Thank you to @berkleyromance for this ARC! Hands down one of the best romance books I’ve read this year and we’re only in March.

As a lifelong Mariah Carey fan when I find out this book was inspired by the relationship between Mariah Carey and Derek Jeter I was hooked. But this book was much more than that it was a story about a woman fighting for her creative freedom, autonomy, learning to love herself and opening her heart to love. Ella’s story is one that so many women could relate to thinking you found the perfect man only to slowly realize it was a facade. Ella is truly is the epitome of a warrior despite all the tactics Elliot used throughout the book to make her feel powerless she never back down without a fight. Which was in a big part because of her community who uplifted her time and time again reminding her who she is and despite what Elliot might think he didn’t make her so he can’t break her. Her personal growth was liberating throughout the book we see Ella run from conflict ,but over time she learns to deal with her conflict head on. I was so happy in the end she got everything she deserved and more!!!!

Miles is the definition of a gentleman. From the moment he came onto the page I instantly fell in love with him. I loved how he truly saw Ella not Ella Simone the singer but the person and loved wholeheartedly who she was. The attraction between them was palpable. Their chemistry was filled with so many swoon worthy moments. When Miles asked Ella if he could belong to her I died just a little bit.

A five star read from the very first page to the end. I can’t recommend this book enough!! So excited for this book to come out next month and for everyone to read and fall in love with Miles and Ella’s story!!

The story started off strong, I was instantly hooked. I liked Ella and I wanted to cuss Elliott for that stunt he pulled at the Grammys.
I loved Miles and I liked how he instantly connected with Ella.
Somewhere in the middle of the book, I felt kind of unsatisfied cause the story was just going in circles for me. It felt a bit dragged. The scenes were really long, sometimes on way too many pages and nothing really special was happening. On chapter 19, the fmc and mmc only had 3 real conversations and from that we jump to her slightly having a jealous reaction to something. It felt unnatural. The story started picking back up towards the end but the ending was a little abrupt. I wanted to see more of their connection. I wish we had more Miles and Ella moments, I wish we saw more of how the divorce was actually handled and I wish it was a dual POV so we could connect more with their love story. Overall it was a nice read and a cute story. Miles calling her “Dream Girl” as a nickname had me melting.

Stunning and even better than Myah’s debut!! Both main characters had to overcome trials in their personal and professional lives before they could come together. I loved that we stayed in the FMC’s POV for the duration of the story; we got to see her go from being doubtful to certain. My favorite part of this story was all the music that ebbed throughout the story. It made me feel so connected to the emotions of each scene.

This book was just a good time. I loved the way that the main characters came together for a PR situation and found themselves having chemistry beyond that.

I’m so excited for this book to come out in one month. This is one that needs to be on my shelf.

I loved this book! It was a bit slow but the build up between Miles and Ella was so good. I loved the pop culture references and thoroughly enjoyed the book all around.

💔 "For the broken hearts in search of healing... 💔

⭐ 4/5 stars
If Myah Ariel’s debut novel was her warm-up, No Ordinary Love proves she’s a force in the romance genre. This book gave me all the emotions, and I was living for it!

Ella, a pop superstar, is going through an ugly separation and divorce from her toxic, controlling, and unfaithful husband—who also happens to be her manager and producer. Enter Miles, an MLB superstar with his own heartbreak baggage. Their connection is instant, authentic, and undeniably electric. But with both of them healing from their past and present heartbreak, their love story isn’t simple—it’s raw, emotional, and beautifully messy.

What I Loved:
🎤 Ella’s journey? Inspiring. Watching her reclaim her confidence and career had me cheering. She’s a resilient black woman who refuses to let heartbreak define her.
⚾ Miles? A total dream. He’s supportive, swoon-worthy, and just the right amount of protective without overstepping. He was so ready to throw hands.
🔥 The chemistry? Off. The. Charts. Their connection felt real, raw, and palpable from the moment they met.
💬 The banter? Effortless. Their conversations flowed so naturally that it made reading this book easy and enjoyable.
💔 The emotional depth? Yes! I felt Ella’s pain, her strength, her growth—it was all so well done.

What Could’ve Been Better:
⏳ The pacing was fast—but it worked. The way this story unfolded still felt right for Ella and Mile's journey.
Everything wrapped up beautifully, leaving no loose ends or unresolved issues.

If you love:
✨ Resilient Black heroines
✨ Emotional healing & second chances
✨ Secret relationships
✨ Celebrity romances

Then No Ordinary Love needs to be on your TBR! This was everything I look for in a romance novel—heartfelt, engaging, and emotionally satisfying.

📖 Thank you, NetGalley, for the E-ARC!

I really enjoyed this book, it is definitely one of those you could pick up and read in a day. It is cute but also has some serious aspects and it showed how real celebrity lives are, showed how at the end of the day everyone has the same life concerns. I liked the development of chemistry between the characters, there is some miscommunication, slow burn, drama, difficult parent relationships, laughter and a little spice.

