Overall I think I would give this a 3.5 star rating if I could do half stars.
I enjoyed the banter and the mutual sass from both main characters, and the development of the relationship between the two MCs,
but what takes a little bit off of my rating was the fact that after the big blow up fight that the characters had with each other (which I though was justified) I found the reconciliation to be almost too easy and the dialogue during that scene was very cheesy and not totally believable.
Additionally, I think the epilogue would've been more satisfying if there was a little bit more time between the reconciliation and the start of the epilogue. The MCs went from being apart to back together, moving in with each other, getting a puppy, AND being engaged in a weeks time and considering how much both of them have their own hangs up with relationships, that just didn't seem very believable to me.

DNF

I’m normally a fan of these types of book, but this one just wasn’t working for me. It was very cliche, and wasn’t holding my attention. At one point the FMC even says “Hands off, Big Bad Wolf. I’m no one’s Red Riding Hood.” Overall, I think this book will definitely find it’s audience, but unfortunately, that wasn’t me.

Apparently, this is book 4 of a series and I had zero clue when I started it. I still enjoyed the book but I could see where reading the previous books would’ve changed a few things. Overall, it was still easy to follow along and enjoy the book. I have read other books by Lucy Score before and this felt up to par with her other books.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bloom Books for allowing me to read this book. I am writing this review based on my own opinion.

This was such a fun read! Not Part of the Plan is book four in Lucy Score’s Blue Moon series, but honestly, you can easily jump in here without feeling lost, though you will want to go back and read the rest once you fall in love with this small town and its quirky, lovable residents.

Nikolai Vulkov, a globe trotting fashion photographer with some serious bad boy vibes, rolls into Blue Moon looking for creative inspiration and a break from his burnout. What he doesn’t expect is to find himself completely captivated by Emma, the no nonsense manager of the local restaurant who’s got no time for his smooth talking, playboy energy.

The tension between Niko and Emma is so good. I loved the push and pull between them and how grounded their emotional hesitations felt. Emma isn’t interested in being another notch in his belt, and Niko is determined not to get attached… except they keep falling into each other’s orbit. Over and over.

✨Read if you like:
Small town romance
Bad boy MMCs with a soft center
Strong, tight knit family dynamics
That delicious "just friends" denial that never lasts long

The entire town of Blue Moon is a delight, and watching Niko and Emma try (and fail) to resist each other is a journey filled with banter, spice, and a surprising amount of heart. If you’re a fan of Lucy Score’s signature mix of humor, slow burn, and sweetness, this one won’t disappoint.

Big thanks to Sourcebooks Bloom Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is book 4 in the intertwined Blue Moon series that gives time to different members (and friends) of the Pierce family, but I feel that it can be read as a standalone. Nikolai Vulkov is a fashion photographer that’s been all around the world. He shows up in Blue Moon to visit his friends, looking for some inspiration and to break him out of his creativity funk. He meets Emma, who manages the local restaurant in town, and is enamored by her. But Emma wants nothing to do with the bad boy player image that Niko gives off.

Read if you enjoy:
***Small town romance
***Bad boy MMC
***Strong family dynamic
***Just won’t stay in the Friends Zone

Watching the relationship between Niko and Emma develop was so fun. I loved the push/pull, and the realness about the hesitations they both had. The town had great characters, and loved the family dynamic. This was a sweet romance; definitely recommend this series!

Thank you to Sourcebooks-Bloom Books and Netgalley for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

Lucy score books are a comfort read at this point. She was one of the first romance author I started reading and this series is so fun. The tension between Nico and Marty could cut a tomato smooth. The blue moon small town setting is great to revisit again and again. We get glimpses of the previous MCs lives as they are so close and potential future love interests.

A famous photographer finds love in small-town New York.

Read it for
- Some “no strings attached” action (We all know how that turns out.)
- The matchmaking Beautification Committee
- The subplot with the foster kids
- Clementine, the goat

This is book 4 in the Blue Moon series. It can be read as a standalone, but I think it’s more fun if you read the others first so that you are acquainted with the cast of characters and the small town.

It’s a pleasant read but is not near the top of my rankings of Lucy Score books.

3.5⭐️

I received a copy from Bloom Books. All review opinions are my own.

This book was such a fun and steamy ride! Niko is your classic bad boy with his motorcycle, leather jacket, and smoldering charm. Emma is the grounded woman who has no time for his games. So naturally, Lucy Score makes sparks fly! Their chemistry is electric, and I loved watching their walls slowly come down as they navigated their messy emotions. There’s tons of flirty banter and the perfect slow build. The small town setting of Blue Moon is one of my favorite fictional places to escape to. Can’t wait to dive into the next book in the series!

Lucy doesn't miss for me. She writes to most solid romances that always have her signature humor that keeps me cackling. I’ve never met one of her MMC that I haven’t liked and she really makes it difficult to take IRL men seriously. I am going back to read the rest of the series as we speak because I can’t get enough.

I love a good small town romance and this one by Lucy Score is no different. There is something about the way she writes that is so real and pulls you in. Niko and Emma’s story had me laughing and crying (and going back to read all of Lucy’s other works). I cannot wait to have the physical book on my shelf to give to friends to read.

always love me a good old rom com and this hits all the boxes with added spice!
definitely love this series and each book gets better and better

This series just keeps getting better! I always enjoy Lucy Score, and even though I felt like this series started a little slow, I think the stories feel deeper as you get more entrenched in Blue Moon. This love story was steamy and sweet and kept up with all of the usual Blue Moon charm. Though in a rare situation, I was on the side of the MMC rather than the FMC when it came to the fight (that’s a twist), I still find myself invested in the relationship and picturing a HEA.

4 stars

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars, rounded to 5.
As always, I adore Lucy Score. She has not written anything that I didn't love.
This book (this entire series) was so good!
Opinion: This book can hold its own and be read as a standalone. However, if you do read this book prior to the first 3 books, you will read so many spoilers that it will give away the first books in the series, and you won't enjoy them as much. So if you want to read this series, I highly recommend starting at the beginning!
Nico and Emma. That's all. Iconic.
Nico - our bad boy, the famous photographer from New York. Never connects with women any deeper than surface level.
Emma - strong-willed, independent, and looking for the one. She doesn't do one-night stands or hook-ups.
The characters are so well developed - I expect nothing less from Lucy Score. The reader easily relates to the characters. Specifically, Emma, in my case.
The chemistry between Nico and Emma... whew! The undeniable and unavoidable attraction... whew!
SPICE!!! HOT AND STEAMY SPICE!
This book is witty and funny. I love the dynamics among all of the characters.
I don't know about anyone else, but each book in this series has just gotten better and better. Just when you think the last book cannot be topped, Lucy Score does it again in the next book!
I think this has to be my favorite book in the series.
Anyone else want to move to Blue Moon Bend with me?!
Add this to your summer TBR immediately. The whole series, if you haven't read it.
Thank you to Bloom Books, Sourcebooks, Casablanca, and NetGalley for the opportunity to receive this book for review!
Happy Reading!

You can never go wrong with a Lucy Score book. She is always an auto-buy author for me and a comfort read. Not part of the plan is going to be that curl up with a good book on a weekend perfect lazy day read.

I’m usually a huge fan of anything Lucy Score writes, but this one just didn’t click for me—I ended up DNF’ing at around 35%.