A steamy romcom from a new voice - this novel tells the story of Mack, a famous thriller writer, who falls in love with Charlie, the owner of a coffee shop in Seattle.

The book was readable and an easy way to pass the time, but I took real issue with Hawkins’ Latinx rep. It’s very clear that a non native Spanish speaker translated the bits in Spanish, and the rep felt performative and unrealistic.

I’m curious to see what Hawkins does next, but for now, I’ll have to say that this book just wasn’t for me.

This was for sure one of those books where you want to just bonk one of the main characters in the head so they don’t do stupid shit. But unfortunately that can’t happen so you’re along for the ride!☕️📝

When Mack, a mystery novel author, walks into Charlie’s coffee shop, there is instant attraction. As she gets to know Charlie, her writers block seems to disappear as she gains inspiration from Charlie’s past. But with their connection growing stronger, Mack will have to determine if she can sacrifice her story’s progress, or if she’s willing to give it up for love.

This was an entertaining book for sure. I didn’t love Mack tbh so it’s hard for me to love the book overall, but her and Charlie worked together and they eventually got to a place of understanding. I’ll definitely be reading more from Dana Hawkins in the future!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this arc! 📒🫶🏼

This story has an excellent setup and wonderful chemistry between the leads. I also appreciated the way it shows how different types of problematic parents can influence who we are as adults. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

This book was covered as "what I'm reading now" in the linked episode, before I had finished reading it.

This book was so cozy! It felt like the kind of book you would totally want to read in the perfect little coffee shop just like Charlie's. It has a little bit of spice but mostly closed door but has lots of real intimacy and connection.

While Mack and Charlie are very different, they are captivated by each other and feel drawn to open up to each other too. I really found Mack's character interesting. Getting inside a writer's head was fun and that she was so introverted really resonated with me. Most times when reading I find main characters are likely quite extroverted and it was refreshing to read someone that prefered to be alone or that got lost in their own imagination for long periods of time. Charlie, however, was quite the opposite but just like in life at times, opposites attract. Their bond grew quickly and they seemed to really bring out something special with each other. The only downside I saw really was the secret that Mack was keeping from Charlie which felt a bit icky after a bit. I wished that they had faced this earlier so it didn't feel like such a betrayal. I really hate a third act breakup and was hoping to avoid it. In the end, they found their happily ever after which of course made me as a reader, happy too!

I received an advanced digital reader copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Wow, I finished it fast, 2 days, and it wasn't in the plan! Should I mention how I was absorbed in the story of this book?
Writer Mack from New York, tries to escape her writer's block in Seattle where she unexpectedly meets her muse - coffee shop owner Charlie.
This book won't change your life or make you feel emotions you've never felt before, this is just a great sapphic romantic comedy, that is very well written. The story was like a movie playing in my mind, it was so easy to imagine everything and everyone. The plot - a page-turner even without unexpected twists and turns, but I was curious how the main characters would manage to solve their issues.
Do I see any issues in this book, or was something not enough for me? No. Do I want to search for those things? Also, no, but, to be honest, nothing of that kind comes to my mind. I see no reason to take away even 1 start from the rating, and that's why this book is 5 stars for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't sure what to expect when the book blurb compares this book to some heavy hitters in the WLW universe. Big shoes to fill.

But this author lived up to the promise!

Both characters were so unique and fleshed out with quirks, foibles, and mental health issues. Definitely opposites attract, but more sweet than spicy. Flavored just right. The mental health issues were palpably real, written with such an authentic voice. As someone whose partner struggles daily in many of the same ways, i felt a lot of sympathy and resonance with the characters.

Although I foresaw what the "problem phase" would be and even predicted how it would be resolved, the writing kept me engaged and I loved how the characters struggled through it and solved the problem. Hooray for HEAs.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC.

The first thing I loved about this book was undoubtedly the titles of each chapter. It was always so fun to read the special order of the day although, I am a coffee snob as my girlfriend likes to call me and I will not apologize for it. Coffee with ice, milk, syrups, and whatever else you put inside to make an extra long name for it is not coffee is just a drink. We don't go out out there calling cola sodas coffee, do we?
But about the book...
I very much liked it from the start, the intersection between Mack and Charlie was so fun and easy. I always find it so curious how we can multitask between our personal struggles and social interaction. Both of them were always smiling and joking while both of them were also panicking inside for different reasons. Charlie's character sometimes did appear to be a bit too childish for her age, even with the abandoned issues some things about her personality and toxic relationship (mostly because of her, in my opinion) didn't really feel like a justification.
Mack and her writer's block spoke to me on a different level. The struggle is real sometimes and I wish we could have seen more of it and the despair about meeting a deadline she was already paid for. I think she got it a little too easy just like the end with Charlie's contract and all.
The one thing I hated about this story was the third-act break-up. As short as it was, it was there and I can't stand them when there is no reason for it. Here is where we go back to Charlie's childish behavior because instead of asking what the heck those notes were and why Mack had them she decided that the woman she said she loved and said who loved her back actually hated her and she just ran away instead of you know, talking like the adult person she was to avoid the unnecessary third act at 80% of the book.
But overall, good read!

This book had characters with real potential. Unfortunately, the novel doesn’t live up to it. Splitting focus between Mack and Charlie made the plot unevenly paced. “Sexy” scenes were cringeworthy. Side characters were one-dimensional stereotypes. And the entire Mack novel-writing arc felt self-indulgent, as if the author wants you to know exactly how hard it is to write (believe me, we already know).

