Plot Summary
Tax Season Meltdown
Amelia Collins, a dedicated and overworked CPA in Chicago, is drowning in tax season chaos, especially with the disorganized Wyatt Foundation file. Her life is a blur of spreadsheets, caffeine, and missed self-care, with her only solace being her cat Gracie and best friend Sophie. Family obligations and the pressure of being the single, childless middle child add to her stress. The relentless demands of her job and her family's subtle disapproval of her single status leave her feeling isolated and exhausted, setting the stage for a life-altering encounter.
A Chance Collision
Leaving work late, Amelia is literally knocked off her feet by a mysterious, oddly dressed man fleeing down the icy sidewalk. Their awkward, comedic exchange—where he begs her to fake laugh or kiss him to throw off pursuers—leaves her rattled and unexpectedly charmed. The stranger, Reginald, is both infuriating and magnetic, and their brief, laughter-filled moment lingers in Amelia's mind. She brushes off the encounter as a bizarre fluke, unaware that this collision will upend her orderly world and draw her into supernatural intrigue.
The Collective's Threat
Reginald Cleaves, a centuries-old vampire with a penchant for chaos, receives a threatening letter from The Collective—a powerful, insular vampire organization seeking revenge for a long-ago fire. Reginald's past misdeeds, particularly his reputation as a prankster and the infamous "Incident," have made him their target. He seeks advice from his friend Frederick, who urges caution and offers support. Reginald's irreverence masks deep anxiety as he realizes The Collective is closing in, forcing him to hide in plain sight and reconsider his reckless ways.
Family Pressure Mounts
At a noisy family dinner, Amelia endures the usual barrage of questions about her work and, more painfully, her single status. News of her cousin Gretchen's upcoming wedding triggers a fresh wave of concern and subtle shaming from her mother and relatives. In a moment of exasperation, Amelia impulsively claims she has a boyfriend to deflect their scrutiny. The lie snowballs, and her family's excitement—and expectations—grow, leaving Amelia scrambling to find a solution before the wedding events begin.
The Plus-One Lie
Realizing her offhand lie has spiraled out of control, Amelia confides in Sophie, who enthusiastically supports the idea of hiring a fake boyfriend for the wedding. Together, they brainstorm criteria and scope out potential candidates, but nothing feels right. Fate intervenes when Amelia spots the same mysterious man from her sidewalk encounter—Reginald—at a coffee shop. With no time to spare, she approaches him with her outlandish proposal, setting the stage for a partnership built on mutual need and unexpected chemistry.
A Stranger's Favor
Reginald, amused and intrigued by Amelia's audacity, agrees to pose as her boyfriend, seeing it as both a hilarious prank and a convenient way to hide from The Collective. Their negotiation is laced with banter and awkward honesty, and they quickly establish ground rules—no sex, just convincing public affection. As they exchange personal details to sell their story, a strange sense of camaraderie and attraction grows. Both are hiding secrets, but their alliance feels oddly natural, hinting at deeper possibilities.
The Fake Boyfriend Pact
Amelia and Reginald coordinate their backstory, rehearse their "relationship," and prepare for the first family event: Gretchen's engagement dinner. Their interactions are a blend of nervousness, humor, and genuine connection. Reginald's eccentricities and charm win over Amelia's family, while his protectiveness and attention to her needs surprise her. The charade becomes increasingly convincing, blurring the line between performance and reality, as both begin to enjoy each other's company more than they expected.
Secrets and Revelations
As Amelia and Reginald spend more time together, their emotional walls start to crumble. Late-night phone calls and candid emails reveal vulnerabilities—Amelia's fear of disappointing her family and Reginald's loneliness as an immortal outcast. Reginald tries to confess his true nature, but Amelia, exhausted and skeptical, laughs it off. Meanwhile, Reginald's bullet journaling and online support group offer him solace and a way to process his feelings for Amelia, which are quickly deepening beyond the boundaries of their agreement.
Dinner with the Family
At the engagement dinner, Reginald's quirky charm and quick wit win over Amelia's parents and siblings, even as he improvises a wild backstory about working at a carnival. The evening is a comedic minefield of close calls and escalating attraction, culminating in a staged—but unexpectedly passionate—kiss. The performance is so convincing that both Amelia and Reginald are left breathless and confused by their own reactions, while the family is thoroughly convinced of their romance.
The Engagement Dinner Test
The aftermath of the dinner leaves Amelia and Reginald reeling. Their physical chemistry is undeniable, and their emotional connection grows as they navigate awkward family questions and the logistics of their fake relationship. A snowstorm strands them together at Amelia's family cabin, forcing them into close quarters and deeper intimacy. The "only one bed" trope becomes reality, and the boundaries of their arrangement are tested as desire and trust build between them.
