This was just the book I needed to officially pull me out of my reading slump! Holy smokes this story was a cute one! I love that this one starts off with a not so traditional meet cute. I met my SO on a dating app, so the way Davey and Hannah “met” made my heart smile. I also enjoyed that it wasn’t all sunshine and roses for their whole story either. Real life can suck, and this book did a fantastic job of showcasing that. However, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the way Davey handled things. He was kind of a jerk and immature at times, which I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt because oofta, but he still occasionally rubbed me the wrong way. I’m really glad he ended up figuring things out and I thought he really grew as a character. I really loved Hannah, though, and 100% felt for her. She was my favorite part of the whole book and I kind of want to be her bestie.

I definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a cute (yet sometimes heartbreaking) romcom!

Can you fall in love with someone you’ve never even met? This explores that possibility when Hannah and Davey accidentally start a phone-mance after he accidentally calls her-a half a world away. As their relationship grows over the phone and they prepare to finally meet, he doesn’t show. The reason is life changing and it looks like they’ll not get their chance at love! Through the heart-ache, relationships and lingering thoughts we get to hear views from
both Hannah and Davey that help us feel and see the reasons for the life altering decisions. The author did such a great job handling a delicate health issue that we don’t often see in a rom-com contemporary novel. I definitely recommend! Thanks Net Galley for this advanced copy!

Kind of had a Sleepless in Seattle or You've Got Mail vibe. It was very emotional and is a real slow, slow. burn, but I enjoyed it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House-Ballantine for sending me a eARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars, rounded up

I just adored this book. Barely put it down over the last day because I needed to know how it was going to end.

Hannah, who lives in London, receives a phone call from a man who dialed the wrong number for a job interview. Davey lives in the US and is relocating to England. He sends her a message later to let her know that he got the job. As they are both single, they begin texting, calling, and eventually video chatting as Davey progresses toward moving. They develop feelings for each other and Hannah arranges to meet him at the airport...but he doesn't show up.

What happens after that just gave me all of the feels. It's heartbreaking, heartwarming, and very real. Every character in this book is well-drawn and the situations are incredibly authentic. I truly went through the gamut of emotions--happiness, anger, frustration, sadness, despair, hope--you name it I felt it! I liked and appreciated the growth the characters went through and the genuine friendships portrayed.

There are a few too many coincidences to make it fully believable, but I set that aside because it's just such a wonderful book. This author writes historical fiction under the name Lorna Cook, but I hope she continues with the contemporary romance because I will definitely read more of it.

THE MAN I NEVER MET in many ways feels like a more up-to-date SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE meets YOU'VE GOT MAIL. The narrative balance wasn't quite there for me (we really don't hear from Davey that much), and a lot of the story feels highly implausible. The reasons Hannah and Davey remain separated don't always feel convincing enough, but ultimately it's a feel-good, entertaining story with the satisfying rom-com ending you want. My absolute favorite contemporary romance? No. Worth the read? Sure.

A misdialed call, text messages, and video calls connect two people - Hannah in London and Davey from Texas in ways they never imagined. Davey misdialed Hannah while calling in for a job interview in London. They have a brief chat and Hannah believes that will be it, but then Davey texts her to inform her that he got the job! Hannah is happy for Davey; he is happy, and they decide to keep in contact.

Hannah agrees to meet Davey at the airport when he moves to London. She made a big sign and can't wait to meet him in person. She waits and she waits, and she waits. Concerned she texts him but gets no response. His plane has landed but he is nowhere in sight. There is a life changing reason why he wasn't there.

This was a wonderful, sad, hopeful, and lovely book. I enjoyed both main characters and their exchanges together. I loved how the author had two strangers connecting without meeting in person. I also enjoyed how the *oops* wrong number changed their lives. Most people would have answered and said, "sorry, wrong number" and moved on. Not Hannah!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book about connections. I loved how in the beginning, one small thing (calling the wrong number) changed both of their lives. How making a simple mistake can have such a BIG outcome. The author also deals with a sensitive subject in this book with grace.

