“I’ve never had anything like this with anyone: this complete openness, friends who might be something else, forced into a slowness that I like because we physically can’t be anything else. Because now this feels like it might be something else; something amazing. And it is turning into something with possibilities, and it’s moving there so incredibly slowly that I’m not sure I even noticed when it happened.”

Gosh, I could just not put this down!! I loved the premise — a misdial turns into texting, phone calls and video chats. Even though Davey and Hannah don’t meet in person their chemistry is instant and their connection is undeniable. I could truly feel the longing between them and as Hannah anticipated finally meeting Davey in person, the anticipation was palpable. And I STILL felt that way knowing that something wasn’t going to go right. I couldn’t have prepared for what kept Davey from meeting Hannah nor what unfolded after that. Ughhh, again the longing and heartbreak.

Hannah and Davey both went through the ringer and took me with them. It’s so hard to truly convey how this made me feel without giving important things away. I will say there is A LOT of character growth and it involves other people. I felt so many emotions reading this — angst, anger, giddiness, joy, frustration, confusion, longing and so many more. There were times I wanted to shake and scream at Davey and Hannah and other times I just wanted to wrap them up in big hugs. Truly, this is such an emotional read, but it comes full circle in the most beautiful way. I had tears in my eyes by the end. I really hope there’s a bonus epilogue at some point!!

CW: some language throughout, open-doorish (more like a peek and then fade to black, PG-13)

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced copy. My thoughts are my own.

2.5-2.75
the amount of times she mentioned the "a room with a view" movie.. !! it’s making me want to read the book even more but also making me a tad annoyed. and then the references to the book, like, no way. her thinking the book would be underwhelming in comparison. come on, now. there's no way that movie is THAT good. i didn't expect this book to go down the route it did since the early-ish mark too ? i wasn't really into the characters that much, and, i don't know, this just took me way too long to read. i literally started on october 2nd and ended today on november 22nd. i didn't even want to pick it up, besides for the fact that i just wanted to see what would end up happening. - and, once again, i'm reading a very british book with very british slang. but, i also love grant so much <33 that's all. very random, but he was a very, very sweet character.
+ i feel like the ending was a little rushed and this was primarily hannah’s pov until we randomly got davey’s ? it didn’t fee like it was properly places or evened out. the entire book felt like a build up to their relationship that we barely got much of.

I loved this book! I was such a fun read of will they or won't they. The premise is so great, too. I cannot wait to read more from this author in the future. I highly recommend.

"𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩, 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘪𝘵? 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳."

Oh... I just have... SO MANY feelings right now. Good feelings.

First and foremost, *SPOILER ALERT* I do feel I should share that there is a very central plot point of cancer (testicular cancer specifically), so if you're at all triggered by that or the chemo process, please wade carefully. 💙

That being said, I felt like I was holding my breath through this entire "will they, won't they" experience.

I have done the long distance thing before. I know those feelings of staring at your phone, willing it to ring, and I've also known the constant watching, seeing if they're online, when it's all over.

This story is so incredibly well written. You love these people, you get frustrated when they're not together or end up with people who are CLEARLY not good for them, and get exasperated with their near misses/crossing of paths.

Until you can finally breathe again in the end. ❤

Thank you Elle, @penguinrandomhouse and @netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for a review!
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I’ve just finished this book and now I have a case of the warm fuzzies! This was such a cute story and I enjoyed every bit of it from beginning to end, despite the fact that it has plenty of more serious moments thrown in with the cute. The first post I made about this book came when I was only a tiny way through the book and little did I know what was coming. All I’m saying is Elle Cook (which I discovered is actually a pseudonym) knows how to hit you right in the feels.

This was a clever, endearing, raw story with equal parts romcom and drama. I felt myself following in Hannah’s footsteps as she meets and gets to know Davey but never actually MEETS him, in the physical, in person, not behind a phone screen sense. I loved the instant connection between the two of them, and respected seeing the stark contrast between their relationship and that of Hannah and George. And that is the only nice thing I have to say about George. 😒

I’m a sucker for romance stories with happy endings, and this is definitely one of them. Will you be stressed and possibly screaming and crying at your book, asking WHY these characters insist on torturing you AND themselves? Yeah. But you’ll love it all the same.

Bonus points go to some great supporting characters and phenomenal scenery (poppy fields in Tuscany and the rocky shores of England, to name a couple).

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the advance opportunity to read this ebook.

I had a hard time with this novel, but I think my issues stemmed from not caring for the writing style more than not liking the story itself. I thought the plot was quite engaging. I loved the premise of this meet-cute (huge Sleepless in Seattle vibes which is always a-okay by me). I thought the chemistry between the MC and her love interest(s) was strong. And I also enjoyed that a good chunk of this was set at Christmas time because who doesn’t love a good holiday romance?

