This was very well written. it kept my attention till the very end. I could not put this down. this a fun and unique read. This gave me "The Boys" TV show vibes.
overall, it's a fun read.

Absolute perfection, laugh out loud funny, and perfectly romantic!!! This will be the book of the summer, and has a little something for everyone!!

Okay, I'm already a huge fan of Elizabeths so there wasn't really a universe where this book wasn't going to absolutely work for me. I love this uptick I'm seeing in superhero and supervillain romance, They're zany and bonkers and that's literally my cuppa. I'm actually not used to a light ES story (although there are definitely triggers for mentions of childhood abuse and neglect and violence), but ASNPR was just proof that she can write whatever she wants and I'm going to enjoy the hell out of it. I loved the setup of a world where mysterious beings fell to earth and were raised to be superheroes and villains. Without spoiling too much, the direction ES took on the supers origins was exactly the wacky plot twist I wanted to see. Like if The Boys had a baby with They Came From Outer Space. Idk, man, it makes sense in my head lol Vanessa and Roland were such enjoyable characters. Vanessa has had some significant trauma in her childhood so her self doubt isn't surprising. But Roland is like "okay valid. feel your feels. but also, I will burn the entire galaxy down for you so". And you know what? I loved that, even if I didn't always feel like I knew *quite enough* about them, ES is pretty known for her unhinged MMCs and I gotta tell ya, Roland's hinges were absolutely loose. I'm very intrigued to see where the rest of the series takes us as there were some loose ends that made way, I think, for the second book!

Also? The side romance ft one of Vanessa's brothers?? LOVED. GIMME 14 RIGHT NOW.

I expected this to be a cute superhero romance, so I was quite surprised when it turned out to be an alien monster romance. I found the first third of the book challenging to get into and wish we got more of the “why” behind the draw to the relationship to start — the strong feelings from MMC to FMC didn’t seem to have a lot of depth or basis for much of the book. I think this was an interesting premise and I enjoyed how the author built out this alternate world, but I don’t think I was the right audience for this book overall.

2.5 stars

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Years ago, 48 beings fell upon earth with no memories of who they were, where they were from, their parents, etc. Growing up, these 48 started exhibiting powers beyond what us humans had ever seen. Eventually they split into two groups: superheroes vs villains. Roland, The Pyro, belongs to neither side. He hasn’t officially decided and kinda just keeps to himself and floats in the middle. But things are about to change….
Vanessa founded and runs a PR firm and they really hope to land this 10 year contract with The Pyro to help clean up his image, manage his social media, and help make him into a new and beloved superhero. But that meeting doesn’t go as planned….
Roland is definitely what we would call a work in progress. He’s very intense, grumpy, and not friendly or approachable. But he does have these small moments where he shows kindness so Vanessa knows they can do this. She just doesn’t expect one of the terms he sets to be that she fulfill the Lois Lane role and be his girlfriend/wife.
Listen if there’s anything I have come to expect from an Elizabeth Stephens book: It’s gonna be entertaining as hell, it’s gonna be well written, and the romance is gonna be hot. And you can bet All Superheroes Need PR checked all three. I had so much fun babes with this freaking book. Like I’m struggling to put into words how amazing this was. I loved the hot superhero and the anxious clumsy FMC pairing. It made for some hilarious, awkward yet cute moments. I am already patiently but also impatiently waiting for the next book in this series. The concept is so very cool and my brain is exploding at all the possibilities. I mean c’mon! Who doesn’t want a hot superhero or even a villain to sweep them off their feet?! I can’t wait to see where Elizabeth takes us readers next and what characters we will meet!

5⭐️
3.5🔥

What to expect
-Diverse cast
-Superheroes & Villains
-Romcom
-Anxiety rep
-Slower burn
-Fake dating/relationship quickly turns into something real
-He falls first
-FMC has trauma from her childhood (before she was adopted by a loving family)
-Big & unexpected changes
-A knot?
-Action packed
-They save each other


TW/CW: FMC is groped by a stranger at a bar without her consent, vomit, fainting, multiple on page injuries, FMC is kidnapped (not by MMC), MMC is kidnapped (not by FMC), threats of death and injury, discussion and mention of past child abuse (FMC, not gone into very graphic detail), Anxiety & PTSD from said abuse

The concept for this book was amazing and I was so excited to read this. Superheroes, fake dating, I love all of these things!

