No Ordinary Love” is my first experience reading Miah Ariel, and I was immediately drawn in by the title, cover, and blurb. From the very beginning, I found myself rooting for Ella as she navigated the aftermath of a messy divorce from her despicable ex-husband. I don’t think I’ve ever hated a character more; I genuinely wanted him to face the worst consequences possible! When Ella met Miles, I was thrilled. He’s portrayed as such a sweet guy, and I eagerly anticipated their chemistry unfolding as they navigated their budding romance. I absolutely loved the voice notes, and the music video became one of my favorites. However, I couldn’t help but feel that I wanted more from their relationship. The focus on Ella and the overall plot overshadowed the romance, which suffered significantly as a result. I craved more scenes featuring the couple together, allowing me to truly feel their connection. The single POV also played a significant role in how I perceived their relationship. I longed to understand Miles’s thoughts and feelings regarding their connection; being shut out from his perspective diminished my confidence in their happily ever after. If I’m being honest, I would have preferred the celebrity element to be toned down in favor of developing more on-page interactions between Ella and Miles. Additionally, I felt the divorce was a major factor in the story, yet we never got to witness it unfold on the page. This left me wanting more context and depth. The pacing throughout the narrative was at times inconsistent, which caused certain segments to feel excessively drawn-out. While the story did pick up towards the end, I found it somewhat underdeveloped. Overall, I felt there were numerous missed opportunities that the author did not capitalize on. I believe I would have enjoyed this story much more if it had been written in a dual POC. It felt more like women's fiction to me, as the emphasis was primarily on Ella and her healing journey, despite the romantic elements. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy celebrity romance and are not bothered by single POV storytelling.

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for the ARC! Once I saw that this romance story was inspired by Mariah Carey’s relationship with Derek Jeter, I was immediately sat!

This book was more than a romance story. It was a story about Ella’s journey to independence and finding her power after being in a toxic/controlling relationship. The relationship between Ella and her ex-husband was written in such a real and vulnerable way that I think a lot of Black women navigating similar experiences will be able to relate to her. I found myself rooting for Ella through the book, which made her journey back to herself my favorite part!

While this is a quick read, I do wish we had more time with Ella and Miles. At certain points in the book, it felt like their love story was moving too fast or didn’t have enough depth that matched their feelings for one another. I think having Miles’ POV could’ve helped me feel more connected to their love story. Otherwise, I did enjoy the banter and tension when they were together, especially towards the end. Also, the real celebrity names were also kind of distracting…not so much that it took away too much from the reading experience, but I could’ve done without it. Overall cute romance story but it does leave you wanting more!

Thanks to Berkley and Netgallery for the ARC of Myah Ariel's book No Ordinary.

First and foremost I adored Myah's debut novel, when I think of you, so I was excited to read her new book. I am sad to say this one didn't particularly reached my expectations. I don't know if it was the constant pop culture references, or the pace of the book but something didn't click for me. Nothing to do with the writing, Myah is a great author but the story as a whole would've benefit from a dual POV.

I will continue to read anything Myah writes because like I said the problem was not the writing style, the story just didn't met my expectations.

No Ordinary Love by Myah Ariel is an emotionally rich and beautifully layered romance that dives deep into the complexities of love, healing, and second chances.

The story centers around Ella Simone , a R&B singer in the process of getting a divorce from her husband/producer while trying to keep it under wraps from the media. When she has a little some issues with her outfit for the Grammy’s, MLB player Miles Westbrook sets in and from there chemistry starts brewing.

The chemistry between the leads is palpable, the dialogue is realistic and often poetic, and the emotional depth gives the book its soul. Myah Ariel doesn’t shy away from hard truths—there are moments of grief, doubt, and insecurity—but each one is written with care and intention.

If there’s any critique, it’s that some transitions could have been smoother, and a few supporting characters felt underdeveloped. However, those are small issues in an otherwise standout debut (or novel, depending on where it falls in her catalog).

No Ordinary Love is a tender reminder that real love—the kind that sees you, holds space for your pain, and calls you higher—is never ordinary. It’s rare, it’s messy, and it’s worth it..

