Neanderthal Seeks Human: A Smart Romance by Penny Reid
Genre: Funny Contemporary Romance/Chick Lit
1st in the Knitting in the City series, but each stands alone and features a different character
It’s no secret that my favorite type of book is a funny romance. So when I asked on my Facebook page for the funniest romance book from my readers, Neanderthal Seeks Human by Penny Reid was mentioned a number of times. I didn’t even read the blurb before requesting it. My readers never steer me wrong 🙂
If you love The Big Bang Theory, this is a book for you. A nerdy, quirky, funny as hell heroine with a sexy hot alpha male. What a great combination! Janie is super smart with all kinds of trivial facts in her head. Slightly socially inept, Janie spouts said trivial facts when she is nervous.
The book starts out with Janie, sitting on the toilet in the employee restroom….with no toilet paper. Then she goes over her worst day ever, which started with finding an empty condom wrapper in her boyfriend’s (who she lives with) jeans, which means she needs a new place to live. And it just gets worse.
No conditioner leading to crazy, puffy, nest-like hair? Check.
Broken heel of new shoes on sewer grate? Check.
Train station closed for unscheduled construction? Check.
Lost contact after getting knocked in the shoulder as crowd hustled out of elevator? Check.
Spilled coffee on best, and most favorite white button down shirt?
And, finally, called into boss’ office and informed that job had been downsized? Double check.
And who gets to escort her out of the building? The ‘security guard’ she has been crushing on, “Sir Handsome McHotpants”. Janie has never been able to even look him in the eye, but has been admiring him from afar for weeks. As their elevator ride descends, Quinn, (aka Sir McHotpants) engages Janie in conversation. As always when she is nervous, verbal diarrhea ensues. But Quinn, instead of being put off, totally loved the smart, quirky facts she spewed.
After the horrible day, they began a friendship.
“It felt like we were becoming friends or, at least, friendly. I didn’t see him as just a delicious piece of man meat any more. I saw him as Quinn; pushy, intelligent, frustrating, sexy Quinn who liked to tease me and thought I was smart and talented.”
Quinn made it very clear he wanted more, but Janie just can’t see it, especially after comparing herself to a neanderthal.
“So, as you can see, and if you reflect on it, awkward headed-females mating with beautifully normal headed males is a bad idea”
“I was in the awkwardly shaped head Neanderthal league, and he was in the hot ninja millionaire league”
Nor did she want to be one of the many booty calls Quinn has.
“How many are we talking talking about? What percentage of the women in Chicago are ready to have sex with you right now?…Is there entry criteria? An established search committee? An interview process? Skills test? What kind of radius do you require? Do you have one circling the block now? Do you always keep one nearby? Was there one at the restaurant? At the bar maybe?”
After a business trip and some pretty sexy strip poker, these two really begin to connect.
“Everything about her was unexpected and unique. She was my bright light of eccentricity in a very predictable and ordinary world. She made everything new and interesting or funny.”
Likes:
- As much as I like 12 year old boy raunchy humor, I enjoyed this smart, quirky humor.
- Janie, who I think had a touch of Aspergers, was so easy to love.
- Janie’s knitting group. Although Janie herself didn’t knot, it didn’t matter. I loved this group of women!
- Quinn. Mmmmmm….Quinn.
- So many quote worthy funny lines, the whole book is highlighted.
- Janie’s quirky, kind of out of touch personality (she didn’t even believe in cell phones!)
- I learned some interesting facts about things I never needed to know.
- Janie was beautiful, but completely oblivious of it.
- Banter. I love banter!
- The fact that she hates the words ‘moist’ and ‘slacks’. Who doesn’t?
Dislikes:
- Fade to black sex scenes. I think that many of the people reading this might like that (those with Asbergers or other social issues usually prefer not to read explicit sex), but I would have loved to have seen the awkwardness in the bedroom.
- There were a few unanswered questions, and a few too many tie-ins (like how Janie lost her job) that just weren’t necessary.
- It sometimes felt as if the author was trying to dumb down some of the prose, and it just didn’t really read correctly.
Rating: 4 Stars 2.5 Heat
Neanderthal Seeks Human by Penny Reid was a refreshing change from the books I have read this year. The smart, quirky humor, and awkward heroine, combined with an alpha male and a little action gave it a bit of a Kristen Ashley feel, which I always love. If you are looking for a break from the angsty romance books, pick this one up for a refreshing, unique read.
Purchase Neanderthal Seeks Human: A Smart Romance by Penny Reid
Amazon (all countries) | BN.com
Book 2: Friends without Benefits is about Elizabeth, Janie’s Best Friend
Like funny romances? See my list of favorite funny romances here.
Debra Leibowitz says
If you liked Neanderthal, Try Penny Reid’s Friends Without Benefits. The main character is Janie’s best friend. She is also very funny and intelligent but not to Janie’s extent. However, Penny satisfies readers that want a little more steam by offering 2 versions of the big sex scene chapter – one that takes you behind the bedroom door and one that let’s your imagination do the work. Pretty unique and I guarantee it will earn more heat stars than Neanderthal.
Ana's Attic says
How do you get the different versions? That’s cool!
Lariza says
This is such a great book! Friends without benefits is book 2 in the series & it’s also very good!
Ana's Attic says
I look forward to reading it!
Jane says
Loved both books- And didn’t have to have the sex scenes spelled out for me. I used My Imagination! It is OK to have some Mystery “between the sheets” in a romance novel. Other wise it is just like any other smut books which lack character development. Don’t be too hasty to make a silly judgement- “Asberger’s or other social issues”…O please. Be more insightful in your short-sighted perspective. These were excellent
Romance novels- the kind where you laugh out loud! Great entertainment!
Ana's Attic says
I enjoyed it very much and normally am OK with fade to black, but I would have liked to see the awkwardness transfer to the bedroom a little, it didn’t need to be detailed. But saying smutty books lack character development is a gross generalization too. As far as Aspergers, as a teacher who worked with special ed students, and having family members with Aspergers, it seemed like Janie was slightly on the spectrum to me. As I said, “who I think had a touch of Aspergers”. I still can’t wait to read the next one.
Joan V. says
I loved NSH. I didn’t mind the “closed door/fade to black” because I could let my imagination take over as to Penny and Quinn’s first time. Besides, with the way she ran the next morning, I have a feeling it might have anit-climatic since Janie doesn’t look at life the way many of the rest of us do. I also have “Friends W/O Benefits” and I am sure that you will enjoy this one, too.
Ana's Attic says
I look forward to it! I’m waiting until after a dark book.
Kristy says
I laughed so hard and totally identified with Janie and her random ramblings! Thanks for the recommendation
Ana's Attic says
You’re welcome! Thanks for reading!