A story of finding your person through your storm and not allowing your struggles to limit your future. Ella and Miles meet as they are set to present an award together, and at first meeting, you can see the flame start. Ella is a music star going through a divorce from her producer husband, and Miles is a baseball star on a redemption arc after his messy divorce. It is easy to connect with Ella because she is a character who is not too outlandish and is very relatable—we all have made mistakes in love, especially when we are young. At first, you might think that Miles would be a big-shot baseball star with no depth, but the way Myah wrote this man, he is human. From learning about his relationship with his grandparents to the one he has with his mom, you discover that he has a big heart. The story takes a moment to pick up due to the distance and things happening between them, but the beauty is in the journey. You get to see an organic connection grow and watch the two fall in love. The music references provide a beautiful soundtrack to the love. If you are someone who loves music, listen to the songs mentioned to enhance the experience. This was a great story, and my only desire left is to see more of them being together and witnessing Ella come out on top.

This book was so sweet! I love seeing a woman find herself / her spark again. The couple was really cute together and it was fun seeing all the pop culture references. I loved the friend group and just love that it’s based on a famous couple from the 90s. So fun! Will recommend.

"Myah Ariel's 'No Ordinary Love' is a poignant and passionate tale of love, heartache, and self-discovery. With its richly drawn characters and emotive prose, this novel whisks readers away on a journey of tender moments, painful truths, and ultimately, transformative growth. Ariel's masterful storytelling explores the complexities of the human heart, revealing that love can be both beautiful and brutal. A stunning and unforgettable read that will resonate with fans of contemporary romance and women's fiction."

4.5 Stars

"No Ordinary Love" is everything I want in a celebrity romance—glamorous, emotional, and utterly swoon-worthy. Ella and Miles have electric chemistry, and their slow-burn connection, built through voice memos and stolen moments, made the tension irresistible. Miles is the ultimate book boyfriend, charming, supportive, and exactly the kind of partner Ella deserves as she fights to reclaim her independence.

I loved that this story wasn’t just about romance; it was also about Ella’s personal growth and finding the strength to break free from a toxic past. The flashbacks were used sparingly but effectively, giving just enough insight into her early career and tumultuous marriage. And while both Ella and Miles had plenty of past relationship drama, their own love story felt refreshingly mature with their conflict coming from external pressures rather than unnecessary angst between them.

With its perfect blend of passion, longing, and personal triumph, "No Ordinary Love" is celebrity romance done right. I couldn’t put it down! Myah Ariel has delivered a story that’s as heartfelt as it is addictive.

Also, the cover is gorgeous, and I will need a physical copy for my shelf!

No Ordinary Love is a nice book. Yeah, I said nice.

There was nothing particularly bad with it, but to me there was nothing extraordinary about it either.

I liked Ella and Miles. I liked the way they are drawn to each other. I liked their relationship.

I just didn't really <i>feel</i> anything for them.

What I did like was how Ella held herself, when those bullies in her life *cough cough cheating ex husband to be cough cough go what was coming. She held her back straight, head high, and moved forward.

There was just not enough oomph in the story to elevate it for me

I really enjoyed this book and seeing Ella’s redemption after having to deal with such a difficult situation with her husband. The way she comes out on top—thriving in her career, finding love, and experiencing personal growth—was so satisfying to see. I was here for that! I felt like Ella got her groove back in this book, and I was rooting for her and Miles the whole time.

I loved how the characters met and connected. Miles accepts Ella for exactly who she is, with no changes needed. He shows her the love and care she never received before, whether from family or past relationships. It was beautiful to see because everyone deserves love. And I’m so happy Elliot got exactly what he deserved in the end—smh. I couldn’t stand his character; he made me upset every time he did something terrible to Ella.

This was my first book by this author, and I loved her writing style and the way she told the story of a famous pop star and an MLB pro finding love. These two were so meant for each other! And let me not forget Ella’s friends—they were everything. I loved all their moments together. It gave me that found family feeling because they always had her back and truly wanted the best for her. Their support was amazing.

There were so many moments in this book that stood out to me—I could go on and on about everything I loved!

Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group, for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

💭 ⓂⓎ ⓉⒽⓄⓊⒼⒽⓉⓈ
This book grabbed me right from the start. I knew I was going to fall in love with Ella’s strong, independent character, and I absolutely did. As soon as Miles entered the scene, their chemistry was off the charts. The story strikes a great balance between tackling difficult topics like toxic relationships and delivering a swoon worthy second chance at love. I loved the personal growth aspect, and even though much of the storyline was predictable with minimal conflict, I still enjoyed it so much.

📚 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
🎤Celebrity romance
💕Second chance at love
❌Toxic relationships
👩🏾‍❤️‍👨🏾Forced proximity
💡Self discovery
💪🏻Strong female lead
🥰Swoon worthy
🌶️A little spicy
⚾️Singer vs. MLB player

⚠️ 𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse.

