This rom-com has a heavy emphasis on the comedy. Annie is quirky in the extreme and when her life goes awry, she decides to go home, start a new job and get her feet back under her. Liam is as straight laced as they come, enjoying his routines and work. When the two keep running into each other, it's pure comedy.

#arc
#netgalley
#sothathappened

“I spent the night with a hot, grumpy stranger in an airport hotel.“

I love a good Grumpy Sunshine trope, don’t you?

This one was done pretty well. The characters were all fairly well-rounded. She? Cheerful, and squirrely, but still really good at her job. He? Straight-laced and no-nonsense, but still had tattoos and loved spending time with his niece.

I loved the descriptions of all the work outings, and that both their families (with only a few exceptions) were so loving and supportive.

I didn’t love the male narrator. His male character voices were fine, but whenever he did a woman’s voice, it was obnoxiously falsetto and sounded like he was making fun.

Even so, I’m interested in more from this author. From the way certain characters were portrayed, I’m assuming there are more in this series – both in the past, and to come. I look forward to all.

Bonus points for all the Brene Brown references.

7/10

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this charming ARC.

There were many things I enjoyed about this book, but overwhelmingly, it was just sort of lackluster. The plot potential was there, the characters and subsequent trope-based set up was there, but the execution just didn't always hit the mark. The book as a whole and the writing wasn't bad, but sometimes it all just came across a little forced and a bit too stereotypical. And the big conflict towards the end was just magically handled with little to no issue. But then again, the actual conflict itself wasn't necessarily a huge issue when it was all said and done.

As for Annie and Liam, I think they had fun chemistry and had some decently cute moments. However, I felt like they played too on the nose with character stereotypes. I thought the author tried way too hard to make Annie quirky, relatable, clumsy, and "not like other girls." It just left me feeling disconnected from her the majority of the time. Liam was fine overall, and he took his role of being the grump who learns to love exactly as other romcom men did before him. He did have some good moments of vulnerability that I appreciated, though.

This is a closed-door romance with mild language, a dual POV, and a ton of pop culture references.

I am rating this book 3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

So That Happened is the story of Annie and Liam, who meet in a slapstick-y "you-can't-make-this-up" encounter on an airplane that leads to them sharing a hotel room or a night as strangers. Their lives meet back up soon after and their love grows organically. Bailey writes this part of their story really well, and I was highly invested in their story. This is a fade-to-black romance which I don't typically prefer, but it is well done. The scenes are no more explicit than a typical rom-com movie.

A couple of hang ups in this audiobook were: the male voice actor, who is surely talented, was just not what I envisioned for Liam and it tore me out of the story every time. I have truly never had beef with a casting choice but I can't figure this out and it grated on me for the entire book. The grumpy x sunshine trope runs deep through this book, but Liam's voice actor was jolly/upbeat/salesman-ish.

Content-wise, Annie and Liam's story lacks a lot of conflict and got a tad boring in the last quarter of the book. I think the mommy/daddy issues were supposed to be really problematic, but they weren't. And while I love a slow burn, this was sooooooooo slow, I found myself wanting to skip past what felt like a few mundane chapters. There was also an opportunity for Annie's ex to be more of a villain than he ended up being. I do want to say that I appreciate that there weren't many huge miscommunications (or lack of communication issues) but I was yearning for something ...interesting.

There is an audio content error at the 56.1% complete mark (with 4 hours 11 minutes left), where some portion of audio is cut out (couldn't tell you how much) and skipped over.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for giving me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

So That Happened by Katie Bailey hooked me right from the start. I’m a sucker for a good meet cute, and Annie and Liam’s initial meeting and first day (umm make that night) together instantly put a smile on my face. After a series of events that forces her to spend the night (mostly platonically) with a handsome but rather ‘uptight’ man she only just met on a plane, Annie dashes away, embarrassed but thinking she’ll never see him again. Little does she know the man she woke up snuggling with is none other than her new boss. I loved the characters. While at first Liam appears to bit stiff and uptight, we quickly see his softer side which he tends to hide from all but a few people in his life. And while Annie is a bit awkward, she’ no ditz. I actually found her awkwardness endearing, but in truth she’s smart, independent, and in many way fearless. And Liam’s niece Allegra (aka Legs) is such a cute kid. If you’re like me, a sucker for sweet romances, you’re going to want to pick this one up. The dual narrators: Melissa Moran (as Annie) and Jason Keller (as Liam) do a fantastic job bringing the story to life. I’d like to thank Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advanced audio copy of So That Happened.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R6KFTC5SAMEYO/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/so-that-happened-katie-bailey/1141597391?ean=9781777818098&bvnotificationId=7812dabe-651a-11ed-b5e2-0edafcad89b7&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/228433975

There's not much more satisfying than sinking into a sweet and swoony romance that's full of laughs and sparks of attraction. Liam and Annie had an interesting and memorable meet cute and I was all over it.

I listened to this as an audio version (thanks, Netgalley) and enjoyed the narrators. Liam and Annie and their entourage of family were brought to life and I couldn't stop laughing and swooning.

