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Something Like Perfect
From #1 New York Times bestselling author S.C. Stephens comes a complex romance about finding your purpose, living your dreams, and loving your soul mate.
Valerie would never do anything to hurt her sister, but when the man of Valerie’s dreams turns out to be her sister’s new boyfriend, remaining loyal to her family becomes increasingly difficult. Valerie knows nothing can ever happen between her and Jake, but that doesn’t prevent her from growing hopelessly fond of him.
By keeping her distance, Valerie is mostly successful in pushing her feelings for Jake aside, but when she struggles to land a job after culinary school, it’s Jake who offers her the opportunity of a lifetime working with a world-renowned chef…and also, working with Jake.
Valerie’s heart twists with indecision. Does she take the job of a lifetime cooking and sailing around on a yacht, but torture herself in an isolated situation with a man who is perfectly made for her yet absolutely off limits? Or does she reject the offer that could get her so much closer to making her dreams come true?
Valerie would never do anything to hurt her sister, but when the man of Valerie’s dreams turns out to be her sister’s new boyfriend, remaining loyal to her family becomes increasingly difficult. Valerie knows nothing can ever happen between her and Jake, but that doesn’t prevent her from growing hopelessly fond of him.
By keeping her distance, Valerie is mostly successful in pushing her feelings for Jake aside, but when she struggles to land a job after culinary school, it’s Jake who offers her the opportunity of a lifetime working with a world-renowned chef…and also, working with Jake.
Valerie’s heart twists with indecision. Does she take the job of a lifetime cooking and sailing around on a yacht, but torture herself in an isolated situation with a man who is perfectly made for her yet absolutely off limits? Or does she reject the offer that could get her so much closer to making her dreams come true?
201 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 23, 2020
713 people are currently reading
3540 people want to read
About the author
S.C. Stephens
42 books17.1k followersS.C. Stephens is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who enjoys spending every free moment she has creating stories that are packed with emotion and heavy on romance.
Her debut novel, Thoughtless, an angst-filled love triangle charged with insurmountable passion and the unforgettable Kellan Kyle, took the literary world by storm. Amazed and surprised by the response to the release of Thoughtless in 2009, more stories were quick to follow. Stephens has been writing nonstop ever since.
In addition to writing, Stephens enjoys spending lazy afternoons in the sun reading fabulous novels, loading up her iPod with writer's block reducing music, heading out to the movies, and spending quality time with her friends and family. She currently resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her two equally beautiful children.
Her debut novel, Thoughtless, an angst-filled love triangle charged with insurmountable passion and the unforgettable Kellan Kyle, took the literary world by storm. Amazed and surprised by the response to the release of Thoughtless in 2009, more stories were quick to follow. Stephens has been writing nonstop ever since.
In addition to writing, Stephens enjoys spending lazy afternoons in the sun reading fabulous novels, loading up her iPod with writer's block reducing music, heading out to the movies, and spending quality time with her friends and family. She currently resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her two equally beautiful children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
August 9, 2022
This is a romance. The first couple of chapters I was sure I was going to hate this book, but I really loved it. The book took a really big turn, and I enjoyed taking this wild ride with these characters. This book is like nothing else I read, and it was really well written. I do not think it will be for everyone, but it is a great book. I won a kindle copy of this book from goodreads giveaway, but this review is 100% my own opinion and a honest review of the day.
June 26, 2020
I read because it was KU, I am behind in my challenge, and I like shipwrecked stories😂
That being said I just didnt like the story. I felt the hero only decided to get with the heroine because he felt they were never going to get off the island so why not have sex? It just came across to me that if he knew he was going to get off island he would have stayed with the sister. I had no emotional investment in the story so honestly the cheating was just like whatever to me.
Also the heroine was just pathetic, like he is telling you to your face he wants your sister, he is sleeping with her, on the island he is devestated she might move on without him, loves her etc and you are still mooning over him....gurl! I couldnt relate to anything she was feeling, she met him once and was suddenly in love with him. Give me a break!
That being said I just didnt like the story. I felt the hero only decided to get with the heroine because he felt they were never going to get off the island so why not have sex? It just came across to me that if he knew he was going to get off island he would have stayed with the sister. I had no emotional investment in the story so honestly the cheating was just like whatever to me.
Also the heroine was just pathetic, like he is telling you to your face he wants your sister, he is sleeping with her, on the island he is devestated she might move on without him, loves her etc and you are still mooning over him....gurl! I couldnt relate to anything she was feeling, she met him once and was suddenly in love with him. Give me a break!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2020
2.5 stars
I knew I was getting into an unholy mess with this book and that blurb but what started off as a eating popcorn watching events unfold, quickly moved to a ridiculous plot peppered with unbelievable convenience. I enjoyed SC Stephens last survival story but this one did not work at all for me. Only forge forward into this book if you are okay with cheating, it’s up there in the blurb and its a pretty taboo take on that trope. I can flow with this trope but it still felt a bit icky to me and I think that’s down to how the story was told and the characterisation.
I’m going to start with what I liked and then move to what didn’t work for me. This is a short book, just over 200 pages, it was quick to read and hard to put down. A bit like a crash unfolding that you cannot look away from. The time passed as I just read from front to back. So, you could say this was gripping. There was definite chemistry between the two MCs but when it came to chemistry playing out fully, I didn’t feel much.
What didn’t work for me was the story or rather the story direction. The way that the author took this to an almost ridiculous scenario moved me from like to almost writing it off. I can flow with a bit of fantastical licence but this story went deep into impossibility for me. I felt this more so, once the MCs were coming to the end of the book and the big awful situation was over. There was too much convenience in everything to do with the plot and the story felt rushed. I can’t help thinking with another 150 pages or so, this could have been fleshed out so much better.
I know SC Stephens can write a great book in the tropes that SOMETHING LIKE PERFECT hit but on this occasion it just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to Montlake Romance for the early review copy.
This revie can be found on A Take From Two Cities Blog.
I knew I was getting into an unholy mess with this book and that blurb but what started off as a eating popcorn watching events unfold, quickly moved to a ridiculous plot peppered with unbelievable convenience. I enjoyed SC Stephens last survival story but this one did not work at all for me. Only forge forward into this book if you are okay with cheating, it’s up there in the blurb and its a pretty taboo take on that trope. I can flow with this trope but it still felt a bit icky to me and I think that’s down to how the story was told and the characterisation.
I’m going to start with what I liked and then move to what didn’t work for me. This is a short book, just over 200 pages, it was quick to read and hard to put down. A bit like a crash unfolding that you cannot look away from. The time passed as I just read from front to back. So, you could say this was gripping. There was definite chemistry between the two MCs but when it came to chemistry playing out fully, I didn’t feel much.
