The Love Plot by Samantha Young was a sweet, enjoyable read. The romance between the characters felt genuine, and I loved how they each had to work through their own personal issues. While it was predictable at times, the heartfelt moments and easy chemistry kept me turning the pages.

Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypub for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @prhaudio for a free download of the audiobook.

Samantha Young's "The Love Plot" is a fun and sensual exploration of contrasting worlds colliding in a fake-dating scenario. The FMC's bohemian lifestyle and the MMC's polished Upper East Side upbringing create a compelling dynamic, fueling their undeniable chemistry.

The story beautifully portrays their journey from reluctant participants to deeply invested partners, showcasing the power of genuine connection. The book's sex-positive themes and found family elements add depth and warmth to the steamy romance.

Savannah Peachwood's excellent narration brings the characters and their emotional journey to life, making the audiobook a truly immersive experience.

4 stars

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“Just because my life doesn’t fit into your idea of what a life should be doesn’t mean it’s bad.”

FAKE RELATIONSHIP SUPERIORITY. I just think that the tension of falling in love while you're already meant to feel that way about each other... it's such a great trope. So magnetic and attractive as a plot point. I love when the up-tight rich character learns to be a little more free while the one who needs a little more structure learns that it isn't so bad.

My only qualm with this story is the epic amount of miscommunication. This trope bleeds it, and always has, but something has to give on how negative characters can be towards someone they claim to love.

Just a little devastating, because this was the sweetest story. It has so much potential! Definitely going to be looking into this author some more.

Rafe is a successful veterinarian who comes from a successful family. He loves said family, but his mother and sister in law are driving him crazy. They are literally throwing women at him, trying to fix him up and he is sick of it. Star loves her life and how she lives it. She has a great group of friends and has two unique jobs that she enjoys doing. When Star and Rafe meet at his nieces birthday party it is definitely not love at first sight. These two definitely rub each other the wrong way….but it’s cute. After a second accidental meeting, Rafe comes up with a plan. Can these two totally opposite people fake date to get his family off his back?!? This was a very enjoyable and entertaining read. The characters were funny with pretty big personalities. Stars back story was great and told us why she is who we see today. I enjoyed this one and look forward to reading another book by this author.

***ARC Provided by the Publisher via NetGalley***

I loved everything about this book, pretty much from page 1. I loved the characters, the story, the pacing...all of it. I really like fake romances where the man falls first and it's obvious, as he's the grumpy, that was what was going to happen.

I loved Star and Rafe, well he was adorably grumpy.

Fake romances are one of my favorite tropes. Yes they are predictable, and you know it's going to be real eventually, but it's watching them figure out there's something there, while already pretending there is, that appeals to me.

I liked so much about this book and that has to do with the author. Her books always manage to draw me in and leave me wanting to keep reading when I should be sleeping, or working, or generally doing things that aren't reading.

There was a wonderful depth to this story, and I loved the idea of not only accepting who you are but being accepted as you are. Watching Star find that for herself, and learning to let go of the things that were harmful, was really wonderful.

I enjoyed and recommend this title.

We hit the tropes of grumpy x sunshine and fake dating with The Love Plot by Samantha Young. It's a fun read for lovers of rom coms.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

"That's when Rafe Whitman smiled at me for the very first time. I swear my heart and clit swelled in unison."

Rafe and Star meet at Rafe's nieces' birthday party where Star is performing as Merida from Brave. To say the least, they did not hit it off. Cut to later that week when they run into each other again at Star's other job as a professional line sitter (wait until you hear what Star does to get his attention hahaha). Rafe is being hounded by his mom and sister-in-law to find a woman, and it seems Star will take any job even if it seems ridiculous. Rafe proposes a deal where they will pretend to be in a relationship for 6 months, and he will pay Star a generous amount of money that she can use to travel the world. Let the games begin!