Bailey does a great job writing snappy dialogue, witty and relatable characters, and hilarious situations. Annie is ready for a change in her life and I loved her vulnerability, as well as her adorable personality. Liam is so focused on his routines and being perfect that he comes across as the biggest grump and I love how a little chemistry loosens his grasp on his defenses. Just give a gloomy grump a hot, messy, ball of sunshine and the specks of romance will ignite.

I really enjoyed this one and hope to read about more of this family.

Content: mild language; mild+ romance (swoony kisses and some innuendo)

*I received a complimentary audio version through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*

Thank you netgalley for the advanced audio copy!

This is one of those fun romcoms that are there for the times you need a lighthearted read. It’s cute, it’s flirty, it’s funny, it’s what the world needs more of instead of the heavy. I enjoyed it, Annie is a bubbly fun girl. Liam is your grumpy tech company owner.

I liked the female narrator, her voice sounded like she could be Annie. I didn’t love male narrator, but also I listen to my books at 2x speed and that probably didn’t help him much. I didn’t dock the book for that, that’s definitely a personal preference and I don’t hold anything against the narrator for it.

If you’re looking for something light and low angst, try this Romcom out. It’s low steam, just some kisses, but there are innuendos.

So That Happened is a super cute, clean opposites attract that for sure had its swoony moments.
What happens when your office romance loses its luster?
You go through a horrible break up, pack up your life and head home for something new.

Annie and Liam had such a fun meet cute - insert nosy grannies and you have a recipe for quirky high jinx and wait... Is Liam Annies new boss?
It was so much fun watching the very low angst push and pull between Annie and Liam.

Super cute and very low conflict rom com. The audiobook was an enjoyable listen and Annie is so freakin’ cute… and Liam was even cuter. *fans self* LOL… You’ll get lots of pop culture references and all the unbelievable rom com situations in this one (i.e. sharing that last available hotel room, impromptu boyfriend acting, jerk of an ex bf, and all). I loved the side characters and everyone was so supportive. If you’re looking for a light-hearted rom com, this one is pretty low drama but still entertaining. There's lots of pining for the other (in their POV) and there are some kissing scenes but nothing explicit (closed door/vanilla).

Side note: it would have been even more perfect if we brought back the sisters from the flight back at the end and bring it full circle. All the cutest tropes are already here, so why not? I’m really curious to know how that relationship turned out. :D

Thanks to Dreamscape media via NetGalley for providing an arc. All opinions are my own.

This was such a cute romance! Liam and Annie were the cutest. They met by accident and realized they were going to be working together. This was a slow burn, behind the scenes romance, I loved Luke, Legs, Lana Mae too! I’m so excited for the next book in this series!

"No mistakes, just happy accidents."

Trying to break free from the mistakes of her past, Annie moved back home to Atlanta for a fresh start. In an unfortunate series of misadventures, she met Liam on the plane and neither made a good first impression. When the flight was canceled, Annie and Liam had to spend the night together in a hotel room with a single bed. If things weren't bad enough, on the first day at her new job, Annie discovered that Liam owned the company and was, in fact, her new boss.

As a romantic comedy, So That Happened included several of my favorite tropes.

💘 Opposites Attract
💘 Boss / Employee
💘 Grumpy / Sunshine
💘 Forced Proximity

Flexibility with the rules led to blurred lines and crossed boundaries between professional and personal. Business dinners turned into dates and walls were broken down. I admired how Annie established her own identity, striving for her goals even after losing everything she worked so hard for. Her carefree spontaneity, while a little too over the top, contrasted sharply with Liam's careful planning and precision. Beneath the surface of his rough exterior, Liam was a true cinnamon roll, kind and caring, always putting others first. But when would he prioritize his own happiness?

I loved the idea of the premise but I didn't enjoy this book as much as I had expected. I listened to the audio version and didn't think the narrators, particularly the female, embodied the essence of the characters. I didn't feel invested in the romance, which was largely overshadowed by the attempts at comedy. The story was drawn out, longer than it needed to be, with the heart I was looking for not appearing until near the very end.

Annie and Liam liked each other for who they were, not for who they wished they would be. I loved how they opened themselves up, exposing vulnerabilities and imperfections. It was beautiful to see Liam truly let go and feel his emotions, releasing past shame and regrets. Chaos tangled with control as Annie and Liam fell into a perfectly imperfect relationship. I would have enjoyed this story so much more if the romance was more thoroughly developed earlier in the storyline to bring out the emotions I wanted to feel but didn't until the end. Regardless of my mixed feelings, however, I left this story with something noteworthy to consider, that being to never forget to color outside the lines.

** Special thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this ALC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Available November 15, 2022. **

“When a black cat crosses my path, my only instinct is to pet it”

I have never related to a character so much in my life - I just want to pet all the kitties, even if it’s bad luck!

Anyway, this really sums up our female MC pretty well. She’s so relatable and honestly just human! It’s refreshing to have a hot mess character that still manages to have her life together on many levels.

