Series: The Ladies Who Brunch #4
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Release Date: January 27th, 2023
Add to Goodreads | Amazon.in (Available on KU)
CW: mentions of cancer, infertility
“Are you seriously hitting on me right now while I have breastmilk all over my shirt?”
When Grant Thomas, the handsome stranger standing in front of me in line at the coffee shop, stripped his uniform shirt off and handed it to me, I could have sworn I was on an episode of Punked. Not only was the man Gabe Kapler’s doppelganger, but he was also a pilot and good with babies, which my six month-old daughter could attest to as she settled in his arms while I changed into his shirt, contemplating all of my life choices at that moment.
Being a single mom is a lot harder than I thought it would be, but that was the decision I made when I chose to have a child via sperm donor since I was tired of waiting on Mr. Right.
But suddenly, Mr. I’m-Too-Sexy-for-my-Shirt appears in my life—not only once, but twice—and has me wondering where the hell he’s been and why I didn’t meet him sooner?
Grant demonstrates time and again that he’s invested in me and my daughter, shows up for me when I need him the most, and makes my toes curl in a way I didn’t know was possible.
He’s perfect. Our relationship is perfect.
Until it’s not.
When the inkling that I’m missing something comes to fruition, there’s only one question I need to answer…
Will my heart end up broken like every time before, leaving me destined to be alone?
Or could our path to find one another prove that not everything happens as planned?
Harlow James’ Ladies Who Brunch series is made up of the most amazing friendships ever. That’s the thing I love most about these books. The four women who spend their Sundays drinking and talking and having a good time are truly such an incredible group. And then you add in fantastic steam, entertaining humour and gorgeous men; you have a series that will keep you hooked! From the first book, I’ve been waiting to see what would happen with Noelle as she embarks on her journey to have a child on her own and it was so beautiful! The doubts, the guilty, the struggles and the friendships continue to be so wonderfully written.
In Not As Planned, you’ll find:
✨ great friends groups
✨ strangers to friends to lovers
✨ single mother
✨ insta love/lust
✨ slow burn
✨ age gap
✨ wide open doors
✨ opposites attract
Noelle and Grant’s story is swoony, no doubt. It’s got all the makings of absolute magic and wonder and I loved how Harlow handled the combination of their romance and Scarlett being present in all of the scenes. Their meet cute was absolutely adorable and every interaction they have after that is so great. The chemistry is out of this world, but that doesn’t surprise me because Harlow James does chemistry and banter so well. Watching Grant and Noelle navigate their friendship and connection was so great too.
I’m a sucker for a single parent romance, and obviously single dads are super awesome, but there’s something about a single mom that really hits the spot. Harlow did such an incredible job of showing us Noelle’s journey from the first book all the way into this one, plus, what it’s like after the baby is born and you’re trying to do it all. Grant walking into their life and putting both Noelle and Scarlett on his priority list was definitely the swoon factor I was hoping for. I loved how he incorporated the little girl into all their plans and made sure that Noelle was safe and comfortable at all times when she was with him.
Now I cannot wait for Jeffery’s book, because he’s always been such an entertaining character through the series!
Thanks to Harlow James for generously providing me with an advance copy. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
anna reads here 