Spicy, male female, 1st person dual point of view, contemporary, paranormal romance. This was such a fun rom-com with some action!! It had an enemies to lovers then a fated mates vibe. I adored every single character (primary and secondary) and their relationships. The male main character is my favorite- a morally grey I'll burn the world down for her (literally) type. The different scenarios were exciting, romantic, hysterical, STEAMY but there is some trauma and peril. I can't wait to read the next book!

All Superheroes Need PR by Elizabeth Stephens
Supers in the City #1
Length: 302 pages
Source: NetGalley eARC
Publication date: May 27, 2025

4.5 ⭐️
4 🌶️

Vanessa (Nessa) x Roland (Rollo)

Good guy? Bad guy? Doesn’t really matter. He just wants the girl, and he’ll do what he has to, to keep her.

Summary
Roland is one of the Forty-Eight, a group of young superheroes who fell to Earth years ago, and Vanessa is the marketing genius trying to help him re-brand from Villain to Champion. Despite a rough first meeting, the two eventually come back to the table and agree to work together. The catch? The super socially anxious Vanessa must agree to fake date the gruff, grumpy Champion to get him to sign the contract with her firm. Soon, the dating doesn’t seem so fake, and the two seem to bring out the best in each other. Although they fall quickly and Roland is fast accepted by the world as the latest hero, their relationship isn’t all hearts and flowers. Something evil is brewing, and the two lovers are smack in the middle of whatever’s coming. Will they save each other, or will Roland return to his villainous ways?

My Thoughts
I enjoyed the heck out of this book! This author is new to me, and the cover drew me in before even reading the synopsis. But let’s see … romance? Check. Comedy? Check. Magical realism? Check. All things I love to read. Both MCs have a great sense of humor, even though Vanessa’s is wrapped up in her extreme social anxiety, and Roland’s is hiding behind his very best impression of an alpha-hole. And the surrounding characters! Vanessa has a small, diverse group of employees, and five brothers (!), which sounds like a lot of people to keep track of, but their interactions are realistic and funny. I hope at least some of them show up in future books.

At times, Vanessa’s awkwardness and nervousness were so overwhelming that I questioned how she was able to have started her own (very successful) boutique marketing firm. Seeing her grow in confidence throughout the book—and throughout her developing relationship with Roland—was so welcome because let me tell you, ya girl is hella awkward in the beginning of the book. Yes, there are definite reasons, some of which may be triggering to the reader, but to see her overcome them after a lifetime of apprehensiveness was great.

The one thing that kept me from giving this five stars is that the last roughly 10%-15% of the book goes flying by, and there are so many things happening that it was at times difficult to keep up while trying to picture the scene in my head. Now, I realize that also could have been my ADHD talking, but even going back and re-reading several passages, it’s still at times really confusing to keep track of who is where, who’s doing what, what’s happening, etc. Not that I think it could have been done any differently, but for those like me, I feel like it should be noted. You might have to go back and read parts of the book’s climax again to "see" what's going on.

What to Expect:
👩🏽‍🦱 Strangers to lovers
🦸🏾‍♂️ Fake dating
👩🏽‍🦱 Protective/obsessive MMC
🦸🏾‍♂️ Only one bed
👩🏽‍🦱 ‘Fated mates’ adjacent
🦸🏾‍♂️ Alien peen
👩🏽‍🦱 Knotting
🦸🏾‍♂️ Hand necklaces
👩🏽‍🦱 Mental health rep
🦸🏾‍♂️ Diverse cast of characters

Final Thoughts
Definitely read! This is a solid base upon which the author can build out this world and expand the series.

Content warnings
Child abuse (past), PTSD and CPTSD, verbal abuse by parents (past), violence, explicit sexual content

— A

Thanks to NetGalley, Montlake, and Elizabeth Stephens for an eARC of this book. All opinions are mine.

Oh how fun this book was! Vanessa and Roland were FIRE! Literally. Vanessa runs a PR firm who is trying to land a new client nicknamed "Pyro" because his main superpower has to do with fire. Their initial meeting doesn't go as planned, but almost every time they meet afterward is filled with lustful, hesitant chemistry.

Roland is part of a unique alien community that came to earth as children. He doesn't have much memory of his life before coming to Earth, so much of his life has been filled with uncertainty. When he meets Vanessa, something clicks into place that kinda scares him, so he does what most people would do and pushes her away.

