This story did not work for me and will probably be suited for another audience. I did not finish and will not be giving feedback. I found myself getting confused with plot points and did not care for the MMCs POV

I was enjoying the first half of the book and the way the plot was unfolding, but I honestly got confused and lost interest towards the second half. I hated the sexist and misogynistic comments that Jackson kept making about Mackenzie. Also, as the story began to climax things got chaotic and unrealistic for me.

It is official - I am in my mystery/romance era. I have read a few of them this year - and I just can't get enough. So I was thrilled to get an advanced Copy of Sounds Like a Plan, which is out on July 9.

Jackson and Mackenzie are private investigators, and their paths have never crossed. They have very different approaches - Jackson is flashy, with fancy suits and cars. Mackenzie keeps a much lower profile. When they find themselves on the same missing persons case, hired by the same client, they could not get along less. But a common enemy brings them together, and their chemistry jumps off the page.

When one missing person spirals into several murders, it becomes clear that Jackson and Mackenzie are the next targets. So of course they find themselves at a hidden cabin in the middle of the woods!

This was SO fun. The twists, the turns and the fire chemistry. I enjoyed the alternating perspectives, and the mystery was fast paced and kept me guessing. Big thanks to NetGalley and Atria for letting me read this one early!

I hate to give books less than 3 stars but I just couldn't justify 3 stars. I disliked this book. The writing wasn't great and the male's pov was abhorrent. Ugh. Not a great book. The premise sounded promising. I usually enjoy the private investigator trope. This book was not for me.

SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN sounded so promising. It sounded like a book I would really enjoy. However, it definitely did not meet expectations. I have never read a book that has so casually thrown in sexual assault as a plotline so many times. This approach not only felt insensitive but also undermined the gravity of some really serious issues.

Also, the male main character and love interest is supposed to be a 'good guy' and 'a nice guy' and 'not terrible like other men', but whenever it's his POV, he was literally just ogling the woman. Did he ever treat her with any respect? No, not really, but that is supposedly because they are 'rivals'. Eye roll! Also, we're supposed to believe he treats all women like they're his equals solely because he's nice to his daughter. Boooo, overdone. Lots of men have wives and daughters that they're nice to –– that doesn't mean they respect women. If I couldn't throw this e-galley across the room, I would've.

Sounds Like a Plan by Pamela Samuels Young & Dwayne Alexander Smith is an interesting suspenseful romance with the setup of two private investigators being hired for the same case & one big cash reward. The adventure that follows is quite the wild ride with a lot going on

Sounds Like a Plan is great for fans of…
🖤 Romantic Suspense
🖤 Private Investigators
🖤 Action Adventure

This is an easy to get lost in story of action, intrigue & adventure with a fascinating couple. If you don’t take things too seriously, it is a light-hearted enjoyable suspenseful romance. My ADHD got the best of me in the last third of the book but I still enjoyed it. I could see this being made into a fun TV movie.

Massive thanks to NetGalley & Atria Books for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.


Because I gave it 3 stars, I will not be sharing my review anywhere else.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this advanced reader copy! The premise of this book is unique and I can see this being developed into an ongoing series, or even a tv show. I started reading this expecting it to be a romance with a little bit of action, but it was the total opposite. The romance, or tension, between Mackenzie and Jackson was secondary to the plot. I didn’t predict the twists and turns in this book, which I appreciated. However, the male characters in this book are very misogynistic. And the dialogue seemed to be a bit outdated even though the book is supposed to be set in present day. Overall, I recommend reading if you’re looking for something a bit different than a traditional romance novel.

Thank you for this copy and I was very excited for the book, however it just fell flat for me. I couldn’t get into the story and there were some good parts and some not so good ones.

I was really excited for this one. I thought the concept was interesting and the pacing was good. I think the issue I had were the characters using ChatGPT was an ick. There were a couple of parts that where men were super gross against her. I mean, this was a flop for me.

