This is the first book I’ve read by Lindsay Hameroff and let me say this: it did NOT disappoint! From the first chapter I was hooked into the story and eager to learn and read more about Ali and Graham. With a story line like this it definitely is a hard feat to do all the characters involved justice, given the complexities of the situation, but the author managed to do just that. While the chapters were a longer length than Im used to, the fast pace of the story truly made them fly by! You go on a bit of an angsty ride, at least towards the end of the book, but it’s completely worth it!

I just finished Never Planned on You by Lindsay Hameroff, and I’m officially in love! This book had me hooked from the very first page with its perfect mix of heart, humor, and swoon-worthy romance. The chemistry between the characters was electric, and their journey from unexpected circumstances to something deep and real had me grinning, swooning, and maybe even tearing up a little.

The banter was top-tier, the emotions hit just right, and the way the story unfolded felt both fresh and deeply satisfying. If you love a romance that surprises you in all the best ways, this one is an absolute must-read! Lindsay Hameroff has earned a permanent spot on my TBR.

The plot:
Ali is a spontaneous girl living life on the edge. She's the younger of 2 daughters and has switched careers a few times. Once in college during her study abroad in London she bet a tattoo with a hot British guy she then had a one night stand with. Most recently she's been a professional chef living in NYC, but packed up her life to relocate back to her hometown (Baltimore) to pursue yet another career switch into being a party planner. At her favorite Baltimore coffee shop she bumps into the hot British guy from college - with whom she shares a matching tattoo with to date. She never expected to rekindle things after that one night in London but it turns out she is planning his wedding. If the wedding goes perfectly as planned Ali will be a given a full time job offer as an event planner at one of Balitmore's best party planning companies. The chemistry that follows Ali and said hot British guy (Graham) is spicy. The book follows their rekindling and Ali's spontaneous decision making throughout. It's laugh out loud funny and a great light romantic comedy.

SPOILERS/THOUGHTS/FEEDBACK***:
I'm giving this book 4-4.5 out of 5 stars. It kept me super engaged throughout and I read within just a few short hours. It was light, feel good and laugh out loud funny throughout. I was glued in from the moment I started reading. I'm nothing like Ali's spontaneous character but Hameroff did a wonderful job at making her sooo relatable throughout. The plot was cliche and predictable but done so well that I never felt annoyed. The spin for the greencard was a slight surprise and I loved the ending. It wrapped up quickly but not too quick and nothing was left unanswered. Loved all of the Jewish American references throughout. Graham's character was likable and evenf all in loveable. I loved Ali's sister Sarah. Her character was relatable and even putting in some character development for her when she had her breakdown was beautifully done. I laughed out loud more times than i could count. This was a great quick, light, funny, feel good, romantic comedy read with some spicy to keep you coming back to for more!! Thank you Hameroff this was wonderful!

Never Planned on You by Lindsay Hameroff captured my heart completely! I anticipated a light read, and I was absolutely correct. The reunion of Ali and Graham years after their adventurous night in Europe is filled with humor, sweetness, and romance, making it a fantastic second-chance love story.

I enjoyed this cute book. Lighthearted and fun, Ali and Graham's story really brightened my day and left my heart feeling lighter. This couple was really just perfect for each other.

This story was so cute. An adorable meet-cute turned one night stand with tattoos turns into a real meet up a continent and almost a decade later. This was lighthearted and spicy and you fall in love with Ali, Graham and Ali’s adorable family.

Thank you so much to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the free arc in exchange for my honest opinions.

Never Planned On You was phenomenal. Utterly charming. The perfect blend of swoon and steam, this second-chance romance had me grinning and kicking my feet. Lindsay Hameroff knocked this one completely out of the park. Also, the Jewish rep? Top tier. This is truly the epitome of “feel good romance.”

On her last night of her college study abroad program, Ali meets Graham, and a drinking game leads to bizarre matching tattoos and a night neither of them can ever forget. Years later, they bump into each other in a Baltimore cafe, and their connection hasn’t dimmed—but then Ali makes the horrifying discovery that Graham is the groom of her newest wedding planning client. (What she doesn’t know, at least at first, is that it’s a marriage of convenience so the bride can get a green card.) Given the situation, they try to keep their distance, but with a connection as strong as theirs, that proves harder than they expect.

