Thank you Sourcebooks for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I tried on multiple occasions to dive into this book but I just cannot get into it. Unfortunately it is a DNF for me.

Alexis Hall is stellar at writing romantic comedies that are actually laugh out loud funny. The only reason I am giving this four stars instead of five is that I have a hard time believing in a HEA when one of the characters has been lying to the other for such a vast majority of the plot / romantic arc. For pacing reasons, I wish that was handled a bit differently here so I could have fully basked in the romance at the end. That quibble aside, I really enjoyed this and hope we continue to see Alexis Hall write more romantic comedies.

I with there was a little more oomph to this one but I did like it!! The storyline was creative but I’m not too keen on a relationship starting off on a lie. I enjoyed their banter while still feeling like it was missing a build of romance. Jonathan was extra grumpy and I’m glad we eventually saw a better side of him but it’s sad to know that he has two sides. I’ve heard great things about her other books and I’m open to reading them to see how they play out.

In order to keep himself and his entire staff from being fired, Sam Becker makes the non-sensical choice to pretend he has amnesia after an accident at work causes a concussion. His boss Jonathan Forest fears that Sam might sue him for the accident, and since Sam has no other family or close friends, Jonathan reluctantly agrees to let Sam and his cat stay with him to ensure that that he has no further effects from the concussion.

As Sam tries to prove his worth to Jonathan so as not to get fired, he is drawn deeper into his boss's life and family and the two eventually grow close. Of course, Sam is still lying about the amnesia and we know at some point Jonathan will find out. So we have a rom-com with some humor and interesting characters (especially in Jonathan's family). But no matter how genuine the feelings that are growing between them may be, Sam is lying the whole time, so it is really hard for me to root for him. Even his cat chooses Jonathan over Sam.

It's a cute book, but I couldn't get invested in the characters. I also don't really understand the title of the book. I see that a foreign version of the book has a different title that makes more sense to me. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the digital ARC of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Do you like your Grumpy extra grumpy with a side of awkward social interactions? How about your Sunshine slightly naïve but chock full of ignored trauma silver linings? If so, you'll probably adore 10 Things That Never Happened.

Jonathan, our grumpiest of grumps, is the owner of a growing bed, bath, and more chain of stores who's eye is always locked onto meeting and surpassing financial goals. Which - sort of spoiler - we learn is due to a deep seated trauma from his childhood, a trend which will continue with Sam and his own childhood trauma.

Sam, the silliest of sunshines, is the manager of one of Jonathan's stores; however, he's more concerned with the human side of things, and how his employees feel, which doesn't always lead to meeting the goals set by Jonathan.

I'm not 100% sure how they ended up falling in love surrounded by Jonathan's loud, large, and slightly overbearing family and Sam's grumpy rescue cat Gollum; but they do, and I'm glad I took a chance on another Alexis Hall book after my issues with Mortal Follies because I enjoyed every second of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC!

Alexis still writes in the way I love, so there's no surprise that I also enjoyed this book! If you love their previous works, please consider picking this up! I assure you, you'll have a good time reading it!

"10 Things That Never Happened" by Alexis Hall is a charming romantic comedy that offers readers a delightful blend of humor, emotional depth, and the classic enemies-to-lovers trope. The story centers on Sam Becker, a bed and bath store manager, and his boss, Jonathan Forest. Following a workplace accident, Sam feigns amnesia to avoid losing his job, leading to a series of comedic and heartfelt events as he unexpectedly becomes a houseguest in Jonathan's home.

The book is widely praised for its engaging tone and entertaining banter, with snappy and amusing dialogue between Sam and Jonathan. Their relationship is a slow burn, with both characters initially barely tolerating each other. These interactions, filled with humor and poignancy, make their eventual connection all the more rewarding for readers.

Beyond the romance, the story explores themes of family, both found and biological, and the importance of cultural traditions during the holiday season. Both Sam and Jonathan are portrayed as flawed but real characters, with the narrative delving into their personal struggles and growth. Particularly noteworthy is Jonathan's journey to let go of control and open up to love.

In conclusion, "10 Things That Never Happened" is a delightful read that successfully combines humor, emotional depth, and well-crafted characters, offering readers an entertaining escape into a world of romantic comedy.

I loved this book so much! The Lord of the Rings references, the cat (I freaking love Gollum and now wish he were mine), and the sassy banter between Sam and Jonathan was just perfection.

I don't know why I waited so long to read this one but I'm so glad I finally got around to it. I need more of them! I really hope we hear news on book 2 soon because I need it now!

