I love a missed opportunity romance! Ethan and Stella had one night where they connected and shared a kiss, but days later she started dating his best friend. She and Ethan haven't gotten along well since. Fast forward to a single Stella, with a bucket list that includes finding The One That Got Away (clearly this ex, right? lol), discovering that she'll be working with Ethan for a project. He's grumpy, he's hot, and he's going to help her with this list. And he might just be the One That Got Away.

The enemies to lovers vibes are impeccable, as is Ethan's painful past. I love a gruff, brooding hero and a cynical, no-nonsense heroine. These characters and their grief and respective traumas are handled so beautifully and gently. And I love the angst of 'how can I have feelings for my best friend's ex when I owe my life to him'. This romance has so much heart and depth, plus all the swoons. It's the second in a series but you don't need to read the first one (although it's good so you should!)

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Net Galley and Fox Hollow Publishing LLC for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. I found this book to be a very enjoyable and an easy read. It is shelved as a Enemies-to Friends trope but I really didn't see Stella & Ethan as true enemies. They shared a brief kiss in the past, but then their lives moved on. . .except hers was with his best friend. Fast forward and they are now going to be working together--a bit awkward. Stella & Ethan manage to put their past behind them for work and also on a "bucket list" project that Stella has 30 days to complete to ensure an inheritance. I enjoyed the writing style with text messages and emails thrown in. The premise of the book was different and intriguing. I would recommend this book.

I love a good Second chance romance. The tension was so real between Ethan and Stella. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time waiting for them to address the night that they kissed and what happened after. Ethan's loyalty to Ben (Ethan's best friend and Stella's ex) really riled me up because where was Ben's loyalty to Ethan??! Ethan is also dealing with his own past and insecurities and coming to term with the death of his mother. Stella becomes a source of support for him, and it was great to see how they could both lean on each other in the aftermath of their respective family members' deaths. They fit each other so well. Their relationship was definitely a slow burn, but it was worth it!

Can't wait to read Maddie's love story next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Fox Hollow Publishing for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley, Chrissy Hopewell, and Fox Hollow Publishing LLC for the early access copy of Unless It’s You.

Unless It’s You is an enemies-to-lovers romcom following Stella and Ethan.

Stella is tasked to complete a bucket-list from her late great-aunt in only a month or she and her siblings will lose their inheritance. In comes Ethan, the brooding best friend of Stella’s ex-boyfriend. Ethan and Stella are forced to work together for a marketing campaign for an organization to help youth-in-need. During this time Stella has one month to fulfill her bucket-list. Ethan is tasked to help her be an advisor to make sure all the items on the list or done.

Spending time together, the two see each other for who they are. This story is easy to fall into and not want to come out of.

The story’s tropes are:
Dual point-of-view,
Forced proximity, and
Enemies to lovers.

Unless It’s You touches on topics of grief, substance abuse, and child neglect.

I really loved both MCs a lot. Stella just wants someone to see the real her and love her unconditionally. Ethan just wants someone to pick him, to unequivocally choose HIM. They both have trauma from past relationships and that really messed them up for future relationships.

This book made me tear up a little in different ways. Stella and her close relationship with Evelyn was so beautiful. She had someone who truly saw her and understood her and then she died. It was bittersweet. The bucket list was such a good way to say goodbye though.

Then there was Ethan with his mother. To love someone who should have always put you first but never did is heartbreaking. I really loved how this storyline was treated. His mom was imperfect and this book never tries to sugarcoat that. I appreciated that and his journey into finding closure with her.

There was a lot of miscommunication in this with other people inserting themselves and saying things that weren’t necessarily true. I really didn’t mind too much because I know it was playing on each of their trauma responses from past relationships.

Overall, I really liked this book a lot. For a book about loss and grief it was really uplifting and positive.

The story of Stella and Ethan. The were never friends but now they are working together and he is helping her fulfilling tasks for her great Aunts will. I liked how it was told from both points of view. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

Unless It's You by Chrissy Hopewell
4.5 ⭐

Stella is mourning the death of her favourite person in the world, her great aunt Evelyn. However, Evelyn had other plans for Stella and her sisters after her death - a bucket list each to complete in twenty eight days to inherit her wealth. Or everything goes to the charity. Independent and stubborn Stella finds it difficult to stay on track with her bucket list,cause her great aunt knows her very well and has the things she fears in life as her activities to earn the inheritance.
Ethan had a difficult childhood, with an absentee mother who always chose drugs and other men over her own son. Still, her death hits him hard and he is unable to face it. But when he meets Stella after almost a year, things change gradually. Both of them open up just a little bit and experience the chemistry between them. However, can they fully open their hearts to each other and not let their insecurities take charge?

Trigger Warnings~ death of loved ones (past) and absentee drug addict parent (historical).

The story plot was unique and engaging, keeping the readers hooked from beginning to end. The author skillfully portrays the complex emotions of grief and loss, as well as the challenges faced by the characters in overcoming their personal struggles. The chemistry between Stella and Ethan is palpable, and their journey of healing and self-discovery is beautifully depicted.

The thing I disliked was that I felt the supporting characters, especially Gemma, Helen, and Ben, were not shown positively. So I was surprised when they were shown to be supportive and caring about Stella and Ethan almost at the end of the novel. I also felt that personally, neither Stella nor Ethan were very relatable to me, so I enjoyed the novel a little less.

This is the second book in the Hart Sisters series but can be read as a standalone. This book, however, continues from the first book - If We Pretend: A Fake Dating Scottish Sports Romance, but from the second Hart sister and her love interest's point of view.

Overall, this is a compelling and heartfelt story that explores themes of love, resilience, and the power of human connection.

Feel-good rom-com which will make you feel good as well after reading. The story tries to make you believe in happy endings, eternal love, fairytale and it succeeds. Ethan's baggage from his difficult childhood is portrayed well and the author captures the emotions perfectly. Stella with her fair share of insecurities, difficulties finally manages to find the right person to fall in love with and makes us cheer for them in that journey. It's a good read and so I'm going with a 3-star.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this story. 4/5 stars for me.

Ethan and Stella’s enemies to lovers story was good and entertaining. Stella loses her aunt and Ethan has lost his mum. These two have more in common than one would think. And then their adventure begins. I liked Stella, I just wish these two would have communicated better in the beginning. But we wouldn’t have had their story if they had.

Tropes:
Dual POV
Forced Proximity
Enemies to lovers

NetGalley read.

3 stars. Apart from the miscommunication trope, a really good book!

Unless it's you is the second part in the series, but works really well as a standalone. The main characters Ethan and Stella are both recovering from the loss of a loved one. Stella's great-aunt has died, and left behind the bucket list she made for Stella. Ethan, a friend of Stella's ex, starts helping Stella. Ethan and Stella had a brief moment a few years before, when they might have ended up together.

The book follows Ethan and Stella's pain with loss, and on the other hand, the dynamic between them is in the center. The main characters are likable. The book was easy to read, and the events progressed naturally.

The book would have gotten four stars from me if miscommunication wasn't such a central part of the plot of this book. Third act break up is something I usually hate and I find miscommunication frustrating. Apart from these points, I think the book was really good.

What to expect:
Difficult past
Dual POV
Forced proximity
HEA
One bed
Second chance
The one that got away
Third act break up

Couldn’t put this book down! Stella and Ethan are both graving The loss of loved ones in different ways that is bringing them back together and unexpected ways. The authors use of a bucket list left by Stella’s great aunt was seamlessly intertwined into the plot in a very creative way in which it was a joy to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Fox Hollow Publishing for providing access to the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were likeable - I didn’t always agree with them but I could understand their motivations which honestly is not always the case in romance novels

I loved how they handled grief and loss. We had two different views and that was so moving and refreshing

For me what made it four stars not five is the side characters felt less like meaningful support cast and more like plot devices. They were useful but they were very 2D.

However I have and will recommend this to people looking for a fun romance

The plot drew me in. A Bucket list with an enemy sounds like my cup of tea. Stella was given 5 tasks to complete in order to gain her share of her Great Aunt Evelyn's inheritance. Evelyn had created 5 bucket lists tasks for Stella and her two sisters to complete , each sent on their own journey with set of rules. They cannot discuss their bucket list with eachother and they must have an advisor to witness their journey. Stella reluctantly agreed to Ethan's offer of being her advisor, We quickly learn that they both shared a past. Ethan was introduced as her ex boyfriend Ben's, best friend, her client and now her advisor.

We follow Stella and Ethan's story of where their past history / emotions meet with the present. This book has a few good tropes ; Ex's Best Friend, Close proximity, enemies to lovers, angst, OW/OM.. The list goes on. There are some sensitive topics mentioned such as grief, childhood abandonment and resentment.

