I’ve read a number of Denise Hunter’s romances and love her small town settings, engaging characters, and heartwarming stories. There is family drama, imperfect and realistic characters, and emotion. I enjoyed this book and recommend it as a feel-good and entertaining read.

Very heartwarming, feel good book. I love Denise Hunter’s writing style. It’s warm and genuine. Chloe is an author with a hit with her first novel. It is so good it is picked up to make a movie out of it. The hero in her book is the perfect boyfriend. Every woman’s dream man come to life. Casting for the part of dream boyfriend falls on real life bad boy, Liam. Sparks fly from this point on. This book has it all, romance, trials, wounded and healing of hearts. Wonderful storyline and characters. Would love to see this made into a movie. It would entertain for sure. I was given an advanced reader copy of this very well written book by NetGalley and I am freely sharing my review.

✰ 3 stars ✰

“Believe me, I know it is. But people can’t love you until they know you.

And they can’t know you until you open yourself to them and show them who you are.”

I definitely was drawn to Love, Unscripted for how the cover is so soft that it seems to invite you into its setting, but I was pleasantly surprised that the story was just as sweet. For the last thing twenty-five-year old restaurateur Chloe Culpepper needs is for the one book she's written featuring 'the hero of Chloe’s heart. The man she hoped actually existed in real life, somewhere' to be played by Hollywood's notorious playboy, thirty-two year old Liam Hamilton, in its screen adaptation. 😥 But, when Liam presents his own proposition to her - a fake dating setup that would mutually benefit both their interests - she slowly discovers that sometimes the best kind of love doesn't have to follow a script and that it's even possible the man of her dreams can exist in real-life, too. 🥺🥺

“The studio thinks it’s brilliant. Think about this from your fans’ point of view: Their favorite author is in an exclusive relationship with the hero she penned. As far as publicity goes, what could be better?”

I loved their first meeting! It was so well done, totally setting the vibes of how uncomfortable it would be at first for their tenuous relationship to develop and how they would build up that level of trust to have the chance to make it right. ' For Ledger, for all his fans, for the good of the movie.' Chloe was already so skeptical of Liam's rather flamboyant romantic career that she was hesitant to trust him with Ledger, 'He was a womanizer. If he wasn’t the devil, he was certainly the anti- Ledger!' 😟 And yet, in reality, he was everything but that. Liam was so kind-hearted and warm and receptive of Chloe's desires for her beloved character. He was so very understanding and accommodating to all her demands. 'He enjoyed her company. She was fun and funny and real. In fact, she was fast on her way to becoming one of his favorite people to spend time with.' He began to feel so comfortable in her presence and appreciated the gentleness that seemed to emanate from her - this calming ease he couldn't quite find in Hollywood.

“But their relationship had quickly progressed from business arrangement to friendship and now to so much more. She liked him for him.

The fulfillment of something long denied stirred a place deep inside. He hadn’t realized how desperate he’d been for that validation.”

Liam was a dear; even though 'deep down he wanted to be the kind of man Ledger was', he was already a really great guy. He had a lot of heart to him and he was so very thoughtful of Chloe, so respectful, so eager to be someone special to her - to mean something more than just that handsome hunk hired to play a part. 🥹🥹 The two of them shared some very adorable and cute moments that totally captured Chloe's romantic heart and proved to her what a special catch Liam really was, even allowing herself to be open about herself and her past - something that she's never been comfortable sharing with anyone. ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

I did, however, feel Chloe tended to overreact at times; I get that she's still jaded by her own personal past and traumatized with abandonment issues, but it wasn't quite fair to judge Liam so harshly without any basis to it. 🙄 The 3rd act break up relied on once again the miscommunication trope that just seemed contrived and unwarranted. It was unfair how she was always the one turning the tables on him, but Liam was such an understanding and smitten soul that he would find it in his heart to forgive her for her misgivings. I did appreciate though that he never tried to explain or fight her on it, or grovel back to her, asking for forgiveness or a second chance. It showed that Chloe had to grow on her own for their relationship to actually work and I liked that it was depicted that way. 👏🏻👏🏻

“Even her book was squeaky clean— yes, he’d read it after he got the part— and somehow realistic and layered and compelling too.”

