Thanks to NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book to read.

Sadly, I wish I hadn't wasted my time. Don't get me wrong, at about 40% through, I ended up getting a *little* sucked into the suspense so I skimmed the rest of the book to figure out what happened, what was going on, and what would end up happening with Jackson and Mackenzie but overall, I sadly wouldn't recommend this book.

I had high hopes because the premise seemed interesting and I love a good rivals to lovers story. But both characters were very underdeveloped. Their respective POVs were poorly written with very little depth, banter that never went anywhere, and nothing about them made me remotely like them whatsoever.

The mystery and story they were trying to solve also seemed very haphazardly put together, again with no depth and ideas/theories/storylines just thrown together. The ending, which had a little "twist," was still so childish and I found myself rolling my eyes so many times.

Unfortunately, this was not a good read for me.

Mackenzie Cunningham is a PI in Ingelwood trying to make a name for herself without her family’s money or support, Jackson Jones is also a PI but only caters to the wealthy. Both of them are contacted separately by a man wanting them to find a missing girl. Once they find out they were both contracted to find her it becomes a race to find the girl and get the big paycheck.

Rivals to lovers is only second to enemies to lovers in my book so instantly I like where this was going. And I thought it was so fun! A bit predictable but the chemistry and vibes were there. It felt very ready to be on screen and I would totally want to watch that movie or series. And hope there are more books to come 🤞

A little note: there were I think three lines that could have had a sensitivity reader… a little casual fat phobia and ableism. They didn’t make me write off the book but I did cringe 😬

First, I want to shout out the cover designer for this because it was one of the big reasons I was excited about the book. I thought the mystery was compelling and I was really kept guessing until the climax. That said, I did find it hard to suspend disbelief at the most gruesome plot points. And I was also disappointed that the characters felt underdeveloped, so it was difficult for me to become invested in the story.

This was a cute mystery, will they, wont they romance. The banter between the two characters was mostly enjoyable. The case they were solving hit all the right comedic/mystery beats. It was predictable while still being enjoyable. There’s room for improvement and seeds of a sequel have been planted.

Sounds like a Plan ended up being a good book. When initially started reading it, I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue. But realizing the story had to be built, I continued to read and I’m glad I did. We meet 2 PI’s, Mac and Jackson, who have both been hired to work on the same case to find someone and then the case goes left. And that is when the action and plot really start to get good. While Jackson and Mac figure out what is going on, they are fighting their attraction to each other. You should read this book if you are looking for a good suspenseful/mystery book.

Loved the ending and would love for this to be a series where they team up personally and professionally. I am definitely a fan now of this book duo and author duo!

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in advance in return for my honest review.

These two PIs are unexpectedly given the same case and have to work together to solve it. It was a fast paced mystery with dual POVs. I really enjoyed that aspect of it, The build up of characters and solving the mystery kept me intrigued in the story. While I overall enjoyed the story and characters the book in general isn't one that I would pick up again to re read which is why I didn't give it the full stars. But I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.

SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN is a Pamela Samuels Young and Dwayne Alexander Smith novel. This novel is a clean, contemporary mystery romance that follows Makenize and Jackson.

There are two PIs. In one case, the first to the finish line scores 50,000.

The old adage, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is- is the crux of this story.

Mackenzie comes from an affluent family and eschews the opulence of her childhood. Preferring TJ Maxx over Niema Marcus. After a long career in journalism, she pivots to private investigation, more to shock her mother than a passion for PI.

Jackson is the opposite. His childhood poverty validates his need for the finer things in life. His career choice was made for him after being shunned as a detective for testifying against a fellow officer.

This was a pallet cleansing book for me. The plot was fast-paced, and the topics were light and nuanced. For this to be a romance, though, even a clean one, I was expecting more in terms of character development. This book would have been better characterized as a mystery or general fiction. There were minimal sparks, and it was hard to be invested in these characters budding relationship. It didn't help that it ended with them technically scheduling a first date.

Overall, it was a fun book and an easy read. This book is set to be published on July 9th this year!

A warmest thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and Atria Publishing for this e-ARC. All thoughts expressed were my own.

Fun and fast paced. I did find the characters a bit weak though, and the first half was not nearly as great as the second half. Thanks for the arc

Sounds like a plan by Pamela Samuels Young and Dwayne Alexander Smith is a quick read about two private investigators - each hired for the same case.

We have dual point of views of both Mackenzie and Jackson, and I especially enjoyed Mackenzie's. She's easy to relate to, her dialogue was spot on and I rooted for her (and Jackson) from the beginning.

It's a fast paced thriller and the build up of the attraction between Mackenzie and Jackson was both believable and enjoyable.

I hope this is the start of a new series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Description:
Reluctantly joining forces after discovering they’ve both been hired on the same missing person case, two rival Black private investigators find their mutual dislike evolves into an undeniable attraction in this rollicking, romantic thrill ride told in alternate perspectives from award-winning authors Dwayne Alexander Smith and Pamela Samuels Young.

Pub Date: July 9, 2024

My Take:
A cozy start to a new team up series, these two PIs give Black "Moonlighting" vibes with updated cultural references. Read this for an action-packed afternoon or evening.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-arc in change for an honest review.

I greatly enjoyed reading Sounds Like a Plan as it was fast paced and action filled. This book was the perfect palate cleanser and is a great book for anyone who likes books that are happy in the end, action filled in the middle, and world building in the beginning.

The only reason I didn’t rate the book higher was due to the flow of the book and the way I had a difficult time connect with and liking the characters themselves. Overall, I read this book enjoying the idea of what what happening and where with was headed. I hope to read another book by the author duo in the future and maybe reread this one after time away to see if I enjoy it more.

Strong voice, fun premise, a bit over-narrative but still easy to read. I stopped after chapter 2 (5%) but I imagine an easy three to four stars for fans of the authors.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC.

A snappy, fast-paced mystery.

We get alternating points of view and glimpses into Mackenzie’s and Jackson’s thoughts (I preferred Mackenzie’s POV but did appreciate how distinct the voices were). Based on the premise, I was expecting Jackson and Mackenzie to be long-time rivals with competing private investigation firms - however, they meet each other for the first time early in the story. I think the story really picks up around the half-way point and I appreciated the build up between the characters and the unfolding of the mystery.

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

3.5 stars. Read an ARC of this book. Quick read, read in one day- a romance/mystery. Suspense and mystery with some humor at times. Story told in alternating perspectives. Was predictable at times, although the ending did have a twist.