This book kept my attention. That being said I was not ready for the whole shipwrecked thing and I feel like there forbidden attraction went on too long. I kept reading to see what happened thought. The writing was good and I would read more by the author.

I haven't read anything from S.C. Stephens since the Thoughtless series. So when I saw this I just knew I had to see if I could get it. So I was excited to read it.

I loved how easy it was to read and it was entertaining too. It was dramatic, fun and sweet read.

I want to read more books from this author now xx

I read this one really fast! It was an easy and entertaining read. I was not a fan of the cheating, but the rest was good. Fun and dramatic and a nice summer read.

This book had it all and a lot of what you wouldn't even suspect. I couldn't put it down, I had to find out what happened and if the two lead characters made it back home.

I don't want to give you any of the storyline, but I will say, this author did an amazing job writing this story. Boy meets girl, boy already involved with girls sister, so they can not move forward with their relationship. Attraction from the first meeting, but both squash that so that it does not rip a family apart.

Their next adventure takes them to the open seas on a yacht. From there the story takes a very unexpected turn.

Fast read, full of great stuff, unexpected, and well worth reading this summer. Thank you for allowing me to pre-review this book. Enjoy!

I have read quite a few books from this Author before the thoughtless series and Under the Northern lights. Sadly I didn’t enjoy this book as much . I just couldn’t get behind the forbidden love theme. It took away all the Romance for me. Lusting after her sisters boyfriend just didn’t feel right and put me off the character of Valerie. Nothing special or attractive about Jake. J I didn’t want them to get together as a couple. The whole accident and survival storyline seemed to come and disappear too quickly. It was all rushed . It is a very short book and I think more could have been made out of their survival on the island and their rescue to make it a more interesting read.

I found Something Like Perfect by S.C. Stephens on Netgalley when it was available at the Read Now section.
The cover and the blurb got my attention and so I took the chance to read my first S.C. Stephens book.
Well honestly this story wasn't what I expected! I thought this would be a really really sad story about a girl who has a crush on her sister's boyfriend but then she will find her true love (another guy) somehow... but nope! This book was a lot more!
It was more like an adventure love story with so many twists and turns, up and downs!
Valerie finishes culinary school and wants to open her own restaurant soon. She meets a handsome stranger at the coffee shop and has to find out that this hottie (Jake) is the new boyfriend of her sister. Oops! She has a huge crush on Jake and when he has a really good job offer for her. Although she'll be on the same boat with him for a few weeks she can't say no.
Both have this kind of connection and when something terrible happens, they only have each other to deal with the consequences.
WOW!
Something Like Perfect was a really enjoyable and exciting story! For me it was kinda like an adventure love story and a really quick read.
While I devoured this book it felt like I was watching a movie in my head.
I really liked the story and all the stuff that happened but... there wasn't this special connection to the characters I love so much in other books I've read.
So all in all it's a good story which could totally be turned into a movie!

***ARC Provided by the Publisher***

I really wanted to like Valerie and Jake. And, in some parts of the book, I really did.

But, overall, this one just felt...contrived to me. And, I get it, things happen and life happens, and sometimes life has things that happen that are stranger than fiction.

That wasn't my issue with this book. My issue was that, at least in this case, the things that happened seemed to be an excuse to not have to handle the realities of the situation in which they found themselves.

I wanted to like this story, a lot. But unfortunately I am not really able to recommend this title.

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**

Enjoyed this one so much! Great summer romance read! Haven’t read any other books by this author before but will now.

This is my first book by this author and it won't be my last. This story is an emotional rollercoaster. Memorable characters and unique experiences draw the reader in. I read this one in one sitting. I could not put it down. This is a journey about love, betrayal, family, acceptance, and life. This one will stick with you long after the last page.

Something Like Perfect, S.C. Stephens

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: | General Fiction (Adult), Romance

Well, Thoughtless, S.C.Stephens debut book was one of my earliest kindle reads, and I loved it. Even then though the cheating aspect made me a little uncomfortable, I know its fiction, but I'm pretty strong on cheating – don't do it. In real life that is ;-) In a novel I can excuse it if the characters at least try to avoid it, make some real effort. So, seeing this book included it made me pause, but I decided she's such a great writer it was worth trying. After all I loved Thoughtless and the other stories that followed.
Its a quick easy read, sweeping the reader along with a host of emotions. I could feel the connection between Valerie and Jake from that first coffee shop meeting, and could imagine her shock at that family dinner. What a nightmare.
It puts them both in a difficult position but wisely they both decide to do the right then and really do make a solid effort. And then....something huge happens that changes things. I wasn't expecting that, and I can see that its got its lovers and haters. Yes, it is a little far fetched, but things like this do happen in reality, life can be far fetched at times and I just went with the flow and enjoyed it. I understood what happened and why, I think in those circumstances most folk would have acted the same.
Then of course comes the later part f the story where they're both struggling in their lives, Val loves her sister, Jake feels guilty and doesn't want to hurt his girlfriend and it looks like a story where no-one will be happy. I feel this was one of the best parts of the novel, drama abounds, emotions and tensions are high and I felt for all three of them. They were all heartbroken, and it looked like none would get a happy ending. I liked that this took some time to resolve, I hate reads where characters are heartbroken one page and all over it by the next page. I want the characters to hit bottom, I want to wallow in their pain....and then when it comes right I am so happy.

Stars: Five, its a quick, light read, a wash of emotion. Its not one I'm likely to re-read but I really enjoyed it.

Arc via netgalley and publishers

<b>2.5 Stars</b>

I'm a HARD CORE Kellan fan (he's still my number 1 main man) and I've read a few books since by Stephens that just couldn't measure up to his series. Which made me a little unsure going in, but I keep having high hopes I'll find that Kellan magic again. Sadly, this one wasn't it.

Jake and Val were no Kellan and Kiera. But I liked them well enough, even with the whole falling in love with the sister's boyfriend trope. The cheating didn't bother me. Maybe because their connection didn't hit me very hard. I didn't feel any real chemistry between Jake and the sister or Jake and Valerie. It often times felt superficial, until they hit the island. So with the lack of deep emotions, on my part, I just didn't really care who Jake ended up with. I didn't feel a guttural sense of betrayal. Not like with Kellan, Kiera, and Denny. I felt it hard each time Kellan cheated on Kiera (although, they weren't technically in a relationship) or Kiera cheated on Kellan with Denny (who was her actual boyfriend).

Overall, the book was written well. It kept me up until the wee hours of the morning. The first half was meh; the second half was where it was at for me. I would give that a strong 3.5 stars. I loved the whole premises of slowly falling while learning how to survive on an isolated island. I liked this Jake and Val. Not that I ever disliked their characters. I just enjoyed seeing the relationship they were building.

I do have to say, I don't really view this book as a cheating book, even if there was mutual attraction. Yes, technically Jake and the sister were still together, as they were a couple when he left for his work trip. But when the wreck happened, everyone thought the the MCs were dead. And the MCs were stranded with thoughts of never getting back home. They didn't immediately jump into bed together. Jake mourned the end of his relationship with Val's sister. At this point, in his mind they were done. He knew even if they made it off the island things had changed, his feelings had changed.

Anyway, it was a decent read and if you don't mind cheating I would say go for it. The angst is minimal. It won't pull tears or anxiety out of you but you won't feel like your time has been wasted. If cheating isn't your thing I would strongly not recommend this one for you.

​​​​​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.

I was really hoping this would give me the angsty vibes I got from reading Thoughtless, and while the story itself was pretty good, many parts of it felt super rushed. I liked the setup and the characters, the story just wasn't ling enough or fleshed out enough to give me the feels I craved. I still love SC Stephens, but this one was a bit of a miss for me.

After reading the blurb I was under the impression this was a love triangle but unfortunately in my mind it wasn't and I'm not a fan of cheating so this was a DNF for me. I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC for NetGalley.

Valerie meets the perfect man while getting coffee. Though their meeting is brief they immediately click with one another. But she’s disappointed when he tells her he just started seeing someone and they part ways, not expecting to see each other again. The surprise is on her when her sister Kylie brings home her new boyfriend Jake - her mystery coffee guy.

The book was good but I had issues with all 3 characters. I wasn’t crazy about all the selfish things they did that ended up hurting each other. The storyline was different and I’d say in a sense there was cheating, but due to the plot maybe it’s not classified as cheating. It’s refreshing to read a book like this with it’s unique and interesting twist.

“Something Like Perfect” is a love triangle with a unique and interesting twist, which really grabbed my attention. There are extenuating circumstances surrounding the so-called cheating, so for me, this is a non-issue. It’s the quick and easy resolution, all wrapped up in a pretty bow, that I found a bit disappointing. However, it does make for a fast summer read if you don’t have the time to devote to a lengthy novel. All in all, I enjoyed “Something Like Perfect,” even if the novel itself is slightly “imperfect.”

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.

I did not like this book at all. It was actually one of the worst love story...the most unbelievable read I have ver had. I kept reading because I could not believe that it would keep on getting worst...but it did.

“Real love doesn’t meet you at your best. It meets you in your mess.” -J.S. Park
Buckle up, Buttercups because I have your next summer read all lined up for you! Something Like Perfect by S.C. Stephens not only has a gorgeous cover, but the inside is filled with the perfect recipe for a summer read: an instantly relatable heroine, a swoony hero, undeniable chemistry, and enough angst and emotion to make this book absolutely unputdownable.

Valerie is a character that once you meet you know she would be the first person to call for just about anything. She’s a girl’s girl. We meet her just before her culinary school journey is over, and then get to follow her as she tries to figure out the next step in life…which involves trying to find a job and to avoid her sister’s new boyfriend, Jake.

Now, before you ruffle your feathers and call for me to be drawn and quartered, this is NOT a cheating book. Real life is messy, and so is love. Jake and Valerie have meet cute in a coffee shop after she ties one on at the beginning of the book (see? relatable). You’ve got to love and appreciate a man who can see the quality of the girl underneath a hangover, and then extend some kindness to the poor girl. Jake is the epitome of a good guy…trust me. You know the saying “right guy, wrong time”? This perfectly describes this situation.

Valerie and Jake both love and respect their relationship too much with Valerie’s sister, Kylie, to risk it by giving into their attraction. So they stop everything before it can be an anything. It’s only when Valerie starts to give up hope on finding a job in the culinary world that will both challenge her and help her grow as a chef, that Jake shows up and presents a perfect job for her…that would require her to be on a yacht…with him. Yikes. This is where the angst comes in, and then all the page-turning action and drama.

Book friends: I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to finish Something Like Perfect. It has delicious beach read written all over it (I’ll say it again, have you seen the cover?!). I’m definitely trying to stay away from spoilers, but let’s just say you will not want to put this book down! There is angst, action, and so much summer blockbuster vibes in this book, complete with a perfectly finished ending. Trust me, everything will get resolved and you will be at peace with a great Happily Ever After.

Available Now and in Kindle Unlimited! Something Like Perfect by S.C. Stephens was just released on June 23rdso you should not wait to one-click this beauty.