I’ve read a few books by A.M. Madden in the past and really enjoyed them so when I saw this cover, I thought I was getting into a romcom. Maybe the cartoon-y effect on the cover just made my mind wander in that direction. But let me warn you here, this is NOT a romcom! It’s a contemporary romance with an accidental pregnancy with a twist.

Jade has a plan for her life that she isn’t willing to detour from. A relationship isn’t in that plan right now but one night of fun can be. Max’s life is already set, in his mind, at least. And it’s too crazy to start a relationship…right? But when one night leads to a(nother) baby on the way, will Max be able to convince Jade that he’s willing to do whatever to make a relationship work?

This story is not your typical accidental pregnancy book. Max isn’t a playboy who lives wild and free, and he wasn’t irresponsible. So how does he end up with not one but two pregnant ladies in his life at the same time? No spoilers here so you will have to read the book to find out. But trust me when I say, you’re going to want to read this very emotional but entertaining story.

NICUnurse’s Rating: I can’t say I’ve read all of A.M. Madden’s books, but I’ve read quite a few and the ones that the blurbs have pulled me in have all been entertaining and satisfying reads. And Not According to Plan certainly lands solidly in that camp. I just wanted to be able to give Max big hugs all throughout the story. He’s one of the good ones, despite the situation he finds himself in. And being one of the good ones, he’s almost killing himself to do the right thing and be there for everyone he cares about. And bless her…Jade is struggling to navigate those same waters. Thankfully, this does end with a HEA so don’t let the complicated relationships scare you away. If Max had been any less of a good guy, I would have not enjoyed this book as much. His predicament totally pulled at my heartstrings. If contemporary romance with accidental pregnancies are your thing, I think you will love this book. And even if they aren’t, this one has a twist that I think will have you enjoying this particular story despite that. So grab your copy today and dive in!

I give Not According to Plan by A.M. Madden 4.5 out of 5 stars!

What I Loved:
I love this twist on a romance storyline! A one-night-stand turned into a pregnancy and love story was adorable, and I loved it! One other thing I just adored about this book was the cover! I just think it’s utterly fabulous and I was drawn to the book from that alone!

How I Felt:
The characters were so lovable in this story. Jade, our female lead, has no interest in love. She is focused on her career. When life throws her curve-balls though, we find how adaptable to change she can be. I liked her strength and determination in all things life gave her. Max is also not looking for love, and yet love seems to find him. He’s a wonderful love interest, and I loved his strength of character. He was willing to commit to the situation and I appreciated that so much. Together, Jade and Max make a fabulous pair and they were so fun to read about.

The story shows its humorous side from the very first scene. I found myself laughing out loud at Jade’s conversation with her friend. This conversation leads to a night of karaoke and a one-night stand. Except that one-night stand turns into a pregnancy…whoops! Now Jade has to figure out what she’s going to do. It’s a lot of choices that she never thought she’d be making.

Overall, I really enjoyed Not According to Plan. I loved how the story was woven with humor and endearing moments. The characters were fun, and the story was well-written.

To Read or Not To Read:
I would recommend Not According to Plan to romance readers that enjoy the lighter side of romance. There is a lot of humor, mishaps, and a sweet love story for your enjoyment!

I was provided an advanced reader's copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book had a good premise and I thought I would enjoy it. It turns out it was pretty boring. Nothing happened, the couple didn't see each other very much and took way to many pages to solve something that should have taken 100 pages max.

This is a slightly complicated story with a riot of emotions. Max likes to take of the people he loves and will bend over backwards to make them happy. Jade is a planner who is usually cautious in everything she does. An unplanned pregnancy on a one night stand upends both their worlds. The story looks at the stresses that occur with the impending birth and all the complications that come with it. Family plays an important role in the decisions they have to make and the expectations that are foisted on them. The secondary characters bring levity to the situation and often provide comic relief. It is a story you will enjoy because the plot is highly developed and gives great insight into the characters.

Life does not follow our plans. We can make them, dream them, and try to force them but...


Not According to Plan is funny, sweet, and full of love. I do not envy the situation they find themselves in because it's complicated. Very, very complicated. Intense feelings, inadequacies, and guilty make it hard to focus on the good. Doubt, longing, and THE PLAN spend a lot of time steering them off their path.

Jade's levelhead is a hindrance to the life she wants. Max clearly let something lead him around and it wasn't his head. Lol. No judging, though, it's definitely a head shaker of a situation. I couldn't help but laugh uncontrollably at the catalyst for his predicament.

A.M. Madden kept me entertained and a bit on edge. I'm a nervous Nelly even if I know there's going to be an HEA because as you will soon learn (if you didn't already know) sometimes life goes... NOT ACCORDING TO PLAN.

2.5 Stars
I thought this book looked like a great book to read, but I was a little disappointed. It didn’t seem realistic and I just couldn’t connect to the characters. It had a good plot with an unexpected pregnancy and a long-distance relationship, but I thought the characters were immature and selfish. Max getting two women pregnant within months of each other in two different states and the women were expected to make all the changes and accommodate him and his career goals? I wasn’t impressed with him at all.

Definitely got sucked in by the cover of this one…. I haven’t seen or read many books from the point of view of a pregnant woman, so I was really excited to read this and relate to that perspective. Unfortunately very little of the story had anything to do with her pregnancy experience, instead focusing on the baby-daddy “romance” and this absolutely ridiculous situation they found themselves in. I also didn’t think the writing was great – I have a pet peeve of authors overusing clichéd idioms, and apparently I also have a pet peeve of this author overusing the word “libido.” Overall not the book for me, and not sure even who I’d recommend it to. But thanks to NetGalley for letting me read an eARC of it for free in exchange for an honest review!

Due to faulty condoms, Max Navarro is going to be a father twice over, three months apart and to women living over 1,000 miles apart. He had already planned to leave New York for Miami to be a hands on father to his friend Tracey’s baby but before the move came he had a one night stand with Jade that now leaves him torn between the instant connection he feels with Jade and his new life in Miami. Jade is an up and coming ambitious lawyer, who has no wish to leave her career in New York. The story deals with the angst of their separations (which I got a bit bored with), their growing attraction and hard won decisions. I enjoyed the last 20% of the book but struggled with the story until I got to that point. Note: I also could have done without the bad language that was heavily sprinkled throughout the story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jade and Max's relationship began in a very unique way - fate, with a little help from Max's brother and Jade's best friend pushed the two together in a karoake singing contest. Jade was out to celebrate her birthday. Max was helping his brother in the bar. What happens later is nothing short of magical! When life throws you a curve ball, do roll with the punches or throw in the towel? Jade is pregnant and she was hoping to make junior partner in her law firm. Max was about to expand his business to Miami! There has been something special between these two during that one amazing night together but can it be enough to bring them together, co-parent, and still accomplish their dreams. I promise A.M. Madden will have you laughing crying, dreaming and loving right along with Max and Jade and let's not forget their meddling families and friends!

3.5 stars. Overall it was an enjoyable read with a great mix of comedy and chemistry. I felt the execution and dialogue was a bit off in places but not enough to take away from the story. As this was an ARC, it could have been fixed in final edite.

3.5 stars

My guilty pleasure is surprise baby books. They are usually my book palette cleanser after I read something heavy or just need a quick read. I had high hopes with this book. Unfortunately, even though there were some good elements to the story, I found that I struggled half the time.

I wanted more fluidity in the story. There were several moments that the transitions would pull me out of the story. I really appreciate this author and their hard work as I cannot even come close to doing what they do. There is a reason I am a reader and not an author. However, this book was not my favorite. The beauty with literature is that even though it wasn't for me, I am sure there will be someone else that loves this.

Jade is determined to ensure that the next junior partner at the law firm where she works will be her, so her life is a case of all work and no play. The one time her girlfriend convinces her to come out and play she spends a steamy evening with a man and she now finds herself pregnant and all her life plans up in the air.

Max is the owner of a gym and he is planning on moving to Miami where he is opening another gym as well. One steamy evening with a woman has him reconsidering his future and his complicated life is about to get a whole lot more complicated.

There is no denying the chemistry between them but working out the other aspects of their life wasn’t without its challenges as they both must decide what is truly important in their lives.

I love this story. This one is a definite page-turner. I couldn't stop reading. I kept thinking "how is this ever going to work" " there's just no way" ..."If this book doesn't give me an HAE" AHHH...SOOOO SOOO GOOD!! I love the characters. Max and Jade have a passionate connection, the best friend Amy is batsh!t crazy and one of Max's brother is hysterical. (Max is a set of identical triplets 😍❤ )
Not According to Plan is captivating with its unconventional family dynamics, the struggles of real life, the laugh out loud humor and the sensual sexiness. HOT!! I will admit that unexpected pregnancy is not my usual trope but I can see why it is so addicting. It's great. Max and Jade's love story may be complicated but it is sweet and romantic. I got lost in it and that is a great read for me. Hoping we get more of the Navarro brothers

I love rom com's and Not According To Plan by AM Madden was such a fun read. It kept me smiling, and was such a feel good story.
Jade and Max meet at a singles karaoke night, but they have chemistry from the start. Jade decides to take a chance and have a one night stand. Neither were looking for a relationship, but when you aren't looking sometimes things just happen.
Jade was such a strong character, choosing to take what life through at her. Max is your typical bachelor, gym owner and swoony. Max stepped up from the start and was there every step of the way. While there were some complications and bumps along the road, Max and Jade were a great match. There was love and understanding and I really loved their characters.
This was such a fun, lighthearted read that I couldn't stop reading. It was one of those stories that just makes you feel good.
Another great read from AM Madden.

This was crazy! Poor guy just could not catch a break! Great storyline but I just wish it had more romance. They needed more time together, I didn't feel the chemistry.

I liked this book, but I think I could have loved it if the blurb had been more honest. There's more at play here than just a women accidentally getting pregnant with a one-night stand's baby. Max, the baby daddy, actually has another baby coming soon as well in another state. (Not really a spoiler because it's told to the reader almost immediately. Also, no OW drama.) So the real drama surrounds that and figuring things out. I grew frustrated with Jade quickly. I didn't want her to have to give up the way she wanted her life, but I did think she could have looked the bigger picture and what Max was facing. Cute love story, but not one that had me swooning over it.

Unfortunately, I DNF'd this title.

The writing was good but I did not like the fact there were two pregnancies and the lack of reactions from those told. My first thought was "Condoms were used! What was wrong with them that they failed not once, but twice." It boggled me that he was so accepting of the pregnancies (not that he would deny them but at least really question it at the beginning).

I do love the cover and the fact that the heroine was a driven professional.

4 Stars for this cute rom com!

Jade is a lawyer who lived to work ... that is until she met Max on a rare night out with her friends. She ends up pregnant from her one-night stand with Max. Max is stunned at Jade’s pregnancy, but he also can’t believe that he gets a second chance with her. And that is just the beginning of their story.

This is a really cute one-night-stand-turns-into-a-pregnancy story ... with a twist on the pregnancy part. I really enjoyed the characters and their banter was very realistic. Who wouldn’t want a guy like Max as your baby daddy ... no really, who? I sure hope that Jade’s friend Amy, and Max’s brothers Brad and Nate get their own books. This would be a great start to a series!

I received an early copy courtesy of Entangled Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

Not According To Plan is a story with a unique take on unexpected pregnancy.

Not According To Plan is centred upon Jade Easton, a career focused junior partner at her law firm in New York, and Max Navarro, who is opening a gym in Miami and dealing with other complicated situations. Both aren't looking for anything romantic but life has other plans for them both. Shenanigans occurs when Jade and Max meet unexpectedly at a Kismet Karaoke, as the host of the event pairs them up together, and that's when fun and adventure shared on the stage transforms quickly to the bedroom. However, what was supposed to be a one-night stand changes both of their lives all thanks to one faulty condom.

Despite the situation each characters are put into, they both seem to handle the news well and proceeded to try to do the right thing. Jade is a strong heroine, she knows what she wants and even when the unexpected occurs, she continues to perserver for her dreams and doesn't let anything derail her from them. She has a good perspective on what she wants and adapts quickly to changes. Max finds himself in a predicament he never expected to be in. Though he never faltered and remained, generally, calm and determined as well as committed, I found myself disliking him. I think the predicament he is even left me feeling a little let down on the overall romantic aspect. Nonetheless, the chemistry between Jade and Max is apparent right from the start and showed the potential the two had as a couple.

I adored reading about the side characters, Amy and Brad were hilarious, and how they brought out different sides of the protagonists. I thought the concept of the story was unique but the way it was carried out could have been improved as the transitions often felt rushed. There is also the fact that Max's circumstances before Jade was shocking and left me a little irked.

Overall, Not According To Plan is not typically a book I would pick up but it was a fast and light read.



eARC was kindly provided by the publisher and Rockstar Book Tours via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!


Posting review on March 27th on blog, Goodreads, social media accounts, and online retail sites (Amazon, Indigo, etc.).

Not According To Plan was a cute surprise pregnancy romance.

Jade was a career driven woman, leading a self-professed boring life until her friend urged her to have a little fun on her birthday. One night of fun turns her and Max’s world upside down and the story focuses on how the two of them navigate all the changes they need to make in their life.

Honestly, I felt bad for Max. He was under so much stress and there wasn’t anything he could do to give everyone what they wanted and needed. I felt he really did the best he could given the circumstances. Thankfully he and his brothers were very likable characters, so I was rooting for him the whole time.

Jade was provided with so many options. She just had to come to the realization that things were going to change, and she had to figure out what she wanted, even if it didn’t align with the original goals she had for herself.

I’m curious if this book will turn into a series and we’ll see more of Max’s brothers in the future!