Thank you NetGalley for this arc!!

This was a fun, quick read. Very light and fluffy, I’ll definitely check out more from this author!!

"Never Planned On You" is a charming second-chance romance that masterfully blends humor and heartfelt moments. Lindsay Hameroff crafts a vibrant world through Ali Rubin, a spontaneous chef who returns to her hometown to intern as a wedding planner in pursuit of finding the right career path for herself.

Ali’s unexpected reunion with Graham, her matching tattooed one night stand from London, adds a layer of intrigue to the narrative. Their chemistry sizzles from the moment they reconnect, making the reader root for them even as the complications of Graham's impending marriage loom over their budding romance.

Hameroff's portrayal of Ali’s struggle to prove herself amidst personal and professional challenges is relatable for anyone who has questioned what paths they want to take in life.

While the storyline occasionally leans into predictable territory, the engaging dialogue and well-developed characters keep the momentum going. The backdrop of Baltimore serves as an alluring setting for the unfolding drama and romance.

Overall, "Never Planned On You" is a fun read that reminds us that true love often arrives when we least expect it.

The concept of this one was so intriguing. A community bookcase and a friendship that turns to more over the love of literature? *swoon*

Ali and Grahams story was cute. The history that left you wondering for half of the book helped keep me invested and wanting to know how it would end. The ending was sweet too.

My main flaws with this is the huge focus on Bonnie and Ali’s little mental issue with seeing her dead friend. It just felt flat and awkward for the most part. I didn’t love it and was honestly over it by the end. Ali was irritating, which is fine because I don’t always love the FMC.

Graham was great, I loved him. 10/10.

I wanted to love this one because the premise sounded adorable, but unfortunately it wasn’t for me. It was a bit too slow for me and I couldn’t connect to the characters.

First I would like to thank Lindsay Hameroff and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for the ARC of “Never Planned on You.”

Oh my gosh!! This book! I was addicted. I couldn’t put it down, I wanted more. This is a second chance romance… 8 years in the making.

The main character Ali, is witty, relatable, and a dream chaser. The main male character Graham, is British, handsome, and does everything for everyone but himself. These two are in for one hell of a ride.

Quote that I related to: “Most importantly, it will show my family I am no longer the job-hopping flake who changed careers three times in less than a decade. That, I am, in fact, a functioning adult who can stick with something and succeed.”

Quote that made me scream and kick my feet: “The final prize is me. All of me.”

This book is for those who relate to both The Tortured Poets Department and Lover kind of romance.

2.5⭐️


Tenía curiosidad sobre cómo se manejaría el tema del compromiso de Graham, pero al final no me gustó para nada cómo se trató.

Les daré un resumen rápido: Ali y Graham estuvieron juntos una noche y no se volvieron a ver hasta ocho años después. Se reencuentran en una cafetería, él la invita a cenar y todo va bien; ambos siguen sintiéndose atraídos. Días después, ella descubre que está organizando la boda de él con Claire, le reclama, pero él le dice que su cena no fue una cita, sino una reunión con una vieja amiga.
Ali decide que no pondrá en peligro su trabajo por un hombre y que se comportará, pero eso no sucede. Ambos comparten miradas y toques, e incluso llegan a besarse. Lo que me molestó fue que durante el 55-57% de la lectura, ella no sabía que el matrimonio era de conveniencia; es decir, que no le importaba ser la otra y que él estuviera engañando a su prometida. No me gustan los infieles y menos cuando la otra parte, en este caso Claire, es una buena persona.

A medida que las cosas se ponen serias, él le cuenta la verdad: se tiene que casar con su mejor amiga porque quiere ayudarla a conseguir la ciudadanía, y además, la boda serviría como truco publicitario para el hotel de su abuela. Ali acepta seguir y esconderse, pero conforme se acerca la boda, se da cuenta -por fin-, de que a los ojos de los demás es la amante.

Sobre el cobarde de Graham no hay mucho que decir, ya que todo se narra desde el punto de vista de Ali, así que no tengo idea de lo que pasaba por su cabeza.

Algo que me decepcionó fue la persona que impidió la boda. Esperaba que, por una vez, él se pusiera firme o al menos tuviera una conversación con Claire para contarle todo sobre Ali, pero no; al final, fue gracias a la abuela que no dijeron "acepto".


