This romance novel fell a little flat for me. The main character was the author of a romance novel that was being made into a movie. She wasn’t happy with the bad boy actor that was chosen to play the boyfriend in the movie. These two start off on the wrong door, but then agree to enter into a fake dating relationship to improve both of their images on social media. The relationship challenges were pretty predictable. I should also say that I listened to the audio version and the tone of the female narrator was annoying at times.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the audio version of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

A wholesome and sweet romance about an actor with a messy reputation and a small town author team up when her books gets a movie deal and he’s cast as the lead actor! Very cute and cozy! The audiobook narrators felt a little robotic at times but overall it was an enjoyable experience!

Wonderful family drama mixed with a fun romance. Liked that the romance is about falling in love and building a relationship not spice. Started because I’m a romance girly, got added bonus of the book being a fantastic summer read. This is a book I’d highly recommend to everyone I know that likes romances.

3.5 stars
Love, Unscripted was a really cute read. Chloe and Liam had great chemistry, and I genuinely enjoyed watching their relationship develop. Their moments together were sweet and heartfelt, and the romance had a fun, easy vibe.
That said, the audiobook didn’t quite work for me—the accents felt off and made it harder to stay engaged. I also found some of the miscommunication and drawn-out issues between the characters a bit frustrating.
Still, it was an overall enjoyable romance with a lovable couple, even if a few things held it back from being a favorite.

I was not sure what to think when I started the book, but it was actually a fun read. I found myself laughing throughout. The unlikely duo in this book are as far from alike as you can get, but once they get going, it is hard to imagine them apart.

Great read, and fun for the weekend.

Decent narrator as well! They can make or break the book.

An amazing story about finding love in an unexpected place. A very cute couple. Completely clean with lots of fun details. Trigger warning about parent abandonment but other than that great for people of all ages!

This was an enjoyable and easy read. A fake romance between a celebrity who needs to clean up his image and the author of a book turned movie adaptation. It was a sweet, closed door romance which I had a fun time with, however my main problem was that I didn't feel super connected to the main characters, which held me back from loving this book more.

This was the first Denise Hunter novel I have read and I would be interested in checking out more of her books in the future.

A fun romance, sort of enemies to lovers trope. The two main characters, Chloe and Lim, have depth and more in common than either realizes upon first meeting one another. However, sparks fly and the two come to realize there is something pulling them together. With the usual misunderstandings and miscommunications, there are standard plot devices; yet Hunter also throws in some unexpected turns of events, which make the book that much more enjoyable to read, as the unexpected becomes the norm!

I listened to Love. Unscripted and found the narration by Kathleen McInerney to capture character essence and emotions. I could hear desperation, angst, affection, frustration, and more!

I really enjoyed this contemporary romance. Going in, I didn't know what to expect since I haven’t read any of Denise Hunter’s other books, but I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome.

The story follows Chloe, a debut author who has been jaded by love in the past. She writes her perfect boyfriend into her first novel, so when Hollywood playboy Liam is cast to play her beloved MMC in the movie adaptation, she’s deeply disappointed. Chloe is adamant that her character needs to be portrayed accurately, and with Liam’s tainted reputation, she doesn’t believe he’s up to the task.

However, after they meet, Liam proposes a fake dating arrangement. The setup would boost Chloe’s following and also help clean up Liam’s image, giving the public the sense that he has finally settled down with a sweet, genuine woman. Of course, the ruse quickly turns personal as both realize their feelings for each other run far deeper than expected.

The narrator did a great job, making the listening experience very enjoyable. I loved the character development throughout the story. Both Chloe and Liam grow and learn about themselves, but Liam’s journey was particularly endearing. It was so sweet to see how hard he worked to better himself, not just for Chloe, but for his own sense of worth and fulfillment.

Having enjoyed this book so much, I definitely look forward to reading more of Denise Hunter’s novels in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Christian Audio, and Denise Hunter for granting me access to the ALC.

