Aug
I received this book for free from the Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Love Plot by Samantha Young Published by Berkley
on August 29, 2023
Genres: Romantic Comedy
Pages: 352
Format: ARC
Source: the Author
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There's a magnetic attraction when a happy-go-lucky gig worker agrees to a fake relationship with a rich, uptight New Yorker in this steamy romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young.
Star Shine Meadows is all about freedom, thanks to the hippie parents who raised her. Juggling her jobs as a professional costume character actor and a line sitter, she believes in no expectations, no stressful ambitions, and no-strings-attached relationships. So when she meets a birthday girl's grumpy uncle while working a princess party, she can't help but needle him. She'll never see him again, and honestly, he's pretty hot.
Rafe Whitman may be a veterinarian with a great bedside manner, but that doesn't mean his patience extends to anyone with opposable thumbs. His family will not stop nagging him about finding "the one," so when he runs into obnoxiously cheery Star again, he makes her an offer: He'll pay her more than she would make doing her odd jobs if she'll pretend to be his girlfriend at family gatherings. She can stop sitting in line waiting for someone else's new phone, and he'll get his family off his back.
When the tension between them heats to a breaking point, Star's desire for "no strings" is tested against Rafe's staunch stability. They say opposites attract, after all....
When I first read about ‘The Love Plot’ I immediately got super excited. I love the grumpy vs sunshine trope, and add my favorite author.. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book. Luckily for me I soon received an ARC and I started reading as soon as I could. Ow.. and don’t you love that cover?!
In ‘The Love Plot’ we meet Star and Rafe. These two characters couldn’t be more different. Star tries to see the good in everything. She works two very unusual jobs, she wears the fun colorful clothes she loves and everything she does is to make sure she is happy. Star doesn’t do relationships, due to her unloving parents who thought her relationships aren’t meant to be monogamous or last for long. Everything seems great! Star is saving to start traveling and is excited about life.
But then Star meets Rafe. Rafe is a very grumpy vet who loves animals, but isn’t too good in people and interacting. For the last few months his mom and sister in law has been determined to find him a great woman. The last thing Rafe wants is to starting dating someone that his mom picked out. So when Rafe meets Star he doesn’t know what to think of her. She is unlike anyone he has ever met and soon the idea of asking Star to be his ‘fake-girlfriend’ comes to mind. But will Star and Rafe be able to keep things ‘fake’?
From the moment I started reading ‘The Love Plot’ I was hooked. I loved the characters so much. Especially Star’s character stole my heart right from the start. She was just so happy and fun and I loved how she did life. Star was determined to be happy and did whatever she wanted. I really admire that. And it also made for some very funny and entertaining moments.
And then there is Rafe’s character. Sure he seemed very grumpy and rude. But we soon learn there is a lot more to him. He loves animals, and is just a big introvert. I hear you Rafe! But most of all I loved how he was enchanted by Star right from the start and all he wanted for her was to stay her perfect happy self. I loved him.
The chemistry between Star and Rafe was amazing and I devoured every page of this book. ‘The Love Plot’ was definitely a slow burn one, and it was really exciting to read. There where plenty of steamy moments and at times I laughed my eyes out.
‘The Love Plot’ was a great romantic comedy I devoured right from the start.
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more brooding than usual, so I braced myself.
Rafe Whitman drew to a stop before me and blurted out, “You’ll literally do anything for
money?”
Anger flared in an instant from the tips of my toes to the ends of my hair, so I didn’t hear the
tone in which the question was asked. I threw back my shoulders. Taller than average height at five- seven, I was still a good seven or eight inches shorter than this arrogant Manhattanite, but I was prepared to take him. Anyone who knew me knew I was a patient, laid-back kind of person . . . but Rafferty Whitman had crossed the line!
“What the hell does that mean?” I seethed. “Are you suggesting I charge money for sex?”
Rafe’s blue eyes flashed with indignation. “No, I am not,” he hissed at me, eyes darting around.
“And lower your voice.”
“I will not lower my voice.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I like most people, but you sure
do make it difficult, Whitman. It’s like you get off on being as insulting as possible.”
He mirrored me, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m not insulting you. If you’d paid attention, you’d realize the question was not meant to be untoward.”
“Untoward?” I grimaced. “What, are you from the nineteenth century? Is that why you hate
phones? Because if the technology is difficult for you to grasp, I can teach you how to use a phone.” I was being a little shit now, but he brought it out in a person.
Rafe sneered. “How much will that cost me?”
Argghhh! I narrowed my eyes but smiled. “Oh, for you . . . twice as much as I’d charge anyone
else.”
“I see. Well.” Rafe uncrossed his arms to reach into his back pocket. He removed his wallet and then a business card from that. Holding it out to me, he continued, “I guess you stand to make a lot of money for doing very little. If you’re interested, call me.”
Flummoxed, I took the card. “Um . . . doing what?”
But he was already walking away.
“Doing what, Whitman?” I yelled after him.
He didn’t answer, just casually strolled off. His suit pants molded perfectly to his sculpted ass.
So unfairly physically perfect.
“Are you going to call him?”
I looked up from the business card that read Whitman Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Rafferty Whitman.
His vet clinic was on the busy, tree-lined Columbus Avenue. Nice location, Dr. Rafe.
There was his phone number right beneath the address.
Yvonne grinned at me, and I answered her question. “Nah.”
Her eyes bugged out of her head as her friends gaped at me in shock. “Uh, Clark Kent just asked you to call him, Star. You don’t turn down Clark Kent.”
“You do if he’s an asshole. Life lesson, girls: an attractive face should not sway you if a
pompous, arrogant, insulting, offensive turd lurks behind it.”
Yvonne chuckled. “You did yell at him and try to embarrass him with the peanut butter and jelly stuff. That’s not true, is it?”
I rolled my eyes. “No, it’s not true.” But she was right. I had antagonized him.
“You should make it true. I’d roll in a bathtub of jelly with that man.”
Slipping the card into my purse, I shrugged. “Impossible. His ego would take up the whole tub.
No room for jelly. Or me—I mean you.”
“You’re not the least bit curious to find out what he wants to pay you to do?”
“Considering how that sounds, nope. Not at all. Ooh, look, the line is moving. Yay.”
But as the girls turned to move with the line, I knew I was lying.
I was so curious, my heart still raced from my encounter with Rafe.
Check out my other reviews for books by Samantha Young:
About Samantha Young
Samantha Young is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. She's been nominated for several Goodreads Choice Awards. Samantha writes adult contemporary and paranormal romance, YA urban fantasy and YA contemporary fiction and is currently published in 31 countries. She resides in Scotland.
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Maureen is a mom, wife, nurse, and Ravenclaw living in the Netherlands. She spends her days juggling mom-life, reading, blogging, planning date nights with her husband and working as a nurse. Maureen also is a big Anglophile, loves cooking, Gilmore Girls, Bridgerton and Harry Potter.. Always! Facebook | Instagram
Hooray for a good fake dating romance! And a grumpy-sunshine romance! 🙂 Star sounds like such a likable character. Glad this was such a hit for you!
It really was. And next to a great romance, I also laughed a lot. 😀
I wasn’t sure if I was going to read this one, but you have talked me into it! Great review!
Thank you Deanna. It really is a very fun read!