Unexpectedly Yours is a fun and engaging enemies-to-lovers romance centered around two rival families in the business world. Carrah, from a prestigious makeup empire, wants to break free from the family business to pursue her dream of writing romance. Meanwhile, Chris, from a competing family, is initially cold towards her but they end up working together in secret, sparking a slow-burn romance filled with tension and drama.

The book has its ups and downs. Carrah's desire for independence is a major theme, but it feels underdeveloped by the end. While the romance is sweet, some of the family drama, particularly involving her ex and the family business, could have been explored more. The side characters and family dynamics add intrigue, but at times, the plot gets a bit confusing with so many people to keep track of.

Overall, it’s a light read with a bit of spice, and while the pacing drags in places, Unexpectedly Yours delivers a cute and enjoyable romance with plenty of twists.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Unexpectedly Yours is a take on Romeo and Juliet in a way - forbidden love, feuding families, secrecy. While the premise and story itself were great, I didn't connect with the writing as much as I wanted to. I would still recommend this to those looking for a book featuring any of the tropes previously mentioned!

From the moment you meet the two main characters, it's clear that their connection is one worth rooting for—it's sweet, authentic, and full of the kind of chemistry that makes romance novels so irresistible.

The story revolves around Leah, who after a string of disappointing relationships, has all but given up on love. She’s focused on her career and her own personal growth, when she unexpectedly crosses paths with Marcus, a man who challenges her in ways she never imagined. As their relationship develops, Leah begins to question everything she thought she knew about herself and her heart.

What stands out the most is the authenticity of the characters. Leah and Marcus are both fully fleshed-out, relatable people with their own strengths, flaws, and personal struggles. Their chemistry feels real, and the emotional depth between them develops at a satisfying pace. Chilove masterfully balances the slow-burn romance with moments of humor, warmth, and even some tension, keeping readers hooked and eager to see how their relationship will unfold.

The pacing of the book is spot-on, and the storyline offers plenty of twists and turns, ensuring the book never feels predictable or formulaic. The secondary characters also add richness to the narrative, with their own unique personalities and backstories, providing a wonderful sense of community and depth to the world Chilove creates.

Highly recommended for readers who enjoy romance with emotional depth, relatable characters, and that feel-good, “everything happens for a reason” vibe.

Thanks so much to Forever Pub for my gifted ARC!

My first book by this author and I would be down to read more from her. I love reading about black wealthy families so this was fun! I do wish that in the future she avoids the use of the word "clean" while referring to whether or not a character is STI-free because this implies that if one does have an STI they are "dirty". It did not completely take away from my enjoyment but it did cause me to make a sour face. I love reading about black wealthy families so this was fun!

I enjoyed this book. It is quirky and corny for sure.
The characters, Carrah and Chris, made the book for me. Their families…..I did not overly like at all! Too much hatred from all.
All in all, a cute read.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed this author's writing. I haven't read anything by them before, but I really got into the story and the pacing of it. The characters were well developed and lovable.

Readers who enjoy stories of forbidden love, family drama, and self-discovery will be swept away by this story. A romance that explores the complexities of following one's true passions and desires, even when they challenge the expectations of those around them.

Truly enjoyed this read! It reminded me of a show. Vivid descriptions and realistic characters.

“I dreamed you were my wife” 😩 ugh! Such the perfect ending.

If you want rich Black people drama, stop reading this review and go get this right, right now.

This book reminded me so much of the books I read in high school hidden behind a textbook when I should have been paying attention in class. This makes absolute sense because Kimberla Lawson Roby (an author I definitely chose over Calculus) is called out in the blurb.

So Carrah and Chris are from rival family makeup empires based in New Orleans but summering in a remote-ish town of bourgeois in Florida. Sidebar, choosing to summer in Florida denotes a special kind of hell and foreshadows the type of crazy these families are capable of.

There are so many twist and turns but it starts with Carrah wanting out of the family business to pursue her dream of writing romance. Only she can’t tell any of her family because they are relying on her chemistry genius to create the next big thing and catch up to their rivals, the Chenault’s (Chris is a Chenault). So she finagles her way onto the calendar of Chris-the-lawyer to negotiate the publishing contract that she landed without an agent on a contest.

At first, he says no, then things happen and the decide to work together … in secret because this is a romance. Which means only more romance things are to happen. Things like their friends being surprised they aren’t tearing each other’s heads off (Chris & Carrah share a friend group but over the years they friends have had to choose who they invite, or don’t invite to an event), Chris inviting Carrah to the remote cottage he never invites her to, and Christ confronting Carrah’s ex when he’s being a supreme douche (so anytime he’s breathing).

Did I mention there’s a serious plot line where Carrah’s parents are trying to get her to marry her douche-y ex to save the family business? Even though the business is probably failing because her jealous older siblings have never listened to her suggestions.

Unexpectedly Yours is full of so many twists and turns, enjoy the ride!

This is the second in the Shores of Dora series. The books focus on Mount Dora, Florida where wealthy and elite black families retreat for the summer. I enjoyed the first book, A Lakeside Reunion (April 2023). The main characters from the first book are part of the same friend group and make appearances in this book. But this story can be read as a stand alone.

Carrah Andrews is a chemist who works in her family cosmetics company called Noir. There is much pressure on her to get the latest beauty serum to market. And her family is also pressing her to marry a man who has already cheated on her. She seeks out Chris Chenault’s legal skills when she gets an offer to publish a book that she wrote as a passion project. Chris’s family runs a rival and more successful cosmetics company. Chris currently works in entertainment law but his father expects him to come run the company some day. Chris and Carrah have grown up knowing there was a feud between the families. Even though they share mutual friends, the rivalry is a part of their lives and interactions.

You could read a similar story about white families set in the Hampton’s. The idea of debutante balls, and coming out parties is entertaining. I really liked Carrah, but she is being manipulated by her family. No one in her supporting her from the fallout of decisions made by others. Chris played standoffish a bit too long for my liking. I came around to him but didn’t find his character as swoon worthy as the MC’s in the first novel.

While I enjoyed the story and will look for the next one in the series, I didn’t love the ending. A few too many things were left up in the air, causing me to lower my score. This book is appropriately labeled as general fiction/romance as a good part of the story is spent on family dynamics. (3.5 Stars)

I really enjoyed this story.

Carrah and Chris have lived their whole life as rivals. When Carrah comes to Chris for help, they must both put their differences aside.

Caught up in familial obligations, Carrah finds it difficult to live out her dreams.

Chris was so unforgiving. His ego left no room for mistakes.

This book gave hints of Pride & Prejudice.

- enemies to lovers
- vacation romance

Unexpectedly Yours was an easy, breezy read centered on two Black elite families who are business rivals, and two of the adult children who fall in love. At times I found Carrah to be childish and completely terrible at communicating. I also found her to be highly intelligent and wanted to see her accomplish her goal of detaching from the family business in order to pursue her own passions. Unfortunately this part of her story is cut short and left open-ended in a way that was not only unsatisfactory, it made her passions seem like they existed solely to move the plot along, and not because she was actually passionate about pursuing them.

I liked Chris for most of the novel. However, there was a sharp change in direction where he became very cold and dare I say mean around the halfway point, and it continued through the end. He went from being a grouch about Carrah needing him to being very supportive and happy to help to being closed off and frustrated with Carrah when she wasn't able to clearly state what he meant to her in the midst of the various family and societal circle dramas. On the topic of drama, I felt like the family rivalry was the most interesting aspect of this story, but it also became eclipsed by Carrah and Chris' pining and developing love story, so when the drama reenters the scene in the third act of the novel it felt drawn out and contrived. I wish the storyline with Miles had been given more development because while it's not the center of the story, it is incredibly important, and it's not treated that way.

The spice is very, very light and the scene is brief, so that is a plus for those who don't like super spicy romance novels.

C. Chilove is a skilled storyteller, but Unexpectedly Yours is painfully overwritten in some parts, which made the narrative drag quite a bit. Overall I enjoyed my time with this story and these characters, and the things I disliked did not completely eclipse what I loved.

Thank you Forever, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for providing an ARC!

3.5 ⭐️s
1 🌶️

C. Chilove’s Unexpectedly Yours is an enthralling story of forbidden love amid feuding families. With drama, passion, and long-buried secrets, it takes readers on an emotional journey. The romance between the protagonists is both tender and fraught, navigating the collision of personal desires and generational conflict.

Chilove skillfully incorporates family secrets that raise the stakes, challenging the characters’ loyalties and perceptions of their families. The writing vividly captures their growth, making their love story compelling and authentic. A captivating exploration of love, identity, and the weight of legacy. This was a five star read. Thank you NetGalley and Forever

C. Chilove’s Unexpectedly Yours is a captivating tale of forbidden romance and the power of love to transcend deep-seated family rivalries. With its compelling blend of drama, passion, and long-held secrets, the story delivers an emotional rollercoaster that keeps readers hooked until the final page.

