Thank you NetGalley via St.Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book ☺️

This was a very cute quick read! I loved all the pop culture references and moments between Ali and Graham. Definitely would read more from the author and would also like to read her first book too!

Never Planned on You is the meet cute sorry of the hear between Ali and Graham. While studying abroad in England, Ali meets Graham and after losing a bet, they get matching tattoos. They share a passionate night and the next day, Ali leaves quickly and they never see each other again. Fast forward several years master and Ali is working as an event/wedding planner. When her new client turns out to be Graham and his fiancé, can Ali deny their connection and help Graham get married?
This was a very cute book. The banter between Ali and Graham is *chef’s kiss*. The story was enjoyable and kept me engaged. If you like funny banter and second chance romances, this one is for you!

This was a fun twist on second-chance relationships. The writing style was fun and cohesive. There were fun turns and unexpected plot points. At times it felt repetitive but it diminish from the story overall.

I really wanted to love this one so badly, but the thing I hated is a spoiler. I did love the Jewish rep, the overall plot, and the setting though.

This book was really cute and had great humor. Very hallmark-esq. my favorite parts of the book were the talks about the hotel and Ali being a chef… I would have loved to see more of that! I didn’t LOVE Graham …. Would have liked to see more assertiveness from him? Like, he was fine but nothing memorable. Overall, enjoyed it!

While Ali was in college in England, she made a bet with a guy and they both lost. The bet being getting a tattoo, which they ended up getting matching tattoos and sleeping together.

Couples years forward, Ali is back home in Baltimore working as an event planner after switching careers multiple times. Ali’s boss told her a possible promotion is hers if she does well on their next big account. Ali then ran into Graham, the guy she slept with back in England with the matching tattoo. They went out for drinks and Ali is really hopeful they can revisit the past but then she finds out that her next big account is Graham and he’s getting married to someone else.


I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would! I love how fun and snarky Ali is and how caring Graham is. If you loved the movie The Wedding Planner, I think this is the perfect book for you! ❤️


Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s press for an ARC of this book! 💕

Never Planned on You… the cover is just so dang cute!!!

Spoilers below -

I really wanted to like this one but I had a serious issue with the plot. There was cheating trope in this one for almost 85 percent of the book. Ugh I wasn’t a fan of this at all. All those scenes of spicy and romance between the two but just a reminder the main MMC is engaged to someone else. It’s all complicated but no honesty here yikes!

Ugh I enjoyed the authors writing style but I wasn’t the right reader for this and the cheating trope.

2 stars

So fun!
This book was a quick, engaging read that held my attention from start to finish.
The chemistry between the MCs was fantastic and had me rooting for them throughout. They're both incredibly likable and bring out the best in each other most of the time.

Definitely going to look out for more of this author's books!

My review is all spoilers so move along if you don't want them!

I could not get over the fact that she started making out with Graham before knowing he was in an engagement of convenience. The lying and sneaking around gave me the ick and made it impossible to root for them.

The quality of romcom writing was great and I would read more from this author but I can't stand lying.

Thanks to the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my review.

I soared through Never Planned on You, it is easily engaging, wonderfully immersive, and an overall delightful romance to swoon over.

This is a second chance romance where a two strangers, Ali and Graham, have a fantastic meet cute, one that begins with hilarious banter and bite, and ends with two fabulously hideous tattoos they dare the other to get. The night ends and so does their moment, but they linger on each other's minds even as time and distance takes them onto different paths. When they meet again, the chemistry remains electric.

It might feel like fate when they meet again, but soon enough it's revealed Graham is engaged to be married-- and Ali is meant to plan said wedding. It's a crushing thought to her, especially when she initially anticipates meeting Graham on future dates upon their reintroduction. But soon enough she get down to business-- yet those pesky feelings linger and linger and linger.

I loved Ali as a protagonist, I adored how she wears her heart on her sleeve and isn't afraid to be herself and to chase her dreams. I heavily relate to her need to make her family proud of her-- to prove her worth. Planning what is the town's big event wedding is something that she desperately desires in order to prove herself, but that heart on her sleeve absolutely gets in the way when she fights those feelings for the groom. And she really does fight it. She fears so much of her mistakes are what defines her, and another mistake is one she doesn't want to add to that definition. Yet the heart wants what it wants, and I couldn't help but fall easily into step alongside Ali as she navigated heart, her morals, her goals, and her pride. She's easy to love, to admire, and to see as a mirror to self.

Then there's Graham. He remains an enigma for most of the narrative, at times I wasn't sure at all whether I liked him or not, but I couldn't deny how well he challenged and complemented Ali, and simply how well he could read her. How he could see her heart and know it as if they weren't strangers who happened upon one another one night, but rather something far more.