A brilliant book which pulled on my heartstrings and left me smiling.

If you love Josie Silver's books, or are a fan of Bridget Jones, The Man I Never Met is the perfect novel to pick up this winter. Can a misdialed phone call lead to something more? Hannah picks up when Davey calls the wrong number, and after a brief conversation, she thinks nothing more about it. That is, until Davey texts her with an update, and their text-chats continue from there.

I loved the slow burn development of the relationship between Davey and Hannah, and also the heartbreak when obstacles get in the way of happily-ever-after. This book made a good case for falling in love with someone you have never met in person. While at times I wanted to throw something at the characters to get them to get over their hangups, I was really rooting for a happy ending, and I also loved the supporting cast of characters who added much to the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House-Ballantine for the advance copy of The Man I Never Met by Elle Cook. The opinions in this review are my own.

Will they ever get their romantic E.M. Forster moment?🌾🌾🌄

4.5🌟 stars
I found this a slowest of the slow burn romances, but Davey and Hannah build a connection long distance that even serious illness cannot break. Is their initial conversation a fortunate fluke or fate? Happily, they get closer and closer, sharing their thoughts and inner lives through a month of ever more frequent and lengthy transatlantic telephone texts and calls in the expectation that they will soon be together in person.

The first part of their story is told by Hannah; later the point of view alternates between Hannah and Davey. I found this a good way to handle it because, for the period when the two are not directly involved in each other's lives, it was important to understand their individual thoughts and feelings.

The pace of this romance is a bit slow, but I loved its poignant heartbreak moments, their attempts to get on with separate lives leaning on family and friends, the way their paths just miss intercepting and the idyllic ending. Thanks, E.M. Forster, for setting a high bar for a climactic romantic moment!

In the end, I liked this story and the characters more than I initially expected; author Ellie Cook won me over! Cook has been added to my list of authors to follow.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

I enjoyed this a lot and I read it when I was in the perfect mood for a lighter UK romance. The beginning was awesome and I was satisfied with the end. There was more travel than I expected but I read it super quick and liked it a lot! Definitely recommend to fans of Jane Green, Sophie Kinsella, et. al.

The Man I Never Met comes out next week on November 22, 2022 and you can purchase HERE.

We start our films at the same time. He says he's had to really dig around the outer corners of every streaming service under the sun to find it, and I am full of dread. What if he really hates what has always been my favorite film? This is a bit like letting someone inside your soul.

Hannah and Davey are straight from your favorite Rom-Com. This book gave me Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, and Serendipity vibes.
I loved watching Hannah and Davey's relationship development and how the span of time showed the changing in each of their lives. I thought the middle of the book dragged, and the ending seemed rushed. This book was dual POV, but it didn't switch to Davey's POV until later than I would have liked.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but I don't think I would pick it up again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell/Random House Publishing for the E-ARC.

*Spoilers* This story was really well done for the most part! I thoroughly enjoyed all of the characters, I think Joan the most. I'm sure we've all had a George in our lives and wondered about the one that got away. While I liked how deep Cook was able to dive into Davey's experience in his illness and mental wellness, I feel like the timelines were uneven, as if the second they finally met, everything was good and there was nothing left to get over. I honestly feel that it would've taken Hannah more than that initial explanation from Davey to be okay with all that she was put through, even if it was a result of him being sick. For the strong character she finally was able to build herself up into, it seemed a bit rushed for immediate forgiveness. I just wish there had been a bit more time/conversation put in for them to be together before the ending brought them to a full closure. I know there was an epilogue of sorts, but it still didn't feel quite adequate.

I wanted to throw my phone across the room over how these two characters were acting. I needed them to get out of their own heads and be with each other faster. I absolutely loved their love story even though I almost cried at the beginning and the end, and the—middle out of frustration. If you love slow-burns, met online trope, friends to lovers, and British people you will love this book.

