I wasn’t sure what to expect when learning that Bachelorette Hannah Brown wrote a fiction novel but I was left pretty impressed! I hope she’ll write another, perhaps even with the same characters.

I loved the settings in the book & the road trip element was so fun! It had me wanting to travel the PCH & throw on a bathing suit asap. I like the second chance romance trope & the childhood friends to lovers tropes so that was enjoyable! The dual timelines kept things interesting, too, and I think I favored the one of them as kids.

I will say I hate the miscommunication trope, which was a big part of this book, so that was a detractor. Let’s be adults, people. Also, the inability to actually find Sybil, despite it being 2024 and Finn & Emma tracking her phone, annoyed me. There was another trope that gave me the ick but I’ll keep this review spoiler free.

It’s definitely worth the read & again, super impressed with Hannah and this debut novel!

*Title: Mistakes We Never Made

*Release date: 5/7/24 read: 5/7/24

*Author: Hannah Brown-debut author

*Format: e-ARC, 329 kindle

🙏🏾 Thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this ARC🧡 ! I voluntarily give an honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

*Setting: Malibu, CA

*Genre: Contemporary romance, Women's Fic, Rom-Com

*Tropes: friendship, 2nd chance romance, enemies to lovers, beach read, road trip, forced proximity

*Synopsis: Emma and "the core four" get together for a wedding which brings back old hurts. Finn and Emma have danced around each other for years of "will they, won't they." When Sybil- the bride to be- goes rogue 2 days before her wedding, Emma and Finn go on a mission to find her. While on the Vegas road trip, they rediscover what they liked about each other and attempt something real.

*🎭Characters
*Emma Townsend- 28, main h, angry at father leaving when she was in 2nd grade
*Finn Hughes-main H
*Sybil Rain-the runaway bride, 2 failed engagements already
*Nikki, Willow-Emma's BFFs and part of the "core four"
*Jaime-the groom to be

*Review : This was a cute rom-com and definitely a good beach read. I had my reservations because I hate reality tv. I didn't know the author had been on a few shows either. I was pleasantly surprised that I got the feels about "the core four" and the one who got away. My person died before we could get another chance, so I'm glad Emma and Finn reconciled.

*Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book! I liked the book, I liked the author, but the cheating trope is just not for me. So that really effected my rating on this book!

I am a HUGE fan of the Bachelor franchise and I absolutely loved Hannah's season. She is so likable and charismatic. I really enjoyed Brown's first book and was so excited to be approved for "Mistakes We Never Made". Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed by this novel. I didn't feel particularly attached to any of the characters and I just felt like I was wanting more.

I really enjoyed this debut novel from Hannah Brown. First off, I loved the setting and the cover is stunning. The characters were very likeable and the decade-long friendships between them all was so heartfelt. I loved how the author switched between past and present and how it really tied the whole story together. That being said, I did feel a sense of “whiplash” at times and frustration towards both Finn and Emma. This book gives romcom vibes with more serious issues sprinkled within and is the perfect addition to anyone’s summer TBR. I look forward to reading more from Hannah Brown!

The fiction debut from Bachelor Nation star Hannah Brown was a decent second chance, roadtrip romance. Good on audio, this story was full of flashbacks, missed connections/wrong time, right person, high school sweethearts kind of love that sees Finn and Emma joining up to help track down their runaway bride best friend right before her wedding.

I thought the mental health (anxiety rep) was well done and the side story about Emma's trauma from her parents' divorce and her dad's subsequent abandonment was treated sensitively. There were some great steamy scenes between the leads but I didn't love that there was a lot of borderline cheating - likely not to be a favorite part for many readers.

Overall this was a solid romance debut from a celeb turned writer and I would read more of what she writes in the future but this isn't going to be a favorite book of the year for me. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I know nothing of Hannah Brown so I picked this up on the description alone. Overall, this was a fast, overall enjoyable read. There is a lot of chaos, a lot of pop culture references, and plenty of over-the-top antics and unrealistic moments. Upon reflection, perhaps Brown's life experiences have been quite outside of the norm (eg being a contestant on multiple reality shows, etc) that these over the top moments fit into her lifestyle, but not the typical readers. I enjoy a book that I can relate to more, and in this case I found very little I could relate to. There is a lot that is tried to fit in, with Emma's family dynamics, friendships, personal growth, etc. I just think maybe it was all too much for one story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC first and foremost, I nearly forgot to leave a review for this book because it wasn't memorable to me until I saw PUB DAY was inching closer on r/thebachelor.

Not a bad book by any means, I liked the writing style. But if you know ANYTHING about Hannah Brown's Bachelor(ette) history.. lol. In my head, to meeeeeeeee the love interest was if her runner-up and 3rd place had a baby. You cannot convince me otherwise. Very fun stuff.. it feeds the "what could've been" delusion. Side note: can't stand certain tropes authors put into second chance romances (if you know, you know).

This book was so great! I love an enemy to lovers with great banter!!! I loved the runaway bride and road trip! The MMC was my favorite because he showed the FMC such grace and lifted her up when she needed it.