Snowed In Together
Alone in the cabin, Amelia and Reginald drop their guards. Reginald's thoughtful gestures—braving a blizzard to buy her favorite foods, making her laugh, and respecting her boundaries—soften Amelia's defenses. Their mutual attraction boils over, but just as they're about to give in, Reginald's secret is revealed: he is, in fact, a vampire. The revelation shocks Amelia, but after initial panic, she processes the truth with the help of Sophie and decides to confront Reginald, leading to a raw, honest conversation about trust, mortality, and desire.
The Vampire Confession
Reginald confesses his entire history—his immortality, his past mistakes, and the relentless pursuit by The Collective. Amelia, after her initial fear, chooses to believe in his goodness and intentions. Their relationship shifts from transactional to authentic as they acknowledge their feelings and the risks involved. The threat of The Collective looms larger, but so does the possibility of real love. They agree to face the future together, no longer pretending.
Facing the Past
The Collective's pursuit intensifies, forcing Reginald to flee and Amelia to take action. With the help of Frederick and Cassie, they research The Collective's weaknesses and history, discovering that the organization's nonprofit status and tax evasion could be their undoing. Amelia's expertise becomes their secret weapon, and she prepares to confront The Collective not with violence, but with the power of the IRS and the law. Reginald, meanwhile, faces his own guilt and fear of loss, realizing how much he wants a future with Amelia.
The Collective Closes In
The Collective, led by the bureaucratic and menacing John Richardson, arranges a final meeting under the guise of nonprofit business. Amelia, Reginald, and Frederick orchestrate a tense confrontation at her office, using the threat of IRS prosecution to force The Collective into a truce. The vampires, more afraid of prison and paperwork than stakes, reluctantly agree to leave Reginald alone. The danger passes, but the experience cements the bond between Amelia and Reginald, who have now truly chosen each other.
The IRS Gambit
Amelia's mastery of tax law and her calm under pressure save the day. She leverages The Collective's decades of tax noncompliance to secure Reginald's safety and end the vendetta. The experience empowers her, proving her worth not just as an accountant but as a partner and protector. Reginald is awed by her brilliance and strength, and their relationship deepens into mutual respect and devotion. The supernatural and the mundane blend seamlessly as they look toward a shared future.
Love and Immortality
With The Collective neutralized, Amelia and Reginald explore what it means to love across the boundaries of mortality. They navigate the challenges of a human-vampire relationship—family secrets, the question of turning, and the reality of aging and loss. Their intimacy grows, both physically and emotionally, as they learn to trust, support, and delight in each other. The wedding that began as a ruse becomes a celebration of their real, hard-won love.
The Wedding and Beyond
At Gretchen's wedding, Amelia and Reginald are no longer faking anything. Their affection is genuine, their partnership solid. Amelia's family, once skeptical, is charmed by Reginald, and even her father is won over by his historical knowledge and warmth. The couple faces the future with hope, humor, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty. Their story, once built on lies and necessity, is now one of choice, courage, and joy—a testament to the power of love to transcend even the most improbable obstacles.
Characters
Amelia Collins
Amelia is a thirty-four-year-old CPA whose life is defined by order, hard work, and a deep-seated need to please her family. Her competence at work masks insecurities about her single status and her family's subtle disapproval. Amelia's psychological journey is one of learning to assert her own needs, embrace vulnerability, and accept love on her own terms. Her relationship with Reginald challenges her to let go of control, trust her instincts, and risk her heart, ultimately leading her to a more authentic, joyful self.
Reginald Cleaves
Reginald is a centuries-old vampire with a reputation for chaos, humor, and flamboyant style. Beneath his irreverence lies deep loneliness, guilt over past mistakes, and a longing for connection. His friendship with Frederick and his bullet journaling reveal a desire for self-improvement and meaning. Reginald's arc is about confronting his past, accepting love, and learning to be vulnerable. His growing feelings for Amelia force him to reconsider his isolation and embrace the possibility of happiness, even as he faces mortal danger.
Sophie
Sophie is Amelia's best friend and confidante, balancing her own chaotic life as a mother with unwavering support for Amelia. She provides comic relief, practical advice, and emotional grounding. Sophie's encouragement is instrumental in pushing Amelia to take risks, both in her fake dating scheme and in opening her heart to Reginald. Her presence highlights the importance of chosen family and the power of friendship in navigating life's messiness.
Frederick J. Fitzwilliam
Frederick is Reginald's oldest friend and a fellow vampire, serving as a voice of reason and stability. His relationship with Cassie and his own journey toward vulnerability mirror and contrast with Reginald's arc. Frederick's support is crucial in helping Reginald face The Collective and in providing a model for human-vampire love. His dry humor and old-fashioned manners add depth and warmth to the supernatural world.
