3/5 ★
genres & tropes :
• contemporary romance
• romcom/chick lit
• fake relationship
• opposites attract
• frenemies to lovers

Star & Rafe come from two different worlds, so when their lives collide, things get a little messy. Star is a free spirit; she's the child of two easy-go-lucky hippies, and her life is centered around her immediate happiness. Rafe comes from a stereotypical "proper" & wealthy family; he decides to veer away from the family business & pave his own way by becoming a veterinarian. When Rafe & Star meet, he thinks she could be the antidote to the constant nagging he receives from his parents about settling down. The two start to fake date, and you can guess the rest.

This was my first Samantha Young book, and I was happy with it! Her writing is simple (much appreciated) and fluid, and this story left me with a cheesy grin after I finished reading! If you like Lynn Painter, Sophie Kinsella or Sara Desai, I highly suggest diving into this one!

I loved this fake dating opposites attract grumpy sunshine sizzling romance.

Rafe is an uptight grumpy snob who comes from a successful background, with a grounded family. Star comes from hippie flighty parents, and is a gig worker with limited responsibility and a thirst for joy and happiness.

When they agree to fake date to get Rafe's family to stop setting him up with women, something magical happens.

I loved both characters immensely and I especially loved the evolution of each character. They were great together. And their chemistry was off the charts.

I loved this one so much how have I never heard of Samantha Young before?

Truly Amazing - Fanning Self!!

Absolutely genius! Star works gig jobs; both as characters (usually Disney) and as a line sitter. Her parents were bohemian, and she did not feel the urge to go to college. Right now her goal is to be happy. At one birthday party she meets Rafe Whitman, grumpy, judgmental and from a well-placed family. He is also a veterinarian, sigh.

Star sees him shortly thereafter while line sitting, and yells embarrassing things to him. He responds by deciding to hire her himself - to be his fake girlfriend. His family is pressuring him to marry, even sending women to his vet office with agendas.

Definitely opposites. She has a heart of gold. He wants her free-spirited attitude to make an impact on his family. It is clever, witty, hilarious and difficult. Both have family issues, and both are perfect for each other - but this agreement has an expiration date. You will love this!

***** I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book *****

What a fun rom com! Star spends her days a professional line sitter and character actor. In fact, she met Rafe dressed as Merida at his niece’s birthday party. Rafe is Star’s complete opposite, a buttoned up veterinarian who can’t understand not having a plan. Fake dating is not my favorite genre but this one works for me. There is a lot of humor and so much heart in this one.
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Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Star was raised by hippie parents and although her upbringing was not the best has a determination to be happy that I can’t help but admire. Always trying to bring a smile to people’s faces, and live a stress-free, no strings attached life is completely different than how Rafe Whitman lives his own. He is very structured, has expectations, and comes from a privileged family. He is tired of his mother and sister in law trying to set him up with various women and takes this leap of hiring Star so that she can give him six months of peace. What he doesn’t expect is to be drawn to this woman, not just for her spectacular looks, but also because of the way she has chosen to live her life. Reading about their journey and how they both change through this novel was rewarding and I realized how skilled this author was to draw me in by such a simple plot.

This plot may be simple, using trope’s I’ve read before, but Star was a completely new character to read and I really enjoyed seeing her open Rafe’s eyes, as well as transforming her own life to be a more complete person. It was interesting as well as heart warming. I truly enjoyed reading this book, it was a weekend well spent.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest!

This book was so good! I loved Rafe and Star chemistry. Lots of laugh out loud moments. No spoilers. Highly recommend! I was given advance copy for a voluntary review.

As with every Samantha Young book I've got my hands on, I've seriously loved them all. The Love Plot is definitely a grumpy/ Sunshine story that's a slow burn until it finally takes off about half way into the book. I love a book where the male character is dropped to his knees with a woman who is so his opposite he doesn't realize what's hit him until he's too deep into his feelings for her. Star was a free spirit who seriously swept Rafe off his feet, and everything I wanted the story to be was written in the end. Steamy chemistry between these two was well worth the wait. Didn't care for some of the family scenes, Hugo and Pippa were definitely idiots. Overall a great book that I was really looking forward to reading.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

En bref, j'ai été totalement embarquée par la romance entre Star et Rafe, ils sont tous les deux intenses, d'une manière très différente et j'ai apprécié de les voir tomber amoureux, parfois douter et parfois aller au bout des choses sans peur. Leur relation est forte mais ils vont devoir dépasser certaines choses pour être heureux. Les embûches sur leur route sont nombreuses, elles commencent par la famille et j'ai aimé les voir se battre pour ce qui compte pour eux, les voir comprendre leurs erreurs, les voir aller au bout de leurs idées et se donner à fond pour leur histoire. Les événements s'enchainent, je ne me suis pas ennuyée une seule seconde et le final est pour le moins chouette. J'ai adoré ce couple et ma lecture du début à la fin !!

