A surprising delight!

Just got around to read it after it sat on my kindle for years (and due to cvd). I honestly quite like it. Zara and Jim's POVs work so differently, which was a feat. Usually, I got the similar vibe from LF and LM, but this one didn't. At first I was disappointed that Zara's chapters were way wayyy shorter than Jim's, but then it got the other way towards the end. Zara was such a naive girl, but also precious. Glad for the happy ending too.

Never Saw You Coming is one of those stories that pulls all the emotions from you. It reminded me a bit of an Abby Jimenez or Beth O'Leary story in that I smiled and was teary equally throughout the story. I thought the characters were great and loved the writing.

This was an enjoyable read, good for people who like Beth O'Leary. It was fast paced and witty. There were a few areas where I could tell this was a debut but I am very interested in reading more from this author.

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

"Never Saw You Coming" by Hayley Doyle is a contemporary novel that takes readers on an emotional journey filled with laughter, tears, and missed chances. While it has its moments of charm and relatability, the book falls slightly short of its full potential.

The story revolves around the life of Zoe, a young woman who finds herself unexpectedly pregnant. With a mix of trepidation and excitement, Zoe navigates the complexities of impending motherhood, all while dealing with her own personal demons. Doyle's portrayal of Zoe's emotional turmoil is raw and honest, capturing the essence of her vulnerability.

One of the book's strongest points lies in its characters. Each individual is carefully crafted with unique personalities and flaws. Zoe, in particular, is a relatable protagonist whose journey resonates with readers. Her growth throughout the story is a testament to the author's ability to capture the nuances of personal transformation.

Hayley Doyle's writing style is engaging and easy to follow, making the book a quick and enjoyable read. The inclusion of humor and witty dialogue adds a touch of lightness to the otherwise heavy themes. The author's attention to detail in describing the settings and emotions is commendable, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the story.

However, the novel's pacing can be somewhat uneven. At times, the story feels rushed, with important moments and character development glossed over too quickly. This occasionally leads to missed opportunities for deeper exploration of the relationships and conflicts within the narrative.

Additionally, while the overall tone of the book is uplifting, it occasionally veers into predictable territory. Some plot twists and resolutions can be anticipated well in advance, which reduces the element of surprise and impact.

In conclusion, "Never Saw You Coming" is a heartfelt and enjoyable read that touches on important themes of love, forgiveness, and self-discovery. Despite some missed opportunities in terms of pacing and predictability, Hayley Doyle's writing shines through, offering a relatable and engaging story. Recommended for those seeking a light yet emotionally resonant contemporary novel.

Never Saw You Coming by Hayley Doyle had an interesting premise, but I found the execution of the story to be somewhat lacking. It took me forever to read this, I just wasn't feeling it.

The book follows (mostly) Zara and Jim, who meet after a fender bender and decide to embark on a road trip. Each of them is dealing with a life-changing situation and they get to know one another as they travel.

One of the things that didn't quite work for me in this book was the pacing. The romance between Zara and Jim felt rushed and not fully developed, and as a result, I didn't feel fully invested in their relationship. Additionally, some of the plot points felt somewhat contrived and not fully fleshed out.

That being said, there were some aspects of the book that I did enjoy. The concept of the road trip and the different challenges and obstacles that Zara and Jim faced along the way were interesting, and I appreciated the themes of taking risks and living life to the full.

Overall, while Never Saw You Coming had some positive aspects, it just didn't fully deliver on its potential.

I love the opposites attract storylines. This was a delightful read that I enjoyed. I am also a sucker for books set in another country that is different from my own, I will always get pulled in by those.

Not my cup of tea, sadly.
I found the characters boring and felt they didn`t have much of chemistry.
The story felt so and so.

How disappointing. Really have tried and tried with this book but unfortunately I just cannot connect enough to finish.

I wanted to love this book but I struggled to get into it. While I loved the concept, the characters fell a bit flat for my liking and the pace was a little slow. It was well written and had a sweet love story that made reading it worth it.

This was a lovely story of romance and fate, and the role fate plays in a romance. Sadly some formatting issues with my copy did take away from the story a little.

This was a wonderful uplifting romance, with likable realistic characters and a beautiful cute-meet.

It takes a look at how a chance encounter can change the trajectory of our life.
The multiple points of view from both the main characters provided a brilliant insight and kept the story moving at a wonderful pace.

This was a brilliant romance read, I can't fault it.

Loved this one! It was a fast read with interesting characters and sweet romance. Would recommend it to all the romance lovers out there.

Never Saw You Coming features Zara and Jim Two people who couldn't be more different if they tried.

Zara lives in Dubai, with a pretty easy life.

Zara met Nick a while ago and although they only spent a few memorable hours together, thanks to the wonders of the internet, they have stayed in touch and she decides to move to Liverpool, to finish her degree and to start her life with Nick. Nick, however is unaware of this and when Zara arrives in Liverpool, things don't quite go as smoothly as planned.

Jim lives in Liverpool, has a job that he doesn't like and is going nowhere but since the sudden death of his father, he feels that he needs to always be around for his mum.
Whilst at work, Jim receives an unexpected call from a local radio station and surprisingly, within a few minutes, he is the proud owner of a brand new car that he's told will be worth £50,000. Jim plans to sell the car and treat his mum to a holiday to Florida where his two sisters live so she can finally meet her grandchildren in real life.

But as Zara has already found out. Things don't always go to plan. On his way to sell the car, Zara crashes in to him.

The book was a little slow to get going but once it gets a hold of you, you're a goner.

Zara and Jim are both very well written people who you find yourself rooting for throughout.

Jim's mum and his close group of friends from childhood are fantastic secondary characters

Very highly recommended.

I wasn't able to finish this book due to the formatting, alternating long lines and short lines with no spaces between paragraphs. Very hard to follow, impossible to do it for an entire book. I did like the premise and I really liked that it had alternating points of view.

I liked this, not my usual genre of book but it was refreshing to be honest and I enjoyed it, I liked Jim and Anna and I thought it was a lovely story of fate and what could be! Good easy read

What a lovely story . Two people starting from stagnant lives, trying to find a light in life. They crash into each other and through a series of fate and circumstance teed carefully to that light.

An enjoyable read that I will go on to recommend. I found the characters interesting and the plot line engaging. Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Jim had dreams, a degree but it's wasted whilst he works in a Liverpool toll booth but his life changes when he wins a car.
Zara, a rich 'lost' lady from Dubai flies to Liverpool to meet her boyfriend but all is not it seems.
A chance meeting between Jim and Zara changes their lives forever.
Dreams, lost chances and wanderlust is the crux of this story.

This book was a surprise! I really liked it, and the whole storytelling. I’m looking forward to read more from this author.