Quick Synopsis – Vi Harper is good at many things. Fixing problems for everyone in Claw Haven, for one. Keeping Sweethelm Bookstore running smoothly, for another. Above all, Vi is great at pretending she’s got her life figured out. The truth is, she’s a hot mess inside—especially when cocky, gorgeous orc Nick Wicker goads her in his infuriating way.

Nick has found his mate. That’s the good news. The bad: he’s already blown it. Every time Nick speaks to soft-spoken, overworked bookseller Vi, she seems to hate him even more. What’s a lovestruck orc to do but stress-bake and look for some way to redeem himself? Even it means joining the book club.

Then a batch of apology brownies sparks one passionate night together and suddenly, sensible Vi is doing something completely out of character: offering her one-time enemy a friends-with-benefits arrangement. It’s more than Nick dreamed. Phenomenal. And it won’t be enough. Not until he’s found a way to show her that sometimes, fate gets it exactly right…

Song This Reminds Me Of – Help by The Beatles

Publication Date – Aug. 25, 2026

Bookshop Link – Only One for the Orc by Isabelle Taylor

Content Notes – There are some on page descriptions of anxiety and anxiety attacks. There are some on page injuries, but nothing super graphic. This is an open-door romance.

Spicy Rating – 🌶️🌶️🌶️🥵

Overall Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐out of 5

Review – So, technically this is the second book in a series and somehow, I missed that. However, you can definitely read this book without having read the first. There is a little world building that might be missed, but I feel like the author does a really good job of developing the story. That development makes it really easy to get sucked into the story without feeling like you’re missing out because you didn’t read the first book. I liked the romance in this novel even though a big part of the book was miscommunication. And I normally hate the miscommunication trope, but in this case, I actually thought it was cute.

The tension between Vi and Nick was spicy spicy, well not at first. At first there’s a little bit of Nick teasing Vi or appearing to tease Violet all the time. Really, he’s just a nervous boy who thinks pulling hair is flirting. I really liked that Nick seemed to be a jock boy, but really, he was a nervous cinnamon roll. I also liked that at first he really didn’t like reading which is a problem because Violet works at the local bookstore and loves books. But Nick finds that if he reads out loud or listens to audiobooks he also really loves reading. I liked the inclusion of a character who finds ways to enjoy their partners hobby. I thought that was so sweet. I also loved how much he noticed Violet would help everyone in the world but never help herself. He would give up parts of his week or weekend to take on tasks for her so she could have time for herself. True partnership right there.

This was a cute book, but I could have actually done with more spice. They start with a friends with benefits situation that last several weeks in the book. There is a lot of focus on them building their relationship and questioning if the other person like likes them. That part I could have gone without. There was so much of them in their heads about how the other person feels. More sexy time and less of that please. Also, if there is a next book in the series, I hope it focuses either on Joshua from the book club or Jasper the kind of greasy vampire. He had depth.

I would recommend this book, especially if you like a spicy monster book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.