He's a Wreck it Ralph...

Vanessa is a PR guru who is tasked with revamping a villain to a hero. Pyro, Roland is a bad guy. He does not like Vanessa. Its a bumpy ride from villain to hero.
I do enjoy a superhero read.
Recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for an eARC for an honest review.
Such a fun, easy read, read in two days!
Burn Down the World For You Romance!
Superhero romance with a side of worldbuilding, this book starts with a hate-to-love couple, FMC with a huge family that's supportive with wonderful banter!
The representation was filled to the brim! Every character had mentions of different cultures and ethnicities, all of them so distinct I had no trouble following along! Character development was fun and felt like a payoff by the end of the book.
Familiar superhero origin story with a twist, but heavy on the romance! The spice level was surprising, getting into levels I hadn't expected from the cutesy-feeling start. Not for beginners.
Devoured this book, couldn't get enough, can't wait for book two!
The beginning of the book did have several parts I skipped over, due to FMC's thoughts being repetitive. It would say the same thing 2-4 times in one paragraph, but it was a small issue because I loved the rest of the book!
Can't wait for book 2!

Wow! Elizabeth Stephens does not miss for me. I loved this book! It was a fantastic twist on the alien superhero.
Some years ago, several alien children crash-landed on Earth exhibiting extraordinary powers. Eventually, they kind of divide into heroes, villains, and some that are indifferent. Of course, countries find a way to monetize it all.

Vanessa owns a PR firm tasked with cleaning up Roland, The Pyro's image so he can join the heroes, but as it turns out he's ONLY good for her. The rest of the world can literally burn!!

There's anxiety rep, a fantastic twist, and an eclectic found family group that put the icing on the cake for me. I love a diverse group of ride-or-die family and friends.

Roland and Vanessa's "burn it down" road to happily ever after with a twist was so much fun. I cannot wait to see who's next in this world of superheroes and villains! Happy reading!!

PS. The audiobook was fantastic

4.5 ⭐️

If you enjoy series like The Boys or Invincible with more heartwarming romance and a fair bit of spice, then this would be right up your alley.

This book was a delight, I didn't expect anything too serious and that is what I got. A book where a villain named Roland Casteel also known as Pyro has decided to switch sides, little did he know that the person who was bidding to manage his PR campaign, a shy woman who thrives who happens to be excellent at her job and has other people who will do the aspects of the job that she finds difficult.

Vanessa's backstory is devastating, coming from a family where her parents abused her emotionally and physically, she has a lot of trauma. She does end with a nice blended family that loves her to pieces. Her adoptive siblings are hilarious and so overprotective.

The meet-cute between Roland and Vanessa failed, she was in a confused state as to why Roland "hated" her, and Roland was just holding back as to not take her.

The romance develops quickly as Vanessa and Roland end up in a fake dating situation (my favorite) but then end up having like a mid-way breakup.

The reason I took half a star off is because, there were two things that were a bit much and not enough.
1. They get into a very heated argument and say some really mean words to each other.
2. I would have preferred having more of the PR campaign planning.

Overall, the book as fun and a good setup for future books without being overwhelming for those who don't normally read sci-fi or sci-fi romance.

4.5⭐️ This was SO FUN ! I need more superhero books cause this was entertaining asf 😭 I think immersive reading it made it that much more exciting tbh . The book did take like an unexpected turn in the end which kinda almost caused a genre shift? (Iykyk I can’t say without spoiling). I’m not mad at it though lol.

Elizabeth Stephens has proven she can do no wrong.... Sci-fi, dark dystopian and now traditionally published superhero aliens. You can't tell me she isn't wearing a cape for nerdy black girls everywhere.

This story damn near crammed every single trope I could think of and stuffed it in 300 pages... and somehow didn't feel forced. How on earth is that possible. Again, let me remind you this is a superpower. She didn't just stop rely on tropes to get her through; although a little delayed, once the plot thickened and the action started rolling I was hooked.

I'm amazed at how Roland was giving I hate everyone but you and golden retriever energy at the same time lol. His whole world started and stopped with Vanessa. Imagine having all of that power at your disposal and you desperate want to be a wallflower. That's our Nessa. No matter the unlikely pair they make, she is his key and he is her weapon. It just works!