🧡𝕄𝕐 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾🧡
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

💕Q U O T E: “𝒫𝒶𝓇𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓈 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝑒𝒶𝓈𝒾𝑒𝓇 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝒾𝓇 𝒸𝒽𝒾𝓁𝒹𝓇𝑒𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓌𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂. . . 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝓇𝑒𝓈𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂 𝒷𝑒𝒸𝒶𝓊𝓈𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝒾𝓉."

🙏 Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Romance, and Myah Ariel for this free eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. 💕 #BerkleyPartner #Berkley #BerkleyInstagram

I really loved the romance here but I don’t feel like I got enough of it. With all the side stories vying for my attention, it felt a little choppy. I also think maybe I’m just not a fan of celebrity romances, especially when there are so many references to “real life” celebrities and places. A lot of sweet moments I highlighted but ultimately, I wanted to love this more than I did.

I LOVED THIS ONE!!! Myah’s writing is so beautiful. she really knows how to flesh out the characters to their fullest and create a plot both compelling and exciting. felt totally entranced by this book, its characters, the depth, and adventure it brought. perfect read after the grammys happening recently. i loved the famous singer x professional baseball player aspect. these two characters were meant for each other and you could feel it the second you started reading <3

A pop star going through a messy divorce with her manipulative producer soon to be ex- husband falls for a MLB player, who has enough drama in his personal life. Think Mariah Carey, Tommy Mottola, and Derek Jeter. Despite the FMC being legally married Mr. MLB falls first, fast, and hard. And she matches his energy. After dealing with a cheating ex and an emotionally distant mother she deserved to find real love. I would have liked to see more between Ella and Miles. It's almost like their story was ending just as it got started. I give this book a 3.5/5. And recommend to all romance fans who enjoy a HEA after some drama first.

Fans of Kennedy Ryan will love this epic story about a pop superstar going through a messy divorce falling for a MLB superstar healing from his own relationship trauma. The romance was epic and beautiful and the story just hooked me from the start. Love how Ella finally stands up to her toxic mother and fights for what she knows she deserves. Loved that her scumbag of an ex got what was coming to him and I really hope that her makeup artist gets her own book. This is Myah Ariel’s second book and I’ve loved them both and she’s definitely a must read author for me.


Content notes: toxic parents, toxic marriage, cheating, mention of past drug abuse by a minor character

This book was so sweet.

Ella Simone is an R&B-Pop sensation who feels stifled and unsure in her career, in her home life, and in her creative identity. She's in the process of taking back control of all of these when the breathtaking, major league pitcher, Miles Westbrook enters the scene. The momentary life raft that he proves himself to be upon their first introduction is subtle foreshadowing toward the reciprocal dynamic of their relationship. Having gone through much of what Ella is now experiencing, he becomes integral to her support system. She, in turn, consistently reminds him that he is worthy of what he has been deprived of for much of his life, a true, steadfast, consistent love. As though they are the only salve to the other's wounds, their story is one of healing, self-actualization, and determination. They've both loved before, so they are well qualified to declare that this love is anything but ordinary.

I repeat, this book was so sweet. It truly read like a love song from front to back. This was my first story by Myah Ariel, but it surely won't be my last. I'm not sure if the lyrical prose was a nod to Ella's career or a true representation of Myah Ariel's writing style. Either way, it was beautiful and intrigues me to read more of this author.

This story is told from Ella's first person point of view exclusively, and I did occasionally find myself wanting insight into Miles' experience. With that being said, Miles' outward expression was very effectively conveyed, given the one-sided POV.

A major theme of this story that I thoroughly enjoyed is the idea of being adequately seen by your partner. I feel as though this isn't written about enough in contemporary romance, but it's one of the first assurances our main characters give each other. In my opinion, being seen is one of the highest expressions of love, and Myah Ariel conveyed this so well between our main characters well before they ever said the three words.

She also did a great job handling their precarious romantic pasts and their responses to the fall out. This often makes or breaks relationships, and the constructive, yet reassuring, way each character responds to the "baggage" of the other laid such a productive foundation for their relationship, however it decided to bloom.

This story wasn't just about the relationship between of FMC and MMC, but it demonstrated how a romantic relationship intertwines with and can affect any and all of the relationships in our lives. This story was about friendship, the parental relationship, the relationship with past lovers, the relationship with career, and of course the relationship with self.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Myah Ariel for giving me the opportunity to read and review this beautiful work of art. I look forward to the release date, purchasing the physical copy, and everything else Myah Ariel has in store.

Oh my I couldn’t put this one down and I was so giddy right from the start! I really enjoyed Myah’s writing style and never found a dull moment with these characters. Everything about this just scratched that itch for me and I’m so obsessed! The witty banter not only between Ella and Miles, but with the friend groups as well, was phenomenal and so natural. Along with that, the chemistry between Ella and Miles was soooo good and I absolutely loved how they supported each other during the many hard times and saw each other for who they really are and still fell in love. And that’s what I love about reading romance!!

“If nobody’s told you since I last, I’ll say it again—Ella, you’re strong. I wish you didn’t have to be as strong as you are. I wish I could make things softer for you, somehow.”

Thank you Berkley for the arc in exchange for my honest review!