This was my first Denise Hunter book and it surely won’t be my last! I am someone that places great value in a quality cliche romance book. Sometimes you need a feel good story that can be reliable and this was just that! The characters were all enjoyable in their own ways and as a whole, the storyline kept me engaged, and I was rooting for love the whole way through. This book is flexible enough that it would be a great stand alone, but also has room to be made into a series. Truly a fantastic read!

Love, unscripted

If I summarized this book in as few words as possible, you’d still have a second idea what the book was about. Chloe is an author, and Liam is playing her MMC in the movie adaptation. They pretend to date, for the views. Have multiple miscommunications. Then get engaged in the epilogue (not really a spoiler).

The enemy to lover trope is tested, but there’s not enough justification or angst to call it that. There’s very little relationship development between fake dating and “ope, it’s real”. Admittedly I hate miscommunication tropes, and one has multiple (at least three) situations where they stop talking over a rumor or unverified accusation. The entire book also has a subtle purity culture vibe, regarding shame from her father’s betrayal and shame towards both Liam and Chloe’s brother for having been with multiple women. Overall, it wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t my favorite either, and I probably wouldn’t recommend it. There are better books out there with similar premise.

I really enjoyed this book! It’s a solid, feel-good romance that strikes the perfect balance—not too heavy, but definitely not lacking in swoon-worthy moments. What I loved most is that it’s a clean romance (aka no spice!), which makes it a great pick for my Christian girlies or anyone who wants a heartfelt love story without all the extra steam. And no, it’s not cringey at all. I was kicking, giggling, and smiling like a hopeless romantic the entire time. 🥹💕

That said… I did have a little gripe with the third-act breakup. The conflict felt a bit rushed and just dumped into the final part of the story, when it honestly would’ve made more sense to explore and resolve it gradually throughout the book. Chloe (the main character) also got on my nerves a bit—girl, please give Liam a break! She really never gave him the benefit of the doubt, and that frustrated me.

But the ending was super cute and tied everything up nicely. Even with my issues, I’d absolutely recommend this book for anyone who loves a clean, sweet romance with a hint of Hollywood drama.

This is such a sweet contemporary romance. I love the emotional growth between the characters and how they actually have some depth to them. I also love that they are both driven people with unique goals and aspirations that neither of them are forced to give up. I would definitely recommend this one.

I listened to the audiobook of Love, Unscripted and really enjoyed the story. This is my first read by Denise Hunter, and I listened to it in 2 days. The story is a no spice romance perfect for a summer beach read. Chloe and Liam have great chemistry from the start with their hilarious meet-cute and after they agree to a fake dating relationship to help boost their social media PR. This story touches on some more serious points like divorce and infidelity, addictions, relationship trust issues, and real versus perceived ideas of people based on personal biases. Denise Hunter writes in a way that these issues are validated and worked through and showing great character development in the process.

The audiobook was well recorded, but would love more variance in the voicing of the different characters.

If you like the fake dating trope, bad boy celebrity relationships, small town settings, books to movies, and sweet romance this book is a fantastic read! I will definitely be reading more by this author in the future!

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Thomas Nelson Fiction. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

A tender, second-chance romance that blurs the lines between real life and Hollywood magic. Love, Unscripted follows screenwriter Chloe Anderson as she reunites with her ex, actor Liam Hamilton, after tragedy brings them back into each other’s orbit. With emotional depth, heartfelt chemistry, and a dash of behind-the-scenes glamor, Denise Hunter delivers a story about forgiveness, healing, and the unscripted nature of true love. Perfect for fans of poignant, character-driven love stories. 💔🎬❤️

I’ll be honest. One thing about me is that I’ll always eat up a story that revolves around Hollywood. Give me stars, scripts and drama. I’m all here for it.

