If you’re looking for a slice of life romance that involves a jock, a mysterious monster, and plenty of water-related shenanigans, then The Nøkk and The Jock might just be your next favorite read.

Summary: Brandon is an eager human who becomes one of the first students at the monster-filled Creelin University. His excitement quickly takes a turn when he discovers that his new roommate, a moody nøkk, a type of water spirit, is avoiding him. As Brandon tries to befriend his enigmatic roommate, he might accidentally use a bottle of vodka and a spider to initiate an ancient bonding ritual.

Nøkk Folklore: Dive into Norwegian Monsters

What’s particularly interesting about The Nøkk and The Jock is how it weaves in elements of Norwegian folklore. Nøkks are water spirits known for their powerful and often deceptive nature, and I love getting a look at the supernatural myths in other cultures. Nokks tend to drown people, but it’s not so simple for the monster in this story.

And one funny little detail I enjoyed was that the nøkk had a relative who was a rowboat, which is a very excellent strategy if you’re trying to drown someone and steal their soul.

Sweet Romance Amid Emo Vibes

This book is just absolutely adorable. A very sweet romance despite the emo vibes and threat of death.

It’s a cute little slice of life romance where both guys love the water and try not to fall for each other. When thrown together as roommates, the nokk and jock quickly want to be more than friends but the jock thinks he’s straight and the nokk is worried about stealing the jock’s soul.

The jock Brandon goes through a bi-awakening as he looks after his gloomy roommate and accidentally courts him. The nokk known as Steve has many issues, like being afraid to show his true form, and joining the swim team may not be the best idea when he’s worried about drowning people with his powers, but it all works out in the end. Brandon’s sunny outlook and Steve’s more moody demeanor makes for a great dynamic.

The Playlist: A Perfect Musical Accompaniment

And let’s not forget the fantastic playlist! Featuring tracks from My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, K.Flay, and AWOLNATION, I love the bonus playlist and it has some awesome alternative songs.

Author Leslie McAdam said her teenager created an ‘emo Norwegian boy playlist’ and apparently I am an emo Norwegian boy because the songs fit my musical tastes very well. I had no idea. Can I speak Norwegian now?