This book was fun because it was, to me, such a unique take on alien romance. You know that something sinister is lurking underneath, just waiting to escape. Vanessa is every female in this situation...she's a little hesitant, a little eager, and a whole lot of horny. As she interacts more and more with Roland, aka Pyro, aka The Wyvern, both she and he start going through different types of transformations. Some are physical, some emotional, but all of them are important and impact the story in a big way.

I really like how both Vanessa and Roland were scared to open up to the emotions that were swirling around them. For two people who hadn't really experiences love before, they do a damn good job at absorbing it and going with the flow.

I have my fingers crossed that we'll get more from this book world because this is quite a unique book world that this author has created!

I was fortunate enough to receive an early copy of this book. I quite enjoyed reading it, I enjoyed both Roland and Vanessa's characters. However, this is the first alien romance I've read and I'm not sure if it's that or that there was something missing in the beginning development of their relationship. I'm all for insta-love or fated Mates, but it felt a bit like something there was missing.

The book made me laugh many times over and overall I really enjoyed myself. Definitely a great one to check out!

All Superheroes Need PR by Elizabeth Stephens

I had the honor of reading and e-arc of this book and won a giveaway to listen to an early copy of the audio book as well! As a massive fan of comics, cover gave me instant DC - Superman and Lois Lane vibes. And having read and loved the Beast of Gatamora series, I was instantly drawn to what I knew was going to be another five star read - and I wasn’t disappointed!!

28 years ago 48 superheroes landed on earth as children, and Vanessa’s PR company works with these super-powered beings, capitalizing on the entertainment potential that having super hero and supervillain teams can bring.

Roland is Vanessa’s latest Hero signee, and as their partnership continues, they are thrust into circumstances that lead to the two of them entering a fake-dating relationship that turns into something more ;)

I was not expecting a dual-POV story going into the book, but I was not disappointed. Both Vanessa and Rowland were well developed characters, giving time to understand how they got to where they were, and the development of their relationship throughout the course of the book.

I would’ve loved a bit more time spent on worldbuilding, but with this being the first book in a series, I have faith that the world will continue to unveil itself in due-time. I can’t wait to see how Stephens expands upon this world in future installments!

I was so excited for this book because, knowing Elizabeth Stephens, I was in for a good time with lots of laughs and plenty of spice; and yet somehow she was able to blow each and every one of my expectations out of the water.

Between the meet cute disaster between Vanessa and Roland, how clear it is that he falls first (and way harder), and the truly stacked cast of supporting characters that you are bound to fall in love with, this book is pure fun from start to finish.

We need to take a minute to talk about Roland (or Rollo for short) because OH. MY. GOD. If you are not immediately in love with this male, I don’t know what to tell you. He is so fiercely protective of Vanessa, and SO incredibly down bad, that I was giggling and kicking my feet the entire time.

Another thing I loved was watching Vanessa grow throughout the story. With social anxiety (and some PTSD) it’s clear that although she’s brilliant, she’s uncomfortable in the spotlight, and I enjoyed watching her come to take charge more fearlessly.

The story was compelling, the romance was romance-ing, the characters were lovable as heck, and it just leaves me wondering: Why don’t we have more superhero romance books???

I can’t wait to get more of this world (and we better be getting more of this world) because Elizabeth Stephens has created an engrossing universe of heroes and villains, all of whom have an added layer of mystery regarding where they came from, and I can’t wait to see where she goes next with it.

(And can we get more of Margerie and Charlie? ...PLEASE?!?!)

Totally Captivating!!

Honestly, at first I wasn’t sure what I had gotten myself into. Quickly I was pulled into the story, the romance, the whole superhero vibe. Smart, sexy, original, humorous, and so many positive adjectives I was thoroughly pulled in and found myself 100% entertained.

Good guys, bad guys, influence, family, chosen family, PR and so much more! Nicknames, romance, protectiveness and a connection that cannot be broken.

***** I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book *****

This book was an absolute riot! The modern take on superheroes, basically treating them like celebrities with powers, was so well done. The cast of characters was diverse and realistic, but damn do Nessa and Roland stand out! These two are both bad asses in their own way, and their relationship is full of tension from the start. I loved watching them work together and break down each other’s walls. And the alien stuff definitely had me surprised! Overall this book was fun and spicy and a total winner. For anyone looking for a contemporary rom com but debating getting into monster romance... this is a great stepping stone!

