Going into this book, I expected a light, superhero romance - that's what the cover art and blurb suggested, and I wasn't familiar with the author's past work. So let's just say I was pretty surprised when the story turned into spicy alien/monster romance midway through, although that story was to die for.

I enjoyed the plot so much. There's a big focus on morality, what good vs evil actually looks like, and the potential consequences of integrating super powered aliens living in our society. The pacing was great, we get tiny hints at what's coming ahead of time, and the story feels fresh and interesting all the way through. The big reveals are spectacular, the baddies are well built, and the book wraps up in a very satisfying ending.

That said, I didn't vibe with the main characters as much as I would have liked. There's insta-love that doesn't feel at all plausible, although the dual POV slightly helped me get over that. My main gripe however is that the FMC keeps being described as a badass genius, but we don't see that at all during the story. There's a lot of focus on her trauma, anxiety, and journey to find her confidence, but I'm not a fan of how she gets babied and rescued every five seconds in the same sentence as being called badass. The dynamic felt a bit icky to me as a result.

Overall this was a fresh story that I truly enjoyed. If you're a fan of the author's work, or into modern romance focused stories that bring so much more to the table, you'll love this one.

✨ Disclaimer ✨ I received a free copy of this book and this is my honest review.

OMG they way I enjoyed this book immensely. The way I connected with Vanessa. Loved that while she was a baddie, she was a bit shy. Pyro/Wyvern was just the right balance for her, imo. I could feel the tension between these two. I need more of this universe!

2.5 stars rounded up. It took me awhile to get into this. It was a lot of stop and starting and that could be because the only other story i read from this author was a short novella with loads of spice and it was so good i rated it 4 or 5 stars. I think what went wrong for me was that it took a minute to get into the meat and potatoes, the spice, and the characters. I didn’t know what the main plot was, even towards the end of the book.

There was so many different plot points. It was hard to follow and focus on what should be going on. With the PR company situation, then the Lois Lane situation, and then finally the “intruders” and memory shift. I feel like the last plot point could have been in another book. It felt rushed and sloppy. Sorry.


The spice. From someone who wrote such a spicy fantasy book, we didn’t get much until like 70% into the book. Which is unfortunate because this author writes spice good and I was looking forward to it.

The characters…man! I feel so bad but I did not find any of these characters likeable! The main MC was way too aloof, strange, and anxiety filled for my liking. And coming from someone whom has anxiety it was just a bit much especially since she’s a ceo of a PUBLIC relations company. Very strange. Roland was just like a pawn to me. He didn’t have any personality. It went from him being rude to her to, “she’s my girl!”, to I love her. It was such love bombing done wrong and they had no chemistry. And the fact that he called her a B****. And the excuse she made for it…ick.

I wanted to like this so much because once again my first impression of this author was so good. Hopefully future books I like more and I hope this author continues to write more monster/paranormal, romance

It took me a little bit to get into this story, but as soon as the fake dating trope was revealed I WAS IN! If you love a possessive hero who falls first, falls hard and immediately says, "she's mine," then read this book! Elizabeth is amazing at writing alien/normal person romance, and I'm very interested to see where the next book goes based off the hints I got in All Superheroes Need PR.
What didn't work for me at the beginning was Vanessa's clumsiness. It's Bella Swan level ridiculous, and her high anxiety makes it even worse when she's in situations she's not prepared for. Obviously it ties into the 'damsel in distress' aspect of the story with Roland becoming a 'hero' but this woman is 34-years-old. I wanted her character to be less clumsy and hesitant, especially with what we learn about her traumatic childhood, and that she's actively seeing a therapist to help with her anxiety.
I wanted more of that to be explored, and to see Vanessa's arc from shy person who can barely get a sentence out to becoming a stronger force. She runs her own company! All of her employees are super loyal and feel comfortable showing up to her house unannounced! She's very supported by her adopted family and co-workers but it comes off as coddling.
There were several moments that I truly loved: Vanessa and Roland negotiating the length of their fake dating contract (she says three years, he says 15!), his mission to marry her after a certain number of dates, how he stops cursing when he's around her. He's just obsessed with her, and I loved it!
I wanted the writing to be tighter. It's a stream-of-conscious narration with little dialogue in some chapters, and so many ellipses and echoes of the same words. If you've read any Mariana Zapata novels, the writing is similar, so if that isn't your favorite, this may feel the same.

This book is utterly delicious! I’ve enjoyed Elizabeth Stephens Xiveri Mates series, and was very excited when she started talking about her upcoming superhero series. This was such a delight of a read, I read it in a single sitting! (I’d started it with my eyeballs and was struggling, but when I got an audio copy, I zipped through because I could not put it down!) Vanessa and Rowland are excellent and I love the development of their relationship. I also love Vanessa’s friendships and family. This was such a great read, and I cannot wait for the next part of the series!

A sci-fi, diverse romance for the ages.

