What the Smut?

by C. Hallman

A case of mistaken identity entangles an innocent novelist with a jaded hit man, forcing them to go on the run together in this scorchingly hot and wildly funny novel by USA Today bestselling author C. Hallman.

Unabashed smut writer June Ryan is no stranger to accidentally making a scene. She’s lucky the drop-dead gorgeous man on her flight to Las Vegas doesn’t ask to change seats after the blaring-porn-from-her-laptop incident. He doesn’t even wake her when she falls asleep on him, despite the drool.

Less lucky, that man happens to be Adrian Winters, a hired killer with a target the size of an alpaca on his back. Mistaken as Adrian’s girlfriend, June finds herself thrown into a dangerous and absurd mission to eliminate the threat before she can return to her normal life.

The only upside to this whole mess? Adrian’s “strictly business” policy is quickly falling by the wayside in the face of her relentless candor and natural charms. She may finally get to experience all those spicy scenes she’s only been writing about until now. You know, for research purposes.

This laugh-out-loud dark rom-com is an outrageous and sizzling adventure that will leave you What the smut?

280 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 20, 2026

About the author

C. Hallman is a USA Today Bestselling Author who wrote her debut novel in 2018 and has since published over 100 books in various romance subgenres. Her works have been on numerous bestseller lists and have been translated into 8 languages around the world.
When she doesn't write her next novel, she publishes spicy novellas under the pen name Darcy Rose.

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Reviews

[Maxi’s Reads ✎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

✧₊⁺🕯⋆.˚୨ৎ ᴀʀᴄ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ✧₊⁺🕯⋆.˚୨ৎ

Tʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ NᴇᴛGᴀʟʟᴇʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇʀ ғᴏʀ ᴘʀᴏᴠɪᴅɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀɴ ᴀʀᴄ ɪɴ ᴇxᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴀɴ ʜᴏɴᴇsᴛ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ! ᥫ᭡

✎𓂃♥︎ The story started off really strong and immediately pulled me in. The FMC was outspoken, intriguing, hilarious, and refreshingly unfiltered, making her a joy to read. Her personality carried the beginning of the book, and I was excited to see where the story would go!!

✎𓂃♥︎ Unfortunately, the middle of the story lost some of its appeal for me because of the MMC. Rather than developing genuine feelings for the FMC, he repeatedly expressed how annoyed he was by her and seemed to view her more as a distraction than someone he truly wanted to be with. That dynamic made it difficult for me to connect with the romance, as it leaned more toward toxicity than tension.

Overall, I still found the book to be an enjoyable read, but it wasn't a favorite of mine. ◡̈♡ྀི

[Marisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually don’t know the last time I laughed out loud and highlighted so many passages in a book. This book was a hoot.

Our FMC, June, just made every scene that she was in. You can’t help but love her. Her commentary, her actions, her general awkwardness, it will keep you laughing. I could see myself saying or doing a few of these actions with my fiancé, I guess I understand his pain a little bit more (oops).

The MMC was the black cat to her golden retriever. The poor guy didn’t know how he got into the situation, but in the end he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

Don’t expect a super realistic plot, this is purely for entertainment purposes. It’s exactly a book the FMC would have written.

This was a short, quick, laugh out loud read, and it’s exactly what I needed.

Thank you Netgalley and Montlake for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.

[Petra Petrella · Rating 3 out of 5]

June Ryan is an unabashedly virgin smut author who finds herself on a flight to Las Vegas next to Adrian Winters—a drop-dead gorgeous, highly dangerous hitman who remains surprisingly unfazed when her laptop starts blaring porn mid-flight.

When a case of mistaken identity convinces Adrian’s enemies that June is his girlfriend, she gets dragged into a chaotic, high-stakes mission to eliminate the threat. With their lives on the line and proximity forced, Adrian agrees to help June with her "research" by acting out the exact spicy scenarios from her books, blurring the line between a strictly business alliance and pure physical indulgence.

