Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for access to this arc!
This was such a cute read and a sweet love story. I do wish it was dual POV but I think this author conveyed that Miles was down bad in love with Ella Simone through his actions.
I don't want to guess which pop star the main character is based on but I loved the music industry talk in this book. I could definitely see some of these scenarios the characters were in believable.
The pacing of their love story was also realistic and their getting to know you phase was very sweet. Overall, if you're looking for a a sweet love story I highly recommend No Ordinary Love!

Music super star Ella Simone seems to have it all— a record producer husband who helped build her career, adoring fans, and all the accolades she could have imagined. But behind the scenes, things aren’t as they appear. Tired of her philandering husband, Ella is determined to break free from him but not at the expense of her career. When her plan to avoid any negative headlines goes awry during an awards ceremony snafu with co-presenter MLB superstar Miles Westbrook, she and her team work to turn a potential scandal into an opportunity for both of them.

After enjoying Myah Ariel’s debut last year, and reading the synopsis for this one, I was eager to jump in. I am happy to say that even with a not-so-fun reading slump developing, this book did not disappoint.

It was very easy to get caught up in the swoon-worthy romance, from Ella and Miles’s very disastrous meet-cute on, as well as the emotional story surrounding Ella’s determination to remain in complete control of her career and life overall. Miles is an absolute sweetheart, and I loved the inclusion of disability rep around his stutter and the ways in which it impacts him, but yet doesn’t define him. It is not something I have seen featured in romance, and I know there are a lot of readers who will feel seen with its inclusion.

While I had no idea this was inspired by the romance between Mariah Carey and Derek Jeter, I can see how Ariel took inspiration from them. I loved the power dynamic between these two and found myself particularly drawn to scenes they were in together. I love that this was inspired by their counterparts in their mutual industries.

🎧 This was terrific as an immersive read. Though Yinka Ladeinde does a solid job as the sole narrator, I did find myself gravitating slightly more to the physical book than the audio.

Read if you like:
celebrity romance
MLB x pop star
forced proximity
fake dating
memorable meet-cutes
strong FMCs
disability rep (stutter)

Thank you Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for the advanced copies.

This book was so cute! I love a baseball player as an MMC. The love story was beautifully written and the drama was so real and not over done!

The beginning of this book gave me all the 90's Mariah Carey/ Derek Jeter relationship, "The Roof" vibes... and lets be real MC is referenced in the book so it was clearly intentional and as a MC lamb since 1990, I was here for it!!

Ella Simone is a pop star going through a divorce from her music mogul husband Elliot Majors and falls for a Pro Baseball player Miles Westbrook (I mean can we get more Mariah/Tommy Mottola/Derek Jeter inspired than this 😂). I loved how they met and how their chemistry was clearly building but somewhere along the line the story felt a little too sped up! Ella was coming out of a 10 year marriage where her husband has a habitual cheater and Miles had just come out of his own divorce a year prior with a cheating wife and while I get they were destined to be together this super short window of falling in love, especially with their limited face to face interactions seems fast! Yes they left voice memos to once another but it just didnt quite hit the mark as I think build the romance out more.

I did love how the author developed the personality of the characters.. I mean who wouldn't want a man like Miles in their life or friends like Angelo, Rodney and Jamie. Overall I loved the various reference nods to R&B music (would love to hear the jazz version of the Whitney song she does) and did enjoy this book and if looking for an enjoyable read, would recommend it for anyone looking for an easy read.

Thanks you to Berkley Publishing for an ARC of this book for an honest review.

I enjoyed Myah Ariel's 2024 debut novel "When I Think of You" so I was very excited to see that she was coming out with "No Ordinary Love". This story follows Ella, a pop star who is in the midst of a messy divorce from her producer husband Majors and Miles, a pro baseball player. With Ella's divorce being as messy as it is, we get kind of a forbidden love type of story. I loved how Ella and Miles' romance and "talking stage" was portrayed despite them have to be very careful. There were bits and pieces of nostalgia within the throwbacks that I'm a sucker for. I also found the side characters to be pretty interesting and I'm hoping we get to see more of them.

