I did not finish this book as I did not like Tess at all. She was stuck up at times and just overall annoying. While I understand she probably develops as a character throughout the book, I just did not have the time or patience to carry on.

What a perfect summer read. A romance with a little bit of everything. I feel in love with this book from page one until the last page. The author kept me wanting to know what would happen if these two would make it or not. Might try something else by them next.

If you want a fresh, romantic read this summer, this book is for you to check out!

Falling in love, heartbreaks, friendships, sacrifices, and priorities are all themes of this story.

I’m hooked and finished this book in one sitting.

Thank you, NetGalley, Publisher, and Author, for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The second I started reading this book I was hooked.

This book is a cute romance that is the perfect summer book. I loved how easy it was to read and that everything about the characters and relationships weren’t perfect.

Although I did love this book I did think it was a bit unrealistic. More or less that Tess just got to live there just like that. I know that she worked for them and payed rent but the first day it didn’t feel like they considered the possibilities much and the fact that Tess wasn’t a nice girl. And some of the relationships I felt lacked depth. But otherwise it was really good. And if you don’t care for books being that realistic then this is the perfect book for you.

Overall 4/5 stars

‘The Right Kind of Unexpected’ is a sweet and heartwarming love story which is sure to make you smile!

At the beginning I was confused why we didn’t get more of the run-up to Tess being left at the station but quickly it made more and more sense that this was not the story being told, instead it’s a cute story of finding your own path and place despite what may be against you which I thought was very sweet. I would recommend to anyone looking for a light and cosy read!

The Right Kind of Unexpected by Rayna York is my most recent current read & it’s a newly released New Adult romance.

This one started out a bit on the slow side for me but If you know me, you know that I’m not one to give up on books easily so, I kept going. And let me tell you, ONE LINE.. one line was all it took for me to burst into tears in the middle of the night & had me staying up until near 4AM in the morning because I HAD to know what would happen next.

I may not have parents as horrid as Tess who make her being left stranded by her “boyfriend” at a gas station in the middle of no where feel like an unexpected dream when she finds a wonderful family. But! I know what it feels like to have an extended family who is always trying to make you feel lower than low.. so to find a family whose always there for each other and who show up for you too? Well, I’m so glad I know what that feeling is as well..

While an unexpected love encounter with the son (Colten) of the family she found brings about difficult decisions and heart break, this story will have you hooked & hoping and praying that Colten and Tess will be able to find each other & live that much deserved happily ever after.

Tess has lived an isolated and lonely life in New York City with her emotionally abusive mother and absent father. After her high school graduation, she heads out on a spontaneous road trip with her boyfriend - only to be abandoned at a gas station while using the bathroom. With no belongings and no available family, Tess has very limited options. When the owners of the gas station take her under their wing - Tess learns what having supportive, loving people in her life looks like. Tess develops feelings for the son, Colten, who clearly reciprocates but isn't interested in anything short-term.

The first 3/4s of the story sees Tess building new, healthy relationships with the Reed family and others in the small town. It seemed strange that Tess hadn't really internalized a lot of the abusive statements her mother repeated - despite being told that she was worthless and stupid - she seems to be a pretty confident individual for someone left with absolutely nothing at all. She also adjusts quickly to having limited funds and relying on people she doesn't know. It felt a bit disconnected from the reality of abusive family dynamics.

The romance between Tess and Colten (the Reeds' son) was sweet if not a little wobbly. The build up is pretty slow and sweet even though it happens over a short period of time. My main issue is their major conflict that pulls them apart doesn't feel as final and serious as they make it out to be. College is important, but the story seems to be trying to make the reader feel like the only school Tess can attend is NYU and if she doesn't do that then she isn't fulfilling her potential somehow. And then we get to the resolution, it feels unsatisfying because it is clear to the reader exactly how the final resolution is going to happen when Tess is still in the dark.

I think this book was really trying to do something interesting, but nothing fit together in quite the right way.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Tess is already regretting jumping in the car with her boyfriend to head to Disney World. She already wishes the trip was over, and that she didn’t have to spend any more time with him. But, it seems, her wish comes true in the most infuriating way.