Thank you so much SMP for the ARC. I loved this book with my whole heart.

I love a second chance romance, and Lindsay Hameroff delivered charm and wit and swoon with Never Planned on You. Ali and Graham have great chemistry, which drives the book.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

I so enjoy a second chance romance!

8 years ago on a fun night out in London, Ali meets a guy named Graham and they end up with matching tattoos. They laugh it off, expecting to never see each other again. Now here he is in a coffee shop and their incredible spark comes right back. Normally this would be great, they finally get together, book done. But not in this case. Turns out Ali, who is now an event planner, is helping plan a wedding and guess who is the groom?

The more time they spend together, the more neither one can deny there is something between them. But is Ali going to risk her career?

Lots of laughs and heart in this book! Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this fun, messy, emotional book. I really connected with Ali as a character and even though she did some dumb things (been there, done that) I was still rooting for her the whole time.

And honestly Graham was adorable, even if he was also frustrating.

Unfortunately I couldn't get past chapter 3 on this one. Ali is written as a very young, 28 year old messy character but she reads like a teenager. I truly couldn't believe she and Graham would ever work out. I wanted to love this one for Baltimore and New York references, but I couldn't get past this adult book reading like a YA novel.

Never Planned on You by Lindsay Hameroff
Contemporary romance. Second chance troupe.
Ali Rubin recently moved to Baltimore to intern as a wedding planner. While standing in line for coffee, she recognizes the man in front of her as her wild, last night fling in London years ago. They had been flirting heavily and ended up spending the night together after making a bet and both of them up crazy unicorn pig tattoo on a hip. She left the country the next day but has thought of Graham often over the years. They have coffee together and briefly catch up with a promise of getting together soon.
Ali is the wedding planner in charge of a high profile wedding at a historic hotel and was excited about the opportunity to shine until she finds out the groom is Graham. He makes their renewed attraction more complicated when he admits it’s a marriage of convenience and he wants to continue a relationship with Ali. The wedding publicity will also help the struggling family hotel and neither wants to jeopardize that. A relationship between Ali and Graham will cause conflicts all over the place. They need to just walk away. If only for a few years while he marries? There has to be a better solution.

Both Ali and Graham want to be together. They want a relationship but between a wedding he made a promise on and a strong need to reinvigorate the old hotel have them both trying to figure out the future. Maybe they just aren’t meant to be. Yet their chemistry is so strong.

Lots of banter, lots of loving, plenty of guilt knowing they can’t go forward together. You’ll want to cheer for the couple while also realizing if he’s who we want him to be, he won’t walk away from either the bride-to-be or his grandmother and the hotel.
Ahhh, the stress.
But it’s really a wonderful and lighthearted romance! I loved the fun of their tattoos and knowing both wanted more. The families added humor and depth.
Captivating and charming.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

That was a cute and fun romance. I wasn't too sure about it when I first starting, because it can be seen as being a kind of cheating/dishonesty (while it is a marriage of convienence, and they have an agreement that they can see other people), but I do think that presented in a way that worked for me (if that makes sense).
Graham and Ali were cute and fun together. They definitely had chemistry, and I think it is why I could see work, even with the whole marriage of convenience to someone else. I think it was a quick fun read that was great if you are looking for a read to make you laugh and cheer on for the main couple.
I do have to say that I did find myself being a little annoyed with both Ali and Graham, because both of them were kind of overly people pleaser, and it felt like other people's were so overly important. Especially for Graham, but I also think Ali.
Honestly, I had a fun time reading it. I'll definitely check out Till There Was You, which is in the same world, because it was a fun read.

This was SUCH a cute read. While I didn't love the "cheating", this second-chance romance was super cute, the characters were well drawn with off the charts chemistry, and I really enjoyed this author's writing style. This is my first read by Lindsay Hameroff but it won't be my last.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Never Planned on You is a delightful second chance romance. Ali was struggling to find herself, and I enjoyed watching her journey. Graham is an all-around good guy and a swoony MMC. Given the marriage of convenience I wasn't sure how everything was going to turn out, but I was very happily satisfied with the ending. I would definitely recommend this book if you are in the mood for a fun, swoony rom-com, second chance romance, an FMC trying to find what makes her happy, and a big family with the accompanying tricky family dynamics.