The Man I Never Met by Elle Cook is such an interesting read. Davey calls Hannah by accident while trying to reach someone else and they start a virtual friendship. Davey is coming from Texas to start a job in London where Hannah lives. The story asks the questions: Can you fall in love with someone you have never met?

I appreciated the depth of this story. It is definitely different from your typical romance or romantic comedy and is more women’s fiction with some romance. The author weaves themes into the story such as how do we love someone who is suffering, how do friends support you and help in finding love, and learning to love yourself before you love someone else? The characters were very likable and we got to hear from both Davey and Hannah in the story.

This is a different kind of story that I really loved. I enjoyed the meet cute, the depth, Hannah’s relationship with her family, and the friendships on both sides of the pond. I was glad I was able to discuss The Man I Never Met with someone else after reading. I highly recommend.

I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

Do you believe you can fall in love with someone you've never physically met?

Hannah was skeptical. But when Davey accidentally calls her - twice - and they strike up a friendly conversation, she's shocked to find herself falling in love with a man that lives 5000 miles away. With Davey set to move to London in a few weeks, maintaining the long distance, FaceTime relationship is feasible. That is, until life decides to make other plans.

This wasn't your typical romance and I loved it for that. It was definitely a pretty unique plot and I think the whole "can you fall in love with someone you've never met" question is super relevant to many people with online dating. However, I also liked that this wasn't related to online dating!

Davey and Hannah's relationship felt authentic to me. I really do believe you can get closer to someone without ever meeting them - it almost relieves the pressure and you're more yourself. Davey and Hannah seemed to open up to each other in ways that they didn't with the people who were physically present in their lives. I was interested to see what would happen once Davey actually got to London. The fact that he didn't, just made it all the more interesting.

While I find all romances predictable, I did like that this book tried to shake up the standard meet, fall in love, break up, get back together storyline. Maybe it didn't totally succeed but I did still really enjoy this one because it felt different. The story stalled a bit for me here and there and it took me quite a while to get through, but overall, it is one of the better romance books I've read!

If you love a good romance but want it to be a little messy this is definitely for you.

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

This book was touching in so many ways. It made me laugh, feel sad, hope, dispair, and delight.

One misdialed phone number connects Hannah in Lond with Davey in Texas. He's trying to reach a prospective employer in London for an interview. They hang up and she wishes him luck.

Imagine her surprise when he texts her to tell her he got the job! And they begin a text conversation, which leads to phone calls, and video chats. And feelings.

Hannah goes to the airport to pick up Davey with a cheesy sign the day he arrives to start his job and new life in London. When he doesn't show, she's concerned. When a couple days pass, she's really worried.

He has a good reason, which I can't tell or it will spoil the book. And my heart broke right along with Hannah's. Life goes on, things happen, and you wonder if they will ever cross paths again. Keep reading! It's worth it.

I loved the friendships both Hannah and Davey had. Their friends loved them fiercely.

I knew nothing of this book going in, and I would recommend doing that. This one will have you believe in fate. It ended perfectly!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Despite a strong start, this book was just not for me.

Throughout the first 25%, I found the story charming and the banter between Hannah and her spunky 70-year-old neighbor, Joan, was giving me life. I loved Hannah’s escapades with her friends Miranda and Paul and was intrigued by the budding romance sparking between Hannah and this random American man, Davey.

Unfortunately, that’s where my praise ends. I am not a fan of instant connection and aside from Hannah and Davey commenting on what a connection they were feeling, I did not get that from the story itself. By 70%, I was thoroughly bored and by 85%, I started skimming to the end.

This ended up being dual POV, but we didn’t get Davey’s POV until nearly halfway through the book. Ultimately, his chapters were flat and his chapters seemed to only serve the purpose of moving the plot forward—he didn’t feel fully fleshed out.