It's honestly a very wholesome way to define Denise Hunter's latest novel. It had its share of angst and romance, soft gentle kisses and sincere character growth, while still capturing the beauty of a North Carolina coastal city with vibes that resonate a quaint charm of peace and contentment. ☺️ The writing was very light and simple, but still managed to keep my attention. I liked the coziness of it, the familial vibe and how close-knit everyone was with each other. I would have liked, though, a little more of Chloe's restaurant life to be explored; it is briefly mentioned how her romantic liaison with Liam affected the business with the paparazzi hounds, but it wasn't quite shown, which I thought was unfair. But, apart from that, it was a very comfy and heart-warming romance - not only one that I swooned over, but one that still carried all the wholesome qualities to make it a perfect example of a lovely Hallmark read. 🩷🩷

*Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Chloe Anderson is done with men. There is nobody perfect, except possibly on paper. So she creates this man in a book that becomes so popular it is picked up for a movie deal. But when the actor picked has a reputation of being anything except the perfect boyfriend, she is not pleased. Then to make matters worse, to help out his image they are persuaded to “fake date” and show he is worthy of this role.

While a predictable story, I enjoyed the ride. It’s charming, it’s enemies to lovers, it’s a sweet story. I’ve not been disappointed by Hunter’s books yet!

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

I really liked this book! Excellent characters all with very relatable flaws. I loved the thermostat game - I’m sure someone is going to latch on to this idea for others - lol! Great, wholesome love story that will leave readers wanting more of Chliam!

I do not think a reader can ever go wrong picking up a Denise Hunter book. Her warmth shines in whatever plot she creates. I love all the characters in this book. The two main characters are often disagreeing and of course when sparks fly, the frustration changes to attraction. Since that is not what either of them wants, as in real life, sometimes the thing you think you do not want is what you really need to be happy and grow.

I enjoyed this gem and definitely recommend to readers who like a great romance plot with sparks, but keeping the story clean, a sweet romance, with plenty of substance with sub-plots.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Thomas Nelson and NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own, and not influenced by receiving the advanced read copy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have always wondered what it would be like to be an author and have my books turned into a movie. Having said that, and also having known that several of Hunter's books have been turned into movies, I was so excited to pick this up. And while I understand that this a fictional account, I also get the feel for what it must have been like to actual be on set.

Having said that, this book was interesting in more than just an general way. The book follows Chloe, an author whose book is turned into a movie. The story follows her and the movie's main actor, netorious playboy Liam as they nativage a fake relationship for the tabloids. The ruse is simple: She gets exposure to promote the movie and he gets a change to shake off his playboy reputation. But things take a twist when their on-screen relationship turns off-screen.

This was a stunning book that I would recommend to everyone.

Once again, Denise Hunter pulled me right into another one of her books with a story I never felt like putting down—which is probably why I finished reading it in less than a day. I always enjoy the gentle flow of her stories, but what I especially loved about this one was the relationship between the author heroine and the movie star hero who is playing the lead in a film adaptation of her novel. This story reminded me a little bit of Nora Goes Off Script. A lot of fun elements, but a lot of heart and emotion too. Highly recommend.

