Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the eARC.
2.5⭐️⭐️⭐️
I ended up DNFing it at 78% because the writing was just incredibly frustrating. I couldn’t bring myself to finish it. The premise that she’s not allowed to have a personal life and must stay single is, as others have pointed out, illegal and an HR violation. The writing was really clunky at times and the constant on and off nature of Sloane and Charlie’s ‘relationship’ just became too frustrating to see through to the presumably happy ending. I get that the author was exaggerating this job interview premise to make a point about the current video game design world but it’s really unrealistic and unbelievable they would ask those questions in an interview and demand those things. I couldn’t suspend my disbelief once it got to so late in the book and it was such a sticking point. I really enjoyed some aspects of Sloane’s character and learning about her game designs, how she worked, and her doomsday prepper tendencies/background. I love a girl in STEM but not in this absolutely absurd setup. I’m sorry. No. I would have loved if that aspect was removed and she was just applying for this job. Things definitely could have been improved to make this book really good, but it was a miss for me.

Looking for an HEA? This is one where an odd couple become a couple. Sloane works as a game designer and she's got to finish a project as an audition of sorts for a new job. Charlie, her neighbor, was meant to travel to the Turks and Caicos with his girlfriend but she ditched him so he asks Sloane to join him. I can't imagine why she thought she would be able to work at a resort but so be it (also, the question she's asked in her interview is illegal and inappropriate). The forced proximity and pretend dating leads to a real relationship. While I liked both of them, this was just too trope-y for me. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Over to others.

I thought this was really cute. I enjoyed the heartbreak, that led to strangers to become friends. The main characters were really cute - they had their own struggles and challenges. Their romance was a very slow burn - but it did not annoy me. Their relationship was fun to read about - they had some entertaining parts and the banter was great. There Caribbean location was envy inducing. The hardworking, determined characters were a great addition. I just enjoyed the story, characters and reading this. It was a quick, easy read - and a great escape from reality.

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

This was a fun and easy read! I've not read any books where the heroine was trying to get into the gaming world, obviously run more by men, and like that storyline where a woman can make it if she's allowed in. Sloane and Charlie have a fun relationship that you root for, and this was a fun read.

In a Not So Perfect World delivers everything you need for a good beach read: reliable romance tropes, witty banter, steady pacing, sexual tension and a happy ending.

I liked Charlie and Sloane from the jump, although I had a hard time buying into how easily Sloane accepts the outrageous personal demands from her prospective new employer. (Talk about toxic workplaces. Is the gaming industry like that in real life, perhaps?) I enjoyed watching Sloane come to recognize her own worth and go after what really matters to her.

I always struggle a bit to buy into stories where characters fall in love really quickly, and this book relies heavily on the epilogue to tidy up loose ends and sell it as more than a vacation romance.

Overall, it’s a quick, easy breezy read that will leave you feeling warm, fuzzy and in the mood for rum punch and sunsets on the beach!

“What are you doing?”
“I clear my throat, move even closer… the grand gesture”

This book is very sweet! It starts with a favor and ends in true love. Sloane is getting over a break up when her best friend dares her to kiss someone -- cue cute guy at the bar, Charlie. Not looking for any strings, Sloane is desperate to land her dream job as a designer for the top video game company in the country which unfortunately is run by a group of complete jerks who make it clear to her that if she gets the job she must remain single in order to prove she is dedicated to her work. Charlie who was also recently dumped is about to embark on a romantic all inclusive vacation -- solo. To make his former girlfriend jealous Charlie suggests Sloane pretend to be his new love and join him in Turks and Caicos. Even Sloane who is prepared for everything may not be prepared for this.

In a Not So Perfect World is beautifully written with strong characters who I rooted for the whole time. Sloane is smart and funny but sells herself way short by agreeing to even interview for the job at Catapult Games. Charlie is the absolute sweetest. He definitely falls first and does all he can to show Sloane how he feels. I love the way he gives Sloane space when she needs it and supports her with his whole heart. In a Not So Perfect World is just delightful!