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book! I will be posting my review on social media, to include Instagram, Amazon, Goodreads, and Instagram!

4.5 stars! I genuinely enjoyed this. It was fun and hilarious, some ridiculous situations, but wonderfully soft. I actually really liked the fade to black for this book. It fit for these characters and this story. Definitely suggested this to friends and the library!

I loved this one. This book is a triumph of love, self-discovery, and acceptance. With authentically crafted characters. Another Hit

10 Things That Never Happened is a sweet slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance. Alexis Hall’s storytelling is thoroughly enjoyable, and the book captures the unexpected freedom of second chances and the complexities of relationships. The tropes have been used frequently but I liked the LGBTQ+ aspect and the amnesia addition make it really fresh. This book was a lot of fun and I look forward to reading more.

I loved this book so much! I was interested in reading it initially because I enjoy Alexis Hall’s other books, but this quickly became a favorite!

Sam is a supportive friend and supervisor, but he’s kind of awful at holding his team accountable. His boss is really hard on him, and when he gets injured just after getting fired he comes up with an unhinged plan to keep his job and save his staff. He decides to fake having amnesia.

Jonathan, his boss, agrees to take care of Sam after his injury because Sam has no one else.

During their time together they get to know each other. It seems like Sam’s plan to keep his job might work, unless their growing feelings get in the way!

Sam managed a bed and bath store and his boss Jonathan wasn’t too trilled by the progress of the store. He ordered Sam for a meeting to discuss the next steps. Unfortunately, Sam managed to fall and bump his head. Fearing that he would be fired or his team fired he made the quick decision to fake amnesia. Sounds like a solid plan so far for Sam and his team. As always Alexis Hall did it again with the emotions. I found that the first few chapters were a bit slow, but ramped up after a few pages. What I enjoyed most of the story was Sam. Ah Sam was such a likable guy with a huge heart. Jonathan was a huge pain in the rear. He had to be as the boss, but his stubborn personality and his rudeness was a pain. Yet, together they were magic. And Sam spending time with Jonathan as he was recuperating from his amnesia meant time learning about each other. I absolutely adored Jonathan’s huge family and the support system he had with them. They were loud and delightful. My only ew was Sam’s team. I thought they were awful people that didn’t deserve their jobs. Sam deserved better coworkers. The ending was a chefs kiss perfect ending. Overall, this was a poignant, emotional, heartfelt love story between two lonely guys that gave love a chance. I definitely recommend this lovely book! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my review.

4.5 Stars

This is one of those books where I spent a lot of time not really knowing how I felt about the characters and the story and where it could possibly be going, but I found myself thoroughly enjoying the ride. It’s funny and silly and absurd but yet also very heartfelt and meaningful and again, I truly enjoyed it. I laughed and swooned and by the end found myself incredibly attached and invested in these two. I think this is a book that has to just be experienced, you just have to embrace the Sam and Jonathan, and Gollum journey! It’s well worth it!

I loved Boyfriend Material, so a book set in the same universe - sign me up!

Unfortunately it didn't hit like Boyfriend Material... but it also wasn't as bad as Husband Material (that book was not cool, it tarnished Luc and Oliver!) so I would say this one was okay. Should you read it? Sure. But I wouldn't make it a priority

4.5 stars, but only because I was slightly less in love with it than I normally am with this author's books. Alexis Hall is a must read for me. Also these characters might just be slightly different versions of Luc & Oliver.

Overall a very enjoyable read. I was pleasantly surprised that we didn't have to spend too much time in the angst phase. I'd love a little more of their time together so hoping for a sequel.

Audiobook specific: Will Watt is one of my favorite narrators. He seamlessly switches between different accents and cadences. I love listening to his voice so combining that with one of my favorite authors is fantastic.

Thank you to NetGalley & Sourcebooks Casablanca for a free e-arc of this in exchange for an honest review. I ended up listening to the publish audiobook.

Fun, Alexis Hall can never write anything that I don't thoroughly enjoy. If you enjoyed Boyfriend Material then you would love love this one!

This is such a fun series. Alexis Hall is such a fun writer. These books are full all the trope(y) goodness. And each book is better than the last. Please keep them coming.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for providing me with a review copy.

I’ve enjoyed previous books by Alexis Hall, and was looking forward to reading 10 THINGS THAT NEVER HAPPENED. It was both entertaining and angsty, but a tender love story too.

WHAT TO EXPECT
-workplace romance
-character growth
-angsty
-fake amnesia
-miscommunication

🎧I paired the book with the audio, and enjoyed the narration, and would recommend this format.

*many thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley