I loved this a thousand times over. Ella was so relatable with her relationship mess and trying to figure life out in the midst of it. I truly loved Miles, Ella deserved an amazing man after everything she's been through. Ella's glam team (friends) were truly comical, and I loved all of them. They're the friends everyone needs in life. This was a beautiful story to read through and watch it unfold. Highly recommend!

I received this ARC from NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.

Thank you Netgalley for my ARC copy of No Ordinary Love. As a music lover and a fan of Sade, I knew this book would have my heart. I love romance novels that embody strength through the FMC without tearing her down completely! I don’t like struggle love tropes, and No Ordinary Love’s plot tells you exactly why it’s okay to start over, not settle, and rebrand. Our girl Elladee has the support system and overall strength to keep going even with her cheating ex husband tried to ruin her. Good things happen when you let love in. Overall i would rate this book at 4-4.5 just due to some gaps in the timing. Some parts felt slow and then the others faster, but i really enjoyed it!

There is nothing like reading a storyline in which you can envision yourself being there because so much of it is true to life for many people. There is nothing like a love story where love truly wins in the end. Stories like this make everyone want to find and have true love. This book was very well written. This is a must-read if you are a romantic at heart.

This book is everything and MORE!
The disability representation, athlete MMC + music artist FMC, and the homage to Sade Adu, were all so well done!
I’m not sure if this is considered a “sports romance” but if so, i’ll take another written by Myah Ariel, specifically!

I thought this book was written beautifully. I like how real world elements like songs and artists were added into the book. I like how it was a whirlwind romance but still felt realistic since it happened over a few months instead of a few days or weeks. I like the education about aspects of the music industry. I can picture certain actors as some of the characters.

This was a a breathtaking exploration of love’s transformative power that captivated me from the very first page. I was drawn into the beautifully intertwined lives of the characters, each grappling with their own pasts and desires, creating a rich tapestry of emotion that resonated deeply with me. Ariel’s lyrical and poignant writing made it easy for me to immerse myself in their world, feeling their joys and heartaches as if they were my own. The chemistry between the protagonists was electric, and their journey was filled with vulnerability and strength, keeping me engaged with unexpected twists and tender moments. With vivid imagery and emotional depth, Ariel wove themes of love, resilience, and self-discovery throughout the narrative, leaving me with a sense of hope and inspiration. In conclusion, "No Ordinary Love" is a remarkable novel that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone seeking a heartfelt and compelling love story—it's a true gem that lingers long after I turned the last page!

Omg this story was so beautiful. It definitely reminded me of the song "someone to love you" by Ruff Endz 🩷 I found myself saying "awwwwww" alot 🤧 it was just too cute!

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing a DRC of this title.

So sweet! There were points where the pacing read a little slow to me, but, overall, I still really like the way Ariel draws characters and look forward to reading more from her! Would definitely recommend to my patrons.

Oh, I adored this so bad! This was my first book by Myah Ariel and I’m so glad it was an enjoyable experience. I loved the writing style, the pacing, the plot and of course the romance. The chemistry was very clear between the two main characters and I loved the way MA took their time focusing on the issues that women face in the music industry. Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.75 rounded up

i really enjoyed this! i think there were some pacing issues and at some points i felt like i wasn't reading a romance novel, but overall it was super sweet and quickly paced.

i loved ella and miles... i have never met a miles i didn't love. i LOVEDDDD how much he loved her. he called her his dream girl constantly and was so tender and patient with her. and i loved his story with his mom and grandma and how he is a man for his women!!!!

ella was so resilient and strong but also so soft and delicate. she embodied them all simultaneously and was a very multi-faceted character. as a famous star in the music industry, she really paved her way (without elliot FUCK THAT BITCH) and made a name completely for herself. she had a super strong support "glam team" system and i adored their antics.

the only reason i'm not rating this higher is because as i mentioned, there were some pacing issues. her relationship with miles was pretty insta-love and i found myself not caring??? not feeling giddy?? just because they were already head over heels. there was no conflict between them (which is great, fine even) but it made their romance fall by the wayside. it seemed like the author wanted to make this book be about women in the music industry and the exploitation they deal with, and a romance, but i think chapter by chapter it just kept switching off. i wish they had expanded more on one or the other.

either way, this was still a fantastic book and i flew through it in 2 days.

thank you berkley for the arc!

Myah Ariel's second novel outdoes her first in this fake dating romance. Music and baseball cross over into a emotional, fun, and romantic love story. Ella and Miles are two people who guard their hearts and only the other has the key to unlock them both.