All Super Heroes Need PR and Pyro one of the forty-eight who crash landed on Earth as children with no memory of where they came from, and all gifted with extraordinary powers, certainly does.
Now grown to adulthood and separated into heroes and villains Pyro is being courted from the dark-side and head of The Riot Creative PR firm Vanessa Theriot has been contracted to boost his world image.
Their first meeting goes a little sideways which doesn’t bode well for a future business relationship but things do change quickly when later on Pyro comes across Vanessa in a bar just a tad inebriated, and having a spilled drink dabbed off her shirt by a male patron. The course of history is about to change!
This was a super fun, delightful story from author Elizabeth Stephens as the reader gets pulled into a maelstrom of romantic comedy, family dynamics, action, adventure, intrigue, passion, emotion, and surprises.
Loved this perfectly written narrative with it’s vibrant characters, and entertaining storyline that has me hungry for more!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a fun story. I requested it because the title caught my attention. The story was entertaining and I found myself hooked immediately.

One the surface, All Superheroes Need PR by Elizabeth Stephens should have been right up my alley. The concept is cute. Decades ago dozens of ’people’ feel to Earth and grew up to be super powered individuals. Yes, that aspect fo the story has a very Superman vibe to it, which definitely appealed to my inner geek. Some grew up to be heroes and others villains. Now Roland, aka Pyro, is looking to makeover his image. That’s where Vanessa and her PR firm comes in. As I said, this should have been right up my alley and yet it didn’t completely click with me, and I’m not entirely sure why. True, while my preference is more for clean romances, I don’t mind books with a healthy dose of spice, which this book most definitely has. While I thought Vanessa was a pretty good and relatable character, I just wasn’t that big a fan of Roland. So while I didn’t love it, I enjoyed it enough that I’d be willing to check out the next book in the series. I’d like to thank Montlake and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of All Superheroes Need PR.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R3LP1AINYXDTVP/ref=pe_123899240_1043597390_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for providing the ARC.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this book, and after finishing it, I'm still not sure what I read.

The biggest issue this book suffers from is pacing. The first half of the book is dragged out into these vignettes of how Vanessa and Roland come together and navigate working together. The second half is all over the place with a bad guy and a plot for world domination that hadn't been previously mentioned. It felt like the author started the story one way and then opted to do a different one about halfway through.

Tha book itself was not bad. I didn't love it or hate it, but the pacing left me feeling a little jarred. I would have loved to see the plot developed more throughout the book rather than kind of thrown in haphazardly towards the end.

𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗥 is now live!

This book was just as amazing as I expected it to be. I had so much fun reading Rollo and Nessa’s story. Nessa was a bad ass and highly relatable at times, I felt like she was plucking thoughts I know I’ve had right out of my head. And Roland 🫦 he was down bad and I loved it. The first few meetings between these two had me howling with laughter and desperate to find out how things were going to turn around for them. I also loved Nessa’s reaction to Roland’s big transformation (both of them, truly). And their little shy/nervous moments together??? UGH. So perfect. I know this is one I will definitely have to read again and HIGHLY recommend! I also have to mention that one of my FAVORITE spicy microtropes is in this book, not sure if I can explain it but just read it 😂 I spotted it on KU this morning and it’s free to read AND listen! May have to reread via audio very soon….as it today maybe….🤪

This romance was so fun and these characters were adorable together. Vanessa’s PR company is trying to win a bid to rebrand lone-wolf super, Roland, as a hero. After a somewhat disastrous and comical first meeting, Roland is intrigued by Vanessa and only agrees to allow her rebrand if she agrees to fake date him.

Roland and Vanessa were so cute together and I loved how he became so obsessed with her. He has this very gruff and grumpy exterior that’s only soft for her, and I ate it up. This definitely has more of a sci-fi/alien twist to the typical superhero story, but I really enjoyed this author’s unique take. I’m excited to see where she’ll take us next in this world.

This book was so good - I straight up devoured it!! This is story is funny and engaging and emotional and was just so freaking fun to read! I thought the premise was unique and interesting and I loved the idea of a superhero who was in need of a PR makeover.

Vanessa and Roland have amazing chemistry!! From their first meeting together there is no question these two have an intense connection…but it’s not all smooth sailing at all!!!

I loved Vanessa!! As a fellow introvert with anxiety, I thought she was so relatable and easy to root for. Oh Roland…when we meet him he is this intense Pyro who was brooding and a bit of a jerk…but there is so much more to him!

He ends up all in for Vanessa!! He’s protective and possessive and has quite the mouth on him 😉 Both of these characters have some great character growth and I loved Vanessa’s family.

