This book absolutely does not disappoint in the superhero/villain department and the dark themes with a dash of romance are handled quite well. Not a fluffy read but a solid romance with an interesting world.

This was a fun, spicy superhero romance! I'm always looking for more diverse reads (especially in the world of spice and romance) so this definitely hit the mark there. I enjoyed many elements in this book, including the enemies to lovers, villain turned superhero, and actual trans representation. I do love spice (just see my shelves...), however, I wish this one had a little less spice because I wanted a little bit more plot. I will definitely read any further installments in this series! This book was incredibly enjoyable, fun, and will entice anyone who is a fan of superhero shows/movies and romance!

3.5 ⭐️
The title and cover automatically had me intrigued. This sounded like such a fun and unique concept/plot that I had never read before, so I was super excited to read. And for the most part it was those things. I was expecting a bit more rom-com vibes, but it wasn’t quite there, something was missing. I was into the plot and the characters the majority of the book, but the last bit kind of lost me, as it wasn’t what I was expecting. (Semi-spoiler) It turned into a bit of a monster romance, which isn’t a bad thing just totally unexpected and therefore felt out of place. Overall it was still a fun and interesting story and as this is a series, I’m curious who the other books will be about (other superheroes? friends and family?) I’ll most likely continue the series to see.

I never knew how much I needed a superhero romance until I read this book! A new, exciting, and super swoon-worthy sci-fi romance by Elizabeth Stephens, All Superheroes Need PR is a fantastic start to the series.

The story follows Roland, one of the 48 superheroes who came to Earth two decades ago. Wanting to switch from villain to hero, he hires Vanessa to handle his PR. Part of their strategy includes the Lois Lane clause, and Roland wants the shy Vanessa to pose as his heroine. Their fake relationship quickly turns all too real, but with many obstacles in their way, their road to happiness is a challenge.

I loved Vanessa and Roland, or Nessa and Rollo as they call each other. So cute! They both go through so much in this story, especially concerning his identity and both of their pasts. Nessa is smart and caring and so much braver than she gives herself credit for. Roland doesn’t give himself enough credit for his awesomeness either. A solitary male, he faces some harsh and difficult realities as he transitions into the hero role. What’s fabulous, though, is that he has so many more people in his corner because of Vanessa, and he ends up getting the kind of support that he deserves. His life is definitely changed for the better because of Vanessa. And Vanessa changes, too. I think Roland’s support, love, and strength give her more confidence and strength, and he’s really understanding when it comes to her anxiety and trauma. It’s all just super romantic and heartwarming and lovely.

Of course, for me, the highlight of the book is Vanessa and Roland’s romance. My word, Elizabeth Stephens sure knows how to craft a swoon-worthy love story, and this one is brilliant. Romantic, steamy, intense, sweet, and so deserved for both characters. Did I say steamy? Because my glasses fogged up a few times when reading this one! lol What I love is that their feelings for each other run deep. They understand each other on a level that others don’t – their fears, needs, insecurities, successes- nothing is off limits. Roland is intense and can be intimidating to many, but not to Vanessa. He falls for her so hard, and he’s pretty clear and obvious about his feelings. Loved it! The way he loves her so deeply and unconditionally definitely wins him over with her family and friends (and me! lol).

The other characters are great too, especially Vanessa’s family. They’re all so loving and supportive, and the way they bring Roland into their fold is lovely. Vanessa also has some amazing friends, and the found family vibes are fantastic. I loved so many scenes with these characters. Each has a unique voice and story, and I’m hoping we’ll see more of them in future books.

I also enjoyed the plot and am so curious to see what happens next because there are a few surprising revelations that will change everything they know about the heroes and villains, as well as the planet they came from.

I can’t say enough about this book. It’s fun and exciting, romantic and sexy, and the plot had me hooked from the start. It’s the perfect mix of action, romance, suspense, and humor. And the banter? Perfection.

I am reviewing an ARC copy of All Superheroes Need PR.

I just finished All Superheroes Need PR by Elizabeth Stephens, and what a ride! This book had everything I love: sizzling chemistry, high-stakes action, and a romance that had me absolutely obsessed.

Vanessa is such a relatable heroine—intelligent, reserved, and carrying the weight of a painful past. She’s the kind of character you just root for, and watching her find her strength was one of my favorite parts of the book. And then there’s Rollo… whew. This man-with-superpowers is intense, protective, and has a fiery temper that could burn the world down—but somehow, Vanessa is the only thing that can calm him. Their dynamic was everything. She tempers his rage, and he pushes her to step out of her comfort zone, stand up for herself, and truly live.

