Neanderthal Seeks Human: A Smart Romance, Knitting in the City, Volume 1
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Neanderthal Seeks Human: A Smart Romance, Knitting in the City, Volume 1 Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Penny Reid (Author), Jennifer Grace (Narrator), Penny Reid, Author (Publisher)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 19,798 ratings
See all formats and editions

This is a full-length, 115,000-word novel and is the first book in the Knitting in the City series.

There are three things you need to know about Janie Morris:

  1. She is incapable of engaging in a conversation without volunteering TMTI (too much trivial information), especially when she is unnerved;
  2. No one unnerves her more than Quinn Sullivan; and
  3. She doesn't know how to knit.

After losing her boyfriend, apartment, and job in the same day, Janie Morris can't help wondering what new torment fate has in store. To her utter mortification, Quinn Sullivan—a.k.a. Sir McHotpants—witnesses it all then keeps turning up like a pair of shoes you lust after but can't afford. The last thing she expects is for Quinn—the focus of her slightly, albeit harmless, stalkerish tendencies—to make her an offer she can't refuse.

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  1. Listening Length
    14 hours and 48 minutes
  2. Author
    Penny Reid
  3. Narrator
    Jennifer Grace
  4. Audible release date
    June 25, 2014
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Penny Reid, Author
  7. ASIN
    B00LAF3U9W
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 14 hours and 48 minutes
Author Penny Reid
Narrator Jennifer Grace
Audible.com Release Date June 25, 2014
Publisher Penny Reid, Author
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B00LAF3U9W
Best Sellers Rank #48,936 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#1,053 in Romantic Comedy (Audible Books & Originals)
#1,109 in Fantasy Romance (Audible Books & Originals)
#1,790 in Humorous Fiction

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
19,798 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Lisa Maurer
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely fantastic read - loved every McHotpants second of it!
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2018
Verified Purchase
4.5 “Sir Handsome McHotpants” Kisses

Why?!?!?! Why did I wait so long to read this book!?!?!? I could kick myself! I should know by now that when it comes to the genius of Penny Reid, I just need to shut up and read the damn book…ASAP. While Neanderthal Seeks Human was Penny’s first book, it was not the first book by her that I read – I popped my Penny-cherry with Truth or Beard, the first book in the Winston Brothers Series, and it was both a joy and a pleasure. But I digress…not reading NSH was my error…and one I’m so glad I remedied. Neanderthal Seeks Human was an unexpected delight and just reaffirmed why I love Penny Reid books as much as I do.

Janie Morris…oh my awkward, fact vomiting, little genius, how do I love thee? I say this with love and pride…but Janie is an odd duck and I adored every odd thing about her. She is unique with a capital “U” and she owned it. I’ll be honest, in the very beginning it was hard for me to get an initial read on Janie…she’s different, she thinks different, she processes things differently and it took me a minute to get used to…but once I had a grasp on her, it was nothing but love. She is off the charts, genius level, blown your mind smart…she can do complex math in her head and her abundant knowledge of facts was both interesting and overwhelming. She can tell you the defining characteristics of mammals, the origin of the idiom ‘waiting for the other shoe to drop’ and what a group of rhinoceroses is called and yet I can barely remember what I did four days ago. Like I said…crazy smart. But I loved her for it…it made her endearing and quirky and it was all part of her personality. Luckily, I’m not the only one who was completely enamored with the lovely Miss. Morris.

‘Men in general unsettled me; this one in particular turned my insides into a brouhaha of chaos simply by glancing in my direction.’

Quinn Sullivan…aka Sir Handome McHotpants…and oh boy, does he ever live up to that name. Let me just start by saying the second I read that Quinn was 6’3”, I was a lost cause. I am a sucker for a tall man and da-yum…Quinn was a pretty close to perfection for me. He has a very mysterious air about him…he comes across very guarded and aside from his small smiles and his gorgeous and expressive eyes, it’s kind of hard to get a read on him. Given his history and his profession…it all makes sense but regardless of his mystery, there was no denying his captivating power. He’s alluring and it felt like every fact or detail that I learned about him had me feeling like a million bucks and then dying for the next piece of Quinn-formation :-) (I just pulled a Janie and I may or may not be patting myself on the back right now!)