Myah Ariel's sophomore novel is a stunner. This story about a singer finding the love she deserves hit me right in the heart—the healing, chemistry, and drama were perfectly balanced, creating a cathartic and swoony romance. I would die for these characters. Adored it!

Thank you Berkley & NetGalley. I enjoyed No Ordinary Love. After obsessing over When I Think of You, I knew I would be reading anything Myah Ariel writes.

The FMC Ella is my namesake, and I still get excited about seeing my name places—it made reading this even more fun.

My only wishes is that we got to spend more time with Miles and Ella dating and navigating their relationship. However, the time we did get with them interacting was so sweet. He knew she needed patience and understanding and delivered. Ohhhh, & I do wish we got me information about her & her mom. That entire situation felt rushed.

I loved how Ella and her friends showed up for each other. I do think the ending was a little fast since we didn’t really get too much of Ella and Miles dating, but the romantic parts hit so good that it was alright with me in the end.

Extra points for some of my favorite songs being mentioned. The last song—Donny Hathaway’s A Song for You—is a PERFECT choice. I love that song so much. It felt so good reading that, because everybody deserves a love like that.

3.5 stars ✰
⟶ yalll this was actually so cute 🥹

💌 ❝ And like this love, our kiss has no end in sight. All at once, it is letting go and holding on, a secret and a confession, a fight and a surrender. But most of all, it is a promise that neither one of us will have to be alone, not so long as a love like ours exists in the world. ❞ 💌

guys im so shocked by how much I was giggling throughout this. miles being a cutesy shy man with a stutter was the last thing I was expecting when I read the blurb and saw him being described as ‘pro-athlete bad boy’ like that is so not the case he’s actually the sweetest mmc ever <33

💌 ❝ “So, I’m a . . . fan,” he says, piercing the awkwardness. And surprisingly, his words are stilted, like now that we’ve been left alone for probably only a minute—at least I hope it’s only been that long—he’s nervous in my presence. “Of y-your music that is.” ❞ 💌

like no way you’re calling him a bad boy😭 no but if you love fake dating, celebrity romance, a sweet mmc, you’ll love this it was so cute and such a fun time!! i feel bad i read it after the release date but I didn’t think id enjoy it as much as i did it took me by surprise.

💌 ❝ “Because you see me,” I tell him as the dam finally breaks and my tears fall. “And you actively love what you see. I can feel it in your touch, hear it in your voice, see it on your face. And I see you too.” ❞ 💌

this scene reminds me so much of the song “you are in love” by taylor swift 🥹🥹 which made me love it even more.

my main complaint about this book was the drama she had with her toxic cheating ex i hated him and we kept getting flashbacks to when they were married and in love and it pissed me off LMAO 😭

thank you berkley publishing group and netgalley for providing me this arc in exchange for an honest review!!

I adored this book and flew through it! And then loved it even more after hearing the author speak at a webinar by the publisher.

I love celebrity romances - so give me a popstar and a baseball player and I am all for it! The tension was just truly so well-written - and ultimately pays off so well! Literally the romance had me giggling and made me keep turning the pages because I wanted to see them get together. I love that the relationship felt so mature - we had two grown adults with their own baggage, and they found a soft, safe space in one another. It was just heartwarming, in the least cheesy way possible.

I particularly loved the journey of our FMC - seeing her find her own worth, voice and artistry, and overcoming her toxic relationship.

4.5⭐️ No Ordinary Love was the sophomore release by Myah Ariel, and I must say I ran through the pages so quickly. I found the storyline to be sweet, relevant, and enjoyable. The phrase “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” immediately came to mind by the end because that’s what happened in the story.
Ella Simone was an R&B artist, who married her producer, Elliot. The two were going through a divorce when fate placed her in the same room with Miles, an MLB player. Their chemistry oozed from the pages and continued to develop throughout the book. Miles was described as “the best kind of friend. The best teammate. The best partner.” I couldn’t agree more. Miles was just what Ella needed while she navigated a difficult journey.
I really enjoyed this story, but I would have loved to hear Miles’ voice on page. He was such a charmer and the way he poured life into his “dream girl” was literally my favorite perfection. I felt Elliot deserved a greater downfall. But I digress. I think I just wanted the absolute worst to happen to him lol! I also felt the relationship with Ella and her mother was underwhelming. I felt like her mother wasn’t supportive and reeked of jealousy. She placed Elliott on a high pedestal, when he was actually a manipulative person. Smh! But, those things helped to move the story forward. Ella and Miles overcame the uncertainty and reached their HEA! Good job on this one!

2/5 stars

Thanks so much to @berkleypub @berkleyromance or @acebookspub for this ARC of No Ordinary Love! This was highly anticipated by me so I was so thankful to receive this!!

Now...onto the review.

I'll start off with what i did like about this book. The writing. Myah Ariel is a beautiful writer yall. I loved her descriptions and use of language overall. This is my first Myah Ariel book, so i was very pleasantly surprised to see how beautiful her use of words were!

However, writing and storytelling are two different things.

The story....it felt empty. It felt....like there was no plot? It almost felt like time had been frozen and the plot simply was not moving along. We get really random flashbacks that do nothing for the story, no sense of timeframe throughout the book, and very random bits and pieces of...well...nothing? I'm just not sure what the point of this entire story was. Ella gets divorced from her terrible producer Elliot, and we dont get much about HOW or WHY he is terrible besides what he did in the prenup. I wanted to hate the guy but didnt even hate him until we got the ONE scene with him in it at like 70% when they were sitting at the table.

Then Miles? I mean ok. LMAOOOO yall like when i tell you there was like zero plot i genuinely have no idea who these characters were. They just had no depth to them whatsoever. I knew nothing about Miles except he had a stutter? I think? Played baseball, and his momma had him young. Thats all i got. Like...there was just nothing in this book given to really care about the characters and who they were.

Literally i get to the end, and mind you Ella married Elliot 5 months into knowing him at 20 years old. She now tells Miles at 29 she loves him THREE MONTHS IN. ?????????????????? Did...did we learn nothing? Like am i missing something? Is it me?

Then the way this ends? Hello? The same way im running out of what to say about this book is the same way the book simply ended like it ran out of things to say. Like...we got more of the Glam teams ending than we did Ella and Miles.

Also??????!!?!?!??! The use of real life celebrities in this? Save me. Ariana Grande, Mariah Carey, Beyonce, DUA LIPAAAAA? I knew what they had going on in this book before i could even remember the FMCs name. Like. Please. I know for context it was relevant to the story in a way, but when i tell you it was SO irritating. "Well I'm not Queen Bey but-" girl please save it. I just wish this was less about the industry and what "TheShadeRoom" had to say (yes they are actually mentioned in this book- again SAVE ME) and more about the romance. The romance just felt ridiculously secondary.

I'm sad. LMAOOO. I wanted to like this so bad!! I mean the cover? The synopsis? Reeled me in like a catfish OKAYYYYY. But the pages between the cover and synopsis..baby what we doing? Sadness and despair. I literally emailed Berkley nearly begging for this book lmaooooooooo. Sighhhh. You cant like them all i guess. lol.

Myah Ariel does it again!! An auto-buy author, for sure!

Thanks so much to @berkleypub @berkleyromance for the free eARC!❤️

Any book that makes me tear up where I can just feel the love coming off the pages and the honesty between lovers is always going to be a win for me. I totally felt that while reading about Miles & Ella!

First off, I love the '90's R&B/ pop culture vibes that this book gives. There are a lot of names & movies that are mentioned, some that I had honestly forgotten about! All the musical mentions fit the exact mood, pace & timing of Miles & Ella's relationship as it unfolds. Perfection!

Both Ella & Miles have very public careers and are struggling with the after effects of a divorce. Myah Ariel does a great job of creating a scene where you can feel everything from the scene to the tension between Ella & Miles pop off the pages. This was a very believable, sultry, romantic slow-burn!

Miles is very much boyfriend material. He is very sweet, careful and understanding and just wants Ella to feel appreciated & wanted. 😍

I'll just be waiting here for the next book from this author! 🤭

No Ordinary Love
4.5⭐️/5
Publication Day - April 1st 2025
Genre - Adult romance

Thanks for the free eARC @berkleyromance @berkleypub #berkleypartner #acebookspartner

Ella Simone a recording artist for Onyx Records she’s currently separated from her husband a renowned music producer Elliot Majors. Ella’s connection with Miles might just be her downfall right before she finalizes her divorce.

Miles Westbrook a baseball superstar,
who recently survived a messy divorce. Miles gets into a PR relationship with a superstar musician.

Ella is surrounded with awesome friends. Miles on the other hand grew up with supportive grandparents. This is such a sweet, cute and heartwarming love story. The relationship between Ella and Miles is swoon-worthy🥰😘😍. It’s fast-paced and easy to read.

The only reason I didn’t rate it a 5⭐️. I felt we could have gotten more from Ella and Miles story.

This is my first book by the author and I love her style of writing🥰😍

4.5⭐️ I love a good celebrity romance! There’s something irresistible about peeking into the glamorous lives of the rich and famous, but No Ordinary Love surprised me by being deeper and more impactful than I expected.

Ella is navigating a tough divorce after being betrayed by her husband who is very powerful in the music industry and had a hand in her career success. This story focuses on her journey to break free, reclaim her independence, and find happiness in the aftermath of her life’s upheaval.

The connection between Ella and Miles felt mature and well developed, and there was no shortage of swoon! Their romance felt both heartfelt and steamy, with undeniable chemistry in every scene. Miles struggles with a stutter throughout the book and I just wanted to hug him🫶🏼

I also loved the strong friendships in this book. Ella has the kind of ride or die friends every woman needs after she’s been wronged by a man.

If you love feel good, second chance at love, “getting her groove back” romances, don’t miss this one!

**Thank you to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy! All opinions are my own.**

Thank you @berkleyromance for the free book!

⭐️ 4.5/5
🌶️ 2/5

When I saw this was based on the relationship between Derek Jeter and Mariah Carey during her Butterfly era, I was totally on board! I mean, a young Derek Jeter!? SWOON! 🤭 And honestly, it lived up to all of my expectations! I loved Miles SO much! Not to mention, I am a total sucker for a celebrity romance and this ticked ALL the boxes!

This was such a beautiful forbidden (kinda) romance. These two could not deny their instant attraction (not in the insta lovey way at all)! Both had their own reservations about starting something new: Ella was in the midst of a very public, messy divorce, and Miles was healing from finding out his wife had an affair with his teammate. These two were going through it!

From their wardrobe snafu meet-cute, to the little notes Ella and Miles sent each other when they couldn’t be together, it was so sweet seeing their hearts grow fonder for one another even over distance.

I absolutely loved Ella’s Glam Squad. Their unwavering support for her in both her personal and professional life was amazing to see. Mixed with their unrestrained realness, this friend group was the absolute best. I just loved everything about them!

On the other end of things, there was Ella’s ex Elliott, who was truly THE WORST! His manipulation and just overall horrendous attitude made me so mad! So glad he got what he deserved! 👏🏼👏🏼

All around this romance was perfect. The characters, the plot, the depth. We got it all! I did want a bit more, especially at the end. I wanted to see Elliott suffer (as he deserved), especially after pulling a stunt like that. I feel like that situation wrapped up too easily.

I have this author’s debut on my shelf and I know I will be moving it up the list! I cannot wait to read more from her!

pop star x athlete has honestly become a new trope I have recently discovered and my life is honestly changed for the better.

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

rating: 4/5

includes:
❀ pop star x athelete (baseball)
❀ fake dating
❀ black love
❀ found family
❀ he falls first

don't know how to describe it but this felt like I was watching a 90's r&b music video/song come to life. as someone who makes very specific spotify playlists, you could have easily just put some of your favorite 90's/early r&b songs in the background and just hit play and feel so immersed in the story and the characters.

ella simone is quite literally in a loveless marriage and is wanting out. I feel like one thing I want to highlight with this author is how they portrayed being in a relationship that wasn't physically abusive but one that showcases the power inbalance. as elliot her husband in a way brought her into the business, there's an idea that she owes him or that she would be nothing without him. would gladly run over elliot by the way.

fast forward to an award show where she meets miles westbrook, a baseball player from the LA dodgers and they have an instant connection. with ella in the process of the divorce, both know that being together isn't in the cards for them at the moment.

really really enjoyed seeing ella and mile's story develop and would have loved to see more post divorce. the ending seemed a little off paced for me because it kinda just ended so I feel like giving us a little more at the end would have been better.

love discovering new authors and I'm excited to continue to read and support myah ariel <3

4.25/5 🌟

Thank you Berkley for the e-ARC! I knew this was going to be fantastic from the first chapter. Ella Simone is going through a messy divorce with her soon-to-be ex-husband. She’s counting down the moments to the finalization of this divorce and trying to make it through without an PR disasters. One night at the award’s show, Ella is expected to give an award with a special MLB player, Miles Westbrook. What starts off in a game time decision, this turns into a swoon worthy romance and it did not disappoint! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and some of my favorite moments were the VMs, the Gucci situation, and the Gala aftermath. This was a beautiful sophomore novel from Myah Ariel!

This week, Myah Ariel released her second novel, No Ordinary Love. It follows her previous book, When I Think of You, this time diving into the music industry, a woman going through a brutal divorce, and the new chance at love she finds along the way.

Why I Chose This Book:
I wanted to read Myah Ariel’s previous book, and I still intend to get back to it soon. But when I heard about No Ordinary Love, I knew I had to start here. Any book about music is my jam. Here, it’s modern R&B and pop inspired by 1990s and 2000s legends.

What I Liked:
- So! Much! Music! There are countless references to R&B artists and specific songs throughout this novel, and it really places everything perfectly in terms of the kind of artist Ella Simone is. Her stage name is inspired by the greats Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone. She covers songs by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, and even the novel’s title comes from her own song “No Ordinary Love,” itself an interpolation of Sade’s song of the same name. From start to finish, this novel is infused with music and a love for it.
- And music business! Ella is a Grammy-winning artist, and we get to see the behind-the-scenes of her professional life, albeit not while recording new music. From attending award shows to filming music videos to dealing with the media and her controlling label, we get to see what it’s like beyond the music itself.
- Emotions are on full display. I didn’t realize how emotional this book would be going into it. Ella is going through a rough divorce and has a lot of feelings of self-doubt. This novel isn’t heavy, but it does show Ella at her most vulnerable, and it makes her all the more endearing.
- Sweet romance in the aftermath of betrayal. Let’s not forget that this is a romance! In the midst of her divorce from her cheating husband, Ella is also finding love with Miles Westbrook, a pitcher for the LA Dodgers. He is such a sweetheart! He’s open and honest, kind, and everything Ella deserves. He has a stutter, something I rarely see in books, which is another plus.

Final Thoughts
I completely loved No Ordinary Love. Both Ella and Miles are such likable characters and I enjoyed seeing them open up to each other. Ella’s team is wonderful, too. This is the perfect novel for anyone who loves music, especially R&B and pop of the ’90s and 2000s. I am officially a fan of Myah Ariel and will be reading more of her books!

Another stunning story of black love that feels like the 90s romance we’ve been missing. A beautiful, intense romance that felt meant to be. The gravitational pull between these two characters was igniting.

This was a great follow up novel to When I Think of You. A superstar R&B singer and an MLB pitcher have.a chance meeting at the Grammys where she actually ends up in his shirt because he stepped on her dress unraveling it 2 minutes before they were set to present an award. While the sparks fly, there's just one little problem - our R&B superstar Ella is going through a messy divorce from her producer husband. Miles also has some baggage that he has to overcome and we go along for the ride as we see these two fall in love unconventionally since they are both super busy. The only thing that was missing from this book was actually seeing them 'date' in the real world. So much of their being together was done in private so I wished the book was just a little longer to capture that element of Ella and Miles' story.

3.5 stars. This book started off good but then slowed down in the middle. It did pick up a little bit at the end. I liked how Ella’s anxiety was mentioned a few times, but wished it had been mentioned more. I also liked both main characters, especially as a match. Thanks to @berkley for the free book . My review is unbiased.