I did not love this book, which is massively disappointing and I feel like a significant reason for it is that the description of the book did not actually set me up with a realistic expectation of what the book was.

Publicity stunt relationship? Eh, sort of check. The MMC being weirdly aggressive and running hot and cold with her throughout the first half? Unfortunately, check. Anxiety rep? Yes please!!! Wait why is this starting to seem like a fated mates scenario, and oh, is this a monster romance?

Like at the end of the day, I’m not mad about (most) of those things. The MMC being an a-hole, I am absolutely mad about.

I feel like this book could have benefited from another editing pass because a lot of the scenes were disjointed and it felt like the characters were on a seesaw of over and under reacting at all times.

I feel like I would have enjoyed this more if it was the book described in the cover copy.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the review copy.

All Superheroes Need PR
4🌟🌟🌟🌟
4🌶🌶🌶🌶

THIS Marvel/DC meets Romcom concept was so cute and hilariously written! I loved seeing BIPOC representation in a genre where it is so severely lacing as well! If you like a good "I will burn the world for her" trope, this one is for you.

Vanessa works PR company that wants super Villain "Pyro" (get it, burn the world down for her) rebranded into a superhero. When Vanessa and Roland (Pyro) start working together, sparks fly (oh, the amazing fire puns), and their roller coaster romance had me completely absorbed. I flew through this book and found myself sad it was finished. And that ending?! WOW! I can't wait for more of this world!

Thank you to Netgally for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review!

DNF at 22%. no one is more devastated in me that this didn't work out for me. i have been desperate for a superhero romance for the longest time and was sure this would be the one that finally gave me what i've been craving for but unfortunately, it didn't. first of all, the FMC is super clumsy, insecure, and is riddled with so much anxiety that she can't even be the one to present a proposal for a contract because she's too scared - she's supposed to be the CEO of a PR company???? even in a fictional world, that simply doesn't make any sense. the "superhero" is *surprise surprise* an asshole who speaks in grunts. the writing is super dense as well - in the middle of a conversation/dialogue, the main character will go on a 7 paragraph tangent about something else and it completely took me out of the story. by the time we got back to the convo, i completely forgot what they were even discussing. the pacing is super slow too - i think because there are a ton of characters that we are introduced to in the beginning chapters (not just the fmc's best friends and coworkers, but also her whole family), that we were info dumped all the backstory on them rather than moving on with the plot.

i will say that i LOVE the diversity in this book. each character came from a different racial background. both the mc's were characters of color and the fmc's best friend was a transwoman! more romances with this kind of representation please!

When I read the premise for All Superheroes Need PR, I was excited to sink my teeth into it.

I’ll admit, when the story began, I was a bit put off by Vanessa’s clumsiness and general awkwardness. I struggled with how her character was introduced — given her accomplishments and the strong support system around her, I expected her to be a bit more confident.

Still, I decided to stick with it, hoping for more insight into why she was this way (which was eventually provided). Over time, Vanessa does work through some of her awkwardness and timidity as her relationship with Roland develops.

As the truth behind the superheroes — and Roland in particular — is revealed throughout the plot, it really pulls you in.

Although I had a few nitpicks about the relationship dynamics and Vanessa’s characterisation, I enjoyed the book overall. It had the same fun, action-packed vibe you get from superhero movies like Thor: Ragnarok or Guardians of the Galaxy. The action scenes were gripping, and the characters’ quirks were woven in brilliantly, especially during the third act, adding plenty of levity and humor.

If you’re looking for a fun, fast-paced, action-packed read, definitely give this one a go.

I rated this 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for the complimentary eARC.

Regardless of what subgenre of romance she writes in, Elizabeth Stephens absolutely delivers! I have never not enjoyed a book by her, and this one, her FIRST trad pub (!!), was so much fun. Not only do we get a fun spin on alien romance, but it's also modern in its Earth setting, AND it has a fun superhero element. Add in a dash of "my wife", a smidge of fake relationship dynamics, and a whole lot of "touch her and d*e", ALL SUPERHEROES NEED PR is a stand out novel and a must read for anyone looking for a fun romance and a new favorite author!