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I don't usually enjoy books where each chapter is narrated by different characters, 1 reason being I forget to look at the chapter headings. However, as this book is written by a woman and a man, I liked seeing the action from the point of view of Jackson and MacKenzie.
Jackson Jones was a cop who exposed his partners crime, so he had to quit. He is a PI hired to find a missing woman.
MacKenzie is also a PI, and she is also hired to find the missing woman.
I enjoyed their banter and watching the attraction grow.
We learn their backstories , which are quite interesting. They both bring various skills to the search as they end up working together. There is quite an unexpected twist at the end.
If you like mysteries with PI's, witty banter, clever detective work and two really likeable characters who you don't want to punch in the nose for some of their actions, this is the book for you.
If you would like to read a book with POC characters, Jackson and MacKenzie fit the bill. This is just a fun book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC. This is my honest opinion.

DNR - I could not get through Jackson Jones' chapters - felt like an andrew tate follower. I would be interested to check out other books by Pamela Samuels Young;.

3.5 stars, actually.

It's sappy, predictable, too often plays into stereotypes and is reminiscent of the old "Moonlighting" TV show except with constantly bickering PIs who are black instead of white. Despite all that, it's a fun story that's a perfect beach read for those who can weather this year's awful heat. But for me, the back-and-forths got tiring after a short while, and if this is the first in a planned sequel - and the ending suggests that may be the case - I'm not exactly chomping at the bit to read another one.

The plot, though, is not bad - and if private investigators Jackson Jones and Mackenzie Cunningham could only figure out whether it's best to knock each other senseless or get hook up, I'd be fully on board. It begins with both characters - working from their own offices in different but nearby areas of California - are approached by a lawyer named Raymond Patterson. For a substantial retainer and a big reward for success, he wants both to drop whatever else they're doing and concentrate on finding a woman named Ashley, whose mother is dying and desperate to reunite with her daughter. Problem is, Patterson doesn't tell Jackson or Mac that he's hired the other - which means the turf war begins shortly after they begin their investigations and realize they're both vying for the same financial payout.

As the investigation (and the tension between Jackson and Mac) heats up, readers learn about their backgrounds and personal peccadilloes. Both come from different backgrounds - Jackson a former police officer - and both are clearly skilled at their current jobs. Working independently, they constantly intrude on each other's turf, where sparks are inevitable. Being highly competitive certainly isn't unexpected - and for the sake of the story, neither is their obvious attraction to each other (but for the love of heaven, either get it on or get on with it already).

Their investigations take them to some seedy, dangerous places, and both Mac and Jackson put their considerable self-preservations skills to the test - a must after a dual murder that changes everything . They realize they've both been had - and if they both want to come out of the whole thing alive, they'd better start working together. From there it's just following the clues and trying to get the bad guys before the bad guys get them. All in all, it's a good romp - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

This was a lot of fun. Not a perfect book (there was a small amount of dialogue I found offensive), but high stakes, energy and action. If this is the start of a series, I’m totally here for it.

Two private investigators are hired to find the same missing woman whose mother is dying so time is of the essence. The investigators then find out there's another investigator that was also hired to find the missing woman, and he finds her, and then they are both found dead.

**Review of "Sounds Like a Plan" by Pamela Samuels Young and Dwayne Alexander Smith**

Rating: 3/5

Grab your detective hat and buckle up for a rollercoaster of mystery, sexual tension, and humor in "Sounds Like a Plan," a collaborative novel by Pamela Samuels Young and Dwayne Alexander Smith. Set against the backdrop of Los Angeles, this novel delivers a thrilling tale told through alternating "he said/she said" perspectives that keep the pages turning.

Jackson Jones and Mackenzie Cunningham are both talented private investigators running their own firms in LA. They share a knack for solving cases but clash like magnets whenever they cross paths. When they find themselves reluctantly teaming up to solve a high-stakes missing persons case that quickly turns deadly, their rivalry takes a backseat to survival.

Young and Smith skillfully weave together a plot filled with twists and turns, leading Jackson and Mackenzie on a chase from Century City to Malibu while evading mercenaries and unraveling a murder mystery. The authors inject the narrative with witty banter and sizzling chemistry between the protagonists, making their journey not only suspenseful but also surprisingly romantic.

The alternating perspectives provide insight into both Jackson's and Mackenzie's minds, highlighting their individual strengths and vulnerabilities. This narrative technique adds depth to their characters and enhances the reader's engagement with their evolving relationship.

