This is my first time reading a book by Denise Hunter, but I’m instantly a fan. This delightful book is a heartwarming story of a movie star, Liam, who comes to a small North Carolina town to film a movie based on Chloe, a local author's book. What starts as a fake romantic relationship between Liam and Chloe for the sake of promoting the movie and to improve Liam’s declining image, ends up blossoms into genuine love and possibly more.

The characters are incredibly likable, and the story immediately draws you in. It reads like a perfect Hallmark movie coming to life with real family dynamics, opposites attract, friends to enemies, humor and romance. If you enjoy a fake dating trope, this one is exceptionally well executed, especially with the engaging dynamic between characters who initially resist their feelings. Beyond the central “fake romance” between Chloe and Liam, there's also a charming side story involving Chloe's brother, Shawn, and her best friend, Megan. It's a captivating audiobook that is hard to put down.

I received an ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for honest feedback. This review is my own thoughts and opinions.

📸 Opposites attract
📸 Enemies to lovers
📸 Forced Proximity
📸 Workplace
📸 Sexual tension
📸 Romance
📸 Fake dating

I read Love, Unscripted as a buddy read with two other bookstagrammers and we ask felt the same way about this book.
At first it is a fun book reminiscent of a Hallmark movie, and we all loved it until there was miscommunication which is one of my least favorite tropes.
Semi spoiler alert- the MC had already discussed not lying to each other due to their pasts. The FMC thinks the MMC has lied to her and does not even let him talk when she confronts him. It was very immature and made the rest of the book feel off.
While that aspect of the storyline bothered me, not all readers will feel this way. So, maybe give this book a chance. It is a cute Hallmark vibes read!

Love, Unscripted was such a sweet and heartwarming listen! While the story was somewhat predictable in the best way, it was exactly what I was looking for comforting, romantic, and thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. 💕
Denise Hunter delivers a charming, feel good story that swept me up completely.
The audiobook narration was excellent, engaging and expressive. The narrator brought the characters and emotions to life so beautifully that I felt completely immersed in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to Denise Hunter and Netgalley for this ARC/ALC
 ☆☆
🌶️
Narrated by Kathleen McInerney, gotta say basically that second star is fully because Kathleen work because imo having a double pov book being narrated by only one person is settings them up, still she did an amazing job at narrating this story.

On the other hand this book was basically about nothing much and nothing really happens, i think honestly what sucks more is that the love story had so much potential like there were sparks only that also so much going on with the side characters that no one needed, and at the end i wasn't convinced in that HEA

Love, Unscripted was a fun listen. I loved Chloe and Liam. I enjoyed the fake romance storyline. There were several laugh out loud moments. I loved the narrator. She really brought the story to life. I definitely recommend.

this was a good, easy to read book. girl writes book, book becomes movie, writer and actor have a fake relationship. or is it? narration by kathleen mcinerney was great.

This book was a fun, feel-good romance with a surprising amount of heart and character growth woven between the witty banter and slow-burn chemistry. What starts as a PR stunt quickly evolves into something more layered and meaningful, both for the characters and the reader.

Chloe begins the story guarded and fiercely protective of her work—and for good reason. Her journey from skeptical and sharp-tongued to vulnerable and open is handled with depth and sincerity. Watching her wrestle with control, trust, and her own expectations made her easy to root for. Her evolution isn’t overnight, and that realism adds to her charm.

Liam, on the other hand, is more than just the Hollywood “bad boy” image that initially sets Chloe (and the reader) on edge. His character arc was a standout—slowly peeling back his public persona to reveal someone far more thoughtful and introspective than anyone gave him credit for. His genuine effort to connect with Chloe and step into a role that challenges him emotionally made his growth feel earned and satisfying.

The dynamic between Chloe and Liam never feels forced. Their relationship unfolds naturally as the story progresses, moving from tension to companionship to something truly romantic. By the final chapters, it’s easy to believe in their connection—and to want more of it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this charming story.

This book is a sweet Hallmark Movie in book form. When emerging author Chloe poured her heart and soul into her book she didn't dream it would be so successful as to be made into a movie. But it's happening! Her hero is perfection to her and the casting of notorious womanizer Liam Hamilton isn't her first choice. But when faced with the real man she has to form her own opinions of who Liam really is.