This just did not do it for me, and I just found myself not drawn to the stories nor the characters. I tried my best to work through it, but once I got to 27% I decided to DNF. I didn't feel connected to the characters or the setting, and it felt a bit like other romances I've read. The flashbacks/time jumps didn't heighten the story.

I cannot finish this book. Sadly, I’m DNFing. I’ve gotten to chapter 9 and I still cannot stand the female main character. Emma is so frustrating. She doesn’t listen to anyone and she just keeps doing what she wants and thinks is best. I’m sure (at least I’d hope) that she has some growth by the end of the book but I just don’t care enough about her to keep going. Also the amount of Sybil I’ve seen doesn’t impress me either. What a terrible best friend!

Eek OK I'm not quite sure how to rate this book. First, this is the story of Emma and Finn. They reunite at their best friend Sybil's wedding weekend after 10 years of semi-flirting and kisses. Sybil goes missing days before the wedding and Finn and Emma decide to try and track her down leading on a wild goose chase from LA to Vegas and even the Grand Canyon.

I will start with the positives - I am a HUGE Hannah Brown fan. I've followed her and loved her ever since the beginning when she was on the Bachelor. I've bought her previous memoir (still on my TBR shelf though) and will support her in her endeavors. I've enjoyed seeing her growth and was so excited for her when she got engaged! This book is a fiction but I felt like I could see so much of Hannah's life in the book. This also felt like a love story of her and Tyler Cameron, which I feel like she might have done for her fans, ha! I know she's happily engaged to someone else but the push and pull of Finn and Emma reminded me of her and TC. Also, Finn losing his father and potentially selling the house was reminiscent of Tyler and his mom/her house. AND Sybil reminded me of Matt James. But if you aren't into the weeds with Hannah Brown history as I am then this might all be lost on you. This was a friends to lovers, second chances romance and it started so strong. I enjoyed all the little easter eggs that I thought related to Hannah's life/journey.

The cons could be big for some people. I was reading reviews as I was reading this book and was shocked at how some people tanked the ratings because of one element in the book - spoiler - there is a cheating element. If cheating is a big no for you in reading, then maybe pass on this one. To me, cheating is a big deal IRL but in a book that's fiction, it doesn't bother me as much. I thought the cheating wasn't bad in the situation here. So it was sad some ratings were tanking her book because of that.

The reason I didn't connect with this book as much is because it started so strong but then I thought it had a week second half. There were flashbacks that seemed a tad random and I thought took away from the flow of the book. Also, there were so many false starts to the relationship that it started to bother me. AND the journey to find Sybil was annoying - like girl find a way to communicate to your loved ones! This was a tad absurd to me.

I feel like I can't objectively rate this because I love Hannah and I feel sad for her for people tanking her rating because of the cheating but also this wasn't the best romance I've read but also did I have high expectations?! I don't know, I'm going to go with a 3.5 overall. I was entertained but it did start to drag in the second half and I wasn't as excited to pick it up but it was an easy read and overall enjoyable.

Thank you to Forever Publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.

A romance book by my favorite bachelorette? Say less!

Emma is always the one to make sure things always run smoothly, and she knows what everyone needs more than they do. When her best friend disappears days before her wedding, Emma is in problem-solving mode, ready to take a road-trip by herself to bring her best friend back. But her crush from high school won't let her go by herself and adds himself into the trip. Forced to spend time with Finn, Emma has her heart as steel at first, because there were so many mistakes between Finn and her throughout the years that she knows she just can't get back from. But soon, some truths start coming to light, and Emma starts realizing that maybe those mistakes were never as she thought they had been.

I loved Finn so much! He's a cinnamon roll that just wants his chance to finally happen with Emma. My heart constantly went out to him, because dealing with Emma was not easy...at all. I also loved the found family among the group of women! I really hope we get their stories told, especially the runaway bride's.

Hannah Brown's writing is promising, and i'm looking forward to more of her romance stories!

- childhood friends to lovers
- second chance romance
- right person, wrong time
- close proximity
- road-trip
- dual timeline

Mistakes We Never Made is not a bad book by any means, I just think overall it wasn't for me.

There's a lot of past between the main characters, Emma and Finn, and I didn't love the things that we learn about that past in the second half of the book. I also didn't feel like there was much character growth in terms of the things that were holding Emma back throughout the story.

That said, I am excited to see where Hannah Brown goes from here.

Okay not sure if it's just because I'm a Hannah B. fan, or because I'm a friends-to-lovers + road-trip tropes fan, or because a large portion of this book takes place in Vegas and I was just there two weeks ago, or because I had generally low expectations for this book going in, but I had a lot of fun reading this! Yes, there are many self-insertion / easter egg moments where if you know a bit about Hannah's life and her time on television you'll be able to pick out the similarities, but I thought that was a fun addition to the story and didn't act as a distraction for me. Also yes, this is a pretty light and fluffy romance which isn't always my favorite but I think the fact that it featured a couple of my favorite tropes made it work for me more than a lot of romances I've been reading recently. I have to say I don't see why this book has such a low average rating, it stood up to other contemporary romances I've read and I think Hannah's collaboration with Emily Larrabee was well-written!

