“Real love doesn’t meet you at your best. It meets you in your mess.” -J.S. Park
Buckle up, Buttercups because I have your next summer read all lined up for you! Something Like Perfect by S.C. Stephens not only has a gorgeous cover, but the inside is filled with the perfect recipe for a summer read: an instantly relatable heroine, a swoony hero, undeniable chemistry, and enough angst and emotion to make this book absolutely unputdownable.

Valerie is a character that once you meet you know she would be the first person to call for just about anything. She’s a girl’s girl. We meet her just before her culinary school journey is over, and then get to follow her as she tries to figure out the next step in life…which involves trying to find a job and to avoid her sister’s new boyfriend, Jake.

Now, before you ruffle your feathers and call for me to be drawn and quartered, this is NOT a cheating book. Real life is messy, and so is love. Jake and Valerie have meet cute in a coffee shop after she ties one on at the beginning of the book (see? relatable). You’ve got to love and appreciate a man who can see the quality of the girl underneath a hangover, and then extend some kindness to the poor girl. Jake is the epitome of a good guy…trust me. You know the saying “right guy, wrong time”? This perfectly describes this situation.

Valerie and Jake both love and respect their relationship too much with Valerie’s sister, Kylie, to risk it by giving into their attraction. So they stop everything before it can be an anything. It’s only when Valerie starts to give up hope on finding a job in the culinary world that will both challenge her and help her grow as a chef, that Jake shows up and presents a perfect job for her…that would require her to be on a yacht…with him. Yikes. This is where the angst comes in, and then all the page-turning action and drama.

Book friends: I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to finish Something Like Perfect. It has delicious beach read written all over it (I’ll say it again, have you seen the cover?!). I’m definitely trying to stay away from spoilers, but let’s just say you will not want to put this book down! There is angst, action, and so much summer blockbuster vibes in this book, complete with a perfectly finished ending. Trust me, everything will get resolved and you will be at peace with a great Happily Ever After.

Available Now and in Kindle Unlimited! Something Like Perfect by S.C. Stephens was just released on June 23rdso you should not wait to one-click this beauty.

I am a huge fan of S.C. Stephens and the Thoughtless Series, so when I saw that she was releasing another book that looked like it would be screaming angst, I was more than a little interested.

I do not shy away from novels that contain love triangles, cheating, or forbidden situations, in fact, I run right to them. My favorite books are always the ones that are able to make me feel every emotion: the butterflies, the anticipation, the plummeting doom of heartache, the will they or won’t they. I want to be filled with so much anticipation and trepidation that I am equally eager to flip the pages as I am terrified of what could transpire. For some readers that is pure torture, but for me, it’s my happy place.

Something Like Perfect had all of the elements to make this an all-consuming read. I wanted to fall in love with this story and these characters, but something was just missing for me. I didn’t feel the connection to them or become entranced in their romance as I had hoped. Some elements of the story just seemed to fall into place too quickly or conveniently, making their romance seem forced or not as authentic or believable as I would have liked.

This novel did take a direction that I hadn’t anticipated. While I generally love this particular kind of story (I don’t want to elaborate on it and ruin it for any readers), again, I think that it was a little bit rushed. Perhaps if the story had been longer, allowing me to get to know the characters a bit better, it would have made a difference. I’m a patient reader. I wanted the slow dance, the push and pull, the natural progression of the relationship.

Even though it pains me that I didn’t fall in love with this book or get the delivery of angst that I was hoping for, I am a lifetime fan who will always be on the lookout for the next S.C. Stephens novel.

*3 Stars

Well... that was a bizarre experience.

How the novel progressed was beyond anything that I could imagine- quite possible beyond what you would expect. It came in three phases; initial confusion, a 'am I still reading the same book' confusion and then a 'what did I just finish?' confusion. Basically a bundle of confusion.

I just want to mention how drool worthy and atmospheric the cover is. It was the beautiful cover that had drawn me in as I had thought it would be suitable as a summer read to relax. However, after reading I most definitely will have my reservations about going on a yacht ever again. Once you got over the absurdity, the writing style was easy to consume but the confusion remains poignant.

Something Like Perfect
By: S.C. Stephens

📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚

Definitely something to talk about!

