Cover Image: Something Like Perfect

Something Like Perfect

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Member Reviews

This book is a good fit for readers who enjoy stories about navigating complex relationships while pursuing one's dreams and facing difficult choices.

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I enjoyed Valerie and Jake’s story, it just didn’t blow me away. I did like that the blurb didn’t give away the biggest twist and I was surprised with the direction their story went. While it left the characters in a happy place, I thought it lacked the emotional connection I usually feel with Ms. Stephens’s stories.

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A quick read, which I am sad to say lacked any real context for me. I didn't find myself invested in the book or the story, and found the male lead to be quite unlikeable at times.

I am sure others will enjoy this book, but unfortunately it just wasn't for me.

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This book was different. If you don’t like cheating this isn’t the book for you.

Valerie never thought the man of her dreams would be her sisters boyfriend. She is fresh out of school and looking for a job. Jake tells her about the yacht he works on.

Things definitely take a turn and get interesting. This was a pretty quick read.

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I didn’t know much about this book going in other than I loved the cover and I’d previously not got on well (unpopular opinion) with another series by this author. I really did love the cover though so I wanted to give this a try. I received an ARC of this from the publisher via @netgalley.

The story is told my main character Valerie. Valerie is an aspiring chef and restaurant owner. She’s just graduated from culinary school and is faced with great career prospects. Unfortunately the job is on a yacht with her sister’s boyfriend who she’s falling for.

I struggled with the storyline for the first half of this book before the massive plot twist, and then again at the end. The storyline basically follows the story of Valerie as she tries not to cheat with her sister’s boyfriend. I kept failing to see how, unless the introduction of a new character came, the story was going to have a happy ever after. Something compelled me to keep reading to the end, I think morbid curiosity as to how it was going to finish but it just made me feel a bit squirmy throughout. The middle section of the book - don’t want to give to much away - was more enjoyable but unfortunately lacked any real depth as a lot of time passed and everything just neatly fell into place.

As I was reading the first half of the story I was thinking fans of Karina Halle might enjoy this and as the storyline took a unexpected (for me anyway) turn this was confirmed even further. I also saw some similarities between this novel and Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey in terms of going after and realising your dreams.

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I love SC Stephens. Everything she writes just seems to be my kind of book. Whether it be angst or sweet I just ove her characters and getting to know their journey. I highly recommend this book along with all her others.

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I really wanted to love this book. I’ve read one book by SC Stephens before, and it was one of my top reads of the year. Something Like Perfect checked a lot of boxes for me with things I like to see in books, but I couldn’t get over the cheating. I do understand why it happened, but towards the end of the book I really wanted there to be more communication. I think that would have helped me feel better about the situation. I’m still excited to read more by this author, and I guess I’ve learned to avoid the cheating trope going forward.

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This author knows how to really make her readers squirm. She def goes there with this book and I had a lot of personal struggles with this as I had my sister steal a boyfriend when we were kids and it crushed me. And it was nothing serious. So I wasn’t sure I was gonna appreciate this book. But as usual, this author knows how to make you a believer even with something so sensitive for a lot of folks. Give it a chance if you are in the mood for some serious drama and gut wrenching...

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for a review copy!

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Although I enjoyed this storyline , it was easy to read and flowed well, I felt it lacked the sparkle this author normally has. It was a little to predictable. Jake was a little dilute and not strong enough. Kylie was a little selfish, and Valerie a little to much of a martyr. The circumstances of their escape although described seemed almost unbelievable, however it was good escapism from reality. A fun novel but for me not the best this author is capable of. Perhaps it was the content? Sisters often have the same taste and preferences, but should one be happy at the others expense?

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Loved this book but Iwanted more. It gave me On the Island vibes but it was definitely different.
Thanks for the Arc Netgalley

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I typically LOVE eveyrthing by S.C. Stephens, so I was excited to read this book!

The story follows Valerie, a young woman who meets a cute guy at a coffee shop. When he pays for her drink, sparks fly so Valerie asks him out. Unfortunately, Jake has just started seeing someone so he declines. Fast forward a few weeks later, and Valerie realizes that Jake is the new guy her sister's been seeing. They both acknowledge that there's a connection there but resist the pull. Months later, Jake helps Valerie get a new job, but it means they'll be spending a lot more alone time together - which doesn't seem like the best idea since they're already fighting the attraction. When events bring them even closer together, there's no denying it any longer.

