[3/5 stars]

I'm not much of a romance reader but this book and the synopsis caught my attention and I decided to give it a read. This book follows the story of Aubrey, a grumpy owner of a bookstore who seems to have a problem with love, coincidentally meeting a rising actor who is currently visiting London.

Overall, I enjoyed this story but I was more invested in the conflict between Eli and Aubrey, and I didn't really care for Blake. I thought their romance happened out of nowhere.

Another thing that I really liked was the focus on the struggles of independent bookstore owners.

In terms of the characters, I would die for Lily. I didn't really care for any of the characters but the one thing that I loved was how much Aubrey grew. I hated how he was fine with the whole Eli and Ryan situation and remained friends with them. I was so glad when he started to set boundaries with the people around him.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own*

An Unexpected Kind Of Love was a very cute fast read! It follows Aubrey Barnes, a bookseller in SoHo, young but grumpy because of the heartbreak he has suffered with his ex-boyfriend and the financial struggles of keeping his bookstore, that's been in his family for 3 generations, open.

Aubrey meets Blake Sinclair, an up-and-coming actor who is involved with the rom-com that is filming on his bookstore's street in SoHo. They have a couple encounters before things start to blossom between them and financially for the bookstore with an opportunity Aubrey literally cannot turn down.

The romance in this book was very cute. I'm usually not a fan of the quick fight and make up trope, but it didn't feel SUPER forced here because they at least had a decent reason as to why it was a short lived separation. I do with side characters like Ryan were more fleshed out though. A disabled, queer character is great representation, but his character was just kind of there. mentioned relatively frequently, but it was like the same info every time he was mentioned.

Overall I enjoyed this book, it was cute and romantic. definitely worth the read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the eARC!

This book is super entertaining, super cute, and super immersive: I read it all in about 3 hours, in one sitting. An Unexpected Kind of Love follows Aubrey, a grumpy (but young) down-on-his-luck man who runs his family's bookstore. He's broke, he's still trying to get over his ex-boyfriend (who left him for their best friend), and when a filming set pops up down the street for him it just might change his life in more than one way. Enter charming, American actor Blake Sinclair. They have an immediate connection, and are swept up in a whirlwind romance.

What i love about this story is how pure their romance is. There's very minimal angst and miscommunication; they just like each other. The author does a fantastic job writing their chemistry in the most believable way, with several swoon-worthy (and unique!) scenes. The author also does a great job writing them as individuals, with character development I find many rom-com novels lacking.

This book is so good!!! Go read it now!!!

*Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

My overall thoughts after reading this book is that I loved the premise so much, but the book could have been better.

Aubrey Barnes is a bookseller. He owns "Barnes Books" a failing indie bookstore that has been passed down through his family. To get the money to keep his shop open, he opens his store to a film company, which Blake, a gorgeous actor, happens to be working with.

This book is one of the least slow burn reads I have ever seen, which in itself is not a bad thing, but the relationship between the MCs could have used just a little bit more development in the first few chapters. Nothing crazy, maybe just slightly longer conversation when they run into each other. I felt like the first three chapters were extremely rushed.

I wasn't completely sold on the book because of the rushed intro, but I'll admit that later on the story really grew on me. I wish that the side characters has been more developed and dynamic at the beginning, because while we see Aubrey grow and have weaknesses as well as strengths, we don't get that much with the other characters like Lily, Gemma, Ryan, and even Blake.

This romance is absolutely adorable, and I enjoyed it, but I really wish we had gotten more.

Mein Leseerlebnis

“An unexpected kind of love” beinhaltet in Aubrey einen männlichen Hauptcharakter, der herausticht und an den ich mich noch lange erinnern werde. Aubrey drückt sich auf eine Art und Weise aus, die ihn wesentlich älter erscheinen lässt, als er ist. Teils hört er sich etwas altmodisch an, aber nicht auf eine unangenehme Art und Weise. Zudem geht er mit einer gewissen Naivität durchs Leben, die ich durchaus charmant fand. Phasenweise erinnerte mich Aubrey etwas an Hugh Grants Rolle in “Notting Hill”.

Szenen mit Aubrey fand ich teils charmant, teils aber auch etwas langweilig. Ich konnte mit Aubrey und den anderen Charakteren der Geschichte leider nicht immer eine gute Verbindung aufbauen.

Einige Szenen und ganze Kapitel des Buches konnten mich einfangen und bezaubern, andere liefen ein wenig an mir vorbei. Neben den Charakteren mag das am Schreibstil gelegen haben, der für mich nicht ideal war. Das Ende war schön und nett. Nett beschreibt vieles im Buch gut.

Denke ich über mein Leseerlebnis nach, so fühlte sich die Geschichte so an, als wäre sie gezielt als Vorlage für einen Film geschrieben worden und weniger als Buch-Buch (ihr wisst schon, was ich meine).

Ich denke, dass die Bewertung von “An unexpected kind of love” stark davon abhängt, inwieweit man Aubrey als Charakter authentisch findet und ob er einen dauerhaft interessiert. 🖤🖤🖤1/4

Für wen?

Wer eher ruhige Liebesromane mit ganz eigenem Charme mag, sollte unbedingt mal in eine Leseprobe reinschauen.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy to review.

It is a cute story, Aubrey is a librarian who for a long time has had his heart broken for his Ex and now his friend Eli his, here comes a movie star Blake.

I did not feel the chemistry between the protagonists, I think that was the main problem, the way they met was ridiculous, I think that a library does not work, but what do I know, maybe in other countries it is like that. The lack of chemistry at the time they meet, which leads to a second uncomfortable moment and finally to the third that was supposed to be something sexy, but that for me is nothing more than strange, considering the personality that Aubrey tells us he has .
Aubrey's monologues were exhausting and tiresome after a few pages, full of contemplations on his life and his insecurities, as well as including Eli, Ryan, and later Blake.

It was not a book for me, although the premise was good, I could not connect with any character.

This really was unexpected! I love celeb romances so much. I do wish I had enjoyed this more because the main character sometimes got on my nerves. I wish there was a little more chemistry between these two.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the arc of this book!

3.5, rounded up.

This was honestly just such a FUN read. It's the perfect amount of cheesy and trope-y and I enjoyed every minute of it.

The story follows Aubrey, a struggling bookstore owner in London who is really goin' through it. When a film production sets up shop in his bookstore for filming, Aubrey and hunky Amerian actor Blake get close- real close. They begin an incredibly cute romance and things are going great until the paparazzi and exes throw a wrench in things. Will Aubrey and Blake get it together in time to realize what they mean to one another?

This was such a fun, sweet little read. I loved Aubrey from the jump and he was so relatable. Also, he's got kickass style, haha. I rooted him from the beginning and seeing him find his confidence and going after what he wanted was such a satisfying journey for me. I wanted to be his friend. Blake was such a charmer, and I was worried about him at first, I won't lie, but he quickly won me over. The two of them together are such a sweet, believable couple.

If you want a quick, heartfelt, feel-good romcom, I definitely recommend picking this one up!

“Sometimes, I think life brings us people we’re supposed to meet. Like there’s something we’re supposed to learn.”

An Unexpected Kind of Romance was such a fun and charming book. ‘Unexpected’ really is an appropriate word as I did not think that I would have enjoyed this book as much as I did, but here I am, 24 hours later, still replaying scenes from this book in my head. still rooting for Aubrey and Blake. Still laughing at the banter.

It follows Aubrey, a quiet struggling bookstore owner who agrees to lease out his store as a filming set for an upcoming rom-com. While on set, he meets Blake, an up-and-coming actor and sparks fly. Things are easier when they exist within a bubble that they’ve created for themselves, but what happens when reality threatens to pop that bubble? How do you navigate a harsh reality while staying true to who you are?

If you’ve ever daydreamed of having a meet-cute with someone in a bookstore but are too much of an awkward human being to even exist in the same aisle as another patron (just me?), this book will fill that void for you.

Aubrey is a very compelling narrator. He’s a stressed out, cynical, introverted, ball of stress who’s hung up on past ghosts and is one leaky pipe away from Losing It. I can see how some people might find Aubrey to be an annoying narrator as he spends so much time in his own head wrestling with his worries and making excessive self-deprecating comments but that’s exactly what I love about him: how frustratingly relatable he is, how human he is.

And then you have Blake. An absolute bright light. A star, both in terms of his job and personality. He was a joy to be around. But I wish that Blake’s story had been further fleshed out. he has such an important story to tell about forced outings, dealing with family, and learning to live with pride and authenticity even though it’s scary and the world tries to stuff you into a small box.

Speaking of wanting more fleshed out characters, this was very much a story revolving around Aubrey and Blake, but I really wish the side characters were more nuanced. There’s a queer, disabled side character! Who I adore with all my heart! It’s hard to find stories where these two paths intersect, but it’s always special when they do. There’s so much potential here and I would have loved to know more about him, or perhaps meet him again in a future book.

The conflicts were promising but fell short, and - not to sound like a broken tape recorder - i think its because Blake’s character really wasn’t sufficiently developed. That made it difficult to understand and buy how the conflicts were dealt with which left me feeling a bit confused and incomplete.

But still, the story remains warm and hopeful. It's a very cute romance that will make you smile and make you feel a little lighter. It's a story that I’ll return to again, possibly even as a comfort read!

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of the arc in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed this arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

CW: Mentioned death/illness of a parent, reference to homophobic parents, forced outing, internalized homophobia, possessive ex, alcohol use

London queer romances are my kryptonite, and “An Unexpected Kind Of Love” delivered that, mixed with a little star crossed lovers, mixed with a bookstore and I was sold.
Aubrey Barnes is the owner of Barnes Books (no relation to Barnes and Noble) and is struggling to pay the bills. After a breakup that left him reeling, he lives inside the bookshop and keeps to himself. When an American film crew takes over his corner of London, he finds himself in an entanglement with one of the films stars. Blake is the All American dream-good looking, kind, sweet…and not out. The two need to balance living in different countries, as well as the scrutiny the media and ex’s.
I could not stop reading this. Aubrey is such a fun narrator because I really saw myself in Aubrey. A book lover loner who is down on his luck in both love and life. It was fun to dive into his mind as he comes to terms with being wanted by someone for the first time since his ex Eli. It was hard to tell wether the author wanted you to like Eli or not, but I found him to be very Unlikeable. Arrogant, cocky, and the kind of person that thinks everyone wants them and is a dick because their right.
Blake was adorable to read. From the moment I read THAT scene in the trailer I knew Blake would become someone I was infatuated with and I was not let down. His journey is probably the most angst, having to deal with being forcibly outed by tabloids and the ramifications that can have on his career.
There’s also a stunning cast of b list characters. Aubrey’s employee Gemma was such a joy to read with her snark and wit, while his best friend Lily really felt like that ride it die we all need in our corner. Was this ground breaking? No. You can pretty much tell where this is going from the jump. But whose timing say that’s a bad thing? This is fun, light, and sweet, and just want the dr ordered when you need a mood lift.

This was so much fun! A gay London bookseller and a bisexual American actor....umm yes please. I read this book so quick I just didn't want to put this down.

There were times that it was a bit frustrating because it was the classic romance novel thing of "if they just communicated this would all be fine", but it was all around a super fun summer read and I am so glad I read it.

All of the relationship drama felt so real and raw especially when it came to the topics of allowing oneself to move on from a past relationship that ended badly, a forced outing by the press, and just general insecurities that come from normal, healthy relationships.

Sweet, Swoony and Sassy, An Unexpected Kind of Love, was an Unexpected gem of a read.

With so many adorable moments, witty banter, grumbling, sarcastic humor and swoon worthy romance, this book just made me fall. I laughted, I cried, I absolutly loved this utterly lovely book. so much so that I blazed through it in a single day.

5 stars and a mystery bean

I read this ARC from Netgalley, and these opinions are my own. I really enjoyed this book! One of my favorite romance tropes is the celebrity who falls in love with a non celebrity! Aubrey and Blake are so cute! I loved their meet cute and I liked how they were with each other! I’m also a big reader so the fact that Aubrey owns a bookstore was really fun, I’ve always thought working in a bookstore would be fun and I wish we had a non chain book store where I lived. Hayden Stone did an excellent job with this story and it looks like these might be one of a series so I’m excited to see what comes next! I did have one qualm with this story but it’s too spoilery to discuss, but it didn’t take away from Blake and Aubrey story so it was really easy to get over! I loved that these two were so drawn to each other and that Aubrey had such strong reactions to Blake, it was fun to read about it! I also liked that Eli and Aubrey still had a relationship, dysfunctional as it was, I think Eli overall wasn’t a bad guy and he did have some positive impacts on Aubrey! I loved both Lily and Gemma and would have liked to get to know them better! Overall I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to buy it when it comes out!

An Unexpected Kind of Love is such a swoon-worthy romance! This adorable book made me so happy, and I couldn't put it down!

This was cute and fluffy. It follows a bookseller down on his luck and an up-and-coming actor who immediately connect with one another but struggle to fit their lives and expectations together.

This is a very sweet read and both of the main characters are lovely. It was a little bit of a slow starter for me but picked up fairly quickly. There were parts of it I found a little too cringy and overblown but that's just personal preferences. There was a lot of drama in this and at times I got very frustrated they just didn't communicate. It was fast-paced and the dialogue was engaging.

This wasn't a serious novel but it was lovely and I really enjoyed it.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

An Unexpected Kind of Love by Hayden Stone is a new stand alone romance where an introverted bookseller meets an outgoing actor and sparks fly. Aubrey Barnes is barely keeping his family bookstore afloat when a location manager approaches him with an offer to use his store for a few scenes in a film being shot in London. He begrudgingly accepts the offer knowing he doesn’t have much of a choice financially. This brings him back into the orbit of the charismatic actor on the rise Blake Sinclair who had been in the store causing trouble. Blake is everything Aubrey isn’t so when their connection is so quick and strong they know this isn’t just fair weather hook-up. The little bubble they’ve built around themselves while Blake is in London for the film pops and reality is harsh for both men as they struggle to find steady footing. They know they’re important to each other but can they make the changes in life to truly pursue an out and open relationship.

