I loved Lindsay's last book and couldn't wait to dig into this one. She has a way of writing characters with such insane chemistry. This story didn't disappoint. Graham gave me Jude Law The Holiday vibes and I'm all for that. Ali was funny and I liked seeing her normal fears and predicaments about not feeling like she was where she needed to be in life.

The tattoo was a great extra for the storyline. Overall, I really enjoyed this storyline. The spice was spicy and I was here for it!

I am so thankful for receiving this ARC, this is a first book I've read from Lindsay Hameroff and I am already excited to read what else she has in store. If any book can make me giddy and laugh (and honestly I was LOLing), it's an automatic love for me. Especially when I can relate a book to a movie which in fact felt like that old movies you loved back in 2000's; The Wedding Crashers or The Wedding Planner, the humor, the wit, the angst, and the perfect balance of smut was everything I wanted in this book.

- second chances
- romcom
- career driven

Plain and simple I devoured this book just like how I devour all my romcom movies AND ESPECIALLY WEDDING THEMED!!!! I LOVE WEDDINGS!! Graham and Ali's entire chemistry was perfectly off the charts, their characters were realistically and somewhat relatable. OH! And for all my Taylor Swifties... Yeah you're going to get some lovely hints in there so thats a plus! Overall it was the perfect romcom I've read so far this year, I'd re-read this again for the laughs.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Lindsay Hameroff for allowing me to read this ARC. It was splendid!!!!!!

Never Planned On You by @lindsayhameroff was a hoot and a half! Thanks to the ARC from @netgalley , I was able to read this charming book before its release on February 18! The second chance romance story follows Ali and Graham meeting during a bar bet gone wrong and reconnect later in Baltimore! I don’t want to give too much away, but I thought individually they were great characters but I don’t think they had a ton of chemistry together as lovers. As business partners heck yeah, but as anything else, I wasn’t a fan. I think the side characters were well fleshed out and compelling except Ali’s 2 best friends who were just kind of there. Overall, I think Forget Me Not did the wedding planner chemistry and drama better, so I give this one 3 stars.

Ali is trying to find her way in life and has moved back home to intern for an wedding planning company. She has her chance to finally get promoted, however, she and the groom have quite the history, including matching hideous tattoos.

This was an engaging and fast read. Ali and Graham had quite the chemistry, and I really wanted to root for them! I did feel bad Claire and Asha were so out of the loop.

I loved the twist at the end, and I freaking enjoyed both grandmothers, especially Bubbie.

This book would be perfect for those who loved the movie "The Wedding Planner," as it was very reminiscent of that.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for this ARC. All views and opinions are my own

Instagram post will be on 1/10/25

Thank you to NetGalley for my eARC of Never Planned on You by Lindsay Hameroff.
When you jump into a book that others are comparing to the Wedding Planner, you get a little hesitant. I expected the “cheating trope” to be centerstage and to have the ick the whole book but boy was I wrong!
I LOVED Never Planned on You! Lindsay Hameroff added a little twist that made you want to back team Ali+Graham the whole time.
The FMC Ali is such a fun character and had me laughing throughout the book. It’s not all sunshine and roses and we do get to see some personal growth with her character.
The MMC Graham is introduced as this broody, reserved man but when he’s with Ali he can barely resist coming out of his shell.
The supporting family and friend characters are also a delight. I’m not Jewish so there was a little bit of googling involved for me to get the whole picture of the phrases or food that was mentioned but I didn’t mind the lesson.
The majority of the timeline/chapter jumps were around when our main characters saw each other next and something about that really worked for me.
Overall this was quick and super fun read! Personally, I devoured it in a day and was hooked the whole way through. This is the perfect rom-com for February!

3.75/5 ⭐️ Lindsey’s writing is so fast paced and fun! I really enjoyed her first book, and was excited when I realized this book was connected to Til There Was You. This book was a great follow up! I loved the way our characters met and their chemistry, and I loved the evolution of Ali’s family relationships. The conflict that was keeping the couple apart wasn’t my favorite. I think it was done as well as it could be, but it did hold my back from fully investing in them at first. Overall, Lindsey’s writing style and voice is one that I enjoy so much, and I’ll definitely continue to read her books!

Never Planned On You
Lindsay Hameroff
I am not normally a huge fan of prologue but enjoyed getting to know the MCs in this one. Ali and Graham are positively likable. Their meaningful meeting is a supposed one off but the course of love has other plans. By appearances one is lead by passion, the other by loyalty but their strongest bond is a love of family and friends who are family. In their attraction, affection and kindness for each other you feel their longing, desire and ease with each other. You have to let go of real odds of them being brought together through none of the own doing multiple times to enjoy the ride. Ali is creative and fun. Graham is sexy and unexpectedly yummy. Together they sizzle. I enjoyed Never Planned on You and highly recommend it. Thanks to NetGallery and St. Martin’s Press for a digital read to review. I will look for more from this author.

Thank you to the wonderful author and Netgalley for allowing me the privilege of reading an ARC of this book I really appreciate it!

I adored this book! The story being told itself was great the characters were all likeable and felt so real I loved it! I did have some issues though a lot are minor but despite loving this story they've stuck with me. The timeline is kind of all over the place decade is being used but it's only been 8 years, along with a few other events that occur or are mentioned as having occured but don't really make sense in a sense they seem to change or don't flow or really just don't line up. There's also a lot of abrupt emotional chair shove backs (at least 3) that are so abrupt in the reading they kind of snag and don't feel appropriate to the situations they're occuring in and seem really too dramatic.

Other than those things yes this book was also extremely predictable but in the best way! Because what you assume will happen is exactly what you want to happen like every little aspect where you don't expect it to it does! It gives the best happy ending with no sacrifices on anyone's parts and I love it!! I did have some moments where ive never had this happen before but parts seemed to drag for me but I was still really hooked and wanted to keep reading! I think the only reason I had that issue was that the author is amazing at being descriptive without going wayy over top that I could picture it all. It was like I was trying to watch this as a movie and read it at the same time and I couldn't make myself "read fast enough" to catch up. This would make an incredible movie, not a hallmark movie like a big blockbuster romance movie. There have no been many in a really long time and I think the world needs this as a movie! Also this author would also be amazing as a screenwriter shes really great at creating a setting and an ambience.

Thank you so much for allowing the privilege of reading this book! I need more books from this author in my life and I really need this adapted for the big screen!

Tropes:
🍰 Second Chance
🍰 Forced Proximity
🍰 Opposites Attract
🍰 Rom-Com

I read Lindsay’s first book “Till There was You” last year and fell in love with her writing style and draw-you-in banter between her characters! So, when I realized this book was coming out, I jumped at the chance to read it! (Thanks NetGalley!)

And it DID NOT disappoint! The prologue alone had me kicking my feet like a giddy school girl. I loved the main character Ali. She is a little flighty, always trying to find her perfect fit when it comes to jobs and her place in the world. She thinks she’s finally found her calling in wedding planning… that is until a blast from her past appears and threatens to unravel it all.

Graham (or Benedict) is British through and through. A stiff upper lip, homebody, and dedicated to his work and family. Ali brings out the side of him that’s fun and adventurous. Unfortunately, he’s already engaged.

Their chemistry is undeniable and at first, I was a little iffy on the circumstances of their romance - but true to “The Wedding Planner” form, there is so much more happening than meets the eye!

🎀 If you haven’t preordered, I recommend doing it ASAP! You won’t want to miss this laugh-out-loud, cozy, edge of your seat read! 🎀
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Extra thankful for NetGalley and @stmartinspress for this ARC 🍰
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#netgalley #neverplannedonyou #theweddingplanner #mybestfriendswedding #stmartinspress #lindsayhameroff #tilltherewasyou #secondchanceromance #forcedproximity #steamyscenes #jewishrepresentation #caketasting #bookishthings #happyreading

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book! Never Planned on You is a cute second chance romance. It does remind me a lot of the movie "The Wedding Planner" with a more modern twist. It was a very quick read, and the characters were interesting and dynamic. Overall, I really liked it!

This book was a delight!! It started by making me laugh with the witty writing. Then the angst!! I loved how the relationship between Ali and Graham progressed and all of the trials and road blocks. Then at the end the writer didn't let the characters off the hook easily and they had to work for their happily ever after. I truly enjoyed all of the aspects of this book and thought it was very well written.

4 stars! 💫 Huge thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC! 💙 Oh my heart—Never Planned on You by Lindsay Hameroff totally swept me off my feet! 😍 I thought it’d be a fun read, and WOW, I was so right! Ali and Graham’s paths cross again years after that wild, spontaneous night in Europe... and let me tell you, it’s funny, sweet, and totally swoon-worthy! I’m a sucker for a good second-chance romance, and this one delivered big time! 💕

Now, let's talk about all the amazing tropes packed into this book:
✧ Second Chance Romance 💘
✧ Opposites Attract 💗
✧ Workplace Romance 💓
✧ Marriage of Convenience 💍
✧ Spicy Chemistry 🌶
✧ Unforgettable First Meet 🥰
✧ Tattoos 🎨

Ali is SO much fun! 😂 She’s impulsive, witty, and always up for an adventure. I swear, I was just nodding along because I totally get her vibe. And Graham? Swoon central! 😍 His British charm had me melting. Their chemistry? OFF THE CHARTS! 💥 But I won’t lie, at first, I felt a little iffy about the whole “he’s engaged to someone else” situation... like, whoa! But no worries, Lindsay Hameroff handles it beautifully, and it never felt icky or wrong. Their connection just clicks and those moments between them? ALL the feels! 😩💕