This book was slightly different from any book I’ve read from S.C. Stephens. More from the beginning than her previous book. It’ll make you uncomfortable quickly and just frustrated. (She does it on purpose) The writing is flawless, and the words are so captivating, the plot had so many twists and turns and none that I was expecting, and many shocking moments. I really enjoyed this book and it kept me engrossed throughout. I really loved the characters and the way they interacted with each other.

Authors Blurb: Valerie would never do anything to hurt her sister, but when the man of Valerie’s dreams turns out to be her sister’s new boyfriend, remaining loyal to her family becomes increasingly difficult. Valerie knows nothing can ever happen between her and Jake, but that doesn’t prevent her from growing hopelessly fond of him.
By keeping her distance, Valerie is mostly successful in pushing her feelings for Jake aside, but when she struggles to land a job after culinary school, it’s Jake who offers her the opportunity of a lifetime working with a world-renowned chef…and also, working with Jake.

Valerie’s heart twists with indecision. Does she take the job of a lifetime cooking and sailing around on a yacht, but torture herself in an isolated situation with a man who is perfectly made for her yet absolutely off limits? Or does she reject the offer that could get her so much closer to making her dreams come true?

The believable way the characters interact is perfect. Run, Hop, Jump or use your (1 click) finger to do whatever you have to do and get this amazing book. It'll break your heart, you'll want to scream with frustration and it'll let you discover that love just might conquer all. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic.

Thanks Netgally for letting me read and review.📚💕

This is a tough one for me. I think I'm to much of a realist to fully escape into this story. Then there was the sister's boyfriend thing that I didn't particularly care for. It did however keep my attention all the way through. So from the perspective of how well the writing was done including character and story development it was very well done.

This story started off a bit standard but then took a sharp left turn. I enjoyed that twist however I did find some of the characters to be a bit self absorbed.

Ohh this was so adorable 😩
Girl meets boy, boy is in a relatively new relationship, turns out it's with girl's sister....

Valerie meets her dream guy, Jake, only to discover he's already in a relationship with her sister. They both quash their feelings for the sake of sister. But, when Jake lands Valerie the perfect job working in a private boat, there's only one problem,... Jake works there too.
Disaster strikes and the twosome are forced to become closer than their comfortable with and face up to their feelings.

This was a stinking adorable book and I absolutely loved it! Can't recommend enough!

4.2 stars

4 stars,

I have to start this review, with the acknowledgment of some poor reviews based upon the "cheating" in this book. I am disappointed in those that leave a review like that without even truly giving the book a chance. Especially for some of those people that left the reviews, hadn't even gotten to the crux of the moment where "cheating", if you can even call it that, happened when there is not much more of the finality of a relationship than what Val and Jake experienced. Did Val fantasize? Yes, she did. Hell, I am pretty sure I would have too. Val and Kylie both met Jake within days of each other. When Val first started fantasizing she didn't even know he was dating her sister. I would have found it hard to just stop when for weeks before I had no idea who he was to my sister. I know I have done it in real life, with a friend's boyfriend, not knowing who he was. I think what frustrates me the most is that the people are not even taking into consideration the hard work that went into this book. Instead, they are basing the reviews off of hypothetical cheating.

I wouldn't even call this cheating as they were in a situation that they didn't even know if they would ever find that "life" that they had left. Not giving spoilers, but there isn't much more isolated than these two could find themselves in. I actually liked that they tried to fight this attraction for each other as long as they did. They discussed the ramifications of this. It wasn't willy nilly and to just get their rocks off, and screw whomever they hurt.

My issues with this book were not the areas that others had issues with, it was in the details, such as carving out bowls, lack of concern with Pregnancy (which would have been a BIG issue for me considering where they were and that there wasn't any medical help, the lack of encounters with natural wildlife, and finally the ridiculousness of Kylie. What did she really think was going to happen? I was expecting more of the details to be something along the lines of the book by Pepper Winters, Unseen Messages. That being said, I still really enjoyed this book and the characters. My advice on this book is that reading is a singular journey and is up to individual preferences. Those preferences don't give someone the luxury to bash a person's hard work, especially when they are doing something that the majority of people cannot do on a good day so if you are adventurous jump in and go on a new journey in finding love, even if that love is discovered in unexpected places.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review. I've read a bunch of Stephens' books before, having loved the Thoughtless series with Kellan Kyle. I'm not sure if any new character could top the rock star. The cheating aspect was a little cringey considering the relationship Jake started with Valerie's younger sister Kylie just before they met at a coffee shop. Valerie is finishing culinary school and Jake is apprenticing for a captain of a yacht. (Bosun? Deckhand? Stephens doesn't really say) Jake helps get Valerie a job as a chef's assistant. I was hoping for more of a Below Deck type story but was surprised to see where it went. It just didn't seem very realistic. I do understand given the circumstances how Valerie and Jake can't fight their attraction any longer, but I didn't get the "feels" like when I 'stan' a couple. I found some elements totally unrealistic but it was a quick and easy read.