What didn’t work for me was the story or rather the story direction. The way that the author took this to an almost ridiculous scenario moved me from like to almost writing it off. I can flow with a bit of fantastical licence but this story went deep into impossibility for me. I felt this more so, once the MCs were coming to the end of the book and the big awful situation was over. There was too much convenience in everything to do with the plot and the story felt rushed. I can’t help thinking with another 150 pages or so, this could have been fleshed out so much better.
I know SC Stephens can write a great book in the tropes that SOMETHING LIKE PERFECT hit but on this occasion it just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to Montlake Romance for the early review copy.
This revie can be found on A Take From Two Cities Blog.
June 23, 2020
Valerie just finished culinary school. Now she needs a good job to be able to save enough money to one day open her own restaurant.
Jake is on his way to becoming a cruise ship captain. For now he's apprenticing on a yacht.
And the yacht needs an assistant cook.
A job that would be perfect for Valerie.
And she accepts when Jake tells her about it.
BUT.
Jake is her sister's boyfriend.
They didn't know that when they met.
There were sparks.
But Jake was very happy in this new relationship with Kylie - so nothing ever happened between Valerie and Jake.
But the sparks haven't gone away. And now they'll be on a ship together for two weeks??
Let the fun times begin ....
WHAT WiLL HAPPEN TO VALERIE & JAKE?
WILL THERE BE A HEA?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT! ☺
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I'm such a huge #KellanKyle fan - he's still my number one book boyfriend of all time - so anything that follows in his footsteps will have a hard time with me ...
And I started reading this with the hopes of getting a cute and beachy romance. Like the cover suggests. The blurb didn't really grab me, because I HATE love triangles. That was the only thing I hated about Kellan's story. And this was basically the same. At least a bit like it.
Kylie and Jake have been dating for three weeks when he meets Valerie in a coffee shop. Insta attraction for Valerie. And Jake is super intrigued too. But he wanted to give this new thing with Kylie a chance.
Jake is a really great guy.
Nobody wants to hurt the sister.
But it's still horrible! I just hated the situation! I HATE cheating - and we just know that it's going to happen here.
And then they're on the yacht together and of course the attraction only grows. Which makes us sad for Kylie. But we also want Jake and Valerie to get that happily ever after. Which might not be as easy as it might sound. Just a little cheating and poor Kylie will forgive them one day? Maybe. But that is SO not the biggest problem we're facing. I'm not telling you more, but it's getting even worse than all that. LOL!
This was a really great and exciting love-triangly adventure romance. I loved reading it. It wasn't too long. I might've wanted a bit more of things. More details, more of everything. And I definitely would've wanted to cut the triangly part. The story would've been enough without Kylie's part. Most readers hate love triangles and they definitely hate cheating. I would just cut Kylie out of the book. First of all, it's completely unnecessary and then it's way too close to Kellan Kyle for my tastes!
We could also cut out the 2nd drama part of the book and have just the love triangle as the drama. But I would prefer it the other way 'round! ☺
Anyway. I really liked reading it. It was just a bit too much. Both drama parts were not my kinds of drama and I again judged a book by its über pretty cover. There were sweet moments and sunny and beachy ones. But there was too much drama! But I really loved Jake - he was very Kellany. And the story - or at least the middle adventure part - was kind of the exact opposite of SC Stephens' last book with the snow stuff. LOL!
I want something really NEW and super amazing next please! (Why do you always go for the cheating/triangly things in otherwise amazing books?)
SOMETHING LIKE PERFECT was a sweet & exciting love-triangly adventure romance!
Run to your nearest amazon for your own Jake - this one is MINE!
Tiny info for people scared about the cheating part. Yes, we have cheating...but if their defense I have to say that it's understandable ... they waited a long time and then they thought it was okay due to circumstances in their lives at that moments. I can't say more without spoiling the whole middle part of the book. READ IT. It's not that bad!
💜
💜
June 18, 2020
In case you're wondering.... there is a LOT of cheating in this. I felt gross about the relationship from the first 10% of the book on, because our "heroine" was having dirty dreams about her sister's guy after only a 5 minute conversation with him. I pretty much loathed her the entire time. The writing itself is actually good and the book gets a lot better in the middle, but it's very much a story about justifying cheating. And while I like reading the occasional book about realizing you're with the wrong girl, I definitely DO mind cheating. There's a way to execute this story that wouldn't feel all kinds of wrong, but that's not how this one plays out.
The story follows Valerie, a young woman who meets a cute guy at a coffee shop. When he pays for her drink, sparks fly so Valerie asks him out. Unfortunately, Jake has just started seeing someone so he declines. Fast forward a few weeks later, and Valerie realizes that Jake is the new guy her sister's been seeing. They both acknowledge that there's a connection there but resist the pull. Months later, Jake helps Valerie get a new job, but it means they'll be spending a lot more alone time together - which doesn't seem like the best idea since they're already fighting the attraction. When events bring them even closer together, there's no denying it any longer.
Before I go any further, I have to say that I actually did like the writing style. I think if the beginning and end had been executed differently, I would've been okay with the middle. That's going to sound vague but there's an event midway through that SORT OF makes their actions justifiable. Unfortunately, that's not the case at the beginning or the end. No comment about the end, but I can say that within the first 15% Valerie is dreaming about a future with Jake, getting drunk with him, touching him, holding hands, having dirty dreams... all kinds of things you should not being doing with your sister's boyfriend. And that's before she agrees to take a job that will bring them closer. This definitely would've read better with dual perspective, because left alone with Valerie's thoughts, I mostly just thought she was a TERRIBLE sister. I went into this hoping for a complicated slow burn romance set in the workplace and got something else entirely. I would consider reading more from the author in the future because I enjoyed the writing style, but it just wasn't enough to get past how much I disliked both of these characters. I appreciated receiving an ARC via NetGalley (and am voluntarily leaving a review), but I can't say that this one was a winner for me.
The story follows Valerie, a young woman who meets a cute guy at a coffee shop. When he pays for her drink, sparks fly so Valerie asks him out. Unfortunately, Jake has just started seeing someone so he declines. Fast forward a few weeks later, and Valerie realizes that Jake is the new guy her sister's been seeing. They both acknowledge that there's a connection there but resist the pull. Months later, Jake helps Valerie get a new job, but it means they'll be spending a lot more alone time together - which doesn't seem like the best idea since they're already fighting the attraction. When events bring them even closer together, there's no denying it any longer.
