Wooho this was undoubtedly one fantastic read that won my heart so quickly. Its journey of intense emotion, yearning, banter, fun, entertaining and off the charts chemistry. Plus, loved how engaging and simple the writing style was!

I really enjoyed this grumpy/sunshine storyline. Rafe and Star had great banter and chemistry in spades. I also enjoyed the underlying theme of accepting and loving who you are and not fitting into a mold. A sexy/swoon worthy Veterinarian also added a hotness factor. Definitely worth the read.

A fun little grumpy-sunshine romance set in New York. I could easily picture Star in her Merida costume, swishing and smiling her way into Rafe's scowling heart.

I’m kinda in love with everything about Samantha Young’s The Love Plot. It’s the perfect combo of character driven plot, swoony-vibes and feel good butterflies. Not to mention the times I got got pretty emosh, too.

There’s nothing better than riding the book high that is finishing a wonderful read. Prepare for the wholly satisfied happy sigh on completion.
⁣
If you love a non-conformist heroine and a grumpy but studly hero, this one is definitely for you!

Star Shine Meadows has been raised by artist parents who reject consumerism, careers, and traditional marriage, and their influence means she skipped college, doesn’t do exclusive relationships, and works several jobs, including one as a character actor for parties. When she encounters Rafe Whitman at a children’s birthday party while she is dressed as a Disney princess, he has nothing but disdain for her and her work, and she responds by cheerfully needling him, at the party and at their next encounter when she’s line sitting for pay.

For some reason, Rafe decides this antagonist person is the best choice to get his marriage-minded matchmaking sister and mother off his back, and hires Star to date him (it turns out his sister-in-law Pippa was the host of the party they met at, so it’s easy to fabricate a meet cute). A hardworking and dedicated veterinarian, Rafe has a soft and sweet side and they hit it off for realsies, and decide to end the paid arrangement. Even though Rafe accepts Star and apologies for judging her life choices harshly, his family is less accepting. His brother outright rejects her, causing a rift; his sister hooks her up with a career track job and a professional wardrobe to match, and Star begins to ditch her friends to stay at Rafe’s apartment. It doesn’t take long before she is unrecognizable to her friends and to herself, and the third-act breakup ensues, even after Rafe shows up for her when Star goes to nurse his dad (abandoned by her selfish mother) following a scheduled surgery.

The novel delves into issues of intimacy and vulnerability and the damage well-meaning parents due. Star’s voice is immediate and unfiltered; I might have liked a bit more editing and nuance, but it did fit her vibrant personality, which was authentic from design to dress to speech.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #TheLovePlot from #NetGalley.

So, it turns out that I really like listening to Samantha Young's books. The Love Plot by Samantha Young is such a cute contemporary romance - with some serious moments. The story follows Star Shine Meadows, a gig worker who is very much a sunshine sort. She is playing Princess Merida for a party when she meets veterinarian Rafe, who is moody and just not interested in interacting with her. She's instantly attracted to him though. Flash forward a few weeks later, and Star Shine is waiting in line for the latest iPhone, this is one of her paid gigs and Rafe walks by. He offers her a job - she needs to fake date him for six months. This will give him some breathing room from his mom and sister trying to matchmake up. Star will also earn enough money that she can travel, which is a huge deal. Of course, the two better not catch feelings, that's not part of the plot or the deal.

I truly enjoyed The Love Plot. Star is a delight - she's warm and kind and accepting. She loves animals. Her life is absolutely not one I would like to live, she's very bohemian, but she's such a great person. I could see why eventually Rafe fell for her. I could also see why she fell for Rafe. It's the whole grumpy sunshine dynamic, on steroids. I also enjoyed learning about why Star is the way she is -- as we met her parents who are selfish and aging hippies. It's all very interesting. And a great moment for Rafe too. There is spice in this book but nothing that felt overwhelming - I thought it was perfect. The audiobook is narrated by Savannah Peachwood who did an excellent job. I was fully engaged throughout this whole book. It was such a solid contemporary romance.

I wanted to love this one. I think that it was set up to be a fun romcom, and I think that most others will probably enjoy this book a lot. I just personally did not connect with the characters in the way I hoped to. I laughed some, and I thought that the fake dating was fun. But overall this one fell a little flat for me.

