I LOVED the depth of the characters in Never Planned on You. They both had a deep sense of self and self respect. This was SO The Wedding Planner, which is a big guilty pleasure of mine. Our MCs had great chemistry and great growth.

3.5🌟Never Planned On You is a funny, feel-good second-chance romance. Ali is bold and lovable, and Graham is the perfect charming, British grump. Their chemistry is instant but complicated, and I loved watching it all unfold. The game-show-themed birthday party was a standout moment, so fun and sweet! A great read with heart and humor.

I love the covers of all of Lindsay's books! This book was fun to read and I really enjoyed it. I want to read more by her! I really love second chance romance and this had that in it. One thing I didn't like though was how close this was to "cheating" even though it was a marriage of convenience not love.

Truly enjoyed this book! I liked that the main character was a bit of a mess. She stood up for herself and really didn't take much crap from anyone. They will they won't they storyline kept me really intrigued and wondering what would happen next. Loved this one and can't wait to read more by the author! 4.5 stars

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book was too cheating adjacent for me. We, as readers, knew from the blurb that Graham is in a marriage of convenience. However, Ali thinks that he's happily engaged to Claire, and then makes out with him anyway! Everyone makes mistakes but I personally don't care to read for a character who knowingly aids and abets cheating 🤷🏻‍♀️

Oh my gosh, this book was a total joyride! I loved how the story balanced lighthearted romance with more serious themes of growth, career, and the meaning of true love. Ali and Graham’s chemistry is undeniable, but it’s their personal journeys that really made this story hit home for me. This book is a sparkling, heartwarming read, and I’m honestly obsessed with it.

Thanks to St Martins Press and Netgalley for this advance copy!

This was a fun romp of a second chance romance. I loved the Baltimore and Jewish representation and I loved how Ali and Graham played off each other. Meeting during Ali's year abroad, having one great night (with a secret tattoo!) and then meeting up again in Baltimore as Graham gets ready to marry his best friend so she can stay in the country, its a great story in the making. At times I struggled to understand the Graham/Claire relationship and I felt like that author TOLD us how close they were but never really SHOWED us. And I didn't completely understand Ali's motivation towards the end.

But regardless it was fun to watch them fall for each other again and it's always great to see a romance in Baltimore and have great Jewish representation. I am going to go back and read Lexi's story for sure.

Never Planned on You by Lindsay Hameroff is a sweet and cute forced proximity/ second chance romance.

Ali is a party planner who feels like she has everything to prove. Graham is a blast from Ali's past, who adds a complication to her life.

Full of Jewish representation, this is a light, fun rom-com.

this book was so cute and enjoyable. definitely perfect for an 'in between' or palette cleanser

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an arc <3

I wanted to love this one but I dont think I could get over the amount of cheating - not for me but doesn't mean someone else wouldnt love it. There are other aspects I really enjoyed but that just didnt so it for me.

I really enjoyed Never Planned on You by Lindsay Hameroff. We first meet Ali and Graham in London, years before the book takes place. They make a drunken bet that leads to matching tattoos and a one-night stand right before she's about to move back to the U.S. at the end of her study-abroad. They run into each other almost a decade later at a cafe in Baltimore, which leads to an almost-perfect date that makes you really root for them. But everything changes when Ali discovers that her new high-profile wedding planning client is none other than Graham. An already stressful situation with the future of her career hinging on this wedding being successful, Ali now has to navigate their undeniable connection while trying to remain professional.

This was a fun rom-com with likeable and relatable characters. Sure, the premise isn't the most believable (have you ever actually known a real couple with a marriage of convenience?), but it was enjoyable and a quick read.

Pick up Never Planned on You if you like:
▪️Second chance romance
▪️Forbidden romance
▪️Electric meet-cute
▪️Opposites attract
▪️Forced proximity
▪️Wedding planning
▪️Marriage of convenience

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

Never Planned on You is a second-chance romance full of banter and laughable moments! Lindsay Hammeroff wrote this sweet rom-com that you will swoon over.

For those who enjoy forbidden romance amidst a marriage of convenience this book is for you. It didn't quite work for me. There were times during the "cheating" that I couldn't morally get behind and it just was not for me. The writing is generally good, but some aspects of the situation itself were too off-putting for me to look past, unfortunately. Will definitely try other books by this author, though!

If you love second-chance romance with sizzling chemistry, Jewish culture, and food descriptions that’ll have you reaching for a snack, Never Planned on You delivers all that and more in a charming and heart-tugging package.

