The Wedding Planner movie but with a new twist as two people who get matching tattoos and have a one night stand meet 10 years later when she becomes a chef... for his wedding. Ali is spontaneous and when she gets a matching tattoo with a hot British guy on her last day in London and has a one night stand with him she'd never in all her years think she'd ever run into him again.... until she does as his newly hired chef for his wedding. Ali never expected to see Graham again and of all places she definitely did not expect to see him as the groom for the wedding she's been hired to work at. Yet the moment they meet its like the sparks never left and they can't stay away from one another. Ali and Graham know they shouldn't be feeling what they do with each other as the wedding looms nearer and nearer and the secret Graham is hiding might change everything. What are you suppose to do when the person you're in love with is getting married to someone else? So one thing to know about this book is that it deals of course with the very specific trope of cheating, and yes they explain it away later but its one trope I dislike so much. In this book it just feels so unnecessary and kind of just useless. I didn't care for it and yeah its a kind of Wedding Planner (J-Lo movie) vibe but I just don't care for it. I would highly recommend you read the blurb of the book to check for this specific trope before reading because if you dont like cheating, and if its not explained in a good enough way, this book is definitely NOT for you. If you like the cheating trope then yeah, give this a go, if you like the "complicated relationship" trope or "missing the one and meeting them again in a more complicated scenario" trope then yeah absolutely pick this book up.

Release Date: February 18, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This book was undeniably cute, but the whole situation with him being engaged and not telling his marriage-of-convenience bride about it really rubbed me the wrong way. It just felt uncomfortable and off. However, the story did have some charming, Hallmark-esque moments—the prologue was probably my favorite part, along with the ending!

Ultimately, I bumped up my rating by one star thanks to the ending. The grand gestures and the nod to The Price is Right definitely earned it!

4 stars

Ali has a carefree spirit, so much so she makes a bet with some random guy in London and ends up with matching tattoos. She leaves her job as a chef in NYC to head home to Baltimore and work as a wedding planner, often thinking back to her tattoo-twin. Her suddenly serious need to succeed at work, her tattoo-twin shows back up and hires her to plan his wedding.

Cute read, even if predictable in places. But it doesn’t detract from the story. Characters are easy to like and relate to, with flaws all their own. Easy to digest.

Ali and Graham’s first meeting was the kind of unforgettable, slightly reckless night that makes for the best stories—full of dares, drinks, and, ultimately, matching tattoos. Eight years later, Ali is stunned to run into him again, except now he’s not just Graham—he’s the groom in the high-profile wedding she’s planning. With her career and family expectations on the line, Ali knows she should keep things professional, but the chemistry between them is impossible to ignore.

I loved how this book balanced humor and heart. The banter is sharp, the characters feel real, and while Graham’s upcoming wedding adds plenty of tension, it never veers into messy love-triangle territory. The romance builds beautifully, and the emotional stakes make their journey feel all the more rewarding.

As for spice, this one lands somewhere in the mid-range—open door but not overly detailed. If that’s not your thing, it’s easy to skim past, but the story itself is so engaging that you won’t want to miss a page.

Whether you’re a longtime fan of Hameroff or new to her books, this one stands well on its own. Highly recommend for anyone who loves a mix of humor, longing, and the kind of romance that keeps you smiling.

4.5 ⭐️ Thank you Lindsay Hameroff and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for the ARC of “Never Planned on You!”

THIS IS HOW YOU DO A ROMANCE NOVEL!!! The perfect mix of funny, heartfelt, chaotic, and passionate - this novel really stole the show for me! If you’re a fan of The Wedding Planner (who isn’t?) and My Big Fat Greek Wedding (again, hello? A staple in the rom com world) then you are going to LOVE this - from the early 2000s references to current trends, Hameroff hit every mark!

Another standout from Lindsay Hameroff!!! I adored this book SO SO MUCH!!! Jewish wedding planner and former chef, Ali bumps into her one night stand, Graham while waiting in line for coffee only to discover he's the new groom and she has been assigned to help plan his wedding.

The pining and forced proximity in this Baltimore set romcom gave me ALL the feels. There was a great balance of family drama, coming of age/discovering what really makes you happy, Jewish traditions and holidays, food and elderly antics to hit all the right notes. We even get cameos from Jake and Lexi, the main characters from the author's debut and Ali's best friend.

I honestly have no notes for this book and couldn't recommend it enough, it was especially good on audio narrated by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw who does a STELLAR job voicing not only Ali, but Graham with his British accent plus the whole host of side characters! The grand gesture ending is EPIC and there was just enough spice in this mostly fade to black love story to make me happy.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review! Perfect for fans of authors like Lindsey Lanza, Rachel Lynn Solomon and Amanda Elliot. This can be read as a standalone and is one not to miss!

Ali and Graham met one fateful night full of drinking and betting. When the competition ended in a draw, they got matching tattoos, never expecting to see each other again. When Ali goes to her favorite cafe for lunch, she never expected "Benedict" to be in front of her in line. Sparks fly, just like they did that night eight years ago, and when it turns out he's the groom in the high profile wedding she's helping to plan, everything gets complicated real quick.

Ali has been single since she and Graham met, having no luck in the dating world even though her mother is determined to match her up. Being back in Baltimore with her family has its ups and downs. She's missed them while she was living in New York, but being around her perfect sister and matchmaking mom isn't ideal. Ali has always been the impulsive screw-up, and to prove to her family (and her boss) that she's not, she's going to have to try and put her feelings for Graham aside and give him the perfect wedding. But she never planned on him getting into her heart.

All in all, this is a cute second chance romance with a mid-level amount of spice. The intimate scenes are open door, but not overly detailed, and there aren't a lot of them. It's easy to skip over them if that's not your cup of tea though.

Thank you to @StMartinsPress and @NetGalley for a digital copy for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.

really loved this book! it’s so cute and it has such a fun storyline. i really loved the chemistry between the two main characters as well i thought they were really well matched together!

Never Planned on You by Lindsay Hameroff was such a delight! After a whirlwind night in London, Ali and Graham never anticipate seeing each other again — until Graham turns up in the office Ali’s interning at as their newest wedding planning client. Without spoiling anything, I’ll say that I appreciate Hameroff’s ability to leverage Graham’s impending wedding for all the requisite drama without making him or Ali seem like a bad person. You truly root for these two until the very end — and that ending does not disappoint!

This book is also FUNNY — I laughed out loud several times. Even better, the quips are current (think, Eras tour recent) without teetering into cringy or try-hard.

After finishing Never Planned on You, I learned that Ali is a minor character from Hameroff’s previous novel, Till There Was You, but I can attest that Never Planned on You stands alone very well. 5*!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing this e-arc.

Oh my heart—Never Planned on You by Lindsay Hameroff completely swept me up! 😍 I went in expecting a fun, swoony romance, and it delivered big time! Ali and Graham reconnect years after their whirlwind night in Europe, and from the moment they cross paths again, it’s funny, charming, and full of tension in the best way.

Ali is such a fun, chaotic queen! 😂 She’s impulsive, witty, and full of life—I just got her. And Graham? TOTAL swoon. 😍 His charm, his thoughtfulness, the way he looks at Ali? Yeah, I melted. Their chemistry is insane—the kind of slow-burn tension that keeps you turning the pages at lightning speed. That said, the whole “he’s engaged” situation had me a little nervous at first (because, yikes), but Hameroff handles it so well that it never felt cringey or forced. Their connection just made sense, and once things started unfolding, I was all in.

If I had one tiny critique, it’s that some parts of the timeline moved fast—I would’ve loved to see more of them working through their feelings rather than certain moments getting skipped over. But honestly? That didn’t take away from how much I loved their story!

