My Vampire Plus-One Summary, Characters and Themes

Jenna Levine’s My Vampire Plus-One is a charming paranormal rom-com that mixes fake dating, vampire politics, and unexpected romance into a delightful adventure. 

Amelia Collins, a pragmatic and overworked accountant, is tired of family pressure about her non-existent love life. In an attempt to avoid awkward wedding conversations, she ropes in Reginald Cleaves, an eccentric and oddly charming vampire, to pose as her date. But what starts as a simple ruse quickly spirals into a whirlwind of supernatural chaos, unexpected emotions, and plenty of comedic moments. Full of humor, heart, and a touch of vampire intrigue, this book is a fang-tastic ride!

Summary

Amelia Collins has always been practical, predictable, and entirely uninterested in drama. As a successful accountant, she’s devoted to her work, but her love life—according to her family—is an absolute disaster. Tired of being the subject of well-meaning but exhausting relationship interrogations at family gatherings, Amelia impulsively blurts out that she has a boyfriend. The only problem? He doesn’t exist.

With her cousin’s wedding fast approaching, Amelia needs to find someone to play the role of her mysterious, unavailable boyfriend. 

Enter Reginald Cleaves—charming, eccentric, and, unbeknownst to Amelia at first, a vampire. Their meeting is pure coincidence, but after some persuasion (and Amelia’s desperation), Reggie agrees to be her plus-one. To Amelia, he’s just a weird but handsome guy who will scare off nosy relatives. 

For Reggie, however, this fake relationship presents an opportunity to blend in with humans—something he’s been attempting for centuries with varying degrees of success.

Reggie is not your typical brooding vampire. He’s chaotic, strangely fashionable (think trench coats over gingham skirts), and has a complicated past involving a scandalous vampire incident that made him a fugitive. 

The Collective—a secretive and powerful vampire organization—is hunting him, though Amelia remains blissfully unaware of this detail when she brings him home.

As they prepare for the wedding, Amelia and Reggie practice their fake-dating dynamic. What starts as an amusing role-play soon reveals layers to both their personalities. Amelia, who thrives on structure and rules, finds herself unexpectedly drawn to Reggie’s free-spirited nature. 

Reggie, in turn, is charmed by Amelia’s no-nonsense attitude and sharp wit. Despite their differences, they begin to form a genuine bond.

Things take a turn at the wedding when Reggie’s identity is accidentally exposed—at least, to Amelia. She discovers the truth about his vampire nature, but rather than running away in terror, she’s oddly unfazed. (After all, once you get past the fangs, he’s still the same oddball she’s been spending time with.) However, their growing closeness does not go unnoticed. 

The Collective has been tracking Reggie, and his public appearance at the wedding gives them the perfect opportunity to strike.

As the two navigate a whirlwind of unexpected romance, vampire politics, and the ever-watchful eyes of nosy wedding guests, Amelia realizes that her fake boyfriend might just be the best thing that’s ever happened to her. 

Reggie, who has spent centuries avoiding commitment and responsibility, finds himself genuinely caring for Amelia, willing to risk exposure and danger to keep her safe.

The stakes rise when The Collective finally catches up to them. Reggie’s past is revealed—he accidentally (or so he claims) caused an incident that led to a massive vampire scandal, earning him The Collective’s eternal wrath. 

With Amelia now involved, the danger is even greater. But Amelia, who has always played it safe, refuses to walk away from Reggie just because it’s complicated.

With the help of their friends—Frederick, a composed and level-headed vampire, and Cassie, his human girlfriend—they devise a plan to deal with The Collective once and for all. Along the way, Amelia learns to embrace adventure and spontaneity, while Reggie discovers that having someone to care about is worth the trouble.

In the end, their fake relationship turns into something very real. Amelia and Reggie not only outwit The Collective but also redefine what they want from life—and from each other. Amelia finds love in the most unexpected place, and Reggie, once a rogue vampire with no attachments, finally finds a reason to stay.

My Vampire Plus-One is a delightful mix of comedy, romance, and supernatural intrigue. With a unique take on the fake-dating trope, a lovable cast of characters, and plenty of witty banter, this story proves that sometimes, the most unexpected relationships turn out to be the most rewarding.

Characters

Reginald Cleaves (R.C.)

Reginald Cleaves is a centuries-old vampire who has found himself on the run from The Collective, a secretive vampire organization. His life is full of chaos, partly due to his own reckless nature and partly because of a major scandal he inadvertently caused, known as “The Incident,” which led to a disastrous arson event.

