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?

2026 by C. Hallman. ℗ 2026 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance

Audible Audio

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 ✎]

✧₊⁺🕯⋆.˚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. ◡̈♡ྀི

[Dario Pacheco]

First and foremost I’d like to thank NetGalley & Brilliance Publishing for the ALC of this book. My review will be an honest reflection of my feelings towards this book.
I went into this book for the cover. Period. And was hoping I’d get a good book out of it. Especially with my track record of let down books I had DNFed. I honestly was a little let down by this book. In this story we meet a woman who is thrust into a deadly but sexy game with a man who is forced with protecting her when she unknowingly becomes a pawn in a hunt for his head.
Starting off this book had a basic start with a meet cutiesh situation with them meeting on a plane: but from there it goes down hill. The FMC gets annoying fast with a man who is ahole but then they magically she is a virgin wanting to start off her sex life with bdsm? Than breath play? And not telling her own sister that she’s okay after getting taken?
I’m all for living in the fantasy but jeez this book had me shaking my head with its unbelievability.
Overall a meh book that becomes a dud that sinks in the water of the romance genre.

[Marisa]

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.

[Megan Dodds]

✍️ Forced Proximity
🔪 Virgin Smut Author
✍️ Opposites Attract
🔪 Teach Her 😏

The quirky, and accident prone June was giving off strong “I’m not like the other girl” vibes and some of the intended humour for this came across cringey or missed the mark. Our MMC Adrian’s intrigue with June felt more lust driven and I had trouble rooting for him. His brooding lacked a personality I crave from morally grey MMC’s. Their “meet cute” through porn blaring on her laptop mid flight was hilarious and gave me high hopes.

Once the plot developed more and they are thrown on their adventure together, I began to connect more to both of them. The pacing was swift and felt more organic as the story progressed. The premise of the story was cute and felt fresh but the lack of connection I had the characters at the beginning stunted the delivery. This book did have me laughing out loud at times and I was enjoying it in the last half.

The narrators both did a great job and were highlights through the story. I will be interested in both of their other works. I had a lot of fun with the smutty scenes!

This was an enjoyable read, with a fun concept! I think the humour and style at the beginning will be better suited for other readers interested in low angst, and watch season 1 of New Girl without cringing.

ALC thank you Netgalley 🖤

[Kristin Repp]

ALC REVIEW- The story started off really strong, and I laughed so much at the FMC. She’s completely unfiltered and absolutely hilarious. The MMC also intrigued me right from the beginning, he also made me laugh a few times.

This was such a fun rom-com with witty banter and tons of fun little micro-tropes. I do think the virgin trope is a little overdone, but surprisingly, I didn’t mind it as much in this book. I will say, though, I found it a little hard to believe that she’s a smut writer but has never actually experienced any of it herself… but hey, I guess it happens! 😂

My biggest issue was that I felt the chemistry was lacking at times. There were moments when the MMC seemed more annoyed by her quirks than charmed by them, which made it harder for me to really feel their connection. I wanted a little more of that undeniable spark between them.

I also really enjoyed the little twist at the end. I know not everyone is a fan of that trope, but I’m one of those people who doesn’t mind it at all! Overall, this was a fun, funny read with great banter and plenty of entertaining moments, even if the romance didn’t completely hit for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance publishing/Audio

[♡︎ Kesa Subban ♡︎]

My first read by C. Hallman, and after reading the blurb I was intrigued, but also had no idea how this book was going to go.

It was a quick read, that had me laughing every chapter. The female lead was quirky with zero filter, but she also made me cringe a lot.

The main characters, to me I felt no connection and they didn't have chemistry.

Overall it was an okay read.

[Petra Petrella]

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.

[Faiza]

What the Smut? by C. Hallman

I honestly can't remember the last time a book made me laugh this much. What the Smut? was such a ridiculous, chaotic, entertaining little read that I flew through it. It was exactly the kind of book I needed when I wanted something light, funny, and completely capable of pulling me out of whatever mood I was in.

June is absolutely the star of this story for me. She is awkward, chatty, impulsive, and wonderfully unfiltered. She doesn't seem remotely interested in pretending to have everything together, and that made her incredibly easy to adore. Her internal commentary and the things that come out of her mouth had me laughing so many times. There were definitely moments where I had to stop reading because I was laughing way harder than the situation probably deserved.

Then there's Adrian, who is basically the human embodiment of a grumpy cat being forced to deal with an overly enthusiastic puppy. He's reserved, broody, and clearly bewildered by June's particular brand of chaos. Watching him slowly become attached to her was one of my favorite things about the book. What really got me, though, was that he never actually wanted her to become someone quieter or more conventional. Instead, he started appreciating the exact qualities that made her so wonderfully weird.

Their dynamic was ridiculously fun. June brings all the energy, Adrian brings the deadpan reactions, and somehow it works perfectly. The contrast between them creates so many funny moments, but there's genuine affection underneath all the teasing and chaos.

Despite the title and the amount of spice, I wouldn't necessarily pick this up expecting a seriously seductive romance. For me, the comedy was the strongest element. The book is self-aware and plays around with the idea of writing smut, which occasionally made me more aware of the fact that I was reading a story about a story. But honestly, June was so entertaining that I didn't care. I was having way too much fun.

The romance and spicy content also didn't completely take over the plot, which I appreciated. There was enough happening outside of the intimate scenes to keep me interested, and the relationship itself still had room to develop. I just wouldn't call this a super-serious or especially realistic story. It knows exactly what kind of experience it's offering, and I think it works best when you simply surrender to the ridiculousness.

I also loved how quickly this book moves. It's short, easy to get through, and perfect for when you need something that doesn't require a huge emotional investment. I can absolutely see myself rereading it purely because I know there are scenes that would make me laugh all over again.

And Theo? I need his book. Immediately. After finishing this one, I'm fully invested in getting his story whenever C. Hallman decides to give it to us.

If you're looking for a romance that leans heavily into comedy, has an adorably chaotic heroine, a grumpy hero who falls for her exactly as she is, plenty of chemistry, and enough absurd moments to keep you smiling, What the Smut? is a really fun choice. It isn't trying to be profound—it is here to entertain, and it absolutely succeeded for me.

[Bri]

✨ALC Review✨ - 3 ⭐️

I really wish I could say that I enjoyed this one more, but unfortunately, I found myself mostly just waiting for it to be over. 😅 The story started to feel pretty slow and repetitive for me, and I felt like it dragged quite a bit as it went on.

I actually had pretty high hopes going in because the beginning had a few moments that genuinely made me laugh out loud. I thought I was in for one of those books that would have me crying from laughing so hard, but unfortunately, most of the humor after those first few chapters just didn’t land for me. It often felt like the book was trying too hard to be both funny and sexy, and I think that ended up making some of those moments feel a little forced rather than natural.

I also struggled with the romance. There were a lot of sexy little microtropes, some of my favorite ones in fact, but they kind of just felt randomly thrown into the story, and I never felt like they came together or helped create a strong emotional connection between the characters. Their relationship went from “I can’t stand you” to “I can’t get enough of you” incredibly quickly, and I never quite felt the transition between those two extremes.

Because of that, I also had a hard time believing they were actually in love. To me, they felt more sex-drunk than in love, and like maybe they genuinely liked each other, but I never felt that deeper connection that would make me believe they were ready for a relationship.

I was also surprised by the accidental pregnancy. I really wish that had been made clear in the marketing, because that can be a pretty significant dealbreaker for some readers. It happens fairly late and isn’t a huge part of the story, but it still caught me completely off guard. And honestly, because I already wasn’t convinced these two really knew each other or would necessarily work well together long-term, ending the story with them suddenly having a baby together didn’t work for me at all.

🎧 I did think both narrators did a great job embodying their own characters. The opposing-character narration was a little more meh for me, but overall, I thought they both did a good job and brought some personality to the audiobook. 

Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t a great fit for me. I can definitely see the appeal in what it was trying to do, and there were moments early on that made me think I was going to have a completely different reading experience, but ultimately, the humor, romance, and pacing just didn’t click for me the way I had hoped.

Thank you so much to Quirky Heart PR and C. Hallman for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

[✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰]

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]

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: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Cassy]

I will admit, while the premise of this book intrigued me, I did not anticipate enjoying it to the extent that I did.

I am a sucker for assassin falls in love story (clearly because the more I thought about it, the more I realized that some of my favorite books are that theme.) It’s got bodyguard romance vibes but the MMC is just morally gray enough to be exciting but not enough to read as completely toxic. Plus… there is just something great about watching an absolutely ruthless and lethal man go completely soft for exactly one person.

Adrian was all of those things. By all accounts the man had zero conscious and was a killing machine. June annoyed him to no end at first. He didn’t like her and still went soft for her. I loved watching his slow fall, to the point that even he seemed surprised when he realized what had happened.

June… grew on me. Honestly, this is the first time I’ve related so hard to the MMC. June was annoying and almost came off as a caricature. But the more you spent time with her, the more endearing she became and I did have an appreciation for her unfiltered snark.

Considering this book had so much smut (which didn’t blow me away but did keep me interested), it also had a decent plot line. There were some small inconsistencies (for instance she has no phone but then is scrolling on her phone but you don’t find out it isn’t HER phone until almost the end?) but most were things that will probably be weeded out in an edited (this was an ARC). My only real issue was that June’s anxiety only seemed relevant when it was a plot point. Considering the extreme anxiety she displayed in the beginning of the book, it seemed almost non-existent later and was serviced with throw away lines (ie. “I’m feeling anxious but I can totally do this!”)

The book was fun, well plotted and worth your time.

[novel]

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]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (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.

[Ciara Hartman]

📝 ARC Review: Overall this was a fun and spicy read! It wasn’t quite as dark as I had imagined, yet it still left you anticipating what would happen next. I enjoyed the MMC and his grumpy acceptance of the quirky FMC. She was really funny, but at times I wished for her to tone down the crazy. That didn’t happen, of course. So I alternated between finding her hilarious and being very annoyed by her lack of sense in a life or death situation. I loved the fact that she was a smutty romance writer and a virgin, and how they wound up entering a physical relationship simply for “research” purposes while on the run. 😂

The ending paragraph of the story was just the best! The quote is below 👇. Also, there was a scene in the beginning of the book where she accidentally began playing something highly inappropriate on the plane… it was awesome! 😂

End Quote: “I could write a million love stories, but nothing compares to the real deal. I should have tried drooling on a stranger on a plane years ago.”

Genre: Dark Rom-Com
POV: First Person; Dual
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3.5/5
Release Date: October 20, 2026

Vibes: Comedic, Anticipatory & Dramatic!

Tropes 👇

- Forced proximity
- On the run
- Word vomit
- Virgin, smut writing FMC
- Assassin MMC
- Spicy sessions for “research”
- Assassin Family Drama
- Light BDSM elements

CW’s 👇

- Anxiety
- Kidnapping/abduction
- Held at gunpoint
- Brief scenes of violence & murder

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Kris]

Adrian & June

⭐⭐⭐⭐

What a chaotic ride!

I was lucky enough to be able to read and listen early, and to me it so worth it, just for the sheer entertanment factor…

This book was so much fun, and I found myself laughing more than once at the absolute insanity Adrian and June somehow managed to get themselves into. It gave me major calamitous spy/espionage rom-com vibes, with danger, ridiculous situations, mistaken identity, and plenty of spice thrown into the mix.

June was definitely… a lot.
There were times when her ditziness and hopelessness pushed my patience, and I occasionally wanted to shake her and tell her to THINK!
Adrian could also be a little too critical of her at times, but somehow their personalities and all that chaos just worked together.

Adrian was the perfect grumpy, jaded hitman opposite June’s completely unfiltered, smut-writing self. Their chemistry was certainly something, and watching his strictly business attitude slowly crumble was so entertaining.

This was definitely one of those books where you just strap yourself in and enjoy the ride because you never quite know what ridiculous thing is going to happen next.

It’s funny, spicy, chaotic, and completely OTT in the best way.

And now I need Theo’s story!
Please tell me he’s next because I am already invested.

Loved the narration, Amelie Griffin and Alex Knox were fantastic! I don’t know how many times I broke out into laughter while out for my morning walks…

[Jen Wycech]

Dark RomCom
Author FMC
Hitman MMC
Forces Proximity
Hilarious embarrassing moments
Opposites attract
Virgin FMC
Spicy lessons
Dual POV - 1st person

Dual narration - Amelie Griffin & Alex Knox
Great narrations.

I loved this book. I enjoyed the humor. The FMC is so relatable and awkward. I laughed out loud so many times. C. Hallman had a fun writing style that makes you love unhinged characters.

June is a romance author heading to a signing event when a very tall, dark, and handsome man is her seat mate she majorly embarrasses herself during this flight. Adrian is a hitman traveling to Las Vegas when he encounters June. At first, he doesn't know exactly what to think of her. When a man shows up trying to take Adrian out but fails the man decides to use a different tactic, June.

Not knowing June and Adrian are strangers this hitman takes June to lure Ardrian to him and starts off a slew of events that were action packed, hilarious, and oh spicy... June is a virgin and Adrian offers to give her some real life experience while they are stuck together. Not planning on falling for each other but fate has other plans.

Overall, this was a fun story that I truly enjoyed. The characters were well developed, and the story was as much spicy as it was entertaining. I liked the action mixed into the romance.

Thank you C. Hallman for this ALC.

[Ashleigh]

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]

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]

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.

[Chelsea]

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC of What the Smut?.

3.75⭐️ This was chaotic in the best way and such a delight. I laughed out loud so many times while reading this.

I love our FMC, June. She’s such an original character. She oozes chaotic energy and her word vomit tends to get her into trouble more often than not. And she gets so far under Adrian’s (MMC) skin, she might as well put down some roots.

But Adrian’s shift from annoyance to completely smitten was fun to witness. I think the spicy “research” helped their budding romance.

This is very character and relationship driven with minimal side character involvement (aside from Adrian brother, Theo). This isn’t a bad thing, just an observation. And it works in this book and with these MCs.

Most of the book is spent with June and Adrian in hiding/close proximity. Their banter was a delight.

One of my only criticisms is about June being an author and commentating on which situations and scenarios she would write about in her own book. When characters are written as authors, it occasionally takes me out of the story.

All in all, this was a delight. And made me snort laugh a few times 🫣🤭

[Caitlyn Herbst]

This was such a chaotic, ridiculous, and genuinely fun dark rom-com. June is an absolute mess in the best way, and I loved how her bluntness and complete lack of a filter constantly clash with Adrian’s serious, closed-off personality. Their first meeting alone sets the tone for just how unhinged this story is going to be.

The mistaken-identity setup makes everything even more entertaining because June basically gets dragged into a situation she has absolutely no business being involved in. The danger is there, but the humor keeps it from becoming too heavy, and the contrast between the absurd situations and the darker storyline works surprisingly well.

Adrian and June’s chemistry is definitely the main attraction. He’s all controlled and “strictly business,” while she is basically incapable of following a rule or keeping a thought to herself. Watching those walls slowly come down was probably my favorite part.

Overall, this was spicy, ridiculous, fast-paced, and completely over-the-top in a way that worked. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s exactly what makes it such a fun read.

[Alice Clark]

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]

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.

[Candice]

The narration on this book is top tier!! Amelie Griffin & Alex Knox hit it out of the park. I believe this would have been good as an ebook but the audio made it so much better. The banter! The spice! The hilariousness! Both of these narrators really brought to life June & Adrian!

Please, please let Theo get his own book!!

A case of mistaken identity leads to a June getting kidnapped. Adrian has no clue who she is other than the seat-mate who used him as a pillow. He gets the ransom for her. He decides he can’t live with himself if something were to happen to her.

June just happens to be a romance writer with very little “experience.” So Adrian makes a deal with her. They begin to experiment together some of the “smut” tropes.

This has a little of it all. I was able to listen to this book in less than 24 hours. I highly recommend!!

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for the audiobook. All opinions are my own.

[Megan Michelau]

*I received an Advanced Listeners Copy on NetGalley*

What the Smut? was such a fun listen! It had great banter that had me laughing out loud multiple times and the chemistry between the characters was dynamic where it wasn’t just insta- love which was refreshing.

June is a romance author with no real life experience in the romance department. She’s comfortable writing the steamiest scenes but put her in a crowd of people and she can’t help but let her awkwardness take over.

Adrian is a hired killer who keeps to himself for the most part but that goes all out the window when he’s seated next to June. This chance meeting ends up being a catalyst of a chaotic “adventure” where they need to learn to step out of their comfort zones to make it through.

I recommend this book for anyone who just wants that Rom Com feel. Definitely pick it up!

[Anjali Jethva]

Really enjoyed the plot twists and storyline this book shared. Unpredictable and unlike other romance books, this book is a romantic thriller that follows the story of nerdy, clutzy, and too loud June who is on a roller coaster ride stuck following hitman and morally grey, Adrian, not by choice. June doesn't know how to cope with Adrian's sex appeal and makes a fool of herself time and time again only to discover Adrian may not mind. This book had me laughing the whole time at how ridiculous her lack of filter was. True to what the synopsis says, "This laugh-out-loud dark rom-com is an outrageous and sizzling adventure that will leave you What the smut?" The book was the perfect length and kept me engaged from the beginning to end. The twists kept coming and best of all the ending twist was unexpected and the best ending for the book.

[Tanya Rae ~ TaSTy WordGasms]

What the Smut is the first dark rom‑com I’ve ever picked up, and honestly, I wasn’t sure what I was walking into. Dark romantic comedies aren’t exactly common… or maybe they are and I’ve just been missing out. Either way, this one delivered.

C. Hallman gives us a quirky, twisted, and surprisingly good story. June Ryan, our FMC, is an “unabashed smut writer,” and Adrian Winters is—yes—a hired killer. Put a romance author and an assassin together and what do you get? A cute, dark, chaotic little adventure that shouldn’t work… but absolutely does.

June’s curious, bold energy paired with Adrian’s lethal calm made for a dynamic that kept me grinning the whole way through. I didn’t know I needed a dark rom‑com in my life, but this book hit the spot.

Very good — and now I want more in this subgenre.

[Kristy aka Brooksie]

This dark rom-com audiobook is fast-paced, with humor mixed with spicy and suspenseful situations. It was entertaining and kept my attention throughout. Although a few things were a little cringy, it didn't make me want to stop reading. I enjoyed the premise of a sexually inexperienced popular romance author being thrown into a real life dangerous situation like her books, with a sexy, lethal contract killer who she was forced to stay with over a misunderstanding of their relationship (or lack thereof) put her in danger.  

🔸Tropes🔸
▪ Contract Killer x Romance Author
▪ Grumpy x Sunshine
▪ Mistaken Identity
▪ On the Run
▪ Forced Proximity
▪ Kidnapping
▪ Family Drama
▪ Mafia Ties
▪ Spice

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for this ALC in exchange for an honest review. 

[Kasey Connors-Beron]

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.