I MEAN literally (Pyro is FIRE ! This Villian needs to be less bad and more of a superhero, he needs a good PR team to make that happen and Vanessa's team are the ones to do that!! The fake dating trope is one of my faves, because there is always that spicy tension I love!! The characters are amazing by the way, I listened to this VIA audio and I will say this even with the speed, this is a slow burn, and that’s where books lose me sometimes. But after all of that it was a funny read, I can’t get enough of these characters.

This is such a fun read. I read the e-book version of this and listening to it, took it up a notch. The voice actors did an excellent job of portraying the characters.

Wow! Elizabeth Stephens does not miss for me. I loved this book! It was a fantastic twist on the alien superhero.
Some years ago, several alien children crash-landed on Earth exhibiting extraordinary powers. Eventually, they kind of divide into heroes, villains, and some that are indifferent. Of course, countries find a way to monetize it all.

Vanessa owns a PR firm tasked with cleaning up Roland, The Pyro's image so he can join the heroes, but as it turns out he's ONLY good for her. The rest of the world can literally burn!!

There's anxiety rep, a fantastic twist, and an eclectic found family group that put the icing on the cake for me. I love a diverse group of ride-or-die family and friends.

Roland and Vanessa's "burn it down" road to happily ever after with a twist was so much fun. I cannot wait to see who's next in this world of superheroes and villains! Happy reading!!

PS. The audiobook was fantastic

The concept behind All Superheroes Need PR is hilarious, and honestly, overdue. Superheroes with PR teams? Yes, please. Elizabeth Stephens takes that brilliant idea and runs with it in this swoony, fast-paced romantic comedy.

Vanessa is a standout heroine. Her social anxiety doesn’t define her, but it makes her feel deeply real, and it adds an unexpected layer to the whole fake-dating-a-superhero trope. Roland, aka “The Wyvern,” is your classic grump with a redemption arc, and getting his POV made him far more endearing than I expected.

Sure, the final battle and Roland’s transformation are over the top—but that’s half the fun. This isn’t meant to be gritty realism. It’s a joyful, tropey, inclusive romp. Stephens continues to shine when it comes to bringing diverse characters (POC and trans representation included) into genres where they’re still too rare.

If you want something that’s fun, funny, and full of heart, give this one a read. It’s a delight.

I only read Elizabeth Stephens for the first time earlier this year with The Bone King and the Starling, and she has very quickly become one of my absolute favorite authors. One of the things I loved most about Starling, and now Supers, is that Stephens challenges me on the front of disliking instalove/instalust. I still think I dislike it, but paired with Stephens' fantastic writing, comedic timing, and dynamic—albeit unhinged—characters, I think I can more than tolerate it. And dare I say I loved it?! She also pushes me to read outside of my comfort zone. I am still relatively new to reading adult fantasy/romantasy and I am even more new to monster romance/alien romance, and I ate every piece of this right on up.

Decades ago, 48 aliens landed on Earth and most decided to become superheroes or supervillains, but some remained somewhat in the middle. Pyro—Roland—crash lands (figuratively) into Vanessa's PR firm, realizing he needs good PR to make this happen, and is instantly unimpressed by her and her debilitating social anxiety/shyness. Soon enough, Nessa and Roland realize they're being pulled together by forces they can't explain, and by the time they give into them, other outlandish things begin happening around them. Together, they have to fight against elements that could destroy them and the world as they know it.

All Superheroes Need PR was so much fun! I adore Stephens' commitment to making fun, goofy, outlandish fiction for Black people with Black characters who are dynamic and adaptive and daring and vulnerable and soft and strong and so completely down bad for the person they're falling for. My favorite part of this book was Nessa's backstory, and how her childhood traumas led her to a life so full of love and protection that she was so completely deserving of. Her family was absolutely incredible, and I loved their dynamic and how they adapted to accept Roland into the fold in their own way, giving him a place to belong on Earth as well.

The narration was incredible. No notes. I recommend the audiobook real bad.

I cannot WAIT for book 2!

Thank you to Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio, Montlake, Elizabeth Stephens, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC, physical ARC, and ALC!

5 fantastical ⭐️s
3 🌶️

I received an advanced copy of the audiobook for review. All opinions are my own.

This was so freaking cute! Just about everything Roland said had me swooning (the narrator was a damn good choice). And without giving anything away, this book kept me on my toes. I hope it’s a series, and after this I’ll definitely be checking out more by this author!

