It was a very cutesy read. Was it the best thing I’ve ever read? No. But was it fun? Absolutely!
I think a lot of teens will enjoy it, they will find a few things quite relatable.. It’s going to be a great book for the teens to take to the beach and laugh out loud to. I have a sneaky suspicion their parents might even borrow it from them!

Mo Merrydew and her friend Lou are used to being sneered at. Their mutual enemy is the delightfully awful Tracey, the queen bee of their school who thinks she knows best and who is determined to make everyone feel bad if they threaten her in any way.
On her way home from the library one night, Mo is accosted by Bogdan, a six hundred year old vampire who is convinced that she is the chosen one and that she will become Vampire Queen. He wants to convince her to turn and then rule Britain.
From start to finish this book was quite silly, but in such a delightfully appealing way that you can’t help but root for Mo. I’m not sure she talks like any fifteen year old I’ve ever come across, but the story is entertaining and a great piece of escapism.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this in advance of publication.

Mo Merrydrew is cycling home from her only friends house when Bogdan suddenly appears from the hedge and tells her that she is the chosen one to be the vampire queen of Great Britain.

Mo isn’t very convinced and besides the democratic reasons she has she is also vegetarian (with a love for mini battenbergs). Mo doesn’t want to be a vampire queen she wants to be prime minister.

The more she thinks about it the more appealing it becomes especially as it will get the bully off her back and get her out of doing PE.

This was a good YA book and had some very funny lines. A good read overall.

If you want a bit of fluff reading, that isn't too serious but also pulls you in by the neck and pinches the jugular, then this is a book for you.

While I didn't always like the main character, you can't fault her reasoning, after all we have all been 16 once. I enjoyed the Vamp lore, and the general use of British humour, but then I'm British.

A fun read.

This is a feel good YA book, but I’m a few years beyond YA now and I really enjoyed the read. Jo Simmons shows she knows what funny fiction is all about. Mo, fifteen, a normal teenager is introduced to us as a keep your head down type, head of the debating society, best friend Lou, scared of bullies, loves Battenberg cakes and a plan for her life all written out - ‘Work hard at school, go to University, get a good job’. Nothing is going to get in the way of the plan! Except maybe been chosen, definitely not her choice at all, to be Vampire Queen of Britain. Has Mo got the skills to get past this little wrinkle? I suggest you book for yourself and find out. Thank you to Hotkey books and Net Galley for letting me read an ARC. The views expressed are all mine freely given.

Aimed at teenagers but I still enjoyed this as a 30-something year old. A fun and funny read, loveable nerdy characters and a plot that keeps trucking on at a good pace throughout. Bonus points for story that I dont think is like anything else I've read!!

I would definitely buy this book for my niece. I appreciated the focus on humour rather than scary for a book about vampires!

Remember that episode of buffy where willow becomes a vampire? This story reminded me of that.. a geeky girl who is thrust into her vampiric destiny. Only she's not ao sure she wants it.

This is an easy to read vampire story with a different to usual twist.

This is a real laugh-out-loud book for young teenagers. The interplay between the characters is brilliantly funny; the scenes between Bogdan - a 600 year old vampire - and Mo are so witty that I found myself going back and reading some of them again and the banter between Mo and her best friend Lou is incredibly realistic. Youngsters will love it!

Mo is just an ordinary, slightly nerdy teenager until the night a mysterious stranger announces that she is the "Chosen One", destined to rule as Vampire Queen.

What follows is a series of fun hijinks and mistakes, perfect for a younger audience!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

This is Jo Simmons’s first novel for teenagers and I’m happy to learn that it is the first in a trilogy set.
The story follows Mo Merrydew who has The Plan - a plan which will lead to a bright and successful future. However, Bogdan, a 600 year old vampire, has other plans. Mo is the chosen one but she is reluctant to take up the role of Vampire Queen. She must somehow keep her friends and family safe whilst navigating the vampire world.
This was a fun and engaging story and I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series.

The Reluctant Vampire Queen is a brilliantly funny YA that I absolutely couldn’t put down! If you’ve ever enjoyed Louise Rennison’s Georgia Nicholson books, but wanted a bit more banter, maybe some bats, mini Battenberg’s and an eccentric 600 year old vampire, then this Geek Girl meets Buffy The Vampire slayer style YA should definitely be added to your TBR.

Brimming with humour, it follows Mo a determined and independent 15 year old who has her life (and career) already planned out. But on one wet Tuesday evening (whilst cycling home from school) Mo didn’t expect to become The Vampire Queen of Great Britain. Apparently she’s the ‘Chosen One’ but aside from being uncomfortable with unelected power (not very democratic) , the blood drinking (Mo’s a vegetarian) and not really the Job she’s looking for (she’s aiming for a real job in politics.)

But Vampire Queen’s probably don’t have to do P.E or deal with Tracy Caudwell (the resident bully) plus she’ll get to spend soo much time the dreamy Luca, vampire familiar—so the job does have its perks…

Honestly all of the characters were endearingly funny I loved Mo, the genuinely reluctant Vampire Queen who definitely prefers schoolwork and exam prep to vampire diplomacy. Her plans were honestly really entertaining to watch, even if they didn’t always go to plan. I liked Luca too who seemed super sweet (and cinnamon-rolly) plus the Diner and Brass Band scenes were amazing!

Bogdan, the eccentric 600 year old vampire that handpicked Mo for Vampire Queendom was also a really entertaining character and I absolutely adored his scenes with Mo. He honestly reminded me of Nandor from What We Do In The Shadows which and despite being a murderous vampire I couldn’t help but root for him a little.

It’s a fast paced, light hearted read that I found genuinely funny, and there’s soo many great moments that readers are bound to chuckle at so If you love YA Contemporary fantasy, Vampires or books by Holly Smalle I definitely recommend checking this out. It’s soo good!

A huge thank you to Hot Key Books and Netgalley for the e-arc.

This was such a fun book. The older children loved it , it caused mayhem with the giggling and pretend neck biting (ok, maybe that was just me).
Highly recommended.

The reluctant vampire queen follows Mo, an independent young woman who has a very clear path to her future…..which doesn’t involve becoming a vampire queen!! So when Mo is told by a 600 year vampire that she is the chosen one it sends her in a tizz and now her carefully laid life plan is all over the place!
With the help of her best friend Lou and a good looking familiar called Luca, Mo manages to be brave, quick thinking and focused in her journey of being The Reluctant Vampire Queen!

A funny and witty story for middle grade readers.

I enjoyed reading about Mo and how she overcomes her bully with confidence and bravery and the story will appeal to many.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book and I'd probably describe it as having Booksmart vibes but with minimal sex (there's a kiss or two at the end) and 100% more comedy vampire action. The main character Mo is an academic and confident 15 year old' who is very close to her best friend Lu. All she is really concerned about is how she is doing with her 'Plan' to ace all of her exams, become a future political leader and eat mini Battenburgs but when a (feckless) vampire arrives and tells her that she is the 'chosen one', the next Vampire Queen, everything gets messy.

The pacing was fast, there was minimal teenage angst and soul searching, the jokes were funny, the characters amusing and I think it will be a solid choice for readers of 12+ who want a bit of light-hearted entertainment.