Reginald’s quirky and unpredictable personality makes him an intriguing and humorous character. He dresses in bizarre outfits, such as trench coats paired with gingham skirts, which reflect his eccentricity and nonconformity.

Initially, he appears as a carefree, slightly chaotic figure who hides behind his humorous and outrageous demeanor, but as the story progresses, Reginald’s vulnerability starts to show.

He becomes more invested in Amelia’s well-being and begins to confront the consequences of his past actions. This shift from a reckless fugitive to someone who deeply cares about Amelia marks his emotional growth and redemption arc throughout the story.

Amelia Collins 

Amelia Collins is a hardworking, pragmatic, and overburdened CPA who has built her life around structure and routine. Her career is demanding, and her personal life has suffered due to her inability to embrace spontaneity, largely because of a painful breakup with a cheating ex-boyfriend.

Amelia’s primary motivation throughout the story is to avoid her family’s incessant pressure about her single status. In a moment of desperation, she fabricates a relationship with a fictional boyfriend, which eventually leads her to cross paths with Reginald.

As the narrative unfolds, Amelia undergoes a significant transformation. Initially, she is focused on following the rules and maintaining control, but her unexpected relationship with Reginald forces her to step outside her comfort zone.

Amelia learns to embrace unpredictability, finding joy in spontaneity and adventure, while also reconnecting with her desires and emotional needs. She shifts from being overly cautious and guarded to someone who is more open to love and personal growth.

The Collective 

The Collective is a powerful and secretive vampire society with centuries of influence. They play a central role in the story, primarily as the antagonistic force that pursues Reginald after his involvement in “The Incident.”

The Collective is portrayed as sophisticated, self-important, and relentless in its pursuit of Reginald. Their motives are initially shrouded in mystery, but as the story progresses, the darker layers of their intentions and the power dynamics within vampire society are revealed.

They serve as a reminder of the rigid, hierarchical structures that exist within the supernatural world, contrasting sharply with the more free-spirited and chaotic nature of Reginald. The tension between Reginald’s rebellion against The Collective and the organization’s pursuit of him adds an element of danger and intrigue to the plot.

Frederick & Cassie

Frederick and Cassie offer a stable and grounded example of a human-vampire relationship that actually works. Frederick is another vampire, but unlike Reginald, he is more composed and grounded, which provides a contrast to Reginald’s impulsiveness.

His relationship with Cassie, a human artist, demonstrates that it is possible for vampires and humans to form healthy, loving partnerships. Frederick and Cassie serve as a source of support and guidance for Reginald and Amelia, offering advice and helping them navigate the challenges of their own developing relationship.

While their relationship is less chaotic than Reginald and Amelia’s, it plays an important role in illustrating the potential for balance and harmony in a human-vampire romance. It also acts as a counterpoint to the high-stakes drama unfolding around Reginald and Amelia.

Themes

The Complex Intersection of Identity, Secrets, and Vulnerability in a Chaotic Vampire Romance

One of the central themes in My Vampire Plus-One revolves around the balance between the characters’ identities and the secrets they keep. Reginald Cleaves, a centuries-old vampire, is a character shaped by his past actions and the heavy burdens of the secretive vampire organization called The Collective.

His chaotic personality and erratic behavior stem from years of hiding from this organization, all while keeping a lid on the guilt surrounding his involvement in “The Incident”—an event that has haunted his existence. Over the course of the story, Reginald is forced to confront not only the external threat of The Collective but also the internal struggle of allowing someone else into his hidden life.

As the fake-dating relationship with Amelia deepens, Reginald’s vulnerabilities begin to surface. The reader witnesses his emotional evolution from an aloof troublemaker to someone who genuinely cares for another.

Amelia Collins, the pragmatic and diligent accountant, also embarks on a journey of self-discovery through this theme. Though she begins the story hiding behind a facade—creating a fake boyfriend to avoid the familial pressure of her single status—her relationship with Reginald forces her to face her own vulnerabilities.

Amelia, who has spent much of her life following rules and seeking comfort in routine, finds herself slowly shedding the layers of control and predictability she once clung to. Through the chaos Reginald introduces into her world, she is forced to examine her life outside of the expectations placed on her, questioning not just her relationships but also her desires and goals.

In this sense, both characters—Reginald with his need to keep secrets and Amelia with her reluctance to reveal her true emotions—find themselves confronting the walls they’ve built around their identities.