This is written in dual POV, my ultimate favourite! It's then i am able to connect with Stella, her past relationship with her ex Ben, and how she came to have the "hate" from Ethan. Dual Pov then gave me the opportunity to learn of Ethan's childhood and his past / history with Stella

I liked the style of writing, very easy to get into. The author even included emails and text conversations making their story feel more personal. I love this in books! I found Stella and Ethan had great chemistry together. I enjoyed watching their journey of their own personal growth, overcoming their own past and issues while trying to fix their time in the present

Overall, This is a heartwarming book, with a strong plot, likeable FMC/MMC , has heaps of emotion and witty banter. Personally I'm not keen on miscommunication, especially since they're in their 30s but I'm assuming the author wanted to create the angst and drama which she definitely did succeed in doing. She had me screaming but in a good way as it showed how hard their story drew me in✨4/5✨

Release date - 15th April 2024

✨ Thank you to Chrissy Hopewell, her publishing team and NetGallery for the ARC in exchange for my honest review ✨

"Unless It's You: An Enemies-to-Lovers London Romance" by Chrissy Hopewell is like diving into a cozy rom-com with a twist of British charm. Stella, our heroine, faces a quirky challenge from beyond the grave, courtesy of her late aunt. Enter Ethan, the grumpy, tattooed ex-rugby player with a heart of gold, who begrudgingly becomes Stella's partner-in-crime. The banter is sweet, the tension is palpable, and the character dynamics are a rollercoaster of emotions. While the miscommunication trope may irk some, the journey of self-discovery and budding romance makes it a page-turner. With its blend of humor, heart, and a touch of spice, "Unless It's You" is a delightful escape into the world of love, loss, and unexpected connections. Overall, it's a solid 4/5 stars from me, with anticipation for more from the Hart sisters' series.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A forced proximity romance set in London? Sign me up!
I told myself when starting this book that I wanted to take my time and really take everything in, and yet, I still ended up DEVOURING it in two sittings.

What I loved:
A strong female main character who won't compromise what she believes for a man. Our girl Stella knows what she wants and what's important to her and refuses to settle.
Sweet, flirty banter with a delightful amount of tension
The spice was earned! There was a significant buildup, and I was screaming at my Kindle, begging for these two to just give in and hook up already.
Ethan! Grumpy, check. Tattooed? Check. Former rugby player with a heart of gold and mommy issues? Double and triple-check.

What I didn't love as much:
If you hate miscommunication tropes, this may not be the book for you. The main characters live in their own heads a lot, and it does get a little frustrating that they won't just talk to each other.
The opening was a bit rough, and the character development was a bit choppy, but once you get past the set-up, it flows much better.
It's not my favorite when authors get meta and their characters refer to their own relationship as "enemies to lovers." Just a personal pet peeve.

Overall, I really enjoyed Unless It's You, and I will be seeking out the first book in the series and then waiting for the third.

Thank you to NetGalley and Fox Hollow Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A great read! I enjoyed the storyline and it's unlike others I've read.
Caught up in a love triangle/enemy turned lover situation, Stella navigates her Aunts will with Ethan as her advisor. Assigned 5 bucket list items written for her, Ethan helps her complete each one, with special focus on #5 that he didn't even know he was assisting with. Stella also helps Ethan navigate the loss of his mother and getting closure. A slower start to this book, but in the end, I loved the character growth and relationship development.
Also, as a side note, I enjoyed the female being at fault and having to win back the love of the man because it's usually the other way around!

One of my very favorite arcs ever! Thank you so much NetGalley and publishing company. I am about to read the first sister’s book once I submit this review because I’m OBSESSED. I laughed out loud reading this book while other times I was trying to read through tears that blurred my vision. These characters were incredibly well written. I can’t wait to read more from Chrissy and for the third book to come out this fall. Amazing read!! Cannot recommend enough!

Old people really can't mind their own business, even from the grave. In this book, our girl has to jump through some hoops to get that sweet, sweet dead auntie inheritance or it'll be given to charity, and auntie will make sure it's one she hates. Who hates charity, you ask? Stella just might. She doesn't want kids or marriage, so something must be wrong with her. Dead auntie is determined to get her laid. Nice sentiment, I guess. As she tries to complete the list, she gets help from a hot, romance novel-reading rugby player. Don't get too excited for the spice in this one. It's pretty short-lived and the scenes feel rushed. The workplace enemies sort of trope works well as they navigate the early flirtation. It felt a bit easy, the way the main characters got over perceived dislike and went straight to vulnerability. I kept thinking I had missed a get to know you and hate you less chapter. It was a light, quick read with a sweet story.

I am very excited to be reading this book! My full review to follow.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Reading Unless it’s You motivated me to contact my library and request Hopewell’s books be acquired so I can read more. This is an engaging-from-the-start story with likable characters. The plot is predictable, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the journey and rooting for a HEA. Recommend. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️