Book Review: Never Planned on You

SPOILERS IN REVIEW:
"Never Planned on You" is a charming, lighthearted romance that offers a delightful escape into the lives of two star-crossed lovers. The story follows Graham and Ali, whose paths cross unexpectedly years after a one-night stand and matching tattoos during their time in London. Now back in Baltimore, Ali is shocked to discover that the groom in the wedding she’s planning is none other than Graham.

What follows is a whirlwind of emotions as secrets unravel and sparks reignite. Graham’s engagement turns out to be a sham—a means to help his fiancée secure a visa. As Graham and Ali navigate the complexities of their rekindled feelings, they find themselves sneaking around, culminating in a dramatic revelation on Graham’s wedding day. The story ends on a satisfying note as Graham makes a grand gesture to win Ali back, proving that love can prevail even under the most unconventional circumstances.

This book is a quick, enjoyable read perfect for those who love a dash of romance with a touch of drama. Its breezy tone and relatable characters make it an excellent choice for anyone looking for a palette cleanser after a heavier read or a fun way to spend a cozy afternoon. While the plot leans toward predictability, the engaging writing and heartfelt moments more than make up for it.

If you’re in the mood for a bite of romance, "Never Planned on You" will leave you smiling.

3.25 ⭐️

I really debated on my rating of this. It’s an enjoyable writing style and the story kept me guessing, which is not the case with many romances, but I am really hung up on the aspect that the main characters, Ali & Graham, were essentially cheating the entire book. I know people could argue this because he was not romantically involved with Chloe, but you are left feeling yucky after many romantic scenes because the fact that he is set to be married is referenced.

For this reason, I struggled to be excited for their relationship and felt that the truth came out too little too late.

The pop culture / brand references were fun to me (Delia’s pajamas!), a lot of them would fly under the radar if you didn’t know where they stemmed from. I saw in some reviews that people mentioned 1 Direction, but I never caught that, probably because I am not versed haha. However, I do think there are some that will date this book quickly, such as referencing wearing the same boots as the Eras tour.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and St Martin’s press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Never Planned on You is a love letter to The Wedding Planner. Ali Rubin is a wedding planner with an embarrassing secret...she once got a matching tattoo with a total stranger. This isn’t completely out of character, as Ali is known for her flakiness and spontaneity. When she meets the mysterious stranger again years later, Ali is horrified to realize she is now planning his wedding. As Graham and Ali work closely together, feelings spark between them. Will Ali pull off this wedding or will she give in to her feelings for Graham?

Never Planned on You is a lighthearted second-chance romance. Ali is trying to do her best to be taken seriously and feels a lot of pressure to pull off the responsibilities of the wedding. Graham and Ali share hilarious moments along the way to the ceremony. I enjoyed the dialogue and secret of the matching tattoos. However, I felt the story lacked depth at times and dealt with frustrating miscommunication. With that said, I do think that readers who enjoy second-chance romance and wedding planning chaos should check out this book.

Thank you to Lindsay Hameroff, St. Martin’s Griffin, and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc.

Graham and Ali spent an unforgettable night together and even ended up getting matching tattoos. You'd think they were a match made in heaven. So imagine my surprise when they end up being a one-night stand that doesn't reunite until many years later. The road to happily ever after is quite a bumpy one for these two, but if you're a fan of the movie, The Wedding Planner, you'll definitely want to check this book out.

Never Planned on You is a laugh-out-loud romantic comedy about finding love in the most unexpected places. Overall, I thought this book was a cute read with a great setting. I found the setting to be refreshing as you don't see too many books set in Maryland. I thought this book had a lot of great humor with fun pop references. I enjoyed the chemistry and banter between Graham and Ali. However, I would have liked to have seen their romance build a little more. They've been separated for so long that I just felt like they needed to get to know one another as the people they were now. Also, I felt like it took a really long time for Graham to tell Ali the truth about his situation.

Overall, I think this book will be a hit for some and a miss for others. This book had a lot of great things going for it, including immersing the reader in the Jewish culture. However, there were a few things that missed the mark. That being said, I'm still glad to have taken a chance on this book.