This book was cute!!! I really enjoyed Rafe and Star's love story!! This book also has a great grumpy x sunshine trope mixed with opposites attract and fake dating 😉.
Star Meadows met Rafe at his niece’s birthday party where she was dressed up as Merida from Brave. (She’s a costume character actor so she’ll attend any event that needs her to dress up as someone.) I’m going to be honest I wasn’t a big fan of Rafe at first with the first interaction that he and Star had. But he started to grow on me as the book continued!! Plus he’s a vet and he loves animals so that’s an immediate green flag for me 🤭. They ended up meeting again after that interaction and he made her an offer to fake date him. Which we all love that trope and that’s what immediately drew me to this book. Now his family I wasn’t a big fan of how they treated Star when she talked about her parents and her life growing up and especially about her jobs. Just because someone doesn’t have a career or a job you think is worth much doesn’t mean you have to be disrespectful about it. But I love Rafe for sticking up for her and his protectiveness!

I love Samantha Young's books; she didn't disappoint with this one. This is the story of a free soul that is Star
. She works odd jobs and wants to travel, but career and school are not her jam. In came Rafe, who is a Vet and has a pushy family to deal with

They start a plan to fake a date so Star can gain the money to travel and Rafe can trick his family into leaving him alone.

Of course, feelings started to grow - I just loved the events that left these two in a loving relationship, and Star learned and grew so much.
Highly recommended

As always a fabulous story from Samantha young! A great story and the characters are described so well you can visualise them all and the highs and lows of the story. It’s a great book and worth a read

Thank you Berkley for the gifted e-copy.

I loved this book so much! I flew through it in a day, and didn't want it to end. The perfect combination of grumpy meets sunshine and opposites attract. Star is a free spirited girl that dresses up for kids birthday parties and is a professional line sitter. She was raised by hippie parents and was a commitment-phobe. She's hired by Rafe, a straight laced vet, to be his fake girlfriend to get his parents off his back about settling down. I'm sure you can figure out what happens next...

Star is so fun and I hated that she was considering changing who she is to make Rafe's family happy. I wanted to shake her! I loved that Rafe wanted her to stay true to herself, too. He was more patient with her than I expected, and man did she have some issues to deal with (thanks to her parents).

The steamy bits in this book were really good too - well written and the perfect amount of description.

Now...how about a book about Rafe's little sis, Gigi??

I love this story! The banter, the tension, the way these two fall, it is fantastic.
Rafe and Star stole my heart. I loved the pain and worry in my chest; I loved the laugh out loud moments. These two are so dang cute together!

What a roller coaster of emotions this story holds. The vulnerability, the honesty, the trust. I loved watching Star find her way. She is such a delight and so full of life and love. I love the way Rafe looks at Star, the way he always supports her, the way he loves her so hard and wants her to be herself, and the fierceness in which he is always protecting her. These two couldn’t be better opposites attract, and while it’s a bumpy road, it is so beautiful watching them fall into each other.

This story is wonderful! Filled with banter, beautiful moments, and a love you feel deep within, you will fall in love with these two beautiful characters. One of my top faves of Samantha Young’s stories!

“It doesn’t bother you that I don’t know what I want beyond wanting to be happy?”
“Just honored I get to be there to watch you find what it is you want.”

smoldering/cranky vet and a free spirited heroine enter into a fake dating arrangement to get his family off of their matchmaking obsession.

This is a grump/sunshine trope as well as fake dating!

While Rafferty, aka Rafe, was very off putting at first, his brooding and demeanor started to change the more he got to know Star and her quirks. I found myself swooning for him and come on… who doesn't love a hot vet??

Star was a VERY different heroine than I am used to and her hippie upbringing, group of polyamorous friends, and loose parents had me a little skeptical at first but I found myself also melting to her sunshine personality and outlook on life. Never has there been a character more true to herself!

I love a good fake dating book and this did not disappoint!

The Love Spot by Samantha Young was such a fun read about opposites attract and fake dating. Full of sunshine and rainbows, Star is easy-going, caring and overall positive person who lives her life as she pleases. It is really hard to not like her. Rafe on the other hand is reserved, grumpy and takes life seriously. When they first meet, he is not nice to her and yet, when they meet again, he makes an offer she can’t refuse. Now they are fake dating to appease his family. And though they don’t always get along in the beginning, the more time they spend together, the more lines blur.