I struggled in the beginning of this book to connect with the characters, it felt rushed and superficial. I really wanted to like Sloane because she has a STEM based career (love that), but I had to get halfway through the book until I started to enjoy what I was reading. I think I would have enjoyed the beginning of the book more if it wasn’t so linear and it jumped around a bit. The vacation part of the book was great. I would have loved to read more about Sloane’s career ending/beginning at the end of the book (trying to make this vague so as to not spoil the ending). Note - I would love to read a spin-off of the HR woman, she sounds fun and interesting!

This was an okay read. The premise, a trip to the Caribbean, posing as a couple, to get back at an ex had me intrigued. But diving into the story, there were a handful of things that were lacking. The subplot of the FMC interviewing for a gaming design job where she's expected to remain single had so many things wrong with it....a woman in STEM putting so much emphasis on a job with these types of hiring practices, I'm sorry, no. The trip that Sloane and Charlie went on had such promise, a little fake dating, beautiful scenery, and some fun food and activities but the hurt from each of their past relationships played such a huge role that it felt like it took away from playing up the fake dating, minimized them being able to communicate and just made things messy. The wrap up and conflict resolution was clunky and didn't feel super satisfying.

That being said, it was a quick fun read and I really wanted to see how everything was resolved. I also want to see Tess's story....I felt more invested in her romance than I did with Sloane 🙃

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, Harper Perennial for the ARC in exchange for my review!

I enjoyed this book but felt that it did drag at times. I think this is one that would've been really great with dual POVs, especially in the third act "breakup" when we don't hear much from Charlie. For the most part, it was cute and we saw a lot of character development with Sloane. However, the ending where she's thinking about how it may or may not work out kind of killed it for me, when she already made the whole spiel to Charlie about being in love with him and wanting him more than her job (and we just read a great epilogue of their relationship over the past year). For me it just cheapened the feel good HEA at that point. While it wasn't my favorite, it was a good story and had great banter, so it wasn't entirely a miss.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC!

This book is a good fit for readers who enjoy lighthearted and emotional contemporary romance stories about pursuing career goals, overcoming heartbreak, and finding love in unexpected places.

I really enjoyed In a Not So Perfect World! It's a really fun & light summer read with a few of my favorite things: fake dating, forced proximity, a trip to paradise and a sweetheart of a MMC.

What I love so much about Neely Tubati Alexander's books is how normal her main characters are. I find myself shaking my head at choices and cheering on epiphanies the same way I do with people in my life. There's something relatable to the how human they are - flaws and all.

Sloane's internal dialogue is a bit repetitive in the beginning, but you get past it as the story heats up.

I found myself laughing out loud at some of the side characters - there are few things I love more than when inconsequential characters bring the unexpected funny.

All in all, I'd give it 4.5 stars! If you're looking for a fun Spring Break or vacation read or something to pull you out of a slump, look no further.

Special thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins & Neely Tubati Alexander for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Harper Perennial for the gifted copy of this book!

Perspectives: woman in STEM, Indian American (AAPI)

After really enjoying Neely's debut LOVE BUZZ, I knew I had to read IN A NOT SO PERFECT WORLD. This book is absolutely no sophomore slump!

While this romance is really fun: a kiss with a stranger, an unexpected trip to Turks and Caicos, and some less-than-stellar exes, I also really loved all parts of the plot. Neely did such a good job with the friendships, jobs, and family expectations. As a woman in STEM, I loved the realistic portrayal of applying for jobs in a male-dominated field. Honestly, the expectations are just ridiculous and I have totally been in a similar situation before. This is a total win!

Unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me. There were a significant amount of plot details that were overall dramatically unbelievable to me- mainly centered around the details of the video game company as well as how quickly she “fell in love” with the male lead (Charlie). I appreciated the “Corporate America caters to the man” subplot, but it was so exaggerated that it made it a little cringeworthy, and fell really flat at the end. I also never felt extremely connected to the characters; Sloane, to me, was in no way likable and Charlie wasn’t super dreamy to me either, so it was difficult for me to even try to be invested in their overall character development. Overall, just a bit too predictable while simultaneously farfetched for my taste. I likely would have DNF’d about halfway through if I had just picked this up on my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

On the surface In a Not So Perfect World is a fun rom-com. Give me that fake dating in a tropical setting trope all day long. Look beyond that and you'll find a powerful allegory. Neely Tubati Alexander does an exceptional job of challenging conventions.