And the chemistry?? Off. The. Charts. Every interaction between them had this magnetic pull that made my heart race. The tension, the slow unraveling of their trust, the way he needed to protect her, even from himself—it was all so well done. I especially loved that Rollo isn’t some noble hero. He doesn’t care about being good or doing the right thing—he just wants her. If he does the right thing, it’s because it keeps Vanessa safe or because he knows it will impress her, and somehow, that made him even more addictive as a character. Meanwhile, Vanessa grows stronger in his presence, stepping out of her shell and learning to fight for herself, even as she becomes his greatest weakness.

If you love action-packed romance with swoon-worthy love scenes, a heroine who grows into her own strength, and a hero who only plays the part of a good guy for one woman, All Superheroes Need PR needs to be on your TBR. I’m already counting down the days until release day so I can get a finished copy and reread it all over again! 💙🔥

This was my second Elizabeth Stephens book this month. I only had a small taste of their dark romance writing style and was very curious to see how this shift in style would pan out.

In all honesty, All Superheroes Need PR lacked much of the romantic comedy it was marketed with. (There was also a fair amount of traumatic childhood memories and internalized negative self-talk when it came to the female main character. If you're hoping for fluff, it's here...but tinged with a dark edge.) Sometimes books marketed as romantic comedies find themselves creating truly outlandish and over the top situations that land more cringe than comedic. That's kind of what happened here. The female main character, Vanessa, is portrayed on page as SO CLUMSY in response to situations that make them uncomfortable or trigger upswings in their social anxiety. It's very...damsel in distress, which feels a bit at odds with their position as the CEO of a PR firm.

As an an action packed adventure, this works. As a romance, less so. The love story between Roland and Vanessa comes across as very superficial. Insta-love, if you will. In a novella, that's a trope I can generally stand behind, but in a full length novel? Not so much. I wasn't really invested in the couple's relationship. I wanted more emotion connection and less growly "stay away from my girl." The storyline is fun and interesting, but the writing moves too quickly and it comes off as disjointed and choppy.

I already want book two😂

This story was funny and sweet and the right amount of spicy for the story being told. The action scenes were well placed - not constant and forced, but in places that make sense and add to the story.

The overarching plot that seems it will extend the series is intriguing and I have all the questions haha.

*spoilers*

Rolland's determination to be a good person for Nessa, and Nessa declaring he'd never be the villain to her is everything.

And the way she finds her strength and voice just from his presence!

Love. Highly recommend

Thank you for my copy of "All Superheroes Need PR." This was a funny and sexy story between PR for heroes Vanessa Theriot, and Ex Viallan Roland Casteel, who wants to be a superhero. Together, they devise a scam to help him prove his image by faking dating, but they start having feelings for each other. They both navigate learning about love and how to deal with their insecurities. Thank you, Montlake and NetGalley

The Boys meets omegaverse/monster romance and I loved it. I had so much fun with this story and can't wait for more from this world. To be clear, it's not omegaverse, but there are similarities in the way the relationship develops.

I adored Vanessa and she's highly relatable as an anxious, slightly clumsy, boss bitch. She's super good at her job but outside that things are rough. She has the most adorably supportive family and we love that for her!

I also really enjoyed the mystery behind Roland's background. It's a slow learning process, but there's lots of layers to his story.

ALL SUPERHEROES NEED PR is an interesting premise—48 pods fell to earth years ago co raining superpowered children—ostensibly aliens but they look like us, and can do amazing things. Now the 48 are split into heroes and villains and one of the villains, Pyro, needs a rebrand. He’s coming to the hero side and Vanessa’s PR team wins the bid to clean up his image.

On the one hand, having government agencies and teams foot the bill for all this hero stuff felt…pretty cynical given the current moment. However, that's not the book's fault, the PR angle is only a portion of the book.

The romance between Roland and Vanessa starts out tense and antagonistic but readers soon discover this is a fated mates/alien/monster romance with two people who have to figure out feelings when they’ve spent much of their lives with trauma. I don’t think this romance will be for everyone because Roland is a possessive, alpha-esque love interest (goes with the fated mates/growly insta love territory) but I do think it’s important to note that both characters are POCs and it’s not often that characters of color get to take starring role in these types of stories, especially in a traditionally published romance.

I enjoyed the reveals and the secrets that came out towards the end of the book and I think the author has a lot to work with as the series continues.

Heat level: 4.5🌶️, very spicy.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this arc.

I gorgot how much I love superhero romances, but it's all good because this book reminded me. There were some battles, superheroics, and a very interesting storyline there. Honestly, the superbeings storyline was probably my favorite and I'd pick up more just to see how that all works out. Now, I wasn't a huge fan of the FMC, she's a very successful CEO of a marketing firm, but is incredibly clumsy and has intense social anxiety? She does get a bit better as the book goes on, and even becomes a kick butt character by the end. Overall, it was a fun read.

