After being so disappointed by romance lately, this blew me away. Samantha Young has an extensive backlist that I’ve barely tapped the surface on but, of the few I’ve read, this is my favorite by far. Perfectly executed use of the grumpy/sunshine and fake dating tropes! I mean seriously, is there anything better than fake dating when someone “hasn’t been pretending for awhile?” I think not. Add in a veterinarian love interest (my kryptonite) and I’m a goner. Seriously though, Rafe tops the list of book boyfriends. He started off a rude jerk and become my future ex-husband fairly quickly. And Star! If you told me I would fall in love with a character named Star Shine Meadows, I would’ve called you a liar. Thankfully it wasn’t a weird name for no reason (my pet peeve), since she was born to hippie parents and her relationship with them was a pivotal part of the book. And the spice! I was blushing while reading this at work, so if you like steamy books look no further. I also really liked the addition of a successful polyamorous relationship between Star’s closest friends. Anyways, I absolutely recommend this to fans of romance! It’s so good! I’m already ready for a reread and will definitely be pre-ordering.

I have been a big fan of Samantha Young's for a while but hadn't picked up her last book. I devoured this book in one night, had to know how it ended! The grumpy sunshine trope at its best, so much tension, and so steamy. Loved, must read!

Are you wanting to read a book? pick this book
Are you wanting a lovable heroine, grumpy vetenarian romcom? pick this book
Are you wanting to fall in LOVE with how sweet the main characters are to each other (...eventually)? pick this book
Are you wanting to giggle and blush at a book while reading? pick this book
Are you wanting to be hooked from the first page? pick this book
Are you wanting a book without a third act break up? pick this book
PICK
THIS
BOOK
UP!!
READ IT
god save our goddess Samantha Young

The Love Plot is exactly my type of romance...While it was tropetastic...it executed each one so well. Rafe was the perfect misunderstood grump who had a squishy marshmallow inside, and Star was unapologetically herself with some great style. It was a fun read that also tugged at your heart. I'm definitely adding this to my re-read rotation.

Star is proud of who she is and doesn’t feel the need to impress others. She loves her two jobs as a character actor, often dressing as Disney princesses, and as someone who waits in lines for others so she can get lots of reading done. When she meets Rafe at one of her jobs, he doesn’t make a great impression. He seems like an arrogant, rich snob, actually, which is why Star finds it fun to push his buttons and embarrass him the next time she sees him. He surprises her by offering her a job- to fake date him so that his unrelenting mother and sister in law stop setting him up with every woman they know.

I loved this book so much, and it’s one of my favorite romance reads this year! This was my first book by Samantha Young, but it won’t be my last. I loved her writing style and the beautiful message in this book of being proud of who you are and true to yourself. This book has my very favorite romance trope of fake dating, along with grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract, and forced proximity with one bed. Rafe’s character growth was heartwarming, and Star is one of my favorite main characters in a long time! She had me laughing out loud at her antics and loving her honesty and sunny personality. If you like romcoms, this book should definitely top your reading list!

Thank you to Samantha Young, Berkley Romance, and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Many thanks to Samantha Young for writing this swoon-worthy and entertaining romance, with favorite tropes including grumpy-meets-sunshine, opposites-attract, and fake dating! Both of the characters are so lovable, giving millions of hugs! I have to admit, our brooding and hot-as-hell hero Rafe didn’t leave a good first impression with his harsh comments about our extra-sunshiny, sweet, gold-hearted, and incarnation-of-Disney-Princess heroine Star Shine Meadows (it’s impossible not to be extra protective over her – she’s a wonderful, kind, optimistic, energetic heroine who makes you feel good about yourself and change your perspective about the world)! Rafe’s family dynamics also reminded me a little of L.J. Shen’s Devil in Black (supporting and friendly sister, sweetheart mom, arrogant brother, and dislikable sister-in-law characteristics were so much similar to that book).

Thankfully, Samantha Young’s story has better main characters, and this book provides clean romance. Both of the characters deal with their own emotional insecurities and baggage, but I loved seeing how they slowly destroyed each other’s emotional barriers, evolving into a better version of themselves. There was no unnecessary, angsty drama between them.

The main story revolves around Rafe Whitman, a commitment guy who believes in monogamous, long-term relationships, preferring animals to humans, socially a little reserved, and working as a veterinarian at the clinic he recently founded. His last breakup left him with trust issues, which resulted in the nonstop intervention of his mother and sister-in-law, who try so hard to matchmake him with the most eligible singles of Manhattan elites.

When Rafe meets Star Shine Meadows in a Disney costume at his niece’s birthday, he makes cruel comments about her job and life choices. Star was raised by hippie, extra free-spirited, selfish parents who are polygamists, trying to fit in throughout her teenage years in different cities and social circles that resulted in her being outcasted or bullied because of her eccentric parents’ unconventional lifestyle. She learned to take care of herself at the age of 10. The neglect and abandonment created trust issues and lots of emotional baggage that she cannot form a bonding for too long, preferring short-term flings to serious long-term attachments. She works as a costume character actor and line sitter, which requires waiting in long lines for special products, tickets for the people who cannot have time or energy.

At their second coincidental meeting, Star makes saucy comments and humiliates Rafe in the middle of the Apple Store to avenge the mean words he’s said behind her back. She waits for retaliation, but instead of that, Rafe makes an offer she finds way too alluring to reject. He wants her to fake-date with him to stop his family’s matchmaking attempts! He’s ready to pay $10,000 monthly for a six-month commitment, which may help Star afford the road trip she’s dreaming of going on.

As they start their dating game, privileged and wealthy family members show mixed reactions about Star’s family life, her colorful and eccentric fashion style, and her lack of career plans. But Star slowly gets under their skin with her kind heart, honesty, and genuineness. At least she wins some of them over as Rafe's biased brother Hugo and his criticizing wife Pippa still think their relationship will never work.

As they spend more time together and realize the palpable attraction, Star starts to think that maybe she can take a chance to grow roots, bond with the people, and confront her abandonment issues, which means she has to face her fears.

At first, I didn't like Rafe, but he grew on me after apologizing several times for his attitude and mean words. Don't be fooled by his rough facade; he's hiding his cinnamon roll persona under his grumpy attitude. Overall, I'm rounding up 3.5 stars to 4. This engaging, swoon-worthy, and entertaining romance is highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing book's digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.