3.5 rounded up💫 I really enjoyed this!

✨pop star / MLB athlete
✨public
✨PR relationship >> real feelings
✨found family
✨strong FMC rediscovering herself after a divorce
✨”dream girl”🥹 and great immediate chemistry!

It was a quick read (less than 300 pages) so I do think it lacked some depth for me! I wanted more on page relationship growth between Ella and Miles!! I wanted more tension and background!

My favorite part was Ella and her journey back to herself!🫶

“Something happens when faced with a bully who no longer has a hold on you. Eventually, you get the spark to fight back.”

Finding love again despite going through heartbreak is what No Ordinary Love embodies. Ella and Miles crossing paths the way they did was meant to happen. My first thought was that something fishy was going on and Elliot was plotting and scheming with the whole Grammy's situation. I'm glad things worked out the way it did and everybody got exactly what they deserved! No spoilers 🤪! I thoroughly enjoyed my first title by this author 🥰

Read this if you like:
•popstars
•whirlwind romances
•second chances

Pop star + pro athlete romance = chefs kiss. Ella is divorcing her controlling husband who helped make her career what it is today. Loved that she got a second chance at romance. The relationship with her parents was so real. The baggage they both brought to the relationship was so real. Thank you Berkley for eARC!

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for the e-Arc! This was a sweet and heartwarming story. I'm happy things worked out for Ella and Miles, both professionally and romantically (of course)! I would've loved to see a little more of Ella's life, post-divorce. Does she go by Elladee? How are her fans reacting to her new appearance? Did her fanbase grow larger now that she is stepping into the type of artist she truly wants to be? QTNA! I think Myah Ariel did an amazing job touching on some important topics: disabilities, facing your childhood trauma, and grooming. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

This book had me giddy from start to finish! I absolutely loved following Pop/R&B singer Ella Simone’s journey—from her divorce with the man who shaped her career to finding new love with professional baseball pitcher, Miles Westbrook.

Some scenes played out just like my favorite romance movies, complete with a soundtrack in my head! And when Miles texted a quote from one of my favorite rom-coms? I was done—grinning from ear to ear!

I’m giving this one 4.5 stars! It took me a moment to adjust to the single POV, but Myah Ariel handled it so well that I quickly found my rhythm. She’s now on my list of must-read authors, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

GOOD GOD i had so much fun reading this book to the point i felt like i was fully in the story and all the things happening - good and bad were happening to me. what a fun love story and reminder that love comes in so many different shapes and sizes. romantic or platonic. such a celebration of love throughout this book.

This story gave such an intriguing glimpse into the music business—how new artists are shaped, sometimes even owned, by their labels. The nods to iconic Black music artists and their lyrics added a personal touch I absolutely loved.

Both main characters, Miles and Ella, were so well-written that I couldn’t help but root for them. As a Dodgers fan, I got a kick out of Miles being a Major League Baseball star. The chemistry between them was scorching along with tenderness and respect, which made their connection even sexier..

The story captured the raw emotions of past betrayals and the cautious, undeniable pull between them. It started as a slow burn, but trust me, it was worth every moment."

DNF at 45%. I love the premise, but this is a major example of the “women’s fic-ification” of romance. I didn’t mind Ella, but the amount of flashbacks (inexplicably written in present tense) to when she was still with her awful ex got grating. Miles feels barely relevant to the plot at all. I just felt like I was wasting my time reading this.

Thanks to @berkleypub and @berkleyromance for the gifted e-ARC.

This romance had a fairly simple, straightforward plot, but so much emotional depth.

Ella, an R&B star, has been hurt by her soon-to-be-ex-husband, and she also has to face to fact that female celebrities are judged more harshly by public opinion for their relationships than men are. So she is very cautious about pursuing her interest in Miles, who she meets at the Grammys. This single POV shows Ella working through her hurt and learning to love again.

Miles is a pro baseball player but is not a jock at all. He treats her so respectfully and gently. I love his character. The spice is sweet and fade to black. Ella’s relationship with her agent and glam team (stylist, hairdresser, and wardrobe) is so supportive. She really has the best people in her corner.

There’s so much warmth and beauty in this book. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it!

I will say I don't like books based around divorce, just not my favorite but this book was a page turner. Loved the writing style, also grateful it was only from Ella's point of view. I can't say much more without give major spoilers but I enjoyed this book very much! I love musically included MCs ❤️

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7406896886

4.5 rounded up - Miles deserves the WORLD. Elliot - I wish you nothing but the WORST. 🤭🫶🏾


Thank you to the publisher for this ARC!

So basically - I love this book. LOL. That’s really it. The way these two gravitated towards each other, the way that Miles spoke to Ella, the way he spoke LIFE into Ella, good grief.

The best way I can describe this is that this was such a soft and tender love. An intentional love. And Ella deserved someone that saw all of her - even when she couldn’t see it herself. Beautiful, no notes. Can’t wait until this baby hits the shelves. 🫶🏾

No Ordinary Love was, for the most part, an enjoyable read. I will break my review into several sections.

