This is a perfect example of a romantic comedy that hits all the right notes. I usually take the phrase ‘laugh out loud’ with a grain of salt when it comes to rom coms (often it's more like ‘roll your eyes’), but this one made me lol more than once. The main character is a gem, and the story’s pace is just right. If you're in the mood for a sweet, sometimes delightfully silly romance with low angst, this is it!

Never Planned on You starts with Graham and Ali meeting in college. They have one fun together and never see each other again. Fast forward to many years later, Ali moves back home to Baltimore. Ali has finished culinary school and has decided to be a wedding/event planner. Ali's first wedding to plan ends be for Graham and his bride to be Claire. Only feelings resurface in a short period of time. I loved Graham and Ali together. They both are two very different people that work very well together.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for an eARC of this book!
There’s no doubt Ali and Graham have insane chemistry and I binged this book, desperate for their story!

3.5 stars

There’s nothing quite like a relationship built on the fact that one person thinks the other is cheating with them… this was just not a good look for either of the main characters. They had a brief moment of “no we shouldn’t be doing this” and then completely gave up on that. I lost all respect for both of them - Graham for not being honest and letting Ali believe she was essentially his mistress (which tbh she kinda was) and Ali for thinking that Graham was cheating on his fiancée with her (again, even with all the nuances, he kind of was) and still hooking up with him.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, the plot itself was just kind of bland. I can’t really remember anything that happened because it just wasn’t interesting. It was a lot of “we can’t be together” “but I want to be together” and it just went around in circles. I also felt like we didn’t get very much character development for anyone. By the end of the book I didn’t really know anything about them that I didn’t know at the beginning.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Griffin for the ARC!

This was a fun and easy read. I really enjoyed the plot of Ali having to plan the wedding of a formal fling. The two had great chemistry with each other. The book was filled with humor and heartwarming moments.

A huge shout out to Lindsay Hameroff and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of Never Planned on You.

I absolutely devoured this book - I downloaded the book this morning and read it all in one sitting. It was a modern day take on The Wedding Planner, but with an unexpected twist. I loved the story line, the chemistry and the slow burn of this book... Not to mention the subtle Taylor Swift nods! One of the sweetest books I've read in a while, I can't recommend it enough. This was my first Lindsay Hameroff book, and immediately after finishing this ARC, I went to Amazon to purchase her first book. I think I have a new favorite author! Can't wait to dig in to Till There Was You!

3.5 ⭐️

This book follows Ali and Graham, who run into each other 8 years after spending a magical night together, her as the wedding planner and him as the groom. This was a cute and quick read and despite the premise, not that angsty. There wasn’t the OW drama I was expecting. I do wish they had more of a history together, but otherwise liked their relationship and their individual character growth.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!

This book was not for me. It read like a bad cringey 90s romcom but with the characters not firmly belonging to any specific generation from what I could tell. The characters were insufferable.

I really struggled with this book. As a whole, I couldn't stand the cast of characters, which made me uninterested or invested in the outcome. The only exception was that I did enjoy Ali. She was really the only bright spot. I couldn't stand Graham. I do not find cheating to be cute or acceptable. And the pacing was way too slow for the majority of the book. This one really missed the mark for me.

This is The Wedding Planner with the names changed.

Both main characters are insufferable as they lie to themselves and others, and the pop culture references are ALL over the place. Seriously, just how old are these characters supposed to be? They make references that places them from anywhere from Boomers to Gen-Zer's.

I wasn't sure what to expect with Never Planned on You but I really enjoyed! It was a quick, funny, and (at times) spicy read. It had a good second chance romance ARC, but also character development for the female protagonist. I am excited to go back and read Lindsay's other book.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

3★
This book was a super fun, quick read — perfect for rom-com lovers looking for JLo's The Wedding Planner feels! Both main characters carried impressive emotional depth and a strong sense of self-worth, which made their connection feel real and authentic. I appreciated how the author explored not only the romantic relationship but also the personal growth and self-realization it sparked—though I wish we could've seen more of the male character's perspective in this regard. While the author explored important themes, the writing style relied more on telling than showing (personally, not my preference!), which made parts of the story feel less engaging. With that being said, the descriptive language and insight into the narrator's thoughts did seem to add some depth to this fast-paced story.

Overall, it's an enjoyable read that I think many would like!

I loved this book! Ali was such a delight of a main character to follow, and Graham made me swoon. You could tell they wouldn’t be able to stay away from each other despite the circumstances going on. Now I need to read the book about her best friend Lexi.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved this book! Ali and Graham were the second chance romance of my dreams. They had everything, witty banter and amazing chemistry. I flew through this book and highly recommend it!

Y’all, Never Planned On You by Lindsay Hameroff is giving MAJOR rom com vibes, and I’m obsessed! Imagine The Wedding Planner meets Serendipity, but with a sassy, free spirited chef turned wedding planner who can’t seem to escape her super hot, tattoo twin from London… only to find out HE’S THE GROOM of the wedding that will make or break her career. 😱🔥

Ali is pure chaos in the best way—fun, relatable, and always chasing her dreams, but now she’s back in Baltimore trying to prove she’s not the family flake. Enter Graham, the charming Brit who turns her life upside down all over again. The meet cute these two have is so unique and honestly one of the best that I have read.

Their chemistry? OFF THE CHARTS. And the tension? OMG, I was SCREAMING. 😩 Every time they’re near each other, it’s sparks and drama, but he’s in a marriage of convenience (because of course he is), and Ali’s career is on the line, so there's a forbidden element to it that just makes it that much better.

Throw in a historic hotel trying to regain its former glory, a high-stakes wedding, and alllll the feels, and you’ve got a story that’s equal parts hilarious and so emotional. 🥹✨

If you love second-chance romances with witty banter, messy but perfect characters, and the kind of love story that’s just SO worth rooting for, run, don’t walk, to grab this one. 💍💕

Thank you to NetGalley, Lindsay Hameroff, and St. Martin's Press for the eARC of this book!

so cute and the cover was amazing. I loved how they start as enemies to lovers. this book will be a bit with romcom fans

This was a super cute read. I think it’s perfect for fans of the rom com movie The Wedding Planner! The plot was super good and well thought out. I also loved the characters and their chemistry!

You'll laugh, cry, and swoon as you speed-read Never Planned on You.

Thank you, NetGalley and St Martin's for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute read! If you like the movie ‘the Wedding Planner’ you’ll like this. There were interesting background characters that added to the story very well. I do love the chemistry between the MCs and loved the second chance romance. I enjoyed the many cultural aspects it had.

This book is a good read IF you don’t mind a cheating trope. Personally I don’t mind it in dark romance but for contemporary, it reallllllyyyyyy takes me out of the story and I felt like the love was disingenuous because of it. They do love each other but I couldn’t get out of my head because of it.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Ali enjoys her life and is game for anything. She moved to Baltimore for her new job. She runs into someone who she hasn't seen 8n a while. I liked getting to know Ali and Graham as a couple.