In the beginning these two are so different from each other. They come from such different families and background. Could they ever truly work? And yet they shared some fun and steamy chemistry and witty banter. I absolutely loved watching them fall. Their journey was so much fun to read.

Happy reading!

My thoughts: I am SO behind on book review I am so sorry y’all!! I just started school again so trying to find my routine has been rough 🤪that being said I read this two weeks ago and here are my thoughts 😂this one was a fun romance but nowhere near as charming as the first book I read by her Much Ado About You. I thought they were a great couple and the chemistry was 🔥🔥but by the end some of his family members were just so awful I just didn’t want Star to end up with him 😂 there’s a big trend in romance books lately where the woman has to change for the man and I’m just not crazy about it. Overall this was fun and spicy but not the cutest romance. Thank you @berkleyromance and @netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

I love a grumpy/sunshine troupe, add in fake dating and opposites attract? Feed it to me.
I thought this was a fun, easy rom-com. I liked that even though the main character projected a this is who I am vibe, we could see her struggle with insecurity. I always enjoy a Samantha Young book!
<i> Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing this advance reader's copy for an honest review. </i>

Samantha Young is one of my new favorite writers. I am glad I have found her. The Love Plot doesn't disappoint about a grumpy man and a sunshine woman who start out fake dating and eventually falls in love.

Thank you for the advanced copy.

: I loved this story and the unique, quirky characters! Star is a very bohemian spirit, raised by hippies hence the name Star Shine Meadows. For work she’s a character actor and line sitter, doesn’t believe in monogamy and is perfectly happy with her life. Until she meets Rafe, her complete opposite. He’s reserved, traditional and comes from a wealthy family. And when he makes her an offer to fake date him, her imperfectly curated world is turned upside down.

Despite their differences, the two of them are so sweet and balance each other out. I love how Rafe is so accepting of Star and likes her as she is. He doesn’t want to change her at all. And she embraces his straight laced quirks as well.

It was also interesting to see them both try and fit in each other’s lives given their very different lifestyles. They both have to overcome expectations their friends and families have of their significant other.

Read For:
💥 Opposites Attract
☀️ Grump/Sunshine
🖤 Fake Dating
🏡 Found Family
💰 Rich Society Family
📍 New York Setting

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️/ 5

4.5 Stars

This book! I absolutely loved it. The story, the characters, the writing style, the humor, the depth, all of it was just fantastic. I haven't read many of Samantha Young's romantic comedies, but I can tell you I will definitely be going back to read the one's I've missed and I will hands down be reading anything she publishes in the future. Rafe and Star were such fun characters that I was rooting for from the start, and the way their story played out was exactly what I wanted and needed.

Star is practically the definition of a free spirit working a couple of jobs that no one sees as a career or with any kind of ambition. Rafe is a grumpy, ambitious, veterinarian trying to live his life the way he wants while also dodging his families schemes to find him "the one". Star and Rafe don't make sense on paper, but she just might be the perfect person to help him get his family off his back, and he might have the solution to help her accomplish her dreams of traveling.

Seriously, Rafe and Star are the perfect definition of opposites attract, and while they might not make sense, the way the two of them work together is just perfect. I loved how Rafe from the very start only wanted Star to be herself. He never pushed her to be someone else and the way he cared for her was just the absolutely swooniest. I love how he tried to understand her and how he always supported her, and I love the way she tried her hardest with him in return. There was definitely a little bit of a miscommunication trope here, but I honestly really appreciated that everything wasn't drawn out, once they recognized the lack of communication, they worked to resolve it, and I loved that it was both of them working on their relationship, not just one of them fighting for the other. This is easily one I would recommend to anyone who enjoys the following.

✔️ Grumpy/Sunshine
✔️ Opposites Attract
✔️ Fake Dating
✔️ He Falls First
✔️ Only One Bed
✔️ First Person Single POV

There were definitely some sweet and swoon-worthy moments in this book! Star is a very quirky fmc and because of that I couldn’t quite relate to her a lot which probably dropped my enjoyment. I also had some issues with the mmc’s family dynamics and found it to be pretty frustrating.

I also wish we got more of the pining from the fake dating aspect, but I did enjoy Rafe as a mmc! It just felt like a lot was going on in the book at once with so many plot lines. Overall, not a favorite of mine but some moments were still enjoyable!

Tropes:
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Fake dating
- NYC setting
- Quirky characters