We go from insta-hate to insta-love with a possessive male and anxious female with a tragic past. This book reads like the best sort of fanfic (this is a good thing) and if you like alien romance or superhero romance or even kylo ren (he’s mentioned a couple times so I’m throwing this out there for my 🦋🦋 friends) you’ll like this. I really enjoyed it.

Thanks to Brilliance audio for the ALC!

*dual narration*
(both narrators do a wonderful job)
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!

Elizabeth Stephens writes such powerful characters... I loved 😍 this book. I ignored my family while I devoured this book. Rolo, and Nessa are great!! They way they lifted and supported each other without knowing it, was beautiful 😍. Vanessa, family always referring to her as their little sister was hilarious 😂. The narration is simply wonderful, I found myself laughing out loud.. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. ☺️☺️😍

The most superb narration! Great voice for the dual personalities!

I also reviewed the EARC for this but just to repeat that this book is sensational. It is something so new and so distinct in the industry I love it so much! I hope everyone picks it up and gives it a shot!

Elizabeth! This woman will never fail to lock me into a story. This book is a workplace fake dating romance between a PR director and her client. It was so fun and spicy. I loved they way Vanessa's social anxiety is written you get a clear look into how someone who suffers from it can feel from the inside out and how that can affect them on a daily basis. I liked how Roland saw her struggles and it made him adjust how he acted. The narrators did a great job bringing the characters to life and keeping you engaged. The world building could be better but it wasn't a big enough drop in information to take away from the overall story. I had a great time listening to this as I cleaned up around the house and would recommend it. I loved the side characters as well and how everyone interacted. It was a fun time.

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! And the narrators for the audiobook? TOP TIER!!

A fun workplace romance that includes fake dating and one bed? Yes please. I absolutely adored Vanessa and Roland. Roland wants a rebrand and Vanessa is the PR agent who can make that happen, but when he meets her, he starts to change--literally.

I was given an ARC for this book and here’s my honest review: it was great! I thoroughly enjoyed the world building and the diversity of the characters. The spice definitely was spicy which I enjoyed. This was the first monster romantasy and it did not disappoint. I loved the FMC and her family. The love that was displayed throughout the book for her was truly magnificent. The MMC, Roland, did not play when it came to Vanessa. He was on his “touch her or breathe her air and die”. I did enjoy the way I could visualize a lot of the scenes with how thorough things were written. Only thing i wasn’t a fan of was listening to the narrators do the opposite characters voices during the dual scenes. All in all, I will definitely get a copy to read cause this book was great!

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 read and listened to this story - I must say the audio was especially wonderful.

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

This plot had a lot of potential but fell flat in the areas that it needed it (character development, yearning, world-building, etc.). I'm not sure if the plan is to continue this series with other characters to further the plot, but I was left with a lot of plot/character holes. There was also a lot of repetitive dialogue that almost had me DNFing the book, but I stuck it out when it finally stopped.
Dara Brown and Sean Bassett narrate. Sean Bassett has one of those deep voices that makes your brain hum. There is an extremely diverse cast of characters, which made me happy.

This book was so freaking cute! Ugh! First off, the narrators are FANTASTIC. I felt absolutely immersed listening to this audiobook. And the male narrator 😮‍💨😮‍💨 so delicious! I liked the characters. The FMC was relatable and sweet, but had some sass to her. I did get a little annoyed in the beginning for a bit with the constant reminders of how "clumsy" and "nervous" she was all the time. I do understand the anxiety rep. But it got a bit repetitive. The romance was delightful. I loved how utterly feral the MMC was. He was just instantly like "MINE". I kept picturing the seagulls from finding Nemo 🤣

All in all, fabulous book. I had a great time and absolutely swooned! Thanks so much for the ALC!

The audiobook edition of All Superheroes Need PR is fantastic. It was performed by dual narrators who did a wonderful job of capturing the essence and depth of humanity within the beloved characters of Vanessa and Roland. This edition will please readers who are looking for an immersive experience in this story. The first time romance readers hear the voice of Roland the Pyro will be a treat as the narrator brings the almost villain to life with his alluring and sonorous vocal work. The romantic comedy is filled with heart and healing for the main characters which be become an instant favorite to the genre.