Ali Rubin likes to make decision on the fly and she likes to leave like spontaneously. One night when she gets drunk in London she makes a silly bet with a stranger to get a matching tattoo which changes her life.

This was such a fun and sweet read! This trope can often be poorly done and make readers made or unable to connect with the characters but I honestly was really rooting for everyone’s happiness here! I love a good event planner MC and appreciated the ties this gave Ali to the plot. The characters were fun and funny, the plot was there, and I actually really liked the pacing and how we skipped ahead in the timeline to keep the story moving. The ending was super sweet and wrapped the story up well. I flew through this book and absolutely loved it.

This book focuses on Ali, who becomes a wedding planner. Turns out she bumps into a fling she had several years back and he is the client now! A recipe for disaster right? You bet!

I felt like Graham was dishonest for so long and that you can't build a relationship without trust. I believe that if their connection was really as strong as they felt it was, that he should have been able to be more up front about the situation that he was in.

As for Ali, I felt like she had no morals as she continued to keep flirting with Graham even though he was her client and knew he was engaged. I am really not a fan of the cheating/flirting while the other person is in a relationship regardless of if that relationship is real or not. While Graham knew that he wasn't really in a relationship, Ali did not, yet she didn't care.

Honestly, I felt like their connection also wasn't that strong. They had a great time several years ago and all of a sudden those feelings all just come flooding back. People change, especially over such a long period of time. There is no way you could go that long without seeing someone and instantly become so emotionally attached in my opinion.

They both got what they wanted in the end however and I things turned out fine for them. They became more open with one another and put each other first which helped them grow as a couple. Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Lindsay Hameroff for an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinon.

A fabulous second chance romance that I could not put down! Ali and Graham's circumstances were one-of-a-kind and how they navigated through that was brilliantly written. It was an easy to follow story, with the perfect amount of spice. They found each other again by coincidence(some might say fate), and they should have been able to pick up where they left off, but life had other things in store for them! I did my HEA, but I wasn't sure for a second how that was all going to play out. Definitely add this title to your TBR list.

(I received a complimentary ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you Netgalley, St. Martins Griffin and Linsday Hameroff.)

I love Ali- she jumps off the page as a full, real person. There is Graham, whose character was not what I expected. These two have chemistry. But then there is the fact that he is engaged. It bothered me that they got more and more connected, but he is engaged. Betrothed to another. Soon wedded. You get the idea. Marriage of Convenience or not, I was a bit uncomfortable slash irritated over it. Yes, yes, I know this helps to build the tension and I understand the reasons for the engagement. But- integrity. It bothered me that they were so secretive and it went on for so long. It felt like cheating to me, and that’s a hard no.

So, while this book turned out to be a better cup of tea for someone not me, it’s a well-written story with life-like characters. I’ll try this author again.

Perfect Rom-com. Set in Baltimore, check! Jewish character, check, Hunky love interest, check! Really enjoyed the rollercoaster ride and (shh!) surprise.

Never Planned on You is a heartwarming small-town romance that masterfully balances emotional depth with feel-good charm. The story centers on a free-spirited heroine who moves to a close-knit community and finds herself at odds with the gruff, guarded hero who’s long since sworn off love.

The grumpy/sunshine dynamic is a standout, as the heroine’s infectious optimism gradually chips away at the hero’s well-built walls. Their opposites-attract journey feels authentic, with a perfect blend of tender, funny, and bittersweet moments that draw readers in.

At its core, this is a story of emotional healing, as both characters confront the pain of their pasts and discover the courage to open their hearts again. The vibrant small-town setting adds extra charm, with its quirky, endearing side characters and a strong sense of community that feels like a warm embrace.

This isn’t just a romance—it’s a celebration of second chances, vulnerability, and the power of connection.

Prolouge? Fun, sexy, charming.

Most of the book could be classified as this, truly, but the constant references to pop music was not for me. I know its a personal thing, so someone else may love them, but they drew me out of the story completely. Every single Taylor Swift quote (no hate intended to TS) made me want to roll my eyes out of my head. I don't know a single person who actually things or talks or references song lyrics intentionally like that.

