This was an Unexpected joy to read! This is my first experience reading this author's work, and if this is any indication of how she writes, I will be reading more from her because it hit all the marks of a contemporary romance for me. I loved Marcus immediately and then fell more in love with him as the book progressed -- he's sweet, understanding, loyal, sexy and the best friend any girl could ask for. The way he treated Abby throughout this book was nothing short of amazing. I loved the dynamic among the secondary characters as well, not to mention their families are hilarious! I love this genre and this book was everything I look for and enjoy. I would definitely recommend this read if you love contemporary friends-to-lovers romance. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When I started reading this book the phase that kept coming to my mind was sometimes you need to expect the unexpected. Let me tell you that Abby and Marcus never knew what hit them. When Abby decides her biological clock is ticking, Marcus steps up and suggests he helps her get pregnant and they can co-parent together. Marcus and Abby are not looking for a relationship so they decide to keep everything platonic. What they never expected was that their friendship would begin to take on a new meaning for each of them. Will they be able to stay friends or will this tear them apart? Will they give in to what they feel? This book was a really great read from start to finish. The journey these two embark on will keep you reading for a long time. I highly recommend you give this book a try. Thanks Net Galley. I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was just an ok book to me. I found it a little slower than I like my books to go, both Abby and Marcus annoyed me. Abby wants a baby and since it seems she is on biological clock to have a child she decides that now is the time, however and with whomever possible. Marcus offers his services to be baby daddy. This part was ridiculous to me not that he would but-so here's the thing he is a commitment phobe and supposedly in love with Abby but he wont admit to even himself yet everyone around them knows. Abby is lying to herself also since they had a kiss months ago and since she does not want to mess up their relationship she buries her head in the sand. When they try to conceive it is back and back and forth, just grow up and have real communication before you try ti bring another life in the mix.

Great new series. I love stories like this- friends to lovers and this one didn't disappoint. Marcus and Abby have been friends since they were kids. They grew up together. When Abby decides her clock is ticking, Marcus offers to be the father. Little did they know when they hit the sheets the chemistry really builds from there. The story focusing around them navigating each of their new feelings towards each other. All is all it was a good, easy read that sucked you in from the start!! Definitely recommend!

Thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an e-arc for review. This has in no way influenced my opinion.

I quite enjoyed Rimmer's historical fiction book "The Things We Cannot Say", so when I was in the mood for a cutesy romance, I thought I'd try out her writing in a different genre. Unfortunately, Unexpected was not a fun read. The story hinges on the heroine's declining fertility and upon hearing the news decides she needs to get pregnant right now. However, neither she nor her roommate/sperm donor/lover should be parents - they are given advice about the best ways to protect each other and the hypothetical baby's interests and they choose to throw that good advice away with both hands.

There are a number of great issues that could've been explored in this book - women in gaming, adoption/fostering, Marcus' relationship with his father, what parental pressure can do to a child's mental health when they can't provide grandchildren, etc - but all of these avenues are forsaken to focus on our two unlikable leads quest for an ill-conceived shot at parenthood.

I look forward to Rimmer's next historical fiction but will avoid her romances going forward.

I was intrigued enough about this one to make the request. The cover alone is enough to catch my attention. I love the curvy heroine, the colors, and the whole feel of it. The magic sort of stopped there for me, however. It's not that it's a bad story. It's just told in a way that I struggle to connect with. That is, there's a lot of time spent inside the characters heads, and I wanted more action., faster.

The tone of the storytelling is very engaging, and the dialogue I got worked for me. It's just that there wasn't enough of it and I found myself skimming and fighting boredom.

In the end, I felt like this story had a lot of promise, but unfortunately it didn't work for me.

