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Not a Fan
He’s a bestselling murder mystery author. She’s a fanfiction writer who reimagined his main character—and went viral. Now, they’re going on tour together.
Evan Michaels takes his writing seriously, so when he discovers that his tough-as-nails detective has been transformed into a lovesick fool by an anonymous fanfiction writer, he’s furious. Even worse? His publicist sees an bring the fanfiction writer on his latest book tour to stir up buzz.
Rachel Perry never imagined her hobby would land her on a book tour with her favorite author—especially not one who seems personally offended by her existence. But the paycheck is life-changing, and maybe, just maybe, spending six weeks with Evan Michaels will open the doors she’s been dreaming of—her own book deal.
As the spotlight forces them together, Rachel and Evan find themselves in a story neither of them saw coming. They’ve always written different endings to their stories…until now.
This is a no spice, no swearing romcom with lots of swoony moments and hilarious banter. If you are looking for something that is light but also features heartfelt and healing moments, Not a Fan is your book!
Evan Michaels takes his writing seriously, so when he discovers that his tough-as-nails detective has been transformed into a lovesick fool by an anonymous fanfiction writer, he’s furious. Even worse? His publicist sees an bring the fanfiction writer on his latest book tour to stir up buzz.
Rachel Perry never imagined her hobby would land her on a book tour with her favorite author—especially not one who seems personally offended by her existence. But the paycheck is life-changing, and maybe, just maybe, spending six weeks with Evan Michaels will open the doors she’s been dreaming of—her own book deal.
As the spotlight forces them together, Rachel and Evan find themselves in a story neither of them saw coming. They’ve always written different endings to their stories…until now.
This is a no spice, no swearing romcom with lots of swoony moments and hilarious banter. If you are looking for something that is light but also features heartfelt and healing moments, Not a Fan is your book!
324 pages, Paperback
Published June 30, 2025
About the author
Shelbey Kendall
17 books102 followersShelbey Kendall writes heartwarming, hope-filled fiction for readers of all ages. As the author of The Sonshine Sister Club series, she blends faith, family, friendship, and a touch of humor to encourage young readers that no mess or mistake is too big for Jesus. In addition to middle grade fiction, Shelbey also writes kisses only, no-swearing romance filled with real emotion and characters you’ll root for. Whether she’s crafting stories for kids or grown-ups, her mission is the same: to offer light in the darkness and remind readers that grace is always within reach.
When she’s not writing, you’ll likely find her sipping coffee, listening to country music, or spending time with her family. She lives in small-town Kansas and is always dreaming up her next story.
Follow her on Instagram: @shelbeykendallauthor
When she’s not writing, you’ll likely find her sipping coffee, listening to country music, or spending time with her family. She lives in small-town Kansas and is always dreaming up her next story.
Follow her on Instagram: @shelbeykendallauthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
June 30, 2025
In this story, you will find:
✍🏼Fanfic writer & mystery author
📚Book tour
☀️Grumpy/Sunshine
✌🏻Dual POV
💫Enemies to lovers
🌷Relatable messages
✨laugh-out-loud moments
This was such a fun rom-com with a hint of suspense—perfect for summer! It has a great mix of humor, heart, slow-burn romance, and lots of fun bookish moments.
The characters are quirky, relatable, and in their 30s, which I loved. Evan is a bit gruff, and Rachel is a ray of sunshine. They don’t exactly hit it off at first, which makes their enemies-to-lovers dynamic slow, hilarious, and full of swoon. The banter and one-liners had me laughing out loud multiple times. I also loved the brother/sister relationship between Evan and Lily; it added another layer to this story. Lily was one of my favorite characters… we need a book with her as the FMC!
I thought Shelbey did a wonderful job of providing a great balance of humor and depth while weaving in some heartfelt messages. This was not my first Shelbey Kendall book, and it certainly won’t be my last! If you were wondering, yes, I’m a fan!
A quote from the book: “Life is hard, and a little kindness can go a long way. I think it can even change someone’s heart.”