(4.5 Stars) Thank you, Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for the gifted advanced reading and listening copies this fantastic celebrity sports romance! #berkley #berkleypartner #prhaudioinfluencer

Pop sensation Ella Simone’s marriage to her cheating producer husband Elliot Majors is done - they just have to come to a settlement and sign the papers. While Elliot is about town with his newest conquest, Ella is bound by a vicious prenup that she’s going to fight which means she needs to stay out of the press and the headlines. But then she has a wardrobe malfunction at an awards show just seconds before presenting live with MLB pitcher Miles Westbrook. When he saves the day, everyone watching sees the electricity between them, even through they just met. As rumors begin to circulate that perhaps Miles is the cause for trouble between Ella and Elliot, their teams devise a PR plan to make sense of the situation and save their reputations but the more time they spend in each other’s lives, the more undeniable their feelings become.

I loved Myah Ariel’s 2024 debut When I Think of You, and she absolutely delivers again here. With sharp, confident writing, Ariel masterfully blends sizzling tension, heartfelt vulnerability, and thoughtful commentary on race and racism in both the entertainment and sports worlds. This book is funny, bold, emotional, and romantic in all the best ways. A true standout in the celeb romance space.

🎧 Audiobook Thoughts 🎧 Yinka Ladeinde is a new-to-me narrator and she completely blew me away. Her voice is one you just sink into - warm, expressive, and captivating from start to finish. A perfect match for Ella’s strength and vulnerability. (9h 33m)

This is my first book by Myah Ariel and I don’t know why it took me so long to read her books. This is a beautiful representation of black love and what black women deserve. The message in this book is also not lost. We follow Ella a pop star who is married to her producer. On an award night she meets Miles and oh my God!!! Miles is every woman’s dream man. Absolutely enjoyed this book. I finished it in 24hours

After reading Myah Ariel’s debut, I was genuinely excited to dive into her next book—and No Ordinary Love turned out to be so much more than I expected. The title, cover, and blurb pulled me in immediately, but the story? It surprised me in the best ways. I was absolutely delighted to get an early read of this one.

Right from the jump, I was cheering for Ella as she rebuilt her life post-divorce from a truly loathsome ex. I mean, that man deserves fictional jail time—no parole. Ella’s strength and growth were beautifully done, and her journey had me emotionally invested from page one.

Then there’s Miles. Sweet, patient, genuinely good-guy Miles. The early spark between him and Ella was electric, and I was ready to be swept away in their slow-burn romance. Bonus points for the delicious '90s R&B and pop culture vibes—those references gave the story a unique rhythm and soul that I loved. Every musical mention felt perfectly timed to mirror their growing connection.

But while the romance had a strong start, it started to fizzle for me in the middle. The single POV limited my ability to fully connect with the romance, especially since I was dying to know what was going on in Miles’s head.

While the voice memos were a fun concept, they sometimes felt a bit awkward, and by the end, I loved both characters on their own. Miles is total boyfriend material, and Ella’s resilience as she navigated the emotional aftermath of her divorce and the darker sides of fame was powerful to witness.

Overall, while the romance arc didn’t hit all the marks for me—mainly due to pacing and lack of a third-act conflict—I still really enjoyed this story. Myah Ariel’s writing is sharp, emotional, and immersive. She’s clearly growing as a storyteller, and I can’t wait to see where she takes us next.

Recommended for: readers who enjoy celebrity romance, a focus on emotional healing, and single POV storytelling with strong women’s fiction vibes.

Ella x Miles

Myah is a new-to-me author, but I’m sure I will be checking out more of her work. This was such an entertaining read. You can’t beat love mixed in with some R&B! I especially enjoyed how she payed homage to several of the R&B greats. Nothing compares to 90’s R&B!

While this was a cute read, it was a bit wordy. I was looking for more banter and conversations between the FMC and the MMC. Instead, there was a lot of unnecessary filler that really didn’t add to the storyline.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the way the books starts. It didn’t feel like the normal “give a book 30 pages to get into it”. I was already in! The main character (Ella) has a story that people can relate to in regards to relationships and being taken advantage of (romantic and familial). I do wish we had more of the story (which is a good thing). I swiped ready for the next chapter realizing that what I read was the last one. I could the author expanding on this story and this universe if she wanted to. It’s a love story that is on the faster ends of things, but coming across those are nice especially in the midst a book slump. I’m a sucker for a “he falls first story” and I really loved Miles as a male love interest. Overall, I really loved the book and will definitely be reading more by Myah.

Myah Ariel is becoming one of my new favorite romance authors! In her stunning sophomore novel, Ariel introduces us to the popstar Ella Simone, who’s fighting for her independence amid a lengthy divorce from the renowned music producer, Elliot Majors. On Grammys night, Ella’s mission is to play it safe and protect her case against the ironclad prenup that threatens her career. But that plan is foiled by none other than Miles Westbrook, the swoon-worthy LA Dodgers pitcher with a bad boy reputation of his own.