I only read Elizabeth Stephens for the first time earlier this year with The Bone King and the Starling, and she has very quickly become one of my absolute favorite authors. One of the things I loved most about Starling, and now Supers, is that Stephens challenges me on the front of disliking instalove/instalust. I still think I dislike it, but paired with Stephens' fantastic writing, comedic timing, and dynamic—albeit unhinged—characters, I think I can more than tolerate it. And dare I say I loved it?! She also pushes me to read outside of my comfort zone. I am still relatively new to reading adult fantasy/romantasy and I am even more new to monster romance/alien romance, and I ate every piece of this right on up.

Decades ago, 48 aliens landed on Earth and most decided to become superheroes or supervillains, but some remained somewhat in the middle. Pyro—Roland—crash lands (figuratively) into Vanessa's PR firm, realizing he needs good PR to make this happen, and is instantly unimpressed by her and her debilitating social anxiety/shyness. Soon enough, Nessa and Roland realize they're being pulled together by forces they can't explain, and by the time they give into them, other outlandish things begin happening around them. Together, they have to fight against elements that could destroy them and the world as they know it.

All Superheroes Need PR was so much fun! I adore Stephens' commitment to making fun, goofy, outlandish fiction for Black people with Black characters who are dynamic and adaptive and daring and vulnerable and soft and strong and so completely down bad for the person they're falling for. My favorite part of this book was Nessa's backstory, and how her childhood traumas led her to a life so full of love and protection that she was so completely deserving of. Her family was absolutely incredible, and I loved their dynamic and how they adapted to accept Roland into the fold in their own way, giving him a place to belong on Earth as well.

The narration was incredible. No notes. I recommend the audiobook real bad.

I cannot WAIT for book 2!

Thank you to Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio, Montlake, Elizabeth Stephens, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC, physical ARC, and ALC!

5 fantastical ⭐️s
3 🌶️

This book was… okay. Not terrible by any means, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression either. It started off incredibly strong, with vivid world-building that immediately pulled me in and characters who felt well-developed and interesting. The opening chapters promised a story rich with potential, and for a while, I was genuinely excited to see where it would go.

But somewhere along the way—around the 60% mark—I realized I had completely lost interest. I can’t quite pinpoint when or why that happened. The plot didn’t fall apart exactly, and the writing remained solid. Maybe the pacing slowed too much, or maybe the emotional stakes didn’t evolve in a way that kept me invested. It’s hard to say whether that’s an issue with the book itself or just a matter of personal preference.

There were still elements I appreciated. The author clearly put a lot of thought into the characters’ backstories, and while that didn’t necessarily make me connect with them emotionally, it did add a sense of realism and depth. I also found the world-building accessible without being overly simplistic, which made it easy to immerse myself in the setting early on.

I did finish the book, but by the end, I felt disconnected. I don’t think I’ll be picking up any sequels, and it’s unlikely I’ll explore more from this author. That’s not a reflection of their talent—because there is plenty of that here—but more an acknowledgment that their style and storytelling approach just didn’t resonate with me. This one simply wasn’t my kind of story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Elizabeth Stephen’s for the ARC.

When the “my wife” dropped the first time my eyeballs almost fell out of my head, I was surprised shocked and excited. A very fun read filled with superheroes, sweatpants and saving lives.

Rated 3.5 Stars

All Superheroes Need PR was an enjoyable read even though it took me a while to get into it. I loved the concept of it but felt the execution lacked cohesion. There was action, adventure and sexy times. It was wild, over the top and bonkers in some ways. I loved the characters but wanted to feel more of a connection between them. While I didn't love, love this book I am interested in reading more by this author.

I always know an Elizabeth Stephens book is gonna be a good time and this was no different. This was so different and so hot. I loved all the nods to superhero stories! I found her job to be such a fresh take on the workplace romance because it really dealt with the practicableness of supers. Rolland was such a cinnamon role for her and I loved it. I had so so much fun reading this.

Spicy, male female, 1st person dual point of view, contemporary, paranormal romance. This was such a fun rom-com with some action!! It had an enemies to lovers then a fated mates vibe. I adored every single character (primary and secondary) and their relationships. The male main character is my favorite- a morally grey I'll burn the world down for her (literally) type. The different scenarios were exciting, romantic, hysterical, STEAMY but there is some trauma and peril. I can't wait to read the next book!

All Superheroes Need PR by Elizabeth Stephens
Supers in the City #1
Length: 302 pages
Source: NetGalley eARC
Publication date: May 27, 2025

4.5 ⭐️
4 🌶️

Vanessa (Nessa) x Roland (Rollo)

Good guy? Bad guy? Doesn’t really matter. He just wants the girl, and he’ll do what he has to, to keep her.

