This debut novel is one to read and the author Hayley Doyle is definitely one to watch. This book is incredibly funny and an uplifting, life affirming read guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. The dialogue between Zara and Jim, the two main characters, is absolutely hilarious. Jim is very down to earth but has never been able to fulfil his potential. Stuck in a toll booth on a motorway taking drivers' cash, this Liverpudlian lad is a kind hearted if world weary book lover, trying to get over his lack of love life, lack of money and lack of opportunity.
Zara is a flighty, talkative, privileged girl, living in Dubai but unable to settle and pinning all her hopes on an online relationship with Nick. She leaves Dubai to see him in England and in doing so a catastrophic series of events is unleashed which sees Zara and Jim thrown together with unexpected consequences.
The will they/won't they thread adds a poignant romantic angle to the question of chance encounters and whether relationships need to be permanent in order to give us the confidence and the independence to stand on our own two feet. Are Jim and Zara destined to be together or is it just for an 'almost' moment?
Maybe we don't need to think too much about the past or the future but be fully present in the here and now.
I highly recommend this book and I myself eagerly await Hayley's next offering.

‘Some people go looking for love. Others crash right into it.’

This one is great for anyone looking for a contemporary read.

Unfortunately it wasn’t for me. I just didn’t like the story or the characters.

This had the makings of being an easy going book that I thought I would love. I’m sad that I didn’t love it, it was ok but it just didn’t get me in the feels. The storyline was good, but I struggled with the characters. I have no doubt that there are those out there that will love a feel good, against the odds love story but this one just wasn’t for me this time. ⁣
⁣
If you love a good love story, and just want a feel good book in these weird times then give this a go!

It’s so lovely to read about Liverpool in a book (my home town) so I have to admit I’m a little bit biased in loving this book. I found the characters to be so cute, almost charming in a way, just so likeable. Their story is full of twists, turns, ups and downs just like real life and as you read you are willing them on and rooting for them (or at least I was) and that ending I didn’t see coming at all. I love the fact this covers second chances and missed opportunities, especially with the current situation taking stock is a very current theme in this household. I loved its quirkiness, the timescale of the story and how much fun it was to read. A totally riveting and addictive story. Thoroughly recommended 

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Zara is a true romantic, she is prepared to follow her heart, and does so, as she travels from Dubai to Liverpool. Jim's life is put on hold when his father dies, but when his luck changes, will his life improve too? Jim and Zara 's paths should never cross, but they do, and the results are life-changing.

Both of these characters are easy to like, and when their dreams implode, easy to empathise too. The story flows well, with a cast of captivating characters and interesting settings. Friendship, family drama, humour and romance, make this an engaging read. What makes this special is the unpredictability of it, as fate plays cupid. The life journey is full of conflict, as dreams crash and reality sets in, but there is a plan and eventually, it gives everyone the result they deserve. 

I received a copy of this book from Avon Books UK in return for an honest review.

This was one of the hardest books I have ever read this month. I've been procrastinating for weeks to be done with this one but just couldn't manage it. Thankfully I finished it today while struggling my 2nd week of self isolation and quarantine. 

Anyway the premise seemed interesting on this one but the actual book didn't really catch my attention. I wish I could relate to the characters more but I really couldn't connect to them. Zara annoyed me at the beginning, I feel like her character was too naive for her age. Seriously how can you let someone off the hook so easily when they hurt and literally scarred you. I also felt bad for poor Jim. I just don't like when someone make a mistake and justify their wrong doing especially when they knew it was her/his fault when they did it. It's so pathetic when it's too obvious they're just trying to get out of a situation by blaming the other person. Plus, I am unsure of why and what she actually thinks love is to take those risks. Sadly this book isn't for me. But don’t let my opinion stop you from reading it as there are many readers who enjoyed this book too. To be fair, I tried. I really did.

