisfying to watch unfold. Their rivalry never feels mean-spirited, their chemistry is fantastic, and the blend of humor, emotional growth, and romance makes this another memorable trip back to Cambric Creek.
If you've enjoyed the rest of the series, this is the perfect finale to the main books. It captures everything that makes Cambric Creek such a lovable place while introducing another adorable couple you'll find yourself rooting for from beginning to end.
Happy reading, and remember my fellow spicy book dragons, before starting a book please check the tropes, and always check for trigger warnings. Nobody likes an unfinished book because the tropes aren't your cup of tea or having a bad reading experience because of unexpected trigger warnings.
