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February 2, 2026
  • Ali Hazelwood
  • November 12, 2025

Mate

4.0
READ VIA: Libby audio and my physical copy. ABOUT: Serena recently discovered that she’s half-were-half-human and is suffering from a bit of an identity crisis and is unsure of her new place in the world. When threats from humans, weres, and vampyres abound, Serena finds herself under the protection of her mate, Koen, the alpha of the Northwest Pack. However, while he seems to be willing to do anything to keep her safe, he seemingly wants nothing to do with her otherwise. They banter, they have tension, but they do not seem to touch. As Serena worries that her half-were biology will keep her from ever feeling normal, she begins to desire Koen more and more. it seems inevitable that he will need to give in. MY THOUGHTS: I’m a bit conflicted in my thoughts (perhaps I am comparing this too much to my experience with Bride), but overall I really enjoyed this book, and having read it in less than 24 hours, I can’t help but recommend it. I loved the return to the world set up in Bride (the scenes with Misery were excellent). I loved Koen’s broody, bad-boy attitude. I loved that Serena didn’t care that he was the alpha; she was gonna say what she wanted and do what she wanted, and everyone else would have to deal with it. She was a kick ass FMC. I think I struggled a little bit with the romance here, and it felt more like an obsession than true romantic love. I found their banter top-notch, and I loved seeing Serena slowly come to terms with her feelings for Koen. I just wish it had been slightly less of a slow burn, because I think that would’ve added to the connection. That said, Ali Hazelwood continues to deliver complex, fully developed characters, side characters that add dimension to the story, and a plotline that kept me on my toes from the beginning. While I wish we had had a little more interaction between the weres and the vampyres, there were so many elements I loved! Also, this book is spicy, and by the time we got to the spice, I was yearning for it almost as badly as Sernea and Koen. True to Ali form, these scenes were integral to the plot. I loved the way they opened up to each other and the way Koen’s alpha tendencies melted away when he was alone with Serena AUDIO: Teddy Hamilton absolutely knocked it out of the part. This is a duet narration Ellie Gossage and it flowed wonderfully. One thing that I found a bit confusing is that Koens POV as a chapter header before transitioning back into the main scene. SIMILAR BOOKS: This is for lovers of Bride and those who want omegaverse vibes with Ali style banter. SHOULD YOU READ: Here’s a thing I think that this book is a really good book , I just don’t think it’s the the best of Ali books. However, if you’re a diehard Ali fan and you liked Bride, you will still enjoy many elements of this book. I do hope Ali continues to write in this universe and I will be picking up whatever she gifts us next.
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READ VIA:
Libby audio and my physical copy.

ABOUT:
Serena recently discovered that she’s half-were-half-human and is suffering from a bit of an identity crisis and is unsure of her new place in the world. When threats from humans, weres, and vampyres abound, Serena finds herself under the protection of her mate, Koen, the alpha of the Northwest Pack.

However, while he seems to be willing to do anything to keep her safe, he seemingly wants nothing to do with her otherwise. They banter, they have tension, but they do not seem to touch. As Serena worries that her half-were biology will keep her from ever feeling normal, she begins to desire Koen more and more. it seems inevitable that he will need to give in.

MY THOUGHTS:
I’m a bit conflicted in my thoughts (perhaps I am comparing this too much to my experience with Bride), but overall I really enjoyed this book, and having read it in less than 24 hours, I can’t help but recommend it.

I loved the return to the world set up in Bride (the scenes with Misery were excellent). I loved Koen’s broody, bad-boy attitude. I loved that Serena didn’t care that he was the alpha; she was gonna say what she wanted and do what she wanted, and everyone else would have to deal with it. She was a kick ass FMC.

I think I struggled a little bit with the romance here, and it felt more like an obsession than true romantic love. I found their banter top-notch, and I loved seeing Serena slowly come to terms with her feelings for Koen. I just wish it had been slightly less of a slow burn, because I think that would’ve added to the connection.

That said, Ali Hazelwood continues to deliver complex, fully developed characters, side characters that add dimension to the story, and a plotline that kept me on my toes from the beginning. While I wish we had had a little more interaction between the weres and the vampyres, there were so many elements I loved!

Also, this book is spicy, and by the time we got to the spice, I was yearning for it almost as badly as Sernea and Koen. True to Ali form, these scenes were integral to the plot. I loved the way they opened up to each other and the way Koen’s alpha tendencies melted away when he was alone with Serena

AUDIO:
Teddy Hamilton absolutely knocked it out of the part. This is a duet narration Ellie Gossage and it flowed wonderfully. One thing that I found a bit confusing is that Koens POV as a chapter header before transitioning back into the main scene.

SIMILAR BOOKS:
This is for lovers of Bride and those who want omegaverse vibes with Ali style banter.

SHOULD YOU READ:
Here’s a thing I think that this book is a really good book , I just don’t think it’s the the best of Ali books. However, if you’re a diehard Ali fan and you liked Bride, you will still enjoy many elements of this book. I do hope Ali continues to write in this universe and I will be picking up whatever she gifts us next.

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