The Love Plot

Samantha Young has always been my favorite author in this genre. Amazing banter that makes me literally laugh out loud, squeel at the chemistry and The Love Plot is no different, if not one of my favorites. Star and Rafe’s chemistry was sizzling and their banter was so refreshing. I love love love how they grew on each other so naturally. Star’s relationship with her parents was so relatable, it felt like I’ve been heard and seen. As she was hurting, I did as well. She is a breath of fresh air and I love how Rafe is a walking green flag. His devotion set the tone and bar immensely high and I cannot—will not get over it. Ever. I felt all the warm fuzzy feelings and felt the hurt and pain. I couldn’t put this book down. Even though I just finished reading this incredible story, I don’t mind rereading this from the beginning, it’s THAT good 🫣

When Star ruffles Rafe’s feathers, she ruffles them good and in public for strangers to laugh with! She takes ruffling up a level by mentioning food play and it’s hilarious! He does his own ruffling too, leaving her proud of him in “The Love Plot” by Samantha Young! This romantic comedy is a fast read! From the beginning when Star bravely stands up for herself while wearing a Merida costume to the biggest grump in Manhattan, but his attractiveness levels up when Rafe is caught being happy with his niece, I needed more!!! There are emotional scenes in this book which I expect and enjoy when reading Young’s books! There are hurtful moments yet swoony moments. There are multiple twists that leave you thinking what makes a person selfish and they need to stay away from our sunshine, Star Shine Meadows! The reason for their fake relationship is wild yet necessary. I love the character growth for both Star and Rafe while these two very opposite people learn from each other. I love the conditions Young wrote for their relationship to shift from fake to real albeit the tension tightening because of one bed! I love how Young made Star and Rafe’s food play come full circle! I love everything about this book!!! If you enjoy close proximity, difference social class, found family, happy and independent women, I tried relationships, spicy time, steamy kisses, and swoony grump reads, then I highly recommend this book! Thank you Valentine PR and Samantha Young for my advanced review copy which I received in exchange for an honest review.

You can’t get more opposite that free spirited Star and button-up Rafe. One is a serious, and seriously grumpy vet while the other is perpetually sun shiny, working two very interesting jobs, that are probably not everyone’s cup of tea. Certainly not Rafe’s. But they actually go together like peanut butter and jelly, winky wink. Because while Rafe shows Star what she has been missing, and possibly craving even if she’ll deny it, in her life…she’s really the one who has turned Rafe’s life around and upside down. I loved these quirky and fun personalities, the very witty and thoughtful banter and the fun spin on a classic fake relationship trope. I’ve adored Samantha Young’s more serious series, set in Scotland…btw, loved that little nod to those books! But this one was more witty and fun and I loved it just as much! 5 stars

Opposites attract Grumpy/sunshine Fake relationship Romcom Star is a free spirited happy woman with a lot of confidence.- very personable. She gives everyone the benefit of the doubt. She is used to people not taking her seriously and looking down on her but she lives her best life. She is an independent and intelligent woman. Her jobs as a character actor and line sitter make her unique and interesting. Rafferty is her opposite. He is rich, college educated and not a people person. He is a veterinarian, loves animals. The only people he seems to tolerate is his family and a few friends. Their first meeting was less than stellar. Raff was in a bad mood and took it out on Star. His mother and sister in law have been trying to fix him up. He is not a willing participant. So begins the fake dating. Star believed in killing them with kindness. Even grumpy Raff fell under her spell. This is cute and fun with great characters. It had great banter. Good character growth for our main characters as well as the supporting characters. A lot of prejudgments that were proved wrong.

I discovered Ms. Young’s wonderful writing when I read the Highland’s series. Then happily starting The Adair Family series, and can’t wait for the next to released. Meanwhile, waiting for the next book, I came upon The Love Plot. A delightful Rom Com with a little angst. Great characters make this fun fake girlfriend story a great read. Star Shine Meadows is a “gig” worker” and loves her freedom of time and space. She does character acting for kids parties, stands in long lines for often long periods of time for her clients, so they don’t have to. Not very conventional, but it works for her. Raised by hippie parents who seemed to concentrate only on each other, she pretty much raised herself. A chance meeting at his niece’s birthday party, Rafe Whitman meets Star as a Disney character. He is extremely curious about her life style, and how she makes a living. Rafe is a successful animal vet, happily single, and annoyed by his family’s “fix-up” efforts. Rafe decides to offer Star a proposition. Would she consider being his fake girlfriend for 6 months and he would pay her a very healthy amount of money. This would hopefully stop his family from constantly suggesting he date and even sending women to his practice with their pets and questionable illnesses. Star agrees, and the fun begins. I enjoyed their banter, but sometimes felt like I wanted to give them both a shake and say Wake Up! Another romantic comedy from Ms. Young, and a pleasure to read.

I really loved Rafe and Star’s story. This was an entertaining read. These two couldn’t be more different, but they had amazing chemistry from the start. I felt for Rafe and his need for the fake relationship. I couldn’t believe his family were so blatant about throwing women at him. I didn’t blame him for proposing this idea to Star. Star lived up to her name, because she was a bright shining light. I loved her independence and sassy personality. She was definitely a free spirit, which has a lot to do with how she was raised. Her childhood wasn’t typical and wasn’t a healthy way to grow up. My heart broke for her as she tried to defend those values at times, but that she herself maybe didn’t agree with. She did a lot of self reflection and growth in this story, which I really enjoyed. I wanted to shake some sense into her when she let it go too far, so much that she wasn’t herself any more. But, sometimes that is the journey that we have to go on to find our happiness. I thought Rafe was the anchor Star needed most in her life. He was steadfast in his support of her and trying to let her figure things out for herself. This story was fantastic, and I highly recommend it.