Title: Muscles & Monsters
Author: Ashley Bennett
Series: Leviathan Fitness #1
Page Length: 182
Pub. Date: Feb. 10, 2026
Publisher: Berkley
Synopsis: Leviathan Fitness is known for monsters, muscles, and wolven who rescue damsels in distress.
After a wedding cake catastrophe, local decorator Tegan finds herself being helped by a solid wall of fur and fangs named Atlas. She’s never met anyone like him and finds herself enamored by his wolfish charm. After their sweet encounter, Atlas invites her to his gym anytime she needs his cake lifting services.
Tegan decides that instead- she wants to lift the cakes herself. She signs up for a membership with Leviathan Fitness, determined to build her strength.
Primal desires emerge as Atlas and Tegan test just how much their new love can lift— and if there are any limits to what monsters and humans can do.
Muscles & Monsters is book one in the Leviathan Fitness series. Each book will center around the gym and feature a different monster pairing.
Muscles & Monsters is the first book in the Leviathan Fitness series, and it’s a cute and spicy, low-angst romance. It takes place in a world where monsters and humans coexist, and there’s a gym run by supernatural beefcakes, including Atlas, the wolven MMC. The tone of the story is fun with some comical dialogue and internal monologues, and the entire story feels cozy, horny, and humorous.
The romance between Atlas and Tegan is the strongest part of the story. They are sweet together, clearly into each other, and refreshingly communicative. Their chemistry clicks right away, and there are major insta-love vibes. They fall for each other almost too quickly. And the spice is SPICY. Like, get a fan because things get steamy fast, and there’s a lot of sexy talk and acts. As much as I liked how into each other Atlas and Tegan were, I struggled with the fact that Atlas remains a wolf at all times. His tail wags when Tegan is near, he has the facial features of a wolf, and he’s covered in hair. It didn’t entirely work for me and made me question logistics sometimes. I also thought both characters acted younger than they were supposed to be.
Overall, Muscles & Monsters is a quick, fluffy, and spicy read with a unique cast of characters. The world, humor, and love story are entertaining, and I liked that the stakes were relatively low, if predictable. Even though there are parts I didn’t love, I am curious enough about the world that I’ll probably continue the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
- insta love
- plus size FMC
- cinnamon roll MMC
- knotting/primal play
- dual POV
Ashley Bennett is a small-town paranormal and monster romance author from Baltimore, Maryland. She writes stories that are equal parts spice and swoon. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading webtoons, playing cozy video games, and taking care of her houseful of rescue animals.