This is the most adorable meet-cute that involves delayed flights, accidental bed sharing and even meddling old ladies! It’s a real opposites attract kind of story and it’s just perfect.

Thanks to NetGalley I got to enjoy the audiobook and it was great. The 2 narrators really brought the story to life since it written in dual POV. I absolutely love it when there’s multiple narrators. No complaints there at all.

This is just a cute and hilarious story. Definitely recommend!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With a delayed flight and some miscommunication, Annie ends up sharing a hotel room with a handsome stranger. She never expected to see Liam again but is shocked to find that he is her new boss.

So That Happened is a closed door romcom with just the right mix of sweetness and humor. Grumpy, straight-laced Liam is the true opposite to Annie’s bubbly, slightly awkward self. The book is dual narrated and both of the narrators are perfectly cast.

This is the first book that I have read from author Katie Bailey but I enjoyed her style of writing. Her sense of humor really shows throughout the storyline. I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

I voluntarily listened to and reviewed an advanced copy of this audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media!

This was cute! A very fun story with some adorable moments.

I will say that I liked this slightly less than some other Katie Bailey books I've read just because I remembered halfway through this book that I don't like the workplace romance trope. It's hard for me to get behind a couple when I kept thinking about the HR logistics. I also found it hard to believe that literally everyone shipped Liam and Annie and had zero concerns about a boss dating an employee.

Despite that, it was still an enjoyable, lighthearted read.

3.5

Endless giggles, laughs, smiles and emotions during this one great read. So picture a very nice looking grumpy guy pretending to be your boyfriend because you ran into your ex. But, you sleep next to him because the old ladies played a trick on you to then find out he’s your boss at your new job. Must read!
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this fabulous book in return for my honest feedback!

3 stars

This romcom starts out pretty ridiculous, but it grows into something with a little more depth. Both MCs are likable, & there are some good side characters.

[What I liked:]

•While extremely unrealistic in many ways, this book was cute & fun. I particularly enjoyed the meddling elderly ladies & Allegra’s Justin Bieber/One Direction obsession.

•Annie & Liam have good chemistry together. They get plenty of chances to get to know each other, both professionally & outside of work, so their growing feelings have a natural progression.

•I liked a lot of the side characters, from Annie’s coworkers to Liam’s family. They added a lot amusement & fun to the story.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•Why is Annie so clumsy, so disaster prone, & why does she say & do stupid stuff constantly? All of those were overdone & so over the top it felt unrealistic & made me question if she was *actually* as smart & as good at her job as the book claimed.

•The conflict with the funding at the end felt rushed. It popped up suddenly & resolved suddenly. Not that it needed to be the focus, but if it was going to be a plot point it might as well have added some more narrative tension.

CW: infidelity

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the review copy of this audio book.

I thought this was a cute 'accidental' meet cute and workplace romance. I loved the main character's quirky personality as well as the side characters. I would easily read other books if this were a series.

If you’re looking for a cute rom com with some humor this fits the bill. It’s got all of the tension and anticipation one would expect. However, I did not like Jason Keller’s narration. His female voice was very babyish and his male voice was too fast paced and chaotic. I had a hard time listening. Melissa Moran’s voice was great!

So That Happened by Katie Bailey

I read this with the audiobook and thought it was delightful. There is a lot of humor and fun in this story.

Annie is our resident sunshine girl and the audio did a really great job portraying that. She was easy to connect with and had me laughing out loud at all the “pickles” she gets herself into.

Liam Donovan (what a name 🔥) has the world on his shoulders. He owns a tech company and they are working on securing funding for a new app. His family means the world to him and he would do anything to be there for them.

The beginning came in very strong and I was excited to see where it would go, the middle was great too, but I wanted more from the climax. It fell a little flat for me. Overall it was a fun read and I would recommend it to people who love a good clean rom-com.

Content: mild language, kisses, innuendo

Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for my copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What’s it about?
Annie and Liam end up sitting next to each other on a plane… that never gets to take off. The two are forced to share a hotel room together for the evening, and his grumpy rigid personality and her go-with-the-flow happiness don’t mix. They both want to put it behind them, but quickly discover that won’t be possible… because Liam is Annie’s new boss.

My take:
This book is so freaking cute. I love how Annie’s chaos helps bring Liam out of his shell. And I love a grumpy / sunshine trope when the grump in question is a cinnamon roll underneath.

These two are so sweet together and I was rooting for them. I also loved all the funny pop culture references and Legs!

I knew going in that this was a sweet, closed door romance, but it still manages to bring the heat with tension and kissing. However, I didn’t quite buy into to their second overnight together as just a sweet cuddle fest after all the tension and love confessions. It also had so many moments that were just like The Hating Game (workplace, team building activities, HR worries, closet kissing, elevator, wedding, disappointed parents just to name a bunch).

🎧 In regards to narration, I thought Melissa Moran was the perfect Annie! However, Jason Keller came off a little too “news anchor”ish for Liam, but it didn’t distract from the story.

Still though, I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook and would recommend it to everyone who loves enemies to lovers and a sweet HEA!