Review: “Unwritten” by Jenna Hartley

Author: Jenna Hartley

Series: The Salvation Society; Love in LA

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Steam: 🔥🔥

Tropes: Pen Pals, Man in Uniform, Friends to Lovers

Release Date: December 6th, 2020

Synopsis: He’s arrogant and insufferable.

But the more I get to know Connor, the more I see beneath the tough exterior.

He’s a hero, and he’s hurting.

We’ve never met, yet I’m drawn to help him.

There’s a connection I can’t deny. A pull I can’t ignore.

Is it crazy to think I might be falling for a man sight unseen?

Review: Everyone knows just how much I adored and loved Unpredictable and the rest of the books in the Love in LA series, so when Jenna Hartley announced that she was giving us a chance to find out how Olivia and Connor met and fell in love, I obviously jumped at the chance to read the book in advance. For those who don’t know it yet, Olivia is the daughter of Harrison Hayes (silver fox, former NFL player and the hero of Unpredictable).

“An unwritten story, a future with limitless potential.”

This was exactly as I expected it would be – flipping cute! I loved the side of Olivia we got to see in Harrison’s book, but I didn’t think I could love her more than that. Olivia is a quiet beauty who works a lot and is not looking for anything too big or fancy to get through life. Thanks to famous parents, she chooses to live under the radar because it’s easier and far more convenient for her. Through her job with a publishing firm, Olivia sets up a really thoughtful initiative for soldiers – it gives them a chance to read books and make a new friend while they’re away for long periods of time.

And through ‘Spines for Soldiers’, Olivia meets Connor. While she’s quiet, reserved and slightly insecure, Connor is the complete opposite. A former Navy SEAL, Connor is all kinds of hot and sexy and dangerous. He’s on desk duty and to keep him busy during his off time, Connor gets signed up for ‘Spines for Soldiers’ and the rest is, as the kids say, history.

Their first few interactions are exclusively through email and I must admit that their so called ‘meet cute’ was all kinds of hilarious and perfect. Even through emails, their chemistry is palatable and I loved how easily Olivia is affected by Connor. Once he stops putting her on the spot, Connor and Olivia’s relationship becomes so much more exciting – for both of them. Their relationship builds through texts and emails and phone conversations. And Olivia is afraid that once Connor meets her, the affection and excitement he feels around her will fade away. The truth is that he’s only more drawn to her than he was before.

“I’d never expected this—her, any of it.”

While it’s not entirely a friends to lovers situation, it fits that more or less because they go from being friends through their emails to becoming something more. I definitely loved their relationship since Connor brings Olivia out of her shell all the time. When they’re together, she’s far more relaxed and open and it’s so nice to see that side. We see some of that in Unpredictable, but to see it in their own book was something special.

Since we already know what happens for Olivia and Connor, there are really no spoilers, but trust me when I say that if you thought you loved them in Harrison and Juliana’s book, you’re going to love them even more in Unwritten.

Thanks to Jenna Hartley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.