Summary
Roland is one of the Forty-Eight, a group of young superheroes who fell to Earth years ago, and Vanessa is the marketing genius trying to help him re-brand from Villain to Champion. Despite a rough first meeting, the two eventually come back to the table and agree to work together. The catch? The super socially anxious Vanessa must agree to fake date the gruff, grumpy Champion to get him to sign the contract with her firm. Soon, the dating doesn’t seem so fake, and the two seem to bring out the best in each other. Although they fall quickly and Roland is fast accepted by the world as the latest hero, their relationship isn’t all hearts and flowers. Something evil is brewing, and the two lovers are smack in the middle of whatever’s coming. Will they save each other, or will Roland return to his villainous ways?

My Thoughts
I enjoyed the heck out of this book! This author is new to me, and the cover drew me in before even reading the synopsis. But let’s see … romance? Check. Comedy? Check. Magical realism? Check. All things I love to read. Both MCs have a great sense of humor, even though Vanessa’s is wrapped up in her extreme social anxiety, and Roland’s is hiding behind his very best impression of an alpha-hole. And the surrounding characters! Vanessa has a small, diverse group of employees, and five brothers (!), which sounds like a lot of people to keep track of, but their interactions are realistic and funny. I hope at least some of them show up in future books.

At times, Vanessa’s awkwardness and nervousness were so overwhelming that I questioned how she was able to have started her own (very successful) boutique marketing firm. Seeing her grow in confidence throughout the book—and throughout her developing relationship with Roland—was so welcome because let me tell you, ya girl is hella awkward in the beginning of the book. Yes, there are definite reasons, some of which may be triggering to the reader, but to see her overcome them after a lifetime of apprehensiveness was great.

The one thing that kept me from giving this five stars is that the last roughly 10%-15% of the book goes flying by, and there are so many things happening that it was at times difficult to keep up while trying to picture the scene in my head. Now, I realize that also could have been my ADHD talking, but even going back and re-reading several passages, it’s still at times really confusing to keep track of who is where, who’s doing what, what’s happening, etc. Not that I think it could have been done any differently, but for those like me, I feel like it should be noted. You might have to go back and read parts of the book’s climax again to "see" what's going on.

What to Expect:
👩🏽‍🦱 Strangers to lovers
🦸🏾‍♂️ Fake dating
👩🏽‍🦱 Protective/obsessive MMC
🦸🏾‍♂️ Only one bed
👩🏽‍🦱 ‘Fated mates’ adjacent
🦸🏾‍♂️ Alien peen
👩🏽‍🦱 Knotting
🦸🏾‍♂️ Hand necklaces
👩🏽‍🦱 Mental health rep
🦸🏾‍♂️ Diverse cast of characters

Final Thoughts
Definitely read! This is a solid base upon which the author can build out this world and expand the series.

Content warnings
Child abuse (past), PTSD and CPTSD, verbal abuse by parents (past), violence, explicit sexual content

— A

Thanks to NetGalley, Montlake, and Elizabeth Stephens for an eARC of this book. All opinions are mine.

Oh how fun this book was! Vanessa and Roland were FIRE! Literally. Vanessa runs a PR firm who is trying to land a new client nicknamed "Pyro" because his main superpower has to do with fire. Their initial meeting doesn't go as planned, but almost every time they meet afterward is filled with lustful, hesitant chemistry.

Roland is part of a unique alien community that came to earth as children. He doesn't have much memory of his life before coming to Earth, so much of his life has been filled with uncertainty. When he meets Vanessa, something clicks into place that kinda scares him, so he does what most people would do and pushes her away.

This book was fun because it was, to me, such a unique take on alien romance. You know that something sinister is lurking underneath, just waiting to escape. Vanessa is every female in this situation...she's a little hesitant, a little eager, and a whole lot of horny. As she interacts more and more with Roland, aka Pyro, aka The Wyvern, both she and he start going through different types of transformations. Some are physical, some emotional, but all of them are important and impact the story in a big way.

I really like how both Vanessa and Roland were scared to open up to the emotions that were swirling around them. For two people who hadn't really experiences love before, they do a damn good job at absorbing it and going with the flow.

I have my fingers crossed that we'll get more from this book world because this is quite a unique book world that this author has created!

I was fortunate enough to receive an early copy of this book. I quite enjoyed reading it, I enjoyed both Roland and Vanessa's characters. However, this is the first alien romance I've read and I'm not sure if it's that or that there was something missing in the beginning development of their relationship. I'm all for insta-love or fated Mates, but it felt a bit like something there was missing.

