I really loved the concept of this and wanted to like it, but holy hell Jackson was awful. Reading his POV ruined the entire book. The misogyny flying out of his mouth was unreal and made the entire book just unenjoyable. The mystery was interesting but all the murder felt unneeded.

This was a cheesy & fun murder mystery meets romantic comedy! It gave me similar vibes as the movie Glass Onion and made for a pretty quick read.

I did almost DNF around 30% because it seemed like the plot was done despite being so close to the beginning of the book. I’m glad I stuck with it because the stakes got higher and had a few twists that I didn’t see coming.

The romance was teased throughout the entire book so it was kinda disappointing when nothing came out of it. Maybe there’s a second book coming with more of that? While I would recommend it, don’t do it for the romance.

Thank you to the authors, NetGalley, and Atria books for sending me an early copy!

I'm sorry, I decided to DNF this book as I could not stand the MMC, a bit too misogynistic. The premise was fun.

SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN is a thriller romance about two rival private investigators who are hired for the same case and end up teaming up to get to the bottom of it. The premise sounded so promising and I loved the thriller aspect of it—in fact, if the book had just been a thriller with little to no romance, I probably would've rated it much higher. As it is, calling it a romance does feel like a bit of a stretch. The action in this book was engaging and I was really invested in finding out what happened, which was ultimately the only reason I pushed through to the end.

The story is told in dual POV chapters from the perspective of our main characters: Mackenzie Cunningham, an investigative journalist turned PI, and Jackson Jones, an ex-cop. The tension between them is just as strong as their chemistry, and as they team up to work the case, they start to fall for each other.

So far, so good, right? Except Jackson, along with pretty much every other male character in the book, is a rampant misogynist. Now, if it had just been the other male characters, it might be one thing—but when the romantic MMC is being misogynistic toward the FMC at every turn, it's a little harder to digest. I really tried to stick it out and see if maybe, just maybe, this was a tool to show his growth throughout the book—after all, Mackenzie doesn't shy away from calling him out on his B.S. But alas, he just continued to be sexist throughout the whole book. I mean, he spent an entire chapter deliberating over whether he should've slept with Mackenzie when she was wasted, or whether he did the right thing by walking away.

Mackenzie was a great FMC. She was smart, funny, driven, proud but still willing to own up to her mistakes. If it had just been a book about her, I know I would've loved it. Unfortunately, Jackson kind of ruined that.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and authors for this ebook arc!

This was not a book I would normally see at a store and pick up but the description caught my eye. I'm not a big thriller/mystery fan, but this book looked like a romance that had thriller elements to it, but it was lacking in the romance department for me. Overall, I can see this a lot of people enjoying this, but it was not exactly my cup of tea. I think I struggled with the dual authors but it gave the book a unique tone. I will say in 2024 we should not be making some of the "jokes" that were made.

Themes/Tropes:Private Investigators, Action Packed, Mutual Attraction, Missing Person Case, Running for your Life

BIPOC
Dual POV
I need this to be a movie- I read this book so fast because it felt like I was reading (watching) a Mr and Mrs. Smith action packed story. There was a little romance, a lot of tension, bad guys trying to hunt people down and it was a GREAT time.
I really enjoyed that the authors voices blended together well- the POVs were well done and I could tell when I was switching characters. The side characters were fun- there were some plot twist that I did not see coming AT ALL. Needless to say I stayed up until midnight to finish this book... I needed to know what happened.

This book was everything that I didn't know I wanted in a book. I enjoyed that the characters didn't just look for the case they were doing- it went a little beyond that and made the story more exciting. I really enjoyed the banter between the MCs and that there was sexual tension, but it wasn't really acted on because the MMC was a gentleman. I always love a badass FMC that can take care of herself and this book definitely had that.

Thank you Atria for an eARC
CW: suicide, murder

This was a super fun, dual POV, romantic suspense novel that sees two rival PIs forced to team up for a chance to win an assignment with a big payoff. What ensues is lots of action and forced proximity goodness with tons of chemistry between the two leads and a swoony single dad MMC I couldn't help falling for myself!