This book will be released on April 2, 2020. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a bit hard for me to read. Mostly because it seemed very unrealistic. 
Don’t get me wrong, I love my fair share true fiction, but not when it comes to a romance. I want at least to seem possible.. 
but, this book just didn’t do it for me. The amount of trouble and setbacks they had was just wild.. and then their whole attitude and maturity was rough to read.. I had to put the book down 3/4 of the way through. 
Maybe the ending redeemed itself? I hope so for everyone who continued to read!

I really really really wanted to like this book. I kept waiting for the characters to have some kind of connection past "ooh, he looks hot without his shirt on" or "ooh, her legs are nice." but it never happened. Sigh. It was fun learning about Liverpool past the Beatles and that part of England, but it wasn't enough for me.

Does anyone have such bad luck? Made me want to cry (not in a good way!)😫
2.5-3🌟stars🤔
This story was nothing like I expected.  I began enjoying it, feeling that Zara and Jim both deserved and were on their way to a bit of luck and happiness, but less than halfway in I felt the story had moved into a hopeless quagmire of bad luck and became downright depressing, especially for Liverpudlian Jim.  I wish I could say I liked Zara and Jim's accidental adventure but I grew impatient with their hopeless tumbling from one crisis to the next.  I grew to see both Zara and Jim as losers in life: Jim for spending money he did not have on a forgotten, drunken night of partying and luxury, AND going along and pretending he was something he was not, and Zara for her spoiled, flighty, oblivious-to-Jim's-stress attitude.  It was absolutely no surprise to me that she fell for a scammer or that she relied on Jim to take care of things. 

So, after attempting to skim for awhile I had to give up.  Maybe the last part of the book redeems things with a reversal of fortune but I had no burning desire to find out.  Others may enjoy this series of unfortunate events but I guess I was not in the mood for it.  I needed a spot of cheer and hope in our depressing, pandemic world.

Thanks to publisher Avon Books and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book;  this is my voluntary and honest review.

The ending of this story was completely different to what I was expecting but that didn't stop me from enjoying this. It took a while to get into it and I nearly gave up but I am very glad that I didn't as the characters came to life and made it fun. Fate plays a big part in this and it should never have happened but it did , There are ups and downs but I really enjoyed this. I recommend this novel to one and all.

I am sorry this is not my type of book. I did not like the writing style and struggled to keep reading. 

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Hayley Doyle. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own.***

I was excited to read this book because the description sounded right up my street, and the cover is just too cute. I just couldn't get in to it at all. I got half way through and at this point I still don't like any of the characters and don't feel any chemistry between them. I don't feel like an awful lot has happened to have got through half the book already! I like the writing style, so I'd definitely read something by Hayley Doyle again - it's just that this particular book isn't for me.

This was very much an average read - characters were quite one dimensional and rather unlikeable which made the story move forward too slowly. A lot of the storylines were verging on the ridiculous and I just couldn’t warm to it properly. 

That said, it was a quick read - big fans of the genre may well find something here that works for them.

I had a really hard time getting into this book. The beginning confused me and I had a hard time following what was going on. I was also not a fan of the language. I don’t normally give 1 star ratings but this book did not appeal to me.