Two people could not be more opposite than Star Shine Meadows and Rafe Whitman, yet when you put them together their relationship results in fireworks. I couldn't get enough of them together. One of my favorite things is when you can truly see the hero and heroine connecting on a deep level via big conversations. Where they feel so safe with the other that they open up about things they never talk about. That is what you get with Rafe and Star.

The true beauty of this story is the message it conveys. Be yourself, fight for your happiness, and don't change yourself to please others. You are special just the way you are, and the right people will love you the exact way you are. Although there is miscommunication (not my favorite) it doesn't last long, and it enforces the overall message I just mentioned. The moment they implode and communicate is pretty amazing too - well worth it :)

I love Samantha Young and it was such a joy to read "The Love Plot"!

Some of the featured tropes are:
grumpy-sunshine
fake dating
small-town settings
one bed (which GETS ME EVERY SINGLE TIME)

I loved this one from start to finish and am eager to read even more from Young.

This book is more about the female main lead figuring out who she is, and who she’s supposed to be than anything else. Rafe is just the poor, lovesick fool who tries his damnedest to love her through it. Not that he struggles. Because for him, loving Star is easy. Even when she drove me (and Rafe) crazy, I loved Star. Her inner thoughts, her quirks, her desire to drive Rafe absolutely insane. Rafe is 100% a storm cloud, and she was absolutely 100% as bright as the sun. She embarrassed him to get his attention, and I LOVED it! I needed to know everything about this grumpy man. I was not prepared for him to be so thoughtful, considerate, and gentle!! My heart wasn’t sure what to do about him making me swoon. Star didn’t believe in anything more than lust and cute crushes. But then Rafe storms in and rudely changes that. And it makes her rethink everything she’s ever known. The only thing I liked about either of their families was his sister. All my other thoughts about them are spoilers. Rafe didn’t have any issue saying exactly how he felt, never spared her feelings. Considering what he was feeling, I applauded him. I had a weird protective mother bear thing going on, while also simultaneously having a crush on him. The missing star? I spent too much of the book hoping there would be therapy involved.

The Love Plot is a grumpy sunshine romance. It was a cute enjoyable read. This was truly an opposites attract story with all the feels. I loved the banter between Rafe and Star. I really enjoyed this story and the characters and couldn't put this one down.

The Love Plot by Samantha Young

✶ contemporary
✶ fake dating
✶ grumpy x sunshine
✶ he falls first
✶ 3/5

Star Shine Meadows grew up with free-spirited parents and lives a life untethered to conventional norms. Her unique career includes being a professional line sitter and a part-time princess for hire. When Star encounters the handsome yet aloof veterinarian Rafe Whitman at his niece's party, sparks fly, but not in the best way. However, a subsequent unexpected meeting results in Rafe proposing a fake dating arrangement to Star, offering her money to play the part. She agrees, but as they spend more time together, Star must confront what she truly desires in life.

This story is a delightful take on the fake dating trope, with minimal angst and gentle conflict. The grumpy-sunshine dynamic between Star and Rafe is enjoyable, particularly because, even during disagreements, they maintain a level of respect for one another. Some of the standout moments are Star's journey to self-discovery, her reflections on her unconventional upbringing, and her witty exchanges with Rafe.

While the book's brevity meant that some plot points were resolved rather quickly, it remains an engaging read. Although not my favourite from Young, it was still a charming and entertaining novel.

My first book by Samantha Young and definitely not my last. I adored Star and Rafe's character developments. Such a cute and sweet romance!

A grumpy veterinarian, a free spirited woman and a fake relationship? Yes please! The chemistry between Rafe & Star was through the roof and made for such a fun summer read.

Rom-coms are my thing any time of the year and I especially love diving into them in between my “darker” reads. This one was such a fun read and as someone whose soft spot are animals, Rafe’d profession made him extra swoony!

Pick up this one if you like:
🐶 Opposites attract
🐶 Fake dating
🐶 Grumpy+sunshine

A huge thank you to #partner @berkley for my copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was cute, and enjoyable for the most part.
I liked the character's free spirit and little quirks but wasn't entirely enraptured by it.
It was a sweet little read, made me swoon a little and got all heart eyes.

