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This Wasn't The Plan
Event planner Sabrina Everette is known for executing flawless events—so she can plan for anything, right? Wrong. Because she didn’t plan to be teamed up with Reid to plan a joint bachelor and bachelorette weekend in Lake Tahoe.
Reid Richardson is everything Sabrina does not need right now. He a cocky, go-with-the-flow playboy who’s way too handsome for his own good. Sabrina’s got a carefully tabbed and highlighted itinerary, Reid’s wondering if they could fit a mechanical bull in the living room. She’s trying not to pull out her hair, and he keeps wondering if she likes it pulled.
One blizzard later, the two of them are snowed in and Sabrina can’t deny that her perfectly curated weekend is in frozen shambles. Or that tensions are thawing between her and Reid…fast.
Spending the weekend trapped in a cabin with a man she can’t stand wasn’t on her radar, but you know what they say about the best laid plans…
This Wasn't The Plan is a full length, stand-alone novel with a HEA, witty banter, and enough steamy heat to melt six feet of snow.
Reid Richardson is everything Sabrina does not need right now. He a cocky, go-with-the-flow playboy who’s way too handsome for his own good. Sabrina’s got a carefully tabbed and highlighted itinerary, Reid’s wondering if they could fit a mechanical bull in the living room. She’s trying not to pull out her hair, and he keeps wondering if she likes it pulled.
One blizzard later, the two of them are snowed in and Sabrina can’t deny that her perfectly curated weekend is in frozen shambles. Or that tensions are thawing between her and Reid…fast.
Spending the weekend trapped in a cabin with a man she can’t stand wasn’t on her radar, but you know what they say about the best laid plans…
This Wasn't The Plan is a full length, stand-alone novel with a HEA, witty banter, and enough steamy heat to melt six feet of snow.
- GenresRom ComEnemies To Lovers
364 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 22, 2024
2 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
February 19, 2024
Writing this review at 2am...if that doesn't to tell you enough the book is very character driven with amazing growth while also having such a good plot
I received this book as a ARC and loved it so much
I received this book as a ARC and loved it so much
January 13, 2025
This was cute! But also not great…. Lets get into it-
I was in love with Reid. He immediately knew he wanted Sabrina and was determined to be his best self for her. He made his feelings known from the very beginning, even if they weren’t directly vocalized. Did we have a third act break up? Yes, and it was irritating. But, I kinda understood why? Idk.. I go back and forth on it. But, the way he gets her back is so beyond sweet that I’m not mad about it. It was truly a beautiful redemption.
Sabrina was spunky. She was hard headed, driven, passionate, and fantastically confident in her ability to do her job and do it well. However, and this is a big however, these positive traits were also negative and annoying. She has so stubborn that she would get nasty with Aaron and it was so irritating. I totally understand that trauma was a big factor in this, as well as the fear of everything changing within her friend group, but I cannot tell you how many times I was pissed and annoyed with her. Like dude he was being so nice to you and then you bit his head off? AGAIN? I understand wanting the reverse grumpy/sunshine, but this was overkill. I work with people who have gone through extreme trauma, and have also experienced a lot myself, but there’s trauma response, and then there’s just plain writing an unlikeable FMC. This is supposed to be a silly little romance, but Sabrina was often coming across as a bully.
I loved Sabrina’s friends! They were all spunky like her, which was so fun. I especially loved Izabelle! She was the most level headed and realistic of the group, and she saw the good in Reid and that he was genuine about his love for Sabrina. I melted that she wanted to guide him to how he could win Sabrina back.
Jake was annoying for most of the book. At the end, he explained to Reid why he was so cold towards him, which made mostly everything make sense, but him telling everyone that Reid is a fuck boy and can’t do anything right, was so unnecessary and cruel. Why did you ask him to be your best man then? The ‘oldest friend’ thing didn’t seem like a big enough reason. And the reason you were mad had nothing to do with Reid’s sex life? I loved that Reid stood up for himself and said that Jake was just assuming how he was behaving and that he only thought of him as high school/college Reid.
Okay, so the redemption part… Sabrina had no moment of ‘hey maybe I’m still into him and want to go for it?’. No inner dialogue or conversation with friends. Just a total random flip. It went from ‘I’m going to ignore him the whole trip’ to randomly flirting that same night to ‘yeah I want him back and forgive him’. It felt so rushed and unnatural.
Spice was pretty good! Which I was shocked by. However, you could make a drinking game out of how many times the author said flip, flutter, and zing. Seriously, pick different words.
Overall, it was cute, but i will honestly probably forget about it and not recommend to friends. I don’t want to be mean, but it truly just wasn’t solid writing. I’m really into dumb little romance books, but this just wasn’t great. The premise was so fun, I just wish it could have been more thought out and had better writing.
3.2 ⭐️
3 🌶️
I was in love with Reid. He immediately knew he wanted Sabrina and was determined to be his best self for her. He made his feelings known from the very beginning, even if they weren’t directly vocalized. Did we have a third act break up? Yes, and it was irritating. But, I kinda understood why? Idk.. I go back and forth on it. But, the way he gets her back is so beyond sweet that I’m not mad about it. It was truly a beautiful redemption.
Sabrina was spunky. She was hard headed, driven, passionate, and fantastically confident in her ability to do her job and do it well. However, and this is a big however, these positive traits were also negative and annoying. She has so stubborn that she would get nasty with Aaron and it was so irritating. I totally understand that trauma was a big factor in this, as well as the fear of everything changing within her friend group, but I cannot tell you how many times I was pissed and annoyed with her. Like dude he was being so nice to you and then you bit his head off? AGAIN? I understand wanting the reverse grumpy/sunshine, but this was overkill. I work with people who have gone through extreme trauma, and have also experienced a lot myself, but there’s trauma response, and then there’s just plain writing an unlikeable FMC. This is supposed to be a silly little romance, but Sabrina was often coming across as a bully.
I loved Sabrina’s friends! They were all spunky like her, which was so fun. I especially loved Izabelle! She was the most level headed and realistic of the group, and she saw the good in Reid and that he was genuine about his love for Sabrina. I melted that she wanted to guide him to how he could win Sabrina back.
Jake was annoying for most of the book. At the end, he explained to Reid why he was so cold towards him, which made mostly everything make sense, but him telling everyone that Reid is a fuck boy and can’t do anything right, was so unnecessary and cruel. Why did you ask him to be your best man then? The ‘oldest friend’ thing didn’t seem like a big enough reason. And the reason you were mad had nothing to do with Reid’s sex life? I loved that Reid stood up for himself and said that Jake was just assuming how he was behaving and that he only thought of him as high school/college Reid.
Okay, so the redemption part… Sabrina had no moment of ‘hey maybe I’m still into him and want to go for it?’. No inner dialogue or conversation with friends. Just a total random flip. It went from ‘I’m going to ignore him the whole trip’ to randomly flirting that same night to ‘yeah I want him back and forgive him’. It felt so rushed and unnatural.
Spice was pretty good! Which I was shocked by. However, you could make a drinking game out of how many times the author said flip, flutter, and zing. Seriously, pick different words.
Overall, it was cute, but i will honestly probably forget about it and not recommend to friends. I don’t want to be mean, but it truly just wasn’t solid writing. I’m really into dumb little romance books, but this just wasn’t great. The premise was so fun, I just wish it could have been more thought out and had better writing.
3.2 ⭐️
3 🌶️
April 3, 2024
I. LOVED. IT!
This truly felt like a Hallmark winter movie, but then on paper, especially regarding the setting of the story. The setting of being snowed in in a cabin and staying in with good food and a warm fireplace really set the scene. I liked how the characters developed during the story. It felt a bit like a grumpy/sunshine story, but one where the MMC is more sunshine, go-with-the-flow, easy-going and the FMC is rather pissed off, annoyed and strict. At some point, I was a bit frustrated by how fast Sabrina was in 'fight-modus', while she didn't make it clear to Reid why (okay, they need to be on time, but why?). I loved how the humor of Reid could clear the air and how the use of spreadsheets and color-coding turned into something they could both laugh about. I love how supportive their friends were. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This truly felt like a Hallmark winter movie, but then on paper, especially regarding the setting of the story. The setting of being snowed in in a cabin and staying in with good food and a warm fireplace really set the scene. I liked how the characters developed during the story. It felt a bit like a grumpy/sunshine story, but one where the MMC is more sunshine, go-with-the-flow, easy-going and the FMC is rather pissed off, annoyed and strict. At some point, I was a bit frustrated by how fast Sabrina was in 'fight-modus', while she didn't make it clear to Reid why (okay, they need to be on time, but why?). I loved how the humor of Reid could clear the air and how the use of spreadsheets and color-coding turned into something they could both laugh about. I love how supportive their friends were. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 26, 2025
okay at first i was notttt liking this book at all, the beginning just didn’t grab me. but as i kept reading, i started to really enjoy it! i loved sabrina and reid’s flirting and chemistry, and also reid’s redemption from being annoying to actually so lovable lol. the book perfectly portrayed the excitement and twinkle of a new relationship and it made me feel vicariously giddy!
April 7, 2024
Oh my, what a great book this is! So much I loved about it—-the characters, all the witty banter, the way that the people I didn’t like in the beginning turned out to be my favorites!
Jake and Izabelle are getting married. The story starts with his proposal and the engagement party. Sabrina, event planner extraordinaire, is one of the maids of honor. Reid, whom we learn is a “spoiled” rich boy, is one of the best men. Together they’re in charge of putting together a joint bachelorette/bachelor’s weekend trip for skiing at Lake Tahoe.
And that’s when all the complications happened! And when they began to really know each other! And then the whole weekend went sideways 😁
I loved this one! It’s a wonderful story and, as all good stories do, it left me wanting more.
My thanks to BookSirens for the digital copy of this book. My review is voluntary.
Jake and Izabelle are getting married. The story starts with his proposal and the engagement party. Sabrina, event planner extraordinaire, is one of the maids of honor. Reid, whom we learn is a “spoiled” rich boy, is one of the best men. Together they’re in charge of putting together a joint bachelorette/bachelor’s weekend trip for skiing at Lake Tahoe.
And that’s when all the complications happened! And when they began to really know each other! And then the whole weekend went sideways 😁
I loved this one! It’s a wonderful story and, as all good stories do, it left me wanting more.
My thanks to BookSirens for the digital copy of this book. My review is voluntary.
March 11, 2024
Cute setting, great concept, I liked everything but…. Why did the FMC irritate me so much? Maybe it’s a me problem. For 50% of the book she seemed to be gaslighting the MMC all the time, but it was masked under the guise of being stressed/worried. Honestly I don’t know why he liked her so much when it just seemed like she lied and belittled him constantly.
Don’t get me wrong, I still really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down, Sabrina just rubbed me the wrong way and I didn’t like how she treated Reid.
Also was that an ELF reference in there?
*I received this ARC for free and am leaving this review voluntarily*
Don’t get me wrong, I still really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down, Sabrina just rubbed me the wrong way and I didn’t like how she treated Reid.
Also was that an ELF reference in there?
*I received this ARC for free and am leaving this review voluntarily*
March 1, 2024
This Wasn’t the Plan by Kallista Kohl is a steamy, forced proximity romance told in a Dual POV.
The MC’s met at their best friend’s surprise engagement party. Their meeting doesn’t go so well, but then are thrown together to plan a Bachelor & Bachelorette Party. All the fighting got a bit too much for me, but I absolutely loved Reid. I also loved Sabrina’s friends. Overall it was a good read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The MC’s met at their best friend’s surprise engagement party. Their meeting doesn’t go so well, but then are thrown together to plan a Bachelor & Bachelorette Party. All the fighting got a bit too much for me, but I absolutely loved Reid. I also loved Sabrina’s friends. Overall it was a good read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 21, 2024
First off the FMC shares a name with me and that is not something I see often and so of course I needed to read this! Though most our similarities may end there, I really enjoyed seeing how her need for one weekend to go so well turned her into this ridiculous stubborn person and it almost cost her her life. Reid was refreshing in being honest about who he was and letting Sabrina know when she was wrong. While she brings in the more serious, he brings in the fun/relaxing parts (wait…I think I just described me and my husband there…). I absolutely loved how he knew he screwed up while he was doing it and then with a little help from Sabrina’s friend, did the perfect thing to try and make up for it. Great read! I loved every minute of it!
I received an ARC for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an ARC for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 20, 2024
Quintessential romance for me!! The perfect amount of steam! I loved the characters and the way they developed. I was wrapped up in the story from the start and stayed up late to finish it! So, so good! I read this thanks to an ARC and can’t wait for the rest of the world to get their hands on it! So cute!
February 19, 2024
Dual POV
Forced proximity
Strong female friendships
Top tier banter
We immediately meet all the friends at Izabelle and Jake’s surprise engagement party that Sabrina planned.
FMC Sabrina is THE type A event planner. She leaves no stone unturned, takes no shit, and is truly a boss - running her own company in the Bay Area.
MMC Reid has a reputation that unfortunately proceeds him. He isolates himself on the east coast waters and lives on a boat (read:yacht), and is thrown into a handful of plot twists when his best friend proposes to a woman he didn’t even know was in the picture.
Sabrina, Izabelle, Ava, and Cam are one helluva friends group. I love them. I wish I was invited to their Friendsgivings and weekly outings at their local bar. If Izabelle asked me to be a bridesmaid, I’d say yes.
The longest running joke with our bridal party is “Did you check the Google Doc?” And reading how similar this interaction of pure exasperation is between Sabrina and Reid brought me so much joy. Where my type A gals at?
“Seriously? Why does no one read my Google Docs? What have I done to deserve this? I color-code them and everything! They’re so user friendly.”
Sabrina, girl. My neck. Your mood swings are giving me whiplash. The turmoil of knowing your friends dynamic is changing, and no matter how much a control freak Sabrina is, she has zero control over stopping the changes, the weather, or whatever greater plans the universe have for her.
Her continuous downward spiral as the weather ruins her best laid plans is heartbreaking — you can’t help but feel for her. We’ve all been there. We have a preconceived notion of exactly how something is going to go — but it does not go as planned, even when you start to concede and make adjustments.
And while nothing goes to plan around her, Reid is there working to breakdown her walls and helping to salvage the weekend with this patience and sense of humor.
Reid is the definition of “if he wanted to, he would.” I love him. How he works with Izabelle to conspire Sabrina’s favor is *chef kiss*.
I am glad Jake and Reid have a very honest conversation around their friendship, and it’s not something pushed under the rug or an off-page afterthought. I appreciated that.
A perfect balance of plot and character to move this along. I didn’t want it to end. I wanted a longer epilogue — there are things I NEED to know.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you BookSirens.
Forced proximity
Strong female friendships
Top tier banter
We immediately meet all the friends at Izabelle and Jake’s surprise engagement party that Sabrina planned.
FMC Sabrina is THE type A event planner. She leaves no stone unturned, takes no shit, and is truly a boss - running her own company in the Bay Area.
MMC Reid has a reputation that unfortunately proceeds him. He isolates himself on the east coast waters and lives on a boat (read:yacht), and is thrown into a handful of plot twists when his best friend proposes to a woman he didn’t even know was in the picture.
Sabrina, Izabelle, Ava, and Cam are one helluva friends group. I love them. I wish I was invited to their Friendsgivings and weekly outings at their local bar. If Izabelle asked me to be a bridesmaid, I’d say yes.
The longest running joke with our bridal party is “Did you check the Google Doc?” And reading how similar this interaction of pure exasperation is between Sabrina and Reid brought me so much joy. Where my type A gals at?
“Seriously? Why does no one read my Google Docs? What have I done to deserve this? I color-code them and everything! They’re so user friendly.”
Sabrina, girl. My neck. Your mood swings are giving me whiplash. The turmoil of knowing your friends dynamic is changing, and no matter how much a control freak Sabrina is, she has zero control over stopping the changes, the weather, or whatever greater plans the universe have for her.
Her continuous downward spiral as the weather ruins her best laid plans is heartbreaking — you can’t help but feel for her. We’ve all been there. We have a preconceived notion of exactly how something is going to go — but it does not go as planned, even when you start to concede and make adjustments.
And while nothing goes to plan around her, Reid is there working to breakdown her walls and helping to salvage the weekend with this patience and sense of humor.
Reid is the definition of “if he wanted to, he would.” I love him. How he works with Izabelle to conspire Sabrina’s favor is *chef kiss*.
I am glad Jake and Reid have a very honest conversation around their friendship, and it’s not something pushed under the rug or an off-page afterthought. I appreciated that.
A perfect balance of plot and character to move this along. I didn’t want it to end. I wanted a longer epilogue — there are things I NEED to know.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you BookSirens.
March 23, 2024
This Wasn't the Plan by Kallista Kohl is the perfect book for a rainy weekend at home or at a cabin. It also is a perfect book if you just need something fun for your lunch break.
Kohl's characters Sabrina and Reid are definitely mismatched at first. While the easy going Reid is immediately interested in the organized and tightly strung Sabrina, the cards are not in his favor on trying to woo her. At least, not at first. With best friends getting married, and both of them in charge of the joint bachelor/bachelorette party, it seems like the perfect chance for Reid to make a move. But Sabrina is committed to her plan, and being with Reid… is not the plan.
I loved the primary setting in Kohl's book. From the dive bar outside of Tahoe, to the dangerous driveway of the perfect house, Reid and Sabrina have a great backdrop to navigate the growing attraction between the two of them.
I appreciated how Kohl didn't try to change Sabrina's character in order for her and Reid to be together. Too many times, the trope is for the main character to have some sudden realization and do a 180 on who they are. Sabrina's desire to be well-planned out isn't some major character defect as Kohl portrays it, and instead of completely changing for one another, Reid and Sabrina better each other.
This was a fun read. I am curious to read more of Kohl's books and follow more characters on their adventures.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Kohl's characters Sabrina and Reid are definitely mismatched at first. While the easy going Reid is immediately interested in the organized and tightly strung Sabrina, the cards are not in his favor on trying to woo her. At least, not at first. With best friends getting married, and both of them in charge of the joint bachelor/bachelorette party, it seems like the perfect chance for Reid to make a move. But Sabrina is committed to her plan, and being with Reid… is not the plan.
I loved the primary setting in Kohl's book. From the dive bar outside of Tahoe, to the dangerous driveway of the perfect house, Reid and Sabrina have a great backdrop to navigate the growing attraction between the two of them.
I appreciated how Kohl didn't try to change Sabrina's character in order for her and Reid to be together. Too many times, the trope is for the main character to have some sudden realization and do a 180 on who they are. Sabrina's desire to be well-planned out isn't some major character defect as Kohl portrays it, and instead of completely changing for one another, Reid and Sabrina better each other.
This was a fun read. I am curious to read more of Kohl's books and follow more characters on their adventures.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 9, 2024
4.5/5 stars!
AHHH this book was so cute and had so much heart! It scratched the contemporary romance itch for me while also providing a plot that I will clearly remember--not just because of the "snowed in" trope (which I also love!), but because of the personalities and actions of the characters. I think the author has great insight into writing characters that are realistic. I appreciate that the characters in general felt more complex than some in other books I've read. They take time to really learn and implement changes for the better, rather than instantly change for the convenience of the plot.
Another thing I could relate to quite a lot in the book is the season of life that our main characters are in. They're in their 30s, and everyone is experiencing big life events. We see, through Sabrina especially, that these kind of changes can be anxiety-inducing in a way because friendship dynamics CAN potentially change. That doesn't necessarily mean they will change for the worse, but not knowing exactly how things will shake out in the future can be kind of scary. Sabrina's journey in this book was very relatable to me, as it's something I have struggled with the last few years as well.
In summary, I adored this book and recommend checking it out. Thank you to the author, publisher, and BookSirens for the privilege of reading this book! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions stated above are my own.
AHHH this book was so cute and had so much heart! It scratched the contemporary romance itch for me while also providing a plot that I will clearly remember--not just because of the "snowed in" trope (which I also love!), but because of the personalities and actions of the characters. I think the author has great insight into writing characters that are realistic. I appreciate that the characters in general felt more complex than some in other books I've read. They take time to really learn and implement changes for the better, rather than instantly change for the convenience of the plot.
Another thing I could relate to quite a lot in the book is the season of life that our main characters are in. They're in their 30s, and everyone is experiencing big life events. We see, through Sabrina especially, that these kind of changes can be anxiety-inducing in a way because friendship dynamics CAN potentially change. That doesn't necessarily mean they will change for the worse, but not knowing exactly how things will shake out in the future can be kind of scary. Sabrina's journey in this book was very relatable to me, as it's something I have struggled with the last few years as well.
In summary, I adored this book and recommend checking it out. Thank you to the author, publisher, and BookSirens for the privilege of reading this book! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions stated above are my own.
May 16, 2025
I loved this book. It was such a fun, great, awesome read for me. It had the right amount of suspense, emotion, vulnerability, rescue, and a whole bunch of sexual tension. I say this as someone who struggles to find a contemporary romance that I like, but I loved this one. I'm stunned enough that I barely know what to type beyond squeals and happy laughter.
Sabrina and Reid are two people who got off on the wrong foot, which was made worse by the fact that they were very much opposites, who are attracted to each other with some forced proximity that allowed them to get to know each other and fall in love. Both characters are fleshed out as real people to me; no one was perfect, but how they balanced each other and supported each other was perfection. Both characters went through growing periods in this book, which I really appreciated because they both had issues that needed to be addressed that were holding them back in life. And the author fit everything together like a puzzle. chef's kiss
The writing, its flow, and the banter were some of the best things for me. Kallista Kohl is a very talented writer and drew me in during a book slump! This is definitely a 5/5 story for me, and I'm grateful I had a chance to discover a new author to follow for more future reads.
I'm grateful I was able to get an eARC from BookSirens to leave a voluntary review in exchange for a chance to read this novel.
Sabrina and Reid are two people who got off on the wrong foot, which was made worse by the fact that they were very much opposites, who are attracted to each other with some forced proximity that allowed them to get to know each other and fall in love. Both characters are fleshed out as real people to me; no one was perfect, but how they balanced each other and supported each other was perfection. Both characters went through growing periods in this book, which I really appreciated because they both had issues that needed to be addressed that were holding them back in life. And the author fit everything together like a puzzle. chef's kiss
The writing, its flow, and the banter were some of the best things for me. Kallista Kohl is a very talented writer and drew me in during a book slump! This is definitely a 5/5 story for me, and I'm grateful I had a chance to discover a new author to follow for more future reads.
I'm grateful I was able to get an eARC from BookSirens to leave a voluntary review in exchange for a chance to read this novel.
March 26, 2024
"This Wasn't The Plan" by Kallista Kohl is a delightful romantic comedy that takes readers on a whirlwind adventure. The story revolves around Sabrina Everette, a meticulous event planner, and Reid Richardson, a carefree playboy. Their worlds collide when they are forced to collaborate on a bachelor and bachelorette weekend in Lake Tahoe, only to find themselves snowed in together. With a blizzard outside and sparks flying inside, Sabrina's well-laid plans are turned upside down.
I had the pleasure of reading "This Wasn't The Plan" as an ARC from Book Sirens, and I'm thrilled to give it a 4.5-star rating. Kallista Kohl has crafted a story with a perfect blend of humor, heart, and heat. The character-driven narrative showcases amazing growth and a plot that keeps you turning the pages. The dual POV provides a deep dive into both Sabrina's and Reid's thoughts, making their dynamic all the more engaging. The strong female friendships and top-tier banter are the cherries on top of this delightful read. It's a full-length, stand-alone novel that promises—and delivers—a happily ever after that will leave you smiling long after you've finished reading. A highly recommended pick for anyone who loves a good rom-com with plenty of witty exchanges and steamy moments to keep things interesting!
I had the pleasure of reading "This Wasn't The Plan" as an ARC from Book Sirens, and I'm thrilled to give it a 4.5-star rating. Kallista Kohl has crafted a story with a perfect blend of humor, heart, and heat. The character-driven narrative showcases amazing growth and a plot that keeps you turning the pages. The dual POV provides a deep dive into both Sabrina's and Reid's thoughts, making their dynamic all the more engaging. The strong female friendships and top-tier banter are the cherries on top of this delightful read. It's a full-length, stand-alone novel that promises—and delivers—a happily ever after that will leave you smiling long after you've finished reading. A highly recommended pick for anyone who loves a good rom-com with plenty of witty exchanges and steamy moments to keep things interesting!
February 19, 2024
Thank you to Kallista Kohl for the ARC!
This story was adorable! It was a classic enemies-to-lovers paired with forced proximity; really, is there a better combination?
Sabrina, the FMC, plans every single aspect of her life. Now, she's planning a combined Bachelor/Bachelorette weekend for one of her best friends, but she's forced to pair up with the "obnoxious" best man. She's a lot more closed off than she seems, and it's clear that incidents from her past have shaped her into the woman that she is at the start of the story.
Reid is an extremely likable MMC. He's led a privileged life, from a material perspective anyway, but this has led to even those closest to him underestimating the person that he truly is. He is incredibly caring and will stick his neck out for those closest to him.
The chemistry between these two was honestly a riot to read. Sabrina's stubborn nature got them into "trouble" numerous times, but it's Reid that ultimately made her comfortable enough to let her guard down and let someone in. And for Reid? It's Sabrina who makes him realize his true worth and believe that he someone who is worthy of love.
4.3 ⭐️
NOTE: ARC received in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This story was adorable! It was a classic enemies-to-lovers paired with forced proximity; really, is there a better combination?
Sabrina, the FMC, plans every single aspect of her life. Now, she's planning a combined Bachelor/Bachelorette weekend for one of her best friends, but she's forced to pair up with the "obnoxious" best man. She's a lot more closed off than she seems, and it's clear that incidents from her past have shaped her into the woman that she is at the start of the story.
Reid is an extremely likable MMC. He's led a privileged life, from a material perspective anyway, but this has led to even those closest to him underestimating the person that he truly is. He is incredibly caring and will stick his neck out for those closest to him.
The chemistry between these two was honestly a riot to read. Sabrina's stubborn nature got them into "trouble" numerous times, but it's Reid that ultimately made her comfortable enough to let her guard down and let someone in. And for Reid? It's Sabrina who makes him realize his true worth and believe that he someone who is worthy of love.
4.3 ⭐️
NOTE: ARC received in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
February 21, 2024
Sabrina lives in San Francisco, and has a tight knit group of girlfriends there that she considers as family. She is an Event Planner, and a control freak at that.
Reid lives on a boat in Florida, and doesn’t have a day job as such, but gets by. He hasn’t seen his best friend Jake for a very long time, but is invited to the Engagement Party being arranged by Sabrina, where the two meet for the first time.
She is not impressed with him, but he takes a liking to her.
Fast forward to a joint Bachelorette and Bachelor party, organised by Sabrina, in Lake Tahoe. Every last detail has been checked, and checked again, apart from one - The Weather- specifically Snow!!
The only one, apart from Sabrina herself, to make it to Lake Tahoe ahead of the weather is the Best Man - Reid.
Thrown together in trying circumstances, Sabrina‘s barriers start to fall, but when the worst happens, she has no one else to turn to.
I suppose you could call this a Friends to Lovers romance, but it’s not that straightforward, and the chances of a HEA are looking slim to none.
That is, until the Bride, Izabelle, steps in and comes up with a plan.
I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
Reid lives on a boat in Florida, and doesn’t have a day job as such, but gets by. He hasn’t seen his best friend Jake for a very long time, but is invited to the Engagement Party being arranged by Sabrina, where the two meet for the first time.
She is not impressed with him, but he takes a liking to her.
Fast forward to a joint Bachelorette and Bachelor party, organised by Sabrina, in Lake Tahoe. Every last detail has been checked, and checked again, apart from one - The Weather- specifically Snow!!
The only one, apart from Sabrina herself, to make it to Lake Tahoe ahead of the weather is the Best Man - Reid.
Thrown together in trying circumstances, Sabrina‘s barriers start to fall, but when the worst happens, she has no one else to turn to.
I suppose you could call this a Friends to Lovers romance, but it’s not that straightforward, and the chances of a HEA are looking slim to none.
That is, until the Bride, Izabelle, steps in and comes up with a plan.
I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
March 20, 2024
'This Wasn't The Plan' was entertaining. The fascinating plot was filled with an awesome engagement party, a bumbling introduction, planning the combined bachelor/bachelorette party, snowy weather, throwing out insults, a checked-out chef, looking for ramps, hilarity galore, caught in the snow, a checked-out back-up chef, stranded friends, the bride and groom-to-be had issues, comforting the party planner, a crashed Henry, hooray for Reid, a change in scenery, the big argument, forgiveness, reconciliation, more hilarity, and love.
Furthermore, Sabrina and Reid, the protagonists, tried to reach their HEA after arguing and getting on each other's nerves throughout most of the book. Additionally, I liked the author's use of vivid details and figurative language such as, "Each flake reflected off the headlights and glowed like radioactive cotton balls in the beams, making it difficult to make out anything that wasn’t directly in front of them," and this gem, "That did nothing, considering her heeled boots had about as much grip as a puck on an ice rink, which was leaving her looking like a newborn deer."
Overall, I liked the amusing narrative.
I received a copy for free and am voluntarily giving my honest review.
Furthermore, Sabrina and Reid, the protagonists, tried to reach their HEA after arguing and getting on each other's nerves throughout most of the book. Additionally, I liked the author's use of vivid details and figurative language such as, "Each flake reflected off the headlights and glowed like radioactive cotton balls in the beams, making it difficult to make out anything that wasn’t directly in front of them," and this gem, "That did nothing, considering her heeled boots had about as much grip as a puck on an ice rink, which was leaving her looking like a newborn deer."
Overall, I liked the amusing narrative.
I received a copy for free and am voluntarily giving my honest review.
March 22, 2024
Sabrina is an event planner who takes her job very seriously. When her friend Izabelle's boyfriend Jake asks her to organize his proposal/engagement party, she happily accepts. However, she is not thrilled to meet Reid, one of Jake's best friends who is known as a fuckboy, lives in a boat in Florida, and does not take anything seriously. When Sabrina and Reid are in charge of organizing the bachelor and bachelorette weekend away in Tahoe, they start flirting, but Sabrina cannot allow him to distract her from making the perfect last hurrah for her friends.
What I liked: The book is funny and easy to read. I laughed out loud several times, especially when Reid was being goofy to cheer Sabrina up. I really enjoyed his character's development. Also, the author is great at portraying friendship between women and how important it is.
What I did not like: It was hard for me to connect with Sabrina, so I could not understand several of her decisions. Some of the conflicts resolved pretty easily, so I felt that a little more of development was needed.
(I'd like to thank BookSirens and the author because I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
What I liked: The book is funny and easy to read. I laughed out loud several times, especially when Reid was being goofy to cheer Sabrina up. I really enjoyed his character's development. Also, the author is great at portraying friendship between women and how important it is.
What I did not like: It was hard for me to connect with Sabrina, so I could not understand several of her decisions. Some of the conflicts resolved pretty easily, so I felt that a little more of development was needed.
(I'd like to thank BookSirens and the author because I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
May 12, 2024
This was my first time reading something by this author and I very much enjoyed it. It's a forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine trope which was such fun to read. Sabrina is an events planner, and one of the maids of honor. She has to team up with Reid, one of the best men, to plan a joint bachelor/bachelorette party. As far as Sabrina is concerned, Reid nothing but a cocky, spoiled, rich playboy and she can't stand him. But things start to take a turn when they get snowed in together and the sparks begin to undoubtedly fly between them. Sabrina's world is turned upside down and she begins to see him in a new light.
The story was cute and sweet with just the right amount of humor and heat. I also enjoyed the fact that the story was told in dual POV. It's always great to be able to do a deeper dive into both the characters thoughts and get a better idea of what they are thinking and feeling. The story was well-written and flowed smoothly and kept my interest from start to finish. A very enjoyable and entertaining read!
I received a complimentary copy from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving my review.
The story was cute and sweet with just the right amount of humor and heat. I also enjoyed the fact that the story was told in dual POV. It's always great to be able to do a deeper dive into both the characters thoughts and get a better idea of what they are thinking and feeling. The story was well-written and flowed smoothly and kept my interest from start to finish. A very enjoyable and entertaining read!
I received a complimentary copy from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving my review.
February 25, 2024
a perfectly interesting book that has a very simple way of interweaving humor and the problems that the characters carry within themselves and the doubts they face. sabrina is an exceptionally strong person, determined and diligent, independent and does not allow anyone to stand in her way to her goal or disrupt her plans. and that's why Reid is the perfect person for her with his nonchalance and seemingly light-hearted approach to life without a care in the world. After Sabrina admits to herself what is bothering her and faces her fears and admits them out loud, she realizes that Raid is not as superficial and selfish as he himself has fears and doubts in life. The action is so carefully worked out that it can be enjoyed in any situation. A very sweet but not superficial story with a lot of humor and passion, but also a little drama, which I definitely recommend reading.
I laughed, got angry in an instant, even rolled my eyes, but I enjoyed every page of this book
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I laughed, got angry in an instant, even rolled my eyes, but I enjoyed every page of this book
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 10, 2024
Sabrina & Reid ❤️
💍Event planner Sabrina is at her best friend Izabelle and Jake’s engagement when she meets Jake’s best friend Reid. He’s exasperated her before she has even met him with his easy going ways.
❄️When the pair are thrown together arranging the Lake Tahoe join bachelor/ bachelorette party, things go even more off the rails when they are snow bound and none of the other guests can get there.
⛵️And while things don’t go to plan, the opposites attract theory is tested to its limit.
📚I read and enjoyed Kallista Kohl’s debut Strictly Business and was eager to read her follow up. I enjoyed how the couple from the first book feature in here, and provide the catalyst to Reid and Sabrina meeting. There are a range of emotions that get explored in this story. Assumptions not really being true, feelings of inadequacy and being inflexible to the point of it being dangerous. It’s also a little spicy with heaps of attraction ❤️
Read an eARC copy courtesy of Booksirens and the author (also available on Kindle Unlimited)
My rating 4/5 - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Pub date 22 February 2024
💍Event planner Sabrina is at her best friend Izabelle and Jake’s engagement when she meets Jake’s best friend Reid. He’s exasperated her before she has even met him with his easy going ways.
❄️When the pair are thrown together arranging the Lake Tahoe join bachelor/ bachelorette party, things go even more off the rails when they are snow bound and none of the other guests can get there.
⛵️And while things don’t go to plan, the opposites attract theory is tested to its limit.
📚I read and enjoyed Kallista Kohl’s debut Strictly Business and was eager to read her follow up. I enjoyed how the couple from the first book feature in here, and provide the catalyst to Reid and Sabrina meeting. There are a range of emotions that get explored in this story. Assumptions not really being true, feelings of inadequacy and being inflexible to the point of it being dangerous. It’s also a little spicy with heaps of attraction ❤️
Read an eARC copy courtesy of Booksirens and the author (also available on Kindle Unlimited)
My rating 4/5 - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Pub date 22 February 2024
April 13, 2024
This Wasn’t the Plan was a HUGE miss for me. The only good character is this book was Reid, and perhaps Izabelle. Everyone else is straight up hot garbage. The FMC, Sabrina, had absolutely no redeeming qualities. She was terrible. At no point did I ever believe Reid could’ve fallen in love with Sabrina after 2 days of her treating him the way she did. And don’t even get me started on Jake 🙄 Everyone’s excuses for being complete trash to Reid were superficial, at best. This wasn’t a slow-burn romance, it was a how-crappy-can-you-treat-someone-before-you-deign-to-pretend-they-are-an-actual-human-being? tale. I’m also over the ice queen trope. Being driven and anxious does not give someone a free pass to be a total wench to everyone around them. The premise behind this book had so much potential, but the characters tanked the book.
I received an ARC of This Wasn’t the Plan for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an ARC of This Wasn’t the Plan for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 24, 2024
This is the second book in the "Boss Babes of Buchanan's" series but it can absolutely be read as a stand-alone. I loved the first book in the series so I definitely wanted to read the other books in the series but I'm sorry to say this book just didn't wow me as much as the first one. While I thought the main characters were believable enough I just couldn't believe their love story since both keep insulting and just treating each other in the worst way. Why that behaviour would lead to love is beyond me. Also why would Samantha hate Reid after their break-up but then go on flirting with him as soon as she saw him again in Mexico? So while I liked part of the story in the end this story just wasn't for me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 28, 2024
Steamy, LOL, Opposites, Enemies to Friends to More? with Forced Proximity Fun
This book was a lot of fun and hard to put down. Sabrina and Reid were complete opposites and since the book was told via dual POV the reader begins to understand her compulsive need to plan, and his "go with the flow" nature. The book was well written, the banter and dialog often hysterical, the heat quite steamy, and the background characters - their found family- were well developed and also wonderfully written. And there may have been some "eye-leaking" as they both had growth and discovered more about their internal motivations and finally got their HEA with a bit of help from their friends. I look forward to reading more from this author - Enjoy!
I was sent an advance reader copy by the author and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
This book was a lot of fun and hard to put down. Sabrina and Reid were complete opposites and since the book was told via dual POV the reader begins to understand her compulsive need to plan, and his "go with the flow" nature. The book was well written, the banter and dialog often hysterical, the heat quite steamy, and the background characters - their found family- were well developed and also wonderfully written. And there may have been some "eye-leaking" as they both had growth and discovered more about their internal motivations and finally got their HEA with a bit of help from their friends. I look forward to reading more from this author - Enjoy!
I was sent an advance reader copy by the author and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
March 6, 2024
There have been a lot of Event Planner romances, so I wanted to see how THIS WASN’T THE PLAN differed on that theme. Sabrina is a top tier event planner - she’s got plans for the event, plans for what can go wrong, and the plans for what can go wrong with those plans.
So she volunteers to plan the joint bachelor/bachelorette destination do with the guy from the groom’s side the prides himself on living with no plan.
On the surface, it almost seems like both Sabrina and Reid are people to avoid relationship-wise. So the best part of the story is just how wrong that line of thinking is. We have no clue to how the real differ from how others see them and it’s a lesson, in a way, that not only do things not go according to plan, but people are not always as they seem.
I read an early copy of this book to provide my honest opinion about it. I liked it.
So she volunteers to plan the joint bachelor/bachelorette destination do with the guy from the groom’s side the prides himself on living with no plan.
On the surface, it almost seems like both Sabrina and Reid are people to avoid relationship-wise. So the best part of the story is just how wrong that line of thinking is. We have no clue to how the real differ from how others see them and it’s a lesson, in a way, that not only do things not go according to plan, but people are not always as they seem.
I read an early copy of this book to provide my honest opinion about it. I liked it.
March 9, 2024
Some Spoilers
Reid has 100% jumped to the top of my favorite book boyfriends!! Sabrina and Reid make such a cute/spicy couple whom I loved reading about. They have such a flirty, emotional relationship with a bit of temper on both sides. The Dual perspectives were a nice touch since Sabrina's hard-headedness had me wanting to tear my hair out on some bits!
I'm not giving 5 stars because I thought there was a ton of flirty/steamy build-up between them before they FINALLY got together, but the 🌶️ scenes were super short ( in my opinion) I was expecting a bit more. However, The sweet happy ending fluff more than made up for what I thought was lacking. By the end, I was giggling at how adorable they were.
I was able to read a free ARC thanks to Booksirens and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Reid has 100% jumped to the top of my favorite book boyfriends!! Sabrina and Reid make such a cute/spicy couple whom I loved reading about. They have such a flirty, emotional relationship with a bit of temper on both sides. The Dual perspectives were a nice touch since Sabrina's hard-headedness had me wanting to tear my hair out on some bits!
I'm not giving 5 stars because I thought there was a ton of flirty/steamy build-up between them before they FINALLY got together, but the 🌶️ scenes were super short ( in my opinion) I was expecting a bit more. However, The sweet happy ending fluff more than made up for what I thought was lacking. By the end, I was giggling at how adorable they were.
I was able to read a free ARC thanks to Booksirens and am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2024
3.5/5 ⭐️s
LOVES:
- He tries so hard and does his best to help her or lighten the mood or just be kind
- The Campbell Soup snowman commercial reference
- The sandwich song 🎵 🥪
- Reid really comes through in every way, he’s a good dude - the cooking, the face masks, he’s just a wealth of knowledge
- When they finally get everything out in the open
CRITIQUES:
- They both, but especially Sabrina, could be a little - or a lot - more emotionally mature
- They have to starve because other people haven’t arrived yet?? Um, no.
The whole car ride home 🤦🏼♀️
I struggled through the first 75% of this. The characters have redeeming qualities, but Sabrina especially, is often mean and rude. I really enjoyed the last 25% of the book and both characters mature a lot. It was a decent read and if you’re into a lot of conflict, this book is for you!
Thanks to @booksirens for the eARC.
LOVES:
- He tries so hard and does his best to help her or lighten the mood or just be kind
- The Campbell Soup snowman commercial reference
- The sandwich song 🎵 🥪
- Reid really comes through in every way, he’s a good dude - the cooking, the face masks, he’s just a wealth of knowledge
- When they finally get everything out in the open
CRITIQUES:
- They both, but especially Sabrina, could be a little - or a lot - more emotionally mature
- They have to starve because other people haven’t arrived yet?? Um, no.
The whole car ride home 🤦🏼♀️
I struggled through the first 75% of this. The characters have redeeming qualities, but Sabrina especially, is often mean and rude. I really enjoyed the last 25% of the book and both characters mature a lot. It was a decent read and if you’re into a lot of conflict, this book is for you!
Thanks to @booksirens for the eARC.
April 8, 2024
I think I might love this one more than the first one.
I love Sabrina and Reid's chemistry, how they saw each other despite not showing the best versions of themselves, how they learned to be vulnerable and honest with each other, and the banter and the flirting was amazingly done. I also love Sabrina and Reid's personal growth throughout this story.
I also loved that while this story focuses on Sabrina and Reid, it's a natural progression from the first storyline and we still get to follow along with the whole friend group.
This story was the perfect mix of funny, sad, and heartbreak with a perfect happy ending! I will definitely be on the lookout for any and all future projects from this author!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I love Sabrina and Reid's chemistry, how they saw each other despite not showing the best versions of themselves, how they learned to be vulnerable and honest with each other, and the banter and the flirting was amazingly done. I also love Sabrina and Reid's personal growth throughout this story.
I also loved that while this story focuses on Sabrina and Reid, it's a natural progression from the first storyline and we still get to follow along with the whole friend group.
This story was the perfect mix of funny, sad, and heartbreak with a perfect happy ending! I will definitely be on the lookout for any and all future projects from this author!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 6, 2024
Kallista does it again! I was a huge fan of the first in the lineup, "Strictly Business' and was excited to see each of the girl gang find their love in upcoming books.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I love a good rom-com that makes you annoyed at the characters for not being together yet, and this was the perfect version of the "enemies to lovers" trope. Sabrina can't stand Reid, yet she also can't stop herself from admiring him; you can't help but root for them! The journey of their story draws you in, and you feel each setback and plot point as if it were happening to you. I'm a big fan of Kallista Kohl, so I wasn't expecting anything less!
If you want an easy read that makes you giggle and possibly cry a bit, definitely check out 'This Wasn't the Plan', and don't forget to check out 'Strictly Business'!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I love a good rom-com that makes you annoyed at the characters for not being together yet, and this was the perfect version of the "enemies to lovers" trope. Sabrina can't stand Reid, yet she also can't stop herself from admiring him; you can't help but root for them! The journey of their story draws you in, and you feel each setback and plot point as if it were happening to you. I'm a big fan of Kallista Kohl, so I wasn't expecting anything less!
If you want an easy read that makes you giggle and possibly cry a bit, definitely check out 'This Wasn't the Plan', and don't forget to check out 'Strictly Business'!
November 26, 2024
Well-written enemies-to-lovers romance 5*
Sabrina, a perfectionist events organiser is working on creating the best engagement party for her friends at an exclusive ski resort. The only ones that could make it there in a snow blizzard were Reid, a boats-living billionaire, and Sabrina, who is quite obsessive about her plans' minutest details. There is a lot of tension between the protagonists, who soon realise they will likely be the only ones present for the party. Sabrina's dogged obstinacy lands her in life-threatening peril with Reid saving her life. The scenes in the book are very well described, along with the characters. The author's use of vocabulary and dialogue greatly contribute to the enjoyment of this novel. A HEA at the end rewards the reader.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Sabrina, a perfectionist events organiser is working on creating the best engagement party for her friends at an exclusive ski resort. The only ones that could make it there in a snow blizzard were Reid, a boats-living billionaire, and Sabrina, who is quite obsessive about her plans' minutest details. There is a lot of tension between the protagonists, who soon realise they will likely be the only ones present for the party. Sabrina's dogged obstinacy lands her in life-threatening peril with Reid saving her life. The scenes in the book are very well described, along with the characters. The author's use of vocabulary and dialogue greatly contribute to the enjoyment of this novel. A HEA at the end rewards the reader.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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