I have to sadly admit this is one of my most disappointing reads of 2025. And it kills me to admit this because the first book in the series was one of my favorites.

Like I mentioned I adored the first book in series “All Superheroes Need PR”. The sequel “All Superheroes Need Photo Ops” was one of my most anticipated of this year. I couldn’t wait to learn more about Monika. She was such a kick butt sidekick character in the previous book and I was so excited to watch her lead her own story.

But sadly the execution just wasn’t there. And in reality Monika acted like an entirely different person than the character we met in book one. It felt like all the backbone Monika had was left in the first book. And instead she got replaced with this watered down trophy wife.

Plus our love interest is a hard nope from me. Tara is is quite literally the walking definition of a red flag. And yes I do understand he’s supposed to be the morally gray “villain”. But I’m sorry there’s morally gray and then there’s guys who take it way too far. And Taranis was despicable. He mistreated Monika multiple times with verbal abuse and borderline physical abuse. And I’m sorry but to me thats crossing way too many lines.

Overall, sadly I can’t recommend this sequel. I definitely can see some people enjoying it. But sadly it wasn’t for me. Lastly thank you to NetGalley & Montlake for the ARC to read and review

Thank you Netgalley and Montlake for the opportunity to ARC read.

Book two was a perfect follow up to the first! We got to see the man behind the spandex, and let me tell you—he’s a real motherf-cker…but in the best ways!

We met Taranis and Monika; the famous superhero and the renowned war photographer, whose turned coat to become a superhero photographer.

The plot of this story grasps you from page one! As a fan of superhero comics and alien stories, Stephens is doing a fantastic job in the world building! The story maintains continuity and allows for readers to discover new features of the world! Additionally it leaves you wanting more 👀 the action was peak, the spice was delicious, and the romance was great!

Taranis had my butt on the ropes and in the best way! Like the people of Sundale, my gobs were smacked when his true colors were revealed but dare I say…I loved his mean butt. Following a morally corrupt character always makes my day, but this guy here was delightfully wrong in the best ways. And he just gets better when he fell in love!

Monika was an intriguing character with ambitions and enigmatic aura—so when she gets swept up in Taranis’ nefarious plans, it’s a fun ride to say the least. She was a strong woman that spurred Taranis evolution in such cool ways while also evolving in her own ways. I fell in love with her heart and the vulnerability she showed, while also being a baddie.

Also, big shoutout to the representation in this book, I loved how seen as a Black reader I felt. You can feel the empathy and care the author took in various scenes to spur awareness for our community and others.

Overall, loved this book DOWN!

I recently finished the first book in the series and thought it was decent and enjoyable.

This one however, I DNFed at 41%, right about the first spice scene.

The MMC is just a terrible person and so far, there is no hint of redemption or any reason for me to enjoy them as a character.

I typically enjoy name calling or humiliation kink with concent and in scenes, but he has shown to believe what he says and doesn't say it for spice and that is a whole different situation that can be problematic.

Both of these characters were so interesting and the grayest of grays morally. I love that! They’re both crazy and could be unlikable but work for each other. I just love Elizabeth Stephen’s writing so much, she draws you in and keeps your attention.

Welcome Back to Sundale!

This book was a phenomenal following to Book #1.

We meet the #1 Champion and get set up for the next book (I hope!!!). Monika and Taranis are the perfect morally grey/black couple you didn’t know you needed. They make each other better and worse all at the same damn time.

Do you know how many times I had to stop and guffaw at what was written?!?! Excellent plot, amazing banter, and the spice was SPICING!!! Monika, you were a lucky gal!

Also, the diversity in this series is so lovingly put together! All kinds of walks of life and the love for the BIPOC characters that Elizabeth Stephens created? Chef’s kiss.

I absolutely adore this book. I will be recommending it to everyone. I can’t wait for more.

I got around the 50% mark and had to DNF. It was definitely too spicy for me and I couldn’t see how the could build a good relationship. I didn’t feel like reading more very explicit spicy scenes with a lot of degradation towards the FMC. i do think that the world the author has created is interesting. The writing was nice. However, this book was just not for me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book!

Book one of this series had me swooning in the astounding vibes! I laughed, I yelled, I had a superb time and could not wait for the other books.

And then book two was a READ NOW on NetGalley. Grateful is too small a word for how I felt. I happily share my review in return for the early ARC read.

As good as book one was, book two was somehow MORE!

First of all, I flew through the book. It was the kind of book I was hurriedly trying to get back to, because I missed the characters, the action, and my brain was craving being in the middle of the story. Altogether, this is a perfect follow-up to book one. The action intensifies. The bonds are stronger. Everyone, even the villains, has a lot more at stake now. It is tense!

BUT, you are going to hate the MMC... for a while. He is kind of awful. The absolutely cool thing is his redemption arc will make you bawl your eyes out. Well, at least it made me bawl. I was so moved I tagged the author to let her know she made me cry. It was that good kind of cry too.

Good news though, you will love the FMC. She is tough; she is skilled, and she faces hard as heck decisions with a sensible head. You will love her and feel for her throughout this book. I want her to be in my bestie circle. Right now. Today! Sadly, she is fictional. Sigh.