The one teeny downside? The timeline felt a bit rushed, especially when they jumped from November to December in one paragraph. I would've loved to see more of them working through their relationship over those few months, but hey—time flies when you're falling in love, right? ✨

Also, the pop culture references are everything! 🎤 If you’re a fan of Taylor Swift and One Direction, you’re gonna love them! 🙌 That said, I’m not usually into real-world references in fiction, but that’s just me. The humor and banter? A+!! 😂 I couldn’t stop laughing and just had to root for these two to get their happily-ever-after! 🥳

All in all, this was a super fun, lighthearted read with so much depth and heart! If you're into rom-coms with quirky characters and a little spice, don’t miss this one when it hits your TBR for February 2025! 💖

Ali loves a challenge and has no problem embracing new endeavors. However, Graham prefers his life on a pre-planned path with no desire to stray off of it. After a night involving a bet, laughter and ridiculous matching tattoos, they went their separate ways because it was Ali’s last night abroad for her semester program and Graham lived in London. Now, about 8 years later, they bump into each in Baltimore of all places. Ali is working for an event planning company after moving on from a culinary position and Graham is helping his grandmother revive the reputation of their family hotel. Even more awkwardly, Ali has been hired to help plan Graham’s wedding with his fiancée.

I enjoyed Lexi and Jake’s story in Till There Was You, but this one didn’t quite deliver for me. Ali was too much of everything all at once - too sarcastic, too flighty, too emotional, too independent, etc that it seemed to stunt her growth as character or felt contrived. I really liked Graham, he developed more organically, but there were some scenes between them that felt stunted because Ali is just too excessive to be contained or described with a few traits and portraying all of her aspects seemed exhausting.

There’s no villain or bad character per se, just a situation that Ali and Graham had very little control over because they wanted to justify their choices in terms of the greater good for everyone else, but not them. Although I wasn’t quite sold on their relationship, there are some cute scenes with funny dialogue, but it wasn’t particularly angsty. It’s a lighthearted read for fans who believe true love will prevail despite the odds.

Never Planned On You is a fun, laugh-out-loud rom-com reminiscent of the 2000's Wedding Planner! Never fear, it's it's own story, filled with memorable characters - people and animals. Ali is a live life to the fullest, take a bull by the horns sort, she meets Benedict aka Graham in London at the end of her semester abroad. One hilarious and wild bet later, they have memorable matching tattoos. Flash forward many years, Ali is back in her hometown - Baltimore, working on her first wedding as a planner, and the groom is none other than Graham!
Ali comes from a close-knit Jewish family, including her amazing Bubbe.
This book put a smile on my face and was a great early read for the new year!

This book was a great surprise! I wasn't familiar with the author, but now I want to read her other books! This book had huge "heart" - you couldn't help but love the extended family members and friends included in the story, and I loved seeing the relationships between them and the FMC develop. And I laughed out loud several times. Some of my favorite lines:

"There's so much vacant space in the man's brain I'm surprised a Spirit Halloween hasn't moved in."

"It's not a disaster. 'Mean Girls 2' was a disaster. This is just a haircut. It will grow back."

Also noteworthy, I figured the story would conclude with a HEA, but I really had no idea how the storyline would get there. The lack of predictability showed creative writing. It kept me guessing!

This is a fun, easy read!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an eARC!

Lindsay Hameroff's Never Planned on You is a must-read for 2025! This is a book you want to add immediately to your TBR. From the very first page, Hameroff draws you in with relatable characters and a compelling storyline that touches on love, personal growth, and unexpected connections. The chemistry between the main characters is palpable, and their journey is both heartwarming and full of twists that keep you hooked.

Hameroff's writing style is engaging and fluid, making it impossible to put the book down once you've started. If you're a fan of contemporary romance with emotional depth and a touch of humor, this novel is definitely for you.

Never Planned on You is now at the top of my 2025 reading list, and I can't wait to dive into her other book, 'Til There Was You. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable read!

4 stars ⭐️ This was a quick and fun read! I devoured it!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this! Even though there's a non-Jewish love interest, Hameroff packed so much Jewish identity throughout. There's a bar mitzvah, a Hanukkah party, and a discussion of shidduchim! It was a quick read, but I also didn't want it to end. A very cute romance and lots of fun! It felt more balanced to me than Hameroff's debut, Till There Was You, so if you were on the fence about that, I encourage you to give this one a read. 4 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Never Planned on You is a delightful read! It follows Ali and Graham, who met years ago in London for a memorable one night fling, including matching tattoos. Fast forward to Baltimore when their paths unexpectedly cross again. The chemistry is still there, but life is a lot more complicated. While Ali plans Graham's wedding to another woman, she realizes how much he means to her, and no matter how hard Graham tries, he can't deny his reciprocal feelings. Readers will love these two characters and their second chance at happiness!

I wanted to love this but the language used by the characters was not for me. “hey lady” gives me instant ick. Such a fun premise and this is definitely just a
Me problem.