This was a great contemporary, romance novel! Hannah is a 20 something living in England when she receives a phone call from someone trying to phone into a job interview. The two of them start chatting after he mistakenly calls here a second time. She finds out that his name is Davey and he is from Texas. He is also in his late 20s. The two of them have a connection and definitely have something together even though they have never actually met. They want to take things further and plan to meet but the universe has other plans.
This book took me on an emotional roller coaster. I was drawn to both characters and their stories. The book is primarily from Hannah's point of view but half way through you also get Davey's perspective. I am so glad the author did this because I really wanted to know what Davey was thinking. I think anyone who is looking for a good love story but also drawn to people finding themselves will enjoy this book.

Thank you to Megan Whalen and Random House Publishing for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

So I think I might be in the minority regarding how I feel about this book...

I desperately wanted to like this. I loved the premise and was curious to see why Davey didn't show up at the airport. But the execution of it all fell entirely flat for me. I felt so let down by how things happened and how they were told. At the end of things, I just wanted more. I think we got too much of one thing and not enough of what was working.

For starters, I think this book could have used more dual POV. We don't get Davey's POV until much later, and VERY little of it. It wasn't enough for me. Seeing his POV through all stages of their relationship could have been helpful to the storyline and made us see how hard he was falling for Hannah. I also think that that would have made his reason for not showing up that much more intense and devastating because we would have seen how excited he was to see Hannah. His storyline is so, so important, and I felt like it was a disservice not to include more of the story through his eyes and what he was experiencing.

I also think part of the reason why this fell flat for me was my own expectations. I didn't expect the book to be so focused on Hannah's other relationship with George. The fact that it was so toxic and surface level didn't make it any better either. Part of me understands that Hannah needed to try with someone else, but their relationship was so off-putting that it made me lose interest in the story.

It was honestly surprising to read how little Davey was in this story. It didn't feel like Hannah and Davey's love story in the end with how little he was in it and how focused it was on other parts of Hannah's life. I guess I just expected/wanted them to find more ways to stay connected while they were apart, but what we got was so far from that that it left me feeling dissatisfied. Ultimately, I didn't feel like I knew either of them. They both felt like distant characters, ones I could never fully grasp or connect with.

The biggest letdown was definitely the ending. It felt so rushed and underwhelming. Getting mere pages of Hannah and Davey together in person was such a disappointment. I couldn't believe I went through all that to barely get to see them together. I think their relationship deserved more, and I'm sad we never got to see their story entirely told. It felt incomplete to me.

Overall, I think this had the opportunity to be a cute and heartwarming story, but it just didn't work for me. I see that many other people did like it, though, so that's something to keep in mind!

Thank you, Netgalley and Ballantine Dell, for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

What a fascinating and wonderful read. The entire story pulled me in right from the beginning and I didn’t want to put it down until I knew what happened to the main characters. I just loved this book.

This was such a cute book and right up my alley. I loved every bit of it. I enjoyed the dual POV as well as the character development. I didn't want the book to end.

The Man I Never Met by Elle Cook is one 9f those books that once you start reading you can't put it down. Hannah and Davey "meet" when he accidentally calls her cell while trying to call into a job interview. She never expects to hear from him after the first call, but they strike up a friendship over the phone and find they're very attracted to each other, even though he's in Texas and she's in London. He gets the job in London and they plan to meet, but when he doesn't show at the airport, she thinks it's over and she'll never meet him. But things have changed for Davey in a heartbreaking way and he tells her to move on with her life, so she tries.

I loved this novel and think you will too! Thanks to the author, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review

I recently read another story with a love story starting with a wrong number and loved it and this book is no different! I think that this trope speaks to me for some reason. The mystery of it all is captivating, not knowing who is on the other side of the phone. Also dual POV is something that make books difficult to put down. I read this in one sitting! I will definitely recommend this book to my friends.

Thank you for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Oh I loved this book so much!! It’s just so darn cute and I highly recommend it! She is a new author for me but can’t wait to read more from her!