😊 YAY for

• The fun, delightfully absurd, and definitely uncommon, premise of a virgin smut author using a lethal hitman as a real-world canvas for her "research"

• A fast, breezy pace that delivers explicitly on the high-heat, high-octane dark comedy scenarios it promises

• The sheer potential of a fate-driven meeting escalating into forced proximity and a perpetual alliance

🤔 NAY for

• An FMC whose loud, weird, and awkward quirks felt far more grating than endearing, crossing the line into a frustrating caricature

• An MMC whose immediate, intense intrigue with the heroine lacks any believable narrative foundation beyond pure, instant lust

• A massive, unexpected plot bomb dropped in the final two chapters that felt completely tacked-on with glue rather than organically developed

• A total absence of genuine narrative angst or emotional friction to ground the relationship beyond physical heat

Petra’s Comment
I really wanted to like this one, and I appreciate what the author was aiming for with this high-octane, absurd dark rom-com. However, the execution relies far too heavily on surface-level tropes at the expense of genuine character depth. Look at classic action-romance dynamics like Romancing the Stone—even in the middle of chaos, the leads actually build tension and earn their chemistry before head-over-heels devotion sets in. Here, the MMC's instant fascination feels completely unearned, relying entirely on physical lust while treating "quirky awkwardness" as a full substitute for the FMC's personality.

While the punny title plays on her paradox as a virgin erotica writer, the actual execution of the romance falls short. For a story centered around a smut author acting out her own book scenarios, the explicit scenes felt surprisingly sparse, grew repetitive quickly, and lacked any real "wow" factor—I’ve read far smuttier books with a fraction of the premise's bravado.

The reliance on shortcuts becomes even more obvious at the finish line: dropping a sudden pregnancy reveal and instant emotional devotion into the final two chapters feels completely tacked-on with glue. Coming off a story with almost zero emotional friction or stakes, a sudden shift into permanent family-building lands as jarring whiplash rather than a satisfying payoff. It’s a fast-paced read for those seeking low-angst steam, but for me, it lacked the emotional ache and narrative balance needed to truly land.

Rating: 2.5/3

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Well. This was my first C. Hallman book. I liked it. It was super funny and ridiculous and sexy and adorable. But that's all it was. It wasn't deep or super interesting or anything more really. I wanted more.
And is she really only 21? Which we find out at the 70% mark?! Hm. No idea how old he is. Way older I'd guess.
I wasn't the hugest fan of the writing - it didn't flow through my mind like I need a book to. But it was totally okay the way it was - it was a cute story.

click ► HERE! to buy the book!

[Megan Witsche · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tropes: Dark Rom Com, Grumpy X Sunshine, On the Run / Forced Proximity, Mistaken Identity, Smutty Writer FMC, Hitman MMC, He Falls First / "Strictly Business", High Banter Romantic Comedy

Review No Spoilers: If you’re looking for a romance that perfectly blends laugh out loud comedy, nonstop action, and sizzling chemistry, this dark romantic comedy delivers from the very first chapter. The story kicks off with one of the most memorable meet cutes imaginable when June Ryan, a wildly successful but delightfully chaotic erotica author, accidentally humiliates herself on a flight only to discover the handsome stranger beside her is actually a professional hitman.

A case of mistaken identity quickly turns June’s ordinary life upside down, forcing her to team up with the stoic and deadly Adrian Winters as they dodge danger and uncover who’s hunting them. Their wildly different personalities create endless hilarious moments, with June’s unfiltered energy constantly pushing Adrian out of his comfort zone. Watching their relationship evolve amid explosions, assassins, and outrageous situations makes for an incredibly entertaining ride.

One of the novel’s biggest strengths is how it balances humor with suspense. The action keeps the pages turning, while the romance builds naturally through forced proximity and shared danger. June’s career as a romance writer adds another layer of comedy as the fictional scenarios she usually writes suddenly become her reality.

Packed with witty banter, outrageous mishaps, high-stakes adventure, and plenty of spice, this is a fast paced romantic comedy that never takes itself too seriously. Fans of opposites-attract romances, forced proximity, and chaotic heroines paired with dangerously competent heroes will have an absolute blast.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

This book was so much fun, it definitely reminded me of the books 'Butcher and Blackbird' by Brynne Weaver, 'The Unwilling Plus One' by Effie Campbell and the movie Knight and Day (the one with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz). It was humorous, spicy, dramatic and full of mishaps and mayhem.

The plot is kind of crazy. It jumps, skips and trips through a whirlwind of assassinations, safe houses and masquerade balls. The pacing is fairly fast- maybe too much at times- I did feel like there wasn't a huge amount of build up to the spicy scenes, they kind of just happened spontaneously. I didn't mind, but also the various kinks felt a bit tossed in too.

