Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for providing the ARC.

I feel like of torn with regards to The Love Plot. I loved Rafe and Star, and the dynamic of their relationship. However, I felt that the whole book was incredibly fast paced and it didn't give them time to fully develop. It is marketed as a "grumpy x sunshine" trope, however, Rafe is only really grumpy for maybe the first third? And you don't get to see all the great ways that the "sunshine" starts changing his worldview. It is marketed as a "fake dating" trope, however, these two throw off that mantle not even halfway through the book, and it becomes about Star's commitment phobia instead. I wish the author had focused on one thing instead of switching it halfway through.

Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed the story, very much. I loved seeing Rafe's rough exterior melt around Star, and his fierce defense of her when she doesn't exactly mesh with the people in his life. I loved seeing Star open up to Rafe and understand that she could feel safe with him. It was just all very rushed, so you lose out on all of the good things that make those two tropes so worthwhile to read.

I think this book suffered from not being dual POV. It would have allowed the reader the opportunity to see in Rafe's head exactly how he lowered his defenses for Star and fell in love with her. It may have extended the time they spent in this "fake dating" situation, but I think the story would have been stronger all the more for it.