Diverse characters, though it can always feel gimmicky to say that. This book is different, it’s about seeing myself as represented and seeing other marginalized folks able to be just a character, without the constant explicit oppression, and normalizing it that way. Which is so impactful that it made me stop and realize how often that doesn’t happen.

Rollo is SOOO DOWN BAD like he’s so obsessed with her and new to love that it’s adorable to witness.


Vanessa is so shy, and her ability to be a soft black girl makes me want to cry tears of joy because it’s what we deserve

There were times I thought there was literal fire coming off the page, and it wasn’t Rollo

It has everything I love
Romance
Black women being loved on
Superhero’s
Humor

(Gives a little Hancock at times because Rollo is pretty morally grey)


Rollo said Touch her and die isn’t enough…

touch her and the WORLD WILL BURN


SPOILER SO DON'T READ BELOW
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If you don’t like straight monster romances, then it’s not for you.

Over two decades ago, forty-eight young, gifted superheroes fell to Earth and were eventually marketed as opposing heroes and villains. Now, PR director Vanessa Theriot must run a campaign for the newest recruit to the hero team.

This book was not what I was expecting! It started with some world building and expanding on the backstory of our female main character, before shifted into a spicy monster romance with omegaverse undertones. I would have liked more of a focus on the PR campaign as well as on the other superheroes. I also found it hard to emphasise with Vanessa at times, as there are only so many times a character can be clumsy or awkward without it getting annoying.

That said, it was a quick, fun read that I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a book with more spice than plot.

A recommended read for fans of kinky speculative romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was nothing like i expected. It took a bit for me to get invested, but once I was, I did not want to put it down. Elizabeth did a wonderful job bringing these characters to life, and creating such a fun world for them to live in. I'm a sucker for Superheroes vs villains and this was done so well. I enjoyed most of the references to shows/movies/books we see in our lives as well. Definitely enjoyed my time and will be reading more from this author!

This is not my typical type of read, but I found that I actually really enjoyed this book. I absolutely loved the main characters, Vanessa and Roland. My first impression of Roland wasn’t the best, but it didn’t take much time for him to redeem himself. Roland was a great protector for Vanessa and had some pretty hilarious internal dialogue. The epilogue had me cackling. They are truly perfect for one another. I did NOT expect that plot twist but it was very well executed. This is my first read from Elizabeth Stephens but I’m excited to check out her other books.

*I am extremely picky with giving 5 stars to any book. I’ve read hundreds of books and have only given 5 stars to a handful of them. This was really good and I would highly recommend it!

Oh man, did I love this book. A lot of Superman/The Boys and little of Warren Peace from Sky High, from a superhero perspective, this book was giving and I want more! I know Elizabeth Stephens is good for a series so I think I'll get it.

Stuff that was amazing: Roland is a total mess for Vanessa and I love it. The character growth for both of them was delightful. Seeing Vanessa stand up for herself and others when she need to but also still not being comfortable or shutting down in every situation was so realistic because love doesn't just cure PTSD and Trauma.

This book is also classic morality chain. Roland will be good for Vanessa and Vanessa only. He says it several times, "I'm doing this for her", "I'm a hero for her."

Other stuff: Incredible representation across the book. FMC: Black woman, Doctor: Lesbian, Best Friend: Trans woman, Adoptive family: Black and Latino, MMC: Alien (lol).

I know this book isn't even out yet as I write this review but I need book 2, like right now.

Really loved the world building, wasn't totally convinced by the romance. The premise of this book was really good but it got lost a bit when the plot veered too much into hot and heavy. Which generally isn't a bad thing, but I wanted a bit more action and getting to know the universe! Hope there is more focus on the fantastical elements in the next book.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

DNF @36% - Now, this isn't necessarily a bad book. It is just painfully not my thing. I picked this up because I thought it would be a fun romcom. That isn't really the vibe of this one though. It's one of those books where the mmc is just super primal, and possesive, and the fmc is weak damsel in to be rescued. I don't want to yuck someone's yum, and I definitely understand that people like this sort of vibe, but I can't preface this enough I HATE IT. I tried with this book because the concept was good but I just couldn't do it. On top of that I also just think that the writing could a bit chaotic, and hard to follow at times for me.

These two are fire from their first meeting. (no pun intended)
He gives her the ability to be someone she didn't know she was. He also gives her something else she needs in her life. A hero.
She makes his flame ignite. He wants to be a hero for her, save the world for her because before her, there was no goodness in his heart.
They give each other something both of them desperately need. Love.
And God help anyone who tries to come between them!
It is my humble opinion that this author can totally dominate any genre she takes on!

It's rare that a romance author does something truly original-- Elizabeth Stephens achieved this with this book! Fun, action-packed, sexy and unique-- this romance stands out in the pack.