This book is also high in spice. Those scenes, my word, they get hot, but with lots of consent to ease your mind. They get wild, but they BOTH love it! Ahem!

Get this book when it comes out; it will be on KU, and priced to buy immediately! I loved it! The author was on my auto-buy, auto-read list already; now she just dug her way even deeper into my little book heart.

You want a helluva love story, action, and a plot that THICKENS, start with book one and keep going!

https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/c0816ecd-875d-41a2-be8d-dbb0cc46c7ab
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7746272230
https://www.instagram.com/p/DNJMyviRaPs/?igsh=eXhzeW9qa3Jwc295

Having loved the first installment of this earlier this year I jumped at the chance to read this follow up!

Whilst it didn't quite hit the spot the first one did for me it was still a really enjoyable ride with lots of action (in two senses of the word!) and continued the series nicely.

The diversity in this is fantastic and I love how effortless it feels compared to some books where it's shoehorned it just for the sake of it.

Monika was a powerful main character (I believe even moreso than the alien Darius!) and I really believed her backstory.

I also like how it tied in to the first book with their characters being involved but no overpowering.

I did knock one star off of this as compared to the first I did feel like smut overload and often thrown in for no real reason but overall this was still a really fun, enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more by this author in the future!

All Superheroes Need Photo Ops by Elizabeth Stephens

I received this ARC from NetGalley, and wow — I’m so glad I did! I adored All Superheroes Need PR, and book two absolutely did not disappoint. Once again, Elizabeth Stephens delivers a story that plays like a blockbuster in my mind — it’s giving full-on Netflix or Prime Video vibes from start to finish.

The representation? Perfect. The pacing? Flawless. But let’s talk about the real star for a second — Taranis. This villain is deliciously unhinged, unapologetic, and absolutely chaotic in the best way… until he meets Monika, a whip-smart photographer who suddenly becomes key to his quest to become the #1 champion. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry is off-the-charts, and the spice level? Let’s just say I never knew I needed a monster so badly in my life. (If you know, you know.)

This book had everything — laugh-out-loud moments, swoon-worthy tension, edge-of-your-seat action, and enough heat to set the page on fire. I devoured it, and now I’m counting the days until book three. If you love villains, superheroes, banter, spice, and cinematic storytelling, this series will steal your heart.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — A Marvel-loving girl’s dream come true!

I adored All Superheroes Need PR and was so excited that book two was going to be Monika, a badass war photographer who is now taking photos of Champions, and Taranis, the most beloved of the Champions (except is he really a good guy?). Unfortunately this book ended up not working for me near as well as PR, even with all the anticipation. I love Monika and she’s a very different character from Vanessa, who couldn’t walk a straight line without tripping on air, but I just cannot root for Taranis. I understand villain romances and even enjoy morally grey characters and characters who are only kind towards their loved one(s), but I just felt like Taranis took it too far for me. He’s never been a particularly nice guy and only presents the facade because he wants the power, but when he breaks ties with the COE and becomes a lone agent, he no longer lets himself have limiters and literally tortures people. I just didn’t particularly enjoy his character, and even his treatment of Monika wasn’t redeeming enough for me to still root for the romance. I can see this finding its audience and Supers in the City continuing to do well for Elizabeth, but All Superheroes Need Photo Ops just wasn’t for me after all.

I was so excited to receive an arc for this book because I loved the first book in this world and this one did not disappoint! We briefly met Monika in All Superheroes Need PR, and there is enough history introduced it to make this a richer read read in sequence but not essential to enjoy the story. You do see bits and pieces of Rollo and Nessa throughout this story but it really focuses on the relationship between Monika and hero Taranis. When Taranis gets tired of all the publicity recently turned good Rollo is receiving so he comes up with a plan to go back to the headlines. He poaches Monika with some smooth talking and a sneaky contract. Their first photo op doesn’t go as planned and what follows is a wild ride. Join them as Taranis must reevaluate his plans for the future as Monika throws his world upside down. He is the definition of morally gray, with little regard for humans. I loved the overall storyline for this book, the characters, the side characters and Monika. I did not love Taranis, but I did love his affection for Monika once he realized she was special to him. The spice was very spicy this time around, but well written and it didn’t dominate the book. Despite my dislike of some of Taranis’s actions I did love this book and hope that there will be more in this universe!

This book solidified Elizabeth Stephens as an automatic read everytime I see her name on something! The character development, the banter, the spice, THE BANTER (so nice, I said it twice), the plot. I am floored.

I went into this book without looking up the tropes or even the plot. I remembered seeing the MMC name and that he was a Champion and the really nice guy featured in the first book. That’s all I knew. And I think that made this book even more interesting! The MMC is a villain but in a way that almost makes you jealous. There’s a level of IDGAF that came with his reversion that we all wish we could have in a world where how people view you matters way too much.

Monica you fem of a woman! She owns her sexuality, her art, her space in a way that makes a villain like Taranis take notice. I loved her wit, her strength, and how absolutely gray she was- not good, not bad , just neutral. She exemplified the calling card of her art- just being there to bear witness . Not intervene , just show the truth. And she pulled out the same truth in Taranis.