My thoughts: LOVE, UNSCRIPTED is Ms. Hunter's newest book snd its avialable for preorder! I usually love her books, and while this one was good, it was not great. I did like Liam and Chloe grew on me, and the story was well told. There was no faith message at all, not even church attending, or praying, and there were plenty of soft swear words and some drinking. Fans of Ms. Hunter will want to read it and fans of clean fiction will love it. I do recommend it but not highly. Just cautiously. I was given a copy free and all opinions are my own,

Cute book. I loved it from the beginning. Especially with how they first meet. I really like how their relationship blossoms. How it becomes more than just a farce and cannot be explained away as shallow. Great job Ms. Hunter!!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

I absolutely adored this sweet romance of author Chloe and, the actor in HER movie, Liam. Not only Love Unscripted but also life unscripted. A story of learning from a past of hurt to a future of fulfillment. Overcoming abandonment and realizing that "I am enough." Chloe wrote a hit romance novel that's being turned into a movie and she wants the lead to be perfect. Her disappointment in who is chosen is embarrassing as well as just plain funny. But you can't always believe the tabloids. Enter Stillwater Bay and find the journey of a lifetime.

LOVE, UNSCRIPTED is such a sweet story. I highly recommend it for fans of Christian romance. As a longtime reader of Denise Hunter's books, I'm always excited when she has a new one out -- and this one does not disappoint. Chloe and Liam will steal your hearts and the plot will keep you turning the pages.
They have a rocky start but are forced to pretend like all is going well. They soon develop a genuine friendship and you can guess where it goes from there.

There is humor within these pages as well as heartbreaking betrayal. The bond that develops between Chloe and Liam feels meaningful in part because each is dealing with a serious issue: Liam with an alcoholic and dysfunctional mother and Chloe with a father who abandoned her family for another family.

As always, the setting selected by Denise Hunter is charming. As a native North Carolinian, I can attest to the fact that she expertly captures the atmosphere and texture of a Carolina beachside town.

The subplot of Chloe’s best friend and her brother was a little distracting at first, but ultimately added to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance e-galley; all opinions in this review are 100% my own.

Denise Hunter has mastered the art of romance storytelling and “Love, Unscripted” is proof!

This is a fun and easy read, a perfect getaway from all that ails you! The characters are relatable, likable and lovable. The premise grabs you in the beginning and you can’t wait to see how and if true love develops!

Order this book and read it ASAP! It is a treat!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley.
Pub date 12 Mar 2024

This book has all the ingredients to make a book that I would love. Author protagonist, hunky Hollywood heartthrob hero, and fake dating are all “yes ma’am” for me. However, the story itself lended to be a bit too formulaic for my personal taste.

Love, Unscripted is a sweet if not very original romance. A debut author gets a movie deal for her romance novel and an A-list hunk movie star agrees to play the lead. He's got a reputation as a player and she's a hometown gal but sparks fly. I really don't care for the miscommunication/misunderstanding trope as the reason for breaking up; especially when one or the other refuses to allow any explanations for unfair accusations. However, Love Unscripted is a nice contemporary romance that I enjoyed reading on my rooftop while the laundry dried.

Thank you NetGalley and Denise Hunter for the ARC.

Love, Unscripted
Denise Hunter
Pub Date: March 12, 2024
Harper Colins Christian
Thanks to the Publisher, author, and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
Denise Hunter has a way with small town romances, laced with family drama. Her characters aren’t perfect, which makes them even more likeable. I really liked the story and loved the characters, and was rooting for a happy ending for Chloe.
5 stars

Chloe wants to meet her dream guy, but she hasn't' met him so she writes a book about him. it is turned into a movie and Chloe doesn't like the man that is given the part of her dream guy. I love Denise Hunter books, they are all good.

I loved seeing behind the scenes of a movie being made from a book. I liked how Chloe was so invested in her book that she wanted to make sure that the actors actually portrayed the role of the characters well. It was so interesting that both of the main characters had things that they were working through from their own pasts and preconceived notions about each other. Liam and Chloe were both very relatable characters.



Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

I love Denise Hunter! Every story I have read I have enjoyed. Her charming ways of telling a story makes it a pleasure to read. This is an excellent book! I loved the characters and was rooting for them the whole story! I would love for it to be made into a movie like her novel was.

There's something about Denise Hunter's books that grab me and don't let me go. While the setting isn't my favorite, her characters are fantastic as usual: flawed but lovable. Great storyline too! Not too cheesy most of the book (the end does ooze a little cheese).

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.