Things I loved:
- The turquoise waters, spectacular sunsets, and never ending rum punch. Paradise is my favorite place.
- Subtle gender role reversals: fear of flying and creepy crawly things, love of romance novels, hyper focus on career aspirations.
- Grand gesture(s). Why limit yourself to one?
- Challenging the belief that women can have a successful career or a vibrant personal life, but not both.

I hated the misogyny rampant throughout the book, but recognize that it remains a problem for women, especially in traditionally male-centric STEM careers. The author takes it on with humor and authenticity. I love that she is not afraid to take on stereotypes and blast them to smithereens. YAY!

This is a terrific choice if your goal is to disappear into a fun rom-com with witty banter and likable characters. It's also an excellent choice if you want all that with a side of badassery from your female main character. Like her first book, Love Buzz, this book is a winner.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

DNF at 35%. This might just be a case of picking this up at the wrong time but I’m just not getting into it. When I set the book down, I don’t want to pick it up again and for me that’s a sign to let it go. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ebook to review.

Adore everything Neely Tubati Alexander writes! It was so fun learning more about game design while being on vacation in paradise. And I got to watch the characters fall in love! Wins all around. In a Not So Perfect World gives us forced proximity, fake dating, sparkling banter, and a journey in self-discovery. Just like Love Buzz (Neely’s debut), I savored this one!

Quick easy read with a fake dating trope (which I love). Decent chemistry between the main characters made for an overall enjoyable read.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It was a great slow burn with character development and plenty of swoon. My chief complaint is a bit of pacing issue. I felt that the story dragged along at a few points in the first portion of the book and at the "11th hour" it felt like Sloane was almost juggling too much at once. Alas, we still get our perfect happily ever after!

Another all star from this author! More than a romance, we get a deep look into Sloane’s life - her struggles, her work in STEM designing video games, the sexism she faces. Then we get her fun meet-cute with Charlie, fake dating, only one bed, slow burn, and delightful banter. Charlie takes Sloane on the honeymoon meant for his ex, and I adored watching them get to know each other. They each had their own issues to overcome, but the insane attraction they felt for each other wouldn’t be denied. Then we get to see them at home, back in the real world, and watch their relationship evolve from there. From beginning to end, this is not your typical rom-com. Sloane and Charlie are not your typical mcs, but that’s what I love about these types of books. Highly recommend if you like messy mcs, vacation vibes, video games, cute pets, strong friendships, and strangers to friends to lovers.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Sloane Cooper is working towards her dream job at a well known video game company. She gets an interview and for some reason promises the male head designers to remain single. Shouldn’t be an issue for Sloane since her ex did her wrong.

Cue Charlie, aka Sloane’s hot neighbor, who begs her to join him on a romantic getaway intended for him and his ex-girlfriend. The catch? Sloane must agree to fake date Charlie so he can get his ex back. Sloane says yes, but the trip benefits her just as much. She gets a free trip to a beautiful resort where she can focus on developing her game so she can snag her dream job.

Of course sparks fly in paradise but Sloane can’t let it go any further. She must stay on course and not let her unexpected feelings for her hot neighbor get in her way.

This story is refreshing and a breath of fresh air. It is a romance but also contemporary fiction because we get to see so much of who Sloane is and what she has been through with her ex. The romance was also different and doesn’t follow the typical storyline of romance books nowadays. We also saw parts of Charlie’s life that were unexpected. He is honestly a dream guy because of his warm super sweet heart. They balanced each other out so well and challenged each other in good ways.

There is also good representation for Sloane being a woman in a predominantly male field. The parts that are talked about are relatable because women are expected to give up so much and carry the emotional load most of the time. Charlie also spoke about breaking through the industry of acting. He’s known for his body and not much else. I love when authors sneak in related moments or subtlety speak about the issues in certain industries.

I loved this story and felt so warm after finishing it. The ending felt normal and their relationship trajectory was realistic. I can see these two characters existing in real life. I wish they did!

Read this book if you like…
🏝️Fake dating
🏝️Forced proximity
🏝️Women in tech representation
🏝A perfect summer read
🏝Funny cute moments

Thank you Harper Perennial and Netgalley for an ARC.