Never Planned on You - by Lindsay Hameroff (Paperback)

About the Book

"A glittering, laugh-out-loud second chance romance that reminds us true love is sometimes the one thing you never planned on. 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 fiancâee 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"--

Book Synopsis

A glittering, laugh-out-loud second chance romance that reminds us true love is sometimes the one thing you never planned on.

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.

Review Quotes

One of Zibby Media's "Most Anticipated Books of 2025"
A Nerd Daily pick for their "24 Swoonworthy February 2025 Romance Releases" and "2025 Romance Releases You Need"

"A pure delight...It's giving '90s chick flick, in the best way." -Glamour

"Sweet and sexy." -Library Journal

"Humor, second-chance love and undeniable chemistry meld in this story... A perfect read for fans of the 2001 rom-com The Wedding Planner!" -Women's World

"I'm never forgiving Lindsay Hameroff because I stayed up way too late reading Never Planned On You when I absolutely could not put it down. I cackled with laughter, swooned for all the pining, and loved every minute of this delectable treat of a book (that should come with a sleep warning hazard)." -Ali Rosen, bestselling author of Recipe for Second Chances and Alternate Endings

"There's no sophomore slump here...Refreshingly smart, fun, and sexy, Hameroff writes a pitch-perfect love story of fate and second chances."
-Rochelle B. Weinstein, bestselling author of What You Do To Me

"Never Planned on You is a dream for an American Anglophile (like myself)! There's a dreamy bespectacled Brit, a second chance romance, and all of the witty banter you can handle. A total five star read for me." -Erin La Rosa, author of The Backtrack

"I think every woman has a "what if" guy--but Ali, the star of Lindsay Hameroff's sophomore novel, Never Planned on You, is in trouble as she's harboring feeling for the groom in the wedding she's planning. And do the two of them ever have chemistry! A delicious Baltimore snowball of a novel about juggling family, career, love, and sassy grandmothers, Never Planned on You is the perfect romantic comedy." -Sara Goodman Confino, bestselling author of Don't Forget to Write and Behind Every Good Man

"An utter delight! Never Planned on You is a witty, sweet, swoony romantic comedy that'll have readers gleefully kicking their feet. With her fresh takes on well-loved tropes, Lindsay Hameroff's comedic voice is a breath of fresh air." -Ellie Palmer, author of Four Weekends and a Funeral

"Hameroff's characters are wonderfully messy, real, struggling, and hopeful, working through their own problems and growing together as people in a way that's both heartwarming and stressful, just like real life. A charming, funny, crackling Second Chance Romance full of forced proximity, shenanigans, and second guessing, Never Planned on You is a delight!" -Emma Alban, USA Today bestselling author of Don't Want You Like a Best Friend

"Never Planned on You is sure to delight fans of second chance romance, not to mention those who swoon for cardigan-wearing Brits. Lindsay Hameroff's wit truly sparkles as her characters banter, yearn, and grow into the people they want to be." -Laura Hankin, author of One-Star Romance

"A glittering, laugh-out-loud second chance romance that reminds us true love is sometimes the one thing you never planned on." -Nerd Daily

Praise for Till There Was You:

"A fun premise and the characters charm. Hameroff shows promise."
--Publishers Weekly

"Sparkles with wit...Fans of romantic comedies and celebrity love stories will enjoy this cute romance."
--Library Journal

"Hameroff's rom-com romp is in the vein of Hallmark romance and Wattpad fan fiction, but it never veers too far from reality. Lexi and Jake have real chemistry and believable relationship problems, allowing their conflicts to feel natural and not contrived. They are also easy to root for, and readers will delight in their unlikely romance until the end."
--Booklist

"Readers are in for a treat (pun intended) because Lindsay Hameroff's debut novel is just as sweet as it is hilarious.... Till There Was You has everything you could want in a rom-com: a great meet-cute, stakes that are equally serious and silly, and laugh out loud hijinks."
--BuzzFeed

