Phillip William Stover's "The Problem with Perfect" serves as a poignant reminder of the beauty and necessity of imperfection. The narrative invites readers to reflect on their own lives and the societal pressures that push us to aspire toward an unattainable ideal. Through a compassionate lens, Stover tackles the universal struggle of self-acceptance and the challenges that accompany the relentless pursuit of perfection. At the heart of Stover's work lies a profound understanding of the human experience. Many of us have felt the weight of expectation, whether from ourselves, our families, or society at large. Stover captures this sentiment beautifully, illustrating the internal conflicts and emotional turmoil that arise when we strive to meet unrealistic standards. The characters in his story become vessels for our own struggles, resonating with anyone who has ever felt inadequate or out of place. Their journeys remind us that we are not alone in our battles; rather, they highlight the shared human condition of grappling with self-worth and identity. Stover's empathetic approach to storytelling allows readers to explore the nuance of imperfection. He paints a vivid picture of the characters' vulnerabilities, showcasing their fears, insecurities, and the moments of self-doubt that many of us experience. This empathetic portrayal fosters a connection between the characters and the reader, encouraging us to acknowledge our own imperfections without shame. Stover skillfully demonstrates that it is through our flaws and struggles that we often find our greatest strengths and most meaningful growth. In "The Problem with Perfect," Stover also emphasizes the importance of community and the support we can offer each other in our journeys toward self-acceptance. The narrative illustrates how friendships and connections can provide solace and encouragement in times of uncertainty. By fostering an environment of understanding and compassion, we can help one another dismantle the unrealistic expectations that society imposes upon us. This message resonates deeply, reminding us that we are not only defined by our achievements but also by our ability to uplift one another in our shared humanity. Ultimately, Stover's work challenges us to redefine our understanding of perfection. It urges us to embrace the messy, imperfect, and beautiful aspects of life that make us who we are. The lessons imparted through the characters' journeys inspire us to cultivate self-compassion and to recognize that our worth is not contingent upon meeting arbitrary standards. Instead, we are reminded that it is our authenticity, resilience, and ability to connect with others that truly defines us. In conclusion, Phillip William Stover's "The Problem with Perfect" serves as a compassionate exploration of the struggles associated with the pursuit of perfection. Through an empathetic lens, we are invited to reflect on our own imperfections and the ways in which they shape our identities. As we navigate the complexities of life, let us embrace the beauty of our flaws and remember that perfection is not the goal; rather, it is our willingness to be authentic and to support one another that truly enriches our human experience.

I could not finish this book. After about 3 chapters I was so annoyed by all of the characters and the whining that I had to stop.

I received this ARC via NetGalley last year and am just now getting around to reading it 🙈

This was a cute romance that helped get me out of a bit of a slump. Ethan is a Type A television producer attempting to get ahead at all costs. Unfortunately the star of his show, Chase Myles, has gotten a big head from his burgeoning celebrity status. After an on set blow up Chase goes AWOL and Ethan is left without a star to handle the press leading up the the Pride parade. He convinces Chase's mountain man twin, Beau to step in and pretend to be Chase. But of course sparks fly and personalities clash. Will Ethan follow his heart or his head?

This book was and easy read rom com. Did it break new ground with the fake dating/miscommunication tropes? No. But it was well written and quippy. I also enjoyed that all the characters felt distinct. I'm holding out hope on a companion book all about Uncle Clams, Ethan's drag queen uncle, and his group the Giblet Triplets. They were a highpoint for sure.

4/5 ⭐

#bookreview #bookreviewsofinstagram #romcomreview #arcreview #lgbtbook #theproblemwithperfect #philipwilliamstover

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

A middle of the road MM rom com.

TV producer, Ethan Wells, finds himself in a bind when the diva star of his reality TV show Chase goes on an unplanned adventure, leaving Ethan at the mercy of the executives breathing down his neck. Ethan's has what he thinks is a stroke of brilliance when he manages to convince Chase's reclusive, yeti like twin brother to leave his yurt in the middle of nowhere and take over his brother's hectic, socialite lifestyle. What could go wrong?

I enjoyed this book, but there was nothing that stood out to wow me. Ethan was over the top neurotic in a way that made him almost unlikeable rather than endearing. Beau was too accomodating with his shenanigans and I think a bit of push back would have made for more conflict and therefore more chemistry.

I loved the found family and side characters. The representation is this is great. I just would have liked a bit more meat to the romance.

Thanks you NetGalley for my copy in exchange for review.

This book wasn't for me. Like, it was really good and I would defiantly recommend to other people. But it wasn't my favorite book in the world.

If you are looking for more books with queer representation, this one did not fail. It was honest, refreshing, and romantic and left me wanting a sequel.

Such an enjoyable read!! I really liked this book and was so happy I was given the opportunity to read it here at netgalley. Made me laugh out loud multiple times.

This was a cute enough romance. It just wasn't overly memorable for me. It includes a favorite trope of mine, fake dating, and I liked the added twist of a twin pretending to be the other one. Beyond that it was not a new favorite. I might recommend this one looking to read these tropes.

the romance couldve been such a good gay romance, but Ethan kept too many secrets for this to be enjoyable. I feel this shouldve been dual pov for me to enjoy it more.

While a romance, at its core this was a beautiful novel about community and had so much wonderful diversity including trans characters, bisexual characters, drag queens, poc, and so much more. This was very heartwarming.

