Thank you St. Martin’s Press for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

This is my second book by Lindsay Hameroff and was a sweet book.

I enjoyed Ali and Graham’s story. They had one drunken night in college where they both get the same tattoo and never see each other again until they meet as her firm is set to plan his wedding.

Ali and Graham seem to struggle to stay away from each other, but no cheating, he is marrying his best friend to help her stay in the country.

I loved seeing the events Graham and Ali put together to try and save his family’s hotel. I really enjoyed the Baltimore setting.

I hope we get more books from Lindsay Hameroff.

Second chance romances are never my favorite and cheating definitely is not something I love - both worked against me in this book. That being said, it was just one night vs a relationship so it wasn't so bad. All in all an ok romance!

This book was my first experience with this author and was a pure joy — a glittering, witty, and emotionally satisfying second-chance romance that swept me right off my feet. From the very first chapter, I fell in love with Ali Rubin, a vibrant, impulsive, and irresistibly warm heroine who radiates charm and chaos in equal measure. She’s the kind of character you want to grab coffee with (or tequila shots, depending on the day), and her heart-first approach to life makes her journey all the more compelling.
Ali's return to Baltimore to start fresh as a wedding planner is already the setup for a great story, but things take a delicious turn when her long-lost tattoo twin — the charming British stranger from a wild night in London — reappears at her favorite café. Enter Graham: handsome, grounded, and completely unavailable. Their reunion sparkles with chemistry and nostalgia, setting the stage for a romance that’s as complicated as it is irresistible.
The emotional tug-of-war between Ali’s determination to prove herself and her rekindled feelings for Graham had me hooked. She’s trying so hard to outrun the “flake” label her family has branded her with, and planning a high-profile wedding at a historic hotel feels like her shot at redemption. Of course, the universe throws a wrench in the form of Graham being the groom — and suddenly, everything she thought she wanted is in direct conflict with the person she can’t stop thinking about.
This is a romance about more than just falling in love — it’s about finding the courage to take risks, rewriting the stories we tell ourselves, and realizing that sometimes the life you didn’t plan for is exactly the one you need. If you love laugh-out-loud banter, emotional depth, and characters who feel like old friends by the final page, this one’s a must-read
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review

I really enjoyed this romance. It was a run contemporary romance with a twist. The main characters had great banter, humor, and chemistry. While I can see how some readers might not enjoy the cheating trope (if you can even call it that in this situation), I think Hameroff handled it really well. I also enjoyed how relatable the FMC was to me – I could easily put myself in her shoes and experience the romance with her.

Positives -
Starting off at the very beginning, the meet cute was so much fun and set up for a great story. It was an unexpected start that I haven’t read in any other romance book. The meet cute allowed for excellent humor and banter between the main characters; I found myself laughing out loud throughout the story. I also loved Hameroff’s characterization – every character was loveable in their own way and I found myself rooting for everyone. Lastly, the main character is one of my favorite main characters I’ve read lately. She was my age, and as someone who has recently made a major career change, I found her super relatable, which made the story that much more enjoyable.

Frustrations -
There were a few moments throughout, where the romance timeline seemed a little rushed. It was essentially an insta-love situation from the beginning that wasn’t allowed to truly be insta-love. As this is not one of my favorite tropes, I think Hameroff made it make sense by adding the second chance element. I also felt that the ending dragged on a little longer than I would have wanted. There were times when I thought the story was over but then a new chapter started. With that said, I loved Graham’s big gesture especially since he isn’t a big gesture guy.

Would I recommend this? Absolutely, I recommend this. If you are a fan of the movie The Wedding Planner, this is definitely for you. Never Planned on You is a contemporary romance with a twist. It’s an overall fun rom-com that is a quick and easy read.

Read if You Like:
- Second Chance Romance
- Forced Proximity
- Jewish Representation
- Marriage of Convenience
- Opposites Attract
- Workplace Romance

3.5 stars

I enjoyed Lindsay Hameroff's previous book, Till There Was You, and was excited to pick up Never Planned on You. Second-chance romance is my favorite trope, so I am always happy to read it. I loved Ali and Graham's meet-cute and their chemistry and banter. Graham is a swoony cinnamon roll hero with a sexy accent, whom I found adorable. I loved Ali's family, especially her Bubbie, and appreciated Jewish representation. I found the premise of a wedding planner and a groom falling for each other a little problematic. I can see how it can put off some readers, but it didn't bother me too much. Overall, I enjoyed this book, but maybe not as much as Till There Was You.

I absolutely loved Ali and Graham in this second chance romance. The plot was intriguing from the beginning and I found the pacing to be perfect, I was always interested in “what happens next” when it came to our FMC Ali and MMC Graham. Definitely would recommend for my romance girlies.

This cover was so pretty! I love a good romance, so this was perfect around valentines day. Thanks so much for the gifted copy--this was a new to me author and cannot wait to see what comes next.

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for a copy of this book. This was a fun read outside of my normal genre. I found it fun all the way through with likeable characters. Can't wait to read more by this author!