Now the spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ I’m not a dom/sub kind of girl. But that MOUTH on the MMC is filthyyyyy. I enjoyed it for what it was and squealed and blushed a lot.

Just amazing.

I really enjoyed this as a super-hero novel, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed in this type of book. It was a strong entry in the Supers in the City world and was hooked from the first page of this book. The characters were everything that I was wanting and enjoyed the way the romance was what I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel of this. Elizabeth Stephens has a strong writing style and can't wait for more from the author.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC

I finished book one in this series yesterday and immediately started All Superheroes Need Photo Ops…suddenly it was 4am and I was almost done with the book before my eyes betrayed me and I fell asleep. I love this series, the writing is fast paced, smart and funny. Elizabeth Stephens’ world building is amazing and incredibly detailed, and her characters are quirky, snarky, morally gray, and so relatable. There’s just something about an MMC who’s willing to burn the world down for the FMC…and can actually do it. I can’t wait for this series to continue, it’s been added to my auto-buy list for upcoming books. Now to go and read Stephen’s backlist to hold me over until then.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5 rounded up)
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Wow, what a fun ride! Just days after the events of All Superheroes Need PR, we’re back in Sundale with our deranged Villains and Champions. This time Taranis, aka Darius, the lightening wielding media darling of the Champions reveals his true colors to former war photographer Monika. But Monika is smart, sassy and Taranis’ dramatics roll right off her back despite her life long crush. Not used to having his “employees” stand up to him, Taranis quickly becomes intrigued then OBSESSED.

The push and pull between Monika and Darius was divine. He’s much closer to morally black than grey and she calls him on it every time. The spice was top notch monster smut though there is a dubcon situation so check those trigger warnings. We also get to see how things are going for Vanessa and the Wyvern, aka Roland, through some hilarious interactions with Monika and Darius. Though Vanessa, girl, say less!

Overall, I loved this. It took everything that worked in book 1 and made it even better. There was more relationship building, more information on the mission of the supers, more villains, more insane confrontations, and more unhinged acts in the name of love. This is a must read when it releases in November!

Thanks to Elizabeth Stephens, Montlake, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC, which allowed me to read the book and voluntarily provide an unbiased review.

All Superheroes Need Photo Ops by Elizabeth Stephens is a high-octane, flirt-fueled adventure that blasts off from page one and never looks back. It’s the perfect blend of comic book flair, explosive action, and spicy romance—with just enough heart to make you clutch your phone and grin like a fool between chapters.

What really stood out to me was how Stephens blends the extraordinary with the ordinary. Yes, there are masked vigilantes, chaotic villains, and flashy powers—but there’s also rent to pay, annoying PR duties, and awkward conversations at coffee shops. It’s like if Lois Lane had her own story arc, center stage, with no damsel-in-distress energy in sight. Monika, our sharp, camera-wielding heroine, is confident, clever, and not even remotely fazed by the capes and chaos around her. She’s exactly the kind of heroine you root for.

And then there’s the broody, reluctant hero. He’s all grit and gravitas, and every time he so much as glances Monika’s way, the temperature spikes. This is the kind of book where you’re living in the tension between them. Their dynamic walks a tightrope between antagonistic banter and magnetic attraction.

This isn’t just heat for heat’s sake, though. There’s a solid plot holding everything together. The romance develops with care, the action scenes are well-paced and cinematic, and fans of the universe will be thrilled by the cameos—including a certain fire-breathing favorite. Stephens really knows how to build a world that feels cohesive across books, and it made me want to dive straight into her backlist.

For readers who like:
-Slow burn tension
-Broody love interests
-Stories that balance heat, heart, and humor

Final Verdict
All Superheroes Need Photo Ops is a blast of fun with sizzling romance, a side of danger, and characters who leap off the page. Whether you’re here for the spicy scenes or the superhero drama, you’ll find yourself hooked. It’s a quick read, a satisfying one, and if you weren’t already addicted to Elizabeth Stephens’ writing—this will do it.

Grateful to NetGalley, Montlake and Elizabeth Stephens for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

If you loved book 1, this one is going to knock you off your feet!
I didnt think I could have loved anything more but here we are.

Elizabeth Stephens has done it again. This book was such a fun ride, I didn’t want it to end, like I needed at least two more chapters, and I need a whole third book on the Marduk. If you liked the first book in the series, you’ll enjoy this one too. The first book is a bit better because of the character development & world building, but this one is just as entertaining.

Photographer Monika has a crush on superhero Taranis. She spies on him hoping that she can improve his image....

Funny, romantic and superheroic! :) Love the sass and the tropes. A fun read.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

Had me all in and excited with the idea that the superhero golden boy was actually a massive jerk. Loved the idea of the star hero actually being villainous.

I had dip out after the first sex scene. That was way too much for me, friends. Maybe I missed a trigger warning page at the start of the book, but the demeaning talk, name calling, rough touching…. That’s a nah for me, especially because there does not even seem to be any sense of respect or affection between the pair. The hero is mental saying “I hate her” before they hook up. All that together just felt yucky to me.