Before I go any further, I have to say that I actually did like the writing style. I think if the beginning and end had been executed differently, I would've been okay with the middle. That's going to sound vague but there's an event midway through that SORT OF makes their actions justifiable. Unfortunately, that's not the case at the beginning or the end. No comment about the end, but I can say that within the first 15% Valerie is dreaming about a future with Jake, getting drunk with him, touching him, holding hands, having dirty dreams... all kinds of things you should not being doing with your sister's boyfriend. And that's before she agrees to take a job that will bring them closer. This definitely would've read better with dual perspective, because left alone with Valerie's thoughts, I mostly just thought she was a TERRIBLE sister. I went into this hoping for a complicated slow burn romance set in the workplace and got something else entirely. I would consider reading more from the author in the future because I enjoyed the writing style, but it just wasn't enough to get past how much I disliked both of these characters. I appreciated receiving an ARC via NetGalley (and am voluntarily leaving a review), but I can't say that this one was a winner for me.
July 20, 2020
4 ⭐'s
OMG...I was not expecting the wallop of angst this book puts out right from the get go...it was amazing!
Jake and Valerie meet in a coffee shop. He pays it forward and buys her coffee. She is attracted to him and decides to ask him out but he's involved with someone. Turns out that someone is her sister so that ends that...or does it?
Jake and Valerie are put through some incredible circumstances, pushing them further than they ever thought possible. It causes them to turn to each other for more than support. Needless to say, things get a bit complicated.
Like I said, I LOVED all the angst. I loved seeing Jake and Valerie work through things together. What I didn't love was how Jake kept bringing up Kylie, Valerie's sister. I didn't really buy his decision.
Luckily, I was happy with the way things worked out. The ending was awesome!
The only other issue I had is that this really short, only 201 pages. It really could've used another 100 pages...easily.
OMG...I was not expecting the wallop of angst this book puts out right from the get go...it was amazing!
Jake and Valerie meet in a coffee shop. He pays it forward and buys her coffee. She is attracted to him and decides to ask him out but he's involved with someone. Turns out that someone is her sister so that ends that...or does it?
Jake and Valerie are put through some incredible circumstances, pushing them further than they ever thought possible. It causes them to turn to each other for more than support. Needless to say, things get a bit complicated.
Like I said, I LOVED all the angst. I loved seeing Jake and Valerie work through things together. What I didn't love was how Jake kept bringing up Kylie, Valerie's sister. I didn't really buy his decision.
Luckily, I was happy with the way things worked out. The ending was awesome!
The only other issue I had is that this really short, only 201 pages. It really could've used another 100 pages...easily.
June 23, 2020
Ohh this was so adorable 😩
Girl meets boy, boy is in a relatively new relationship, turns out it's with girl's sister....
Valerie meets her dream guy, Jake, only to discover he's already in a relationship with her sister. They both quash their feelings for the sake of sister. But, when Jake lands Valerie the perfect job working in a private boat, there's only one problem,... Jake works there too.
Disaster strikes and the twosome are forced to become closer than their comfortable with and face up to their feelings.
This was a stinking adorable book and I absolutely loved it! Can't recommend enough!
#Netgalley #SomethingLikePerfect
Thank you so much to Netgalley & the publishers for allowing me to receive an ARC of this book❤️
Girl meets boy, boy is in a relatively new relationship, turns out it's with girl's sister....
Valerie meets her dream guy, Jake, only to discover he's already in a relationship with her sister. They both quash their feelings for the sake of sister. But, when Jake lands Valerie the perfect job working in a private boat, there's only one problem,... Jake works there too.
Disaster strikes and the twosome are forced to become closer than their comfortable with and face up to their feelings.
This was a stinking adorable book and I absolutely loved it! Can't recommend enough!
#Netgalley #SomethingLikePerfect
Thank you so much to Netgalley & the publishers for allowing me to receive an ARC of this book❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2020
Be forewarned: Cheating is on the horizon and lots of sailors aren’t going to be happy. This love boat has some problems! It's heading towards its own form of the Devil’s Triangle. I don’t like it either, but in this case it’s fiction and there are no marriage vows broken which is always a definite no-no for me. Otherwise, I’m usually onboard to test the waters, and I’m also a fan of this author’s books – so that’s my excuse for boarding and sailing the rough seas.
With a slow burn romance and unexpected twists and turns, I fell into the story. I wish Jake had stepped forward with his point of view. From almost the beginning, I had already chosen the couple I would support and felt comfortable in doing so. It did take me a while before I felt Jake's sincerity and commitment to a long-term relationship.
With that being said, it certainly wasn’t my favorite book and didn’t rise anywhere near the level of Thoughtless, but I still found myself captivated pushing me to continue reading through to the end. And the ending satisfied me enough to say that I believe it worked out for the best, and I don’t regret reading this latest offering from this author.
With a slow burn romance and unexpected twists and turns, I fell into the story. I wish Jake had stepped forward with his point of view. From almost the beginning, I had already chosen the couple I would support and felt comfortable in doing so. It did take me a while before I felt Jake's sincerity and commitment to a long-term relationship.
With that being said, it certainly wasn’t my favorite book and didn’t rise anywhere near the level of Thoughtless, but I still found myself captivated pushing me to continue reading through to the end. And the ending satisfied me enough to say that I believe it worked out for the best, and I don’t regret reading this latest offering from this author.
June 30, 2020
DNF @ 25%
As someone who loved the Thoughtless series, I was excited for a new book from S.C. Stephens. And I really tried with this one, but just did not feel any connection to these characters or chemistry between them. In addition to that, the writing style left a lot to be desired. Everything came across as too matter of fact rather than an organically developing story that the reader could feel.
As someone who loved the Thoughtless series, I was excited for a new book from S.C. Stephens. And I really tried with this one, but just did not feel any connection to these characters or chemistry between them. In addition to that, the writing style left a lot to be desired. Everything came across as too matter of fact rather than an organically developing story that the reader could feel.
December 10, 2021
Was okay-ish
Not fond of the the Hxh allowing the ow to call the shots
They should’ve fought harder to be together - this is why I don’t feel theirs’ is the love of the century
Not fond of the the Hxh allowing the ow to call the shots
They should’ve fought harder to be together - this is why I don’t feel theirs’ is the love of the century
June 26, 2020
Stupid as fuck.
June 26, 2020
Book:Something Like Perfect
Author:S.C Stephens
Summary: Something Like Perfect is about a hard-working, loyal, selfless woman named Valerie and her attraction towards her sister’s boyfriend. After receiving a once-in-a-lifetime job opportunity, Valerie needs to decide if she’s ready to take the risks necessary to achieve her dreams.