The Characters:
Ella and Miles are both likable characters. Their issues are relatable, making each of their stories engaging. I appreciated that they both came from similar traumatic backgrounds, which made their romantic connection more compelling. Miles was sweet, and his reluctance to pressure Ella into committing to a relationship was endearing. I admired how Ella ultimately stood up for herself and recognized that she was the captain of her ship. I also liked how we got a closure conversation with her mother.

The Romance:
I will admit that the romance between Ella and Miles felt a bit lackluster. It progressed quickly on the page, and at times, I felt as though I missed important moments in their relationship. I would have liked to see more development in their bond. However, I did enjoy the small moments, such as the cute voice messages they shared. While there isn't much spice in their romance, and that didn’t entirely bother me, readers looking for more intimacy should note that No Ordinary Love primarily features closed-door scenes.

Overall Story and Side Characters:
It was empowering to see Ella come into her own as she found a way to reclaim her career after her ex-husband's actions. I appreciated how the author addressed the predatory practices prevalent in the music industry. Additionally, I liked how Miles's mother’s abandonment was portrayed without demonizing her; with the help of his grandparents, he was able to forgive her and grow into the stellar man he is today.

The inclusion of side characters, such as Ella’s glam squad and Miles’s manager, added a lightness to the story that complemented the main couple without overshadowing them.

Overall, this was a likable read. Even with some pacing issues the romance is mostly nonproblematic, with endearing characters. No Ordinary Love is, in summary, a good read.

I enjoyed this one a lot! 🧡
I really love just how easy it is to read Myah’s work!

Just like in “When I Think of You” you’re pulled into the glitz & glam world of Hollywood—the music industry this time.

I loved Ella’s rise from the ashes despite me wanting to knock her ex upside the head most of the book.

Also, round of applause for Mr. Miles Westbrook and his chain 🫦

I think my only “critique” (which is more of a personal preference) I think I could’ve gotten more yearning but overall, a great second novel.

Thank you to Berkley for a chance to read this book early

Love this book. The story between the Ella and Miles. Moments had me kicking my feet and rooting them on. Other parts had me resonating so much with Ella and the need for her divorce to pan out without a hiccup. Hated Elliot just boooooo lol

Myah Ariel's writing continues to be so clever and fun to read, and I love how messy and real her characters and relationships are. I loved how when we meet Ella, she's in the middle of disentangling her professional life from her (soon to be) ex-husband and all the drama that comes with that. I'm a nosey person by nature, so a peak behind the curtains at celebrity life is always interesting to me (even when it's fictional).

I love a dual timeline/flashbacks and they really worked to build our main character and give a lot of context to who Ella has grown into. I think Miles was sweet and a great love interest, but this was a little instalove for my tastes (but this is a ME thing). My critiques for this book are similar to my critiques to When I Think of You, I wish there had been a little more relationship development and tension before our couple gets together and I also think pacing had some issues.

Thank you to Berkley for the e-ARC and finished copy!

I loved the chemistry between Ella and Miles! It sparkled right off the page! I also loved how Ella found her voice throughout the book and was able to reclaim herself for herself from her shady, manipulative ex husband.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this e-ARC!

I just love, love and black romance it my favorite! This story made my heart melt and a smile tugged at my lips. I took my time with it because I didn’t want it to end. Great read!

Being in this world with Ella and Miles was so fun! The opening scenes at the Grammys and making the music video were excellent. I love reading their banter. I think readers will love their chemistry as much as I did!

Despite being only Myah's second book, this one immediately captivated me. The story's realism is striking; it felt like I was reading headlines ripped straight from a celebrity scandal. Ella, the FMC, is incredibly vulnerable and relatable, navigating a messy divorce with a toxic ex who's determined to hold her back. I admired her strength in refusing to let him define her. Then there's Miles, the so-called 'bad boy' baseball player, who turns out to be anything but. His respect and genuine affection for Ella were refreshing, showing her that not all men in the industry are the same. What truly resonated was the powerful message of female resilience. This book beautifully illustrates how women can overcome adversity and find their own strength, with or without a partner.

I loved how this book was more about finding love. It was also about the power of women,
true friendships- where friends bring you back to reality. help you remember who you truly are.
Being real with each other. I also liked the representation of someone with a stutter, having a slight one myself.

But about the finding love part… the instant connection but sweet nervousness was so heartwarming to read about. When I read about miles and Ella’s first meeting, it made me giggle with anticipation for when they fell in love and were open with themselves! Also, Ella being embarrassed because of a misunderstanding and lying on her floor…so relatable.

The tension, the want, the NEED between them.. is steamy!

“Tonight, it’s just us. Anything you want. Everything I’ve got, it’s yours.”
“…I have told a man I loved him…it feels like swimming out to sea, But instead of facing a vast, empty horizon, now I’m looking at a glittering island.“