Aubrey Barnes lives a simple enough life of trying to keep the bookshop running and spending his off time with his friends. He has a great friend base with Lily being his confidant and Gemma pushing him outside his comfort zone. They help him navigate the complications that come with dating not only an actor but someone who doesn’t even live on the same continent as him. He struggles with the idea of being interesting and attractive enough to get Blake’s attention and keep it although Blake never gives him any indication he isn’t anything but wonderful and all he’s looking for. Blake and Aubrey’s personalities may be distinctly different but their chemistry can be felt when they hit the sheets.

This is a fun opposites attract romance between the homebody bookstore owner who prefers the company of his cat and books and the actor who spends all night out in a foreign country and manages to make his 6 AM call time. The characters were likeable and you were cheering for them to find a way to work out when waters got rough. There was the mix of normal everyday complications in a new relationship like when to formalize a relationship and exes. There are also the outlandish situations they found themselves in with Blake being a rising star and the paparazzi being interested in the very little details of the relationship. You only get Aubrey’s perspective which you’re finding in less and less romance novels so you do feel like you know Aubrey better than Blake.

4 stars for a warm romance where you want these opposites to get their HEA.

I DNF’d this book. Unfortunately it felt a little clunky in the writing style for me. If someone wants mlm book with this sort of setting I’d still recommend it, every person has their own opinion. This story just fell a little flat for me.

What a cute, swnoony & steamy romance this was.

Bookshop owner, Aubrey keeps to himself & likes his peace until he meets Blake, an enigmatic C listed American actor who not came barging into his shop but into his life as well.
Their meet-cute or meet-cutes as I'd say is humorous & disastrous as they kept bumping into each other thrice in the same day.

Their attraction is instant & develops into further as Blake's production crew starts filing in Audrey's bookstore.

I loved Aubrey. He's such a grumpy, introvert & self conscious of a character.Basically his own words he's 23-going-on-43.
Blake is very fun loving, quirky & caring who transfered Aubrey into a self assured man.

I loved their interactions, adventures-little weekend gateways, mutual photography passion, conversations & impromptu singing and pda at the train station.

In all, it was very light, fun & a quick read that reminded me of the movie Notting Hill.

Thank you so much Netgalley & Publishers for the ARC!

A charming spin on Notting Hill. British bookseller Aubrey and American rising-star actor Blake literally crash into each other one day in London, and sparks fly. Aubrey doesn't have time for the chaos Blake brings, as his movie decides to use Aubrey's shop for a film location, and Blake himself is far too distractingly handsome and flirtatious. As the two navigate a potential relationship, they have to deal with ghosts from the past and obstacles that might be too great to overcome.

I enjoyed all the Notting Hill Easter eggs. This is an original story, but fans of the film will spot many nods and similarities. It should definitely appeal to fans of Boyfriend Material; Red, White, and Royal Blue; and rom-coms. There's a rich supporting cast--I hope we get more stories set in this world.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy to review.

A grumpy British bookstore owner. A charming American actor. Lots of kissing. What more could I ask for?

An Unexpected Kind of Love is a perfect summer read. It's fun, it's flirty, romantic (I can't begin to tell you how many times I swooned), and it's just overall sweet.

Aubrey is our protagonist. All he wants to do is honor his father's bookstore and it seems as if everything is conspiring against him. I related to Aubrey a lot throughout the book, he's riddled with insecurities and worries that hinder him from enjoying life. Then comes Blake who's cute and charming and unpredictable. Exactly what our Aubrey needs.

What Stone does well is banter. I absolutely loved any moment of them just talking. It was flirty and funny, and honest. The romance is steamy and touching. Stone knows how to write a charming love interest. (Where's my Blake?) I had so much fun reading this to the point I wanted to stop so it wouldn't end so quickly.

The only real negative I could add was how much of a downer Aubrey could be, although it aligned completely with his character. It was somewhat frustrating to read the same worries over and over. But again, it did make sense considering his character, so I can't complain too much about that. There are some repetitive words and phrasing that I caught if I wanted to be nitpicky. I wish Stone had gone into more depth with some side characters, especially with Aubrey and his relationship with his parents.

But this is a romance! And it does well in being romantic and a little bit corny (the good kind I mean). I would happily read this again just to experience the cuteness. I think a lot of people would appreciate the escapism this novel gives. I buried myself in it for two days happily whisked away into this romantic world where men are as sweet as Blake.

Rating: 4/5

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I received an ARC from Entangled Embrace and NetGalley. I voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.