Jamie D’Amato’s The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood and Boyfriends is a novel that wears multiple genres with ease. At once a queer paranormal rom-com, a campus coming-of-age story, and a sensitive exploration of trauma and recovery, the book manages to be playful without ever trivializing its core emotional stakes. In a genre that often swings between melodrama and pure parody, D’Amato stakes out fresh ground—delivering a vampire story that is funny, heartfelt, and surprisingly grounded.
A Premise with Bite
The story follows nineteen-year-old Brennan, who has just returned to Sturbridge University after recovering from a suicide attempt. Already navigating the challenges of re-entry into college life, Brennan faces a startling new reality: he has become a vampire. Unlike the brooding antiheroes of traditional vampire lore, Brennan’s experience is awkward and deeply human. He struggles to balance the absurdity of his new cravings (hiding blood bags, fumbling through vampire “puberty”) with the very real desire to feel normal again.
When Cole, the charismatic campus librarian and the subject of many whispered crushes, discovers Brennan mid-sip from a blood bag, the novel takes a romantic turn. Their relationship—part tentative, part exhilarating—provides the emotional backbone of the story, as Brennan learns to navigate both new love and his undead identity. But with strange animal attacks, whispers of a missing student, and a clan of “good” vampires circling, the novel never lets its sweetness drift too far from tension.
Themes that Elevate the Story
What sets The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood and Boyfriends apart from other paranormal romances is its thematic weight. D’Amato never loses sight of the fact that Brennan’s vampirism is also a metaphor for his recovery from trauma. His need to hide his new identity mirrors the secrecy and shame many carry after mental health struggles. Yet the novel resists framing Brennan as a passive victim—his growth, humor, and vulnerability shine through.
Key themes include:
- Mental Health and Recovery: Brennan’s backstory of survival informs everything about his character. His resilience is never romanticized; instead, it is portrayed as ongoing work, full of setbacks and quiet triumphs.
- Queer Love and Acceptance: The romance between Brennan and Cole is tender, awkward, and refreshingly wholesome. D’Amato emphasizes emotional intimacy as much as attraction, crafting a relationship that feels lived-in rather than idealized.
- Belonging and Found Family: The clan of “good vampires” embodies the messy, imperfect families we create when the ones we’re born into cannot hold us. Brennan’s interactions with them highlight both the humor and the vulnerability of seeking community.
Brennan as a Hero We Haven’t Seen Before
Brennan’s narration is one of the novel’s greatest strengths. He is funny, self-deprecating, and painfully aware of his flaws. Where many paranormal romances lean on hyper-competent or overly mysterious leads, Brennan feels refreshingly ordinary. His humor makes the darker moments bearable, and his vulnerability makes his victories matter.
His relationship with Cole also benefits from this voice. Rather than the overused trope of a mortal entranced by a dangerous vampire, here the power dynamic is reversed. Cole, a human, becomes Brennan’s anchor—the one who makes him feel safe, normal, and wanted. Their love story works because it is imperfect, with all the missteps, hesitations, and bursts of joy that come with young queer romance.
A Balance of Humor and Darkness
Stylistically, D’Amato strikes a difficult balance. The novel frequently leans into comedy—absurd feeding mishaps, vampire etiquette lessons, and the awkward logistics of dating while undead. Yet, beneath the humor, there is always a steady undercurrent of grief and survival. This duality is the book’s greatest achievement: it acknowledges pain while refusing to let it eclipse joy.
At its best, the prose mirrors Brennan’s inner state—funny and flustered one moment, raw and piercing the next. The pacing keeps readers invested, moving quickly between personal introspection, campus drama, and moments of supernatural tension.
Critiques and Shortcomings
While the novel succeeds in many ways, it is not without its weaknesses:
- Worldbuilding Thinness: The vampire mythology is lightly sketched. Readers hoping for a deep exploration of vampire lore may feel underwhelmed. The “good vampire” clan, while entertaining, sometimes reads more like a sitcom ensemble than a fully realized supernatural society.
- Predictable Romantic Beats: Though sweet and authentic, Brennan and Cole’s romance occasionally leans into familiar YA-romance beats—accidental discoveries, tender confessions, small jealousies—that risk feeling formulaic.
- Pacing of the Mystery Subplot: The subplot involving missing students and animal attacks builds tension but resolves somewhat abruptly. Compared to the nuanced handling of Brennan’s personal arc, the mystery feels secondary.
These issues do not derail the novel, but they keep it from reaching the full potential hinted at in its strongest passages.
Why This Book Resonates
Despite its flaws, The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood and Boyfriends resonates because it prioritizes heart over spectacle. It is not a book about grand vampire battles or centuries-old secrets. Instead, it is about a young man learning to live with himself—fangs and all. The metaphor is powerful, particularly for readers who have grappled with recovery, identity, or the daunting task of starting over.
D’Amato also manages to avoid the pitfall of romanticizing suffering. Brennan is not healed because of love, nor is his pain erased by his transformation. Instead, he learns that healing and intimacy can coexist, and that both are messy, imperfect, and ongoing processes.
Comparisons and Context
D’Amato’s debut invites comparisons to several popular works:
- Heartstopper by Alice Oseman – for its gentle, authentic portrayal of queer young love.
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer – for its supernatural humor and ensemble dynamics, though D’Amato’s story is quieter and more emotionally intimate.
- The Coldest Touch by Isabel Sterling – another queer YA vampire romance that balances paranormal tension with heartfelt relationships.
- They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera – not for its supernatural elements, but for its exploration of mortality, queerness, and the fragility of connection.
Unlike these comparisons, however, D’Amato roots their story firmly in the lens of mental health recovery, making it distinct in its honesty and tenderness.
Who Should Read This Book
This book will appeal to:
- Readers who enjoy queer romances with genuine emotional depth.
- Fans of paranormal comedies who want humor without losing heart.
- Younger readers or new adults navigating mental health themes, as the story provides both comfort and resonance.
- Anyone tired of brooding, melodramatic vampires and craving something lighter, funnier, and more human.
Final Thoughts
Jamie D’Amato’s The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood and Boyfriends is a debut that feels both necessary and refreshing. It acknowledges pain without being consumed by it, offering a vampire story that is less about bloodlust and more about love, belonging, and self-acceptance.
While the worldbuilding could be deeper and the mystery subplot stronger, the novel shines in its humor, tenderness, and refusal to sensationalize trauma. For readers seeking a queer paranormal romance that is both comforting and emotionally honest, this book delivers.
It may not satisfy those looking for gothic grandeur or complex supernatural politics, but for those who value character-driven stories with warmth and wit, D’Amato has crafted something memorable. Like Brennan himself, the novel is imperfect, vulnerable, and unexpectedly full of life.
Similar Book Recommendations
If you enjoyed The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood and Boyfriends, you may also like:
- The Coldest Touch by Isabel Sterling
- Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
- Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee
- These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel Sterling
- Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
Each of these titles blends queer romance with supernatural or coming-of-age themes, offering the same mix of tenderness and adventure.