The book made me laugh many times over and overall I really enjoyed myself. Definitely a great one to check out!

All Superheroes Need PR by Elizabeth Stephens

I had the honor of reading and e-arc of this book and won a giveaway to listen to an early copy of the audio book as well! As a massive fan of comics, cover gave me instant DC - Superman and Lois Lane vibes. And having read and loved the Beast of Gatamora series, I was instantly drawn to what I knew was going to be another five star read - and I wasn’t disappointed!!

28 years ago 48 superheroes landed on earth as children, and Vanessa’s PR company works with these super-powered beings, capitalizing on the entertainment potential that having super hero and supervillain teams can bring.

Roland is Vanessa’s latest Hero signee, and as their partnership continues, they are thrust into circumstances that lead to the two of them entering a fake-dating relationship that turns into something more ;)

I was not expecting a dual-POV story going into the book, but I was not disappointed. Both Vanessa and Rowland were well developed characters, giving time to understand how they got to where they were, and the development of their relationship throughout the course of the book.

I would’ve loved a bit more time spent on worldbuilding, but with this being the first book in a series, I have faith that the world will continue to unveil itself in due-time. I can’t wait to see how Stephens expands upon this world in future installments!

I was so excited for this book because, knowing Elizabeth Stephens, I was in for a good time with lots of laughs and plenty of spice; and yet somehow she was able to blow each and every one of my expectations out of the water.

Between the meet cute disaster between Vanessa and Roland, how clear it is that he falls first (and way harder), and the truly stacked cast of supporting characters that you are bound to fall in love with, this book is pure fun from start to finish.

We need to take a minute to talk about Roland (or Rollo for short) because OH. MY. GOD. If you are not immediately in love with this male, I don’t know what to tell you. He is so fiercely protective of Vanessa, and SO incredibly down bad, that I was giggling and kicking my feet the entire time.

Another thing I loved was watching Vanessa grow throughout the story. With social anxiety (and some PTSD) it’s clear that although she’s brilliant, she’s uncomfortable in the spotlight, and I enjoyed watching her come to take charge more fearlessly.

The story was compelling, the romance was romance-ing, the characters were lovable as heck, and it just leaves me wondering: Why don’t we have more superhero romance books???

I can’t wait to get more of this world (and we better be getting more of this world) because Elizabeth Stephens has created an engrossing universe of heroes and villains, all of whom have an added layer of mystery regarding where they came from, and I can’t wait to see where she goes next with it.

(And can we get more of Margerie and Charlie? ...PLEASE?!?!)

Totally Captivating!!

Honestly, at first I wasn’t sure what I had gotten myself into. Quickly I was pulled into the story, the romance, the whole superhero vibe. Smart, sexy, original, humorous, and so many positive adjectives I was thoroughly pulled in and found myself 100% entertained.

Good guys, bad guys, influence, family, chosen family, PR and so much more! Nicknames, romance, protectiveness and a connection that cannot be broken.

***** I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book *****

This book was an absolute riot! The modern take on superheroes, basically treating them like celebrities with powers, was so well done. The cast of characters was diverse and realistic, but damn do Nessa and Roland stand out! These two are both bad asses in their own way, and their relationship is full of tension from the start. I loved watching them work together and break down each other’s walls. And the alien stuff definitely had me surprised! Overall this book was fun and spicy and a total winner. For anyone looking for a contemporary rom com but debating getting into monster romance... this is a great stepping stone!

All Super Heroes Need PR and Pyro one of the forty-eight who crash landed on Earth as children with no memory of where they came from, and all gifted with extraordinary powers, certainly does.
Now grown to adulthood and separated into heroes and villains Pyro is being courted from the dark-side and head of The Riot Creative PR firm Vanessa Theriot has been contracted to boost his world image.
Their first meeting goes a little sideways which doesn’t bode well for a future business relationship but things do change quickly when later on Pyro comes across Vanessa in a bar just a tad inebriated, and having a spilled drink dabbed off her shirt by a male patron. The course of history is about to change!
This was a super fun, delightful story from author Elizabeth Stephens as the reader gets pulled into a maelstrom of romantic comedy, family dynamics, action, adventure, intrigue, passion, emotion, and surprises.
Loved this perfectly written narrative with it’s vibrant characters, and entertaining storyline that has me hungry for more!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.