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.“

✨ARC Review✨

5 ⭐️’s
2 🌶️’s

Thank you to NetGalley and Myah Ariel for the eARC!!

This is only Myah second book, but the first book that I read from her and I loved it.

I loved how realistic this book was, reading this felt like headlines would actually see involving celebrities and scandals! I loved how vulnerable and relatable the FMC Ella was! She’s going through such a messy divorce with her no good ex who seemingly doesn’t want her to move on, but she doesn’t all that to get to her!!

Then we have bad boy baseball player Miles who’s not a bad boy at all. I loved how he respected her and how he loved her, he should her that not all industry men are the same and she need that after what she went through!

What I really loved about this story was that it showed how Women can push through hard times and come out the other side of it all on their own with or without a man!!!

No Ordinary Love by Myah Ariel had me feeling all the things. I loved Ella and Miles’ story; seeing them fall in love had me cheesing throughout the whole time I was reading.

Miles stole the show for me. I would’ve loved to have a dual POV to see what was going on in his head. He was charming and sweet, and the way he treated Ella was the standard. He had me kicking my feet! I liked Ella as a character too and enjoyed witnessing her growth, but I felt like we got just a taste of her resilience. I wanted more, especially when it came to standing up to Elliot. I hooked on Ella and Miles’ chemistry, but I do wish we could’ve had a little more of them together.

Ella’s friend group was pure comedy. They kept the vibe light, but were down for anything Ella needed. I can’t forget the song recommendations throughout. They were chef’s kiss, and honestly, I needed a playlist because those tracks were on point.

There were a few things that I could’ve done without or with a little less, like the celebrity name drops, the voice notes, and the rushed pacing toward the end. Another chapter or section with Ella and Miles would’ve made the story feel complete.

All in all, I loved the heart of No Ordinary Love. There were a few things that could’ve been smoothed out, but I was still here for the ride.

No Ordinary Love by Myah Ariel is a romance novel following a blossoming relationship between a pop superstar (Ella) and a pro-athlete (Miles) in the midst of Ella’s ongoing divorce proceedings against famed, cheating producer Elliot Majors.

Review.

Omg, I devoured this book in 24 hours. I loved everything from the writing to Ella’s journey of independence to the supporting characters in the Glam Squad to the voice memos to the swoony romance between Ella and Miles.

Miles, in particular, has all the qualities you want in a man: confidence, charm, emotionally mature. I loved how Miles was understanding and considerate of what Ella was going through. The way he treats Ella is actually what she deserves after her past marriage. Ella, in particular, is one of my favorite characters I’ve read this year. Myah writes a relatable and authentic character I found myself connecting to as the story unfolded.

Character work aside, I thought this was a well written book that successfully balances heavy themes such as divorce and parental estrangement with lighter themes such as romance and independence. It is an honest story of a woman who is trying to find a new way out of the darkness and into a new light (and in the arms of Miles Westbrook). It is romantic, inspiring, and surprisingly funny. This is not an epic love story, but the beginning of an everlasting love story.

Rating: 4.5/5

My full review will be posted on my socials on publication date.

well plotted and well written
Due to personal issues cannot write a proper review now
A more extensive review will follow. Many thanks to the publisher

4.5⭐️

Thank you for the ARC! I’m always so grateful to be chosen among the sea of applicants. This book felt lyrical and soulful, almost as if Sade herself was reading the words off the page. I love that Myah Ariel has a way of showing you the world she’s created. Her characters are always so beautiful and her story telling is effortless.

I love loved No Ordinary Love!
I loved Ella and Miles and watching them find each other despite their hearts hesitation. They were just right for each other. The chemistry was hot with a sweet kind of a slow burn. I really enjoyed the characters both together and individually. Along with the cast of side characters, while the husband left me angry the woman in her life played a major role. But that Glam Squad did it for me, I enjoyed that they worked together but were definitely her crew first and she needed to be reminded of it. As a music lover, I loved the information that was shared and the aspects of the business. it wasnt until the end that I realized I'd read and enjoyed the exact same was way of her debut When I Think of You.

3.5 Stars

While definitely a romance, this is really a story of a woman (Ella) taking back her power and rediscovering herself. Ella, a recording artist, is divorcing her husband/music producer (a controlling man and philanderer) and in doing so, begins to regain her independence. There is a great cast of supporting characters, specifically Ella’s friends and lawyer, as well as a wonderful leading man, Miles. I loved that Miles wasn’t afraid to be open and honest, showing emotions and having deep conversations. I also loved seeing Ella put herself first.

A quick read, full of depth.