Thanks to netgalley and st martins press for e arc in exchange for a review. I really loved this. Second chance is hit or miss for me. I loved ali and grahams relationship right away. They had really great chemistry. I also really loved alis family. The granma especially. There were also lots of food descriptions. That sounded really good. Overall this is just really cute and sweet romance that feels real.

I was instantly hooked on this book after reading the epilogue and had such a fun time all the way through. This story reminded me so much of The Wedding Planner, a favorite of mine! I was super impressed by how natural Ali’s inner dialogue and conversation felt. I was rooting for the couple all the way through and thought the grand gesture at the end was hilarious and perfect for the story!

Thank you Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGally and St Martin Press for this ARC!

This was a delight of a rom-com—the banter and history and YEARNING, omg, the YEARNING! So so good.

Unfortunately I just couldn't get into this one. I wasn't super interested in the characters and something about it just didn't grab me. I wanted to love it because the start of the story is fantastic, love the impulse matching tattoos. I just lost interest so fast.

4 ⭐️

I absolutely loved this book, it is such a quick and fun read. If you love some subtle hints about Taylor swift and her music, you will absolutely love this. Even though it is a shorter book, the emotional depth of the two main characters is very impressive. I thought it was amazing how the author was able explore both the romantic relationships as well as each characters person growth and change.

Overall, this is a great book that I believe many people will like!

3.5/5⭐️ This was a romantic comedy that was truly hilarious! This story follows Ali, an event planner in Baltimore, who runs into a former fling from 8 years ago; the catch is that she’s planning his wedding. Ali was a strong female lead, her witty remarks had me laughing the entire time. This was a great, quick read. I gave it 3.5 stars because although I enjoyed it, there were some aspects of the love story that fell flat for me. This book comes out on February 18, 2025, definitely check it out!

This book is SOO GOOD. I could not put it down! This is one of the best romances I have read in awhile! I loved the plot and characters so much! Graham has my whole heart 🥹🩷

This second chance romance with 1d and Taylor swift references is a MUST read!!

Thank you so much Net Galley for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Loved this story!! Enjoyed the plot with the green card marriage. Really loved the ending. Laugh out loud funny, and romantic, great read!

Read if you like:
- Small-town romance
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Opposites attract
- Found family
- Emotional healing

Never Planned on You is a heartwarming small-town romance that beautifully combines emotional depth with feel-good charm. The story follows a free-spirited heroine who moves to a tight-knit community and clashes with the gruff, reserved hero who’s long since given up on love.

The grumpy/sunshine dynamic shines here, with the heroine’s infectious optimism gradually breaking down the hero’s walls. Their opposites-attract romance feels authentic, with plenty of tender, funny, and bittersweet moments that pull readers in.

The theme of emotional healing is central, as both characters confront their past traumas and find solace in one another. The small-town setting is rich with personality, offering a cast of quirky side characters that create a true sense of found family and community.

Thank you so much to the publisher for my gifted ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC of this book. I loved this second chance romance. It felt like watching your fave rom com. At times it reminded me of The Wedding Planner. Perfect first read of the year!

Ali is a top-notch wedding planner, which is ironic because she can’t hold a relationship of her own. Her family thinks she’s flaky, her best friend is off living her happiest life with a rockstar fiance, and Ali…is getting by. That all changes when she’s hired to plan a wedding at her town’s historic hotel for the owner’s grandson, Graham. But what happens when the wedding planner falls in love with the groom?

Returning to the world of Till There Was You, Hameroff goes where I desperately wanted her to go and explores the life and love life of Lexi’s sassy best friend, Ali. And it was better than I could have hoped for! Ali is so much more relatable than I wanted her to be, and I’m still not sure how I feel about that. Through Ali, Hameroff reframes being flaky and helps give a different perspective to the career jumpers. Graham’s dedication to his grandmother and her hotel is so sweet, especially when he’s so self-sacrificing for it. And it was nice to get a glimpse at where Lexi and Jake go after I closed the first book (like, this is actually one of my favorite things authors do).

There is a lot of food discussion, because Ali works in the culinary field as well as wedding planning, so if food is a trigger, it’s best to approach this with caution. However, I can’t recommend it enough and can’t wait to read Hameroff’s next book!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ali Rubin, a spontaneous chef-turned-wedding planner, reconnects with Graham, a man from her past, when she’s tasked with planning his high-profile wedding. As sparks fly between them, Ali must navigate her career and the complications of Graham's engagement, questioning if love is worth the risk.

