That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming Book Review
Book 1 of the Mead Mishaps Series by Kimberly Lemming
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Have you ever seen a book title so ridiculous that you just know you need to read it? That was me with That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon. I spotted it on a shelf at Barnes & Noble, snapped a pic, and added it to my TBR—no summary needed. That title alone had me hooked. Six months later, I finally picked it up to kick off the month, and I’m so glad I did.
Let me start by saying this: not all books are meant to be read with a magnifying glass. Some are meant to be fun, a little absurd, and a whole lot of entertaining. And that’s exactly how I approached this one. My barometer here wasn’t deep literary merit—it was: did I have fun? Did the antics deliver? Did I care about these characters? Was the romance satisfying? The answer across the board: yes.
Our FMC, Cinnamon, is strong, sharp, and not here for your nonsense. She gave me enough backstory to care, but not so much that I was bogged down. She stood her ground, made her own choices, and felt grounded in a world that’s anything but. (Also, I’m a sucker for spice-related names—Cinnamon, Cumin, Chili? Give me all of them.)
And then there’s Fallon. A literal demon with a very swoony, bad-boy-with-a-heart-of-gold vibe. Look, I get it. I’d fall for him too. The protector energy? The loyalty? The way he calls her “his”? Say less.
Their love was a little rushed, sure, but when it works, it works. And for me, it did. The romance had stakes, sweetness, spice, and some excellent banter. I didn’t expect to care much about the action-quest elements of the plot, but I ended up loving the world-building and the little crew they gathered along the way. The pacing flew. I knocked this out in just under a week, which is fast for me (I work full-time and have lots of hobbies!), and I was itching to pick it back up every time I had to put it down.
By the end, I was all-in—not just on the romance, but on the world of Mead Mishaps. I immediately started book two (That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf) before I even finished writing this review.
If you’re looking for a laugh-out-loud, swoony, and surprisingly action-packed fantasy romance with a Black female lead and a literal demon love interest, this book is worth a spot on your shelf. It’s a little spicy, a lot ridiculous, and exactly the kind of cozy-adventure romance that deserves to be read with a blanket, some snacks, and zero shame.
Curious about my reviews for the other books in the Mead Mishaps series? You can read them here: