I wasn't sure what to expect with this one, with it starting out with it's strong Christian presence. But I do think this book will be really helpful for people who were raised in the church. I did like this one and I liked the characters but I wasn't sure how I felt about their view of sin and the things they did. Still ruminating on this one.
I do think teens will be able to relate to it. A good discussion book, everyone has different opinions of the topics addressed.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This was such a different but sweet story. Both of the characters have complicated relationships with their parents and have also had life changing circumstances revolving around church. There is strong Christian presence throughout the book. It was a good read!

I was a little nervous to read this as I am in the middle of my own religious soul searching, but I am so glad I did. I saw so much of myself in the main character, Meg. Her journey in denouncing toxic church culture while still seeking God and a genuine relationship with Him, is what we all need to know is possible as Christians. It didn’t hurt that the relationship between Meg and Micah is adorrrrrrable. Loved this book and will be recommending to all the church kids.

I think this book will be really helpful for people who were raised in the church - I wasn't, but I still really enjoyed reading it. Organized religion can make me a bit uncomfortable but this worked for me since it was pointing out all of the issues and what needs to change - the only thing that still didn't work for me was that the characters still believed in the idea of "sin" - they saw it as "we're all sinners but we're loved anyway," while I see "sin" as something else created by the church to control people.

But overall! A very good read and I have much respect for the author for putting out a book that's likely to get a lot of pushback and inspire a lot of conflicting opinions.

This book is special.

We all feel so much when we're growing up and having someone there with you is so important. There's so many lovely things about this book. The characters, the story, the writing. You can tell, easily, that the author put their heart and soul into this book and I deeply love seeing that. I recently saw the author sharing the acknowledgements page from this book on their Instagram feed and I remember thinking wow. This is beautiful. It got me more excited to read this and witness it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the earc in return for an honest review.

Wow, this will probably be one of the hardest reviews I’ve ever had to write.

In true Erin Hahn style, she’s created these two beautiful characters that I couldn’t wait to get back to. They are real and raw and full of grief....but somehow fit so well together. The chemistry between Micah and Meg is real and sweet and I really rooted for them as they grew together. I loved how Meg grew and became bold in who she wanted to be while still remaining true to herself and her love of God.

This book will make you question your Christianity but I think in some really positive ways. I really loved all the themes of God being the one to look up to and not finding your faith within an imperfect church led by men. I also loved the thought that despite what you have done and who you are associated with, God loves you unconditionally and His grace covers you in this way too. There is a thin line to ride between judgement and concern and I think as someone who’s experienced a little bit within my own church it was easy to relate to.

Micah and Meg are both reeling from life changing circumstances involving their church so when they collide they bring out the best in one another and learn that they are worthy and loved just the way they are. We could do with a lot less judging and a lot more loving. I can totally get behind this as someone who feels like people should be allowed to live in their own agency.

And while I don’t 100% agree with how everything is handled or said within the book, I think the heart of it very good and pure. Christianity is a personal experience and no two people develop the same relationship with God which can lead to such different experiences within their own sects.

Again. Really thought provoking, heavier read having to do with affairs, faith crisis, corrupt leadership, and attempted suicide.

Never Saw You Coming tackles some hard and sensitive topics surrounding females and the standards that are held for them in such a beautiful, relatable and healing way. I thoroughly enjoyed this heartwarming read and appreciated the delicacy in which Hahn handled some heavy coming of age subjects (religion, homophobia, family betrayals, self discovery) never shying away from the real feelings of confusion and frustration that can accompany them. The story is thought provoking, important and bold. The two main characters were well developed and quite endearing as they each navigated questioning their faiths, mentors and upbringings. I enjoyed the alternating POV's of both Meg and Micah and found them earnest, honest, and endearing.

I thoroughly enjoyed this heartwarming read. As a white female who was also raised in a conservative, Christian home, it resonated with me on many levels. I appreciated the delicacy in which Hahn handled some heavy coming of age subjects (religion, homophobia, family betrayals, self discovery) but didn't shy away from the real feelings of confusion and frustration that can accompany them. The story was thought provoking, important, and bold. The two main characters were well developed and quite endearing as they each navigated questioning their faiths, mentors, and upbringings. I enjoyed the alternating POV's of both Meg and Micah and found them earnest, honest, and endearing. I will definitely be looking up Hahn's other titles now!

There are not words enough for how much I love @erinhahn_author & her beautiful way with words ✨ Never Saw You Coming tackles some hard & sensitive topics surrounding females & the standards that are held for them in the church in such a beautiful, relatable & healing way that my younger self felt so seen 💛 I was lucky enough to snag an ARC copy from @netgalley & devoured it in a day! Also, Micah is totally 100% swoon-worthy!

Add this one to your list - it comes out 9/7 and I can not recommend it enough!

Meg's life goes off the rails when she learns that her God-fearing mother has been keeping a secret her whole life. Taking a gap year in the UP, Meg reflects on what it really means to be a believer as she falls in love for the first time. Hahn has created engaging characters, gorgeous prose, and thoughtful discourse about sin and appearances and double-standards and being a female member of the church. This should be required reading for all teens! This 'church girl' wishes there had been a book like this when I was growing up. Thank goodness today's girls have Erin Hahn in their corner.

This was absolutely amazing! Honestly, I put off reading this book for the same reason you save your favorite chocolate in the box for last. Sometimes you're just so excited you want to prolong that feeling.

I read Erin Hahn's novel More Than Maybe, which I fell in love with (I'm a sucker for a YA heroine with red hair). When I originally picked up Never Saw You Coming, I didn't realize we were finally getting a story about Meg!

This book was easily 5 stars for me... I might even say it, I might even like this story more than her first book (GASP). I say this because of how unexpected this novel was.

This book gave me vague Serpent King vibes (a phenomenal book written by Jeff Zetner if you love a YA that explores religion in an honest manner.

This review is rather all over the place, but Never Saw You Coming had so many beautiful facets, I want to touch upon all of them. I loved that this book wasn't afraid to explore the harsh reality that often comes with religion, and growing pains. I like that this book explore Meg being a fierce advocate in her relationship with God, but also wavering in her faith to the church (which is perfectly okay). I liked that she was never preachy and taught young girls that sex is nothing to be ashamed of! I like that throughout the book she remains true to herself no matter what, in all ways. I like that this book highlights the uglier sides that can with being apart of church life. Guys, there was just SO MUCH THAT I LIKED.

Now let me talk about Micah. When I mentioned Serpent King earlier it was his character that made me really think about that story. It was harrowing and refreshing that this author tackled such a conversational subject in a YA novel, and I. AM. HERE. FOR IT. I love that Micah was also struggling with his faith, but was supportive, patience, and sweet with Meg. He loved and supported her in everything she did. Yes, he had the look of the burly grouchy guy, but he was a sweet teddy bear underneath it.

Ugh guys seriously, This book is perfect. If you're looking for something sweet, but refreshing in subject matter, give this book a shot!

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC copy of this book!

Heat Level:🔥

Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book. When I read the synopsis I was so excited to read it as I am a pastors kid myself. However, this book just missed the mark for me. The characters were flat and I was unable to connect with them. The plot was slow and had I not received and ARC in exchange for my review, I probably would have not finished. It does look like based on the reviews that many people did enjoy this story, so if it sounds of interest to you, I’d suggest reading it and deciding for yourself.

Thank you to Wednesday Books & NetGalley for the ARC.

Having read a few of Erin Hahn's other books, I had no idea she had the background to write this story. It was so very relatable and as a mother of two girls and a woman of similar age growing up in the "Bible Belt," I knew exactly where she was coming from. This POV laid out in a fictional story has so much potential for being an effective way to open doors of communication with teens about the positive aspects of our bodies, sexuality, responsibility, and consent. There is so much shame surrounding sexuality and it really messes up girls going into marriage and committed relationships. Thank you Erin, for stepping up to shed light on this issue!
I loved MIcah & Meg. I could read about their adventures for another three books. Their hearts are amazing. They have such a healthy relationship. I love how thoughtful and mature they are for their age.
I cannot wait to get this book for our library and for my teen girls.
Thank you so much for the preview/ARC!!!

Revelation of a family secret rocks Meg’s world, causing her to question both her parents’ authenticity and certain dogmas of her conservative church. She heads to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where she is welcomed by relatives she never knew existed, enjoys independence and space to sort through her beliefs, and finds love with Micah, a young man managing his own crises of faith and family.

The potentially damaging effects of conservative Christian purity teachings, particularly how they target and shame girls, is a story that needed telling. Hahn has created a sweet love story and engaging teen characters; Micah, particularly, is well-developed and feels real. But not everything rings true--like the way Meg so easily sheds her inhibitions. I’ve seen the struggles un-nuanced purity teachings produce; getting over them takes more than a few weeks. Micah’s search and rescue stint about 70% in (I’m trying to avoid spoilers) is, for me, contrived and melodramatic. Still, a little melodrama and contrivance don’t seem to bother most teens I know.

This novel does more to explore the lives and thoughts of teens of faith than most YA I’ve read recently, Lamar Giles’s Not So Pure and Simple and S. K. Ali’s Love from A to Z being notable exceptions. Overall, this is a thoughtful novel that I’ll recommend for high school library purchase.

My rating: 3.75

I wasn’t completely sure if this was something I wanted to read since it was a lot heavier and specific than I felt up to reading originally. But I’m glad I picked this up. The writing was simply fantastic and it flowed so well. I was engaged from the start, and I’m looking forward to whatever she releases next.

I loved this book! The writing is beautiful and I feel in love with the characters. I can't wait to read what Erin Hahn comes out with next.