I wish this story took a different turn from the beginning. It was obvious that Jake and Valerie had chemistry from the start. If he would have broken it off with Kylie from the start all of the drama could have been avoided. I however was not expecting the story to have a sort of shipwrecked vibe. My main issue was Valerie though. I didn't care for her and just couldn't connect. She kept this whole back and forth thing going knowing that she was was doing was wrong. If she cared so much about her sister, why not be up front about it from the start? The ending was wrapped up nice in this neat little bow almost as if nothing happened. I'm sorry I just was not a fan of this.

Arc provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3,5 stars
wanted to love this book. I love SC Stephens books. But I had 2 things holding me back. One, the relationship with Jake felt wrong. And two, some of the book reminded me of another book which is one of my all time favorite books. (On The Island).

FIrst of all, I would like to say that I immensely enjoyed the story. The plot was truly well done. I read the whole story in one go, it kept me captivated until the very end. I would describe it as kinda "Cast away" meets culinary deliciousness. Valerie graduates from culinary school and is in search of a job to one day fulfill her dream of opening her own restaurant. She meets Jack...the man of her dreams in a coffee shop but he is taken. Taken by no one other than her own sister. What a mess. She tries to avoid him/them but her daydreams about him still continue. When he tells there is a job opening on the same yacht he is working, it´s the best opportunity for her to learn from the best. She just would have to avoid him some more. What she hasn´t predicted was the yacht sinking in the middle of a storm. Thankfully Jake rescues them both. When they land in the middle of nowhere on a tropical island they have to survive with nothing but the clothes they are wearing. They learn to depend on one another and survive. What they didn´t count on was fall in love with no idea if they ever will get rescued. What happens if they ever get rescued? Will they ever?
Find out for yourself. I loved every second of this story.

**3.75 Stars**

I went into this book blind like I do most books because I think it makes for a better reading experience, so this one turned out to be very intriguing. Valerie meets Jake in a cafe and they share a moment/connection that Valerie can't stop thinking about. Unfortunately for her, she later sees him again, but it is when he brought to a dinner at her parent's house as her sister's boyfriend. While she is completed devastated, she knows he is off-limits at this point, aside from maybe in her dreams and fantasies.

Things get a tad bit trickier when Valerie takes a new job as an assistant chef on a boat that Jake also works on. Things go from tricky to traumatic to somewhat scandalous when there is a storm and Valerie and Jake have to fight for their lives, which simultaneously has the added effect of pushing them together, when perhaps they were both doing everything they could to maintain their distance and not blur any lines and boundaries.

I overall found the story line to be very interesting, even if maybe not fully realistic at times. But hey, I read to escape reality, so there is that. I think Jake and Valerie had some seriously amazing chemistry. I read the story in one sitting and was invested in the characters and finding out if they were going to get their HEA and how it was going to end.

I have conflicted feelings about this book. After finishing the book, I think it sits at a solid 2.5 / 5 stars for me, which I rounded up to 3 stars.

Something Like Perfect is a story about Valerie, who meets the "perfect guy" in a coffee shop, only to find out that Jake is her sister's new boyfriend shortly after. Their lives are complicated when Jake gives her the opportunity of a lifetime to work with an experienced chef. It comes at the perfect time, as she's struggling to find a first job after culinary school. After that, the complications compound, and a number of twists throw their lives on a different course from what they've intended.

Lines are blurred, and whether or not you support the characters' decisions through the rest of the book is based a lot on your views of relationships and cheating. The story made me uncomfortable at times, and I had a hard time connecting with Valerie as much as I wanted to. I love character-driven stories, and I wanted more of that from Something Like Perfect. If the author had included some more of Jake's point of view, it would have given a depth to the story that is missing with the current narrative.