What can I say? I absolutely loved this book! I devoured it in just seven hours—I simply couldn’t put it down. From the very first page, I was captivated by Ali’s character, and by the time I was a few chapters in, I was completely invested in her journey. The chemistry between her and Graham was undeniable, and it was impossible not to root for them. Their witty banter felt both playful and real, giving the story an effortless charm. The way their connection evolved over time made it feel like an organic build-up rather than a forced romance.

One of the aspects I appreciated was the inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters. It was refreshing to see such representation woven naturally into the narrative without it feeling like a token gesture.

I also really enjoyed the insight into Ali’s Jewish culture. It was clear that the author took care to portray the nuances of her traditions, which added an enriching layer to the story. Ali’s connection to her heritage felt meaningful and was seamlessly integrated into the plot, making it feel like an integral part of who she is rather than an afterthought.

That said, the only thing I wished for was a dual point of view. While I loved Ali’s perspective, I couldn’t help but wonder what was going on in Graham’s head during key moments, especially when the tension between them was high. It would have been fascinating to see his internal struggle and get a deeper sense of his character, beyond just the surface level.

Overall, this book was an easy read to get lost in—one of those stories that pulls you in and keeps you turning the pages without realizing how much time has passed. I’ll be recommending it to everyone, especially those who love feel-good romantic comedies with great chemistry and heart. Fans of The Wedding Planner or My Best Friend's Wedding will find a lot to enjoy here, as it captures that same perfect blend of humor, romance, and emotional depth.

Oh I loved this? The characters were so fun. I loved their banter. Slay with a British MMC. I just thought the plot was fun and unique and kept you wanting to read more. I was definitely invested in this story. I loved the Taylor Swift and One Direction references. Ali was just a fun FMC. I would definitely love to read more from this author!

I wanted to love this, but the two things I struggled with in Ali and Graham’s story were as follows: a large part of the plot involves a continued lie (Graham being engaged - not a spoiler, it’s in the description) that felt uncomfortable as the reader, and is probably just my personal lack of enjoyment of the lying/misinterpreted trope. Normally I love fake dating, but not when there’s another party involved who was written as a “good guy” in the plot. And secondly, I didn’t feel the characters were fully developed? Ali’s “flaw” is that everyone thinks she’s flighty and can’t follow through on things, but this read as a lack of complexity to me. I did enjoy the pacing and the setting.

Never Planned on You had me hooked from the very beginning! Ali and Graham meet on Ali’s last night of her study abroad trip thinking they’ll never see each other again. Until, years later they run into each other at a coffee shop and then subsequently find out that Ali is the wedding planner for Graham’s wedding! Will they manage to quell their feelings for one another or will they discover that they were meant to be all along?

I loved the way this story was crafted. I did feel a bit icky about the secrets Ali and Graham were keeping, especially since I really loved Claire. However, I think the way the story was told was realistic and relatable. The ending was wonderful and tied the characters together very nicely. I would highly recommend this book!

The expected publication date is February 18, 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lindsay Hameroff for the ARC.

This book was relatively unique as far as RomCom books go. While I really enjoyed the characters, I didn’t love some of the plot points. I know it was “marriage of convenience” for Graham and Claire, but I don’t love a cheating storyline. However, that particular detail aside, I found the relationship very believable and the book written well. It did give “Wedding Planner” vibes, which people who love that movie will really enjoy.

This book hooked my right from the premise. I loved the layering of the second chance and almost forbidden romance that this book presented between a wedding planner and a groom (no cheating so don’t worry). I read it in the middle of exam season and it was the perfect treat to pick it up during my study breaks. If you love romance books, it’s definitely worth picking this one up!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ali & Graham’s story captures the spontaneity of college, the “what if?” of a chance encounter, and the bittersweet struggle of growing up and out of the roles our families expect us to fill. Hameroff creates a lovable pair that I was rooting for the whole time, waiting for them to get their story straight & their timing right. The perfect read for anyone who hasn’t always had everything figured out, but found themselves in the process. Special mention for how the author captures quintessential Baltimore places and favorites; as a native myself, she has made Charm City a supporting character of its own.

One night of drinking games, a twin tattoo, and a one night stand become a fond memory for Ali and Graham. Somehow they both end up in Baltimore and their paths connect as she plans his wedding.
Things are getting mixed up for them in this mixed story of love.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I just finished a fun romcom. Never Planned on You by Lindsay Hammeroff was a great read. Pick it up on pub day!