smoldering/cranky vet and a free spirited heroine enter into a fake dating arrangement to get his family off of their matchmaking obsession.

This is a grump/sunshine trope as well as fake dating!

While Rafferty, aka Rafe, was very off putting at first, his brooding and demeanor started to change the more he got to know Star and her quirks. I found myself swooning for him and come on… who doesn't love a hot vet??

Star was a VERY different heroine than I am used to and her hippie upbringing, group of polyamorous friends, and loose parents had me a little skeptical at first but I found myself also melting to her sunshine personality and outlook on life. Never has there been a character more true to herself!

I love a good fake dating book and this did not disappoint!

The Love Spot by Samantha Young was such a fun read about opposites attract and fake dating. Full of sunshine and rainbows, Star is easy-going, caring and overall positive person who lives her life as she pleases. It is really hard to not like her. Rafe on the other hand is reserved, grumpy and takes life seriously. When they first meet, he is not nice to her and yet, when they meet again, he makes an offer she can’t refuse. Now they are fake dating to appease his family. And though they don’t always get along in the beginning, the more time they spend together, the more lines blur.

In the beginning these two are so different from each other. They come from such different families and background. Could they ever truly work? And yet they shared some fun and steamy chemistry and witty banter. I absolutely loved watching them fall. Their journey was so much fun to read.

Happy reading!

My thoughts: I am SO behind on book review I am so sorry y’all!! I just started school again so trying to find my routine has been rough 🤪that being said I read this two weeks ago and here are my thoughts 😂this one was a fun romance but nowhere near as charming as the first book I read by her Much Ado About You. I thought they were a great couple and the chemistry was 🔥🔥but by the end some of his family members were just so awful I just didn’t want Star to end up with him 😂 there’s a big trend in romance books lately where the woman has to change for the man and I’m just not crazy about it. Overall this was fun and spicy but not the cutest romance. Thank you @berkleyromance and @netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

I love a grumpy/sunshine troupe, add in fake dating and opposites attract? Feed it to me.
I thought this was a fun, easy rom-com. I liked that even though the main character projected a this is who I am vibe, we could see her struggle with insecurity. I always enjoy a Samantha Young book!
<i> Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing this advance reader's copy for an honest review. </i>

Samantha Young is one of my new favorite writers. I am glad I have found her. The Love Plot doesn't disappoint about a grumpy man and a sunshine woman who start out fake dating and eventually falls in love.

Thank you for the advanced copy.

: I loved this story and the unique, quirky characters! Star is a very bohemian spirit, raised by hippies hence the name Star Shine Meadows. For work she’s a character actor and line sitter, doesn’t believe in monogamy and is perfectly happy with her life. Until she meets Rafe, her complete opposite. He’s reserved, traditional and comes from a wealthy family. And when he makes her an offer to fake date him, her imperfectly curated world is turned upside down.

Despite their differences, the two of them are so sweet and balance each other out. I love how Rafe is so accepting of Star and likes her as she is. He doesn’t want to change her at all. And she embraces his straight laced quirks as well.

It was also interesting to see them both try and fit in each other’s lives given their very different lifestyles. They both have to overcome expectations their friends and families have of their significant other.

Read For:
💥 Opposites Attract
☀️ Grump/Sunshine
🖤 Fake Dating
🏡 Found Family
💰 Rich Society Family
📍 New York Setting

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️/ 5

4.5 Stars

This book! I absolutely loved it. The story, the characters, the writing style, the humor, the depth, all of it was just fantastic. I haven't read many of Samantha Young's romantic comedies, but I can tell you I will definitely be going back to read the one's I've missed and I will hands down be reading anything she publishes in the future. Rafe and Star were such fun characters that I was rooting for from the start, and the way their story played out was exactly what I wanted and needed.

Star is practically the definition of a free spirit working a couple of jobs that no one sees as a career or with any kind of ambition. Rafe is a grumpy, ambitious, veterinarian trying to live his life the way he wants while also dodging his families schemes to find him "the one". Star and Rafe don't make sense on paper, but she just might be the perfect person to help him get his family off his back, and he might have the solution to help her accomplish her dreams of traveling.

Seriously, Rafe and Star are the perfect definition of opposites attract, and while they might not make sense, the way the two of them work together is just perfect. I loved how Rafe from the very start only wanted Star to be herself. He never pushed her to be someone else and the way he cared for her was just the absolutely swooniest. I love how he tried to understand her and how he always supported her, and I love the way she tried her hardest with him in return. There was definitely a little bit of a miscommunication trope here, but I honestly really appreciated that everything wasn't drawn out, once they recognized the lack of communication, they worked to resolve it, and I loved that it was both of them working on their relationship, not just one of them fighting for the other. This is easily one I would recommend to anyone who enjoys the following.

✔️ Grumpy/Sunshine
✔️ Opposites Attract
✔️ Fake Dating
✔️ He Falls First
✔️ Only One Bed
✔️ First Person Single POV

There were definitely some sweet and swoon-worthy moments in this book! Star is a very quirky fmc and because of that I couldn’t quite relate to her a lot which probably dropped my enjoyment. I also had some issues with the mmc’s family dynamics and found it to be pretty frustrating.

I also wish we got more of the pining from the fake dating aspect, but I did enjoy Rafe as a mmc! It just felt like a lot was going on in the book at once with so many plot lines. Overall, not a favorite of mine but some moments were still enjoyable!

Tropes:
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Fake dating
- NYC setting
- Quirky characters

When Star ruffles Rafe’s feathers, she ruffles them good and in public for strangers to laugh with! She takes ruffling up a level by mentioning food play and it’s hilarious! He does his own ruffling too, leaving her proud of him in “The Love Plot” by Samantha Young!

This romantic comedy is a fast read! From the beginning when Star bravely stands up for herself while wearing a Merida costume to the biggest grump in Manhattan, but his attractiveness levels up when Rafe is caught being happy with his niece, I needed more!!!

There are emotional scenes in this book which I expect and enjoy when reading Young’s books! There are hurtful moments yet swoony moments. There are multiple twists that leave you thinking what makes a person selfish and they need to stay away from our sunshine, Star Shine Meadows!

The reason for their fake relationship is wild yet necessary. I love the character growth for both Star and Rafe while these two very opposite people learn from each other.

I love the conditions Young wrote for their relationship to shift from fake to real albeit the tension tightening because of one bed! I love how Young made Star and Rafe’s food play come full circle! I love everything about this book!!!

If you enjoy close proximity, difference social class, found family, happy and independent women, I tried relationships, spicy time, steamy kisses, and swoony grump reads, then I highly recommend this book!

Thank you Valentine PR and Samantha Young for my advanced review copy which I received in exchange for an honest review.

Stunning, incredible, perfect, so fun. I blazed through THE LOVE PLOT in about 36 hours and just ate up the fake dating plot like an insatiable little woodland creature. As a love interest, Rafe was great and I loved that most of the books tension and drama didn't center around Rafe and Star as a couple and was more centered around Star's issues related to her upbringing and family dynamics. Even when they had disagreements due to miscommunication, it didn't feel like the same tired miscommunication trope that so many other romance novels rely on to move the plot forward.

Samantha Young is a “new to me” author and I absolutely loved The Love Plot! I am looking forward to reading more of her work!

Rafe and Star go together like peanut butter and jelly! This book had me laughing from start to finish with Star’s smart mouth. I absolutely loved the chemistry between these two characters.

Star is a lovely, free spirit who has a few jobs just to make ends meet. She is a character actor where she is hired to dress up as any character under the sun as well as a line sitter. She meets Rafe at his niece's birthday party and he was really pretty crappy to her. They met again while she was waiting in line when her witty banter caught his attention. He then offered her a job fake dating him for $10k a month (for 6 months). This would allow Star to do what she wanted most in life - travel.

Rafe is a hot, rich, GRUMPY veterinarian who needs to do something to get his mother and sister-in-law off his back to find himself a wife. He is just so desperate to offer Star a once in a lifetime offer just to get some peace in his life.

Both of these MC’s have their own personal baggage/issues. They really connect with each other and seem to be able to help overcome some of those issues. At first, I couldn’t stand Rafe but he grew on me. I loved how Rafe was so honest and didn’t sugar coat things for Star. I did find Star a bit annoying at times when it came to their “relationship” because of her past and from her parents' issues. But I did enjoy seeing their character development throughout the book.

Overall, a fantastic book. I enjoyed most of the side characters - Star’s mom is such a garbage person. The writing and story were wonderful. Definitely a must read!

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐡𝐚𝐬:
Grumpy x Sunshine
Fake Dating
One Bed
Miscommunication
Cinnamon Roll MMC
Opposites Attract
Polyamorous Relationship Rep (Stars best friends)

Thank you to @valentine_pr_ @authorsamanthayoung for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A new book from Samantha Young and I couldn't be more thrilled to have the chance to review here.
I'm well familiar with her novels, read so many already, but one thing I can tell you about her writing style it's that it can be so addictive that you want to read more and more and never stop.
I'm a fan of romance, so romance with complications like fake dating it's evem more fun for me.
Loved the love plot, loved Rafe and Star and I absolutely recommend it.
A few things that you'll get with this book - likeable characters :a free spirited young woman and a very serious grumpy vet
-their plan to fake a relationship in order for him to be left alone by his family, who were making a case into finding him a perfect girl
-characters that are atracted to each other from the beginning but try to wear a mask of.... "Ohh you're not my style"
-get heated with their oh so hot encounters
-and obviously that moment when you want to slap one of them for not seeing the obvious about their story.
Love plot, has everithing to make you not to put it down until it's finished, and regret at the end that it's over.

The Love Plot is a fun rom-com with grumpy sunshine vibes and fake dating — the perfect combination!

I really loved Star in this book. She has such a bubbly, carefree personality and it's a refreshing aspect to this story. Rafe, while he embodies the personality of "grumpy", is a little frustrating at times. But I also understand his desire to bring Star around his family. And I love that she softens him up as the story goes on.

It's a fun rom-com that many will love. Samantha Young's writing is definitely something that makes me want to pick up more of her books!

Few authors can make me laugh and swoon in the same chapter like Samantha Young can! The Love Plot follows Star, a bohemian gig worker, and Rafe, a straight-laced veterinarian, as they fake date to try to ward off Rafe's family's matchmaking attempts.

Star is pure sunshine and fun, with a big heart. Her strength and compassion are admirable given her background and parents.

Rafe is the grumpy, stern guy that just wants to live his life in peace. Preferring dogs to people, he is very much over his family's attempts to set him up with the most eligible women in New York. So, he cooks up a plan to hire Star to pretend to date him to get at least of few months off from their antics.

This was a sweet and steamy read with a lot of heart. I particularly enjoyed the emphasis on what makes a family.

Some of my favorite tropes can be found in The Love Plot:
•Grumpy/sunshine
•Fake dating
•Opposites attract
•Class/upbringing differences
•He fall first 😌

Thanks to Berkley Romance for the advanced copy! Even with a newborn to take care of, I inhaled this book!

Super cute romance opposite attract/fake dating/fall in love for real and HEA. Alot more to unpack though - heroine dysfunctional family versus hero loving family, polygamy relationships with Star's friends. Star trying to fit in and be who she thinks he deserves. Star cuts tie with her dysfunctional mother. Emotional baggage from hero's cheating ex. Star commitment phobia and fear of abandonment as the result of her upbringing...overall I enjoyed it!
I think the plot is interesting. The chemistry is great even though they are very different from each other (a vet and a free-spirit). A lot of sexy times, laugh out loud moments, and fun banters. Entertaining read! 💞

THE LOVE PLOT by Samantha Young is a stand alone, contemporary, adult, romance story line focusing on Star Shine Meadows, and thirty-three year old, veterinarian Dr. Rafe Whitman.

Told from first person perspective (Star) THE LOVE PLOT follows the fake relationship agreement between Star Shine Meadows, and thirty-three year old, veterinarian Dr. Rafe Whitman. Star Meadows grew up with unconventional parents, in an unconventional life style, has two unconventional jobs, and a tight knit group of unconventional friends. A job posing as a Disney princess finds Star face to face with Dr. Rafe Whitman, the birthday girl’s uncle, and a man whose family is desperate to find him a wife. Butting proverbial heads from the outset, Rafe offers Star a six month, financially exclusive contract as his ‘fake girlfriend’ in which Star will discover her unconventionality does not fit well with the Whitman side of life. As Star slowly falls for the man in question, his family is slowly changing our story line heroine. What ensues is the building relationship between Star and Rafe, and the potential fall-out as Star begins to lose herself in an effort to support the man with whom she has fallen in love.

The relationship between Star and Rafe begins acrimoniously. Rafe is troubled by Star’s methods of employment but desperate times force Rafe to offer Star another ‘unconventional’ contract, a contract to play the loving girlfriend of a man who is struggling in his personal life. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Star’s friends, and her Bohemian parents, as well as Rafe’s extended family of rich snobs and questionable friends.

THE LOVE PLOT is a ‘sunshine-grumpy’ story line of desperation and determination, friendships and family, acceptance and love. The premise is entertaining, engaging and inviting; the characters are flirty, sassy and lively; the romance is edgy, tender and emotional.




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Ibooks (Sandy sch)

Sick of his mother and sister-in-law trying to set him up on dates, Rafe Whitman enlists the help of free-spirited Star Shine Meadows to pretend to date him to get them off his back. Star and Rafe lead completely different lives, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have chemistry. Will they be able to get over their differences and take a chance on being happy with each other while remaining true to who they are?

This was a fun romance set in New York City. Star was a unique character who was the child of hippies so she lives a free-spirited lifestyle and has jobs like character actor and line sitter. I enjoyed how she and Rafe met at a birthday party she was working at, but their second meeting really set the tone for the book and had me laughing out loud.

I listened to the audiobook while reading along to the ebook and enjoyed the narrator, Savannah Peachwood did a fantastic job. She brought both Star and Rafe to life and delivered all the comedic moments really well. She also handled the family drama and steamy moments perfectly.

This was my first book by Young. I enjoyed her writing style and that she included interesting characters especially Star’s friends who I really enjoyed while reading this one. Opposites attract has become one of my favorite tropes, and she really showed us how the other half lives in this story. I don’t always love fake dating, but I enjoyed it in this story.

Read this is you like:
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Opposites attract
- Fake dating

Thank you Berkley Publishing, PRH Audio, and NetGalley for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

I thought this was a super cute romance with some fun spice thrown in the mix! The fake dating trope and grumpy/sunshine characters were executed so well in this book! I loved the tension & banter between the main characters, it made this book really hard to put down! I gotta say, Rafe was a bit of an ass to begin with.. but I’m happy to say that he grew on me and I really enjoyed character growth. I thought Star’s unique background was interesting and enjoyed her authenticity throughout. This book also did a good job of addressing trauma from dysfunctional families and I loved how the two MCs worked through those together.

Really enjoyed this one, definitely add it to your to-read list! Thank you Berkley Publishing and Berkley Romance for the copy of this novel for review.

I have loved Young’s words since the start of her career and The Love Plot is another stunning addition to her catalog! I love a good grumpy sunshine story and this one was a lot of fun. From two completely opposites attract to fake dating, Rafe and Star Shine take you on a roller coaster ride of all the emotions, quirky moments because of the different ways these two have grown up. This is a fun read and keeps you on your toes!

After a couple of meh romcoms this was a breath of fresh air. There’s fake dating, which is fast becoming one of my favorite romance tropes along with opposites and grumpy sunshine. Yeah I know kinda similar but they both don’t have to exist.

Star and Rafe. What names. I connected with her happy go lucky personality and while he was a little much at times, I really grew to like him too. And as I always say, the most important thing for me with a romance is to root for the couple. Which I did.

It’s cute and heartwarming. I giggled and loved the banter. The characters grew and stumbled as they spent time together. Opposites don’t just change and fall in love, I liked we saw the struggle and them trying to work out the solution. Exactly what I needed to read right now.

And kudos to @savannahpeachwood for doing a bang up job being both Star and Rafe. I’m sometimes disappointed when there isn’t dual narration in a romance but she does such a good job. I loved it.