As I have come to expect from Gia De Cadenet, her latest book, Not the Plan, is a beautifully crafted work about people with frailties and strengths set against a very topical political landscape. We met Karim in Getting his Game Back, so going into the book I had some sense of his personality and charm. He meets Isadora as they literally collide in the airport and then become seatmates on the plane. There is a spark of attraction between them but neither of them pursues it; life is already complicated for the both! Sweetly, Isadora and Karim later daydream about each other but chalk up their chance encounter to missed opportunities. When the pair meet again the spark is now a flame but their jobs place them firmly on the opposite side of the aisle. Will they be able to navigate the delicate political environment and build a lasting love? This book is amazingly coherent with real situational tension; I was truly rooting for them as they careened toward professional disaster. In addition, I loved catching up with Khalil. He is one of my favorite book heroes. Excellent, exciting, exceptional story.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the chance to review this book for my honest opinion.

Not too many romantic comedies are set in the world of politics, so Gia De Cadenet's "Not the Plan" is a refreshing addition to a starting-to-get-stale field. It's nice to see something different for a change -- (cough) stop with the baking settings, people (cough)! And the twist is that the main characters are actually on the SAME side of the political divide, but work for two democrats who do not get along, making the storyline even more intriguing. However, there's little in the way of conflict considering it's pretty easy early on what the MMC should do to make the relationship work, especially considering his job is temporary whereas the FMC's is not. And she outranks him, which is a nice touch by the author. The MCs are very sweet together and I liked following their relationship as it progressed, and the steamy scenes are well done. However, that said, the writing is very weak -- the MMC overuses the pet name "Beautiful" and too many of their scenes have weirdly-worded dialogue that awkwardly affects the scene. And this book feels like it should be an enemies-to-lovers but there is almost no "enemy" aspect to it. If you're looking for a compelling political enemies-to-lovers rom-com that's a page-turner, I'd recommend "Meet You In the Middle" by Devon Daniels instead. Gia De Cadenet has a good story here and the MMC are adorable, but the writing could be better.

**Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.**

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, steamy and held my interest. I wanted to find out what was going to happen. I enjoyed this book and would read others by this author.

I really really really wanted to like this. A romance with a political backdrop is right up my alley! Perhaps my expectations were too high going into it. The dialogue is bad, the writing is okay but feels very much like reading fan fic I wrote in Hogg school. The countless instances of calling the female lead beautiful grew tiresome. If anyone called me anything so repeatedly I would lose it. The mental health representation was mixed. Of two villainous characters one had a diagnosed mental health conditions and the other was suggested to have the same condition. Other characters in the novel seem to have mental health struggles, so that was a good perspective to add.
The meet cute was very cute.

From the author of the bestselling Getting His Game Back comes a new romcom that mixes politics and romance. On February 7th, dive into Gia de Cadanet’s Romeo and Juliet-esque style book Not the Plan.

I really liked the way this book explored dealing with toxic people in your life and how there are different forms of PTSD and mental illnesses out there. Similar to her previous book, de Cadenet wasn’t afraid to tackle the tough subjects.

On top of some heavier topics, Isadora and Karim were an amazing pairing to watch grow into their relationship and learn to trust and love themselves through their love for one another. Their romance (and their steamy scenes) were amazing and any romance lover will fall in love with this career-driven couple.

If you like workplace romances with Romeo and Juliet vibes (just with a Happily Ever After) then I definitely recommend this book!

*I received an ARC from Random House in exchange for my honest opinion.

Not The Plan is a story that will be on my mind this year.

Two chiefs of staff work on opposite sides in an environment like that of Rome and Juliet.

Isa is good at her job and not ready for love. She focuses on her career and seeing her boss through to the White House. When Isadora meets a stranger at the airport, she's taken aback by how easygoing and fun he is. But all those feelings tumble down when she finds out he's working for the enemy — literally.

Karim, oh my Karim — this man wears his heart on his sleeve, despite his failed marriage because of cheating and emotional abuse. He does his best to get back up and get his life around.

Both characters and their chemistry were top-notch, and Gia did a good job talking about mental health in a way that any reader will relate to or even connect with these characters.

CW: Off-page emotional abuse, cheating, and dysfunctional parental temperament.

I typically enjoy workplace romances, however the inner workings of how politicians get their jobs done may have been a bit much for me. Karim and Isadora's attraction and love was great to see blossoming behind closed doors, but I think I was expecting more of a barely well kept secret than the actual very well kept secret and how good the two are at separating those parts of their lives. I suppose I wanted more drama in their romance outside of the political kind that their bosses had. This seems to be for a particular niche that I'm not a part of. That in addition to how long it took for me to get engaged in the story made it not that strong of a read for me personally.

Such a great romance! This book follows Karim, Khalil's brother, after his move to California. Karim has been through it, and he just wants a fresh start. He definitely doesn't count on falling for his professional nemesis and complicating his life again. The woman in question, Isadora, works for his boss's political rival, in a feud so legendary they are referred to as "The Montagues" and "The Capulets". Can Karim and Isadora put aside their differences and combine their strengths into something real, or will this work competition tear them apart?
I am a new fan of Gia De Cadenet, this is my second book of hers, but certainly won't be the last. She handles mental health issues with a deft touch, and doesn't shy away from it. The love scenes are steamy. It's just a great book! 4 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the chance to review this advance copy. Not The Plan is available for purchase everywhere you buy books now!

This book was set in a fun premise but the dialogue was such a downer. While the scenes were sexy, everytime the characters started speaking to each other it was so incredibly stilted and awkward- particularly the male love interest. He only called her "beautiful" the entire time which was weird and felt so cringey. I wanted to love this but it was only ok.

Not the Plan by Gia de Cadenet
Rating: 3 stars
Pub Date: 2/7

I haven’t read much political romance, but after loving Ashley Winstead’s Fool Me Once last year, I wanted to give this one a go. And I’m kind of on the fence about it. There are some parts I enjoyed and some parts that I struggled with.

Isadora and Karim have a fun meet cute on an airplane and assume they’ll never see each other again. Fast forward a few weeks, and they discover that they’re both working for political rivals and they’ll be spending a lot of time together. Can their budding attraction go anywhere when their careers are so at odds?

One of the things I liked about this book was the mental health rep, especially for men. Karim was in an abusive relationship with his wife for years but was ashamed because he was a man who allowed himself to be gaslighted and abused. Isadora was also trying to disentangle herself from an emotionally abusive relationship with her mother, and I find it refreshing that both characters had such a positive outlook on therapy.

I enjoyed the dual POV format, the workplace romance, and forced proximity tropes, along with the interracial relationship rep and the complicated family relationships that each character was dealing with. I think it added a lot of depth to the characters, even if some scenes with Isadora’s mother felt incredibly over the top.

Honestly, this story dragged for me. I’m unsure if that was from the secondary plot involving the warring political parties, but it felt like I was forcing myself to read it. The nicknames “beautiful” and “gorgeous” that Karim and Isadora used for each other were cheesy, and their banter made me cringe. These two could barely look at each other without blushing, but somehow they could discuss their fantasies and what they wanted to do to each other openly? It didn’t make sense, and it really took me out of the story.

The ending was anticlimactic, and I could see the conflict coming from a mile away. With all the drama along the way, I expected something a little more substantial.

Overall, this one wasn’t my favorite. I have seen some great reviews for it, though, so some of these pet peeves might just be a “me problem.” Check this out if you like political romance with some steam! Not the Plan is out on 2/7. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Ballantine for my ARC to read and review.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy and to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

I found it helpful to have read Getting His Game Back. Although the books are not presented as a series, this book features Karim, Khalil's brother. The earlier book gives us the backstory of Karim's divorce from his wife and sets the stage for where he's coming from when this book begins.

Not the Plan is a really moving and emotional workplace romance with lots of steam. There's a bit of a Romeo and Juliet plot, as Isadora and Karim work for competing politicians who actually refer to their respective staffs as the Capulets and Montagues.

Both Karim and Isa have experience with traumatic, abusive relationships. Don't skip the author's note at the end. It's beautiful and adds further depth to the novel. I appreciated the treatment of mental health.

The audiobook was narrated by Zenzi Williams. She did all the voices so well that I could have been convinced there were multiple narrators if I hadn't looked up who was reading it first.

CW: abuse

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you so much Netgalley and Gia de Cadenet for the eARC of Not The Plan in exchange for my fair and honest review.

I think this book has a lot going for it! Romeo-and-Juliet meets politics, an interracial couple, having to keep their relationship a secret, workplace dating. The book was good and was definitely interesting! I really enjoyed the romance and I thought the couple was very cute together.

Personally, I felt like the book moved a little too quick for me to be completely invested in the characters. They were a little too flirty from the beginning, especially in the workplace, for it to seem realistic and to move in a real timeframe. I feel like because they got together so quick, some of the plot dragged.

I think these steamy, political romance is a cute read, but wasn’t exactly my cup of tea.

This is a good one. Is it a little predictable? Sure. But in the same way you reach for your favorite food or show. It's because you know you'll like it.

Karim is a total dream boat, a book boyfriend we would all want. Not only is he kind, thoughtful, and patient, but he was also written with emotional intelligence.

Isadora is smart and capable, and reading about her insecurities was so interesting. Both characters have many layers.

I like them bonding over borderlines, I'm a therapist and thought the storyline was well done.

One con: the pet names for each other got SO old. It was too much and distracting. But all in all, this was a spicy fun read.

What's it about (in a nutshell):
Not the Plan by Gia de Cadenet is a behind-the-scenes look at politics in action with a steamy romance thrown in the mix, which makes for a potentially explosive combination.
Actual Reading Experience:
I'll be honest. I struggled with this story. I felt no connection to it or the characters, which led to a boring read for at least the first half. Though the dull tone still niggled me in the second half, at least the plot got a bit more interesting with political scandal, an opened door romance (which I could have done without), and essential discussions on mental health and racism issues that impact the characters. The author handled those meaningful discussions reasonably well. However, I like to see more responsible actions being encouraged and taken when it comes to mental health. It's just a counselor thing. The romance was cringy for me. I didn't feel the chemistry and preferred romances that happen more organically rather than ones where sex is almost immediate. Those kinds of affairs never feel very authentic to me.

Typically, this book would have been one that I stopped reading at around the 25% mark, but I did see it through to the end. Unfortunately, it did not get remarkably better for me, and I'm struggling with positives to discuss.

That being said, I've seen other reviews from the many people who enjoyed this book. So if this one intrigues you, then definitely see those reviews by people who had a much more enjoyable reading experience.

Me falling heads over heels with Karim was not the plan! But I'm here to tell you Gia De Cadenet knows how to write an emotional hero that turns me into the biggest sap. Let me tell you, I'll go to war about Karim Sarda. (Laila could have met me outside)

I was fortunate to have received Gia's first arc (Getting HIs Game Back) and then was favored enough to get an arc of Not the Plan. While I'm rating 4.5/5. Not the Plan is for a specific type of reading and I'm her. This political romance has a little something for every type of reader. Of course there is romance with some steam but if that's not you jam and you just came for the politics, fear not Gia has you covered. The corruption and plotting that goes on with various senators are the very things you see in the news.

This book leans heavy into the romeo v juliette/ montague v capulet theme. However this has a happy ending :)
The love and the care that is shared between Isadora and Karim is healthy and whole. Neither character feels good enough but together they reassure each other. You could feel their connection by how they communicated with each other, constantly checking in on their emotions by asking "blunt, honest." When one was down, the other knew to hold them up.

Just like Getting His Game Back, Not the Plan has some heavier topics that are weaved into the story that may be triggering. Please note the content warnings for Gaslighting, Manipulation, Domestic Abuse, Blackmail, and racial slurs. Each topic is handled with the utmost care and used to tell the backstory of our maincharacters.

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for depth to their romance.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC of this!

I liked Getting His Game Back a lot, and Not the Plan definitely proves that wasn’t a one-off. It was fun, while tackling some heavy mental health topics. I loved the chemistry between the characters.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I loved Getting His Game Back and when I was approved for the next book in this little series, I was so excited!
I think Not the Plan was a nice follow up, though it didn't hit in the same way for me. I had an issue with pacing at some moments.
It was a sweet romance between Isadora and Karim, though it felt like I didn't connect with the characters.
My biggest complaint was that for two people who were strong professionals, they seemed almost silly at times with their pet names and how quickly their relationship was developing, especially at work.
One of my favorite parts of both books has been how De Cadenet weaves mental health into the storyline. I think my absolute favorite plot is that in Not the Plan, Karim helps Isa develop her awareness for her own mental health, rather than having the woman "fix" the man in relation to his issues.

Overall, I enjoyed the story but felt it didn't come together as nicely as the first in the series.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Isadora and Karim work for two rival Democratic senators in California when they meet cute. Since their employers are rivals, a lot is made of whether they can even be friends without feeling like they are being traitors to their supervisors. I liked the political setting and the plot. I also like how De Cadenet always weaves a mental health thread into her characters' lives. Both Isadora and Karim have been hurt by people close to them who are not supportive of them and broke their confidence. Unfortunately, I couldn't get into the core relationship between the two main characters. I found their chemistry lacking and their immediate nicknames a little cringey. I wish that I'd liked this more-my previous experience with the author was a really good one.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for my honest review.

I am impressed with how the author continues to weave disability topics with romance. This is exactly the type of book that I am looking for when it comes to these topics handled sensitively. I also must say, Karim is boyfriend goals. Total swoon. I hope everyone gets a chance to read this book!

Book Review💭💭
📖Not the Plan by Gia De Cadenet📖

Isadora is a talented Chief of Staff to a senator.
Karim is looking for a fresh start and joins the ranks of a rival senator.

A forbidden political romance ensues.

I enjoyed the political aspects of this book. It was informative but also entertaining.

I did not like how Isa and Karim's sexual chemistry was portrayed. It felt dry and forced. The sexual innuendos seemed out of place.

Mental health issues were a big part of the story for both MCs. I appreciate how Karim was able to grow from his experiences.

He was really protective of Isa.

Overall I think the book was cute.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Notes 📝
- forbidden romance
- mental health
- politics

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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