‘Something Like Perfect’ is a recipe for an equally blended milkshake of fluff and angst.
What worked: Valerie is a well-written protagonist. She had good instincts and wore her heart on her sleeve. The specific details the author added portrayed the emotions behind certain parts of the story. The diction was simple and set the tone. Foreshadowing helped progress the story. All the characters were relatable and neutral. The author did a great job of keeping the reader on their toes. ‘Something Like Perfect’ had some unexpected twists and turns that enhanced the inner plot. The book consists of many ironic phrases that convey the conflicting feelings of the characters, very well-done.
Things to ponder: Jake’s point of view would be appreciated because for a while, he’s only known as Valerie’s sister’s boyfriend. Jake and Valerie were similar in a lot of ways. Also, internal conflict between them would have added more layers to the story as well. While there were descriptions about Valerie’s best friends, conveying her sister’s personality would emphasize how important she is to the plot. Avoiding repetition is a daunting task, the author needs to trust the reader to pick up on the hints without much elaboration on the certain actions taken by the characters. This book is recommended for slow burn romance genre readers.
Personal Note: This is the first book I’ve ever read of S.C Stephens and it captured me. I’m looking forward to reading and reviewing more. Thank you. ARC is provided by the publisher.
Author:S.C Stephens
Summary: Something Like Perfect is about a hard-working, loyal, selfless woman named Valerie and her attraction towards her sister’s boyfriend. After receiving a once-in-a-lifetime job opportunity, Valerie needs to decide if she’s ready to take the risks necessary to achieve her dreams.
‘Something Like Perfect’ is a recipe for an equally blended milkshake of fluff and angst.
What worked: Valerie is a well-written protagonist. She had good instincts and wore her heart on her sleeve. The specific details the author added portrayed the emotions behind certain parts of the story. The diction was simple and set the tone. Foreshadowing helped progress the story. All the characters were relatable and neutral. The author did a great job of keeping the reader on their toes. ‘Something Like Perfect’ had some unexpected twists and turns that enhanced the inner plot. The book consists of many ironic phrases that convey the conflicting feelings of the characters, very well-done.
Things to ponder: Jake’s point of view would be appreciated because for a while, he’s only known as Valerie’s sister’s boyfriend. Jake and Valerie were similar in a lot of ways. Also, internal conflict between them would have added more layers to the story as well. While there were descriptions about Valerie’s best friends, conveying her sister’s personality would emphasize how important she is to the plot. Avoiding repetition is a daunting task, the author needs to trust the reader to pick up on the hints without much elaboration on the certain actions taken by the characters. This book is recommended for slow burn romance genre readers.
Personal Note: This is the first book I’ve ever read of S.C Stephens and it captured me. I’m looking forward to reading and reviewing more. Thank you. ARC is provided by the publisher.
July 2, 2020
This is a fairly quick read, and for once, this was a book that could have done with a lot of fleshing out. I have loved this authors work, but I found the sexy scenes to be over way to quick and were very mediocre with little to no connection between the H and h. This book had the potential to be amazing, but unfortunately, fell very flat for me.
dnf
June 18, 2020DNF at 31%
I adore SC Stephens books, but this one was a miss for me.
I found myself really not liking the leading lady Val.
I am sure plenty of others will love this story, it just wasn't for me.
I adore SC Stephens books, but this one was a miss for me.
I found myself really not liking the leading lady Val.
I am sure plenty of others will love this story, it just wasn't for me.
June 18, 2020
There's been some judgey reviews about this one- because Valerie falls for Jake, who is dating her sister Kylie. Yes, there's cheating, but let's all keep in mind that Jake and Kylie are dating, not married, when Valerie meets him by chance- not knowing his connection. You can argue that Valerie isn't a good sister but is Jake a good boyfriend? Focus, instead, on the love story (it's a steamy one). Valerie is a talented chef who has finally found a job on a, wait for it, yacht! But, Jake's going to be there too. You know as they travel that they will move together emotionally as well as physically. This triangle will work it out and no one is going without love. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
June 18, 2020
This was a difficult one. I basically requested this book from NetGalley because this author has such great ratings across her books and I’m always on the lookout for new authors. The description made me nervous though because I hate cheating. Well, if you’re like me, this book will likely make you uncomfortable depending on your definition of cheating. That is all I will say about that since I’m not going to spoil the book. I will say that the book was inventive, interesting and took a twist I totally didn’t expect. It was a fast read and I wanted to keep reading, despite my discomfort, to see how the book ended. So I give this book a 3.5stars because it did draw me in but I felt like the relationship building was a little too superficial and given the topic and progression of the relationship, in my opinion a deeper foundation was needed.
June 21, 2020
2.5 stars.....
I don't even know where to start. I love SC Stephens and the Thoughtless series is a go to favorite for me, so I was extremely excited to be gifted an ARC for her new book.
After a drunken night Valerie needs coffee (like we all do) and if the recipient of a "pay it forward" act from one of the most beautiful green eyed men she's ever seen. But sadly, he is taken.
Val hasn't been able to get Jake out of her head, even trying to recreate her footsteps at the coffee shop, until he walks into her life once again, if her parents kitchen.... with her sister.
Jake and Val do all they can to resist their attraction to each other and remain friends. Jake even goes as far as to give her a dream job on the cruise ship he pilots as assistant chef.
This is a dream job Val absolutely cannot turn down, and on the excursion, the ship hits a massive storm leaving Jake and Val the only survivors trapped on an island with little to no salvation in sight.
Our couple does everything they can to survive and also honor their relationships back home, but how long can you push away feelings and desire when you are the only two people left?
This book ended better than I thought and I enjoyed it for the most part but the premiss of the story just wasn't for me. Now I know I said I loved the thoughtless series and there was cheating, but "something like perfect" felt forced and pushy in cheating with your sisters boyfriend.
Yes I wanted them together but the whole time I just felt so.... off....
Hoping to see more of SC Stephens bc I won't be giving up on her story telling anytime soon, this one just wasn't for me.
Thank you netgallery and author for my copy!
I don't even know where to start. I love SC Stephens and the Thoughtless series is a go to favorite for me, so I was extremely excited to be gifted an ARC for her new book.
After a drunken night Valerie needs coffee (like we all do) and if the recipient of a "pay it forward" act from one of the most beautiful green eyed men she's ever seen. But sadly, he is taken.
Val hasn't been able to get Jake out of her head, even trying to recreate her footsteps at the coffee shop, until he walks into her life once again, if her parents kitchen.... with her sister.
Jake and Val do all they can to resist their attraction to each other and remain friends. Jake even goes as far as to give her a dream job on the cruise ship he pilots as assistant chef.
