This was a fun ride! I haven’t read many superhero romances but I definitely want to read more. The ending seemed like this could continue as a series and I really hope it is! I had a fun time with this one, but the end kind of got wild for me. Overall I really liked our 2 main characters and their friends/family and would definitely read more of this turns out to be a series!

This was a fantastic new book by Elizabeth Stephens. Roland and Vanessa are a smoking combination from their first meeting. I love a "he falls first book" and this was wonderful. The back and forth banter between these two will keep you invested. An interesting premise on superheroes and why they showed up. Loved the ending and I'm really hoping for more books in this universe.

First, it's 4.5 stars from me. And you can blame Vanessa for that.

I hated the book cover—not because it’s bad, but because it gives the story the wrong feel. At first glance, I assumed this would be a rom-com, which felt totally off for an Elizabeth Stephens book. I’ve read all her Xiveri Mates series, and I know she’s not afraid to dig into the darkest corners of romance and emotion. When I saw this book offered as an ARC, I was intrigued but skeptical—was I about to read a fluffier, lighter version of her usual work? A pink cover didn’t exactly scream "deep, intense storytelling."Boy, was I wrong. And that makes me so happy!

I saw some reviews criticizing Roland’s handling of Vanessa, especially in the bedroom. The whole "good girl" dynamic felt a little weird at first, given her history of abuse and anxiety. But as the story progressed and Vanessa developed as a character, it started making more sense. The dual POV also helped ease my initial discomfort by giving better insight into his mindset.

Now, let’s talk about the characters—my biggest frustration with an otherwise fantastic book. This story gets a 10/10 for originality and creativity. I’ve read hundreds of sci-fi romances, and this one still felt fresh. But my issue? The characters.

<b>Ronald Roland: The Antihero Done Right </b>
Roland is not a good guy—something I think some readers forgot. Having read Stephens’ darker alien books, I wasn’t surprised by how their romance played out. Roland is exactly what I expect from a well-written antihero: rough around the edges, murder on his mind, and more inclined to set the world on fire than save it. Stephens knows how to write an intense, alpha male, and Roland absolutely delivered. In fact, he and the secondary characters are why I’m giving this book five stars.

<b>And Then There’s Vanessa… AKA Bella 2.0</b>
So if Roland wasn’t my issue, who was? Freaking Vanessa. There, I said it. She is Bella Swan and Anastasia Steele combined. And I cannot unsee it. She could have been a well-rounded, semi-badass heroine. I get that Stephens wanted her to be naive and angelic to contrast Roland’s darkness, but OH BOYYYYYY. All I could picture was Bella sighing and biting her lip on an endless TikTok loop.
And look—I hate saying this because Stephens can write strong heroines who hold their ground against alpha males. But Vanessa? She spent most of the book literally falling flat on her face. Don’t tell me that’s not peak Bella behavior. Out of the hundreds of books I’ve read, Bella remains my most hated character, and Vanessa had me dangerously close to putting her in the same category. Perhaps it’s me that can’t connect to this type of woman because I’m not like her in anyway. So maybe that’s more on me than her?... Not sure, but Vanessa was not it for me. Thankfully, she did improve toward the end—because, again, Stephens is a damn good writer. The last 50 pages almost redeemed her. Not enough to make me like her, but enough that I stopped mentally yeeting her off a building.

Ratings:
🔥 Spice: 4/5 (especially if you focus on Roland and ignore Vanessa’s Anastasia moments)
📖 Plot: 5/5—Incredibly unique and well-executed, especially that ending (my pink dragon 😉).
💖 Romance: 4/5—The slow build saved Vanessa from being entirely unbearable. Without it, I’d have thrown her off a ledge myself.

Overall, I finished reading this book a week ago and I still keep thinking about it. Especially towards the end. I really did enjoy a more fierce Vanessa that made me get back into the book as I started loosing more and more faith in her. And now, every time I see pink, I have to laugh, picturing a certain demon/alien/dragon. Final verdict? Despite my deep frustration with Vanessa, this book is absolutely worth the read. 4.5 stars!

**ARC provided by NetGallery and her publishers.

This book absolutely does not disappoint in the superhero/villain department and the dark themes with a dash of romance are handled quite well. Not a fluffy read but a solid romance with an interesting world.

This was a fun, spicy superhero romance! I'm always looking for more diverse reads (especially in the world of spice and romance) so this definitely hit the mark there. I enjoyed many elements in this book, including the enemies to lovers, villain turned superhero, and actual trans representation. I do love spice (just see my shelves...), however, I wish this one had a little less spice because I wanted a little bit more plot. I will definitely read any further installments in this series! This book was incredibly enjoyable, fun, and will entice anyone who is a fan of superhero shows/movies and romance!

3.5 ⭐️
The title and cover automatically had me intrigued. This sounded like such a fun and unique concept/plot that I had never read before, so I was super excited to read. And for the most part it was those things. I was expecting a bit more rom-com vibes, but it wasn’t quite there, something was missing. I was into the plot and the characters the majority of the book, but the last bit kind of lost me, as it wasn’t what I was expecting. (Semi-spoiler) It turned into a bit of a monster romance, which isn’t a bad thing just totally unexpected and therefore felt out of place. Overall it was still a fun and interesting story and as this is a series, I’m curious who the other books will be about (other superheroes? friends and family?) I’ll most likely continue the series to see.

I never knew how much I needed a superhero romance until I read this book! A new, exciting, and super swoon-worthy sci-fi romance by Elizabeth Stephens, All Superheroes Need PR is a fantastic start to the series.

The story follows Roland, one of the 48 superheroes who came to Earth two decades ago. Wanting to switch from villain to hero, he hires Vanessa to handle his PR. Part of their strategy includes the Lois Lane clause, and Roland wants the shy Vanessa to pose as his heroine. Their fake relationship quickly turns all too real, but with many obstacles in their way, their road to happiness is a challenge.

I loved Vanessa and Roland, or Nessa and Rollo as they call each other. So cute! They both go through so much in this story, especially concerning his identity and both of their pasts. Nessa is smart and caring and so much braver than she gives herself credit for. Roland doesn’t give himself enough credit for his awesomeness either. A solitary male, he faces some harsh and difficult realities as he transitions into the hero role. What’s fabulous, though, is that he has so many more people in his corner because of Vanessa, and he ends up getting the kind of support that he deserves. His life is definitely changed for the better because of Vanessa. And Vanessa changes, too. I think Roland’s support, love, and strength give her more confidence and strength, and he’s really understanding when it comes to her anxiety and trauma. It’s all just super romantic and heartwarming and lovely.

Of course, for me, the highlight of the book is Vanessa and Roland’s romance. My word, Elizabeth Stephens sure knows how to craft a swoon-worthy love story, and this one is brilliant. Romantic, steamy, intense, sweet, and so deserved for both characters. Did I say steamy? Because my glasses fogged up a few times when reading this one! lol What I love is that their feelings for each other run deep. They understand each other on a level that others don’t – their fears, needs, insecurities, successes- nothing is off limits. Roland is intense and can be intimidating to many, but not to Vanessa. He falls for her so hard, and he’s pretty clear and obvious about his feelings. Loved it! The way he loves her so deeply and unconditionally definitely wins him over with her family and friends (and me! lol).

The other characters are great too, especially Vanessa’s family. They’re all so loving and supportive, and the way they bring Roland into their fold is lovely. Vanessa also has some amazing friends, and the found family vibes are fantastic. I loved so many scenes with these characters. Each has a unique voice and story, and I’m hoping we’ll see more of them in future books.

I also enjoyed the plot and am so curious to see what happens next because there are a few surprising revelations that will change everything they know about the heroes and villains, as well as the planet they came from.

I can’t say enough about this book. It’s fun and exciting, romantic and sexy, and the plot had me hooked from the start. It’s the perfect mix of action, romance, suspense, and humor. And the banter? Perfection.

I am reviewing an ARC copy of All Superheroes Need PR.

I just finished All Superheroes Need PR by Elizabeth Stephens, and what a ride! This book had everything I love: sizzling chemistry, high-stakes action, and a romance that had me absolutely obsessed.

Vanessa is such a relatable heroine—intelligent, reserved, and carrying the weight of a painful past. She’s the kind of character you just root for, and watching her find her strength was one of my favorite parts of the book. And then there’s Rollo… whew. This man-with-superpowers is intense, protective, and has a fiery temper that could burn the world down—but somehow, Vanessa is the only thing that can calm him. Their dynamic was everything. She tempers his rage, and he pushes her to step out of her comfort zone, stand up for herself, and truly live.

And the chemistry?? Off. The. Charts. Every interaction between them had this magnetic pull that made my heart race. The tension, the slow unraveling of their trust, the way he needed to protect her, even from himself—it was all so well done. I especially loved that Rollo isn’t some noble hero. He doesn’t care about being good or doing the right thing—he just wants her. If he does the right thing, it’s because it keeps Vanessa safe or because he knows it will impress her, and somehow, that made him even more addictive as a character. Meanwhile, Vanessa grows stronger in his presence, stepping out of her shell and learning to fight for herself, even as she becomes his greatest weakness.

If you love action-packed romance with swoon-worthy love scenes, a heroine who grows into her own strength, and a hero who only plays the part of a good guy for one woman, All Superheroes Need PR needs to be on your TBR. I’m already counting down the days until release day so I can get a finished copy and reread it all over again! 💙🔥

This was my second Elizabeth Stephens book this month. I only had a small taste of their dark romance writing style and was very curious to see how this shift in style would pan out.

In all honesty, All Superheroes Need PR lacked much of the romantic comedy it was marketed with. (There was also a fair amount of traumatic childhood memories and internalized negative self-talk when it came to the female main character. If you're hoping for fluff, it's here...but tinged with a dark edge.) Sometimes books marketed as romantic comedies find themselves creating truly outlandish and over the top situations that land more cringe than comedic. That's kind of what happened here. The female main character, Vanessa, is portrayed on page as SO CLUMSY in response to situations that make them uncomfortable or trigger upswings in their social anxiety. It's very...damsel in distress, which feels a bit at odds with their position as the CEO of a PR firm.

As an an action packed adventure, this works. As a romance, less so. The love story between Roland and Vanessa comes across as very superficial. Insta-love, if you will. In a novella, that's a trope I can generally stand behind, but in a full length novel? Not so much. I wasn't really invested in the couple's relationship. I wanted more emotion connection and less growly "stay away from my girl." The storyline is fun and interesting, but the writing moves too quickly and it comes off as disjointed and choppy.

I already want book two😂

This story was funny and sweet and the right amount of spicy for the story being told. The action scenes were well placed - not constant and forced, but in places that make sense and add to the story.

The overarching plot that seems it will extend the series is intriguing and I have all the questions haha.

*spoilers*

Rolland's determination to be a good person for Nessa, and Nessa declaring he'd never be the villain to her is everything.

And the way she finds her strength and voice just from his presence!

Love. Highly recommend

Thank you for my copy of "All Superheroes Need PR." This was a funny and sexy story between PR for heroes Vanessa Theriot, and Ex Viallan Roland Casteel, who wants to be a superhero. Together, they devise a scam to help him prove his image by faking dating, but they start having feelings for each other. They both navigate learning about love and how to deal with their insecurities. Thank you, Montlake and NetGalley

The Boys meets omegaverse/monster romance and I loved it. I had so much fun with this story and can't wait for more from this world. To be clear, it's not omegaverse, but there are similarities in the way the relationship develops.

I adored Vanessa and she's highly relatable as an anxious, slightly clumsy, boss bitch. She's super good at her job but outside that things are rough. She has the most adorably supportive family and we love that for her!

I also really enjoyed the mystery behind Roland's background. It's a slow learning process, but there's lots of layers to his story.

ALL SUPERHEROES NEED PR is an interesting premise—48 pods fell to earth years ago co raining superpowered children—ostensibly aliens but they look like us, and can do amazing things. Now the 48 are split into heroes and villains and one of the villains, Pyro, needs a rebrand. He’s coming to the hero side and Vanessa’s PR team wins the bid to clean up his image.

On the one hand, having government agencies and teams foot the bill for all this hero stuff felt…pretty cynical given the current moment. However, that's not the book's fault, the PR angle is only a portion of the book.

The romance between Roland and Vanessa starts out tense and antagonistic but readers soon discover this is a fated mates/alien/monster romance with two people who have to figure out feelings when they’ve spent much of their lives with trauma. I don’t think this romance will be for everyone because Roland is a possessive, alpha-esque love interest (goes with the fated mates/growly insta love territory) but I do think it’s important to note that both characters are POCs and it’s not often that characters of color get to take starring role in these types of stories, especially in a traditionally published romance.

I enjoyed the reveals and the secrets that came out towards the end of the book and I think the author has a lot to work with as the series continues.

Heat level: 4.5🌶️, very spicy.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this arc.

I gorgot how much I love superhero romances, but it's all good because this book reminded me. There were some battles, superheroics, and a very interesting storyline there. Honestly, the superbeings storyline was probably my favorite and I'd pick up more just to see how that all works out. Now, I wasn't a huge fan of the FMC, she's a very successful CEO of a marketing firm, but is incredibly clumsy and has intense social anxiety? She does get a bit better as the book goes on, and even becomes a kick butt character by the end. Overall, it was a fun read.

*Thank you Netgalley for a chance to ARC read, all opinions are my own.*

I've been in a bit of a superhero/villain phase recently and this book did not disappoint. `A villain trying to be good for the woman who's in charge of his rebrand? Sign me right up for more of these.

It was fun, had great characters and was definitely my cup of tea. Was it the most amazing writing? Possibly not but it drew me in and made me want the characters to succeed. The different dynamics were handled really well with it not just focusing on romance but also friendships and what family actually is. I also loved the way the main characters anxieties were handled as mental health in books can be hit and miss.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes a story with superpowered characters and I'm off to find some more by this author and also wait for the rest of the series.

So fast-paced and interesting!

I don't think I've read such an inventive take on superbeings landing on Earth. This book hasn't even come out and I'm already dying for the next book in the series. I need to know how more of these superbeings find their loves -- among other things (but no spoilers from me).

It's a little dark - but honestly it's not as dystopian or as dark as other series by Elizabeth Stephens. It's down right bouncy by comparison -- but makes this story even more adorable.

Due to the fast-paced nature of the book, you don't see a lot of the actual PR or marketing of Pyro/Wyvern/Roland. I didn't feel like the book lacked for this though.

Ms. Stephens gives us the Marvel/The Boys romantasy mashup that we deserve and needed! She is a shy anxious girl boss with supportive colleagues and very nosy over protective brothers. He is a feral grumpy fire supe who needs a makeover and an attitude adjustment. When these two enter each other’s orbit we are taken through a spicy hot fun wild ride unraveling the mystery of why all these supes are really here and if a bad boy can actually become a hero.

Ｅｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ
🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
Elizabeth Stephen knows how to write well. She is one of those authors whose books are hard to put down. This book was perfect! If you enjoy the TV series "The Boys," this book will give you similar vibes. We have Roland, a villain turned superhero, with the help of Vanessa. I started and finished this book in one day.

Over two decades ago, forty-eight young, gifted superheroes fell to Earth and were eventually marketed as opposing brands: heroes and villains.

Thank you, NetGalley, and Montlake, for the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I can’t remember that last time I read a superhero story let alone one I enjoyed. For fans of insta love, X-men and “That’s my WIFE”. 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Vanessa runs her own successful PR company but also suffers from severe social anxiety. And now she has to fake date an alien superhero? What could possibly go wrong 😉

Roland has to keep reminding himself to not just kidnap Vanessa and every time he did I giggled a little 🤭. I enjoyed watching him learn to correct his behaviour (I will not forgive you for reading her file 😡). He really tried to become a better man for her.

I wished this book was a little longer. I enjoyed the lore surrounding all these aliens who crash landed on earth but would’ve loved to see it more fleshed out throughout the entire book.

Though I loved Vanessa’s friends and family there were a far too many side characters to keep track of.

A wildly unexpected ending even with the classic happily ever after for the couple.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review. I’m off to go read all of Elizabeth Stephen’s werewolf books now 🥰

I read this courtesy NetGalley and Montlake. There are so few books that properly capture the tropes and essence of romance and superheroes in the same work that I approached All Superheroes Need PR with a certain amount of dread. And this is one of the few that succeeds! I started to smile when I began reading and continued to smile. We have an introverted heroine with a sad childhood, a hero who has to be tamed, an ongoing mystery of who these powered beings who landed on Earth and the climax. I loved this, and hope author Elizabeth Stephens writes more in this world.
#AllSuperheroesNeedPR #NetGalley