Sounds Like a Plan by Pamela Samuels Young & Dwayne Alexander Smith
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Two rival private investigators, Mackenzie Cunningham and Jackson Jones, decide to team up after they both have been hired to find a missing person. It becomes clear, there’s more to this case than just a missing person and soon they are both caught up in deadly chase, with only each other to trust.

Y’alllllll I. ate. this. book. UP!!

The banter is top notch. Mackenzie is a total badass and it is sooo action packed!! I will say I was not the biggest fan of Jackson’s POV at times, but I adored the way he views Mackenzie and his narrative about her 🥹

I can’t wait to read the second book in the series, Sounds Like Trouble, which comes out on 7/08!

💕 Thank you so much Atria book for the gifted copy



Review will be posted to instagram on 4/18

Jackson and Mac are private investigators in Los Angeles. Unbeknownst to each other, both are hired to find a dying mother’s missing daughter. When they get framed for murder, the two are forced to team up to try and solve the case. As they try to solve the case, they start to have feelings for each other. Will they solve the case and clear their names?

The plot is filled with themes of mystery, romance, and is well written. The narrative is witty and draws the reader into the story. The characters are well developed, unique, and engaging. The character dynamics are believable and draws the reader into the characters’ world. Readers who like comedy, mystery, and romance will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most public library collections. 5 stars, ADULT

"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 evolve 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."

Murder mystery/rom-com is definitely a favorite genre mashup of mine. I really enjoy the dual POV and how the FMC and MMC played off of each other. An engaging storyline with enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. I'm curious to see how the sexual tension between Jackson and Mackenzie plays out in the next book.

Tropes include but are not limited to:
Only one bed
Touch her and die
Rivals to partners

4.75 rounded up

Thanks @netgalley and @atriabooks for a digital copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

#romcom #murdermystery #diversebooks #bookreview #netgalley #coverlove #supportblackauthors

Part rom-com, part suspense, pure fun! This was one of those books that may not have been the most believable, but I was fully along for the ride!

This is a quick fun read following two private investigators that are initially pitted against each other, but eventually have to learn to work together. The attraction is undeniable and resisting it is hard. I liked the personalities of both characters and enjoyed their banter. I listened to the audiobook and really liked the narration and the way it brought the story to life.

This was a fun and exciting read! There is a murder mystery and a romance - incredibly fast paced and very entertaining. Definitely a fun book for the summer!

I have been reading this book throughout today and somehow completely forgot to update my progress...oops...but I finished it in one day!

This is a super quick story about two rival investigators who have to team up to solve a disappearance-turned-murder.

This was fun, but could definitely get quite unbelievable at times. These main characters were likable and funny. And I could totally see this turned into a romcom movie. I really think that would work so well.

I do think that the cover is a bit creepy, mainly because of his beard. Rendering facial hair is difficult and this comes across as creepy and off-putting and I don't know why. Sorry, I know that's not important, but I thought I'd share my feelings on it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

I did not realize this book was released in 2024, I think the reason it is on Net Galley is because the second book came out and the publishers want readers to have access to both? I accidentally requested both of them not realizing it was two books as the covers were very similar. No wonder!

That being said, the blurb for this book made it seem like there would be fun banter in a detective setting. I love workplace romances with some banter and mystery thrown in.
This book is DARK though? The missing persons case is to try to find a runaway daughter of a terminally ill mom who has two weeks to live. If you have any sort of family trauma or anxiety or trauma related to family issues, this could be a massive trigger. Please be aware this is what the book seems to be about. I unfortunately had to stop reading around them as it caused a head spin. I avoid plots with generational trauma currently as it is too triggering, and this one was a bit too much for me. I really wish the missing person’s case was anything else, as I could have loved to continue reading this one.

Thank you for allowing me to sample this eARC. I am leaving this honest feedback voluntarily.

This was a fun read! I enjoyed the mystery and all the twists and turns - I had no idea what was coming next and definitely didn’t see the ending coming! I’m looking forward to seeing Mac and Jackson back in action in the second book, and hope that we get to learn more about some of the side characters.

So, the mystery? Pretty good. The MMC? Super annoying. If you can deal with the mans POV putting down women and thinking hes Gods gift to women, it's a decent read!

sigh....
this one didn't hit for me the way that I was hoping it would.
i didn't hate it but i didnt love it either. would still recommend.

I ended up DNFing this book, I could not get past the writing as well as the utterly mysoginistic POV from the MMC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I had some high hopes for this one, but I was overall bored. I really liked the idea of this one, and it had an interesting premise, but it never roped me in.

I could see this being a hit for some, but I just never latched on to this one. I did like the length, and that’s a big bonus for me.

The premise was very intriguing and I wanted to love it, but the MMC is too misogynistic for me.
The mystery didn't draw me in like I wanted it to; I prefer a fair play mystery and this just didn't scratch the itch for me.

Thanks to Atria for the ebook. All opinions are my own.

Jackson and Mackenzie are both private investigators who are hired for the same case, unbeknownst to each other. With a third person also hired for the missing persons, they pair up to try and find Ashley. Things aren't as they seem though and they quickly find themselves being the target of the hunt.
Opinion
This was hands down a fabulous read. I love how Jackson and Mackenzie both went into the unwilling partnership with preconceived notions that were put to rest quite efficiently.
The story was a quick read because it was moving so fast. I can only hope that this dynamic duo joins forces again in another book.
Many thanks to Net Galley and to Atria Books for providing me with a copy of this ARC.

Wow, this was my first book by this author and I would for sure read one. What a ride! I enjoy the suspense, romance, and the pacing throughout.

Thanks to Net Galley and Atria books for the advanced copy of this book. This was a fun concept, however it didn’t quite hit the mark to keep me hooked. I had a hard time connecting to the characters and didn’t find myself invested in the story. Ultimately, I didn’t end up finishing the book because I wasn’t interested enough to find out what happened.

this was a decent read but it wasnt really a afvrity. if youre looking for a fast paced read with some twists this might be the fit for you.

A fun enjoyable read. Two detectives falling in love. First time reading these authors. Thanks for my copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was excited to read this because it sounded like it could have the same fun, fast-paced energy as the Finlay Donovan series—mixing mystery, romance, action, and humor. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

One of the things I found interesting was the fact that two authors were working together, which meant the characters' voices felt distinct. However, I ended up liking Mackenzie’s chapters far more than Jackson’s. Jackson’s chapters had a lot of misogynistic undertones that made it really hard to enjoy his character. I kept getting frustrated by his behavior, especially when he insulted someone’s intelligence by suggesting they must be “on the spectrum” as an insult. This felt harmful and wrong, and it was at that point that I completely lost interest in his character and any potential for him to be redeemed.

The plot itself moves quickly, which kept me hooked. It’s an interesting setup with two private investigators who clearly don’t get along but have to work together. It was fun watching them clash, even though it felt a little over the top at times.

There’s supposed to be a slow-burn romance between Mackenzie and Jackson, and while it’s clear they’re meant to end up together, I didn’t really feel the connection. Mackenzie seemed like she deserved someone better than Jackson, especially considering his casual misogyny and a tendency to drop brand names constantly. He couldn’t mention his car without bringing up the make and model, and it got really old really quickly.

Overall, the book was okay, but it wasn’t a favorite. It worked as a light read between heavier books, but there were enough issues—misogyny, ableism, and an underwhelming romance—that I didn’t love it. If you're looking for something quick with a few twists and don’t mind some darker themes like murder and violence, this might work for you. But just know, Jackson’s attitude can be tough to handle.