In "Unless It's You," Chrissy Hopewell tells a gripping story of love's transformational power, redemption, and second chances. This book, which is set in London, chronicles the journey of tough former professional rugby player Ethan Fraser and American advertising executive Stella Hart as they deal with forgiveness, grief, and unexpected desires.

In order to keep her inheritance from slipping through her fingers, Stella has a month to complete her late aunt's bucket list. The most difficult of all the absurd jobs is the one that involves locating the person who escaped. Little does Stella know, this quest will lead her to confront her past and rediscover a love she thought she had lost forever.

Hopewell skillfully crafts Stella and Ethan's dynamic, infusing their interactions with palpable tension and undeniable chemistry. The enemies-to-lovers trope adds depth to their relationship, as they grapple with unresolved emotions and conflicting loyalties. Despite their initial animosity, it becomes increasingly clear that beneath the surface lies a simmering attraction waiting to be ignited.

What sets "Unless It's You" apart is its nuanced portrayal of its characters' vulnerabilities and complexities. Stella's struggle to come to terms with her aunt's passing and her own insecurities is palpable, drawing readers into her emotional journey. Similarly, Ethan's stoic exterior belies a deeply wounded soul, haunted by the ghosts of his past. Together, they must confront their fears and confront the barriers standing in the way of their happiness.

"Unless It's You" is a must read for anyone who appreciates well-written love stories or is a fan of enemies-to-lovers tales. I am excitedly awaiting the release of the Hart Sisters trilogy's third book since Chrissy Hopewell has once again shown herself to be a superb storyteller.

This was a cute grumpy to love story. I enjoyed the banter, the will they or won't they vibe. It was just enough spice as well. Thank you for allowing me to review this ARC!

This was a funny, classic romance novel with lovable characters and a great story line. Hannah is an advertising executive who takes her work seriously. She and her two sisters have just been put on a bucket list mission that must be completed for them to inherate her aunt's estate holdings. Her aunt wants each sister to find what they might be missing in life. Things that she missed out on in her life - like the one who got away. Hannah thinks it's her ex-boyfriend, but could it be the guy she met a week before him? Ethan just happens to be the account she is assigned to work on - and the tension smolders when the two of them are together. Could it be that Ethan has all the answers to her aunt's bucket list? Maybe UNLESS she decides to ignore all the signs that fate is giving her.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

This book had me at the mention of a bucket list! Stella and Ethan have history...the night they met there was an instant connection (some kissing) and hope for something more. Throw in a miscommunication trope which led Stella instead of pursuing a relationship with Ethan, ends up dating his best friend, Ben. Now Ben (still Ethan's best friend) is Stella's ex-boyfriend. And fate has brought the two to work together on a project. While they start off as enemies (due to miscommunication and hiding of true feelings over the years!) they eventually let their guard down as they share a similar grief. Ethan has recently lost his mother (not a good relationship) and Stella her aunt who left a bucket list she must do in order to get the family inheritance.

I enjoyed the reconnection between Stella and Ethan. Both had a lot of baggage to deal with, but their relationship felt organic and the way they supported each other. My heart really hurt for Ethan and his torment over following his heart which felt like betraying Ben. I know the book needs some angst, but I wish people would just talk to each other and quit assuming things...insert eye roll and deep sigh. I appreciated that while there was kind of another woman in the story she didn't turn into a major issue (other than assumptions made about her!)

This is my first book by this author, but I will check out other work...

3.5 stars

This was adorable and sweet! I loved her first romance, and this just improves upon that one. Loved the bucket list concept as well.

Giving it a 2 star even though I DNFd it. I understand the appeal and I understand how people would like it, but I just couldn’t get on board. It felt very choppy, especially with how their backstories were put into it. It felt like no one was doing things, there would be two basic lines of action, four pages of random background that could’ve been spread out (like give me some mystery to this guy instead for finding out in chapter 1) and then two lines of dialogue and them moved on. We don’t need to know the character backstory right away. It also felt like there was no chemistry, they kiss once and she’s suddenly the only girl in the world for him and can’t stand to be in the same room as her, like get real, it ruined it. Give me pining, give me getting to know each other, not this instant love, Pacing was also very off. I’m sure it’ll appeal to someone but I couldn’t get past it.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book.
I enjoyed this book, the word "shite" was used a lot.