Lovely sweet story of Ethan trying to be perfect in his job with exhausting responsibilities. As Chase, the host of his lifestyle show fled for parts far away, he grabbed his twin brother Beau to help finish his tasks. Over time realizing he lost his passion, his direction and himself. Beau was a great person for him and together they were adorable. Ethan’s family and friends were an added beautiful bonus. The ending was cute. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

This is a sweet rom-com that manages to deliver a light romance alongside a critical look at the superficial image we present on social media and at the discrepancy between that perfect image and reality.
When the star of 'Myles of Styles', Chase Myles, walks off set of the lifestyle programme a few weeks before Pride, producer Ethan finds a way to honour the show's commitments: he strikes a deal with Chase's twin brother Beau, who has been living off-grid. Beau agrees to step in as Chase. But the two brothers are total opposites, and while Beau can easily pass for his brother in a photo, they are completely different people. Can Ethan and Beau pull off the switch?

I really enjoyed The Problem With Perfect - it was a funny read, Beau was an absolute delight of a main character, and I could appreciate Ethan's need for control. Aren't we all at times guilty of wanting to project that perfect image? Pick this up if you're after a smut-free diverse romance with plenty of heart and a light side-order of social commentary.

Bisschen QUEER EYE, bisschen UNREAL und Das doppelte Lottchen in zickig und grumpy. Ja das passte für mich echt gut. Ethan ist das organisatorische Brain hinter einer queeren Lifestyle Sendung deren Star Chase ist. Ethan ist ein Kontrollfreak und Chase nicht die hellste Kerze im Leuchter und bekannt für seine Wutausbrüche. Und offiziell sind beide auch noch das schwule Vorzeigepaar des Senders. Das am Set jeder auf Eierschalen herumläuft dass Chase keinen Ausraster bekommt ist ein offenes Geheimnis und tja, man kennt es. Ethan ist gefrustet weil die Show immer oberflächlicher geworden ist und die Sponsorenverträge immer blödsinniger. Da kommt es gerade recht dass die Show mal den Thanksgiving-Slot betreuen soll und endlich ernst genommen wird. Pustekuchen ... Chase macht seinem Namen alle Ehre und haut ab. Und nachdem Ethan Chase nicht ge-chased bekommt muss ein Plan B her ... Beau. Der grumpy verlotterte Zwilling mit Geldproblemen. Der gute wird gequeereyed und darf in die Rolle seines Bruders schlüpfen ... und kommt so viel besser beim Publikum und Ethan an.... wer hätte es gedacht. Auch wenn alles recht vorhersehbar ist mochte ich das Buch echt sehr und es ist tatsächlich deeper als es den Eindruck macht.

The Problem with Perfect is a cute queer book centered around reality tv! Overall, I enjoyed this but was wanting a little more from it. I really liked Beau but found Ethan a little annoying at some points. I wish we could have gotten a little more at the end. I would have liked everything to have been developed a little more! I felt like the resolution was developed enough! If you like queer romances with great side characters and reality tv than this would be a great one for you to pick up!

Overall, a 3.5 for me!

The problem with perfect had a few problems. The pacing felt off and the story was far-fetched. The idea was cute but not well executed.

This book is the very definition of a romcom. The story hinges on many completely implausible and ridiculous scenarios. So some of my problems with this book were more of a me problem. I might be looking for a level of depth rarely reached in the average romcom. The main challenge for me was how completely unlikable Ethan is. The story is told in the first person from his POV. He's shallow and judgey and while he does show some growth by the end of the book, it feels like he so completely relies on Beau to get there. Beau was a delight though - I almost DNFed at 12% but decided I should wait until I met the love interest and I'm glad I stuck it out because the book does have a satisfying ending. I did also enjoy Ethan's found family but most of the other secondary characters were pretty one dimensional.

By the end of this book it almost crept up to 3.5 stars for me and I would definitely give the author another try in a non-romcom format.

This book is hilarious and adorable and would make an amazing little rom-com. Philip William Stover has given his characters room to be unique and sharp and say actually very funny things. While it's a bit preposterous that hyper-online Chase just goes off the grid for months and gruff Beau is so willing and able to replace him, the whole thing is done so well and with such heart that you end up not caring very much about the logic of it all. It's just fun.

Audiobook Review:
Overall – 5
Performance – 5
Story – 5

The author’s letter at the end was perfect.

Confession: I received a review copy of the eBook of The Problem with Perfect from NetGalley but I didn’t read it. Why? Because I found out that one of my favorite audiobook performers was doing the audio for Tantor. So, I waited for it to become available then things happened and I just now made time to listen to it. I loved it!

The blurb pretty much says everything you need to know about the story but I need to say how much I liked all of the characters. I even liked Chase who I’m sure we were supposed to dislike. The voice that John Solo used for his character was so perfect. All of the voices he used were really fantastic and made listening to this story such a pleasure.

Beau did such good things for Ethan. Not only helping him out of a jam but also helping Ethan realize that he wasn’t really following his dream by producing Myles of Style.

I was particularly happy that the audiobook included a reading of the author’s letter at the end of the story. It was a very heartfelt letter about his reasons for writing this book and it really touched me. This was my third Philip William Stover book and I’ve loved all of them.

p.s. I’ve read some of the less complimentary reviews and don’t quite understand them but to each his own; no book is a good fit for every reader who picks it up. I will say that I think listening to the audiobook may have enhanced my enjoyment of this story and I’m really glad I chose to wait and listen to it.

A review copy of the eBook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.

***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***

This is one of the harder book reviews to write because there want really anything I didn’t like but there wasn’t a lot that stood out to me as what I loved.

It is a solidly average book with a great overall message. If you can get there. The characters all have their moments where you love them and when you hate them. The ending was gratifying if not just a little too perfect. And the overall idea was fun, if not done before.