Overall I think there was a good idea for this book. I enjoyed the characters a lot, there were a few too many side characters but I still enjoyed them all. The twists were really great and I wish there had been more elaboration on them as the story feels a bit incomplete. I need more answers.

The FMC and MMC were great, I enjoyed both of their personalities! I work in PR and am shy and hate giving speeches so I totally get the FMC. On the other hand their love build up was going great and then I turned the page and BAM love right away. I wish the build had continued because it was so well done, just felt cut short leading the “I love yous” to feel inauthentic.

Will read future books by this author and look forward to understanding more about the 48.

All Superheroes Need PR is a fascinating read that sets up so much using its intriguing concept! 48 aliens landed on Earth decades ago, and each has special powers. As they’ve grown up, they’ve classified themselves as heroes or villains—except for just a few. One of them, Pyro, is looking to potentially become a hero. He needs a strong PR team around him if he does so because all the actions these aliens take are massively reported and studied in the press, so management of an alien’s image is vital. Vanessa heads a PR firm that really, really wants that contract—but things go in unexpected directions from the start.

What I loved about this book is how Stephens sets up Pyro, or Roland, to be essentially gaga for Vanessa from the start. And at first, he doesn’t even realize what his protective actions mean. Seeing him move from this into all sorts of stages of confusion as things start happening to his body around Vanessa (beyond the usual romance reactions, that is), was grand.

I wish I felt as strongly about Vanessa. She suffers from massive anxiety and social paralysis, so much so that I struggled to see her as the head of a successful PR firm who’s managed to finagle a major contract bid after only 7 years of existence. Yes, she has a great support staff, but her actions at the beginning of this book just showed her inability to cope in pressured situations. It honestly made the first few chapters, told entirely from her POV, a bit of a rough read. Once Roland’s POV appears, a more rounded and nuanced story emerged. But I struggled with Vanessa for about half of this book.

That said, Stephens includes some twists in this story that truly surprised me. I genuinely didn’t know where things were going to go in the latter half of this book, and I found myself unable to put it down because of that. It also makes me excited for future books, and for what Stephens can explore in both her alien heroes and villains with this premise. If you’re looking for a truly different SF romance read with a great setup for additional stories, give All Superheroes Need PR a chance.

3.25⭐

LIKED:
- The lore that this book introduced was by far the most interesting part of the experience for me. I was very intrigued by the whole story of the Forty-Eight and the potential of the their stories. I don’t know if it really stuck the landing for me, but I’m presuming that Elizabeth Stephens is planning to write more books within this universe.
- Speaking more to this, the factions of the Champions vs the Villains being a predetermined dynamic from the development of the Forty-Eight as opposed to just developing naturally from interpersonal affectations is just an interesting twist on the usual superhero tropes. I think I would have loved to learn more about this and understand more of this dynamic, but again, I’m imagining she’s hoping to do more of this in future books.
- I loved the FMC’s family. It was kind of confusing how she fit into the mix when some of her backstory was withheld for ~*drama*~ but her brothers and parents were fun.
- This cover is stellar and the title is solid. It is so eye-catching and intriguing as to what this cast shadow means and also…why the heroes need PR.

LAMENTED:
- However, the PR aspect of everything is really slept on. That was such an interesting aspect of the story that just kind of falls flat. It’s a bummer.
- I also just didn’t really care for either of the MCs. I didn’t dislike them, I just also found them flat. And their chemistry was very underdeveloped. And why he was so adamantly against her in their first meeting still confuses me.
- There were far too many side characters. It became very confusing, very quickly. Cut many of the FMC’s coworkers. And add more casual mentions of some of the heroes/villains. I mean, that’s really what we’re here for from the title, right?
- …And what was with the hero and villain names? Why was he called THE Pyro? Why wasn’t he just called Pyro? I get that if you shorten Pyromaniac to Pyro, then having the “The” at the front makes sense.. But it just felt so clunky. And there was another name that felt really awkward with the article before hand as well. It was just murky.