I was lucky to receive an advanced copy of the audiobook, so my review will be a two parter. One for the story, one for the audio.
First of all, it's a banger. I love how Elizabeth Stephens writes world building, it never feels info-dumpy but you get such a good idea of where the story is taking place. In this case, it's normal times except for one thing...some years ago 48 pods landed on earth from space. Inside were children with superhuman abilities. Since then, government agencies and private companies have sprouted to raise and monetize The 48, as they're called. There are the Champions and the Villains, though not every super being has chosen a side. Each representing company vies to bring the unsigned aboard.
Enter Vanessa, our FMC. She runs her own PR firm and is working on a proposal to sign one of the free agents to the Champions. She's super competent but has extreme social anxiety. Unfortunately, the free agent comes in and scares the sh*t out of her and says no deal. That free agent? Our MMC, Roland. His moral compass is shaky, he can create and control fire, and he is 100% obsessed with Vanessa. Something compels him towards her and some weird changes start happening leading to a greater mystery around The 48.
I love that the story had a complex plot outside the MC's relationship. Elizabeth Stephen's writing style of not just first person, but in-body descriptions make everything feel so amped up. No flowery metaphors here, you have a visceral knowledge of what's happening to each character when in their point of view. This was even more clear by listening to the audiobook. Each narrator was so convincing, it was an added level of entertainment to hear them perform. Dara Brown did the heavy lifting as most chapters were from Vanessa's point of view. She did a great job giving every character a subtle yet distinct voice so you never wondered who was speaking, but weren't distracted wondering, "What is that accent? Is this person randomly from Brooklyn??" which is a complaint I sometimes have about audiobooks. Sean Bassett just might have the deepest voice I've ever heard, but he didn't skew raspy or growly. Just a rich, rich bass that I could listen to every day for the rest of my life. Hearing this man say, "use your words" and "good girl" might take you out, so be warned. And for the spice, I've come to expect spice early and often with Elizabeth Stephens, but this book had more build. It's perfect for lovers of a slow burn that burns white hot once sparked.
I had a lot of fun listening to All Superheroes Need PR and I encourage you to check it out!

I feel so lucky that I was able to listen to this book after having read it. I'll post my review of the book below. This audiobook was a delight. Sean Bassett!!!! Do I need to say anything else? The chosen narration style by both Sean and Dara Brown is slow. There's nothing wrong with a slower paced narration. I personally prefer a more conversational pace. So even though I typically listen to audiobooks at 1x speed, I did turn this up to 1.25x to get my preferred pacing.

Any way you read this book is incredible. I'm reposting my review of the story itself, I don't think rewriting it helps anyone.


I have a feeling this will be one of my tops reads of 2025. I was hooked from the first page. The concept of the superheroes was quirky and fun. Loved the gamification of Villains Network of America and the Champions of Earth. It's a completely believable concept, and set up a compelling narrative for the foundation of the book.

With how grumpy Roland was, it was refreshing that Vanessa wasn't a sunshine character. Her anxiety caused Roland to observe and adjust his behavior. While he intimidated her with his antics during their first meeting, he proves to her he can be trusted in the second. She feels safe with him. And with that sense of safety she learned to stand up for herself. The pride she felt when they had their first fight made me fist pump in the air. She was a boss in her work. She had confidence in her abilities regarding her career, but socially was completely out of her depth.

Roland falls first. And so hard. Which led to the best kind of misunderstandings. Where he just wants her, and she needs to catch up. He throws a "my wife" into this story so fast! His whole world shifted when he met her. He decides to be a hero FOR HER!!!! His inner monologue talking himself out of kidnapping her had me in stitches!!!!

The depth of character and growth that Elizabeth Stephens put into this story helped elevate this book above a typical romcom. Not just with Vanessa and Roland, but the whole world. She was intentional when it came to building a diverse cast of characters. The representation in this story is what I crave when reading nowadays. She gave these side characters unique moments that highlighted their cultures or identities. The care she used made each tidbit we learned about Margerie's worry about being a trans woman in business, to noting what honorifics a potential client prefers (Mr. or Kun Prasit, a Thai honorific), she gives these characters their own moments.

This book is special. It's the hero story we deserve. Rollo and Nessa (The nicknames Roland and Vanessa give to each other.) show us that when you're with the right person, you feel safe and supported, you can be brave, grow, heal, and make better choices than you did before.

There's not a single thing I would change about this book. I can't wait to get it on my physical shelf.

Elizabeth has done it again! Superheroes, super villains, monsters, & 🪢 set against the backdrop of a contemporary romcom — what more could you ask for? I found myself laughing out loud and then immediately thereafter swooning numerous times. Big ‘my wife’ energy from the MMC. Loved how he just cared to be HER hero. Bonus— diverse representation across all spectrums felt effortlessly executed!

This was a super fun ride and I can’t wait to see what’s next for this series!

Audiobook ALC graciously gifted by the publisher.