There is a shocking amount of fat shaming and diet talk in this book. What I initially considered to be just a content warning is now a critique. With every bite of food Hannah brought to her mouth, there was an internal dialogue regarding what the food would do to her waistline. Couple that with how often a character would mention hoping someone would be “fit,” and I was near constant eye rolling by the end of the story. Is this 1995? I found the obsession with weight so very strange, unnecessary and irrelevant to the plot line. That this was never addressed by the author in either the story or in her author’s note is somewhat appalling to me as I assume that to mean she thinks this a normal topic to obsess over.

TW: fat shaming, diet culture

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this gifted eARC in exchange for my opinion.

TL; DR - If you enjoy closed door romances, instant connection and are unbothered by fat shaming/diet culture, then you might enjoy this book.

3.5 stars rounded up for GoodReads.

We follow Hannah as she gets a random call from a man looking to interview for a job, but he dialed the wrong number. He apologized, hung up, and called back thinking he misdialed it the first time. From this, Hannah and the man (Davey) stayed in contact. Davey was going to be coming to London from Austin in a few months for a job, so why not make a new friend?

Hannah goes to the airport to pick Davey up, but he doesn't show and she doesn't hear from him for a while. When she finds out why he didn't show, it was interesting. We follow the story after what happens and how fate intervenes with life.

This was a very slow paced book, until the last 20 percent, where I felt that is was rushed? It was hard for me to get really into this book from the first 35% in, and then it picked up, but I didn't really like any of the characters, other than Hannah's next door neighbor.

I was only going to give this book 3 stars, but one of the last few chapters changed that for me.

If you're into slow burns and fate love stories, you'd enjoy this one!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballentine for this advanced copy!

I requested this because of the synopsis, just the allure of two people who've never met but made this profound connection. I'm such a sucker for books about fate, meant-to-bes, and soulmates so how can I say no to that?

A man misdialling and who didn't turn out to be a creep, quite the luck Hannah has one night while she was standing outside a gym. I love how they 'met' but didn't, and how their chance 'encounter' developed into messaging each other regularly, video-calling, and even making plans for date nights, albeit thousands of miles away. I was fascinated through it all.

Until I wasn't. This could've been a heartwarming read but somehow fell flat for me. I don't really mind slow-burns but I want to at least be gripped by something from what I'm reading. However, midway through, I was just reading just to find out how they end up back to each other. I appreciated the scene towards the ending, though.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell, NetGalley and the author for providing me my early copy. All opinions are honest and my own.

I absolutely devoured this book! I loved the characters Hannah and Davey and the accidental misdial immediately pulled me into their story. I loved reading about them growing closer together over late night FaceTimes and texts back and forth.
This book really wrecked me, though. I was so upset in the middle, thinking that this fluffy romance book was going to become a tragedy. Throughout the entire book I was obviously rooting for them. I felt their connection was so heartwarming and genuine, that I couldn't help but hope these two ended up together.
The author did such an excellent job in writing such a propulsive novel. I highly recommend it!
Many thanks to #NetGalley #RandomHouse #Ballantine for early access to #TheManINeverMet to read and review.

This made me smile. Hannah and Davey "meet" when he mistakenly dials her number and their friendship grows from there. A friendship separated by the Atlantic Ocean but one they hope to bring to fruition when he arrives in London to take a new job. Except he doesn't and Hannah is left at the airport, having been ghosted. Then there's a twist and we get Davey's POV and learn it's not that simple. Hannah, meanwhile, heads off to Thailand with George, the trainer from her gym who is meant to be a platonic companion but well, things change. They change a lot and these two, despite their differences (among other things, she hates kale) become a couple until.....No spoilers because there are a fair number of surprises along the way in this well crafted albeit it occasionally trope-y novel that has terrific characters. Pay attention to Joan, Hannah's neighbor with whom she shares coffee on weekend mornings. I went into this thinking it would be a fast light read but it turned out to be so much more. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. And it made me watch Room with A View again.....