I couldn't love this book as much as I thought I would have. I went into it expecting a cute, easy to read romance and what I got was that but I found myself not even caring about the characters. None of their struggles and the obstacles in their lives felt real to me because they were all overcome extremely easily that I felt myself wanting to skip over those scenes just to save myself the time. It's definitely a fun read, just not for me.

Not in the Plan is a good adult sapphic romance. I was more invested in the individual character growth than I was the romance, but I loved the characters. The last section of the book was too fast and I would've liked more communication. Love the family and friends that surround these women.

Not in the Plan by Dana Hawkins is my favourite book I've read so far this year!
The story follows Charlie and Mack who meet in the coffee shop Sugar Mugs.
Charlie is the owner of said queer, cosy café Sugar Mugs and works behind the counter when Mack comes in. Mack is a thriller writer who's currently having writer's block and therefore seeking coffee and inspiration, she gets both and a lot more at Sugar Mugs.

The book has a dual-POV as we follow Charlie who struggles with the economy and how to keep her dream coffee shop alive and running, meanwhile, we also follow Mack with her writer's block issues and a deadline coming up. Throughout the book, we get to know the characters on a deeper level and it's all really wonderful until everything crashes.
I think everything was very well wrapped up in the end.

6 out of 5 stars, that's all I can say.

I'm very grateful that NetGalley and Storm Publishing gave me the opportunity to read and review this as an e-arc.

Not In The Plan is a very cute romance! It was very easy to connect with the characters and I really rooted for the couple and despite the conflict being very obvious, it still managed to make me nervous. I'm super excited to read the second one! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC of ‘Not in the Plan’ by Dana Hawkins

Firstly I do apologise that my review is delayed. I had somehow missed it off of my list and therefore it was archived before I could download it. With that being said I did want to read it and review it so purchased the ebook myself so I could still do so.
Now onto the book itself, Charlie and Mack are my new favourite couple. Just putting it out there. I could read a whole series about them both. The writing style of this author was exceptional and I cannot wait to continue the series!

Opposites attract right? Charlie and Mack are polar opposites, during a storm they are trapped in a coffee shop and they share a mind blowing kiss. Will romance bloom?
A great romantic read

What a tremendous love story. Everything about it was just perfect.. wish there was a second installment.

This was pretty good, but not great. I enjoyed the story and the characters, I just felt that it was lacking in some ways that made it fall a little flat for me. I thought the third act breakup was very rushed and was resolved way too easily after there was so much build-up to it.

While this wasn't my favorite book ever it was still very enjoyable and was a satisfying read.

3.5/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this advanced readers copy.

Coffee shop owner Charlie is an outgoing and optimistic women despite her financial difficulties and past relationship problems. Mack is a socially anxious writer who escapes to Seattle in an attempt to solve her writers block.

With a classic meet cute, while Mack is trying to find her way in Seattle, she walks into Charlie's coffee shop which leads to their interest in one another. Their building relationship while well paced is slow and has a few bumps but it allows for a beautiful foundation and character growth for each woman.

A cute sapphic romance with an
anticipatory slow burn between polar opposite women. While keeping a light tone overall, it delves into deeper themes and issues which bring the character and this novel together.

Not in the Plan is a delightful romance that follows the unexpected connection between Mack, an author with social anxiety, and Charlie, a charismatic coffee shop owner facing financial struggles. Despite their differences, Mack and Charlie bond over shared challenges and help each other navigate their respective obstacles. I thought Hawkins' engaging writing style and vivid descriptions brought the characters and setting of Seattle to life. With its blend of sweetness, steam, and genuine emotion, this book is a heartwarming tale of love and friendship that will leave readers eagerly awaiting more

Not in the Plan is a sweet and upbeat romance.

Despite its light and airy tone, the book does dive into some deeper themes, with the occasional light sprinkling of angst. Mack is a one-time bestselling author with severe social anxiety and writer’s block. Charlie is a social butterfly with abandonment issues.

This is the ultimate case of opposites attract. One of them is a hopeless romantic who had her heart broken, and the other doesn’t do relationships. However, Mack and Charlie have more in common than you’d think. They’re both having issues with their jobs. Mack’s already spent the advance on a second book she has yet to write, and Charlie is in debt and her cute little coffee shop is one bill away from going bankrupt. They’re both having familial issues – though in very different ways.

I loved how their problems bring them closer together, and even before they get together, they wind up helping each other navigate these difficult times.

I adore the author’s writing style. Her way of describing the characters, the coffee shop, and Seattle is fresh and exhilarating. Mack is an author, and I particularly enjoyed the little snippets from her work in progress, particularly as she is using Charlie as her unexpected muse. This is a very adorable romance, with a little steam and fade to black romance scenes.

I can’t wait to read more romance stories from Dana Hawkins!

This was my First book from Dana Hawkins and for sure not the last. My Favorit character was definitly Charlie, she is a barista who loves tattoos and she felt jut like an amazing person to.be around.
We also get to know Mack, she is downright adorable. I felt Like the way they author wrote this book matched in the chapters with the personally of the Person who this chapters is about.
From the moment Mack walked into Charlie’s coffee shop, I Router for them to get together. They complement each other perfect.

This book is bit of a slow burn, which is the reason i would only give IT 4 Stars because at times it felt a bir draged and like a waiting Game for either Mack or Charlie to finally work up the courage to confess their feelings.

The way this book was written makes me want to read more from this author because it was very well written and fun to read.