Never Saw you Coming is a novel that took me by surprise. It is by no means your average everyday love story but rather a mix of romance and a comedy of errors that I absolutely adored.
The couple featured in this delightful read are Zara Khoury and Jim Glover. Zara is currently living in Dubai, a pampered princess with no real aim in life except to party and have fun with all her other expat friends. But you sense she’s desperate to be loved, a hopeless romantic amidst a family who would rather throw money at her than spend quality time with her.  A rash decision to fly to the UK and meet the guy she’s been chatting online with is when the fun really begins. For me though it is Jim’s character that had me totally engrossed in this  wonderful ‘Will they won’t they’ storyline. Our first introduction to Jim’s life as a toll booth attendant in Liverpool is simply brilliant and so well written that I could immediately visualise the scene in my head and how it would translate onto the big screen. He’s intelligent, loves books and looks after his frail mother making him an instantly lovable character in my eyes. He too has no direction in life and is pretty much penniless but with an interesting bunch of mates who we’re gradually introduced to, I was swept up in Jim’s life and I lost my heart to him. I absolutely loved the scene featuring the live radio phone in quiz that sees Jim winning a brand new car which is the catalyst for bringing Jim and Zara’s lives together.  His lucky day or hers?? 
There are so many laugh out loud moments when Zara’s world literally collides with Jim’s, with improbable (and frustrating!) events that bring out the personalities of these two so that I wished I was there with them for the ride. Zara, whilst irritating and exasperating clearly has a heart of gold which shines brighter the more this storyline unfolds.Jim is revealed as a surprising hero to Zara’s damsel in distress persona, a good guy amongst all the scoundrels and being handsome doesn’t pass her by!! He’s loyal to his friends, even if the only real love of his life is now playing happy families with his best mate. 
The setting really brings these characters to life, especially descriptions of Jim’s bachelor life in Liverpool, living above a chippy and seeing the same faces pass by his toll booth daily. Dubai, by comparison, only serves to highlight their two very different worlds.
This was an addictive read for me and speaks volumes about missed opportunities and taking chances in life. It’s about letting go of the past and embracing the future, wherever that may take you. Strong family loyalties and taking responsibility for his mother have kept Jim grounded and stuck in a rut but his chance encounter with Zara proves it’s never too late to realise your dreams. To that extent Zara is the braver of the two as well as being more foolhardy but they seem to compliment each other well.
Funny, uplifting and heartwarming to read the style is easy, with the narrative switching between the two characters, giving their differing perspectives on the same situations. I really enjoyed the comedy of errors element, which cannot fail to make you smile. With a sliding doors type touch to the ending, you may be surprised by the final pages but ultimately glad to have discovered such a joyous read. Perfect for fans of Beth O’Leary and Josie Silver.
My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read in exchange for an honest review.

From the very beginning of NEVER SAW YOU COMING, I was thoroughly charmed. Zara and Jim would never meet in the normal course of their lives, but a chance encounter changes everything for them, in what they are willing to risk, to do, to take a chance on doing for themselves -- and ultimately for one another. The chemistry between this pair is remarkable, funny and fast and totally believable and I loved spending time with them in this exceptionally well-paced, well-done story. Quick read -- but be prepared to stay up late reading if you're not far enough along. Wonderful settings, lovely experience with this world!

Did not lové this book. It was ok but nothing more.  It felt like a bit of a chore to have to puck it up and read it and there never really seemed to be anything of substance come up 

Jim was quite a nice - but boring - character.  I kept wishing he would show some personality. Zara was quite unlikeable and I didn’t warm to her at all at my point in the book 

The book plods along and is inoffensive but not a great read.  On thé up side it did make me rethink moving to Dubai which is something I have previously considered !

All in all I enjoyed this book. The writing style was fabulous and  the Scouser accent came across well because of that. 

The story is quite simple and and cute, a character development can be observed but I struggled to see the shift from these two characters being annoyed with each other to being friends with a romantic interest in each other. 

I also really liked all the supporting characters and friends of Jim.

I loved that this wasn’t your typical romance novel if that’s what your expecting then your in for a lovely surprise.. it had so many twists and turns to keep me on my toes. Jim and Zara’s  story is told with humour and heart. It broke my heart and mended it so many times.  A strong debut.. A highly recommend you give it a read.  ThankYou to Avon books for the approval in return for an honest review and to netgalley..

I absolutely fell in love with this book instantly. Such a wonderful story that I didn't want to end. The characters were written perfectly especially Jim who I just fell in love with. I wanted him to have everything in life and felt like I actually knew him. I really really hope there is a sequel but I have a feeling there won't so I shall let my imagination write the next chapter. Fantastic book that I'm already recommending to all my friends and family