Grumpy/Sunshine? ✅
Fake Dating? ✅
He falls first? ✅
Billionaire cinnamon roll? ✅

The tropes were all there and it was sooo good y’all! I loved how they met, their plan for the fake dating, their relationship development…all of it.

What didn’t I love? About 15% in the middle when Star was being a bit too much for me to handle. Was it necessary? Yes. Did I enjoy it? Not particularly.

I also wish we could have gotten some chapters from Rafe’s POV because I’m sure he would have had some incredible things to say. 😍😍

Overall, I enjoyed this 👍🏻

4.5 stars (release date 8-29-23)

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This book was a delight to read and I absolutely loved it! I could not stop reading and read it in one sitting. Now I'm bummed, because I would love to go back and read it again for the first time. Fake dating is my favorite romcom trope, so this book was *chef's kiss*. This is the first book I've read by this author, but now I can't wait to go back and read her previous works.

Star Shine Meadows and Rafe Whitman are the epitome of sunshine/grumpy characters. Star works as a costume character actor and line sitter - Rafe is a veterinarian. Star basically raised herself, loves her stress-free, ambition-free lifestyle, and no-strings-attached relationships. Rafe was raised within a loving family, is tense, uptight, and doesn't do casual. A chance meeting at a child's birthday party puts the duo into each other's lives. When Rafe asks Star to pretend to be his girlfriend for six months to get his matchmaking family off his back, Star sees it as a chance to earn enough money to take the road trip of her dreams. What neither expected was to fall in love.

I loved Star, and always dreamed of living her carefree life. Sadly, my type-A personality just can't do it. She is sweet, joyful, and tries not to let other people's hurtful comments affect her. It frustrated me how long she gave her parents a pass on how they treated her, but it kept her from becoming a bitter person, so I guess it was for the best. It's shocking that she was as well-balanced as she was. Well, except for the never being able to be in a committed relationship part. It's understandable she fears abandonment, which was a central theme for her throughout the book. Her personal growth throughout the book, subtle as it was, was wonderful to read.

Rafe was a typical gruff guy that had been hurt one too many times to trust. He keeps everyone except his family at a distance, and can't be bothered with anyone anymore. So, it's understandable that he thinks Star's optimistic outlook on life is fake. When he finally starts to let his walls down a bit and let her in, his gooey insides start to seep out and it's very sexy to read. I mean, c'mon. What woman doesn't melt a bit when the big tough guy shows his vulnerability? Amiright?

The chemistry between Star and Rafe was off the charts. Their teasing banter was so fun to read and the descriptions of Rafe's dimples and laugh were adorable. This book was such a rollercoaster and although I knew it was going to have a HEA, I still held my breath with each wall the couple encountered. Now, I hate the miscommunication trope almost as much as I love fake dating, but here the author handled it very well. It wasn't true miscommunication as much as it was two people working through their sh*t, but it still hurt my heart every time. I can't say enough great things and recommend you immediately pick this fantastic book up. You will not be disappointed.

I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from Berkley | Penguin Random House and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I love Rafe and Star. Samantha outdid herself with this book.

Rafe and Star's meet cute was definitely not cute. Rafe grumpiness should have turned Star off, but when she saw him next, she took the chance to learn more about the man who caught her eyes.

What follows is Rafe proposing a fake dating scheme to help Star with her goals and get his matchmaking family off his back. But when things get real, Rafe and Star have to decide if they want to end their arrangement or modify it.

Star and Rafe have so much banter and chemistry. While they had so many differences, they only enhanced their relationship and helped the other learn and grow.

Seeing Star open up to Rafe and fall in love was magic.

This is one of my favorite books from Samantha!

Tropes:
Grumpy Sunshine
He Falls First
Fake Dating
Opposites Attract
Slow Burn

***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.

I will forever love every book Samantha writes – both traditionally and independently published. But this might be my favorite of her romcoms yet!

I loved the energetic, spirited, and eccentric FMC, Star, who lives her life for enjoyment. A job is a job – not meant to be a career. And then she meets her complete opposite: grumpy, up-tight Rafe, who seems to not be able to deal with her…at least until he asks her to be his fake girlfriend.

I honestly love the chemistry between the opposites attract characters that Samantha writes – I just cannot get enough of them!