Starting off, this is my first Lindsay Hameroff book. That being said, I enjoyed the book and the author. However, the story had its problems. I enjoyed the rom-com direction of the book. I did not like the pacing, the cheating trope, and some of the references in the story. I really thought I would enjoy this one a little more than I did.

I want to personally thank NetGalley, as well as the author, publisher, and anyone else involved in providing copies, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book brings all the feels. If you’ve ever fallen for someone you can’t have—this story is the one for you. I love Ali and Graham, even though their journey was extremely complicating and frustrating for a big chunk of time. I was worried about how things would go and how the issues would be solved, but I feel like the way it ended up was pretty solidly done. I loved The Wedding Planner vibes of it all, as it’s truly one of my favorite Rom-com movies. The pop culture references were an added bonus!

I thought this cute rom com was great fun to read. I read it on vacation and it was the perfect light book I needed. I loved the characters and the dabble of Jewish culture throughout. I am definitely going to read through the author's backlist!

Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC to review

Keep in mind, I don’t usually pick up rom-coms, so I may not be the target audience for this one, and I let that perspective shape my review.

Definitely a fun setup and the potential for a heartfelt rom-com, but overall it fell a bit flat for me. While there were some witty moments and sparks of chemistry, the characters didn’t fully resonate, and the emotional depth I was hoping for never quite developed. It’s a light, easy read that might work better for readers looking for a low-stakes romantic escape, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression on me personally.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

A very bingeable read! I much preferred Hameroff’s first novel but still had a good time while reading. She does a great job writing likeable characters and keeps the plot moving with fun banter.

This is the first book by this author and it is a nice romcom. I enjoyed the flow and the plot line as well as the realistic points of Ali's previous loves. Ali Rubin has always lived life to the fullest. When a night of drunken fun in London leads to matching tattoos with a stranger, followed by a passionate and memorable one-night stand, Ali has trouble leaving Graham behind. Now, eight years later, Ali’s joie de vivre has taken her from NYC to Baltimore, where she is one wedding away from being a successful wedding planner. Unfortunately for them both, the groom just so happens to be her one-night stand, Graham. The romance, the friends that would do anything as well as love finding a way. Overall, this was a hilarious, fateful romcom, and I’m shocked at how much I loved it; it exceeded my expectation. Definitely will be reading more by this author. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher.

🌸 Book Review: Never Planned on You by Lindsay Hameroff 🌸

What do you get when a spontaneous chef-turned-wedding-planner reunites with a British fling from her past? A rom-com filled with laughter, love, and a dash of serendipity.💕

Ali Rubin's journey from impulsive decisions to finding her true calling is both heartwarming and humorous. When she unexpectedly reconnects with Graham Wyler, the chemistry is undeniable. But there's a twist: Graham is the groom in the high-profile wedding Ali is planning. 😱

This delightful tale explores themes of second chances, personal growth, and the unpredictable nature of love. With witty banter, relatable characters, and a setting that feels like home, it's a must-read for romance enthusiasts.

📚 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
💬 Favorite Quote: "Sometimes, the best plans are the ones you never make."

#BookReview #RomanceReads #NeverPlannedOnYou #LindsayHameroff #SecondChanceRomance #Bookstagram #RomCom #LoveUnexpected #BaltimoreCharm #MustRead

Never Planned on You explores love's unpredictability. Impulsive and witty Ali meets her friend’s mysterious roommate, Graham, during a darts competition that leads to matching tattoos and a night to remember. Fast forward eight years, and they reunite at a coffee shop, reigniting that undeniable spark, if only the timing weren’t so off.

The chemistry between Ali and Graham is electric, filled with charming banter that makes you root for them. Ali’s family, especially her grandmother, adds an extra layer of fun as do the nostalgic 90s pop culture and music references.

If you love second-chance romances with quirky characters, try this lighthearted read.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the gifted copy!

This was just a great read. I was just drawn into this story so thoroughly. I just had so much fun reading this story.

Just so not for me - the main characters were so frustrating and there were far too many pop culture references for my tastes.

First and foremost, thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

Never Planned on You is a delightful romantic comedy that manages to bring together emotion, humor and moral dilemmas. Centering Ali Rubin, known for being a little bit impulsive and a whole lot spontaneous, she comes across Graham again, a complete stranger with whom Ali has matching tattoos after a drunken bet during a trip to London. But now, Ali is organizing his wedding. Where could that possibly lead?

Okay, the strongest points of the book for me were the chemistry between the protagonists (Ali and Graham have such a unique story, and moments that truly reveal a deep mutual understanding), the symbolic use of cooking (Ali’s passion for cooking evolves with her personal journey) and the fresh and engaging twists on romantic clichés.

The only true problem I had was with the pacing, I felt it slow down, especially in the middle of the book, which made me a little disinterested for a while.

Overall, the book is an engaging read combining romance, humor and true reflections on life choices. Ali and Graham’s story show that true love doesn’t plan when to show up, and that it truly takes courage to follow your heart, even when it defies conventions.

I sadly ended up DNF’ing. I enjoyed it at the beginning but it just kept going down hill every chapter. I did not enjoy the cheating aspect and hate how long it took the mmc to come forward and tell the fmc the truth.