I really enjoyed this take on heroes and villains. I loved how our main characters went from enemy’s to lovers fairly quickly. I will say I had a lot of I think this is going to happen but then it didn’t so I’m actually quite glad it wasn’t super predictable. I would have liked more regarding the villains so they could be throughout the whole book and make it a more enjoyable book so when we got to the villains then we understood a bit more. Overall, I really enjoyed this ARC. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this early!

I am at that stage where I immediately start trying to find comparators for books I have read to help give friends and family an idea of what to expect from the story. All Superheroes Need PR is one of those books that defies categorization. It is funny, heartfelt, over the top, a bit of workplace romance tinged with the supernatural/paranormal. There are shades of Beauty and the Beast, a bit of "The Boys" TV series/Avengers vibes, and a gruff MMC that gives off Mafia-style "touch her and die" vibes without the dark romance atmosphere.

I loved all of it! Vanessa and all of her friends, family and co-workers were so much fun to read. Her anxiety wasn't smoothed over, but allowed to take up space and be an important part of her relationship evolution with Roland. Roland himself was the perfect grump, with an insta-love situation that only got more serious as the story progressed. Vanessa had a great story arc as well, as she allowed herself to step into her feelings for Roland. And her clumsiness made for some excellent scenes with humor and a chance for Roland to go all adorable and sweet and overprotective.

The set-up with the leagues of heroes and villains made me want more in the world, and I do hope this isn't the last we see of it.

If could give this book more than five stars I would. I have several Elizabeth Stephens books on my shelves but this was the first book I've ever read from her. I am so happy that it was this book that will start my obsession! The book was so funny, cute, engaging, had drama, bad guys, and quirky friends. I adored every part of this book and will need a whole series, a novella + several special editions. Nessa and Rollo were the cutest and most wholesome couple. #AllSuperheroesNeedPR #NetGalley

Twenty-something years ago, 48 alien shuttles crash-landed on Earth bearing children with no recollection of who they were, where they’d come from, and why they’d come to Earth in the first place. They were placed with host families around the world, where they grew up learning to hone the supernatural abilities they all seemed to possess. For an unknown reason, the Forty-Eight, as they’ve come to be known, split off into alliances: Villains and Champions.

Roland, dubbed the Pyro, is the most recent member of the Forty-Eight to pick sides; as the Champions’ newest hero, he desperately needs a PR makeover since he’s the least heroic hero the Champions have ever seen. Vanessa’s PR agency bids to take on the Pyro’s public persona. They’re very good at spin, which is handy since they’re going to need to be the best of the best if they’re going to get anywhere with Roland’s image. First order of business is a new moniker and a girlfriend — Vanessa might be shy and deal with anxiety, but she’s who Roland wants at his side.

I loved this book. Full disclosure: I’m a big Elizabeth Stephens fan and was thrilled to see she had a traditionally published book coming, and All Heroes Need PR did not disappoint! Roland and Vanessa are both byproducts of dubious childhood environments who both chose their own destinies, sketchy backgrounds or not. Stephens deftly explores what it means to be a hero, a survivor, and being capable of love. Especially intriguing is the question: if you had no recollection of your past and who you were, what kind of person would you choose to be?

I loved how absolutely unhinged Roland was, especially in terms of his inner monologue. He was by turning amusing and baffling, and a perfect protector of Vanessa. Vanessa, too, was unhinged in her own subtle way, which somehow kept Roland balanced. If you grew up a fan of Superman and enjoy spice with your adventures, you’ll love All Heroes Need PR! Five stars.

I received an advance copy of All Superheroes Need PR: Supers in the City by Elizabeth Stephens in exchange for an honest review—and I’m so glad I did!

It took me about two chapters to really get into the story, but once things clicked, I was totally hooked. This book is a unique mix of romance, superhero action, and a fun sci-fi twist that kept me turning the pages. I originally went in expecting a light rom-com, and while there are definitely some funny moments, I’d say it leans more toward full-on romance, especially in the later chapters.

The characters had great chemistry, and I really enjoyed the world Stephens built—it felt fresh and different from your usual romance setting. The superhero/alien angle was such a cool change of pace.

This one is definitely for adults, with some steamy moments and a storyline that doesn't hold back. If you’re looking for something a little different in the romance genre—fun, flirty, and just the right amount of out-of-this-world—I’d recommend giving this a try!

What a wild, unpredictable journey—All Superheroes Need PR took me places I never expected, especially when it turned into a monster romance (in the best way possible). I absolutely loved the twisty, genre-bending story and the heartfelt depth it carried. The main character, a Black woman with social anxiety, is beautifully written with authentic mental health representation that hit close to home. Seeing her loved and accepted just as she is? Powerful. The LGBTQIA+ representation throughout is also a huge plus. I’m sincerely hoping this is just the beginning of a full series—give me ten books, twenty even—exploring all the superheroes, villains, and the unexpected ways they might fall in love. I'm all in.


3.75/5