"An unforgettable debut."
--Culturess

"Debut author Lindsay Hameroff captures readers' hearts in this romantic, witty story... deliciously cute...filled with sweet moments and lovable characters."
--Woman's World

"Till There Was You explores what happens when an aspiring chef meets a musician on the edge of fame and becomes his inspiration for a hit single--in other words, it's a complete delight! Lindsay Hameroff's debut is witty, warm, and charming with a healthy dose of hilarious one-liners and clever dialogue. Fans of Emily Henry and Robinne Lee's The Idea of You are going to go crazy for this one!"
--Jennifer Close, author of Marrying the Ketchups

"Falling for a talented musician who writes dreamy songs about you is pure wish fulfillment, and that's exactly what Lindsay Hameroff delivers in Till There Was You! Fans of Holly James and Amanda Elliot won't want to miss this one!"
--Alicia Thompson, bestselling author of Love in the Time of Serial Killers

"Lindsay Hameroff blends beloved romance tropes to create a modern-day fairy tale that is both delightful and satisfying. A tasty treat, Till There Was You hits all the right notes."
-- Jean Meltzer, International Bestselling Author of The Matzah Ball

"Laugh-out-loud funny, delicious with desire, and heartbreakingly romantic. Till There Was You will make you believe in true love and make you hungry on the same page."
-- Taylor Hahn, author of The Lifestyle

"I tore through Till There Was You laughing and crying in equal measure. Lindsay Hameroff's debut romcom is equal parts sweet, sexy, and funny with surprising vulnerable depths."
-- Meredith Schorr, author of As Seen On TV

"A deeply satisfying star-crossed celebrity romance, skillfully balancing butterfly-inducing fantasy and heart-squeezing emotional honesty."
--Ava Wilder, author of How To Fake It In Hollywood

"Till There Was You is the best kind of love story--the kind where big, serious emotions live side by side with laugh-out-loud wit and glamorous escapism. Hameroff has written a celebrity romance that feels achingly real: a delicious, whirlwind tale of courtship amid rising fame (with one hell of a hot musician) that's still somehow grounded with a tender, thoughtful heart. I loved this assured debut and know it's destined for readers' favorites shelf."
--Ashley Winstead, author of The Boyfriend Candidate

"A swoon-worthy debut! Lexi is a delightfully relatable heroine, a young chef searching for authenticity in Manhattan . . . while accidentally falling for an overnight sensation, musician Jake Taylor...This book was impossible to put down, with a rom-com grand gesture that'll leave you grinning from ear-to-ear."
--Alison Greenberg, author of Bad Luck Bridesmaid

"With prose as delicious and savory as a home-cooked meal, Hameroff delivers a warm, swoony, laugh-out-loud love story between a chef and a rock star that twists well-loved tropes into something utterly fresh."
--Livy Hart, author of Talk Flirty to Me

"In Till There Was You, Hameroff gives us a recipe for romance perfection: Lexi and Jake are equal parts scorching-hot chemistry and heartfelt tenderness. This is the chef/rockstar OTP I didn't know I needed!"
--Jenny L. Howe, author of The Make-Up Test

"Every course of Till There Was You, from the sizzling appetizer to the sweet ending, is a joy. I devoured this charming second-chance romance."
--Amanda Elliot, author of Best Served Hot and Sadie on a Plate

"A dazzling debut worth savoring! With wit and heart, Hameroff crafts an immersive world of food, friendship, and fighting for your soulmate against all odds that will have readers smitten from the start."
--Holly James, author of The Déjà Glitch

About the Author

LINDSAY HAMEROFF is a writer, humorist, and former English teacher raised in Baltimore, MD and based in Harrisburg, PA. Her writing has been featured in McSweeney's Internet Tendency, The Belladonna, Weekly Humorist, and other outlets. She also co-edits Frazzled, a parenting humor site. She is the author of Till There Was You, her debut novel.