The good stuff- the tension, the emotional aspect, the way the both of the characters were working towards figuring out their own lives outside of romance (I love it when their lives explored outside the romance of it! It makes it feel more realistic, especially when you care about the characters outside of their romance). It was charming and fun and I had a good time reading it. I could even get past the perceived cheating because it was fairly obvious from the start that all was not what it seemed.

4.5 stars
This is an entertaining, fun read. Graham and Ali are interesting, wounded, complex, intriguing, relatable, complicated, strong, entertaining characters. I enjoyed their romance and the path it took to get to their HEA. These two are fun to spend time with. I love the growth and acceptance we see in these characters. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment. The story is easy to read and get into.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was such a fun read. I loved the premise, the one night together, on a bet, and matching odd tattoos to start with. Ali has a reputation for spontaneity, and that sure hit the mark !
Years later, we find Ali back in her home town, after doing the restaurant gig in NYC for a few exhausting years. She is now working at being a wedding / event planner with her sister's best friend as her mentor. Sadly, it's not well-paid as an internship, so she has to be back to living with her parents, back in her old bedroom. She runs into her tattoo twin in line at her favourite coffee shop, and yes, those sparks do fly.
Ali's company gets a chance to bid on a wedding at the most prestigious hotels in Baltimore. When they meet the bride and grandmother of the groom, Ali hits it off immediately with the bride. Unfortunately at the next meeting, it turns out that Graham is the groom !!! There are still sparks flying, regardless of Graham's commitment, both to the bride and his grandmother. They should really stay apart. shouldn't they ? they should !
yeah, sure. easier said than done.

A sweet story about a couple who have one crazy night in college and then a second chance 8 years later. Only to find that he is engaged and she's the wedding planner. Lots of twists, great family and friends dialogue and a loving love story. I really enjoyed the characters and story .

Hameroff's follow up is as filled with charm, softness, sexiness, and comfort as her debut---of which I was a big fan.

This has all my favorite things; a wedding for PR, stakes hanging in the balance, a sunshiney heroine who has a very YOLO attitude, and a BHILF (British Hunk I'd like to......yeah). It was a clever set up, and the payoff was great. I think my favorite thing is the way Hameroff writes the quiet moments, and they stand out amidt the big plot of this one!

I picked this up based on the cover and it did not disappoint. I loved the twist on the marriage of convenience trope. The side characters interested me enough to check for previous books where they are MCs and I’m excited to read those as well.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of Never Planned on You by Lindsay Hameroff.

Never Planned on You is a delightful rom-com that had me hooked from start to finish. The dynamic between Ali, the lovable but wild child FMC, and Graham, the Mr. Rogers-like MMC, was so fun to read!

Ali and Graham’s history begins eight years prior, during Ali's study abroad in London. The meeting ended with a crazy tattoo and a one-stand. Fast forward to the present day when Ali and Graham unexpectedly run into each other at a coffee shop in Baltimore and the sparks fly again! The catch? Graham is engaged to be married! Even more complicated is the fact the event planning company where Ali works has been hired for Graham’s wedding. But the chemistry between Ali and Graham is undeniable and Ali learns that Graham is entering into a marriage of convenience to help his best friend out.

While humorous, I also appreciated the emotional depth of each character and seeing how the romance unfolded. The only criticism I have is the drama toward the end of the book seemed to drag on and felt a bit repetitive. Regardless, this was such a fun read with lovable characters and laugh-out-loud humor.

Super fun contemporary romance from Lindsay Hameroff! Grab it for:

Second Chance Romance
Opposites Attract
Workplace Romance
Marriage of Convenience
All the Chemistry
Adorable meet cute

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy. Never Planned on You follows Ali as she hopes to succeed in her new career as a wedding/ event planner. Ali has switched between careers, so she is desperate to prove to her family that she is responsible. All Ali has to do is successfully plan and pull off an important wedding with her mentor, but there's a catch. The groom is someone Ali knows from her past, and someone she thought could result in a special connection. I didn't realize that Never Planned on You is the second book in the series. I don't think it's necessary to read the first book, but you will meet a few characters that were introduced in the first book. I enjoyed the storyline, and I liked all of the characters. I enjoyed the aspect of the wedding and the planning behind it.