✨What To Expect
😈Monster Romance
🧡Rom Com & Sci-Fi Vibes
❤️‍🔥Hate To Love
📌Workplace Romance
🎥Fake Dating
🥵Dirty Talking Superhero MMC
💋Black PR Director FMC
🔥He Falls First & HARD
💖She Has Anxiety
💥Diverse Cast
🌶️Spicy Scenes
🪢The Epilogue is a MUST READ!!!

“Hinges? I don’t know her” – Elizabeth Stephens, probably.

All Superheroes Need PR is so delightfully unhinged. Don’t mistake unhinged for thoughtless, because Elizabeth Stephens knows her craft. The characters and plot may lack hinges, but they are well structured. Vanessa owns and runs a PR company, but she resists being the face of the company because she has anxiety and PTSD. She wins a contract for her company to provide PR for the newest superhero, Roland, an alien who landed on Earth as a child and can control fire. Things immediately go wrong at Roland’s first meeting with the PR team when he looks at Vanessa and gets violently angry. For no apparent reason. Later, when she is at a bar getting drunk, he shows up, she barfs on him, and then he flies her to her parents’ house to recover. Vanessa is naturally confused by his unprovoked rejection followed by an unexpected act of care. Meeting Vanessa starts a chain reaction in Roland that brings to light a hidden threat.

I almost put the book down at Roland’s initial reaction to Vanessa. I have too much real world experience with men who lead with anger to want to spend time with that kind of anger in a love interest. But, I have seen too many reviewers I trust extolling the banana-pants virtues of Elizabeth Stephens, so I kept reading. I ended up enjoying the book more than I expected after the initial meeting between Vanessa and Roland.

One of the things I particularly liked was Vanessa as a multifaceted character. Her history as a survivor of child abuse is a significant part of her arc. She is anxious in public and around people she doesn’t know and is the brains of her company. When a character tries to break her using her past, she’s able to be like, “worse people than you have tried.” She is allowed to be soft, vulnerable, capable, and the cavalry. I really loved her family, both officially and unofficially adopted.

We get the start of what looks like a series long arc about the aliens who landed on Earth as children. I can’t wait to see how Stephens explores the aliens, who are pushed to be either “villains” or “heroes.” Roland rejects the roles that everyone else tries to impose on him, choosing Vanessa over everything. He turned out to be interesting. There were a few things he did that made me side-eye him. I’m not a huge fan of the morality chain trope, but Roland avoids a lot of what I don’t like about it by taking ownership of his actions. I’m so glad we spend time in his head.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Montlake and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

Mᴀʏ 2025: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I saw this gorgeous cover and was immediately intrigued. I was so excited to get a ALC and ARC of this so I could read and listen at the same time! The voice actors for this dual narration were *chefs kiss*!

This is not your average rom-com- it’s so much more. The plot is fun and interesting, but not too fluffy. It definitely kept my attention. The characters have depth, are relatable, and diverse - which is to be expected if you’ve read this author before. I loved all of the varying relationships and personalities.

While there’s definitely an “insta” component between Nessa and Rollo, it wasn’t cringe at all and their connection was genuine and vulnerable. They were stumbling around in the dark together and I was rooting for them the whole way. Their dynamic was just what I wanted and the tension and spice had me kicking my feet! Rollo can boss me around ANY DAY.

10/10! No notes, Elizabeth is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. I need to hurry up and make my way through her backlist.

I am sold on the entire series. I don’t know how many there will be or who they’ll feature but this was absolutely fantastic. Elizabeth Stephens was meant for contemporary romance, giving readers lines that making us burst out with both laughter and disbelief! Vanessa has a past that sadly, for many, will be SO relatable. But to have her, their, story told is to be seen. And of course Roland is the perfect anti-hero, VERY swoon worthy. I will read this ENTIRE SERIES. I pre-ordered the physical book soon as I started it, and will preorder book two as soon as I can!

<b>Reading All Superheroes Need PR by Elizabeth Stephens was like tackling a coconut. The first few chapters are a bit hard and difficult to get into but once I got in, it was all juicy and sweet and refreshing! Vanessa and Rolland's story is one of the most unique love stories I have read this year! Madness, chaos, entertainment, action, passion..it was a beautiful mix.</b>

🔥 Alien superhero FMC ( fire is his whole entity!)
🔥 adorable awkward boss babe FMC
🔥 Enemies to lovers
🔥 she is his PR head!
🔥fake relationship
🔥 Sci fi romance
🔥 POC leads

So this is set in a world where children in pods arrived in the Earth from different planets and a Supernatural Defense Department was formed that placed the children with different host families. Naturally some of them turned out to be superheroes and become a part of Champions of Earth Coalition( COE). Some became super villains and part of the Villains Network of America(VNA). The newest member of COE was supposed to go to VNA. So Pyro aka Rolland Casteel needs an image rebranding. And Vanessa's company got the deal. But Rolland wants more than PR. He wants Vanessa to be his girlfriend. With Rolland's past that he has forgotten and his Obsession with Vanessa..she is in a tricky situation.