I really enjoyed this book, it was a quick and easy read and a perfect romcom. full of tears of both sadness and laughter. I loved the characters and will definitely be reading the best of the series

Enemies to lovers? He falls first? Bucket list? You had me hooked right away.
This was a cute story!
One we can all relate where both characters want to love and be loved unconditionally.

Stella is an independent woman who is used to doit all by herself, without needing anywone's help. She believes it makes her stronger to be like that (even if through our story she realises the opposite really!). And she has to deppend on her ex's best friend to complete a bucket list left for her to get her inheritance. Ethan is a grumpy guy (to those who do not know him) and is in love with Stella, but since she is off limits it's easier to play the hating game.
I kept reading and reading rooting for them to realise that they were not a mistake! They were the real deal, and made for one another, but this story has some good angsty feelings, to make us suffer a little more! 🤭
This story makes us wonder if some things in life have a timing for them to happen. These two were clearly meant to be, but life and some miscomunications got in the way, and then it takes a lot of pining to get to their HEA but they surely get there..
I personally adored Ethan. All tough on the outside and gooye on the inside, with a heart of gold. I'm picturing in my head that scene where he has Nessie in his big hands.. the though of a big guy with a tiny kitten.. 🥰😍
Even though we has feelings for her first he respects her, and also tries to respect his best friend by not acting apon it. But love appens, and I'm glad it did, because they were good for one another.

I enjoyed Unless It's You by Chrissy Hopewell. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher. This is my honest and personal review. Happy Reading!

A bucket list with a timeline and an enemy to complete it with? That’s exactly why I requested this book on NetGalley, and it didn’t disappoint!

Stella and Ethan both go through tremendous growth in this story, and I loved it. A quote from the book perfectly sums it up: “He’s already changed me, but I’m still me, just a better version.”

It’s full of emotions I wasn’t expecting. While it’s definitely fun and easy to get into, there’s grief, anger, jealousy, and issues with self-esteem. It felt very rounded out in this way and not just a fluff piece. There’s plenty of banter and joy though, even when I wanted to scream at them for miscommunication.

I think the dual POV was so important for this story, we get a deeper understanding from each character and their backgrounds that led them to where they are. You grieve, cheer and get so invested in their lives that they feel like a friend. You want the best for them, even when times get tough or they make a mistake.

I fully intend to go back and read the first book in this series about Stella’s older sister, plus her younger sister’s story coming later this year. I can’t wait to fall in love with the Hart girls and the men they end up with!

✽The starting point of this story drew me in: 𝙵𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚋𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚗𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 ~ Stella’s late aunt wants her to live life fully, so she wrote her this bucket list in her will 🙌🏻

✽The challenge begins when 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘹－𝘣𝘰𝘺𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥’𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 on her project and he somehow gets involved in said bucket list 🙃

✽𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘴－𝘵𝘰－𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘷𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘴 along with the 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 made this story so much fun to read.
❥ 𝚂𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚊 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙴𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚊 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚊𝚕 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚖𝚎𝚝 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍.

✽𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐬 are tackled along the way, mainly 𝑔𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑓 and the need to be surrounded by people who truly love you and are there for you: because Ethan too is dealing with the loss of his mom.

What didn’t work for me though was the 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (and 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐮𝐩) … I felt that it played a big role in the story and lead to unnecessary drama.

👉🏻If miscommunication doesn’t bother you, you’ll enjoy this romcom for sure ☺️

Unless It's You is book two in the The Hart Sisters trilogy by Chrissy Hopewell.
Ok after reading this book I’m jumping into Amazon and getting If We Pretend.
This light Enemies to lovers and second chance romance was a captivating read!
Chrissy Hopewell portrayed the characters and their personalities very well.
I thought this was a sweet, heartwarming romance that makes you want to read more in the series.
I can’t wait to read book three Since We're Here.