The banter? Hilarious. The romance? Electric. The emotional moments? All the feels. 😩💕 If you love rom-coms with lovable, messy characters, second-chance romance, and just the right amount of spice, Never Planned on You needs to be on your TBR! ✨

Thanks so much to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was a fun second chance romance. This is a very entertaining romcom.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I freely give my review

Ali flies by the seat of her pants, while Graham is significantly more straight-laced in his cardigans and glasses. She changes careers, from being a chef to an event planner, and he’s a “finance bro” without the real “bro” tendencies. On her last night during her semester abroad in London, the two make a bet that undeniably links them for life. Hameroff makes you fall in love with the characters in her quick witted way, bringing back friends you didn’t even realize you’d missed from her first novel, as Graham and Ali have their second, albeit complicated, chance at love.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

Never Planned on You by Lindsay Hameroff is a sparkling, laugh-out-loud second-chance romance that proves sometimes the best things in life are the ones you never expected. The story follows Ali Rubin, a spontaneous and carefree chef from New York City who moves back to Baltimore to pursue her dreams as a wedding planner. Known for her impulsive decisions, Ali’s life takes an unexpected turn when she runs into Graham, the British man she once made a drunken bet with and got matching tattoos. Their reunion leads to a whirlwind evening of rekindled chemistry, but neither expects what comes next.

Ali is focused on proving herself in her new career, but things get complicated when she’s assigned to plan a high-profile wedding at a historic hotel—only to discover Graham is the groom. As their feelings for each other reignite, they face an undeniable attraction, even though Graham is engaged to someone else. The tension between their budding romance and Ali’s professional aspirations creates a heartwarming and at times hilarious story of love, career, and finding the courage to take chances.

Hameroff perfectly captures the magic of second chances, creating a cast of lovable characters and plenty of chemistry between Ali and Graham. With humor, heart, and a touch of drama, Never Planned on You is a delightful read for fans of romantic comedies that remind us love often comes when we least expect it.

This was a wonderfully witty and heartwarming second chance romance that completely pulled me in. Ali and Graham were both such deliciously messy main characters that you can't help but root for. Hameroff has become a must-read author for me in the rom-com space.

This book is a fun, laugh-out-loud second-chance romance that proves love has a way of showing up when you least expect it. The story is so sweet and engaging—I was completely hooked from the start. If you’re looking for a feel-good romance that will make you smile, this one’s a must-read!

OMG I absolutely loved this book!! I laughed, I cried, I couldn't put it down!! I didn't want it to end!!

So much more than a romance, this book
was also about family and friendship, about discovering who you are then being true to yourself and not settling!! Character development was top notch!! I fell in love with Ali and Graham!! I loved his grandmother and his fiancee!! I loved Ali's family and all of their holiday scenes!! My favorite wine is that blue bottle that Ali's mom told her not to buy! lol

"But it turns out the true definition of romance is sticking around to bring someone an egg and cheese sandwich while they're waiting in a hospital lounge."
This book took me by surprise. I don't read blurbs, so other than confirming they are romance, I generally have no clue what I'm in for. I love a messy MC. Doesn't matter how they identify, the messier they are, the more I adore them. And when you match them with their polar opposite, who is just clearly gone for them? I. Eat. It. Up. Needless to say, I feasted on this story.🥰 And such a unique take on the fake relationship trope! Loved it. Go read it.

A big thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for sending me an e-copy of this book! I love a good second chance romance and this one did not disappoint. I thought Ali and Graham made the absolute most perfect couple and I loved watching their story unfold. This was such a fun read and I would recommend this to anyone who likes second chance romance, work place romance and a bit of spice 🖤

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc of this book. Really it's a 2.75, but like did any of this story have to happen in the year 2025? Because a lesbian and a lavender green card marriage when she's from Canada? And for some reason she thinks she can't write comedy in America without a green card? Has this character never heard of Dan Aykroyd or Ryan Reynolds?

anyways the characters were moderately likable, but oh boy did it drag even though the story was well written. Probably could've cut it at least 60 pages, and still had a well done book version of a 90 minute romcom. I don't know and the plethora of pop culture references without maybe stating your main female character is ADHD lol because her lifestyle and her constantly changing jobs is definitely a sign of either borderline personality disorder or ADHD 🤣

all of this being said, I am sure this book will be for tons of other people. It just wasn't my cup of tea

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Lindsay Hammerhoff for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

JLo's The Wedding Planner, meets 2025. Add in a kismetic connection/second chance scenario, meddling Jewish family and it is just SO fun.

This book does mention the couple featured in her prior book, Till There Was You, and it absolutely made me want to go back and read it! (Not in an "oops, I read it out of order" way but "please, may I have another?" way.)