This was my first Denise Hunter book, and I’m very much impressed. It’s easy to read, the story flows well, and the writing doesn’t try too hard. Just a simple, feel good read that goes down like comfort food. The fake dating to real love arc was surprisingly well-paced and didn’t feel rushed or forced. Chloe was relatable at times and a fun sunshine FMC to read about. I digress but I need her “I closed my book to be here” t-shirt immediately. Liam was such a charmer, flirty but always a gentleman. The banter between them were funny and cute. An honourable mention to Buttercup because every time the cat was mentioned, I lit up. I also couldn’t help but think Megan would make a fun FMC in her own book. The audiobook narrator also did a great job, which made the whole experience even smoother.

That said, while I had fun reading it, the story itself is kind of forgettable. I probably won’t be thinking about it for too long. And then there’s the third act breakup. It was all going great until the author introduced miscommunication. To me it always feels like the easiest cop out and makes me wish the author had pushed for something deeper or more earned. Still, Love, Unscripted gave me a warm, cozy escape. It’s light, sweet, and sometimes that’s all you need.

Would I Recommend? Yes
For readers who like: Small town romances, fake dating, clean romance
Song Rec: Enchanted by Taylor Swift

Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins Christian Publishing and Denise Hunter for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am going to be honest. When I signed up to listen to this audiobook, I chose it purely for the cover. I was not sure what to expect, but Kathleen McInerney’s narration hooked me instantly.

Chloe writes an instant bestselling book on her first try and even lands a movie deal. After coming out of a bad relationship, she pours her idea of the perfect man onto the pages and hopes they will cast someone who can bring him to life. When she gets the call that Liam, a Hollywood bad boy, has been offered the lead role, she does not hold back her opinion.

Liam is desperate to restore his image, and the best way to do that is to fake a relationship with Chloe. It will solve two problems at once: clean up his reputation and promote the movie. Chloe only agrees so she can make sure he represents her main character exactly the way she pictured him.

Watching their relationship grow and evolve was so sweet. I just knew they were meant to be. As their friendship deepened into something more, I could not wait to see where they would take it. The twists took me on an emotional rollercoaster and kept me listening to find out what would happen next.

Kathleen did a great job conveying all the emotion and giving each character a unique voice.

If you are looking for a feel-good audiobook about an author and an actor, this is the one for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Christian Publishing for allowing me to listen to this emotional story.

Excellent audiobook narration by Kathleen McInerney.

Love, Unscripted is a great summer novel followed the fake PR relationship between Chloe, and author whose novel is being made into a movie, and Liam, an A-list actor with a less-than-stellar relationship history, who was selected to play the perfect MMC, much to Chloe’s dismay.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a nice, easy book. Now, this might seem a bit odd but I listened to this as an audiobook and the voice of the main lead male character reminded me of something that I could not place for the longest time… and then I figured it out… the voice of Liam sounded like Rudolph’s voice in the 1964 Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer children’s classic movie. It took me straight out of the romance of the book and I couldn’t get it out of my head once I realized it. Also, wouldn’t have been mad at all to get a big pinch of spice added to the story. But overall, I enjoyed the story and characters. Thanks for allowing me to review!

Well, this was cute. I can see why the author has had a few books sent off to Hallmark for a movie. It was an easy read. Not a ton of depth to the characters, but I was still rooting for the happily ever after.

My negative was that I was craving more background. A lot. The whole story was based on this author writing an "off-the-charts" beach read, however we got little to no information about her bad break up that lead to writing the beach read. It would have helped the characters in having a little more for us as the readers to find them likeable. The narrator was listed as Kathleen McInerney. She was good, and was able to pull off both female characters as well as male characters. However, every voice she had a hint of positive. Not great when it was a storyline that was a little less happy.

I have no issue with “clean romance” however this was basically a convent romance. A little silly in some places. It is completely possible to be “clean romance” but for the characters to still have fire/passion/desire for their love. Overall, I can absolutely see why this author is so successful and known in the Hallmark movie world.

Thank you NetGalley for the listen!!