To sum up my initial reaction to Kelly Rimmer’s latest book is that it was totally unexpected. No pun intended since the title of the book is UNEXPECTED. Kelly Rimmer has decided to write a love story – not just any love story but without exception one of the most darling ones I’ve read in a long time.
UNEXPECTED is told through the subconscious thoughts of the two main characters Abby and Marcus. Best friends sharing Marcus’ apartment and who quite simple adore each other. They also covet the relationship shared for many years. Friends with no benefits. They are each-others support person.
In the love department they’ve only shared one small hiccup in their arms-length friendship relationship. One New Years Eve kiss that they both secretly recall with equal measure of angst – could it cause damage to their friendship and awe – well that part is clear.
So as Abby is busy building her gaming empire and Marcus company growing leaps and bounds they are strangely arriving at the same point in their personal lives. Abby discovering her window for fertility narrowing and Marcus realizing that although he has no plans or desires for happy ever after he wants a family.
Seems rather simple – Marcus can give Abby what she needs and in turn Marcus can have an albeit unorthodox family with Abby and a child.
But that’s where simple ends. Kelly Rimmer crafts a voyage for these two characters that is filled with wonder, angst and joy in equal measures. UNEXPECTED is a glimpse into two peoples lives that is filled with life’s unexpected moments – most would agree that those are the most precious. And UNEXPECTED by Kelly Rimmer is precious, heartwarming and just plain lovely.
UNEXPECTED is something like a romantic sitcom. Abby and Marcus journey to parenthood and beyond results in making UNEXPECTED quite a page turner.
So if you are looking for a joyous look into a wondrous love story UNEXPECTED by Kelly Rimmer should be at the top of the must read list. Sure to be a summer favorite book. Filled with a delicious support cast of equally interesting characters UNEXPECTED will leave you with a well-earned smile on your face. Guaranteed to please.

When Abby asks her friend to be a sperm donor, she never expects to put her friendship with her best friend in jeopardy. Marcus has been her best friend since they were young and it does seem to make sense that they can enter into an arrangement that keeps boundaries in line. But can they?
A nice light read!

*I received an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I first heard of this book when reading a magazine. There was a little blurb about it and the premise sounded like something I would enjoy. It had good reviews on Goodreads as well. Lo and behold, I saw it was available on Netgalley for requesting and was happy to receive an ARC.

Overall, though, this book was just okay for me. It just lacked depth in the characters and I couldn't get invested in them. I got annoyed with Abby second guessing herself constantly. I know that is supposed to serve as a tease and build tension but it was the opposite for me.

It was fine.. I didn't hate it or anything, but it was just okay and fairly forgettable. Maybe a good beach read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

was intrigued by the whole best friends turn lovers dynamic but I just couldn't resonate with “Unexpected”. I'm not sure if it was Kelly Rimmer book format or writing style, it was just hard to keep focus on the story and eventually it felt more like a chore to read. As much as I appreciate the ARC, this series just wasn't for me and I decided to drop it ¼ through.

Love this book! Was not what I was expecting from Kelly Rimmer. Very impressed with her writing style and maturity that seems to be involving with her books. Very good book and would highly recommend it.

4.5 Stars - What a gratifying, sexy read! Unexpected is a best friends to lovers romance in which both Marcus (the H) and Abby (the h) are flying blind. There was an unexpected kiss on New Year’s Day that ultimately went no where. She buried her head in the sand and he let it go. It was a blip, right? A warm, passionate, alcohol-induced blip. The only thing is, they both really enjoyed it. After Abby gets some important, and scary, news from her doctor she hatches a plan that inevitably finds she and Marcus having sex (a lot). They’ve been friends for 30 years, but it’s fair to say that $hit just got real.

It’s a whirlwind of emotions, that always includes love and honest conversation. It’s the very best sort of friends to lovers read! I loved it!

I really enjoyed this book. I started it last night and finished it this afternoon. I'm a sucker for surprise/unusual baby stories, and this one falls right in that category. In this case, it's two best friends who decide to have a baby together, and quickly realize that they're feelings for each other might be more than friendship. One thing I really liked about Unexpected, and that makes it unique, is that Marcus realized his feelings far earlier than Abby. It's often the woman that is expected to say the first 'I love you' and make the more emotional moves in the relationship. I loved that Marcus was able to realize (to an extent) the depth of his emotions for Abby early on, and worked to help her realize she felt the same. This book is super sweet with a classic HEA ending.

Such an UNEXPECTED and yet wonderfully written romance novel featuring a friends to lovers trope. I honestly read the synopsis and fell in love with it and the cover! I am so glad I was able to read this puppy since friends to lovers have always been a weakness for me.!