‘I loved that when I looked at him, I didn’t see the blinding McHotpants façade of perfection any more. I saw a frustratingly bossy, hilariously funny, irritatingly teasing, captivatingly intelligent, seriously sexy good guy.’

Quinn and Janie…oh good gravy I was beside myself with these two, they just stole my heart without even trying. They’re so different and yet…they just work. I can’t even tell you any momentous thing that won me over with them…it was just all of the little things that combined to make them perfect. Like how he loved her facts and random bouts of word vomit…I loved that he always wanted to touch her, especially her hair…he admired her for her intelligence…and he was exceedingly patient and sweet to her. And Quinn open Janie up so much…she had lived her life for so long compartmentalizing and keeping her emotions in neat tidy little boxes in a closet, locked away safe and sound…and he blew that closet to bits – but it was the best thing for her. She blossomed like a flower and experiencing those emotions with her was fan-freaking-tastic…I can’t even properly convey how extraordinary it was. He challenged her and she was more than willing to accept the challenge because what he made her feel was worth it.

‘He ignored me. “Well, I have to admit that I can totally see the similarities between you and an ostrich.”
This surprised me; I thought he would try to defend me against my own insults.
“I… uh… you can?” It was my turn to slow-blink.
“Yes.” The slow sexy grin gradually claimed his features.
“Is it because I’m a strange bird who buries my head in the sand?”
He laughed as he rubbed his chin lightly. “No, it’s because you have long legs, large eyes, and—” his eyes moved over my hair, “a lot of plumage.”’

”By the mighty power of Thor” Penny Reid just freaking gets me. Like really, truly, deep down in a part of my heart/soul/brain trifecta that I never knew existed - she just understands all of the things that I like, love, want, need, etc. (sometimes she even gives me things that I didn’t know that I things that I liked, loved, wanted, needed, etc.) and Penny just automatically delivers them to me in the best way possibly. Penny’s style is indescribably amazing…her characters are complex and dynamic, she weaves just the right amount of humor into the story – infusing dry sarcasm and clever whit with perfect timing, the dialogue and banter feels totally natural and just adds to the dynamic of the book – I mean I could go on and on for ages! I also love that Penny writes romance with intellect. Janie is clearly beyond intelligent…mind blowingly smart if you will, and I loved that even though I may not have had a single clue about what she was talking about…it didn’t bother me. If anything, it pulled me in more because it felt like I was learning something as I was enjoying the story – it all flowed together so well and I loved that it made me love Janie and the story more. But achieving an emotionally compelling, angst romance that also talks about international date standards and makes it all incredibly entertaining…that takes freaking skill. She engrosses you in the world of her characters and it’s an all-encompassing experience that I love. The pacing and flow is perfection…it’s a slow and gradual immersion into the wonderful world of Janie and her knitting group and her sexy McHotpants…but that’s what I loved about it. Not one ounce of this felt rushed, every scene was purposeful and critical in the execution of not only the relationship blooming between Janie and Quinn and also Janie’s own personal growth, but also the underlying drama. There is some amazing suspense towards the end that knocked me off my butt and had me on the edge of my seat and gripping my kindle for dear life – it was the best!

“Why are you so afraid?”
“Because I’m not thinking about the fiber content in stain-resistant carpet.” My eyes remained stubbornly shut.
“What does that mean?”
“It means…” I lifted my lids and found him surveying me with simple curiosity. I swallowed a new thickness in my throat, knowing that I needed to tell him the truth. “It means my brain finds you more interesting than all the really interesting trivial facts I could be contemplating or researching at present.”
His answering smile was leisurely and measured. “I think that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

I am totally hooked on this series now…after the introduction I just got to these characters I am over the moon excited about the rest of the books in the Knitting in the City series. Just from NSH I’m in awe of these amazing women and given Penny Reid’s incredible knack for creating magic, I have no doubt their stories are going to be just as captivating as Janie’s was. But before I move on…up next in the series is Neanderthal Marries Human …and after the epilogue in Neanderthal Seeks Human (from Quinn’s POV might I add!!!), I am so freaking ready to read this book. Beyond excited! I’m ready for round two, Sir Handsome McHotpants!
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lilradrad
4.0 out of 5 stars A new favorite book and a new favorite couple!
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2014
Verified Purchase
The power of word of mouth is truly a wonderful thing. If this book wasn’t recommend in an Amazon forum that I frequent, I would never even consider it…mainly because I’m not really a big ChickLit fan and the cover and blurb gave me that impression. Most ChickLit heroines I’ve come across tend to be shallow and somewhat ditzy so I tend to get annoyed rather than amused by them. I was in the mood for something light and funny though plus the smart romance description intrigued me. I mean, if the book itself is saying it’s smart then that must mean I won’t be getting an annoying, vain ditz for a protagonist, right?