Cassie Greenberg
Cassie, once Amelia's childhood acquaintance, becomes a key figure as Frederick's partner and eventual fellow vampire. Her transformation and adaptation to immortality serve as a parallel to Amelia's journey, raising questions about change, identity, and the sacrifices made for love. Cassie's artistic sensibility and open-heartedness make her a bridge between the human and vampire worlds.
John Richardson
As the face of The Collective, John is both a comic and sinister antagonist. His fixation on rules, paperwork, and vengeance makes him a unique villain—more dangerous for his persistence than his power. John's inability to move on from the past and his fear of the IRS ultimately lead to his defeat, serving as a cautionary example of the perils of obsession and rigidity.
The Collective
The Collective is a centuries-old vampire organization obsessed with bloodlines, tradition, and retribution. Their pursuit of Reginald is both personal and symbolic, representing the dangers of clinging to old grievances and the absurdity of immortal bureaucracy. As a group, they are both threatening and ridiculous, their power undermined by their own incompetence and Amelia's cleverness.
Amelia's Family
Amelia's parents and siblings embody the pressures and comforts of family. Their concern for her happiness is both a source of pain and motivation. Through their interactions, the novel explores themes of expectation, belonging, and the challenge of forging one's own path. Their eventual acceptance of Reginald and respect for Amelia's choices mark a turning point in her journey toward self-acceptance.
Gracie
Gracie, Amelia's cat, is a minor but memorable character, serving as a symbol of home, routine, and unconditional (if aloof) companionship. Her reactions to Amelia's stress and Reginald's presence provide comic relief and a touchstone for Amelia's emotional state.
Zelda (Grizelda the Terrible)
Zelda is a notorious witch with a dramatic past and a reputation for chaos. Though she appears only in references and correspondence, her legacy looms large, representing the wild, unpredictable side of the supernatural world. Her history with Reginald and The Collective adds depth to the novel's mythology and underscores the theme of moving beyond the past.
Plot Devices
Fake Dating and Forced Proximity
The central plot device is the fake dating arrangement between Amelia and Reginald, born of mutual desperation and escalating into genuine intimacy. Forced proximity—through family events, snowstorms, and shared secrets—breaks down their defenses and accelerates their connection. The device allows for comedic misunderstandings, slow-burn romance, and the exploration of authenticity versus performance.
Dual Perspectives and Epistolary Elements
The narrative alternates between Amelia and Reginald's perspectives, offering insight into their inner lives and contrasting worldviews. Interspersed emails, texts, bullet journal entries, and excerpts from fictional vampire lore add texture, humor, and exposition. These elements foreshadow revelations, provide backstory, and reinforce the novel's playful, self-aware tone.
The Collective as Bureaucratic Antagonists
The Collective's pursuit of Reginald is both a source of danger and satire, blending vampire mythology with the absurdities of nonprofit management and tax law. Their incompetence and fear of the IRS subvert traditional supernatural stakes, allowing Amelia's professional skills to become the key to victory. This device highlights the power of intelligence, resourcefulness, and the unexpected heroism of everyday expertise.
The "Only One Bed" Trope
When Amelia and Reginald are snowed in together with only one bed, the forced intimacy pushes them to confront their feelings and fears. The trope is used both for humor and as a catalyst for emotional honesty, marking a turning point in their relationship.
Foreshadowing and Symbolism
Early references to Reginald's true nature, The Collective's incompetence, and the importance of laughter and self-acceptance foreshadow later revelations and resolutions. Symbols like Gracie the cat, Reginald's bullet journal, and the recurring motif of laughter underscore themes of home, growth, and the healing power of joy.
Analysis
"My Vampire Plus-One" reimagines the fake dating trope with supernatural flair, blending rom-com conventions with vampire mythology and a sharp satirical edge. At its core, the novel is about the tension between order and chaos, safety and risk, and the transformative power of vulnerability. Amelia's journey from anxious people-pleaser to self-assured partner mirrors Reginald's evolution from lonely prankster to devoted lover, both learning to trust, forgive, and choose happiness despite uncertainty. The novel subverts genre expectations by making tax law and bureaucracy the tools of triumph, celebrating intelligence, competence, and the unsung heroism of everyday work. Through its playful structure, meta-humor, and emotional depth, the book invites readers to laugh at life's absurdities, cherish found family, and believe in love that transcends even the most improbable obstacles. The ultimate lesson: happiness is found not in perfection or predictability, but in the willingness to risk, to laugh, and to love—no matter how strange the circumstances.
Last updated:
