Not In the Plan is a fast paced and fun queer romcom featuring Mack, the writer and Charlie, the coffee shop owner. Both Mack and Charlie are working through tricky times and are very much surviving on fumes, the last thing they expect is each other.

I was looking forward to this book and all of my anticipation was worth while! I really enjoyed this story and the characters. Mack and Charlie struggled with their own identities while moving from strangers to friends to lovers.
Mack overcame her inability to find a romantic connection and put herself in the mindset to fall in love. While Charlie battled her past demons regarding abandonment and her lovability as a person.
The side characters were also really well fleshed out, even for having minor rolls. Mack's parents brought a balance to her character, while Ben did the same for Charlie.
The editor, Viv, also gave another view of Mack that was also a plot point in the story.
I really enjoyed this book and honestly it has inspired me to read other works by this author.

I think this book is made off of the premise that opposites attract, but I didn't get the incredibly different vibes other than one was an introvert and one was an extrovert. For me, and this may not be a dealbreaker for others, the dialogue was a bit fantastical, like real people don't speak this way. The build up is a bit slow and the external conflicts often overshadow the character development that I'd like to see in a romance. Also, the cliche "coffee coffee coffee everything runs on coffee" thing isn't one of my favorite personality traits for a character. It read a bit empty for me, not that rewarding or interesting.

I'd be interested to read what else the author does because this wasn't badly written, it just didn't quite hit for me.

Thank you for the ARC from NetGalley

I would describe Not in the Plan as a generally feel-good book. It's one of the better sapphic romances I've read lately, so much so that I'm definitely considering reading other titles by this author. This is the story of Charlie and Mack, who meet at Charlie's coffee shop when Mack goes to visit her parents to escape from the pressures of having to come up with the manuscript for her second book. All in all, it's a sweet story and the stakes aren't really high throughout most of the novel. It's the kind of book I'd recommend for a cold, rainy day because of the cozy vibes it gives.

I had very high expectations for this book because the premise is so interesting and it's also a sapphic romance in addition to that. Sadly, I think maybe my high expectations led to this disappointing read. I'm not sure if it was that or maybe the book is genuinely not very good, but it was just very strictly average.

"Not in the Plan" by Dana Hawkins is a delightful and quick read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Packed with charm, humor, and heart, this novel follows Mack and Charlie's unexpected romance as Mack finds inspiration in Charlie's coffee shop. Their chemistry is undeniable, and I couldn't help but root for them as they navigate the ups and downs of love. With its engaging plot, lovable characters, and poignant themes, I feel as though "Not in the Plan" is a perfect choice for anyone in need of a feel-good escape. Highly recommended for fans of sweet romances!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Not In The Plan by Dana Hawkins in exchange for an honest review.

This was an amazing love story. Although it was cringey at times and used a little too much ‘slang’ I loved the women both individually and as a couple.

As always, I love seeing lesbian representation! I would recommend this book to rom com readers.

Both characters are touching and complemente each other : Charlie is a coffee shop owner so she is at ease with people. Her past is heartbreaking and seeing her accomplishment and working on herself is touching. Mack is an introvert, she likes the company of her words more than anything and one night stand si all she has to offer. Charlie has nobody except her best friend, and Mack has overbarring but really attaching parents.
They both have issues with money or with work pressure that were well written, because I was anxious with them. The fact that Mack is using Charlie as a muse brings the touch of angst we need.
Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to connect on a deep level to the characters. The fact that internal musing from the characters was very present in the book, sometimes in a repetitive way, compared to actual scenes or dialogues is something that hooked me less to book. It’s a matter of personal taste. The paragraphs with extracts of Mack's broke a bit the pace for me
But overall, it’s a sweet story and it’s really easy to read

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

This was a wonderful Sapphic romance. It had a bit of steam but not too much. The character development was excellent. I really enjoyed this book and hope to read more by the author.

An INCREDIBLE hea sapphic romance, light and sweet and beautifully written.
I think I have found a new queer romance author. Just incredible.

I reviewed this book here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p7L_vLMeo0&t=785s

A good read but, a little too predictable and silly for me. At times my attention wandered which shows the book didn't grab me. A little disappointing. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Almost immediate DNF, writing style isn't working for me in the slightest. I can't say I'm interested in the characters or setting of the book.

This one was very cute but I had trouble connecting with the characters in a meaningful way. I did enjoy aspects of the book at the writing style. I absolutely loved the premise of this one and I think a lot of people could really enjoy it. Would definitely give this author another read.

This book was a delight! I loved it from start to finish. The characters in this were easy to fall in love with and the third act didn't offer fatigue or unnecessary drama. I would recommend this book to lovers of romance and cozy books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC! I can't wait for more from this author

Mack visits her parents, desperate to escape the pressure for her next book release - she barely started writing it, already overdue.
Charlie is living her dream - a cute, cozy coffeeshop sending love and positivity to her community - minus all the final payment request notices.
Cute and quirky with lovely secondary characters.

i really enjoyed their relationship and mostly the friendship they built, it still felt too tense for me to fully enjoy. I dont know, it just didnt sit right with me

I LOVED this book. The perfect amount of spice to romance with great character development. The love and tension felt real and I was flipping through pages instantly, this got me out of a major reading slump.

this is an adorable, lovely, quick read! I loved the premise— coffee centered, grumpy/sunshine, kiss in a storm romance 🥰

I loved Charlie & Mack’s chemistry & the way they so naturally fit together despite their “on paper” differences. the joyful, outgoing, endlessly kind nature of Charlie fit like the perfect puzzle piece to Mack’s organized, disciplined, inwardly deep compassion. I loved seeing them gradually realize their beautiful love of one another.

and the whole cast of characters were adorable! overall, the whole vibe of this story was joyful, loving, hilarious, and heartwarming.

thank you for the arc :)

I loved this book! It was a sweet romantic/LGBT book. I would recommend this book. I like the slow burn of it and tip toeing around each other!