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿: Kisses only, no language, parental abuse & neglect, toxic family relationships, abandonment, stalker
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
✍🏼Fanfic writer & mystery author
📚Book tour
☀️Grumpy/Sunshine
✌🏻Dual POV
💫Enemies to lovers
🌷Relatable messages
✨laugh-out-loud moments
This was such a fun rom-com with a hint of suspense—perfect for summer! It has a great mix of humor, heart, slow-burn romance, and lots of fun bookish moments.
The characters are quirky, relatable, and in their 30s, which I loved. Evan is a bit gruff, and Rachel is a ray of sunshine. They don’t exactly hit it off at first, which makes their enemies-to-lovers dynamic slow, hilarious, and full of swoon. The banter and one-liners had me laughing out loud multiple times. I also loved the brother/sister relationship between Evan and Lily; it added another layer to this story. Lily was one of my favorite characters… we need a book with her as the FMC!
I thought Shelbey did a wonderful job of providing a great balance of humor and depth while weaving in some heartfelt messages. This was not my first Shelbey Kendall book, and it certainly won’t be my last! If you were wondering, yes, I’m a fan!
A quote from the book: “Life is hard, and a little kindness can go a long way. I think it can even change someone’s heart.”
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿: Kisses only, no language, parental abuse & neglect, toxic family relationships, abandonment, stalker
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 20, 2025
GENRE
-contemporary romance with a smidge of suspense
CONTENT
-🤬: none
-❤️: kisses
-⚠️: parental abuse, neglect, abandonment (past, not detailed); toxic family relationships (current); stalker
-contemporary romance with a smidge of suspense
CONTENT
-🤬: none
-❤️: kisses
-⚠️: parental abuse, neglect, abandonment (past, not detailed); toxic family relationships (current); stalker
February 24, 2026
obsessed!! this book is perfect!
I loved everything about this story!!! If you love Katherine center, you’ll love this one!! Lily is my fav sister out of all the sisters I’ve read about! This book was just SO GOOD!
no spice and no language so much swoon and banter
I loved everything about this story!!! If you love Katherine center, you’ll love this one!! Lily is my fav sister out of all the sisters I’ve read about! This book was just SO GOOD!
no spice and no language so much swoon and banter
May 21, 2026
4.5 stars
ꕤ₊ 💜⋆.𖥔 ˖𑁍₊ ⊹
alexa, play "reminisce" by natalie jinju
too lazy to write a rlly fancy review, so don't mind my mess below-- XD
rachel perry is a fanfiction author who ran away from her hometown, and now lives in new york. she writes fanfiction about evan michaels' main character, barrett in his murder mystery novel. evan's parents left him and his little sister lily, alone. this left evan to become the "father" and provide for his sister, so she can live a carefree life. rachel gave barrett a personality and even some romantic love interests!
evan's sister contacts rachel to do a book tour w/ evan to promote his new book coming up. the two finally meet and evan is insulted because she "stole" his character. they have AMAZING banter while on and off stage! as the book tour goes on, they start to realize they don't hate each other as much as they originally thought. i love their grump x sunshine dynamic and how evan describes her as the sun!! THE AMOUNT OF DIALOGUE AND BANTER AND QUOTES I HIGHLIGHTED--DANGGGGG!!!! IT GOT ME SMILING HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
the reason i took off .5 stars was because it seemed they already thought of each other as attractive, even though they claimed to hate each other.
thanks for reading!!! <33
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.
.
