REVIEW: Never Planned on You by Lindsay Hameroff

Never Planned on You by Lindsay Hameroff: Ali loves her spontaneous and free-spirited lifestyle. If you ask her this is her best quality, random trips to new places, getting matching tattoos with strangers in London, just generally living life for the day. Though if you ask her family, they wouldn’t quite agree, in their eyes Ali is the family flake and in desperate need to settle down a bit and get her life in order, which is how she finds herself back home in Baltimore trying to reinvent herself as a wedding planner after leaving her career as a chef behind in New York.

Things are starting to look up for Ali when she lands herself a job planning a high profile wedding at a historic hotel, this could be just the break that she needs to finally prove to everyone that she really does have her life together… well that is until she runs into the one person that she never expected to ever see again, her London tattoo twin, Graham.

Reconnecting with Graham just feels like kismet, the spark that they felt while in London only seems to have grown, leading Ali to wonder if just maybe Graham could be her special person… the only problem being Graham is the groom of the wedding Ali is supposed to be planning! With real feelings blooming, more than one career on the line and a whole lot of eyes on them can Ali and Graham figure out what is the right move in this game of love?

Never Planned On You was such a cute and fun second chance romcom, this book was a fast and fun read that hit all the right spots. Ali and Grahams story was the perfect blend of humour, fate and some undeniable chemistry. Truly this was the kind of book that you will want to devour in a single sitting, while giggling uncontrollably throughout.

Our main characters were just darling, I instantly fell for Ali and her carefree nature. She was such a sweet and easy to love leading lady, that I just couldn’t help but root her on as she tried to figure out what she wanted in life. I think she did a really good job in trying to figure out how to balance pleasing everyone around her but also still staying true to her fun-loving self. Truly Ali was a total sweet heart with her crazy spontaneous, driven and slightly awkward personality. As for our hero, well Graham was the more reserved of the two in his buttoned up cardigan and serious attitude. While he might be a bit more reserved on the outside, once you get to know Graham behind the stuffy cardigans, he was actually a real sweetheart that just wanted to make sure that all the people that he loved were happy.

The chemistry between these two was just perfection. Firstly I loved the fact that they balanced each other out so perfectly, they really were yin and yang, and this just worked for them. While Ali needed a bit of Grahams grounded more methodical approach, he needed a bit of Ali’s spontaneity. These two really brought out the best in each other and I loved seeing them dance around their undeniable chemistry. I loved how natural their interactions felt and the witty banter that floated between them, really it was impossible not to root them on. As for their random matching tattoo, well lets just say I loved this part of the story, not only was it cute but I loved how this connected them.

Aside from a really cute romcom, I loved that Hameroff highlights the themes of self discovery and the importance of following your dreams. I really enjoyed getting to see Ali finding her way in this book and truly finding her happiness.

If you are like me and a fan of the second chance romcom trope then Never Planned On You is definitely a must read! This book was funny, cute and had such loveable main characters, a real must read!

Book Info:

Publication: February 18, 2025 | St. Martin’s Griffin |

Ali Rubin has a reputation for spontaneity. Like that time she made a drunken bet in London that led to matching tattoos with a stranger. Her joie de vivre is one of her best qualities; she lives every day to the fullest and follows her dreams wherever they take her. And now, they’re taking her from her career as a chef in New York City back home to Baltimore, where she’s interning as a wedding planner.

Despite the occasional fantasy about her British tattoo twin, Ali never expected to see Graham again. So no one is more surprised than she is when he turns up in Baltimore, ordering a latte at her favorite cafe. When they reconnect during an enchanting evening together, Ali can’t help but wonder if Graham might be someone special.

At the same time, she’s desperate to succeed in her new career and prove that she isn’t the family flake. When she gets a job planning a high profile wedding at a historic hotel, it seems like things are finally falling into place. That is, until Graham turns out to be the groom.

Graham’s family owns the once-grand, now struggling Black-Eyed Susan, and he’s returned to Baltimore to help his grandmother get it back on its feet. He’s certain that hosting a wedding at the hotel is just the publicity boost it needs. Ali’s boss agrees, and promises Ali a full-time gig if the affair goes off without a hitch. Unfortunately, Ali and Graham can’t seem to ignore their rekindled chemistry, especially when it’s revealed that Graham and his fiancée are planning a marriage of convenience. Still, staying away from each other is the best thing they can do, since giving in to their growing feelings might cost them everything.

Because when it comes to love, all bets are off.