This is a dream job Val absolutely cannot turn down, and on the excursion, the ship hits a massive storm leaving Jake and Val the only survivors trapped on an island with little to no salvation in sight.
Our couple does everything they can to survive and also honor their relationships back home, but how long can you push away feelings and desire when you are the only two people left?
This book ended better than I thought and I enjoyed it for the most part but the premiss of the story just wasn't for me. Now I know I said I loved the thoughtless series and there was cheating, but "something like perfect" felt forced and pushy in cheating with your sisters boyfriend.
Yes I wanted them together but the whole time I just felt so.... off....
Hoping to see more of SC Stephens bc I won't be giving up on her story telling anytime soon, this one just wasn't for me.
Thank you netgallery and author for my copy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2020
So in the beginning I kept cringing. I wanted to stop reading. I did stop reading. I’d put it down and then read a little more, put it down and read a little more... you get the picture. Then I cheated. I read how it ended. I truly don’t think I could have made it through the book without cheating. My heart couldn’t take it. I’m not into love triangles and that’s kinda this story. But different. Horrible explanation...
Give this one a chance.
And try not to cheat like me.
Give this one a chance.
And try not to cheat like me.
June 25, 2020
THIS IS... THE FIRST BOOK... I'VE EVER SEEN... WITH MY NAME... AS THE MAIN PROTAGONIST...
I'm ok. Everything is fine. Deep breaths.
After reading:
I'm officially going by my middle name, Noelle, now.
I was so excited for this book. I loved S C Stephen's "Thoughtless," and when I saw a book by her, with my name as the main character...? Oh, it was almost too good to be true. Is this not the happiest coincidence ever??
Speaking of coincidences...
That's the premise for this entire book- a series of coincidences that eventually leads up to (it's not really a spoiler since the summary all but spelled out the word "cheating") Jake cheating on Kylie with Val.
Woah.
Big shocker.
For Stephens to write a 500+ page book about a crazy love triangle (Thoughtless), develop characters, setting, plot, etc. This book was extremely disappointing. It felt like someone took the premise of an idea, and cut it up into tiny pieces and made it into a cheap Lifetime movie.
Where's the depth?
Where are the likable characters?
Where's the ROMANCE??
All I picked up from this book was "oh my god he paid for my coffee IT IS TRUE LOVE... oh wait, he's dating my sister"
Skip ahead 100 pages:
"what happens on the yacht stays on the yacht, sorry Kylie, he's just so perfect and MY soulmate."
My issue isn't just with the romance, or, lack thereof.
It seemed to me like the author had a stack of flashcards, each with a different coincidence that just happens to bring Val and Jake closer together until finally... it happens.
Totally unrealistic, it wasn't even a cute, fun summer read, despite what the cover portrays. There are ways to complicate a romance without cheating.
I'm so sad to dislike this book. I enjoyed other books by this author, I suppose my expectations were too high for this one. I hope I am against the majority here, because I do think Stephens is a talented author. The language in her books is enough to get me to read and finish her books. I'm hoping to have better luck with others of hers. Hopefully without cheating as the main plot point...
I'm ok. Everything is fine. Deep breaths.
After reading:
I'm officially going by my middle name, Noelle, now.
I was so excited for this book. I loved S C Stephen's "Thoughtless," and when I saw a book by her, with my name as the main character...? Oh, it was almost too good to be true. Is this not the happiest coincidence ever??
Speaking of coincidences...
That's the premise for this entire book- a series of coincidences that eventually leads up to (it's not really a spoiler since the summary all but spelled out the word "cheating") Jake cheating on Kylie with Val.
Woah.
Big shocker.
For Stephens to write a 500+ page book about a crazy love triangle (Thoughtless), develop characters, setting, plot, etc. This book was extremely disappointing. It felt like someone took the premise of an idea, and cut it up into tiny pieces and made it into a cheap Lifetime movie.
Where's the depth?
Where are the likable characters?
Where's the ROMANCE??
All I picked up from this book was "oh my god he paid for my coffee IT IS TRUE LOVE... oh wait, he's dating my sister"
Skip ahead 100 pages:
"what happens on the yacht stays on the yacht, sorry Kylie, he's just so perfect and MY soulmate."
My issue isn't just with the romance, or, lack thereof.
It seemed to me like the author had a stack of flashcards, each with a different coincidence that just happens to bring Val and Jake closer together until finally... it happens.
Totally unrealistic, it wasn't even a cute, fun summer read, despite what the cover portrays. There are ways to complicate a romance without cheating.
I'm so sad to dislike this book. I enjoyed other books by this author, I suppose my expectations were too high for this one. I hope I am against the majority here, because I do think Stephens is a talented author. The language in her books is enough to get me to read and finish her books. I'm hoping to have better luck with others of hers. Hopefully without cheating as the main plot point...
June 26, 2020
I am a huge fan of S.C. Stephens and the Thoughtless Series, so when I saw that she was releasing another book that looked like it would be screaming angst, I was more than a little interested.
I do not shy away from novels that contain love triangles, cheating, or forbidden situations, in fact, I run right to them. My favorite books are always the ones that are able to make me feel every emotion: the butterflies, the anticipation, the plummeting doom of heartache, the will they or won’t they. I want to be filled with so much anticipation and trepidation that I am equally eager to flip the pages as I am terrified of what could transpire. For some readers that is pure torture, but for me, it’s my happy place.
Something Like Perfect had all of the elements to make this an all-consuming read. I wanted to fall in love with this story and these characters, but something was just missing for me. I didn’t feel the connection to them or become entranced in their romance as I had hoped. Some elements of the story just seemed to fall into place too quickly or conveniently, making their romance seem forced or not as authentic or believable as I would have liked.
This novel did take a direction that I hadn’t anticipated. While I generally love this particular kind of story (I don’t want to elaborate on it and ruin it for any readers), again, I think that it was a little bit rushed. Perhaps if the story had been longer, allowing me to get to know the characters a bit better, it would have made a difference. I’m a patient reader. I wanted the slow dance, the push and pull, the natural progression of the relationship.
Even though it pains me that I didn’t fall in love with this book or get the delivery of angst that I was hoping for, I am a lifetime fan who will always be on the lookout for the next S.C. Stephens novel.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via NetGalley).
I do not shy away from novels that contain love triangles, cheating, or forbidden situations, in fact, I run right to them. My favorite books are always the ones that are able to make me feel every emotion: the butterflies, the anticipation, the plummeting doom of heartache, the will they or won’t they. I want to be filled with so much anticipation and trepidation that I am equally eager to flip the pages as I am terrified of what could transpire. For some readers that is pure torture, but for me, it’s my happy place.