We meet Janie in possibly one of the worst days of her life. Fired from her job the same day she caught her boyfriend cheating, the last thing she wanted was to be escorted out of her workplace by Sir Handsome McHotpants, the security guard she’s been stalking, err, crushing from afar.

After a very amusing yet awkward conversation in the elevator, Janie presumed that that will be the first and only time she will get to speak with the gorgeous security guard but through a series of events she somehow ended up with a job offer from Sir McHotpants himself (real name: Quinn) and thus began one of the most funny, adorable, sweet and heartwarming romance story I’ve read in a very long time.

Janie actually kinda reminded me of Temperance Brennan from the TV Show Bones in a way that they are both smart but socially awkward individuals who tend to sprout random trivial facts when they are in conversation. They are also both practical and logical when it comes to facts and information, but very oblivious in terms of emotional and social dynamics and interactions with people.

Perhaps the biggest difference between Janie and Bones is the former’s lack of self-confidence compared to the latter, especially in terms of her looks. I like that she didn’t come off as insecure though but rather, she’s accepted her plainness (but she’s clearly not), has come to terms with her strangeness and understand why people tend to see her as weird and somewhat freaky. Got to admit, the first chapter made me think the same thing.

“I don’t have a cell phone; I don’t believe in them.”
Joy raised her eyebrows. “You don’t believe in them?”

I wanted to tell her how I truly loathed cell phones. I hated the way they made me feel reachable twenty-four hours a day; it was akin to having a chip implanted in your brain that tracked your location and told you what to think and do until, finally, you became completely obsessed with the tiny touch screen as the sole interface between your existence and the real world. Did the real world actually exist if everyone only interacted via cell phones? Would Angry Birds one day become my reality? Was I the unsuspecting pig or the exploding bird?

Yeah…Okay.

After awhile though, her quirky personality and her random sprouting of facts and factoids grew on me and I understood why her friends, her ex-boyfriend and soon enough even Quinn just wants to take care of her. She’s so knowledgable of random information but adorably oblivious of the blatantly obvious. Even when the book is only told from her POV and she’s very descriptive of everything around her, she can be quite clueless, especially regarding Quinn’s obvious attraction to her.

“His secretive yet open and amused surveillance of my features was beginning to make me think he was just as strange as I was. He was making me extremely uncomfortable; his attention was a blinding spotlight from which I couldn’t escape.”

Quinn’s the strong and silent type and he’s what I can call a subtle alpha male. It’s also obvious for us that he’s more than a security guard but because Janie takes everything at face value, she’s misses certain signs that implies of that fact. It was also quite clear how he feels for Janie and he may not be very vocal about his affections, there was definitely wooing and I love that he never pushes her but it was still clear that he’s pursuing her. Aside from the few instances when he ordered food for her (I mean, what is up with that), I think he’s the perfect man for our quirky and geeky heroine. He’s quite dreamy actually.

Now, you’re probably wondering why a series that has quite a geeky protagonist for its first book is called Knitting in the City. Geeks and knit doesn’t often go in the same sentence. The reason for that is because Janie, along with her best friend Elizabeth is in a knitting group, even though Janie doesn’t know how to knit (which I can totally relate to). I mean, in this day and age I can’t believe there are actual groups where people come together to knit. TO KNIT! This is shocking for me, I’m the girl who paid someone to do my home economics project because sewing machines are evil. I actually enjoyed reading about these outspoken group of women. Their relationship wasn’t just talking about guys, going shopping and partying and it was clear how they care about each other even when all they do is hang out once a week to knit.

This book wasn’t perfect though, there were a few errors that can be fixed with additional editing and it also ended with a few loopholes. Like how Janie’s ex-boyfriend suddenly disappeared when he was quite adamant that he’s getting her back. And what the hell is up with her crazy sister? That was never really explained. But somehow, even after all the imperfections, the book managed to be light with the right amount of fluff but still managed to be smart, in a way that’s funny but not at all slapstick. Okay, maybe there were parts where it was slapstick. When you have a group of smart, independent women drinking while knitting, there just has to be.