WARNING- there is a lot of cheating in this book, so if that is a trigger, then this one might not be for you.

I did enjoy the flow of the story, the writing style, and a few other things, but I think this one just wasn't for me.

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Valerie meets a man and feels an instant connection. Unfortunately, he is dating someone. Who turns out to be her sister. Also, they end up, no joke, on a deserted island for about three months and everyone things they are dead.

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Sadly this book wasn’t for me. I don’t want to ruin it for anyone, but to say not for me. I will read more by SC Stephens in the future.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

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After I read thos book I sat in front of my computer screen wondering how to write this review so here goes. I absolutely love this author I have the whole thoughtless series sitting on my shelf. Although I liked that series this book just wasn't for me. The cheating part which I new from the beginning was building up it got to me . I put down my iPad 100 times while reading. I didn't want to finish the book and boy in a good way. I think this book could have been reallly good because it was written pretty well. Just some aspects I would have liked more detail.

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ig thank you to NetGalley Author SC Stephens and publisher Mortlake for allowing me to review this book.

S.C. Stephens is the author of one of my all time favourite books/ series- Thoughtless and I actually reread the series again earlier this year because I just missed the characters so much. So there is absolutely no doubt that Ms Stephens can write a fabulous and unforgettable story.

Unfortunately this book for me wasn’t even close to her previous work.

I felt like the author was warring with herself when she was writing this and couldn’t decide whether she would commit to the cheating or not and after 65%, I lost all interest and didn’t finish the book. Sorry Julie and Jake, I hope you got your HEA.

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The one thing I have to say, this book is not for everyone. People will either love it or hate it. There will be no in between. Personally, I loved what was Stephens brought to the table for this book because it felt real. It felt raw. It was emotional. The push and pull dynamic. There is intense angst and that will have your head spinning as you go through this book. It is a tough one to read at times, but I also feel like it is one that needs to be read. It is hard to describe the book with out spoilers so I won't get into those details. But this book hit all the feels for me.

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“Because that’s how we’ll get out of here. Luck, hope... and maybe a little faith.”
- S.C Stephens, Something Like Perfect

I totally binge read this book in a day 😆 I had forgotten what it was about before I started reading. I had requested it from NetGalley a while before I managed to get time to read it, so when I started it, and it became apparent it was going to be a forbidden romance, you know I was hooked! 😆

Valerie meets a handsome stranger in her local coffee shop. She feels an instant connection with him, and decides to ask him out. After a moments hesitation, the stranger declines, having just started seeing someone. Val can’t help but be disappointed. After a month of not being able to forget the handsome stranger, she finally meets him again. Only the girl he had started seeing, is actually Vals sister Kylie.

Val desperately tries to forget the strong attraction she feels towards Jake. She loves her sister Kylie and doesn’t want to hurt her. There are a few moments when we see that this attraction is definitely not once sided. Ultimately though, both Jake and Val know that they can’t hurt Kylie. This book then takes an epic turn that I totally did not expect and it really kept me turning the pages!

This was a fast and easy read. Yes, sometimes probably a little dramatic, but I enjoyed it. I thought it could have been a bit longer, just to really build the relationship more. But I think that most of us romance readers are here for the love story, not a perfectly detailed plot. For me, this one really delivered on the relationship and that’s what matters 👌🏼😆

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Melt-your-Kindle hot but hard to root for the couple as he's cheating on her sister with her. A difficult sell in a romance, no matter how well written.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

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I couldn’t get into this story unfortunately. It’s a DNF for me and I’m sorry.
The fact that he’s having a relationship with her sister is not working for me. I usually don’t have any triggers but this one it’s not for me.

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Fence book... while I didn’t love this title.. I didn’t hate it. The subject of vying for your sisters boyfriend is not only an uncomfortable scheme but it’s a hard read for me. Add in a ship wreck with two of the three and what can happen next is only heartbreak.

What did I like? While this author has churned out some amazing titles this one just fell short. Obsessing over your sisters boyfriend even though you met him at the same time is just grounds for some uncomfortable moments. After the shipwreck though it just seems unnecessary to keep up the charade. You only have today.

Would I buy or recommend? Fence books don’t sit on my shelves but anyone who loves this author might like this story if wanting your sisters boyfriend is your thing. According to the other reviews, some people loved it...some didn’t like the wanting your sisters boyfriend aspect. It’s up to you.

I received a complimentary copy to read. Three stars!

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