The other part that I really loved about this story is how it didn’t shy away from serious issues. I don’t want to get into spoiler territory, but this book contains a very realistic portrayal of someone dealing with a major hardship and I found it really well done (feel free to DM for any trigger warnings).

I just didn’t like the writing style. There were large sections that were either way over explained, or conversely where long time periods of action were condensed and happened “off screen,” and it just didn’t work for me.

That being said, this was a cute, quick romance with some depth and the ending did get me all swoony, so if it sounds up your alley, check it out!

Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for my gifted e-arc!

What a unique romance story! I’ve not quite read anything like it before, and I devoured it! Mainly because I HAD to know if they ever met!!

I went in blind (and recommend you do too), and got quite the shock 😳. This book will bring the emotions. I got sad. I got angry. I got happy, and I got upset.

At times I wish the two main characters were stronger and didn’t choose the easy way out, but it was probably more realistic this way. There is one character that is sketchy as hell that you just love to hate.

It’s a slow burn romance which is usually not my thing, but it worked so well with this story!

In the recent trail of stories of almost meet-ups and near miss love findings that have passed through my reading stack (imaginary stack at my bedside table because I love digital books!), The Man I Never Met is far and beyond the sweetest romance mishap meeting of them all. Hannah is in London and Davey is in Texas (thanks for the nod to my home state). Davey is trying to call an architecture firm in London for an interview when he dials Hannah by mistake. They embark on a series of sleep over calls, flat viewings, and are eager to meet up in person right after New Year's. But when Hannah waits for him to come through the doors at the airport...and waits...and waits. When he does not show, she's left to wonder was any of it real.

Elle Cook wonderfully pulls every emotion into this tale. You are laughing; you are crying; you are cursing one of the characters, "How could you!!??" and "What are you doing??" I found myself jumping into this read at every chance I could get because I just had to know how it would all come together.

It is marvelous to be able to get lost in make believe and have a happy ending. Thank you for the great escape I needed. Truly, I hope that the author will continue contemporary romance, because she is fantastically good at it!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Ballentine and NetGalley for the digital ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

One evening as she is leaving the gym, Hannah gets a long distance call from an unknown number on her cellphone. It was a stranger named Davey who was calling for a job interview and had written down the wrong number. Hannah wishes him good luck, and later that evening she gets a text telling her he got the job. This starts a long-distance friendship which later turns to both of them having genuine feelings for each other. They talk often and about everything, and realize just how much they have in common and how perfect they are together. They make plans for Hannah to pick Davey up at the airport when he arrives to start his new job. Hannah goes to the airport to meet him and Davey's flight arrives, but Davey isn't on it. She tries calling him and doesn't get an answer, and the same with email and text. When Hannah finally is able to reach Davey and finds out he isn't coming after all, and the reason why, she is devastated. Is this the end of their story, or will they someday get their happy ending after all?
This book was so good, but so devestatingly sad. It started out like one of the Meg Ryan rom-com's from the 90's, and then turned into something Cecelia Ahern might write, and then (finally) the world rights itself again, and we get the happy ending we so desperately need at this point. I can not tell you how many tissues I went through during the middle part of the book, but it was quite a few. This is definitely one you are going to want to read.

Woww! This book was amazing in many different ways. The journey you are taken through and how it evolves in the end is truly magical. I was first drawn to the idea around this book from never hearing it before and finding it adorable of a misdial turning into a romance! However it evolves into so much more than that!!
Although the book isn't focused on cute romantic scenes, I was still pulled into their romance story even though it was on pause for a long period of time. The way they always loved each other was beautiful to me.
The beginning of this book resonates with me and felt comforting from how they started dating through long distance, which is what me and boyfriend started as.
The author truly described and executed this book beautifully and deserves a copioius amount of recognition for it.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves The Song of Achilles, Archer's Voice, and The Fault In Our Stars.
This book truly exceeded my expectations and I would highly recommend it!

Wow. This book put me in all my feelings through the entire story.

One day Hannah gets a call from an unfamiliar number. She answers on a whim to hear an American voice on the other end. Wrong number. The man immediately calls back and they have a laugh over how he has a job interview and wrote down the number wrong. Hannah wishes him luck and its over. Or not? Davey, the American, lets her know that he got the job and is moving to London. And a friendship is born. Texts turn to calls and then turn to video calls. A relationship, no matter how unconvential, is born and they can't wait to meet. But everything is turned on its head the day Davey is supposed to arrive in London. Hannah and Davey thought they were meant to be, but life seems to hae other plans for them.

I think it is important to go into this story 100% blind. It's important not to see the twists coming, even as they break your heart, because it adds to the emotional power of the story. It's a beautiful, albeit tough, story. Hannah and Davey are both so real and human, I felt like I knew them both personally... I laughed with them, I cried with them and I felt their pain. Their friends and support systems were also well written. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book. It is well worth the tears and heartache.

One of the most brilliant books I've read this year. Perfect for people who loved Always in December and Letters to Juliet! Following Hannah and Davey over the course of a year, The Man I Never Met is the story of two people miles apart learning to move on. After Davey accidentally calls Hannah thinking it's the right number for his job interview, the pair continue to chat while Davey plans to move to London. On the day he's due to arrive, Hannah heads to the airport but Davey doesn't show. From there this is a book of whirlwind emotions, hardships, and adventure.

WOW I can't love this book much more than I already do. Hannah and Davey are both deep, amazing, and funny characters. Hannah's growth over the course of this year is tremendous and seeing her shift to care more for herself and putting herself first was the best. Davey faces a battle that drains him in every way. His vulnerability was beautifully done.

The best part of this book though was seeing the US and UK crossover. As someone who's lived in both and sees both places as home. I LOVED THIS!!! All the little elements that Elle/Lorna included was perfect and it added so much to the humor. Go read this immediately because it's amazing.

Okay, wow! I was not expecting to fall so hard for this book, but I completely fell into the story of Davey and Hannah. Elle Cook is a pseudonym for Lorna Cook, historical fiction author, and this is her first foray (although I hope not the last!) into romance. Graciously her husband permitted her to use part of his real life story as inspiration for Davey’s story and the results are so sincere and honest.
It’s a little tricky to describe this book without giving too much away, but it all begins when Hannah, based in London, accidentally receives a call from an American number belonging to Davey who is trying to phone in to a job interview. Wishing him luck, Hannah and Davey begin casually messaging each other just out of good nature. As unbelievable as it sounds while I write this, the chatting between them naturally develops and seems completely believable and effortless. Davey gets the job in London and now has more reason than ever to talk to Hannah. Chatting transitions to calling and FaceTiming as a more than casual relationship develops. Again, I know it seems far fetched, but Cook’s writing is so smooth that I believed every moment of it. The reader finally arrives at the point where Hannah and Davey are finally going to meet in person, but “life altering circumstances” prevent this from happening. Up until this point it has only been Hannah’s POV and then suddenly we get a glimpse into Davey’s mind. I loved this alteration and felt like Davey became more of a real person, and less a figment of Hannah’s imagination. As life would prove it, time moves on and Davey and Hannah still never meet although they each continue to think of the other a little bit as the one that got away. The time they have no contact is some of the hardest to read (the romance reader in me just wanted magic to happen to put them together), but the story building is beautiful. Without divulging any spoilers, you just have to keep reading because the narratives for Davey and Hannah work themselves out over time, distance, other relationships and healing. There is a sense of fated mates continually pulling at these two, but they still do not meet. No worries though because a happy ever after is promised and the ending is just so perfect for the story. Elle Cook does a terrific job of drawing out tension and anguish from her characters and getting to the heart of emotional connections. This book made me FEEL things for Davey, FEEL things for Hannah and I loved riding along on their journey. Content warnings for illness in a loved one and body sensitivity. A big thank you to Random House Publishing—Ballantine, Dell and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Charming....

This is a very unique, sweet read. with lot's of character development. Hannah gets a wrong call from Davey, twice, as he wrote the UK number down wrong. I liked the two characters, though Davey may want to know what ellipses mean when texting. Davey is facing some life altering decisions and that is very much his story. While dealing with heavy material. the book manages to be charming and hopeful while they navigate life separately for the most part.
Recommend.

This book really surprised me. I was looking for a bit of a palate cleanser after having read a heavy book, so I picked up what I thought was going to be a sweet and simple romance. And while The Man I Never Met does contain a lot of the elements of a typical romance, it offers a whole lot more than that, too. I devoured this book, reading it in one day because I couldn't put it down. Highly recommend!

Dual perspectives done right.

Hannah and Davey's love story unfolds over long distance and the course of a year and a half. They have never actually met in person... Their story is heartbreaking and beautiful with just a hint of fated lovers.

If you are looking for an unexpected, slow-burn love story with a big emotional pay off in the end give this one a chance.

Content warning: cancer diagnosis/treatment

I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I adored this book. Normally I like my romances with a good helping of steam, which this did not have, but I honestly didn't miss it. The story follows Hannah, a twenty something British woman, and Davey, a twenty something American man (who was born in England). They cross paths when Davey accidentally calls Hannah. Something clicks and they keep talking and messaging each other. The call he was supposed to make (and eventually succeeds in completing) is for a job interview in London, which he lands, so the two begin planning for what they will do when he arrives. They begin falling for each other and both can't wait for his arrival, but when Hannah goes to the airport, he never shows up. Without giving away anything, the reason is devastating and changes the course of both of their lives and their relationship. They part ways without ever meeting, both dating other people, but never really finding happiness. They dip back into each others lives briefly from time to time but it seems like it just isn't meant to be. However, neither can let go of the idea of the other.

Things I liked: The sweeping, emotional journey, the character development - I LOVED all the main characters, the side characters, everyone, the physical and mental health issue representation

Things I didn't like: I would have loved to have read more chapters from Davey's perspective, and as always, I'd have loved some spice, but as mentioned, I didn't really miss it. I didn't like the emphasis on Hannah's weight; I understand it was meant to point to how her relationship with George wasn't right, but it felt not quite developed enough to make its point and just left me a little uncomfortable, but not enough to deduct a star.

I loved this book and would recommend to anyone.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A wrong number leads to love in this delightful story by Elle Cook. It's full of all the swoony romance you could ever want, with a healthy dose of pining and heartbreak. The characters of Hannah and Davey are well-drawn and you will instantly become attached to them and want only good things for them for the rest of their lives. But we can't have a romance without a setback of some sort, and this one is a doozy. Some may want to check content warnings before proceeding. The story starts out as lighthearted but takes a bit of a darker and more serious turn part-way through.

I will say that this book made me want to throw my Kindle across the room in frustration a couple of times, and more than once I found myself yelling, "Can someone please get on a plane?!" But in a good way, if that makes sense? That level of frustration was a sign of how invested I was in this book and these characters. Bravo.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Random House/Ballantine for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story gave me the "will they, won't they" feeling the entire way through the book. I felt Hannah's devastation at the airport, I felt Davey's devastation when his life fell off the rails he envisioned and I felt love for each of the characters (except George of course).

A story with all the feels about a girl, Hannah, living in London - picking up a phone call from a random number and starting a conversation with Davey, living in the States. What started out as a wrong number turns into a series of phone calls and texts between Davey and Hannah. Davey has taken a job in London and has plans to move down and meet Hannah in person. When Hannah is left at the airport after hours of Davey not showing up and not texting, she is understandably distraught. She can think of over a dozen things that could have happened, not many of them good. When she finally finds out what has delayed Davey's arrive in London, it is far worse than she even imagined.

I didn't know much about what to expect before opening this book and I highly recommend that method for this one. Don't listen to the chatter, just pick this one up. There are heavy subjects - but there is also the perfect amount of levity to even out the balance between light and dark. Both Hannah and Davey must decide which direction their lives will take. Do you stay with the safe? Or do you follow your dreams?

I loved this book and read it quickly because I needed to know if they would end up together. Not gonna tell you that but I will say that the ending was a little too abrupt for me. I mean this is what I have been waiting the whole book to find out and it was revealed in little over a page. There were also a few unresolved situations - like the package she threw in one of her closets - I wonder why it was mentioned. Elle Cook did a great job with character development - I could see exactly why Davey would make the choices he did, just as I could see why Hannah would choose the path that she did. And all the characters are so likeable save for the one that is meant to be rather unlikeable.

Highly recommend this one - I think more women's fiction than RomCom. The perfect blend of yearning, confusion, frustration and discovery. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the arc to read and review.

When a random number shows up on your phone (one that isn’t even from your country), do you answer? For Hannah, curiosity wins out and she answers the call. Davey lives in Austin, TX and dialed the wrong London number for a job interview. But when Hannah picks up, twice, she gets curious about this American man and the status of his interview. Texts turn to calls which turn to video calls and even the prospect of love as Davey did indeed get the job and will be moving to London in a matter of weeks. But when the day finally arrives, he never does. Can Hannah move on with her life if she never meets him?

This book went places I never imagined but it also took a piece of my heart with it. I just loved every bit of this book and couldn’t put it down because I had to know how it would play out for everyone involved. I cried, I laughed, I swooned, I rolled my eyes. I felt all the feelings.

It sounds crazy to follow along with the life of someone heartbroken over a man they never met, but it also made a lot of sense to me. There’s something about those big what if’s in our lives that are incredibly hard to let go of. When if he showed up? What if we fell in love for real? What if this man could have changed my life? The not knowing is harder than anything else. Ok, I’ve reached the rambling part of my review so I must have loved this book.

The Man I Never Met is so much more than a romance. It spans a year and a half of Hannah’s life and I really felt like I was living right along with her. It’s quirky, it’s emotional, it’s often heartbreaking. But it’s also beautiful and hopeful and thought provoking.