At its core, this novel explores the complex dynamics of two feuding families, where even the younger generation has grown up entrenched in rivalry. Yet, as adults, they find themselves at a crossroads, where personal desires and familial expectations collide. The romance between two members of these families is both tender and tumultuous, offering the perfect mix of longing, tension, and emotional depth. Their journey is as much about self-discovery as it is about navigating their forbidden connection.

Chilove weaves family secrets into the narrative with skill, adding layers of intrigue and drama that heighten the stakes. These revelations not only threaten the budding romance but also challenge the characters’ perceptions of their families and their place within them. The way these secrets unravel is both satisfying and thought-provoking, leaving readers pondering the impact of generational conflict and hidden truths.

The writing is engaging and evocative, bringing the characters and their struggles to life. Chilove creates vivid, relatable protagonists whose growth feels authentic, making it easy to root for their love despite the odds stacked against them.

Verdict:

Unexpectedly Yours is a beautifully written story of love, rivalry, and the courage to break free from the past. With its forbidden romance, family drama, and well-crafted characters, C. Chilove delivers a deeply satisfying read. Fans of emotionally charged romances with a touch of intrigue will find much to love in this compelling novel.

I was actually very excited by the premise of this book. The setting, the plot, and the characters showed a lot of promise, but unfortunately it just didn’t deliver for me.

While the enemies/rivals to lovers had so much potential, the execution really lacked in my opinion. There was a lot of repetitive BS that frankly did nothing for the story and the romance was such a slow burn. I don’t think they even really began to even like each see each other romantically until 50% into the book and they don’t engage in anything for what felt like a long time after, despite the obvious chemistry (I do think this was done well).

There are also way too many minor side characters from both MCs families to their friend group, and I honestly didn’t care for any of them (MAYBE the two little brothers). Everyone, including the MCs, came off as superficial and I would literally get whiplash from how their conversations started and ended. I actually didn’t understand why any of these people were friends short of their family ties and proximity.

Because the first half was so slow, the ending felt completely rushed and we didn’t get to actually see any character growth come to fruition which I also found so frustrating.

Overall, a story with so much potential that unfortunately just did not live up to it for me.

Unexpectedly Yours by C. Chilove is a great enemies to lovers romance.
This was a super fun and enjoyable read.
I was immediately drawn into this story and didn’t want to put it down.
The characters had such great chemistry. I adored them.
The drama, romance and forbidden love made this book unputdownable.

Carrah has spent her entire life attempting to please her family and working at their beauty business. She finally decides to put herself first and enters a writing contest. It seems like her dreams may be coming true when she wins the contest and a book deal. She reaches out to Christopher the son of her family's biggest competioin. He has also moved away from his family's business by becoming an entertainment lawyer. Their road to working together starts out rocky but it soon becomes obvious that bigger feelings are involved.

I enjoyed this book. Carrah and Christoper had great chemistry. I also enjoyed each of them on their own and liked the amount of character growth they had. The family issues did get a little frustrating. Overall this was a good and quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unexpectedly Yours had so much potential, but it left me wanting more. The premise was compelling—a forbidden romance between members of two rival Southern Black Elite families—and the gorgeous cover immediately drew me in. However, the execution fell a bit flat for me.

The story follows Carrah, a brilliant chemist working at her family's cosmetics company, Noir, while secretly pursuing her passion for writing. Landing a major book deal allows her to leave her high-stress family job, but she struggles with guilt and fear of disappointing her family. Enter Chris, her secret entertainment lawyer, and a childhood acquaintance she always avoided because of their families’ long-standing feud. Chris’s family owns the rival cosmetics company, making their budding romance even more forbidden as they navigate a web of family secrets and societal expectations.

While I enjoyed the setup and the complex family dynamics, the pacing felt uneven. Much of the drama—especially the reveal of the families’ history—was crammed into the final pages. An epilogue or more exploration of the aftermath would have provided better closure.

Also, a bit more spice in the romance would have elevated the emotional stakes and kept me more engaged. Despite these issues, the book's themes and characters held my interest, and I appreciated the unique setting and cultural depth.

This book gets 3 1/2 stars (rounded up to 4) from me. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a well-done enemies to lovers romance. The animosity continues well into the book—it was a serious obstacle that wasn’t resolved easily. The book is high-angst with a strong family and community feel.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

A cute and quick enemies to lovers that is a Percy read for a rainy day. Enjoyed seeing the characters begin to interact and get close. There were sooo many side characters that it was easy to lose track of who was who.