When they stop at a gas station, so Tess can use the bathroom, she doesn’t expect to find herself stranded, her boyfriend having driven off with her car, and all her belongings, such as her phone and purse, in it. It is just her luck that her boyfriend also filled up the car’s tank with fuel before driving off and not paying, so not only is Tess stranded, but she is stranded with a debt to pay and no way to pay it.

Luckily for her, the family running the gas station/diner/mechanics shop are the kindest people Tess has ever come across in her life. Even though she already owes them money, they feed her, and make sure she is okay. And, when it becomes apparent Tess’s boyfriend will not be returning, they set her up with a job, and a place to stay for the time being.

After growing up with a family that provided Tess’s every materialistic need, rather than her emotional ones, watching the interactions between the family she finds herself with is strange. Twyla runs the diner, Earl cooks, and yet, the married couple clearly love each other, a far cry from the relationship between Tess’s parents. Their children: Colton, the mechanic, and Josie, the twelve-year-old genius, who is more than happy to help out. The relationship between all of them is so easy, so loving, and they are welcoming and accommodating, something Tess doesn’t think she really deserves, considering how much she has already inconvenienced them.

And yet, the more time she spends with them, working in the diner to pay her way, the more Tess feels at home. She feels more at home among these near strangers than she does in her own home. It helps, of course, that Colton is incredibly attractive. Tess and Colton’s relationship is an incredibly slow burn. Tess knows immediately that she is attracted to him, but he seems to be holding back. A fear of falling too deep into what can only be a short-term relationship keeps them apart. Tess is supposed to be leaving at the end of summer to go to university, but in the meantime, she longs for a relationship with Colton that doesn’t seem to be about to happen.

I loved every singly member of the family Tess finds herself with. Twyla and Earl take Tess in like a daughter, quickly looking past the fact that she started working for them to pay back a debt, and making sure she is comfortable, fed, and happy. Josie is a chatterbox, and incredibly loveable. She is a massive help to her mother, especially, and there is no better person to help Tess feel at home. And then there’s Colton. Despite his welcoming and easy-going nature, he is closed off, and definitely holds back from letting Tess properly get to know him. He knows she is only passing through his life, and he knows that if he lets himself get attached, it will only hurt that much more when she goes. Regardless, spending time with her is something he clearly enjoys, and the more he introduces her to the town, the more Tess starts questioning whether she really wants to go to university, or if she wants to stay.

Of course, this book is not without it’s drama, and there was one event in particular that had me physically holding my breath for fear of what might happen. The characters felt so real, and I felt like I was there with them, which amplified the dramatic moments ten-fold. In the same way, I grew incredibly attached to the characters.

It is not an exaggeration to say that I read this book in a day. Every spare moment, I picked the book back up, and it was difficult to put it down when I had to do things. The whole atmosphere this book created was addicting, and I felt the loss when it was over. I will definitely be reading this book again, and looking up more books by this author to get lost in.

Thank you to NetGalley provided by Toad Tree Press for this eArc! You will find my unbiased review below.

A rich girl from Manhattan, NY- Tess has just graduated high school and decides to take a trip with her boyfriend to Florida. What she didn’t expect was being stranded in a small town without her car, phone, or wallet. A family that owns a diner and garage/gas station takes her in and gives her a job and place to stay.

While Tess is in the small town of Jasper Creek she never expected to meet a people who would become family and friends or even fall in love. But once the summer end does she leave to start University with her family that doesn’t feel like family or stay for a guy she just met a few weeks ago?

I feel as if I was expecting more from this. Whenever it’s something where you fall in love over the summer I want a love that I could feel the bond so deeply I feel the same emotions. But the romance wasn’t anything truly special. If you’re looking for an easy, quick read this one can definitely meet those expectations. I did like the characters and it did have some cute moments. I did like that the characters actually talked about things that had big impacts about their lives. There were times I thought no one would actually do what the main character did. I wouldn’t recommend this book to everyone but anyone that likes a summer romance with some drama then definitely.

The Right Kind of Unexpected
BY Rayna York
4.0/5 Stars

Clearly I must have liked this book because I finished it in all of one day, but at the same time there was so much more I wanted from the story.

18-year-old Tess is suddenly stranded without her car, phone or a penny to her name after her no good boyfriend ditches her at a diner in the middle of nowhere. Luckily for her, she is welcomed with opened arms by the owner’s family who houses, feeds, and even employs her, but when her home life catches up to her, she is forced to leave her new life, and new romance and must decide what, and who, she really wants for herself.