But these two characters aren’t just opposites – they also want opposite things in life. He’s sworn off love, but if he were to attempt it, it would be relationship-style all the way. And Star is a casual dater at best. But their chemistry is something neither of them can deny. You’ll have to pick it up to see what they decide!

Tropes:
- Fake dating
- Opposites attract
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Rich MC
- Free-spirited FMC
- Romcom
- Enemies to lovers
- Banter
- Polyamory rep (not between main characters)

This was my first Samantha Young book and I am officially a fan. The Love Plot is the perfect opposites attract, fake dating romance. I am a sucker for a good opposite attract, grumpy/sunshine trope and Star & Rafe absolutely delivered. Star and Rafe's chemistry pops off the pages and their banter is *chefs kiss*. I loved how they challenged each other. For two people who are sometimes complete opposites, they are not trying to model the other person to fit into their boxes.

What I did not expect from this fun romance was the emotional side of things. The emotional subjects blended well into the story and did not feel like they took away from the characters.

I absolutely loved this book and read it in one weekend!

Oh my goodness, I loved this one. Hello, opposites-attract, grumpy-sunshine, fake-dating goodness. Clearly you have been put on this earth to make me happy, and I thank you for that.

A costume character actor / professional line sitter is hired by a buttoned-up vet to play his girlfriend in this latest Samantha Young romantic comedy full of heart and heat.

They come from vastly different backgrounds. They have different romantic experiences and different ways of viewing the world. He’s a serial monogamist; she’s never been in a serious relationship.

Their first meeting is rough. Their second meeting is memorable, but not exactly friendly. Still, he sees her as the answer to his problems.

On paper, they don’t make sense, but the story shows that when it comes to love, the right person wants you just the way you are.

I highly recommend it.

I received an advance copy from Berkley and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

The Love Plot is an amazing mix of comedy, angst and romance with fun characters and intriguing plot. I loved everything about this book from the first page and found myself laughing out loud many times. Star and Rafe could not be more different in personality or upbringing. This is definitely a grumpy sunshine romantic comedy. Rafe has not had the best luck in previous relationships and Star comes from a family that has her terrified of anything that smacks of commitment. They start out "fake dating" but the attraction between them is strong and things progress. The Love Plot is filled with a cast of characters that I loved reading about, you get time with both Rafe and Star's families and they factor into the angst and drama that surrounds them. HIGHLY recommend diving into this charming, angsty romantic comedy!

My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book went super fast, the main characters are very lovable and easy to quickly connect with. I found it hard to put down.

I really enjoyed the opposites attract part of this book. Rafe was raised in a wealthy suburb with a supportive family, while Star was raised by hippie commitment-phobic parents. It brought up a lot of questions for me as a reader. Could this really work?

And it did. It really did. Star and Rafe were adorable together and the challenges they overcame together felt very real.

Also a special shout-out to the friend groups on both sides here, because they were a great support system and made this book even more enjoyable to read.

I gave it 4.5 stars because there were, in my opinion, some pretty unforgivable things said by side characters in this book that were brushed over quickly.

If you're a fan of Samantha Young or of sweet and endearing Rom-coms, you'll love this one.

Read if you love…
🌞Opposites Attract
☀️Fake Dating
☀️Polyamory Rep (side relationship)
☀️Small Town Romance
☀️He Falls First

4.5🌟
🌶️🌶️

Setting the bar for fake dating! All the spice and all the butterflies! This was just so freaking cute.

When easy going gig worker Star agrees to fake date grumpy vet Rafe to get his family off his back, their no-strings arrangement seems like it'll be easy. But as the tension reaches its breaking point, the two may find that opposites attract after all.

This book combined grumpy-sunshine, opposites attract and fake dating in a loveable package! The main characters are very genuine and easy to root for, The FMC is a SUNSHINE if you've ever seen one, after all she spends her time as a literal Disney princess as kids' birthday parties. The MMC is a grump, but a hot veterinarian grump who may not be all that he seems on the surface. I also appreciated the polyam rep, which I think was a first for me.

It was just such a pleasant and fun read that had me squealing one page and swooning on the next.

The Love Plot was such a fun read! Rafe and Star provide a wonderful mixture of grumpy and sunshine. Although their first meeting gets them off to a rocky start, he has an offer she can't refuse - he'll pay her to act like his girlfriend to keep his family off of his back. Seems simple, right? It is NEVER simple. It was such a joy to go through the pages of this book and watch as Star Sunshine Meadows does a very sunshiney number on Rafe Whitman's life and his heart in the best possible way. Their banter, their opening up to one another, their family dynamics - all contribute to this great story.