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an amazing quirky, laugh out loud read!!!! Chefs kiss!!!! Ali finds herself trying to find her herself and along her journey she get's a second chance to be with a one night stand from years prior. But is it kismet? Only to find out she's hired to assist with planning his wedding!!!! This was one heck of a roller-coaster ride full of laughter and up's and down's in relationships. A journey of self discovery in one's own true happiness even if it may hurt the people we love.
My favorite character was Bubbie the grandmother she was truly a joy and a hoot. Grahams the MMC was so swoon worthy and lovable. Even if he was to loyal to a fault. I really enjoyed Ali's zest for life and how she wasn't afraid to go after what she wanted despite what her family thought. People have to sometimes try, try again until they get things just right. This book had me enjoying each page from beginning to end and I look forward to reading more from this author. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was soooo good! I love the matching tattoos and the second chance romance. Perfect!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

A second chance romance worth taking a chance on. Never Planned on You by Lindsay Hameroff is a rom-com with the best pop culture references. I loved how the author weaved the references to Taylor Swift, Gilmore Girls, and Clueless throughout the book, this was so well done!

Ali our FMC is so lovable and relatable, like many out there she struggling to start over in her new career as an event planner while balancing moving back home to Baltimore. Graham is our MMC, a charming Brit who arrives in Baltimore to help run his family’s historic hotel. The main characters’ chemistry is so believable and beautiful! Fate has a way of bringing these two back together after years apart, their love story has some pretty big obstacles that they have to overcome but it’s a journey that I’m glad I got to read about. The supporting characters were also wonderful additions to the story as well!

So if you love books with second chance romance, lovable main characters, and laugh out loud moments, then you should check out this book.

Personally, I am looking forward to reading more Lindsay Hameroff books!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was freaking adorable! There were so many funny moments between Ali and Graham. I loved Ali’s spunky attitude and how brought out Graham’s spontaneity. I would have loved more involvement from her family, just because I thought they were so great. Would recommend this to anyone who loves quick rom-coms.

It’s also full of pop culture and swifty references.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the arc ! Opinions are my own.

I wish I enjoyed this book more than I did but it was just a little too much for me. The story was very predictable. In the beginning the humour and wittiness was entertaining but in the second half it just got too much for me. Overall it was a cute story but the execution didn't hit the mark for me.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

In this story, a girl meets a boy, and after a drunken night together, they end up with regrettable tattoos. She returns to America, assuming she’ll never hear from him again. Fast forward, and the boy is back in the U.S. to save his family’s business and get married. They coincidentally bump into each other at a coffee shop, sparking a second-chance romance.

While the plot is predictable, the book is an easy, enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I loved so many aspects of NEVER PLANNED ON YOU. Though we didn't get the POV of the MMC, he was thoroughly fleshed out as a character and the author did a fantastic job bringing him to life. I found the writing very smooth and easy to read. The small time jumps were handled well and kept the story moving efficiently and at a great pace. I also loved the family dynamics throughout, including the relationships with both grandmothers, who stole the show. I would have liked to have seen more of the friendship between the MMC and bride-to-be Claire, but she was a very dynamic and likeable character so it was easy to see how they'd become friends. The ending was incredibly sweet and satisfying, and also kept me guessing right up until the end, which is not often the case in a contemporary rom-com!

Overall this was a very successful second-chance romance, and I can't wait to read more from Lindsay Hameroff!

Thank you to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a super cute, fun, light heartened romance that was also very funny! I loved the characters and could relate more to them based on their age being close to my own. Their story was cute and interesting and a new type of story to me. Really enjoyed!

I have never read a book by Lindsay Hameroff, but will be reading more now. The characters are very well developed. THANK YOU NETGALLEY FOR THE ARC.

Ali studied abroad and one night makes a bet with Graham, after a few drinks. They end up getting matching tattoos and have a special one night stand. Ali comes back to America.

8 years later, Ali runs into Graham at a coffee shop. She still has feelings still for him but does he?

This book was super sweet!! 4 solid stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It was surprisingly funny and witty and I LOVED the fmc. I swear I had a cheesy grin on my face for most of the book and I am NOT a cheesy grin kinda girl.

The mmc was properly hot, funny, and gorgeous, but the fmc really stole the show for me. She was cheeky (in a good way-not a roll your eyes she’s actually a bitch way), charming, and personable. Honestly, the whole book I was just wishing I was her sister or best friend. She was that enjoyable to read.

The only thing stopping this from being a 5 star read for me is my own effed up preferences. A level headed, overly considerate, *gasp* BLONDE, bespectacled, introverted hero is basically a cold shower for me. So THATS how good the banter and character building were to still get 4 stars out of me 😆.

Also, probably important to note is I’m the same age as the fmc and there were a lot of references that may not translate as well to a younger audience, but for me it was 💯. It was also refreshing to find a romance book following a fmc in her late 20s who has not been married or knocked up yet and although it was touched on by family members a few times that’s she’s “running out of time” it was definitely not a main theme in the story and I very much appreciate the author for that. I can’t wait to go back and read the first installment. I’m sure I’ll love Lexi’s story just as much! (And I hear her hero might have dark hair and no glasses 😌)

Thank you to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for my honest review! 💜

Spicy Level: 4/5
POV: 1st Person POV, FMC Only
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Release Date: February 18, 2025

Ali Rubin, a spontaneous New York City chef turned wedding planner, returns to her hometown of Baltimore for a fresh start. After a surprise reunion with Graham, her British "tattoo twin" from a wild night in London, sparks fly during a magical evening together. However, things take a complicated turn when Ali discovers Graham is the groom of the high-profile wedding she's planning—a marriage of convenience meant to save his family’s struggling hotel. As their chemistry reignites, Ali and Graham must decide whether to resist their feelings or risk everything for love.

Ali Rubin is relatable because she embodies the struggle many of us face when balancing ambition and personal fulfillment. Her impulsiveness, like making a bet in London that leads to matching tattoos with a stranger, reflects her adventurous spirit. Yet, she also deals with the pressure to prove herself to her family, battling the fear of being seen as unreliable or a 'flake as she bounces from job to job, trying to find her place in the world.

Her relationships with her family and friends are portrayed well, and it's easy to understand her love and woes with them as we get to know them through her eyes, and those moments were some of my favorite parts.

While her humor is entertaining, and I definitely laughed at her witty dialogue, the constant stream of zingers started to feel overdone. I get that it’s her way of coping, but after a while, the frequent one-liners became repetitive, making me want to skim through her dialogue to get to the heart of the story.

As far as Graham goes, he is charming, though a bit immature in how he handles Ali's feelings when it comes to their relationship or lack thereof. I suppose he is navigating some difficult things of his own WHILE randomly stumbling upon the love of his life, so there is growth to be had, and shown, but I did find myself getting annoyed with his lack of empathy.

The first half of the book moves quickly, but midway through, the pacing slows and starts to drag. Then, out of nowhere, the story takes a corny turn. It’s odd because the beginning is more charming and whimsical, but by the second half, the corniness feels overdone and takes away from the earlier tone. It completely pulled me out of the story.

I get that romcoms can be dramatic, and declarations of love are expected, but because the genre already leans into the drama when it comes to the plot, I think a more heartfelt and understated ending often works better and to me, this book missed the mark.

Overall, it’s a charming story about second chances and the challenges of finding your way when you don’t follow the typical path in your 30s. If you’re a fan of 90s romcoms, you might enjoy this book’s blend of drama, humor, and cheesy moments.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Almost a decade ago Ali and Graham shared one spontaneous night together in London full of fun, tattoos, and passion. Now, they have run into each other in a coffee shop across the ocean in Baltimore, MD and the sparks are flying. After another magical evening out, Ali thinks that the two of them are on their way to something special until she steps into a meeting for her job as a wedding planner and in walks Graham.

While things are not exactly as they seem in this situation, they are definitely a bit, well very, messy and there are a lot of issues that the characters deal with along the way. I enjoyed the clever shout out to The Proposal in this book as the "marriage of convenience for a green card" trope is not a secret for long. Even though this is mainly a romance, Ali is not only dealing with falling in love with a man who is very clearly taken, but she is struggling with feeling out of place in her career and her family, something that many readers will be able to connect with. That helps flesh out the plot and given a bit of credence to how the last 20% of the book goes as it doesn't really make a ton of sense otherwise.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy! I'm looking forward to reading the third book in this series!

NEVER PLANNED ON YOU is a cute, fun, second-chance romance between Ali, an event planner, and Graham, an accountant who has many nicknames, and is a recent transplant from England to Baltimore. A little bit spicy, but mostly comforting and charming. Speaking of charm, loved the Baltimore setting! Not really a sequel to TILL THERE WAS YOU but it helps to have read that one first.

Thank you to the publisher St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 ⭐️
2 🌶️

As a Baltimore girl myself, I was so excited for a ROM- COM based in my city!! No one romanticizes Baltimore and honestly, they should do it more. Charm City for the win!!! 🦀📚🐦‍⬛⛵️💜

As for the character, I didn’t really believe the chemistry between Ali and Graham. I felt a spark at the beginning of the book but based on the whole premise of Graham being the groom in an upcoming marriage of convenience and Ali being the wedding planner- it just fell flat. Also, the writing felt choppy when the author was trying to move the story along.

Thanks NetGalley and SMP for an ARC!