The first 25% of the book I felt was very rushed. So many things were thrown into play at once and I felt like I couldn’t really grasp/digest/ focus on any of them. Within just a few short chapters, Tess is ditched, welcomed by the Reed family, and madly in love with Colten and I just wanted it to slow down.

I think had York stayed clear of the unforgiving “tell vs. show syndrome” it would have paced out better. There were many times I felt like I was being fed the scenes and not necessarily experiencing them with the characters. This was very evident when the lead female would mention they are having a “Huge Moment.” Moments in the story that were meant to be full of strong chemistry and yet all we got was “we had a moment.” I Want To Know More About That Moment, I WANT TO FEEL IT. Honestly the best part of the book, was when there was contention between the leads. I FELT THAT.

The rest of the book however, even the time jump, was phenomenal. I loved it. The story, the secondary characters, the family dynamic, the closed door romance, the small town feel. All great. Was it a little predictable, yes, but I mean it is a Rom-Com. This was my first book by this author, and I just might have to add her two other books to my TBR.
Thank you Rayna York, Toad Tree Press Publishing, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

before i share my review, i would like to thank NetGalley for this arc e-copy in exchange for an honest review!

a modern-day fairytale set in a town called jasper creek, ‘the right kind of unexpected’ is a small-town romance — a meet-cute, love at first sight kinda book

the story follows tess, a teenager who got dumped at the gas station by her boyfriend and is left with no belongings and thus, left in some sort of a predicament. with no one to seek help from, she has no choice but to accept the charity of strangers — in this instance, coincidentally, stranger = the gas station owner’s son, colten reed *wink wink*

this is my first ever arc review and i am trying so hard not to reveal any spoilers!!!

when i requested for ‘the right kind of unexpected’, i was very intrigued by the book cover, the colours, the vibes, immediately i imagined it would be perfect for a read at the beach/park but unfortunately, it was pretty underwhelming and disappointing.

i did not like the characters and the style the book was written. it was kind of immature and the characters lacked chemistry. the relationship between tess and colten was so dry and unrealistic i almost gave up on the book. but what i did like was the pace of the book — the chapters were decent, not too long and that made it easier to read.

overall, i would only recommend this book only if you are bored and would like to read something quick. i really liked the premise of the story but sadly, it did not deliver.

✅️ YA /New Adult
✅️ Summer Fling /True Love ❤️
✅️ Small Town Romance
✅️ Single POV (h)

Tess gets abandoned in a small town in North Carolina by her now ex-boyfriend. Little does she know, this will change her entire future. 🥰

Great small town romance that is super sweet to watch as their relationship unfolds. They had great chemistry and wasn't very steamy, so if you are looking for a fade to black kind of romance book- this is it! Loved it!

I also want to say, that I loved the insta-friendship between the small town girls and Tess. We need more of this in the world! Even though she was from New York, they welcomed her so quickly and easily! 😍🥰

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this eARC!

The Right Kind of Unexpected is a small town romance that takes place in a period of about 2 weeks. Cute does NOT mean believable. 18 year old Tess has just graduated high school and goes on a road trip with her boyfriend, Dax. They stop in a small town to fill up the car and use the bathroom, but when Tess comes out of the restroom, she finds Dax, her phone, car, and purse are all gone. And the attendant says he'd driven off about 20 minutes ago without paying. Tess isn't upset and doesn't want to call the police. Which raises many questions. Like, what were you doing in a gas station bathroom for 20 minutes? And what kind of teenage girl goes anywhere without her phone (especially for 20 minutes)? And, if someone just stole my Audi TT, I''d be calling the police like 10 minutes ago, what's up?

Unfortunately for us, Tess is a spoiled little rich girl and the entitlement is real. She doesn't report her car stolen. And doesn't even call her parents to let them know that she's stranded in the middle of nowhere North Carolina. She doesn't want to bother them while they're in Europe because, you know, rich people. Tess decides she will have to work off the debt she owes to the folks who own the gas station, which is also a diner and a mechanic's garage. And of course, they allow her to come in and work as a waitress and conveniently also give her an apartment above the business to stay in. She decides she will stay for the summer. The family includes a 20 year old son, Colten, who is the mechanic, and drop-dead gorgeous, so the sparks fly quickly between them.