I loved that this book featured older BIPOC character and gave off Mr & Mrs Smith and The bounty hunter movie vibes in all the best ways. Great on audio and highly recommended!! Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon.Audio for a complimentary digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

This is a cute romcom / mystery . I enjoyed the dialogue between the leads but I did find the mystery a little too convoluted and yet predictable 🤷🏼‍♀️

A trope-y rom com of sorts told alternately by Mackenzie and Jackson, PIs who have been hired to find Ashley. This has a lot going for it, starting with the clear voices of both characters thanks to the dual authorship. At the same time, there's also a lot going on. And sometimes the voices, especially Jackson's are less than engaging. There's banter, lots of banter. Can these two solve the case without strangling one another? Of course they can but it's the getting there that's the challenge. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A bit too over the top for me in spots but it might make for good travel reading.

Overall I enjoyed this novel.
This is definitely a softer mystery/crime novel with an undertone of romance. I liked that there were BIPOC and LGBTQ+ themes, but lord. When I read “difficult for them to deny the sparks flying between them.” I expect SPICE. I’d give it a 1.5/5 on the spicy scale, and mostly because they talk about areolas and grinding with underwear on.
On the other hand, there were some great action scenes and I thought the plot was engaging. Both Mac and Jackson were likeable characters as well as a couple of supporting ones. I wish there was a little epilogue with Roxana.
I did enjoy this book’s twist and thriller/crime plot, but it feels marketed as a chick lit novel, but it’s more of a cosy mystery to me.

Sounds Like a Plan is the action-packed story of two Black private investigators thrown together on a missing persons case and then get framed for murder.

The book is written by two co-authors and uses a dual POV style, where both main characters, Mackenzie and Jackson, get to share their perspectives on each crazy event that unfolds. (I can only imagine how fun it must have been to write this way!)

The story features an enemies-to-lovers trope but turned out to be very light on steam. I would have preferred more, but if you aren’t into that then this is a good choice for you.

Overall, I give this book a solid 3/5 stars. The premise is fun and the pacing is good. I can see this book becoming a series (like Janet Evanovitch’s bounty-hunting Stephanie Plum novels), and I’d be interested to see what other crazy scenarios this PI duo comes up against.

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

Thank you to Atria for my advance electronic copy via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

Jackson Jones and Mackenzie Cunningham are two intelligent, skilled Los Angeles Private Investigators from different backgrounds and with very different approaches. When they find themselves working the same case for the same client, at first they seem to be stuck in competition and running in circles. But when things take a disturbing turn, they find themselves working together and running from a shadow force intent on destroying them. They need each other more than ever if they are going to get to the heart of the lies and expose the truth before it's too late.

This was just what I needed! There is a hard-boiled and snappy vibe peeking through (especially at the beginning), but it's a modern, not-noir, sex-positive (open-door) work of detective fiction with clever, snappy dialogue and realistic protagonists you want to root for from the start. The dual-perspective absolutely crushes it and drives both the plot and character development forward, providing realistic backstories and insight into their growth as individuals and as a team. An added bonus was that not only does it deliver on the romance and mystery, but also on the action scenes! I love that the two, different detectives slowly grow to respect and then trust each other as the investigation progresses. Los Angeles and its environs are portrayed by experts, so much so that I felt like I was home again. This has got to be a series-starter, and I cannot wait for the next one!

Triggers: cheating, rape, sexism, racism, domestic abuse, sexual assault

I loved this book. The action is good, the slow burn is even better. I enjoyed the banter! I didn't like some of the jokes that were made and that's why I gave this book 4 stars

There was a lot of problematic language, especially towards women. There were also a lot of coincidences. It was a fun romantic mystery besides that, and I think these writers could create something great with the right editor. There was some witty banter that I enjoyed that kept getting overshadowed.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

In this fast-paced romantic thriller, rival Black private investigators Jackson Jones and Mackenzie Cunningham reluctantly team up on a missing person case in LA. Despite their initial animosity, sparks fly as they bicker their way through danger, dodging killers and navigating their growing attraction. Written in alternating perspectives, the story is action packed.
There is a (ableist) “joke” that detracted from the overall vibe. While it wasn't quite my cup of tea, it proved to be an entertaining read overall.

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.