The Search for Meaningful Connection in a World Full of Superficiality and External Pressure

Another profound theme explored in My Vampire Plus-One is the tension between societal expectations and the pursuit of authentic, meaningful connections. Amelia’s life is dominated by external pressures, particularly those imposed by her family’s obsession with her love life.

She is a successful accountant, yet her professional success does not shield her from the constant questioning about her single status. This theme plays heavily on the modern societal pressures around relationships, particularly the assumptions people make about a person’s value based on their romantic status.

Amelia’s struggle to navigate these pressures is relatable to anyone who has faced the discomfort of unsolicited advice or judgment about their personal life. Her choice to invent a fake boyfriend in order to avoid familial interrogations reflects the ways in which individuals often mold their lives to meet the expectations of others, even at the cost of their own happiness or truth.

Reginald, on the other hand, has his own set of pressures, though they are of a completely different nature. As a vampire on the run from The Collective, he is forced to conceal his true identity and live a life marked by lies and secrecy.

His relationship with Amelia, initially intended as a farce, gradually becomes a path to understanding what it means to build a connection that goes beyond mere survival or convenience. The narrative presents a striking contrast between Amelia’s pressure to conform to family norms and Reginald’s pressure to remain hidden from a lethal vampire society.

Yet, through their unlikely alliance, both characters learn that true connection requires embracing vulnerability, regardless of external forces. The genuine affection that grows between them becomes a rebellious act against the superficial relationships that dominate their lives—whether it’s Amelia’s family’s fixation on her single status or The Collective’s pursuit of a broken vampire past.

The Underlying Comedy in Embracing Chaos and Imperfection in a High-Stakes Romance

In the midst of the supernatural intrigue and dramatic twists, My Vampire Plus-One also highlights the comedic potential in embracing life’s chaos and imperfections. The theme of humor is threaded throughout the novel, making light of the typical tropes found in vampire stories and rom-coms alike.

Reginald, with his eccentric and unpredictable behavior, is the embodiment of this chaos. From his odd fashion choices (trench coats paired with gingham skirts) to his brash, unapologetic attitude, Reginald refuses to fit into any mold or societal expectation.

His chaotic nature not only makes him a compelling and unpredictable character but also serves to inject a refreshing sense of humor into the narrative. This humor, however, is not just for comedic effect—it is also an important coping mechanism for Reginald.

His ability to laugh at himself and the ridiculousness of his situation shows his resilience in the face of the serious, life-threatening situations he constantly faces. Amelia, too, learns to embrace the unpredictability that Reginald brings into her orderly life.

At first, she sees his erratic behavior as an inconvenience, but as their relationship develops, she begins to see the charm in his spontaneity and learns to appreciate the moments of levity they share. The humor in their interactions balances the darker elements of the plot, such as the constant danger posed by The Collective.

What starts as an absurd fake dating arrangement transforms into a real emotional connection, and the comedy in their interactions helps to underline the theme that sometimes, the messiest situations lead to the most fulfilling relationships. The characters’ willingness to step outside their comfort zones, laugh at themselves, and embrace the chaos of life becomes a celebration of imperfection in romance.

The Challenge of Overcoming a Past That Defines You, and Reclaiming Your Future

Lastly, a deeply personal and transformative theme in My Vampire Plus-One is the challenge of overcoming a painful past and learning to take control of one’s future. Reginald’s character arc is largely defined by this theme. He begins the story as a rogue vampire on the run, haunted by his past actions, especially the catastrophic event that led to The Incident.

His reluctance to confront his past mistakes and the guilt that he carries prevent him from embracing a future where he can truly live and love without the shadow of his past looming over him. Throughout the story, however, Reginald slowly learns to take responsibility for his actions and reclaim his sense of agency.

His relationship with Amelia, in part, becomes a means of healing—an opportunity to show that he is capable of change, growth, and loyalty. Amelia’s own journey is similar, although her past is more rooted in personal relationships than supernatural events.

After experiencing betrayal in her previous relationship, she has closed herself off from vulnerability and intimacy. Her cautious approach to romance, born from hurt and disappointment, mirrors Reginald’s hesitations to trust.

But just as Reginald learns to make peace with his troubled past, Amelia is also forced to confront her fears of being hurt again. By allowing herself to engage with Reginald, despite the risk, she reclaims her own agency in love.

Both characters, in their own ways, learn that healing from past wounds requires both self-compassion and the courage to embrace new experiences. Through their evolving relationship, the theme of reclaiming one’s future becomes an inspiring and redemptive aspect of the story.