It comes as no surprise that Samantha Young has written another fast-paced, super fun romance with lovably quirky characters! I adored A Cosmic Kind of Love and the unlikely matchup there, and The Love Plot was equally delightful! Star was such a precious character and I just wanted to hug her! I loved how well developed both Star and Rafe were, as well as their relationship. While they had a quick start with the fake dating situation, the relationship grew and changed over the course of the book, and see a much bigger picture than we get in a lot of wham bam romances these days, as they get to know each other, mature in their relationship and care for one another, and communicate with each other and the others around them. Even with dealing with some larger issues of abandonment and identity, this was a mostly light-hearted read with a healthy dose of found family, which always steals my heart! Thoroughly enjoyed it!

Firstly, thank you so much to Samantha Young for the early copy.

This was such a fun rom com! A grumpy/sunshine, fake dating romance that will have you not wanting to put the book down!

Star and Rafe don’t get off on right foot when they first meet at his niece’s birthday party, where Star is the kids entertainer though the instant attraction, she keeps her sunny attitude toward him even when he’s being an broody grump. But when they met again, after she embarrasses him in public (that scene was so funny), he decides to ask her if she’ll be his fake girlfriend to get his family off his back.

If you want a couple with great banter, then look no farther. Star and Rafe had laughing out loud throughout the whole book. I just loved that Star didn’t let his grumpy attitude get her down and she even brought out his not so grumpy side.

I loved how protective Rafe became of Star, even when they still didn’t know much about each other, he wouldn’t let anyone talk badly about her or put her down. Honestly Rafe was elite boyfriend material, standing up for her, supporting her choices even if he didn’t fully understand them, embracing her in anyway possible!

For once it was refreshing to read about a man wanting to be in a relationship and the woman being commitment phobic. And Rafe was so patient with her, knowing how she felt about relationships but still wasn’t afraid to show her he was serious and that they would be different than what she’s seen growing up.

They were the perfect match, made each other laugh and smile, they brought out the best in each other, they supported each other and lifted each other up when one struggling or having a bad day. And watching them fall for each other was so sweet.

Honestly there was/is so much to love about this book but I don’t want to spoil it but just know Samantha does not disappoint and if are you wanting a laugh out loud rom com that you won’t be able to put down, then this is your book!!

Fake relationships to real relationships are some of my favorites. This one definitely didn't disappoint. I will be reading more from Samantha Young.

This was a really fast paced, fun romance that had many tropes, big city setting. I cant say this was overly unique but it was one I read I'm an evening and thoroughly enjoyed. Pure entertainment and fun- pretty much what I’m looking for in this type of book.

Grumpy/sunshine
Opposites attract
He falls first
Fake dating

What’s not to love?

This book had so much quirkiness to it that I think the main lesson of “you should never be in a relationship you feel you need to change yourself to be happy in” gets lost at times. But also, Star and Rafe both were great characters that really enforced that point. Even as a grumpy sunshine, opposites attract relationship, Rafe is so understanding to Star’s extrinsicities and Star challengers his standard of thinking in great ways that are super healthy for a real life love story. The spice came out of no where at times and was rather extra spicy than I anticipated but that in no way is a bad thing.

The book lost me at a point because I felt like the second act break up got repeated in the third act a bit and the repetition just made me frustrated. Also, what the heck I wish we got the poly relationship in a book!

Final Rating: 3.75⭐️, 2.5🌶️

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an eARC of The Love Plot, by Samantha Young. This is my honest and free review.

This one was really cute! I loved the grumpy sunshine aspect as well as the fake dating and opposites attract!

Star is a unique soul and I loved her. Rafe is a grumpy vet who was just wonderful! They had some great banter and chemistry! The way they meet the first few times was awesome 😆

I liked how the story flowed and everything that happened! It was an easy read and I quite enjoyed it!