The beginning is full of humour and the attraction between Chloe and Liam is great. They make a pact to work on Liam's image by fake dating, one of the best fake date reasons IMO. I enjoyed how they care for and protect each other and their growing feelings. There are well developed side characters and a secret in Chloe's past, and miscommunication. Sadly that was taken a step to far and hurt the story for me. Overall I still found it romantic and lovely and aside from that really enjoyed it.

The narration was enjoyable and kept me engaged in the story.

Those who enjoyed Annabel Monaghan's Nora Goes Off Script might also enjoy this one.

I loved this book! Chloe’s an author who wrote a book that ends up a movie.Liam is hired as the lead character in the movie.Do they date?Read the book to find out!



I posted my review on Amazon too but it hasn’t been approved yet.

Denise Hunter does it again!

Denise Hunter has a great knack for storytelling and her books always make for a great movie concept too. Love, Unscripted continues continues to fit that idea. Chloe Anderson runs a restaurant with her brother and wrote her first novel that had everyone dreaming of the perfect "book boyfriend". When her novel sores the charts - it catches the eye of Hollywood and a movie deal is made.

Chloe is given a "seat" at the table and gets to give her insights on how the movie should go. With her love of the perfect guy, she has her own ideas on who should play that character and movie star, Liam is not the one. When the producer calls and tells her so, she in no certain words says exactly what she thinks of him and who is listening in???? Liam!

From there Liam and Chloe are "stuck" working together and he brings an idea to her that she can't really say no to. When hearts become involved and media takes over, what is real? What and who do you trust? This was an all around enjoyable read that left me smiling!

Chloe Anderson's bestselling novel is being adapted to screen. Chloe is told that Liam Hamilton will play the lead role of the dream man Chloe created, the lead character and hero of her story. Chloe has seen Liam in the media with his many beautiful girlfriends and believes the 'bad boy' is not fitting to play her dreamy hero.

Liam Hamilton has read Chloe's book and is interested in getting to know the author that dislikes him. He arrives in Stillwater, North Carolina a week early before filming starts and spies Chloe as she peruses the shops.

A brief but hostile encounter ensues and the paparazzi are already in town. A snapshot of Chloe and Liam gets tongues wagging right away. On the premise that any publicity is good publicity, they plan a business deal that promises great benefits for both Liam's image and Chloe's exposure.

The fake relationship has Chloe and Liam spending a lot of time together practising lines and getting to know one another. Could Liam Hamilton actually be an honest and caring guy or is he as fake as their relationship deal. He is a good actor.

I really enjoyed this book. The downfalls of fame and public scrutiny are a great addition to the romance #LoveUnscripted. The story was written well so that the romantic aspect didn't get too cheesy, which was great.

Thankyou to #Netgalley, #ThomasNelsonFiction and #HarperCollinsChristianPublishing for the free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

“Love, Unscripted” by Denise Hunter is a delightful, feel-good read that swept me away from the very first page. With her signature warmth and charm, Hunter delivers a sweet, romantic story that’s both heartwarming and emotionally engaging.

The characters are easy to connect with—flawed yet lovable, with just the right amount of chemistry and tension to keep the pages turning. The storyline feels fresh and authentic, offering just the right balance of lightheartedness and depth.

I especially appreciated the themes of second chances and the beauty of vulnerability. It’s the kind of book that leaves you smiling long after the last page is turned.

If you’re looking for a comforting, uplifting story filled with heart, Love, Unscripted is a perfect choice. Denise Hunter has once again proven why she’s a favorite in inspirational romance.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of Love, Unscripted by Denise Hunter, published by Harper Collins Christian Publishing and narrated by Kathleen Mc Inerney

This was such a fun listen, a wonderful light hearted romance. I enjoyed the plot and the characters. As the story unfolded, it kept me quite entertained and wanting to keep listening. I got the ending I was hoping for but not without some events that kept the reading wondering what was going to happen next.
This is a perfect beach or vacation read, or anytime really,  the story is easy to follow, characters are memorable.
This is the first novel I've read by this author, it was great and I will read more of her books
I have to add the narrator did an excellent job with characters voices and matched their personalities