I've never read a book by S.C. Stephens before, and I found the writing style to be easy to understand and captivating. Despite my discomfort, I had trouble putting the book down and finished it in a little over 24 hours. I give credit for that to the writing style. I look forward to reading other books by S.C. Stephens in the future, but this is one that I don't need to read again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars.....

I don't even know where to start. I love SC Stephens and the Thoughtless series is a go to favorite for me, so I was extremely excited to be gifted an ARC for her new book.

After a drunken night Valerie needs coffee (like we all do) and if the recipient of a "pay it forward" act from one of the most beautiful green eyed men she's ever seen. But sadly, he is taken.
Val hasn't been able to get Jake out of her head, even trying to recreate her footsteps at the coffee shop, until he walks into her life once again, if her parents kitchen.... with her sister.

Jake and Val do all they can to resist their attraction to each other and remain friends. Jake even goes as far as to give her a dream job on the cruise ship he pilots as assistant chef.
This is a dream job Val absolutely cannot turn down, and on the excursion, the ship hits a massive storm leaving Jake and Val the only survivors trapped on an island with little to no salvation in sight.
Our couple does everything they can to survive and also honor their relationships back home, but how long can you push away feelings and desire when you are the only two people left?

This book ended better than I thought and I enjoyed it for the most part but the premiss of the story just wasn't for me. Now I know I said I loved the thoughtless series and there was cheating, but "something like perfect" felt forced and pushy in cheating with your sisters boyfriend.
Yes I wanted them together but the whole time I just felt so.... off....

Hoping to see more of SC Stephens bc I won't be giving up on her story telling anytime soon, this one just wasn't for me.
Thank you netgallery and author for my copy!

I was in the mood for a quick summertime read and Something Like Perfect definitely fit the bill. This fast paced read did a great job combining romance with adventure! S.C. Stephens kept me on the hook the entire way through — so much so that I finished this book in one sitting!! I found both the main characters endearing (even if I wanted to shake them at times lol) and I was a surprised by some twists and turns — love that! As per usual, I look forward to reading anything and everything S.C. Stephens comes out with in the future!

3 1/2 Stars

There was instant chemistry between Valerie and Jake from the first time they met, but Jake was Valerie’s sister’s boyfriend. When Jake gets Valerie a job on the yacht he works on, he never thought that the yacht would sink in the ocean and that Valerie and him would be the only people to survive. They were stranded on a deserted island for months and finally gave into their feelings. Will they spend the rest of their lives on the island? Or will they be rescued and go back to their real lives?

Although cheating plots don’t upset me, I really found this one in bad taste. And I found the stranded on a deserted island part unrealistic. But I did like the characters ... they were caught between a rock and a hard place and tried to stay away from each other, but the universe had a different idea.

I received an early copy courtesy of Montlake Romance through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

Ithis book was a very sweet loving book where you could read it in a day or two. Two sisters In love with the same guy and then something happens that totally turns there life around..if you have read this author before you will,Ike this book two.

Today is Valerie's best friends birthday and they are celebrating. She is going to culinary school. The group of friends is going to a club. Valerie meets a hot guy but he ends up being her sister's boyfriend. Valerie graduated from culinary school. The temptation to kiss Jake is strong.Jake helps Valerie find a job.The action quickly picked up.Some of the details of being on the island was boring.i understood but wanting to be with her sister's boyfriend was a turn off.

Something Like Perfect by S.C. Stephens a five-star read that will spilt opinion. I will start off by saying that if you can’t handle cheating under any circumstance then this isn’t the read for you, but If you believe that circumstances and situations may lead further than anyone ever expected then give it a go as you will fall so deeply in love. This story took me on such an emotional journey, I was right there with Valerie wishing she didn’t feel the way she did, stuck between a rock and a hard place, love or your sibling, a choice you should never have to make, but we all know life doesn’t always go the way we planned it. Jake will break you, but in a good way, and that is where I will leave him. Honestly I didn’t know if I was going to enjoy this, I read a couple of the reviews and almost dreaded reading it, but then I started it and it took me to places I didn’t dream it would, and I ended up loving every minute. So if I can ask one thing, its put all of your pre-judged ideas aside of what this story will be, and forget all about siblings and falling in love with the same man, and just dive in and swim through this amazing story.