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Neanderthal Seeks Human: A Smart Romance Paperback – March 13 2013

by Penny Reid (Author)

4.3 19,406 ratings

Book 1 of 8: Knitting in the City

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Janie has no idea Quinn is her boss . . .

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- aka 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.

Debut novel by New York Times Bestselling Author Penny Reid!
★ AAR top 100 romances of all time ★

Neanderthal Seeks Human is book #1 in the Knitting in the City series. Each book is a standalone, full length (110k words), contemporary romantic comedy novel, and follows the misadventures and exploits of seven friends in Chicago, all members of the same knitting group.

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About the Author

Penny Reid is a Wallstreet Journal and USA today bestselling author of odd romantic comedies. She's also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought hijacker.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ cipher-naught; 1st edition (March 13 2013)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 402 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0989281000
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0989281003
Item weight ‏ : ‎ 435 g
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.24 x 2.31 x 22.86 cm

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4.3 19,406 ratings

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Penny Reid

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Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she writes kissing books. Penny is an obsessive knitter and manages the #OwnVoices-focused mentorship incubator / publishing imprint, Smartypants Romance. She lives in Seattle Washington with her husband, three kids, and dog named Hazel.

FOLLOW PENNY:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pennyreidwriter

Twitter: www.twitter.com/reidromance

Instagram: www.instagram.com/reidromance

Just Released:

October 20th, 2022: Folk Around and Find Out, Good Folk: Modern Folktales, Book 2

Upcoming Releases:

December 13th, 2022: Drama King, Three Kings Series, Book 2

Currently Working On:

2023: Pride and Dad Jokes, Ideal Man, Book 1

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peasel

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.

Reviewed in Canada on November 23, 2017

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The title was what got my attention... I believed this was going to be a funny romance, and I was right! Really enjoyed this book. It's nothing like I like to read, but I was looking for something light, fun and easy to read to pass the time... And it worked! Love the main character, she's very weird indeed, but also relatable. And Quinn, well, he's everything we want a guy to be! Only reason I give it 4 starts and not 5 is because I want MORE! :D It ended too fast (or maybe I read it too fast lol)!

Reviewed in Canada on December 7, 2017

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I really enjoyed this book. Janie, the heroine, is a very unique character. I don’t know if the author intended it, but it almost sounds as though she has Aspergers—which is not a common trait to find in a romantic lead. Reid does a great job of painting a lovely romance, but the book lacks description of the intimate scenes. As such, this book is great for those of us who crave a skillfully crafted novel filled with romance, but might disappoint readers who are looking for more sexually descriptive narrative. :-)

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J. Welling

I need to find a new knitting group 😉

Reviewed in Canada on August 29, 2019

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I loved all the girls in the knitting group! Everyone should have friends like these ladies. This first story in the series is about Janie who does not knit and is very socially awkward. She is a vat of interesting and sometimes useful facts and trivia. She uses this knowledge to help herself navigate the sometimes deep waters of social interactions. While I found her various factoids fascinating, they seemed to overwhelm her relationships with her friends and her romantic interest, Quinn. There were times when the story could have focused more on the interaction between Janie and Quinn instead of spewing information that does nothing to move the story along. Intimate details were brushed over with one or two sentences but carpet fibres are discussed at length for one or two pages. After awhile this excess verbiage gets to be quite tiresome. Other than that, I found the story to be a charming and enjoyable read.

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Kindle Customer

I loved it. I immediately bought the rest of the ...

Reviewed in Canada on March 19, 2015

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I bought this book when it was one sale on the recommendation of a blogger's review. It sat on my Kindle for quite a while, but when I finally started it, I loved it. I immediately bought the rest of the series and I think I read the whole series in a week. Penny Reid's heroines are smart, funny, and occasionally do really dumb things. In other words, they are very realistic.
I highly recommend this series.

One person found this helpful

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Paragraphs and Petticoats

I Love Quirky Leading Ladies!

Reviewed in Canada on April 30, 2017

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Neanderthal Seeks Human by Penny Reid (Audio Edition)
Narrated by Jennifer Grace
Series: Knitting in the City #1

4 Stars - I love the nerdy girl character. Loved all the random trivia she would blurt out, and I love it when the characters love each other because of their quirks! Quinn was a mystery.. though at points he was starting to seem a bit overprotective. I found this book funny and charming.. The characters chemistry is great, though I wish I could have seen more from Quinn’s point of view- just because that is a favourite of mine.. Seeing what the hero is thinking. This is the 3rd book I have read by Penny Reid and I am quite enjoying her style of writing.

~Paragraphs and Petticoats~

One person found this helpful

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whitelites

A genuine treasure!

Reviewed in Canada on July 13, 2016

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Smart, sassy, original, entertaining, insightful, intelligent, endearing, funny, captivating...I could go on!! So glad to downloaded this free book because I feel like I found a treasure. Ms. Reid is an original, that's for sure. I haven't read such an entertaining novel in a loooong time. She's an expert wordsmith, an enthralling storyteller, and I can't wait to read what's in store for this Tuesday knitting group after Janie and Quinn's story. The title caught my eye, the tagline raised my hopes, and the story caught me up like a kite flying gracefully in the wind, all the while being controlled by a master flier. I'm a fan, Ms. Reid, a genuine fan!

One person found this helpful

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Lulu

Absolutely love!

Reviewed in Canada on February 4, 2021

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Penny Reid nails it again! The fun banter, the drama and with the way she develops her characters. I look forward to reading the second book to Janie’s story.

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Brenda fernandes

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?

Lisa Maurer

Absolutely fantastic read - loved every McHotpants second of it!

Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2018

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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!

8 people found this helpful

Smita P

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...

Emdawi

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

Funny, sweet and a real page turner

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 16, 2016

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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.

2 people found this helpful

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Neanderthal Seeks Human: A Smart Romance Paperback – March 13 2013

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