Great romance read! The Man I Never Met centers around Hannah who receives an accidental call from Davey. Wrong number. But then an unlikely friendship starts which may be turning into more. Just when they are about to meet, something terrible happens. This book will give you all of the feels! The ending was rushed and it was a bit darker than expected but I still loved this one!

Well, in many ways I loved this book. It was heartwarming, sweet, emotional….. all the things. I would give it 4 stars. I loved the overall book more than that, but the ending has me taking away a star.

First of all, pacing is good. I found myself enjoying the story and wanting to keep reading. There was some great character development that takes place as the characters navigate the difficulties and heartaches of life. That doesn’t mean I didn’t want to rail at them sometimes for their stupid decisions, but overall, they come into their own and learn so much more about themselves.

The one main downside I had to this book was the ending. It was so anticlimactic to me. It really does all come down to a few pages and I was so disappointed in that fact. I felt like we needed more.

Cute story, disappointing ending….

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What started out as a wrong number dial turned into two people across the pond from each other forming a friendship and a connection that was ripe with the potential to be more. Hannah Gallagher lives in England and when Davey Carew rings her number twice, they have a brief exchange because he’s in Texas, frantically trying to call in for an interview in London. He winds up getting the job and notifies Hannah, and from there, they become texting buddies. It’s fun and exciting to get to know someone without getting to know them in one’s personal space although Davey is moving to London.

I enjoyed their relationship build up via text, phone calls and video chat. Despite the distance and over electronic devices, they manage to bridge a gap emotionally. Watching Hannah interact with Davey in comparison to her friends, coworkers and others, it’s obvious that she’s sharing a part of herself that she wouldn’t with just anyone. They are adorable in conversation and eager to meet up someday, maybe as only friends or perhaps more since their attraction is growing. So when the day finally comes and Davey doesn’t show up, Hannah is so confused. I definitely wasn’t expecting Davey’s reason to be what it was, that was most certainly an unexpected surprise.

Like any missed opportunity, the reader is mourning alongside Hannah and Davey for almost what could’ve been. Because of certain reasons, they continue along with life separately and do not keep in touch. I actually liked that both Davey and Hannah have POVs represented from this point forward because Davey is experiencing something profoundly life changing and it’s taken over all of his hopes and dreams. As for Hannah, she’s swimming along as best she can and recalibrating herself. Watching them both become adrift in different ways and succumbing to whatever is easiest or most convenient is frustrating, but apparently necessary for their personal growth and maturity. There are parts where they both needed a good shoulder shake, yet I still kept my fingers crossed for them. And as luck or fate or coincidence or whatever would have it, sometimes it is all about being at the right place at the right time. The characters are likable and relatable, the story itself is cute and engaging with some serious themes that are thought provoking when it comes to living life to the fullest and seizing the moment. While I’m glad there was an epilogue, it still felt a bit rushed and abrupt as a summarized narration given all the lead up of the entire story.

The Man I Never Met by Elle Cook
4⭐️

Hannah is living in London, when she receives a call from an American trying to dial into his interview. After the misdial, Hannah and Davey become fast friends (and maybe more) when Davey gets the job and is moving to London shortly. Soon, tragedy strikes and Davey is unable to make finally meet Hannah and move to London. Antics ensue, and this book finally ends with a Happily Ever After.

Maybe because I just read a book by Mhairi McFarlane, or that this was such an unapologetically British book, but the style and overarching story reminded me so much of her book I had to remind myself it wasn’t.

Overall, I really loved this book. It was a cute, different story that was more focused on self-growth, with a heartbreaking love story about fate intertwined. The side characters were so well thought out and amazing, and the main characters I just wanted to give a big hug for all that they had to go through! The book really hit its stride around the 50% mark. I struggled in the beginning but now I realize it was all setup for the remainder of the book. I believe most of it was needed, just wish it could have been a bit speedier.

Not going to lie, I genuinely thought that Hannah was being catfished. I get that they had video chats, but still. The premise for Davey not being able to move to London seemed a bit outlandish to me but honestly, I think it was handled really well. It wasn’t until we had Davey’s POV that I realized it was real and then I really started to get into the story. Having Davey’s POV at the 50% mark was a bit jarring though, since I really thought this story was only told by Hannah. That said, having Davey’s POV was huge and so crucial to the overarching story.

Some minor things that I got hung up on: The talk of body image and self doubt was a bit tiring after awhile. I understand that Hannah was going through the motions of being in a relationship, but reading all of those negative thoughts was a bit upsetting. Also, the last chapter felt a bit rushed, but I understand the call back the author was trying to make. I just wished we had gotten a bit more of Hannah and Davey’s story together!

All in all it was a really good book, and can’t wait for it to be released! This book will not disappoint so I highly recommend reading it!!

Also, thanks so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for the much appreciated ARC in return for an honest review.

A completely unexpected romance I just couldn’t put down! The fast pace of Hannah and Davey’s story kept me on the edge of my seat, and I loved Hannah’s personal story of finding herself along the way. And that ending - the setting and that scene? *chef’s kiss*

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. #TheManINeverMet #NetGalley

I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy this novel reading some of the reviews but I'm glad that I gave it a go because I really ended up enjoying this. It's an interesting spin on the normal type of romance and while it's a bit darker than most I still enjoyed it for what it was. I really enjoyed getting to know Hannah and wished Davey was more expanded on in his chapters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an eARC copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Where to start?!?!? This is a must read!!! So much heart, love, growth, I absolutely could not put this book down!

The characters were delightful, the dialog was funny, touching and wonderfully written and the story is beautifully crafted.

This is absolutely a new favorite!

Thanks to @RandomHouse for the gifted ARC! A bittersweet love story spanning the Atlantic begins with a misdialed number. An emotional story with good ebb and flow and a cinematic ending, but Davey’s chapters lacked the depth given to Hannah’s. For fans of One Day In December. Releases 11/22.

3.5 / 5 stars

I loved this book! So many romance novels are the same story, over and over, but this one felt fresh and original

This is the perfect beach read. So incredibly well paced and keeps you wanting more. As the title of the book goes, will they ever meet? When Davey mistakenly dials Hannah instead of his job interview they continue the conversation and develop a long distance friendship.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I liked the premise, but this just wasn’t good. Poor characterizations, horrible relationships, unhealthy relationships with food and exercise, etc.

I also hate that one of the romances kept getting described as hot and sexy, but it was all tell and no show.

This just fell flat and felt immature.

*** Thanks NetGalley for providing me with ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. ***

Absolutely fantastic! Could not put the book down. Going to recommend to everyone to check out this book!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest (and in this case, somewhat spoiler-y) review. -- PLEASE NOTE: I will post this review on Amazon and my Instagram when it's closer to the Pub. date. It's on Goodreads now.

“The Man I Never Met” by Elle Cook
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5
✈️ to: London, Tuscany

“The Man I Never Met” completely took me by surprise. The story doesn't waste any time and opens with a fated accidental call between Hannah and Davey which leads to a budding friendship and potentially something deeper. While it took me a minute to get into the story, I quickly became invested in their long distance (and virtual) correspondences.

Through their calls, readers learn that Davey will soon be moving to Hannah's hometown of London. And their romance seems inevitable... but Davey never shows up. I didn't see the reason why Davey didn't come to London from a mile away. His reason adds depth to what might otherwise be a light/fluffy story and tests the two characters past their breaking points.

I didn't actually find Hannah relatable at all (I love the Doctor Who Christmas special and do NOT love the gym). The secondary characters in this story are superb. Joan is a national treasure and must be protected at all costs and there's a lot of depth to a character that easily could have been written as one-dimensional counterpart to Davey.

Without spoiling too much (more), my only real complaint is that I left "The Man I Never Met" wanting more. The build up was long and the payoff was short.