Author: Emily Antoinette

Series: Hallow’s Cove

First Published: 01 April 2025

“Everything about you is my new favorite thing.”  

I will start by saying that I was given an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank so much Emily and Hallow Cove’s PR team for sending a copy my way!

After a string of awful relationships and cheating exes, Hayley is fed up with dating. Her solution? Swear off dating humans and look for a monster mate in Hallow’s Cove.

When she moves to the quaint town inhabited by more monsters than humans, she quickly realizes that finding her match isn’t as simple as she’d hoped. Let down by dead end dates and awkward flirting attempts with the locals, Hayley resigns herself to the fact that she might not be destined for love.

Turns out her fated romance is closer than she thinks, when raccoon shifter Jake stumbles upon a pair of her torn unmentionables. It’s love at first sniff as he realizes from her scent that Hayley is his mate.

The only problem? She’s a sweet, charming human who’d never want a dumpster-diving weirdo like him. Will Jake be able to show Hayley the treasure that lies beneath his trash-loving exterior?

Love is Trash in Hollow’s Cove is currently my favourite series entry. That opening line! Honestly, has to be the best opening line I’ve read in ages. It’s so direct and to the point. This was the sweetest, silliest, weirdest romance I’ve read in a while. I loved every second.

Hayley is a hopeless romantic. She’s packed up and moved to Hollow’s Cove to look after her aunt’s shop while her aunt goes on her honeymoon with her new monster mate. Dumped, cheated on, and jobless, Hayley is looking for a fresh start and determined to find her own monster mate. Hayley figures that with a mate, she can find the love she wants without worrying if her partner is lying or hiding their intentions. She is a serial dater. She knows she can’t wait for her mate to find her, so she does her best to meet and date every available monster. However, after her latest date fizzles out, she’s losing a little hope, which is made worse when her lucky panties get a rip in them. I adored Hayley’s endless optimism. Yes, she sometimes feels sad or thinks nothing will work out, but she allows herself to feel those emotions and then moves on to the next step in reaching her goal.

Also, can we take a moment to applaud Emily Antoinette for her plus-size? Yes, Hayley’s ex cheated on her, but I enjoy that it didn’t affect her feelings about her body or how she loves her curves. I love seeing the representation. Hayley is curvy, loud, nerdy, and a little out there, and she shouldn’t have to dim her brightness for her romantic relationship, and she sure doesn’t when she meets her mate, Jake.

Jake runs the town’s trash and treasure shop, which he stocks by dumpster diving. On his typical haul day, his raccoon self, Beans, rushes into his neighbour’s trash after finding the scent of his mate on a pair of thrown-out panties. Jake is mortified at Beans and tries his best to avoid Hayley. This poses a challenge when she seeks his advice regarding raccoon theft. He tries to hide the fact that he’s a raccoon by remaining in his human form and not his preferred hybrid form. He’s always been told he’s weird, so he gets a little self-conscious that Hayley will judge him. I adore Beans! He’s thoughts and actions were hilarious.

I completely adore Hayley and Jake together. They are so perfect for each other and truly do match each other’s freak. It’s been a while since I’ve read a couple who are so suited and supportive of each other. They are the cutest. I was squealing and kicking my feet at the first date Jake set up for Hayley. He was so nervous and terrified. The way she calms him down and admits she’s nervous too, because she wants their relationship to work, love! Love! The pair then go on a series of wild and wacky dates. Jake isn’t put off by her extra, quirky side, which is what she needs after her horrid ex. And the steam? Don’t worry, my friends, the steam is excellent.

I am loving this series. Like Hayley, I am also willing to pack up and move to Hollow’s Cove to find a monster mate who’s head over heels for me. The next book in the series is Gaming with the Gargoyle in Hallow’s Cove. We’ve met both characters. I can’t wait to see Gwen’s HEA because the girl deserves it. And who wouldn’t want their HEA to be with a nerdy gargoyle? If you still haven’t picked up this monster romance series and are looking for something a little sweet and spicy, what are you doing? You need this series in your life. Trust me.