As for the characters, June was absolutely hilarious. She's a whirlwind of sunshine, inappropriate comments and accidents waiting to happen. I did feel like at times her clumsiness/ awkwardness felt a bit *too* much, but was still entertaining. Especially when she was forced to dance at the club, so she did the sprinkler... As for the MMC, Adrian, he was the typical brooding, grumpy hit man who reluctantly has to save the woman who's barged her way into his life. I liked the chemistry between them both, I wish there were more meaningful moments, but for a short book that's mostly fun amusement I wasn't expecting too much depth anyway.

The ending wraps up with a lovely happily ever after (maybe a bit overdramatically cliché for my taste and how the book felt, especially as the MMC stated just a few chapters before that he doesn't like the responsibility of another human...then a surprise pregnancy happens), giving readers a satisfying ending to such a humorous and crazy story!

3/5 🌟

[novel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Having previously enjoyed C. Hallman’s ‘Bayshore Rivals’ series, I was excited to read ‘What the Smut?’

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a fun, entertaining read with plenty of humour throughout, and I could easily imagine it being adapted into a comedy-action film (with a few scenes toned down!).

One of my favourite parts of the book was the side characters, and I found myself looking forward to the moments they appeared.

For me, the main thing that stopped this from being a higher-rated read for me was that I never felt fully emotionally connected to the two main characters. I would have loved more time getting to know them, as I felt their relationship developed quite quickly. Because I wasn’t as emotionally invested in them, I found myself putting the book down more often during the middle section.

I felt there was quite a strong emphasis on June referring to her books as ‘smut.’ As someone who enjoys both romance and spicy romance, I would have loved to see a little more emphasis on the emotional side of the genre as well. Romance is about so much more than spice, and because I wasn’t fully connected to the characters, some of the spicy scenes felt less impactful than they could have been.

While I enjoyed the overall ending, I personally would have preferred a different approach to resolving the final conflict.

Therefore, this was an enjoyable read with plenty of humour, and I think readers looking for a fast-paced, funny romance with lots of spice will have a great time with it. I can’t wait to read more of C. Hallman’s books in the future.

[Erin Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5 rounded up)
📖

Thank you C. Hallman and Montelak (Amazon Publishing) for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

---
This ended up being the perfect vacation read.

C. Hallman takes us on an adventure with a (somewhat) agoraphobic romance author who’s suddenly thrown into a situation that’s completely out of her depth. The FMC is witty, quirky, and admittedly a bit childish at times, while the MMC is the classic broody, “I’m better off alone” hitman who somehow falls for her anyway.

I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes more than once in the beginning, particularly at the idea of a MFC smut author with virtually no real-life experience. It felt a little over-the-top, and I wasn’t sure I was buying into the premise. But, along the way, I relaxed into the story.

There were several moments that genuinely made me laugh out loud, and more than once I found myself disappointed when I had to put the book down because my reading time was over. It’s light, easy to follow, and doesn’t take itself too seriously, which made it an ideal vacation read. The spicy scenes were well distributed, and I easily found myself immersed in the scene.

My biggest complaint was the ending. The final development that ultimately brings the two characters together didn’t feel earned because it wasn’t really hinted at throughout the story. Instead of feeling like a satisfying payoff, it came across as a convenient way to tie everything together.

Overall, I’d give it 3.4 stars, rounded up to 4. It won’t be a new favorite, but it was a fun, entertaining read that accomplished exactly what I wanted while on vacation.

[Suzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What the Smut?! by C. Hallman was so much fun! I'm already a fan of C. Hallman, who is known for her dark, scorching-hot romances, so I was excited to see her take on a mafia rom-com. She brings all of her signature spicy alpha energy, but wraps it in laugh-out-loud humor.

June Ryan is a smut author with absolutely no filter. You know all those memes about romance readers having a detailed escape plan if they're ever kidnapped by a psychopath? That's June. She understood the assignment (and completed all the extra credit! LOL!) So what if her laptop accidentally falls open on the gorgeous guy sitting next to her on the plane... and just so happens to start playing the porn video she was "researching" for her next book? No big deal. And when she falls asleep and drools all over his incredibly muscular arm? Still no big deal... right? June may write spicy adventures for a living, but she definitely didn't plan on being kidnapped when Adrian's enemies mistake her for his girlfriend.

What follows is an absolutely hilarious adventure where assassin Adrian finds himself pushed to his limits; not by rival criminals, but by a virginal smut writer who is more than ready to live out some of the fantasies she's been writing about. The chemistry is fantastic, the banter had me laughing, and the whole story was just ridiculously entertaining from beginning to end. I absolutely loved it! I'm hoping this isn't the last we see of these characters because I'd happily read another book (especially if Adrian's retired assassin brother gets his own story. Hint, hint, Cassie!) Highly recommended for readers looking for a fun, spicy mafia rom-com.

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

HILARIOUS. I’m pretty sure I finished this in less than 48 hours, because how could I not…if you are bored and/or need a book break (or even an IRL break) this is it. I’ll admit, even though the whole thing is supposed to be about smut, I didn’t find it very sexy.

Sometimes when things are self-referential it’s distracting. For instance I once read a romance that was all about tropes and it kept referring to every single trope in a breaking the glass / meta kind of way. That’s what I remember most about that story. This is nothing like that, but by being a book about a smut writer and also trying to be smut it kind of pulled a double negative in my brain. Beyond that, she’s also just too freaking funny and weird. I literally laughed out loud while my boyfriend was sleeping and had to physically restrain myself. I think a tear or two may have spilled over.

I’m not going to lie, I would read this again because it just was that entertaining. Not super sexy, but a really fun read. That being said, don’t be mistaken that this is cozy either. It’s definitely a romance and surely smut but I’d heavily weigh it in the comedy category.

Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early. Much enjoyed, LOL

[Mala · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the Smut? was such a fun and incredibly fast read. C. Hallman blends humor, romance, and action in a way that keeps the story moving from beginning to end. From the very first meeting between June Ryan and Adrian Winters, the book is packed with hilarious, chaotic moments that had me smiling the whole way through.

I absolutely loved the dynamic between June and Adrian. June's outspoken, impulsive personality is the perfect match for Adrian, a serious, reserved hitman who's used to being in complete control. Their romance develops while they're on the run, and the mix of tension, chemistry, and laugh-out-loud moments makes their relationship feel both entertaining and genuine. The contrast between a romance author and a deadly assassin also gives the story a fresh and unique twist.

This is the perfect book for anyone looking for a dark rom-com filled with humor, romance, action, and plenty of spice. I had so much fun following June and Adrian on their wild adventure, and I finished the book with a huge smile on my face. It was such an enjoyable read and one I flew through in no time.

[Megan Reese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley

I couldn't get enough of What the Smut? by C. Hallman! One of my favorite parts of the book was June's clumsy, goofy personality. She was so easy to love because she never tried to be perfect, and her constant talking and awkward moments made her character unique.

I loved Adrian's character, especially when his broody side would come out. Even though he acted grumpy, it was obvious how much he enjoyed June's company even when he wouldn't admit it to himself in the beginning. I loved it when Adrian started defending June's goofy and talkative personality instead of trying to change her. Those scenes really showed how much he appreciated her for exactly who she was, and they made me love their relationship more.

The balance between the smut and the actual plot was really well done. The romance and spicy scenes never took away from the story, and the plot kept me invested the entire time.

Overall, this was such a fun, entertaining read with likable characters, great chemistry, and a few giggles. I also have to say—I would love a book about Theo! I would read his story in a heartbeat.

[Alice Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was absolutely hilarious and super cute. It's been a while since I've come across a heroine this awkward (and I mean it in the best possible way). Just imagine - a smut author literally ends up in the plot of her own books: first she gets kidnapped, mistaken for a girlfriend of a hitman (all because of, again, an incredibly funny meet-cute on a plane at the very beginning of the story), and then she's forced to go on the run with said hitman, all while simultaneously gathering material for the spicy scenes in her future books.

What I particularly loved was the contrast between the characters: she's this energetic, nonstop chatterbox, awkward and always stumbling into hilarious situations, while he's detached, serious, a man used to a life of solitude and silence, who has no idea what kind of chaos just fell on his head.

I'd say my first encounter with this author was a success.

Thanks Netgalley, Montlake and C.Hallman for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I actually really liked this book. June is absolutely hilarious. I would literally think, OMG this situation is me! I broke my foot standing up in the middle of a school day, June and I are kindred spirits. Adrian was also great. His little, you get used to it comments, just cracked me up. The drama was fun, and June's narration was hilarious throughout it.

The reason for 3 stars is the spicy scenes were a little cringe. I'm never a big Virgin fan. I just don't understand going from 0 to straight letting your freak flag fly with 0 inhibitions. It was just not it for me. That knocked it down to 4 stars. The ending for me was just doing too much, but maybe it's just me. Without spoiling, the ending was just not my trope. I would have liked to have more of them and less of the other stuff.

I have never read this author, and I am definitely interested to try out other books.

[Kasey Connors-Beron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free ARC of What the Smut? and leave this review voluntarily.

I don't think I have read a character so accident prone in...maybe ever? It is endearing. I enjoyed reading What the Smut? I liked the concept behind the spice ("research" for her romance books). Overall, the book is what you would expect from a dark/mafia-esque plot (dark and broody male main character, touch her and die, etc.). June is the selling feature of this book. It turns what could be a very dark and serious book into something much more... lighthearted?...with a significant amount of humor woven throughout. It makes what could have been a three-star experience (because the plot itself is not incredibly unique), a five-star experience.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book ❤️
the title drew me in at first but then i absolutely fell in love with June she’s so sassy and funny, I think she might be my spirit animal 😂.

The story books you from the very beginning, Adrian MMC is the typical brooding grumpy male but they work so well together, the banter is great ( I hope it’ll eventually get turned into an audio so I can listen to it 😂)

I’m sad the book is over I never wanted it to end, there’s something for everybody in this book
She’s a smut writer, he’s a hit man for hire .. it’s just brilliant read it you won’t be disappointed 😍❤️ the spice is pretty good too 😉🔥🔥

[Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhh, where do I start. I loved this book. I loved the quirky traits of the FMC. I loved how annoyed the MMC got with her at times, the funny banter. When we got to the trying things out I thought it was going to be a total flop but absolutely amazing. I wasn’t in love with the twist for the end but that’s just not my go to. Overall I loved how this book was written and the banter and the plot was totally on point, I can not wait to read it again!

Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC

Smut author meets surly hit man. The premise is pretty original and it was a really cute story with some really smutty as seen-in-books scenes. I appreciated the humor and the growing chemistry between the characters felt natural and believable (as believable as this premise can be…)

I’ll being looking for other books by this author.

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed the plot, and there were so many laugh out loud moments in the book. The book is steaaaaamy. There are pieces of the story that were absolutely unnecessary, like the 'virgin' piece and the last 3 chapters (WHYYYY!?!). But overall an enjoyable book.

Thank you publishers and Netgalley for the ARC!

[Ecm · Rating 2 out of 5]

*****Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Unfortunately, this book just didn’t work for me. I couldn’t connect with either the female or the male main character, and the story never managed to hold my interest. I kept waiting for something to make me care, but that moment never came.

In the end, the only thing I can really say is that I simply didn’t enjoy it.

[Candace P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

June and Adrian's story was fast paced and fun. There were a ton of laugh out loud moments and I loved that we had some more series moments to balance things out.

This was my first by the author and I really enjoyed her style! I hope we have another interconnected book with Adrian's brother because I know his story would be great!

[Emelie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ridiculous! Like, we're literally in a life or death situation but sure, let's go out to dinner😂
But also, it was so much fun! I actually laughed out loud a couple of times. Would for sure recommend this to someone just looking for something fun and entertaining.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally LOVED this book. It was just absolutely positively perfect! Funny with great characters that you wanted to follow and learn more about. If you love a hysterical grumpy sunshine romance with a bit of darkness I recommend you check this book out immediately! Adrien and June are perfect together!

[Belize Esperanza Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so funny but also so hot. Iv never known a FMC as clueless as June was my god girl you needed some survival instincts reset into you. And my guy Adrien is something special.

The dance scene with June made me howl

[Suzy100 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. This was a light, fun, romp. No angst really, even with the contract killer element. Think of this as pure fluff.

It was a fun time with a FMC that remains her authentic self through the whole book.

[Diana Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this and there were more than a few moments were I died laughing. 6/5 stars.