While "Sounds Like a Plan" excels in delivering an entertaining blend of mystery and romance, some readers may find the pacing uneven, particularly in balancing the plot's thrilling elements with the development of the central relationship. Additionally, the resolution of certain plot points may feel rushed, leaving a few loose ends.

Overall, "Sounds Like a Plan" is a fun and engaging read that will appeal to fans of romantic thrillers and detective fiction. Young and Smith's collaborative effort brings a fresh perspective to the genre, offering a story filled with humor, suspense, and enough sparks to light up the streets of LA.

Sounds Like a Plan is a fun, fast-paced action novel with tons of twists, but only if you can divorce the prose and the characters from the plot. The plot and the pacing carried this book.
The prose is serviceable but there were times while reading where the paragraphs felt off in a basic sentence structure kind of way. Like the paragraph's order of operations was wrong. And I think the authors leaned too heavily on the technique of setting up something in one chapter to have it happen in the next chapter. The characters would learn something or make a plan and it'd be withheld from the reader until it is played out in the next chapter and the repetition of that got annoying. Especially when it's something any plot oriented reader would have guessed.

There is a romantic subplot, but this is not a romance book. The romantic subplot is a little unsatisfying as nothing really comes to fruition between the characters, though they did have fun banter and seemingly good chemistry.

When it comes to this book’s leading man, Jackson, his characterization was definitely much better from Mackenzie’s point of view. I did not like his portrayal in his own point of view chapters. One moment it shows him being a good dad, and a charming guy, then we get random bits of casual misogynoir, some regular old misogyny, a bit of light ableism and just all around male dickishness. There was a moment in the middle where I thought to myself, “oh this guy isn’t that bad” but then in the third act the shitty characterization from act one returned. The main female character honestly wasn’t much better. Mackenzie had her misogynistic moments against other women and a few fat-phobic comments. But it’s okay because the fat guy was a sleaze! (/s)

In the beginning, I liked her character more than his, but by the end of the book I disliked them equally. I don’t think either author intended for them to be unlikable characters, but low and behold. They were so unlikable to me that it totally made sense why these two people would like each other. There also seemed to be no hint of character development from either character. Despite the lack of growth, this could have been a four star read for me had the characters just been more likable or relatable.

Also, this is such a minor complaint, but the cover does not match any of the scenes in the book. I was expecting them to go to a fancy party where she would be in that red dress, but I’m pretty sure she wore jeans for the entire book.

Content Warning: At 21% in there is vague mention of prior sexual assault

It took me a while to adjust to the narrative style in this book—it’s in first person and very conversational. This book really mixes the writing styles of detective novels and romances. Once I was used to it, I enjoyed the way information was revealed and think it made the book more fun. The plot was well-paced and interesting. I enjoyed the mystery and action elements of this book, although the romance aspects weren’t its strongest points. Overall, I think this is a great book and a really fun read.

This has a really interesting premise with two PIs investigating the same missing person case, but I just could not get into it with the writing style.

I enjoyed this missing person mystery. Jackson and Mackenzie are both hired to find the same missing person for a huge pay off. They are both determined to be the one who finds Ashley. Jackson's usual customers pay him well, but he's currently at a loss for clients. Ashley's clients often have to set up payment plans. Throughout the book these polar opposite private investigators develop a unique relationship as they discover that this case isn't what it seems. Although there is sexual chemistry between the characters, this isn't a romance book. However, the ending leaves the story open for a sequel. If you like mysteries with several twists and turns, you'll enjoy this story. Although some of the story is predictable, I was definitely surprised several times. Jackson and Mackenzie are both likeable characters and I highly recommend this book.

2.25 stars

The first half of the book, I was a bit into it but i felt it really started to fall apart once guns were involved. How did these 2 PIs suddenly become superspy killing machines? And how were they not completely traumatized by everything happening? The stakes got too high almost out of nowhere over some very insignificant thing in my opinion. The last 25% moved insanely fast and was all over the place.

The romance also made almost no sense to me. Jackson was mean and immature, the whole thing about drinking black coffee so he didn't seem less masculine was just one of the first red flags for me. I felt it was obvious which parts were written by the male author as well, but I think the female author has potential and I'd be willing to read something of hers alone.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.