Neanderthal Seeks Human was not a perfect read for me but it made it to my Favorites Shelf because of its likable characters. I love Janie and Quinn’s relationship but I adore them individually as well. I love their banter and I love how subtle they are with their feelings but still you know its sincere. This is another clean adult romance and I really wish there are more books like this. I’m getting quite sick of throbbing members and heaving bosoms, to be honest.

If you are in the mood for something romantic and light or if you just want to try out the adult romance genre without having to worry about love scenes bordering on the pornographic, I highly recommend this book because Quinn and Janie’s definitely a new addition to my list of favorite couples.
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Brenda fernandes
5.0 out of 5 stars Impossibly good!
Reviewed in Brazil on February 17, 2022
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I can't stop reading and reading again! It's perfect, cute and hard and romantic. Where's my knitting group?
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peasel
5.0 out of 5 stars Quirky and Original
Reviewed in Canada on December 17, 2018
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You may be wondering, what makes a book a "smart romance"? It's not just because the characters have high IQs (though in this particular book, they do), but rather it's an overall approach to romance. Grounded in reality, smart romance happens when, for example, characters don't make snap decisions based on wild miscommunication like in some books. These characters are very real, relatable, and utterly charming. If you've never read Penny Reid, this is a great introduction to her unique voice in the indie romance world, and it is the start of an amazing series (Knitting In The City) which will not disappoint. Five stars for a solid, smart story.
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Smita P
5.0 out of 5 stars Happy n funny
Reviewed in India on May 3, 2017
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Lovely book with lots of trivial notes, factoids, info. Which made book that much more interesting.
The plot is equally lovely n one can enjoy the journey with Janie. Though there r couple of facts n things which does not make sense or leaves questions in mind like if Janie graduated summa cum laude with a leading Univ. What made it hard for her to get a job. Quinn seems like epitome of perfection despite whatever issues he is supposed to have. But still it is a good book to read...
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Emdawi
5.0 out of 5 stars Leichte Romanze für Zwischendurch
Reviewed in Germany on October 15, 2016
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Mir hat es Spaß gemacht, das Buch zu lesen. Die Dialoge sind witzig, Janie ist etwas durchgeknallt aber sympathisch und Quinn ist einfach nur süß :)
Es sind keine Sexszenen enthalten, aber ich denke, dass die Art und Weise wie es geschrieben ist mehr etwas für ab 16jährige ist.
Die Charaktere sind nicht tief herausgearbeitet, aber es ist passend für dieses Genre - wie gesagt eine leichte Lektüre.
Standalone mit HEA, ohne Cliffhanger.
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Molly84
5.0 out of 5 stars Funny, sweet and a real page turner
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 16, 2016
Verified Purchase
This was an excellent read full of humour, interesting characters and a touch of mystery.
Janie is having the day from hell. Her boyfriend cheated on her, she was living in his apartment so she's now technically homeless and when she gets to work she is fired as the company is downsizing. However, as a final insult, the sexy security guard she's been admiring has been sent to escort her from the building.
Quinn the gorgeous security escort then starts popping up in her life when things seem to be at their worst and turns into a reluctant knight in shining armour. However, many thing are not as they seem, the circumstances around Janie's day from hell, Quinn's job and the sudden reappearance of Janie's crazy sister add to the mystery.
Janie and Quinn are an odd match on paper. She is a highly intelligent, beautiful woman with social interaction issues. She spouts trivia during uncomfortable silences or anxious situations. She misses normal social cues and relies on her friends in the knitting group to help her analyse her interactions to see what she missed. Quinn is a mystery at the start of the novel. He has a permanent poker face and speaks very few words. As you get to know him better you see that his actions speak for him rather than words. As Janie opens up to him, his mask starts to slip around her and he lets himself show his emotions.
The knitting group are a hilarious mix of characters and I can't wait to read about their adventures.
This was a romance novel with many layers, it's very well written and isn't afraid to be clever or use obscure references.
The novel is told from Janie's perspective but the epilogue is told from Quinn's which was a lovely edition to the story. Definitely a series worth reading.
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