The book captivates with its richly drawn characters, intricate family dynamics, vivid scenery, and authentic dialogue. Personally resonating with Emma, navigating the complexities of a fractured family while striving to mend relationships, I found the exploration of forgiveness and understanding profoundly compelling. Though the presence of infidelity within the central relationship could be divisive, it aligns with the overarching themes. Yet, I longed for deeper exploration, particularly within the friend group, and desired more closure regarding the bride's fate. While compelling, the narrative leaves room for further depth and development. I am still obsessed with the Vegas storyline though and the father-daughter relationship.

Thank you to the publisher for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to pick up this book, especially as someone who is a fan of Hannah Brown! I road trip romance is one of my favorite tropes, especially when to bring it some frenemies to lovers.

I was even ready to give this book an excellent review, what with the dual timeline allowing snippets into the previous mistakes of Emma, the chemistry between her and Finn, and the sensitive depictions of anxiety and panic attacks.

… But then I hit 80% of the way through the book.

Brown’s wrap-up of Mistakes We Never Made is disappointingly left open. It would be one thing if it was how Finn and Emma move past the weekend, or if Emma reaches out to her father again. But no. It’s the whole Runaway Bride set-up that gets us to open up the book, as well as parts of their high school past that she teases about revealing the entire 300+ pages.

Throw in a surprise cheating trope and I was ready to throw my ebook.

The beginning chunk of this book was so entertaining and well-written that I can’t help but wonder if maybe it’s just not the read for me. So if you’re okay with a book that leaves the ending wide open, this could be the one for you!

Mistakes We Never Made is television personality Hannah Brown’s first fiction book which follows Emma, a Type-A bridesmaid who embarks on a road trip with her high school rival, Finn, to find the wedding’s runaway bride. Despite their past mistakes, Emma’s feelings for Finn quickly resurface. However, she struggles to trust him again.

I used to be a huge fan of the Bachelor, so when I saw Hannah Brown was releasing a fiction book (she previously released a non-fiction book), I was immediately interested in reading the story. That being said, I did have my reservations as sometimes fiction books written by celebrities can be hit-or-miss.

While there are some good elements of Mistakes We Never Made, it doesn’t stand out among a sea of similar contemporaries. Overall, my feelings towards this book are average. The characters, the story, and the writing came across as a little generic to me. It needed something extra to make it a stonger book.

Let’s start with the characters. If you are familiar with the Bachelor franchise or Hannah Brown, it is easy to see that Emma is based on the author. Authors take inspiration from their own lives for their books, but it was a little too spot-on in this book that it was hard to separate the female main character from the author. Some lines or situations were taken straight from Hannah Brown’s Bachelorette season, like ending a toast by shouting out her college, moving a podium during a heated moment, or going into “beast mode.”

There were elements of Emma’s character that attempted to add dimension to her character, such as her anxiety and relationship with her dad. However, I think these areas could have been more developed to really hammer down the themes presented in the book. Ultimately, Emma was too much like the author and too similar to other characters within the same genre for me.

As for the romance, it was also lukewarm for me. Emma and Finn had some common interests, but I didn’t feel their chemistry. It was like watching a ten year situationship play out on Facebook—somewhat interesting to see when it pops up, but you aren’t fully invested. Also, the cheating scene and the scene from the Vail wedding left a bad taste in my mouth as both Emma and Finn hurt other people in the process of getting their happily ever after.

My biggest issue, however, was the plot and pacing. It took me a long time to get past the first 20% of the book. There was a lot of information dumping in the book’s first section. It was also difficult for me to get invested in the story itself. Emma goes on a road trip to find Sybil, the bride, who leaves without an explanation right before the wedding. While there is some resolution to this plot, I didn’t feel like it was fully resolved.

Overall, I think some of the ideas in Mistakes We Never Made needed to be more developed in order to make it a stronger novel. I give this book 2.5 out of 5 stars.

This was honestly a really fun read! For a debut romance, I was impressed with the storyline and the writing. I was a fan of Hannah’s season on The Bachelorette, and you can definitely see her personality come through in this book, so that was really fun! If you want a bingeable summer romcom perfect for the beach or pool, definitely grab this one!

Read this if you like:
💍 second chance romance
💍 runaway bride
💍 road trip
💍 forced proximity

I really, really wanted to like Emma, but she was too overbearing for me. As I read the book, I could see why Emma needed all the control. She had to take control from a young age. But the way she micromanaged her friends and their activities? It was a bit much. She jumped to conclusions too fast, wasn't willing to listen to reason most of the time, and didn't treat Finn very well. Finn, on the other hand, was patient and kind even when Emma was out of hand. Going on that chaotic road trip was good for Finn and Emma to be real with each other, but also allowed Emma to let someone take care of her for a change. I am not one for cheating, so that part of the story knocked off a star from my rating. Cheating is never justified. While we got the resolution we needed for Finn and Emma, Sybil's was glaringly missing. I felt like her story was a secondary storyline that needed completion so not knowing the outcome of her decision made the ending fall a bit flat.

I liked ending Emma better than beginning and middle Emma. I feel like Finn was the one who balanced out her Type A personality and loosen the noose Emma put around her friendships.

I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.