Something Like Perfect had all of the elements to make this an all-consuming read. I wanted to fall in love with this story and these characters, but something was just missing for me. I didn’t feel the connection to them or become entranced in their romance as I had hoped. Some elements of the story just seemed to fall into place too quickly or conveniently, making their romance seem forced or not as authentic or believable as I would have liked.
This novel did take a direction that I hadn’t anticipated. While I generally love this particular kind of story (I don’t want to elaborate on it and ruin it for any readers), again, I think that it was a little bit rushed. Perhaps if the story had been longer, allowing me to get to know the characters a bit better, it would have made a difference. I’m a patient reader. I wanted the slow dance, the push and pull, the natural progression of the relationship.
Even though it pains me that I didn’t fall in love with this book or get the delivery of angst that I was hoping for, I am a lifetime fan who will always be on the lookout for the next S.C. Stephens novel.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via NetGalley).
July 13, 2020
Book: Something Like Perfect
Rating: 2.5 stars
Favorite Quote: " I want you. Today, tomorrow....forever, I want you."
I hate to say that, this is the first SC Stephen's book I did not like. It started off kind of cute but it got boring and dull real fast.
I don't mind the cheating trope but, Jake kept bothering me. Everytime something happened he was like " Oh my god, sorry i did not mean to do that." just shut up please. However I did kind of enjoy Valerie's character.
And the scenes that were suppose to be emotinal I felt no connection to the characters thus I did not care what was happening.
Yep, this was a no.
Rating: 2.5 stars
Favorite Quote: " I want you. Today, tomorrow....forever, I want you."
I hate to say that, this is the first SC Stephen's book I did not like. It started off kind of cute but it got boring and dull real fast.
I don't mind the cheating trope but, Jake kept bothering me. Everytime something happened he was like " Oh my god, sorry i did not mean to do that." just shut up please. However I did kind of enjoy Valerie's character.
And the scenes that were suppose to be emotinal I felt no connection to the characters thus I did not care what was happening.
Yep, this was a no.
June 24, 2020
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars! Sister’s boyfriend/ forbidden romance.
Read
June 27, 2020DNF
July 5, 2020
Unfortunately a miss for me. Not what I expected. It felt very flat and immature.
July 9, 2020
✨Review Something Like Perfect by S.C. Stephens✨
•
“𝙎𝙝𝙚’𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙗𝙤𝙮𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙. 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙪𝙡𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙗𝙤𝙮𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙.”
•
I haven’t read a S.C Stephens book since the Thoughtless Series which I absolutely loved!! (Because hello Kellan Kyle) S.C Stephens has a way with her words that draw you in from chapter one and leave you eagerly wanting more. She’s very descriptive, and can write sexual tension like nobody’s business. But unfortunately for me this one wasn’t my favourite and I so wanted to love it..that being said just because this book wasn’t my cup of tea it might be yours! There were some parts I did really enjoy about this novel especially the twist in the middle!
•
*This book contains cheating so if you’re not a fan of that in your novels I suggest you do not read this one.* Valerie would never do anything to intentionally hurt her sister but once she sets her sights on Jake all responsible thoughts fly out the window. Not knowing that this beautiful mysterious man she ran into in the coffee shop the other day is now her sisters new boyfriend Valerie must learn to resist her ever growing attraction to this man, no matter the insta connection they had at the coffee shop. He’s her sister boyfriend and nothing will ever happen between them.. right?
•
Jake is ultimately torn, He doesn’t want to hurt Valeries sister but could Jake possibly have chosen the wrong sister? When Jake offers Valerie a job on the boat he is working nothing can go wrong right? Get ready for a twist you won’t see coming.. that ultimately will either make or break Jake and Valerie.
•
Here is what I didn’t really like. I did not like the insta love/connection they had I did not feel the chemistry between them and could not understand it. Jake seemed very torn in that he truly did have feelings for Valeries sister and should have remained faithful to her. Valeries disregard for her sisters feelings ultimately confused me because how can you be so obsessed with this man after one encounter? The ending seemed a bit rushed also.. and therefore this book lacked me giving it a higher rating.
•
3⭐️
Steam🔥3/5
•
“𝙎𝙝𝙚’𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙗𝙤𝙮𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙. 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙪𝙡𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙗𝙤𝙮𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙.”
•
I haven’t read a S.C Stephens book since the Thoughtless Series which I absolutely loved!! (Because hello Kellan Kyle) S.C Stephens has a way with her words that draw you in from chapter one and leave you eagerly wanting more. She’s very descriptive, and can write sexual tension like nobody’s business. But unfortunately for me this one wasn’t my favourite and I so wanted to love it..that being said just because this book wasn’t my cup of tea it might be yours! There were some parts I did really enjoy about this novel especially the twist in the middle!
•
*This book contains cheating so if you’re not a fan of that in your novels I suggest you do not read this one.* Valerie would never do anything to intentionally hurt her sister but once she sets her sights on Jake all responsible thoughts fly out the window. Not knowing that this beautiful mysterious man she ran into in the coffee shop the other day is now her sisters new boyfriend Valerie must learn to resist her ever growing attraction to this man, no matter the insta connection they had at the coffee shop. He’s her sister boyfriend and nothing will ever happen between them.. right?
•
Jake is ultimately torn, He doesn’t want to hurt Valeries sister but could Jake possibly have chosen the wrong sister? When Jake offers Valerie a job on the boat he is working nothing can go wrong right? Get ready for a twist you won’t see coming.. that ultimately will either make or break Jake and Valerie.
•
Here is what I didn’t really like. I did not like the insta love/connection they had I did not feel the chemistry between them and could not understand it. Jake seemed very torn in that he truly did have feelings for Valeries sister and should have remained faithful to her. Valeries disregard for her sisters feelings ultimately confused me because how can you be so obsessed with this man after one encounter? The ending seemed a bit rushed also.. and therefore this book lacked me giving it a higher rating.
•
3⭐️
Steam🔥3/5
July 14, 2020
**FULL REVIEW**
Valerie has aspirations to be a chef with her own restaurant someday...fresh out of culinary school, wandering aimlessly to figure out her next move. Rubbing two pennies together in hopes of figuring things out, without putting extra strain on her parents...she stumbles into the local coffee shop after a long night.
Jake is the guy of any girl's dream...and Valerie has just fallen.
Sure, they just met by chance in a coffee shop. He paid it forward by purchasing her drink...little did she know, despite trying to find him again, that he'd become more than just that guy doing a good deed.
Family dinner--yes! No.