Thank You NetGalley and Fox Hollow Publishing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Stella met Ethan and instantly felt a connection, but she dated Ethan's best friend instead. A year later, they broke up, and she somehow ended up working with Ethan on a project. At the same time, her aunt who recently passed away, left her with a bucket list that she must fulfill otherwise it will affect her and her sister's inheritance that they desperately need. Ethan who secretly harbors resentment and regret for not pursuing things with her, offers his help to be her advisor in fulfilling the list. With the time they spend together, their sparks are re-ignited...

This is a second chance romance for Stella and Ethan, though they never really start anything at the beginning apart from a kiss. I don't really feel too much chemistry between them, and the reason why Stella dated his best friend is just mehh (her friend told her to, really? also she thought he was dating someone else, but yeah, she could've confirmed instead of jumping to the next guy right away). The story didn't grip me from the beginning, it's really difficult for me to finish the book, and the miscommunication really irks me. What I do love is their character growth as they support each other through their grief and completing the list. It was a sweet and heartwarming romance, with some humor and spice.

✿ 𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚊 𝚌𝚘𝚙𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 from #netgalley 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚖 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚢 ✿

Unless one decides to live a life in solitude, it is important to allow yourself to be vulnerable and even scared because the result of finding love far overpowers any of that fear of failing. Ethan doesn't allow anyone to penetrate his hard surface because of his fear of abandonment due to his childhood. He never feels quite good enough. Stella throws herself into work and convinces herself that she is neither wife nor girlfriend material ad Ben said to her. It is when her great aunt Evelyn creates a bucket list for her and her sisters which must be completed in a month does she realize how empty her life is. Ethan agrees to act as her advisor but refuses to let her cheat her way through as that is simply going through the motions without really understanding why the tasks were tailored to her. That in creating this bucket list would Stella understand that Evelyn didn't want her to regret not choosing her great love. She needed to pursue the one who got away. This is a great love story in which it reveals how truly magical it can be.

Stella & Ethan shared a great night at a pub, and an amazing kiss. The a mutual friend told Stella that Ethan was getting back with his ex, and instead of confirming, or talking to him about their great night, she started dating his best friend. I hate a miscommunication trope, but I love Ethan & Stella.

Witty banter, cute kittens, a former Rugby player with a heart of gold who helps Stella finish a bucket list made for her by her great-aunt and she helps him deal with some personal issues he keeps bottled inside.

It's just too good.

Upon the death of her great aunt, Stella Hart, an American advertising executive living in London, learns that she had a stipulation in the will. Stella must complete a bucket list that she has sent, or the estate goes to charity rather than to Stella and her sisters. Whilst the list is unreasonable, the last item states that she needs to Find the One that Got Away but Stella dreads the thought of facing her ex-boyfriend, Ben. However, when she must work with Ben’s best friend, Ethan Fraser, who has never seemed to like her, she realises that the chemistry between them is intense. Ethan Fraser, an ex-professional rugby player, is also struggling with the loss of his late troubled mother. Yet with Stella, he realises he can face his fears, as she is the only one that truly understands him; however, he can’t quite come to terms with Ben finding out, believing it to betray their friendship.
An easy read, with two quite likeable characters in Stella and Ben. Their attraction is dynamic, but it is the connection that they feel, in part because of their loss, that was a delight to read. I enjoyed seeing how this couple overcome their past hurts but also learn from this when developing their relationship.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a arc of this book!

Omg. This book was so cute. i loved the bucket-list aspect. It gave a forced proximity feel. I loved Ethan and this, and i love their relationship.

I would give this book a 4.25 stars. definitely recomend if you want a cutesy romance:)

This story was absolute perfection. Stella and Ethan were adorable and it was an honor to read about their journeys. I love that they helped each other and both had beautiful growth journeys.