*Thank you Netgalley for a chance to ARC read, all opinions are my own.*

I've been in a bit of a superhero/villain phase recently and this book did not disappoint. `A villain trying to be good for the woman who's in charge of his rebrand? Sign me right up for more of these.

It was fun, had great characters and was definitely my cup of tea. Was it the most amazing writing? Possibly not but it drew me in and made me want the characters to succeed. The different dynamics were handled really well with it not just focusing on romance but also friendships and what family actually is. I also loved the way the main characters anxieties were handled as mental health in books can be hit and miss.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes a story with superpowered characters and I'm off to find some more by this author and also wait for the rest of the series.

So fast-paced and interesting!

I don't think I've read such an inventive take on superbeings landing on Earth. This book hasn't even come out and I'm already dying for the next book in the series. I need to know how more of these superbeings find their loves -- among other things (but no spoilers from me).

It's a little dark - but honestly it's not as dystopian or as dark as other series by Elizabeth Stephens. It's down right bouncy by comparison -- but makes this story even more adorable.

Due to the fast-paced nature of the book, you don't see a lot of the actual PR or marketing of Pyro/Wyvern/Roland. I didn't feel like the book lacked for this though.

Ms. Stephens gives us the Marvel/The Boys romantasy mashup that we deserve and needed! She is a shy anxious girl boss with supportive colleagues and very nosy over protective brothers. He is a feral grumpy fire supe who needs a makeover and an attitude adjustment. When these two enter each other’s orbit we are taken through a spicy hot fun wild ride unraveling the mystery of why all these supes are really here and if a bad boy can actually become a hero.

Ｅｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ
🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
Elizabeth Stephen knows how to write well. She is one of those authors whose books are hard to put down. This book was perfect! If you enjoy the TV series "The Boys," this book will give you similar vibes. We have Roland, a villain turned superhero, with the help of Vanessa. I started and finished this book in one day.

Over two decades ago, forty-eight young, gifted superheroes fell to Earth and were eventually marketed as opposing brands: heroes and villains.

Thank you, NetGalley, and Montlake, for the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I can’t remember that last time I read a superhero story let alone one I enjoyed. For fans of insta love, X-men and “That’s my WIFE”. 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Vanessa runs her own successful PR company but also suffers from severe social anxiety. And now she has to fake date an alien superhero? What could possibly go wrong 😉

Roland has to keep reminding himself to not just kidnap Vanessa and every time he did I giggled a little 🤭. I enjoyed watching him learn to correct his behaviour (I will not forgive you for reading her file 😡). He really tried to become a better man for her.

I wished this book was a little longer. I enjoyed the lore surrounding all these aliens who crash landed on earth but would’ve loved to see it more fleshed out throughout the entire book.

Though I loved Vanessa’s friends and family there were a far too many side characters to keep track of.

A wildly unexpected ending even with the classic happily ever after for the couple.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review. I’m off to go read all of Elizabeth Stephen’s werewolf books now 🥰

I read this courtesy NetGalley and Montlake. There are so few books that properly capture the tropes and essence of romance and superheroes in the same work that I approached All Superheroes Need PR with a certain amount of dread. And this is one of the few that succeeds! I started to smile when I began reading and continued to smile. We have an introverted heroine with a sad childhood, a hero who has to be tamed, an ongoing mystery of who these powered beings who landed on Earth and the climax. I loved this, and hope author Elizabeth Stephens writes more in this world.
#AllSuperheroesNeedPR #NetGalley

I have a feeling this will be one of my tops reads of 2025. I was hooked from the first page. The concept of the superheroes was quirky and fun. Loved the gamification of Villains Network of America and the Champions of Earth. It's a completely believable concept, and set up a compelling narrative for the foundation of the book.

With how grumpy Roland was, it was refreshing that Vanessa wasn't a sunshine character. Her anxiety caused Roland to observe and adjust his behavior. While he intimidated her with his antics during their first meeting, he proves to her he can be trusted in the second. She feels safe with him. And with that sense of safety she learned to stand up for herself. The pride she felt when they had their first fight made me fist pump in the air. She was a boss in her work. She had confidence in her abilities regarding her career, but socially was completely out of her depth.

Roland falls first. And so hard. Which led to the best kind of misunderstandings. Where he just wants her, and she needs to catch up. He throws a "my wife" into this story so fast! His whole world shifted when he met her. He decides to be a hero FOR HER!!!! His inner monologue talking himself out of kidnapping her had me in stitches!!!!

The depth of character and growth that Elizabeth Stephens put into this story helped elevate this book above a typical romcom. Not just with Vanessa and Roland, but the whole world. She was intentional when it came to building a diverse cast of characters. The representation in this story is what I crave when reading nowadays. She gave these side characters unique moments that highlighted their cultures or identities. The care she used made each tidbit we learned about Margerie's worry about being a trans woman in business, to noting what honorifics a potential client prefers (Mr. or Kun Prasit, a Thai honorific), she gives these characters their own moments.