Ali Rubin is the kind of FMC you root for from page one—bold, spontaneous, chaotic, and deeply lovable. When she returns to Baltimore to chase a new career in wedding planning, the last thing she expects is to cross paths with her long-lost tattoo twin: Graham, the charming Brit she once shared a wild night and some ink with. Their reunion? Electric. Their chemistry? Undeniable. The complication? He’s engaged. To someone else. In a marriage of convenience. Cue the drama!

This book leans into so many tropes I adore:
* Forced proximity (they’re working together, of course),
* Forbidden love (he’s the groom!),
* Marriage of convenience (with all its delicious complications),
* And yes, nosey bubbe cameos at Friday night Shabbat dinners made me grin from ear to ear.

Graham is the quintessential cinnamon roll hero with a British accent and a heart of gold, trying to save his family's beloved-but-crumbling hotel. Ali’s trying to prove she’s not the flaky family member while building a life on her terms. Their dynamic is messy, emotional, and full of longing, which had me flipping pages late into the night.

What makes this story shine is its warmth, authentic family drama, friends who rally in unexpected ways, and vibrant Jewish cultural thread that adds real depth. And let’s not forget the food. Oh my goodness, the food. From wedding tastings to comfort meals to wine-soaked dinners, every bite is described with love and appetite.

My only minor quibble? Some of the pacing near the middle felt slow, and I wanted more depth in Graham’s fiancée’s storyline. But honestly, that’s a tiny bump in an otherwise swoony, feel-good ride.

Final thoughts: This romance is about timing, risk, and figuring out what you want. If you like stories with heart, heat, humor, and challah, Never Planned on You will win you over.

I love a second chance romance trope! The characters were fun and playful. It definitely felt like a book based on The Wedding Planner with its own twist. The short period of the book when you’re not sure if they’re going to get together while he’s engaged wasn’t for me. I don’t like cheating and for a second I thought about DNFing but I’m glad I didn’t!

This book has a SPEAK NOW wedding moment. I repeat, a speak now wedding moment!!! 💜🙋‍♀️💍

Now that my Swiftie reference is out of the way, this book was a fun, light-hearted second chance romance featuring the grumpy x sunshine trope.

I will admit that this book almost featured a trope that I will not read (cheating), but thankfully, that didn’t end up being the case.

Ali and Graham spent a wild night together over a decade ago while Ali was learning abroad. Fast forward, and the pair bump into each other stateside at a cafe. Could it be their second chance at love? Not quite, as it turns out that Ali is the wedding planner for the Graham’s wedding.

This book features:
•The one-night stand trope
•Matching tattoos ✍️
•Tons of forced proximity (they got locked in a room together) 👩‍❤️‍👨
•A “speak now” wedding moment for my fellow T Swift fans

Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ali and Graham thought they had left their London memories behind when they come together once again, this time in Baltimore. Ali is now a special events planner and is given the opportunity to prove herself to her boss by planning a high profile wedding-Grahams. The two start off by trying to keep things professional and move on from the past. Ali and Graham quickly learn old feelings die hard no matter how hard they try ignore and bury them. When Graham finally admits to a big secret Ali can’t help but give in to the chemistry that still exists between them. But what happens if Graham’s fiancé finds out about his and Ali’s past? Will the wedding still be on after all?

With the charm of The Wedding Planner, you can’t go wrong with this romance!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars

[ thank you to the publisher for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own! ]

I really enjoyed this one. I don’t love the infidelity trope (this spans like the whole book — he’s engaged to someone else. Platonic between them, helping each other out). But it really doesn’t touch on that much until over like halfway or so. But I liked both Ali & Graham. They had instant chemistry. It was clearly palpable between them. I found it an enjoyable read. I was rooting for them to find a way to be together instead of having to sneak around and we got that near the end of the book.

This romance had me hooked from the unforgettable first scene—Ali, who is studying abroad in London, gets matching tattoos with a stranger followed by a steamy one-night stand.

We meet Ali once again when she moves in with her family and starts a new job as a wedding planner. So no one is more surprised than she is when her one night stand turns up in Baltimore, ordering a latte at her favorite café. Cue the slow burn and all the angsty pining!

Set in Baltimore (a setting that really shines), the story blends heartfelt romance, humor, and great Jewish cultural rep through Ali’s lovable, hilarious family. Her job as a wedding planner ties everything together perfectly; no spoilers, but it works. A fun, emotional read with just the right amount of humor and drama.