I really like Ali Rosen and was excited to be reading/listening to this book. I thought the narrator did a good job and added a lot to the story in terms of emphasizing the emotional elements. I liked the set-up but felt like there was a lot of telling rather than showing. The therapist conceit made it easy to over intellectualize about their feelings rather than let the characters experience things and change through that. I will definitely try other books by Rosen.

Firstly, this had a STELLAR narrator. I'm pretty particular on this and have a tough time following through on these if I don't find them engaging. She was engaging!

On the story itself? Cute. It was cute. Enemies to lovers is a tried and true method, and why break tradition if it hasn't let me down thus far?

This is a fun enemies to lovers romance with a twist. I loved the flirtation that Nora has with J, but also the sparks that ignite whenever she's around Eli. Well-written and entertaining this love story will keep you laughing as you wind your way to the happily ever after along with these memorable characters. The audiobook is narrated by Carly Robins and she does an excellent job bringing this novel to life.

Many thanks to @netgalley, @brillianceaudio, and @alirosen for the #gifted listening copy of this book, which landed on my NetGalley shelf at exactly the moment I needed it.

Nora is a relationship therapist who also writes a popular advice column - under a pseudonym. But she’s been keeping a secret of her own: she’s in love with J, the editor of her column, despite the fact that they’ve never met. Their entire connection exists in the margin notes of her drafts, with J in London and Nora in NYC, yet he’s become the person she feels most herself with.

At the same time, Nora’s dealing with a new headache in her real life - Eli, her infuriating new neighbor, whose apartment renovations are testing her patience. But the more they clash, the more she realizes there’s something intriguing beneath Eli’s gruff exterior. Before she knows it, she’s caught between two very different men - one she’s known only through words and one whose presence is impossible to ignore. How can she have such deep feelings for both?

This is such a feel-good romance, not just about romantic love but also about self-worth and found family. While Nora’s connections with J and Eli drive the plot, the heart of the story lies in the vibrant community within her apartment building. Her complicated relationship with her parents makes it even more moving to see her discover people who genuinely want to love and support her. Like Rosen’s wonderful 2024 release (Alternative Endings), this book beautifully explores love in all its forms—romantic, platonic, and self-love. Utterly charming and full of heart.

🎧 Audiobook Notes 🎧
Carly Robins delivers a fantastic solo narration, skillfully bringing a variety of NYC accents, ages, and British characters to life. At 9 hours and 27 minutes, it’s a completely lovely audio experience that enhances the warmth and humor of the story.

Unlikely Story by @ali_rosen is perfect for readers who loved You’ve Got Mail or just want a really heartfelt romcom. I’m so grateful to @BrilliancePublishing for an ALC!

Nora is a relationship therapist so she should know better than to fall for a guy she’s never even met. Or at least how to counsel herself about what to do now. She writes an advice column edited by J who lives in London, and they’ve been writing to each other for years. He recently let it slip that his girlfriend is out of the picture around the same time Nora’s boss invites her to England for a meeting. Could it be a sign? While Nora ponders what to do, she’s got other things to contend with. Eli, an obnoxious new (and loud) upstairs neighbor and former couples’ counseling client whose relationship ended on Nora’s figurative couch and flighty parents who don’t respect any of Nora’s (not particularly well communicated) boundaries.

I really enjoyed this one. It was an interesting combination of light—lots of humor, embarrassing situations, and delicious food descriptions (where can I find that strawberry rhubarb cornbread?)—and heavy. Nora seems very good at her job, but is clearly struggling to apply her therapeutic principles to her own life. And Eli definitely has some issues of his own to work through. The book also has a fabulous cast of side characters including an apartment complex of senior citizens happy to mix in, Nora’s own insightful and blunt therapist, a dreamy best friend, and a bunch of cute pets. Even Nora’s parents, as annoying and unlikeable as they were, were funny. I do think Nora and Eli could have guessed the big reveal sooner, but I was totally willing to suspend my disbelief to go on such a delightful ride.

Carly Robbins narrates the audiobook and brings a lot of brightness and sincerity to the character of Nora. Her delivery helped keep the mood upbeat even in some of the more emotionally complex parts.