Unexpected (Start Up in the City #1) is the first Kelly Rimmer book I've read and and WOW I'm impressed. You won't want to put this friends, to lovers to parents story down. Rimmer is definitely going on my "Favorite Authors" list.

Abby and Marcus, childhood best friends, have always managed to keep their friendship platonic. Well, except for last New Year’s Eve when they shared a passionate kiss that they still refuse to discuss. But aside from that, their friendship is perfect. Abby and Marcus share an apartment and love the routines they have together.

When Abby learns from her doctor that at 30-years old, her fertility is on the fast decline, she knows it’s either now or never to have a baby. Unfortunately for her, she hasn’t found her Mr. Perfect yet and will have to do the parenting thing alone. The cost of fertility treatments is astronomical and the idea of using a sperm bank is as unromantic as it gets, but Abby wants a baby now.

When Marcus learns of Abby’s predicament, he starts to think about what it would be like to raise a child. Due to his parents’ unsuccessful marriage, Marcus is completely uninterested in ever getting married, so he always thought kids were off the table. But Abby’s situation could be his one chance to be a dad. So he proposes that Abby and him have a baby together and jointly raise it, as friends. They could be great parents together and have a happy family, minus the relationship part.

Due to the high costs and waiting period associated with artificial insemination, Abby and Marcus reluctantly choose the old-fashioned method of conception. What they weren’t expecting was that they have amazing chemistry together. They wanted to keep their friendship exactly how it was before having sex, but that’s impossible. Abby and Marcus become addicted to each other in ways they never thought possible and the task of creating a baby becomes something they not only look forward to, but insanely crave.

This new phase of their friendship is uncharted territory for Abby and Marcus. The physical aspect is surfacing feelings they both have been harboring for months, if not years. And even though they don’t want to complicate their tight bond, the potential for unimaginable love may be too good to pass up. And putting their feelings on the line makes them more vulnerable than they’re used to, yes, but the best kind of love is always worth the risk.

Unexpected is the first book in Kelly Rimmer’s Start Up in the City series. This book is new territory for Kelly Rimmer, as her other books are harder-hitting usually and her next release this year is a historical fiction. But I’m happy to see that she can write across a range of genres and excel at all of them. Unexpected is a steamy romance, following the friends to lovers trope. I thoroughly enjoyed Marcus and Abby’s relationship and I was rooting for their happily ever after from the very beginning. Their banter is witty and they are great together. I’d read anything Kelly Rimmer publishes and can’t wait to see what book two has in store—4.25/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, HQN and Kelly Rimmer for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Marcus likes to give his girl free reign at times, “sweetheart… just about anything you want to do to me at this point is going to be okay with me.” Marcus can be a go with the flow kind of man, "Abs, I’m up for it. As often as you want. You just seduce me with that “let’s have * ***” move you pulled on me after dinner and I’m there." I liked this book, I liked Marcus.

Abby and Marcus have been bestfriends for 30 years. Now they have been living together for the last year and she gets some devestating news that forces her to decide to have a baby. However she doesn't have a romantic relationship with anyone so she has to decide how to make that happen.

Marcus is the hote best friend who does not want marriage ever.Abby is a gamer and the nerd in this story. She wants the house, husband and baby but sometimes all that doesn''t happen and so she wants to make it happen.

This was a really adorable romance between two very good friends who both want to have a baby.

A friends to lovers romance with a very introverted main character. I liked how caring the hero was and that the heroine had some mental health issues that he helped her work through. And, I always enjoy a romance with a baby theme.

Good book!! This is Abby and Marcus book, Abby thinks she has it all she's had a great career , great friends, living in an awesome tribeca apartment! What more could she ask for?! Then her doctor gives her upsetting news! If she doesn't get pregnant soon she may never be able to! So she asks around lol also checks with a clinic! Her best friend since childhood Marcus kinda wonders why the back she didn't ask him?! In her mind he'll never settle down and he's just a playboy. Marcus finally asks her and they decide to do it the old fashioned way! This book was funny! Had some heartache and heartbreak! I definitely recommend reading it! Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!