Fate brings Valerie and Jake together again, but not in the way she'd hoped...he's dating her sister!
I could go on and on how that just sounds so wrong...there's an undeniable connection, but neither can act on it because Jake actually has strong feelings for Val's sister, Kylie...and Valerie would never do anything to hurt her sister. At least not intentionally...
I found myself turning pages faster and faster, Stephen's staying true to her tropes of forbidden relationships developing from extenuating circumstances...I loved it up until about 85% in...
Life has returned to normal, or has it? Everything is different and when Valerie confronts her feelings, along with Jake's and Kylie's...I wanted to throw the book. Of all the selfish...
But I digress.
Ultimately, we get what we're after. All the angst. The passion. The goals. Everything is here, tidy and neat. Completely not what I was hoping for, and yet exactly what needed to happen...I just wish I wasn't disappointed in how it did happen.
Overall, good story. Believable and relatable. I will always pick up a Stephen's book...she's hooked me with her consistency. I know I'm getting something worth reading and I look forward to more.
**3.75 Life Turns to Love, Stars**
Valerie has aspirations to be a chef with her own restaurant someday...fresh out of culinary school, wandering aimlessly to figure out her next move. Rubbing two pennies together in hopes of figuring things out, without putting extra strain on her parents...she stumbles into the local coffee shop after a long night.
Jake is the guy of any girl's dream...and Valerie has just fallen.
Sure, they just met by chance in a coffee shop. He paid it forward by purchasing her drink...little did she know, despite trying to find him again, that he'd become more than just that guy doing a good deed.
Family dinner--yes! No.
Fate brings Valerie and Jake together again, but not in the way she'd hoped...he's dating her sister!
I could go on and on how that just sounds so wrong...there's an undeniable connection, but neither can act on it because Jake actually has strong feelings for Val's sister, Kylie...and Valerie would never do anything to hurt her sister. At least not intentionally...
I found myself turning pages faster and faster, Stephen's staying true to her tropes of forbidden relationships developing from extenuating circumstances...I loved it up until about 85% in...
Life has returned to normal, or has it? Everything is different and when Valerie confronts her feelings, along with Jake's and Kylie's...I wanted to throw the book. Of all the selfish...
But I digress.
Ultimately, we get what we're after. All the angst. The passion. The goals. Everything is here, tidy and neat. Completely not what I was hoping for, and yet exactly what needed to happen...I just wish I wasn't disappointed in how it did happen.
Overall, good story. Believable and relatable. I will always pick up a Stephen's book...she's hooked me with her consistency. I know I'm getting something worth reading and I look forward to more.
**3.75 Life Turns to Love, Stars**
June 26, 2020
*SPOILERS*
So let me first say that I HATE reading about cheating. It pisses me off so bad and ruins the book for me because of my feelings. That wasn’t necessarily the case with this book, but it did piss me off somewhat because that’s generally where it led.
I thought since I read and loved the Thoughtless series by this same author I would enjoy this a lot more than I did...
Kylie and Valerie are sisters. Kylie’s dating Jake, Valerie sees Jake at a coffee shop, doesn’t know he’s the one dating her sister. Likes him, asks him out, he almost says yes but says he’s seeing someone.
A few weeks later Kylie brings Jake home and he “meets” Valerie. Kylie and Jake have only been dating a month and a half but already him and Valerie have some weird shit going on between them. Ugh.
Jake hangs out with Valerie at a bar and they get drunk, share a cab ride home and almost kiss. He keeps apologizing. COME ON. He hasn’t even been dating Kylie that long at this point. It seems pretty fucked up.
This next part isn’t even in the description of the book:
Valerie and Jake are working on a yacht. Valerie is an assistant chef and Jake is training to be a captain. There’s a storm, the boat goes down, Jake saves Valerie and they are the only 2 to survive and get trapped on an island for 3 months.
At first they don’t act on anything but eventually they do, have sex (BAD description of the sex by the way. I need to know exactly what it is they’re doing.. and not even the word “cock” or “pussy” is used, seriously?!), then “fall in love.”
Eventually a ship finds them, they return home, blah blah blah. I won’t spoil the exact ending...
Honestly, this wasn’t as bad as some of the books with cheating but it still pisses me the fuck off.
Aside from that, I guess it was a decent read, though I’d prefer something else with more sexiness. That was very disappointing.
So let me first say that I HATE reading about cheating. It pisses me off so bad and ruins the book for me because of my feelings. That wasn’t necessarily the case with this book, but it did piss me off somewhat because that’s generally where it led.
I thought since I read and loved the Thoughtless series by this same author I would enjoy this a lot more than I did...
Kylie and Valerie are sisters. Kylie’s dating Jake, Valerie sees Jake at a coffee shop, doesn’t know he’s the one dating her sister. Likes him, asks him out, he almost says yes but says he’s seeing someone.
A few weeks later Kylie brings Jake home and he “meets” Valerie. Kylie and Jake have only been dating a month and a half but already him and Valerie have some weird shit going on between them. Ugh.
Jake hangs out with Valerie at a bar and they get drunk, share a cab ride home and almost kiss. He keeps apologizing. COME ON. He hasn’t even been dating Kylie that long at this point. It seems pretty fucked up.
This next part isn’t even in the description of the book:
Valerie and Jake are working on a yacht. Valerie is an assistant chef and Jake is training to be a captain. There’s a storm, the boat goes down, Jake saves Valerie and they are the only 2 to survive and get trapped on an island for 3 months.
At first they don’t act on anything but eventually they do, have sex (BAD description of the sex by the way. I need to know exactly what it is they’re doing.. and not even the word “cock” or “pussy” is used, seriously?!), then “fall in love.”
Eventually a ship finds them, they return home, blah blah blah. I won’t spoil the exact ending...
Honestly, this wasn’t as bad as some of the books with cheating but it still pisses me the fuck off.
Aside from that, I guess it was a decent read, though I’d prefer something else with more sexiness. That was very disappointing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2020
I totally enjoyed Something Like Perfect by S.C. Stephens. It is a well-written novel, with richly developed characters that are authentic, compassionate, and very likable. The originality of the book blurb captured my attention immediately, and as a result, I ended up devouring this romance from cover to cover in less than a day. The synopsis is a real teaser, yet it is only a small part of what the story is truly about.
Valerie, a Los Angeles native and recent culinary school graduate, is looking forward to owning her own restaurant in the foreseeable future. In addition, she is hopeful that one day she will find true love. Her heart beats wildly after meeting Jake, a soon-to-be sea boat captain in a local coffee shop. They share a moment and an attraction that they both find wonderfully surprising. Unfortunately, Jake's brand new girlfriend turns out to be Valerie's sister, so friends is all Valerie and Jake will ever be.