‘Unlikely Story’ by Ali Rosen is a heartwarming and cosy romance that effortlessly combines emotional growth with sweet moments of connection.

I listened to the audiobook, I found myself invested in the characters and their journey. Though the plot twist was somewhat predictable, it didn't detract from the enjoyment of the story. In fact, I appreciated how the story unfolded, and I purposely refrained from second-guessing the twists — sometimes, it’s just nice to let a story unfold.

The book follows two characters, a writer and an editor, who work together virtually and eventually become neighbours in real life. What sets this story apart is that the twist doesn’t fully land until around 70% of the way through, and when it does, the character who learns the truth doesn’t immediately use the situation for their own gain, as so often happens in romance novels. This added a layer of refreshing sincerity and depth to the narrative. The resolution that follows is equally satisfying, and I found myself smiling at the conclusion. The epilogue was a nice touch as well — perfectly wrapping up the story.

One of the things I loved most about this book was the emphasis on therapy, mental health, and personal growth. The characters undergo significant development, and it’s clear that ‘Unlikely Story’ carries a deeper lesson about boundaries and vulnerability, especially when it comes to love. The supporting characters added richness to the story, though Nora’s parents were a source of frustration for me.

Though the pacing starts off a bit slow, once the story picks up momentum, it’s hard to put down. I’ve not read an Ali Rosen book before, but after this one, I can’t wait to explore more of her work.

If you’re a fan of sweet, emotionally rich romances with relatable characters and important life lessons, I recommend ‘Unlikely Story’. It’s the kind of book that makes you reflect on your own relationships and boundaries, and it’s definitely a worthwhile read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for the advance copy.

Oh my gosh, this was my very first book (or audiobook) from this author, and it definitely won’t be my last! It was such a captivating and compelling story with wit and angst, and I didn’t want to put it down!

Unlikely Story is a cute, charming romance with a refreshing and original storyline. While a little over the top and predictable, I still had fun reading this one. The plot managed to keep me invested in the characters' love story as well as their personal journeys. The whole message of the book was also very nice regarding seeing and showing different sides of ourselves to different people.

As for the characters they both had depth, due to the mistaken identities, it added a layer to each of them. Although their chemistry together for me was lacking. There are a lot of coincidences between the main characters which made it feel a little unrealistic. The romance is definitely a slow burn, but I was missing the angst, I just needed a stronger connection between them. The side characters in the building were the absolute highlight for me. They made me chuckle quite a few times.

Overall, this was an easy, sweet read that delivered a beautiful message. Even with some predictability and unrealistic aspects it still managed to be highly entertaining.

Thank you to @netgalley, @montlake & Ali Rosen for my gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As a counseling intern and someone who is currently getting my masters in marriage and family therapy, I really wanted to love this book so much. Unfortunately, it was a miss for me. Th3 plot was icky for me, and I really didn’t like the whole kinda-ex-therapy-patient-turned-lover plot. I kept listening to the audiobook because as a Jewish woman I wanted to love it, and while I loved the Jewish representation, it fell flat in every other area. I thought the ending was lackluster and overall the book just felt weird and like no counselor or therapist was consulted on the whole idea of a female therapist dating her sort of ex patient.

I loved this mistaken identity, enemies to lovers romance. The author did an amazing job as well as the narrative I was not willing to stop listening. This story made me think, laugh and smile often. It was realistic and enjoyable.

This latest from bestselling Jewish author Ali Rosen was an anonymous texting coworkers to real life enemies to lovers next door neighbor fade to black romance. It had tons of heart, a great cast of secondary characters, animal sidekicks and messy family drama that all came together in a satisfying end. It was also great on audio. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

This just didn’t work for me. I DNF’d it at 40% because the FMC was super annoying, petty, and overly dramatic. I also had issues with the assumptions made about the MMC just because she was an ex-wife's therapist. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure where the story was headed... like when she scolded her parents for buying a $10,000 fish tank. Maybe I just hate romance, but even though I loved the narrator’s voice, this one wasn’t for me.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this audiobook. The narrator did a fantastic job voicing all the parts. The book was so cute and sweet, and I really look forward to more books by Ali Rosen.

I received a gifted copy. This review is honest and voluntary.