This book made me realize how much I love celebrity-centered romances. There’s something about watching people balance their public personas and their personal lives that is so captivating, and Ella and Miles’s romance had me hooked with the intensity from the start. With characters that have limited opportunities to be with each other due to conflicting schedules, their interactions felt meaningful, and you get to see a lot more of their personalities and emotions in those shorter spans of time.

No Ordinary Love’s beautiful prose, lovable characters and heartwarming messages made this one of my favorite romances so far this year. The only thing I wanted more of was additional moments between Ella and Miles at the end. I didn’t want to let them go so soon, and I’m crossing my fingers that a spin off for some side characters is in the works. Would love to see them happy and in love while dancing to music in the background!

(4.5 out of 5 stars)

No Ordinary Love was the sweetest read that made my commutes to and from work so effortless. I didn't want to get to my destination because at key moments I had to actually turn the car off. I fell in love with Ella and Elliot. R&B pop star meet Pro-baseball player bad boy with an a-hole ex trying to take all of her earnings in a divorce. It was so modern and swoon worthy. I do wish that we heard from Elliot's point of view because he's a book bae now too but I still enjoyed that it was all Ella. Many women can feel her pain as well as appreciate her come up with a bigger, brighter, shinier model (Elliot). It was her story and her life unfolding. I liked hearing about her POV with all of her insecurities and second guessing. It's real even for someone the world thinks has it all. I read the ARC and listened to the audiobook which was narrated by Yinka Ladeinde.. She does a beautiful job!

Read If You Like:

🎤 Fake Dating
🏆 Sports Romance (Athlete MMC + Musician FMC)
🎶 Music-Centric Story
🤎 Black Love & Joy
👩‍❤️‍👨 Second Chance at Love
👫 Found Family

Blush Meter: 🔥🔥🔥 / 5

Emotional intimacy and steamy moments are woven in beautifully—this one simmers before it ignites.

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5

An emotionally gripping, music-drenched romance that will have you singing its praises.

Myah Ariel does not miss. I mean, No Ordinary Love is so good I genuinely don’t know how she manages to capture such deep emotional nuance while still giving us a romance that feels like a dream.

Ella and Miles both know what it’s like to have their personal lives dragged through the spotlight, but their story isn’t just about scandal—it’s about healing. It’s about finding someone who sees you, who won’t just stand beside you in the limelight but in the shadows, too. The pining? Off the charts. The tension? Palpable. The emotional journey? Absolutely exquisite.

And Miles? Lord have mercy. A man who quietly loves, who stands steady, confident, and emotionally present? Inject that directly into my veins. That line— “But what if I want to belong to you?”—absolutely ruined me in the best way. It’s rare to see a male lead exude so much quiet strength while still being so openly vulnerable, and Miles delivers.

Beyond the romance, No Ordinary Love isn’t afraid to shine a light on the very real power imbalances within the music industry. Myah Ariel crafts a story that feels timely and urgent, pulling back the curtain on exploitative record labels and the struggles female artists face. The fact that she wrote this before recent industry controversies makes it all the more powerful.

And can we talk about the music in this book? It’s not just a playlist, it’s a heartbeat—Aretha, Whitney, Sade, Mary J., Mariah…these legends are woven into Ella’s identity, making the entire reading experience luscious and immersive.

But my absolute favorite moments? The music video scene and the voice notes. Trust me, when readers get to these parts, the internet is going to lose its mind.

Final Thoughts:

If you loved When I Think of You, get ready to have your expectations shattered in the best way. Myah Ariel is a force, and No Ordinary Love is a banger that belongs on every romance reader’s shelf. April 2025 can’t come soon enough!

I highly recommend for romance lovers who crave:
✔️ Authentic emotional depth
✔️ Powerful storytelling with social commentary
✔️ Characters who feel real and raw
✔️ A romance that sings (literally)

Berkley & NetGalley, I owe you my soul for this ARC.

Until the next swoon-worthy story… happy reading and happy romancing! 💕

Thanks so much to @berkleypub @berkleyromance or @acebookspub for the free book!

I received this ARC and will be providing my genuine review as follows:

I read the digital ARC and listened to the official release via audio.

I really enjoyed this story! It was so easy to get into and enjoy the ride. I gobbled the story up! I love the dynamic between Ella & her relationships/friendships. This book is musically driven and done very well.

There are still nuggets of wisdom throughout without weighing you down but the drama is top tier. Very well written and I love the Epilogue.