Thank you to Lindsay Hameroff and St. Martin's Press for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review!

Never Planned On You
⭐️⭐️⭐️½ | 💉 Tattoos, weddings & inconvenient chemistry

Okay but why is there something so delicious about watching a proper British gentleman completely lose his composure for exactly ONE chaotic woman? Graham with his floppy hair and glasses is giving rom-com dream guy energy!

Hameroff nails creating characters I'd actually want in my group chat. Ali's whole "I'm not just the spontaneous mess my family thinks I am" journey? Been there, felt that! And don't get me started on those sibling dynamics - too realistic for comfort.

The vibes we're tracking:
🇬🇧 Accent that makes bad ideas sound good
🍸 Characters who'd judge your exes properly
😬 That awkward "wait, you're ENGAGED?" moment

Still worth the read when you need some British charm and wedding hijinks as your weekend escape!

I always enjoy second chance romance and Ali and Graham’s story was a complicated one with lots of chemistry.
I related to Ali, with the weight she carries as she tries not to let down the people in her life while simultaneously trying to live her passion.
This is my first book by this author and I enjoyed it.

This gem of a book from Lindsay Hameroff, brings back the early 2000s romcom vibes of The Wedding Planner to book form.

What happens when you get a second chance with someone from your past…only to learn they’re the groom of the wedding you’re planning? Surely nothing can go wrong, right?

I really loved this sophomore novel from Lindsay Hameroff that had me deep in my feels. While the overall story was a cute romcom I got extremely attached to her characters, especially FMC Ali.

What drew me into Ali was how relatable I found her and how much I cried due to this relatability. Ali is seen as the unreliable one in the family who lives in her own dream world. She follows her passion when it comes to jobs…which means she may have changed career paths a few times and can be a bit messy when it comes to creating stability. And of course her family and friends all seem to have it together and are moving forward in their lives, leaving her feel even more loss.

This is why I cried many times in this book because I feel the same way with my life and so Ali became super relatable for me. There’s something so deeply endearing about seeing a character feel the same way you do, that makes them nestle into your heart. Ali always feeling like a screw up made me feel so many of her emotions as my own that it made me fall for her. The only difference was I got to see her have those tough conversations with people in her life that I’m too scared to have with mine. And that’s what made me so emotional during a lot of this book but it also made me hopeful that one day I’d be brave enough to have these heart to hearts with my loved ones.

Of course there was the story itself that had me falling head over heels. I mean who doesn’t love a second chance romance between an opposites attract couple? I absolutely adored watching two people who seemed so opposed to relationships fall for each other and bring out the best parts of each other. It is always what I love about romance because I truly believe your person helps amplify you by making you see new perspectives and bringing out the best in you. Especially if you both never expect to find a person who makes you want to settle down.

We also love our side characters! Ali’s family was lovable and what I always love to see in families. They have fun with each other and try to carve out time in their lives for each other, which I think is always something people aspire to do. Then of course we have Graham’s grandmother whose own love story is heartwarming. And who deserves the world for how well she knows her grandson by the end. Truly I always find lovable side characters can make or break a book, and this author gave me so many that I would do anything for.

Also by the end when Ali realize her value and that she deserves to be loved openly and fully…it was perfection and a full circle moment to how the relationship started.

The only main concern I had while reading that made me personally struggle a little bit was the fact Graham was the groom for the wedding Ali was planning. I think even knowing this would work out and as more was reveal I could understand it, I struggled due to the idea of infidelity. So if this is something that may trigger you like it does me please take care when reading.

4 ⭐️
3🌶️

If you know me, you know that second chance is my absolute favorite romance trope on the market. After reading Till There Was You, I knew that I enjoyed Lindsay Hameroff’s writing and wanted to read her next release.

Second chance PLUS London? Consider me absolutely sold. I loved the characters of this book, the plot progressions, and the dialogue. The pop culture references were also done nicely (sometimes this makes or breaks a book for me) and this was such a fun + cute romance!

This funny and lighthearted book is a 5 star from me. The topics in this book are very relatable. You will find commitment, family dynamics, and finding your passion. I really loved Ali. She was so witty and original. Graham was so sweet and very supportive. I think anyone who loves a romcom will really enjoy this one. I look forward to reading more by Lindsay Hameroff