EXCERPT: Simone's smoky voice filled the bookshop. 'I have some excellent news for you, and I couldn't wait to call you.'
Meghan silently clapped her hands.
'Well, I can't wait to hear it. You sound so excited'
'You will be too. You low we've been working on casting the past souple of months. What would you say if I told you Ledger will be played by none other than . . . Liam Hamilton!
Chloe's gaze met Meghan's widened eyes. Liam Hamilton was huge. But he was also the biggest Hollywood player the town had ever seen. He'd risen to fame several years ago with a role in Chloe's favorite rom-com, playing a man who'd cheated on his fiancée with her maid of honor. A part he'd played quire convincingly!
In real life he was just as unfaithful and irreverent. He was a womanizer. If he wasn't the devil, he was certainly the anti-Ledger!
Simone chuckled. 'I can see I've shocked you speechless.'
Chloe paced off some of the energy zipping through her like an electric current. She had to speak up. For Ledger, for all his fans, for the good of the movie. Simone had taken some of her feedback on the script. Minor stuff, maybe. But Chloe was the author of the book! She'd created Ledger Ford. Surely she should have a say in who played the character some fans (and Publishers Weekly) had called the best book boyfriend of all time.
Chloe stopped in front of Meghan. Say something! she mouthed.
'Chloe?' Simone said.
'Um, yes, I'm here. And I am quite surprised. It's just that . . .' The words bubbled up inside and boiled over. 'I honestly can't think of a man less qualified to play Ledger Ford. Ledger is heroic in every sense o0f the word. He's larger than life. He exhibits all the qualities that every woman yearns for in a partner. And Liam Hamilton is -'
'Um. Chloe . . .'
'He's just not any of those things, and even though I've only seen him in one movie, his reputation -'
'Liam is -'
'- certainly precedes him, and surely actors carry those qualities onto the set. I just don't think he's -'
'- right here.'
'- appropriate for the part. I'm sorry, what did you say?'
'Liam. He's, ah, right here with me, dear. Right now. Listening.'

ABOUT 'LOVE, UNSCRIPTED': The perfect boyfriend only exists on paper…doesn’t he?

Fresh off the heels of a bad breakup, Chloe Anderson poured her heart into penning the perfect boyfriend—and the result was an off-the-charts debut beach read that resonated with women worldwide. Now, Chloe’s scripted hero is headed for Hollywood, with her book destined to become a major motion picture.

When Chloe gets wind that silver screen bad boy Liam Hamilton has been cast as the ideal-in-every-way hero of her novel, she’s horrified by the film director’s choice. How could a player like Liam possibly do Chloe’s perfect hero justice? Unafraid to speak her mind, Chloe lets her executive producer know she’s one hundred percent opposed to the casting. And oops—the call is on speakerphone, where the annoyingly attractive Hollywood star hears Chloe’s unbridled outrage firsthand.

With Liam’s reputation already on the rocks, his agent concocts a PR plan to upgrade Liam’s image while putting the story—and the film—in the spotlight. The catch? During the movie’s filming in Chloe’s cute hometown of Stillwater, North Carolina, Chloe and Liam will fake a wholesome, committed relationship. Both stand to gain something from the arrangement. Liam’s fans will see him in a new light, while Chloe can boost her struggling social media following and further her writing career. What could possibly go wrong?

As author and actor navigate the waters of the PR relationship, they’re unpre­pared when their professional agreement turns into an actual friendship. And when serious sparks start to fly—well, that’s an unread chapter for both of them.

MY THOUGHTS: Love, Unscripted is an entertaining, slow burn, clean romance filled with a lot of ups and downs, conflicts and misunderstandings. All perfectly plausible and fitting. I never rolled my eyes once!

Take one hot property actor with a bad reputation and one debut small town novelist, mix together gently with a smidgeon of attraction, a whole heap of mistrust and allow to simmer . . .

The resulting relationship has plenty of humorous moments mixed in with the angst, misunderstandings and other people's machinations. Both Chloe and Liam find it hard to trust, both having been burned in relationships previously and both having secrets from their past that they want to keep hidden. What starts out as a business agreement between the two slowly morphs into something deeper, but with neither willing to trust the other completely, having to live in the spotlight of their various successes, and someone meddling in their lives, their romance is a very rocky road indeed.

I liked both these characters, and the supporting cast. I was totally rooting for the romance that I was never quite sure was going to come to fruition. Love, Unscripted is an entertaining and unpredictable read, and the second book by this author that I have enjoyed reading. I'll definitely be reading more from her. I have a large backlist of Denise Hunter titles to catch up on!