4⭐️ An MLB pitcher and an R&B/ Pop Princess ?! Sign me up. I will say , I liked this book alot, but I wasn’t in love with it. There was a few great moments in the romance between the two mcs. I just wish the mcs had more scenes together and dates. Because I didn’t get those, It almost felt rushed with them falling in love . It was a great story though, I really liked the plot just wish there was just ..more moments. Would still very much recommend this read.

Thank you Berkley for the ARC 😊

@myahmeetscute ‘s writing and beautiful complex characters F O R E V E R have my heart 🧡💙

Just when I thought a book couldn’t top When I Think of You…this banger came along and smashed all my expectations!! @myahmeetscute I can’t thank you enough for this book, and the joy it gave me over the past week (when I needed more than anything to escape into a fictional world)!

5⭐️

Read this if you’re looking for:
💕Fake Dating
⭐️BTS of the Entertainment Industry
✨A Music Centric Story
🤎Black Love & Joy
🫂It Takes a Village/Found Family
⚾️Sports Romance

✨NO ORDINARY LOVE, out APR 1st✨

Special thanks to @berkleypub @berkleyromance for this advance review copy!! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

This was a beautiful story in self acceptance but also accepting the love you deserve. I enjoyed the dynamic between the main characters and the way their relationship developed. I do wish that the backstory for Miles’ previous relationship was a bit more flushed out. I think it would’ve added to not only the story but his character development. Overall I found this story to feel like a feeling warm sun rays on an autumn day. Comforting. 3.75 read for me.

I loved Myah Ariel's debut, When I Think of You, so much that I went into this knowing that I would love it. I was unprepared for how much; No Ordinary Love is and emotionally stunning, gorgeously written story of a woman learning to love herself and let herself be free even after a disappointing man has failed to love her properly. Ella, a talented singer, is getting a divorce from a terrible man, who is absolutely to blame for everything, and who also somehow thinks he is entitled to everything. He's been cheating for a long time, but when she has a flirty moment with a hot baseball player at an awards show, of course her ex becomes outraged, because men like that I guess believe they own any woman they have been involved with. He's the worst, and don't worry, he gets what's coming to him. Also, the handsome baseball player turns out to be a gem of a human, a gorgeous and emotionally complex man who is reeling from his own failed marriage. You'll be rooting so hard for the home team, and by home team, I mean for Ella and Miles to finally get together and give each other the love they both deserve.

Thank you to Myah Ariel, Berkley Books, and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my review!

there's nothing i love more than black love <3. this absolutely ATE. i had a great time reading this - i wasted no time starting and finishing this!! the romance didn't feel forced, everything flowers beautifully. thank you for the arc netgalley!!

This book captures the magic of finding true connection when you least expect it, all while delivering humor, passion, and a reminder that sometimes the most scandalous relationships can lead to the sweetest love stories. If you’re looking for a swoony escape that balances romance and personal growth, this is the one!

"Something happens when faced with a bully who no longer has a hold on you. Eventually you get the spark to fight back".

The worlds of music and sports intertwine with such a glaring reality in 'No Ordinary Love'. Pull back the curtain on hair, makeup, money, and success, and you get two characters that just settle into your bones. Ella and Miles are both dealing with deep relationship betrayals on a public scale and their love story is healing. So good. The pining is palpable, the anxiety, and the emotional wringer the characters go through is executed so well.

Myah pulls the curtain back on the exploitative relationship record labels have with artists. But also the powerful men that hold that power over female artists and entertainers. There’s no way Myah could’ve ever predicted what’s currently going on in the music industry when writing this book and, my goodness…this is just good writing (Side-eye to Elliot).

The level of empowerment and growth Ella goes through in this book is truly such a treat. But this line? “But what if I want to belong to you?” lord have mercy, it had me shook. It’s so rare for male characters to quietly exude and effectively communicate so many emotions. Miles is such a great character that lives in quiet intimacy and quiet strength. But he also demonstrates confidence and solidity.

Now, music. I love playlists that authors list as companion pieces. But in 'No Ordinary Love'? It’s a bed rock that can’t be ignored. It's baked into important moments. Mariah, Aretha, Mary J., Whitney, Sade the list of endless juggernaut female vocalists are embedded in the narrative. You feel the impact of them on Ella. It's luscious and excellent.

My favourite parts have to be the music video and the voice notes I know those two things are going to make readers go wild next year.

Thank you so much Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC! ‘No Ordinary Love’, is out next year in April 2025.

After When I Think of You and this masterpiece, Myah is quickly becoming a new favorite author of mine. This was a great love story, with hilarious banter and many swoony moments.