It's easy to fall into their dynamic chemistry and to root for a happily ever after. That said, the hiccup for me is that while it's clear there's more than meets in the eye when it comes to Graham's engagement, there is no certainty until its revelation--- and it made the advancement of the relationship between Ali and Graham prior to any revelation a bit unsavory to consume. I would have much preferred the revelation to come sooner so I could happily cheer their romancing without guilt. Instead, I was left (albeit temporarily) feeling uncomfortable with it. Nonetheless-- I bounced back quickly because the revelation wasn't far behind. And once that got going, it was an absolute pleasure to root for these two find their happily ever after.

And I had to root hard because things don't come easily, and I actually quite like that-- I appreciated how Ali especially looked at their situation with realism rather than idealism, and how that reflected upon her choices. She wanted to do things the right way, and I applauded that with so much enthusiasm.

There are obstacles and hurdles to overcome in this love story, and it makes the ending all the more worthwhile. This is one romance I'm so glad to have experienced.

Thank you kindly to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced complimentary copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily.

Thanks to Netgalley & St. Martin's Press for the
E-ARC! Really cute! Loved the wedding theme & romance. Plus the banter had me cackling. Will definitely read more from this author.

It was fine. Kind of just a retelling of "The Wedding Planner." Second-chance romances have been growing on me but not this one :/

I really enjoyed this book! It was a great second chance story. I legitimately laugh out loud more than once. Ali is a great FMC, she is independent and wild, moving to the beat of her own drum. Graham is a great partner to her and they balance each other out. I liked that they met so long ago and reconnected in a completely different place years later. The story moved at a good pace and there weren't any times where I felt like the story lagged. Definitely a good read!

I really enjoyed this book! First of all the meet cute is everything, the whole tattoo situation was too good. I also love how it has such a strong fate element but it doesn’t seem preachy or overbearing, it just feels right and adorable. The tension was just right, enough real obstacles that you felt the issues and it didn’t seem as easy to overcome. I love how their relationship developed and a lovely romance to loose yourself with. It is also a very easy one day read.

This book was HOT! I loved Ali and Graham so much! I couldn't put this book down! Oh the angst and the spice...yes please!
I wish I would have read "Till There Was You" first but they don't really overlap too much. I'm definitely going to be reading that soon though!
From what I saw, this was only Lindsay's second book and it kicks ass! Well done! I can't wait to read what she writes next!

I LOVED Lindsay Hameroff’s Till There Was You – so I was thrilled when some of those characters made appearances in her next book, Never Planned on You. Ali’s humor is infectious to the reader. And the pop culture references are delightful. I loved this book and highly recommend it!

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

This is the prefect second chance romance. The chemistry between the main characters Ali and Graham leap off the page. They are trying so hard to make their everyday life work, and in the words of Ali "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.”

You want them to succeed at more than their everyday life, you are cheering for them to get their happliy ever after, together.

This is a follow up and has cameos of characters in her debut novel, which I am now off to read.

Ali Rubin is a free spirit with a knack for turning life’s unexpected twists into opportunities. From drunken bets in London to a career switch from chef to wedding planner, Ali embraces spontaneity with open arms. But when her latest adventure lands her back home in Baltimore, she doesn’t expect to cross paths with Graham, the mysterious British stranger with whom she once shared a tattoo (and undeniable chemistry). Reconnecting should be the perfect twist of fate, except for one small problem—Graham is engaged, and Ali is planning his wedding.

While I loved the dynamic between Ali and Graham, their chemistry was undeniable, and the witty banter kept me turning pages, I struggled with the foundation of their relationship. Watching their connection develop before Ali knew the full truth of Graham’s engagement left me uneasy. Readers who are sensitive to “cheating-adjacent” tropes may find this element difficult to overlook.

That said, I appreciated how everything was resolved in the end. The grand gesture was beautifully executed and felt entirely in line with the story’s themes of honesty and vulnerability. Ali, as a protagonist, was vibrant, determined, and relatable—her desire to shake off her “family flake” reputation was compelling. As someone currently living in Maryland, I loved the subtle nods to Baltimore, which gave the setting an added layer of authenticity.a

Overall, Never Planned on You is a fun and engaging read with plenty of heartfelt moments and humor. While some aspects of the plot were hard to fully embrace, the lively characters and charming romance make it worth picking up.

This book had a lot of potential but overall was a miss for me. I didn't really like the main characters and didn't find myself rooting for them.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the e-arc!

I absolutely loved this book! I'm becoming a big fan of the second chance romance trope, and Never Planned on You did not disappoint! I loved how it took a fun, new approach.

I read this book in one sitting! I really enjoyed the FMC & MMC. I thought Ali was so funny, and I loved the story of how her and Graham originally met. I also enjoyed getting to read about her trying to find her passion in life. Graham was so swoon-worthy! I thought their chemistry was amazing. Ali and Graham's family and friends were all so lovable too, I loved reading about them!

I loved the pop culture references! I'm so looking forward to reading more of Lindsay's work!