Although the storyline isn't believable at all, it's still a cute love story. even if it's corny.

I liked this book, but I wish it had been fine tuned a little bit more before publication.

There is a really interesting premise, but the characters never really seemed to get off the page. For me, the central conflict between them felt a little contrived, a little more exploration and explanation would have bumped this up a star. I really wanted to like Tessa but found her focus on family money off-putting instead of conflicted. Colten was a fun summer romance boy, but his dialogue was a little cringy.

You can tell that Rayna York has grown as an author, but I prefer her previous books as they were a little more endearing. I would still tell friends to read this, but I don't think I would put it on a must read list.

The cover is very pretty!

I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨 𝙄'𝙢 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪,𝙏𝙚𝙨𝙨."

This was a cute summer read, and I loved it. It was fast-paced without being confusing, and has a solid romance.

Summary:
When Tess’s boyfriend steals her car and leaves her at a gas station in a small town, she is taken in by the family that runs the gas station and diner. She soon gets a job at the diner, since her parents are in Europe and she doesn’t want to ask them for money because she doesn’t want to depend on them anymore. As she settles in, she falls for Colten, the owners’ son, who is into her too but has made it clear he doesn’t just want a summer fling. As the summer goes by, she meets Sri and Naomi, who she soon becomes friends with. She and Colten finally give in to their feelings, but at the end of the summer, Tess’ dad arrives to take her home, and Colten pushes her away and tells her that she has to go, that what they had wasn’t real, that he just felt sorry for her, and that maybe she’s so desperate for love that she’ll be with the first person she finds.

The story picks up four years later, after Tess has graduated and is about to start a new job. She decides to go back to Jasper Creek and see if she can find Colten and convince him to give them another chance. When she gets there, she finds that the gas station has burned down, and she finds Naomi, who tells her that the gas station burned down a few years ago and they decided not to rebuild, since they wanted to spend more time together and Colten wanted to travel. She finds out where Colten’s family lives, and goes to see them. When she gets there, they welcome her and insist that she stay for a while. After a couple days, Colten shows up and surprises his parents, and doesn’t know that Tess is there. They soon start their romance again, but when it’s time for Tess to leave, Colten tells her that he’s willing to live where she is, since he can fix cars anywhere. Originally, they decide to live in New York, but after Tess realizes that she doesn’t want to be someone’s errand girl, she opens an art gallery in Jasper Creek with Colten’s mom, Twyla, with a garage for Colten to fix cars.

Tess, a rich kid ditched by her boyfriend after stealing her car. Rather than call her parents out of the country for help, she shacks up with a teenage mechanic and his family.

I was turned from the start with Tess’s behavior just being okay with her car being stolen and taking no action. The rest didn’t click for me either.

More of 4.5 than just 4 but goodreads doesn't offer 1/2 stars.

This was a cute summer time read that definitely made me tear up more times than I care to admit.

Tess, an 18 year old soon to be college student is dropped at a gas station by her loser boyfriend and left to fend to herself. Colton and his family own the gas station/diner where Tess is dropped and Colton steps in to help Tess out. After some harsh words Colton's parents agree to let Tess stay and help out.

Their love comes on unexpectedly from both parties and it leads to some highs and lows and a ton of growth.

This book was by far one of my favorite reads of this summer and its for sure worth the read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This is a sweet summer read. I tore through this book in one sitting… I loved how the worse time turned into the best time. If your look for a cute feel good story this is for you.

This book reminded me of the sweetest type of hallmark movie! I fell in love with the story line immediately!

This was a really, really sweet read. Great for a lazy summer day.

Tess gets left behind at a rural gas station by her POS boyfriend, and the southern family that owns the gas station take her in when she decides she doesn’t want to go home. And of course, she falls HARD for their son, Colten.

This is the kind of book I would have adored as a teenager. Tess’ family kinda blows, and Colten’s friends and family make room for her. It’s the perfect escapist story for someone that was lonely as a teenager like I was. The side characters in this novel as are more fleshed out than they typically are in a cozy romance story. They make it easy to keep reading.