With Jake's recommendation, Valerie secures a sous chef position on a billionaire's yacht. The job is an amazing opportunity for Valerie, and a real jump-start to her future as a restaurateur. Jake is the assistant to the captain. They agree to keep their distance from each other, which at times is a bit difficult due to their lustful attraction. Hurting Valerie's sister is not an option.
Something Like Perfect is quite a page turner, and the author's writing style is both fluid and easy to understand. I am typically not an adventure fan, but this book is an impassioned roller coaster ride. In addition, this story is chock full of hope, seductive scenes, and two characters that I loved getting to know.
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
Valerie, a Los Angeles native and recent culinary school graduate, is looking forward to owning her own restaurant in the foreseeable future. In addition, she is hopeful that one day she will find true love. Her heart beats wildly after meeting Jake, a soon-to-be sea boat captain in a local coffee shop. They share a moment and an attraction that they both find wonderfully surprising. Unfortunately, Jake's brand new girlfriend turns out to be Valerie's sister, so friends is all Valerie and Jake will ever be.
With Jake's recommendation, Valerie secures a sous chef position on a billionaire's yacht. The job is an amazing opportunity for Valerie, and a real jump-start to her future as a restaurateur. Jake is the assistant to the captain. They agree to keep their distance from each other, which at times is a bit difficult due to their lustful attraction. Hurting Valerie's sister is not an option.
Something Like Perfect is quite a page turner, and the author's writing style is both fluid and easy to understand. I am typically not an adventure fan, but this book is an impassioned roller coaster ride. In addition, this story is chock full of hope, seductive scenes, and two characters that I loved getting to know.
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
June 21, 2020
2.5 stars.....
I don't even know where to start. I love SC Stephens and the Thoughtless series is a go to favorite for me, so I was extremely excited to be gifted an ARC for her new book.
After a drunken night Valerie needs coffee (like we all do) and if the recipient of a "pay it forward" act from one of the most beautiful green eyed men she's ever seen. But sadly, he is taken.
Val hasn't been able to get Jake out of her head, even trying to recreate her footsteps at the coffee shop, until he walks into her life once again, if her parents kitchen.... with her sister.
Jake and Val do all they can to resist their attraction to each other and remain friends. Jake even goes as far as to give her a dream job on the cruise ship he pilots as assistant chef.
This is a dream job Val absolutely cannot turn down, and on the excursion, the ship hits a massive storm leaving Jake and Val the only survivors trapped on an island with little to no salvation in sight.
Our couple does everything they can to survive and also honor their relationships back home, but how long can you push away feelings and desire when you are the only two people left?
This book ended better than I thought and I enjoyed it for the most part but the premiss of the story just wasn't for me. Now I know I said I loved the thoughtless series and there was cheating, but "something like perfect" felt forced and pushy in cheating with your sisters boyfriend.
Yes I wanted them together but the whole time I just felt so.... off....
Hoping to see more of SC Stephens bc I won't be giving up on her story telling anytime soon, this one just wasn't for me.
Thank you netgallery and author for my copy!
I don't even know where to start. I love SC Stephens and the Thoughtless series is a go to favorite for me, so I was extremely excited to be gifted an ARC for her new book.
After a drunken night Valerie needs coffee (like we all do) and if the recipient of a "pay it forward" act from one of the most beautiful green eyed men she's ever seen. But sadly, he is taken.
Val hasn't been able to get Jake out of her head, even trying to recreate her footsteps at the coffee shop, until he walks into her life once again, if her parents kitchen.... with her sister.
Jake and Val do all they can to resist their attraction to each other and remain friends. Jake even goes as far as to give her a dream job on the cruise ship he pilots as assistant chef.
This is a dream job Val absolutely cannot turn down, and on the excursion, the ship hits a massive storm leaving Jake and Val the only survivors trapped on an island with little to no salvation in sight.
Our couple does everything they can to survive and also honor their relationships back home, but how long can you push away feelings and desire when you are the only two people left?
This book ended better than I thought and I enjoyed it for the most part but the premiss of the story just wasn't for me. Now I know I said I loved the thoughtless series and there was cheating, but "something like perfect" felt forced and pushy in cheating with your sisters boyfriend.
Yes I wanted them together but the whole time I just felt so.... off....
Hoping to see more of SC Stephens bc I won't be giving up on her story telling anytime soon, this one just wasn't for me.
Thank you netgallery and author for my copy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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June 28, 2020
This book isn’t for everyone. If you can’t handle cheating in a book, then you’ll definitely want to avoid this one.
Valerie meets Jake at a coffee shop and from the moment she saw him she was smitten by this mysterious man, only to find out that Jake is also her sister, Kylie, new boyfriend. Jake is also smitten with Valerie, but also cares about Kylie. Valerie just graduated culinary school and looking for a job, until Jake brings up a position on the yacht he works on. This is where things start to take a turn….
Valerie and Jake are forced to rely on each other for survival. They continue to fight the connection for most of the time they are together. However, three months into their ordeal and the chance of leaving the island becoming slimmer they cave.
Jake and Valerie do have LOADS of chemistry and they are so many similar interests. You can’t deny the fact that sparks were flying off the pages from the moment they met. They did try to avoid being together as much as possible. They did feel guilty for being together and what it would do to Kylie.
This was a fairly quick read, there is loads of drama with the Valerie/Kylie/Jake triangle and the shipwreck, but there are some sweet scenes mixed in. This book isn’t for everyone, but despite the cheating aspect of the story it was still enjoyable.
Valerie meets Jake at a coffee shop and from the moment she saw him she was smitten by this mysterious man, only to find out that Jake is also her sister, Kylie, new boyfriend. Jake is also smitten with Valerie, but also cares about Kylie. Valerie just graduated culinary school and looking for a job, until Jake brings up a position on the yacht he works on. This is where things start to take a turn….
Valerie and Jake are forced to rely on each other for survival. They continue to fight the connection for most of the time they are together. However, three months into their ordeal and the chance of leaving the island becoming slimmer they cave.
Jake and Valerie do have LOADS of chemistry and they are so many similar interests. You can’t deny the fact that sparks were flying off the pages from the moment they met. They did try to avoid being together as much as possible. They did feel guilty for being together and what it would do to Kylie.
This was a fairly quick read, there is loads of drama with the Valerie/Kylie/Jake triangle and the shipwreck, but there are some sweet scenes mixed in. This book isn’t for everyone, but despite the cheating aspect of the story it was still enjoyable.
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