This book is special. It's the hero story we deserve. Rollo and Nessa (The nicknames Roland and Vanessa give to each other.) show us that when you're with the right person, you feel safe and supported, you can be brave, grow, heal, and make better choices than you did before.

There's not a single thing I would change about this book. I can't wait to get it on my physical shelf.

Let me start by saying that I did like this book. I picked it up because the title sounded so cute and honestly I don’t even think I read the synopsis before putting it on my list. It was a good story. But…
I feel like usually, it’s the beginning of a book that feels disjointed and then the end kind of fixes it and wraps everything up nicely. I did not feel like this book accomplished that, and kind of worked in the opposite way. The beginning of the book was great—incredible world building, multilayered, likable characters, and the beginnings of a really good plot. I think part of the problem this book has is that it isn’t long enough. And it’s rare that I say that, usually I feel like books drag on longer than they need to. But the last 20-30% of All Superheroes Need PR felt rushed and disjointed. It wasn’t an unsatisfying conclusion, but it wasn’t necessarily satisfying either. What I really feel the book needed was a solid extra hundred pages to start fleshing out the bits of the book where things started getting weird and really getting into the monster/paranormal side of this romance. To really get into more of the band of actual villains in the story, not just the public facing ones that the heroes fight. It felt like they came out of nowhere, and I definitely would’ve liked more background on their plot to take over the planet. The frustrating thing is, those things were there, but needed more explanation. Part of the plot is our superhero, Rollo, regaining his memories and the plan that he was supposed to be a part of. It would’ve been so much more satisfying (u think) if we knew more than the basics about what was going on before we entered the epic fight scene a la Avengers at the end.
There were things I really liked about this book. Again, there was incredible world building, and I felt like I was able to understand this new world I was in pretty quickly. The characters, main and most side, have a lot of depth. We are able to understand their fears and passions and feel the love they all have for each other. All Superheroes Need PR also brought focus to the foster system and some of the things the kids involved go through before (if/when) they get adopted. And along that same vein, how life changing it can be when they are adopted into a loving family. This is just a topic I haven’t seen a lot in books I’ve read.
Overall, this was a solid 3ish star read. It was a good story that ended with only a few loose ends. And honestly, those could’ve been purposeful—it left a good opening for a sequel if that’s something the author decided to do. This monster/alien/paranormal romance was a cute read, but definitely has the bones for a really good, longer sci-fi story. There was some spice in this book, a solid 2.5-3 chilis. It is not closed door, but not the smuttiest thing I have read. It had a few well written scenes (plus a nod to the Omegaverse, which I learned this author writes as well). It added to the story while still allowing there to be a story.

I was very excited to read this book because of the superhero/supervillain theme. The start was a little slow and hard to catch on but I really like the idea of rebranding the villain and all… however a lot of thing bother me in this book, the main one being how absurdly clumsy the female main character is, to the point where she can barely take two steps without falling on her on feet, and that happens at leas every three pages for most of the book. Vanessa is a woman in her mid-30’s that has being severely traumatize (she has PTSD and Social Anxiety) when she was a kid and her birth family was abusive and negligent, however, she was adopted at 10 by a loving family that care for her with more love than most of the book families I’ve ever read. What bothered me the most is the fact that she said she’s been in therapy since she was ten (that’s more than two decades) and she’s still as severely anxious and can barely function as someone that has been recently diagnosed, I’ve spent half the reading just yelling at the book for her to find a new therapist and definitely a psychiatrist because 20 years of therapy should have a least help her diminish the symptoms and also in such a severe case like this she should be taking medication as well… I know it sound stupid to be annoyed with things like this, but this has made me more annoyed with her and less interested in the romance as a hole, because she just sounds like a useless stereotype of the clumsy quirky girl. In general I didn’t find the writing bad, but there were some specific points when the author just assumed we were aware of things and didn’t explain very well, the whole part where she’s kidnaped by the villains got me confused because it was rushed and not well written so I had to reread it and try to see what I missed and even then I wasn’t really sure HOW that happened and what was going on until halfway through the scene. Additional to that there were some mistakes such as sentences that looked like the author started writing one thing and then decided to write it differently but forgot to erase what was writing before, but since this was an ARC I’m hoping that this will be fixed when published. Close to the end thing got a little more confusing with everything being “resolved” in the last chapter that was HUGE. And when I say resolved I mean just the romance bit, because the whole subplot of the world and the villains and aliens shit just got forgotten, the bad guys ran away and that was it. Overall I didn’t think it was a bad book, I just think it could have been a lot better…