This is the first book I have read by the author, and would recommend this to be added to your TBR.

In fact, I cannot wait to read more of her other book, “When I Think of You”.

I definitely will be picking up a physical copy 🥰

I enjoyed this book. Just like “When I think of You” it left me feeling warm and cozy. Loved this love story.

I love this trope of high profile celebrities finding love when they least expect it. Ella is in the middle of divorcing her toxic ex Elliott Majors who is hell bent on bleeding her dry, but with the power of reclaiming herself she is able ti find a way to speak up and in the process fall for an MLB player named Miles who sees her just as she sees him. So much growth and gems for this one

Myah Ariel does it again!

When I Think of You was an instant fave. It felt like non-toxic 90s Black romcoms and with No Ordinary Love, I think we can say this is Myah Ariel’s lane.

Ella Simone is a pop R&B star mid-divorce from a controlling jackass who also has his hands all up and down her career. When she hires a divorce attorney to untangle the mess of a prenup, she’s given one rule.

Stay out of the headlines.

Then there’s Grammy night, a wardrobe malfunction, and headlines with Ella and MLB superstar Miles Westbrook.

Ooopsie! So the attorney changes gears and instead of staying out of the headlines … she and Miles pair up for a PR relationship to make more headlines together.

It helps that Miles is drop dead gorgeous and an Ella superfan. He’s fresh(ish) off a messy, very public divorce of his own so he understands Ella’s spikey edges. She has a hard time trusting people right now so she attempts to put up a wall to protect herself but it might as well be paper thin. Ella and Miles are drawn to each other, even when it would be easier to not get involved.

Their connection feels like a delicate dance of steps they don’t know by memory but learn through emotion.

If you love slow burns full of yearning and conflict and MCs that don’t always get it right but als deserve it all … this is your next five star read!

Oh, and there’s an opening for a book following this one and I really hope we have the chance to get our eyeballs on it in the future!

I loved this so much, I wanted it to be a little longer!

I loved seeing Ella find her independence and become more confident in herself and asking for what she deserves.

I wish we would have gotten more scenes of Ella and Miles actually together, especially in the end! I would have loved to see how they announced their relationship and their public date. This wrapped up a little too quickly, but that goes to show how much I loved them.

From the moment I laid eyes on the cover, I was captivated (FMC gives Mya vibes)—it’s absolutely stunning. But it’s not just the aesthetics that shine; the story itself is a brilliant, emotional rollercoaster that I couldn’t put down. The author does an incredible job of making the narrative feel relatable, especially with the inclusion of real-life musical artists that truly add depth to the world of the characters. And the drama? It’s perfectly woven into the storyline, keeping me engaged from start to finish.

The journey of the FMC was especially touching. As a public figure navigating life post-divorce, she deserves not only a flourishing career but also the kind of love that redeems and uplifts. I was rooting for her every step of the way. The attention to detail in the characters’ careers and their personal histories adds so much richness to the plot—each element felt well thought-out and genuine.

The chemistry between Miles and Ella is undeniable. Their connection, which builds gradually throughout the story, feels completely authentic, and the "spicy" moments are perfectly timed and wonderfully written. The pacing of their attraction was spot-on, making their eventual romance all the more satisfying.

Ella’s glam squad (her loyal friends) were a delightful addition. Their humor and supportiveness provide a perfect balance to the tension in the story. They're the kind of friends we all wish we had in our lives, and their presence added a lighthearted charm to the narrative.

Overall, this was a beautifully crafted story, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it unfold. While Myah’s debut novel was strong, this one is an undeniable step forward—more polished, more compelling, and brimming with heart.

𝙽𝙾 𝙾𝚁𝙳𝙸𝙽𝙰𝚁𝚈 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮
𝙈𝙔𝘼𝙃 𝘼𝙍𝙄𝙀𝙇

No Ordinary Love was a beautiful story & loved watching it unfold! It had me to engaged in the storyline. I loved all the characters, especially Ella & Miles! Ella’s character & her life felt so real, raw & relatable. After everything she’s been thru & the mess she dealt with during her divorce.. she deserved a good guy. And Miles was it & I was here for it! Miles was sweet, thoughtful & swoon worthy! Ella took back her life & found herself. Which makes her a strong & fierce woman. Ella & Miles are everything & I loved them together! Amazing read & a must read!

Thank you so much @berkleypub @berkleyromance @acebookspub for the amazing free book!

#BerkleyPartner #AceBooksPartner