The audiobook was superbly narrated by Kathleen McInerney, who is in my top five narrators list.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.4

#LoveUnscripted #NetGalley

MEET THE AUTHOR: Denise writes heartwarming, small-town romances, peopled with layered characters who have real-life issues. Her readers enjoy the vicarious thrill of falling in love and the promise of a happily-ever-after sigh as they savor the final pages of her books.

In 1996, Denise began her first novel, writing while her children napped. Her books contain a strong romantic element, and her husband says he provides all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!

Denise and her husband live in Indiana, where they raised three sons, and are currently enjoying an empty nest.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins Christian Publishing, Thomas Nelson Fiction, via NetGalley for providing an audio-ARC of Love, Unscripted, written by Denise Hunter and narrated by Kathleen McInerney, for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

You could say Chloe’s hit novel was inspired by her real-life experiences. Well, by the opposite of them actually. After a horrible break up, she decided to write a novel starring the perfect opposite of her ex and it hit every best-seller list. It’s even being made into a movie! But when she gets off to a rocky start with the movie’s leading man, it puts her movie and her reputation in a PR conundrum. Will they pull it together in the spirit of the romcom or will this turn in to a PR disaster?

Denise Hunter is widely known for the Hallmark movies inspired by her numerous romance novels. Love, Unscripted, released in 2024, would be a perfect fit in that category as well! With relatable characters, an enemy-to-lovers trope, a fake romance trope, and an entertaining small-town community, this novel is a light and easy read that will restore your faith in the Hollywood bad boy types.

I give Love, Unscripted 4 out of 5 stars. This was such a cute story and so relatable for me. The awkwardness and way Chloe can’t seem to say the right things feels 100% like something that would happen to me. This did feel like a made for TV manuscript though, like many of Hunter’s works. I did love the little ways Liam cares for Chloe throughout the book and looks to protect her family. I did feel like Liam’s friends got shortchanged and were added in as an afterthought towards the end of the book. I know that is in part because of the setting – most of the book was set in Chloe’s hometown with only the final scenes in Liam’s world.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun summer beach read or easy weekend read. With discussions of parental abandonment and light references to sex, this book may not be best for all readers. If you have enjoyed other works by Denise Hunter or love Hallmark romcoms, you’ll love this book, too!

This is the second Denise Hunter book I’ve read recently and I enjoyed both! I chose this book solely based on the cover – the beautiful boardwalk leading out to the beach scene reminds me of my happy place on the Georgia coast. Set in a coastal South Carolina, this book will transport you to the small-town southern world I long to live in.

Love, Unscripted released March 12, 2024, but I received the audiobook version for review from the publisher. Both print and audio versions are available for purchase on our Bookshop.org page!

I loved how the movie/book written about was relatable to the main characters relationship. The FMC life circumstances was very relatable to me personally. Overall, I feel this book was written beautifully to portray love and what it overcomes.

I enjoyed this audiobook so much - it completely rekindled my long-lost passion for audiobooks! Everything was just right: the writing, the characters, their romance, and the way the story unfolded. What I truly loved was the underlying message of the book: you don’t need someone perfect, like a fictional book boyfriend. You just need your person - someone who feels right for you. It’s such a perfect summer holiday read!

Oh, how I enjoyed this audiobook! This is such a fun and entertaining story about a writer, Chloe Anderson, from a southern town in South Carolina whose book makes it to the Best Sellers list and into a major motion picture.
The book is about finding the ideal boyfriend but the film Director’s choice for the main character picks a Hollywood bad boy whose reputation is already on the rocks.

This story has everything in it, It’s funny, cute, suspenseful at times, romantic, etc. I was sad to finish it. This is an audiobook I would listen to again.

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins Christian Publishing/Thomas Nelson Fiction for this audiobook: LOVE, UNSCRIPTED by Denise Hunter, narrated by Kathleen McInerney

I listened to this book courtesy of Netgalley audio.
So good, all the characters were, well for a better word ‘normal’.
It makes a change to read a book that is believable and not outrageously hyped up. It follows the story of an author whose book is made into a film with a famous actor at the realm. The friendships and relationships were good, supportive and warm hearted.

This book is a contemporary beachside love story with believable and lovable characters, strong character development, and plenty of room for a sequel... pretty please?
The narration by Kathleen McInerney is excellent.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins Publishers for providing a free copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.