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From the author of Recipe for Second Chances comes a swoonworthy romance bursting with wit about a therapist who falls for the wrong man…but perhaps the right one was hiding in the margins all along. As a relationship therapist, Nora helps patients explore their feelings honestly. But she’s hiding an embarrassing relationship secret of her own: she’s in love with someone she’s never even met. J edits the advice column Nora’s been writing anonymously for the last seven years. He’s in London, she’s in New York, and they communicate solely through shared files. When he confides that his girlfriend’s out of the picture, and her boss asks her to come to London, Nora takes both as a sign. But that’s not the only thing on her mind. A client’s ex-boyfriend just moved into her co-op, directly beneath her. Eli blames Nora for his breakup and seems determined to make her life miserable, gleefully planning a noisy renovation. Yet despite all his bluster, Nora eventually starts to see the softness behind Eli’s brusque, charming exterior…and after a slipup reveals a startling secret, Nora wonders whether someone can be two things at once.
Publication Year: 2025
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I absolutely adored Alternate Endings, so I was really looking forward to Unlikely Story. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me—which is a nice way of saying I was bored. I pretty much figured out the entire plot just from the synopsis, which isn’t unusual for romance novels, but this one just didn’t land in the entertainment department. I found myself skimming a lot.
I really liked J, but Eli? Not so much. I definitely experienced the whole love at first write, hate at first sight tagline when it came to that dynamic. But more than that, I just didn’t find anything particularly substantial about the story. There were way too many loose ends: her parents, Eli’s cat while he was gone, and some side characters who added absolutely nothing to the plot and weren't interesting.
That said, I did enjoy the sense of community in their apartment building, and of course, George. Can’t leave him behind.
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I feel very conflicted about this book. There were times I couldn’t stand some of the characters and times I caught myself tearing up or smiling while reading. Not a book that I’ll particularly remember or think to recommend.