*ARC Review*

My two favorite genres are romance and politics, so I was thrilled when Ballantine Books granted my wish to read Not the Plan.

Let me tell you that it did not disappoint. The book starts with a delightful meet cute before getting into the meat of the story. Isadora and Karim work for rival legislators in California. They try to hide their attraction for each other for the sake of their work reputations until it is simply impossible. They are like magnets and just cannot stay away.

Despite being in rival offices, you still root for both characters the entire time. Isadora is the epitome of a strong independent woman, and Karim is a dream man filled with sensitivity and passion.

I was not expecting a major focus of the book to be on the trauma of emotional and verbal abuse from loved ones, but I thought it was discussed beautifully. The characters gave each other strength in their time of need and helped each other grow. It was really lovely.

The story is engaging, the romance starts early, and there is plenty of political drama.

This is a new favorite for me.

This book had me smiling the entire time! From political intrigue and insider happenings, to an adorable central couple, it had something for everyone!

❀ ARC review ❀
To be entirely honest it did take me while to get used to the writing style. Especially with all the political talk, but of course there’s going to political talk. It’s a political work romance duhhh *mentally cursing myself*.

Overall this was cute and quirky. I loved how shy Karim is portrayed but when Isa needed him. Boom he was always there. Also can we applaud De Cadenet for making this them a interracial couple working in politics! Because this rarely happens and I’m all for it!!! Lastly the ending was just the cheery on top. Isa might have missed but she did land lifetime of seeing more green shirts lol.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review!

I was so happy to have my wish for this title granted and after reading it I was not disappointed. This was a lovely story with likeable characters, intriguing political drama, and steamy romance. The story was fast paced and kept me totally engaged while the romance aspect was heartfelt and genuine without feeling cheesy.

This book was super cute and I really, really enjoyed reading it! I loved the dynamic of the characters!

This book being about politics, is a little different from what I would normally read, but I really enjoyed it! Isadora and Karim work at rival offices. I thought they were charming together and I didn’t know what side I wanted to root for! This was a cute book that also had some more heavy and emotional moments. Overall, I really enjoyed it and couldn’t put it down!

Look for this book February 7, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for this arc!

A fresh start from past relationships. A new job, a new city, and a new colleague you mistook for a therapist on the plane. Granted she did spill coffee on him. Karim and Isadora immediate hit it off but try to deny their feelings because they work for two different groups. And not just any groups but two senators going for the same spot, president pro tem. The more they work together they soon realize maybe can be together and still do their jobs.
I very much enjoyed Not the Plan by Gia de Cadenet. To me it was a beautiful story about Karim and Isadora both severing traumatic relationship to be together. Learning to trust one another, and how to proper love each other, they both grew as the book progressed. Throughout the entire book, I loved seeing Isa and Karim develop into their own team, outside of work and anyone else’s opinion. #TeamIsadora ( and captain, Karim) The buildup of their relationship was perfect and I could’ve read on and on about Karim and Isadoras future. As Karim said, “It wouldn’t be starting over, Isa. It would be starting our next chapter.”

A passionate love story in the middle of political rivalry! Two ambitious chiefs of staff working opposite teams to support the best U. S. representative! The forbidden and undeniably high chemistry between them can ruin everything they’ve worked for!

Isadora Maris is perfect at her job. She knows everything about senate politics, working so hard to support her candidate and dream a future in Washington D. C.

She closed her heart to any relationship even though her mother doesn’t stop whining that her younger cousin is getting married before her.

Her encounter with charming, demigod, shy Karim at the airport affects her more than she expected.

Karim wants to have a fresh start after a marriage filled with gaslighting, cheating, emotional abuse. His twin brother pushes him to give a second chance of love and he barely forgets his encounter with Isa, too.

When they realize they work for rivalries, they decide to stay away from each other even though the attraction is irresistible!

Isa is having dilemma between lusting for man working for the enemy and losing her last chance at love. But her hard won reputation may be ruined if her relationship will be found it. And what if the senate’s most detestable politician wins the race! That means her entire dreams will be destroyed forever!

Overall: I love both of the characters and their high chemistry. Giving my four political rivalries, enemies to lovers, running for president stars!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/ Ballantine/ Dell for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

So I’ll start off by saying that I really liked that the book opened up with a ‘meet cute’. I’ve read a lot of books lately where the two love interests don’t even meet or see each other until like 20% in. I also thought it was different that the MMC was in the process of a divorce.
I understand that the characters work in politics but I felt at times that the story dived a little deep into all the policy and legislative talk. The MMC calls the FMC beautiful like every other sentence, it’s a nice endearment but it loses meaning quick with Karim. My biggest turn off though, was all the sexual innuendo/jokes. I don’t mind a good sex joke but every single one in this book is cringey.

Not interested anymore, and regret “wishing” for it before reading the blurb fully. The book appears to be an “across the political aisle” romance, and a friend confirms that the “hero” works for a morally dubious politician, even if she doesn’t name any political parties.