When I heard Erin had written a book about Meg after meeting her in More Than Maybe, I could not wait to get my hands on a copy! I was lucky enough to receive and arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and let me tell you, I have so much to say about this beautiful book. The journeys that both Meg and Micah went on throughout this story was as much heartbreaking as it was uplifting. I could easily read dozens more books about these two.
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I’m going to start off with the heaviest part of the book. Obviously a big aspect of the story is religion and each of the characters relationship with it. I grew up in church and while I have a lot of really great memories from it, the religious trauma that comes from being raised in a church is nearly impossible to escape. I think it’s especially difficult for girls that grow up in church because we’re told our entire lives that it’s our responsibility to be modest as to not tempt anyone, to stamp down our feelings and be submissive, to protect our virtue because it’s the most precious thing we have and once it’s gone, you’re ruined. This leads to so many problems in adulthood when we’re trying to get out of that head space, it turns into fear and disgust for yourself and your body. I was lucky enough to not grow up in a conservative household so I didn’t have to deal with the same things at home as Meg did. It broke my heart anytime Meg would question if she was worthy of God’s love after she initiated any type of physical contact with Micah. Not to mention she believed that their relationship wouldn’t “be blessed” if they didn’t uphold the churches standards. She would also apologize profusely anytime she acted on an impulse it was her responsibility to make sure she didn’t tempt Micah. I think one of the worst things about church is the different ways that girls and boys are taught growing up and this is one of the main reasons. Micah was always really great at helping Meg deal with the self hatred she felt in these moments and I loved that about their relationship.
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On the other side, Micah had completely different religious trauma. The way his church treated him and his family after his dad went to prison was awful. Church is supposed to be a place with a community that takes care of you when you fall on hard times but instead they ostracized their family for decisions his dad made. Thankfully it didn’t make him lose his faith bu it did push him away from church and that’s really sad. Personally, like Micah, I’ve come to the conclusion that church and organized religion aren’t for me. I’ve always come out of it feeling worse about myself than I did going in and I’ve always believed that faith should be something that makes you feel good not bad. Even though I’ve figured out that organized religion is not for me, I never stopped having faith. I love God and while my beliefs and ideas change and evolve, my love for him never wavers. As someone that’s dealt with mental illness my entire life, I have to believe that there’s a purpose and that’s what my faith is for me. My issue with church is that every one I’ve ever gone to has ingrained in me that if I just trusted God enough, I wouldn’t feel the way I do. It’s taken me a long time to lose the mindset that my anxiety and depression make me weak in the eyes of Go and while I’m in a much better place now, it’s going to be something I struggle with for the rest of my life.
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My favorite thing about this book was the characters. First, both Meg and Micah were perfect lead characters. They each had their individual storyline that were moving and important while they also had their journey together. I love book couples that meet and you just know they’re soulmates and were meant to find each other and that’s exactly how they are. I also loved getting to see more of Vada and Luke. I adored their relationship and Vada’s friendship with Meg so getting more of them in this was so fun! James and Betty were exactly the family that Meg needed when this story started and James was a great sounding board for Micah. Last but certainly not least, Duke. I would die for Duke. He is an absolute precious human being that deserves everything good in the world. I need to know more about his life and his journey in the future.
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One of my favorite things about each of Erin’s books is how music always plays an important part in the characters stories. As someone that’s very driven by music, I always connect so deeply to this aspect of the stories & I love it. I’m going to stop rambling now and just say that this is a book I’m going to be recommending to everyone forever. I think it’s going to help so many people going through religious trauma & need to know that they’re not alone. Please pick up this book when it’s released in September, you won’t regret it.

Really lovely and nuanced. I think a lot of teens really need this kind of story and I hope it will find them.

I recieved a free copy from Netgalley for an honest review.

I honestly requested this based solely on the title, I gathered it was a romance and went for it. I didn't know I would end up absolutely loving it or that it would hit so close to home.

There is some talk of suicide if that's a trigger.

Christianity and church are a huge theme throughout the novel, but honestly, I would still recommend it to most people based solely on the fact that the lessons learned are ones that I think everyone should know or can relate too.

I cried while reading this and I DO NOT CRY. I had such a similar experience, being Christian growing up, falling out of faith, and I personally almost committed suicide until a friend invited me to a YA Bible Study. The new Youth Pastor was just meeting everyone that night and long story short, that night saved me.

This books plot is different from my story, but has some similar elements. The main characters are extremely relatable; both experienced some traumas that many people could relate too. Watching them grow, find themselves, and their love for each other... it was a beautiful story.

I read this in a day. I couldn't stop reading it once I started. Safe to say I will definitely read anything Erin Hahn writes.

From the first paragraph, I knew this book would be a good one. I immersed myself into the book from the first chapter and I cannot say enough good things about this book! Honestly amazing! The writing is incredible and the plot is just one to die for. I am absolutely obsessed with this book. My favorite part would have to be the character development throughout the book. Character development is something I look forward to and this book did not disappoint.