200 Monas

A Most Anticipated Book of 2026—A Most Anticipated Book of 2026 — Harper’s Bazaar • US Weekly • Southern Review of Books • Lit Hub • Goodreads • Debutiful • Our Culture Magazine

“An unconventional slapstick adventure with the DNA of both a thriller and a romance…Over the course of Wolf and Arvy’s jam-packed days together, we see them both in a variety of sexual scenarios. These don’t just titillate, and they don’t just advance the plot. They show Saenz’s characters at their most vulnerable.”—The Atlantic

“A tightrope act between high-concept smut and feminist critique...Saenz’s awareness of this dynamic is what makes the sex in 200 Monas such a freaky success….[She] transcends the typical provocations of spicy-pepper-emoji BookTok romance, opting for tense, nasty, and perfectly overimaginative prose designed to actually test one’s sensibilities.”—Chicago Review of Books

“Sharp-witted and vulnerable—she brings her mother’s ashes with her everywhere—Arvy is a delightful narrator of this high-stakes adventure….[It] is much like Mona itself: a propulsive romp haunted by an ever-present darkness. A wild, fun, and moving page-turner.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Saenz’s debut opens like a firecracker….Fascinating and impressive. The plot progresses as quickly as the deadline to sell…[and] Saenz ups the ante over and over.” —Booklist

“[A] darkly funny debut… There’s a beating heart at the center of this titillating story.” —Publishers Weekly

“Reading this is like having a panic attack while laughing uncontrollably. Funny, tense, absurd. It is a novel to read when you think your life is awful and unmanageable. Avry’s life is tossed upside down, and watching her scramble was a thrill.”—Debutiful

“Fast-paced, frenetic, sexy, and heartfelt, 200 Monas is an emotionally charged roller coaster, a hot mess of a romance, and an uninhibited exploration of grief. A delightfully entertaining debut that will leave you ready for more from Jan Saenz.”—Emily Adrian, author of Seduction Theory

“200 Monas grabbed me by my belt loops and took me on a hell of a ride. By turns lush and biting, this is an intoxicating hometown goodbye novel with a fierce heart and chemistry that won’t quit. Written with unrelenting wit and bold sensuality, Saenz tours readers through a dreamlike Texas underworld of pain, pleasure, love, and loss, exploring how trusting another person can be the headiest drug of all. I couldn’t put it down.”—Emma Brodie, author of Songs in Ursa Major

“Underneath the propulsive, wild action of 200 Monas lies a big, beating heart. I can’t recall reading a novel that took so much sheer pleasure in giving its reader pleasure, too. I emerged from the final page of this novel breathless, ready to follow Jan Saenz anywhere.”—Daniel D'Addario, author of The Talent

“200 Monas is a horny fever dream that had me tearing through the pages, desperate for another hit. This high-octane nail-biter is also a deeply cathartic exploration of loss. I laughed, I cried, I did other things you probably shouldn’t put in a blurb.”—Rose Dommu, author of Best Woman

“Tension-filled and wry and witty, this wonderful book made me metaphorically cover my eyes more than a few times, only to peek because I had to know what was happening to our wildly original whip of a protagonist. Reading this was like chasing coffee with speed, but without the consequences.”—Amber Sparks, author of Happy People Don't Live Here