<b>Now doesn't that read like a Marvel movie and I am crazy about it. Rolland is so intense and I fcking love it! From the first moment, Vanessa unlocked ( pun intended and you will get it when you read the book) something feral and primal in him. He didn't care about saving earth but protecting Vanessa and becoming her hero was his only goal and that's why he decided to take his job as superhero seriously. Vanessa has a traumatic past but she has fought her battles with anxiety and has become this successful business owner. But she still struggles with social anxiety and Rolland is putting limelight on her. He is so over the top alpha and possessive and protective that it could be ridiculous but it just works so well. There is certain level of vulnerability in our superhero that made Vanessa comfortable with him. The plot thickened with mysterious markings appearing on his body and Vanessa falling for him despite her reservations. Can a superhero story be complete without villains? Nope. So you have your Marvel-like fight scenes and actions with Vanessa becoming his savior in the end! The good wins over evil and the final true version of Rolland is so freaking adorable. It was witty and funny but at the same time the chemistry was sizzling hot and the emotions were riding high!</b>

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

All Superheroes Need PR by Elizabeth Stephens is a fun romantic comedy featuring Vanessa Theriot and Roland Casteel. Vanessa is the director for her public relations company. Roland, formerly known as the Pryo (villain), is rebranding as the Wyvern (hero) and is one of 48 beings who crashed onto Earth as children 22 years ago with superpowers but no memories from where they came from. Over time, these 48 beings are marketed as either heroes or villains. As Roland swaps from villain to hero, Vanessa plays his heroine in the Lois Lane clause, faking a relationship for the public, despite how shy and socially anxious she is. However, they find that falling in love is the key to their superhero narrative changing.

This book was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS and has solidified itself among my top three favorite pieces of media (in no order) that features super beings: The Incredibles, Sky High, and now All Superheroes Need PR. (Yes, I am aware that Marvel and DC exist— I stand by my favorites.)

Reading Roland’s chapters had me screaming, giggling, and kicking my feet. This book, specifically getting to read how absolutely down *bad* Roland is for Vanessa, is the epitome of everything I love about reading dual POV. Before this novel, I’d forgotten how much I love a morally grey hero who will do *anything* for the person they love, and I LOVED reading Roland’s inner thoughts of wanting to immediately kidnap Vanessa to keep for himself but do everything in real life to try and meet her where she’s at, especially in regards to her anxiety and trauma.

And Vanessa. My Vanessa. (Well, really, Rollo’s Nessa.) She is a smart, successful Black woman who shines in her career and the people she surrounds herself with. The fact that her mental health and her past never hold her back from anything is everything I aspire to be like for myself.

Reading Roland uplift Vanessa into seeing herself as the courageous person she truly is, for giving her a safe place with a safe being to feel the range of emotions necessary to help her in her healing journey— *CHEF’S KISS.*

And the family!! Both found and adopted!! I adore them!! The chaos and protectiveness of Vanessa’s brothers and her parents, the explicit reassurance that Margerie gives as not only her colleague but as her friend, and the presence of (almost) all of the above and those in her c-suite and their refusal to let Vanessa go towards danger on her own— these are everything I absolutely love!!! I love this community that Vanessa is a part of!!!

I was actually disgruntled (with a genuine shout of surprise) when I realized that I’d reached the epilogue— in the highest of compliments— because I didn’t want this story to end. I was having far too much fun to let go of this world and its characters (especially Rollo).

<spoiler> I AM ALSO A BIG FAN OF THE ALIEN BODY CHANGES AS ROLLO REVERTED BACK TO HIS ORIGINAL FORM. MORE! KNOTTING! IN MORE! BOOKS! ESPECIALLY HORNS FOR HANDLEBARS! INCLUDE MORE OF THAT TOO. </spoiler>

I don’t know if Elizabeth Stephens has more stories from within this universe that she plans to tell, but please sign me up for every single one if she does. In the meantime, I’m excited to move her other works up to my more immediate TBR. Thank you, Netgalley and Montlake, for the ARC!