LONGED FOR:
- More developed chemistry between the main characters
- More diving into the lore of the Forty-Eight (this DOES happen a bit more in the last act of the book)
- More discussions about the hero/villain dynamic and how the PR aspect of it all affects it

WILL I READ THE NEXT ONE? : In this world? Quite possibly. I almost wish it wouldn’t be a romance, but like, I get it. That’s half the draw. I just thought the lore was so much more interesting.

All Superheroes Need PR is a fantastically good time! The MCs' first encounter had me locked in. Why does he immediately hate her, but also seem like he's obsessed with her? I needed to know!!!

And know I did. We have aliens (Clark Kent/Superman vibes), missions to save civilians, and villains to thwart. There was significantly less PR than I thought there would be, but I wasn't mad about it. We spent a lot of time with our main characters, and that's all I could ask for.

There were some hints dropped about potential future couples, and I'd be interested to see how those turn out! The book wraps up this story's plot, but there is also an opening for future conflicts. The world and characters were fun, so I'm excited to revisit it!

Read for a good time.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was a unique twist on the superhero trope and I like that Elizabeth Stephens found a way to keep her signature style with this one. I enjoyed Vanessa and Roland’s story. It was funny, steamy, and interesting. I liked the supporting cast—Vanessa’s crazy family and friends. They definitely kept things entertaining. I really hope there is another book that follows Roland and Vanessa’s story and I want to know what happens next with the other aliens who got away.

3.5 stars

Was not expecting this to turn into a monster romance. I’m not mad about it, but it was a shock. 😅

The characters could sometimes be annoying and there were pacing issues (too slow and then too fast) but overall I thought it was fun and unique!

What a wild ride this book was 😂 And no I’m not saying that sarcastically. I literally have zero expectations or any knowledge of what this book was about before jumping in. I think the most I was told was if you like the TV show The Boys then this book is for you. Don’t get me wrong I see the comparison but this book is so much more than that. And completely took me by surprise with how good it was. So Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for the eARC!

All Superheroes Need PR focuses on a future version of Earth where 48 superpowered individuals landed. These individuals divided up into heroes and villains. Earth society adapted and built teams, branding and PR around both groups. In comes our MFC Vanessa our PR rep assigned to rebrand our MMC “Pyro” Roland. However, Roland doesn’t just want a rebrand he also wants a wife. So of course Vanessa gets way more than she bargained for but she’s up for the challenge.

Like I mentioned this book came out of nowhere and immediately sucked me in. The world building was easy to follow and at times felt like I was reading about a Marvel movie. The characters were also phenomenal. Didn’t matter if they were a lead character or a side character. Every single character was charming, hilarious and added so many fun layers to the story. The romance was also top tier between Roland & Vanessa. They had so much chemistry and truly brought out the best in each other.

I wasn’t expecting that ending. I won’t say too much cause I don’t want to spoil it. But I never imagined I’d be down for that trope. But props to Elizabeth Stephens she converted me.

Overall, this book was amazing and I can’t wait to buy a trophy copy when it releases May 26, 2025. If you can’t already tell I highly recommend everyone do the same. Also PS I can’t wait for the sequel I need more into this super powered world!

This was so much fun - really satisfied my hunger for superhero stories with romance included. I hope we get more from this world!

Thank you so much for the ARC!

I devoured this book. This was such a refreshing, fun, and heartwarming read. I loved both Vanessa and Roland and the progression of their characters and romance. I love how they aren’t perfect people but are perfect for each other because of the respect and effort they give each other. That just feels so realistic.

The cherry on top for me was the seamless diversity. This book had so much diversity but it never felt forced or like characters were solely defined by those things. Reading stories like this makes me avoid settling for books where the default is cishet and white.

Thanks again for letting me read this lovely story early!!!

A very interesting read. Lots of diversity, compelling premise, and filled with lovable tropes. It was a little difficult to keep up with the plethora of side characters, but as someone who enjoys superheroes, I loved experiencing a Black woman lead with a successful career in the genre. The romance felt a little quick to me and could've been developed more, especially on Vanessa's side. Overall, very lighthearted but had some trouble understanding what was going on at times and Vanessa's motivations. Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for the ARC!