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pre-read ꕤ₊ 💜⋆.𖥔 ˖𑁍₊ ⊹
a fanfic author and an actual author having BEEF?!?! i'm in--where do i sign? 😼
alexa, play "reminisce" by natalie jinju
too lazy to write a rlly fancy review, so don't mind my mess below-- XD
rachel perry is a fanfiction author who ran away from her hometown, and now lives in new york. she writes fanfiction about evan michaels' main character, barrett in his murder mystery novel. evan's parents left him and his little sister lily, alone. this left evan to become the "father" and provide for his sister, so she can live a carefree life. rachel gave barrett a personality and even some romantic love interests!
evan's sister contacts rachel to do a book tour w/ evan to promote his new book coming up. the two finally meet and evan is insulted because she "stole" his character. they have AMAZING banter while on and off stage! as the book tour goes on, they start to realize they don't hate each other as much as they originally thought. i love their grump x sunshine dynamic and how evan describes her as the sun!! THE AMOUNT OF DIALOGUE AND BANTER AND QUOTES I HIGHLIGHTED--DANGGGGG!!!! IT GOT ME SMILING HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
the reason i took off .5 stars was because it seemed they already thought of each other as attractive, even though they claimed to hate each other.
thanks for reading!!! <33
.
.
.
.
pre-read ꕤ₊ 💜⋆.𖥔 ˖𑁍₊ ⊹
a fanfic author and an actual author having BEEF?!?! i'm in--where do i sign? 😼
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2025
I'll be honest, this one is more like a 2.75.
I love the premise of the book and I really did have a soft spot for the characters. I even love how there are the love in the little things moments. The suitcase wheel may be one of my favorite book moments to date because it's such a small but caring thing. And all these things that I could have just barely loved if they had been slightly better, are why this book gets the rating it does.
But I couldn't love the book the way I wanted to.
Early on in the novel I grew increasingly frustrated that Evan was being made to be the bad guy in his frustrations with the fanfiction. I don't think this should have been the case. He created this world, created a whole character, and then had someone posting about it regularly becoming more famous than he was for his intellectual property. Not only that, but the comments are suggesting that he should just give her the series and she can write it from now one. Absolutely not. and we just never address how cruel and unfair that is? We just play into the whole "Well, she's a better writer"? We make him out to be a bad writer for not putting romance in a genre that.... shocker... isn't romance? No.
I kept hoping it would get better. That when the finally opened up they would talk about that and see each others perspective. No. That didn't happen. We go from anger and frustration to I was wrong all within the same 15% with no actual character growth or development. THEY DIDN’T EVEN TALK DURING THAT TIME.
Then, the theme of sweeping things under the rug continues as we move to the last chapter and epilogue. What do you mean you spent a whole book telling me your family picked your abusive boyfriend and brought him around so often that you stopped going home and now you're perfectly okay with them and just happy pals? What do you mean your boyfriend brings them to HIS book launch party to open thay door for you and they STILL mention you getting back together with your ex but it's fine because "they're here"? Absolutely not.
All in all, I don't think I'm delusional enough to have enjoyed this book properly. I wanted to, desperately. But I can't just casually ignore some pretty glaring issues and what feels like an underdeveloped plot and characters.
In summary, this book could have been amazing if not for the:
- making Evan out to be the bad guy with the wrong opinion when HE HAS A FRICKIN POINT
- constant sweeping things under the rug even including FAMILY ABUSE
- An abrupt 180 that could have given me whiplash
- characters that left the book the same way they entered it
I love the premise of the book and I really did have a soft spot for the characters. I even love how there are the love in the little things moments. The suitcase wheel may be one of my favorite book moments to date because it's such a small but caring thing. And all these things that I could have just barely loved if they had been slightly better, are why this book gets the rating it does.
But I couldn't love the book the way I wanted to.
Early on in the novel I grew increasingly frustrated that Evan was being made to be the bad guy in his frustrations with the fanfiction. I don't think this should have been the case. He created this world, created a whole character, and then had someone posting about it regularly becoming more famous than he was for his intellectual property. Not only that, but the comments are suggesting that he should just give her the series and she can write it from now one. Absolutely not. and we just never address how cruel and unfair that is? We just play into the whole "Well, she's a better writer"? We make him out to be a bad writer for not putting romance in a genre that.... shocker... isn't romance? No.
I kept hoping it would get better. That when the finally opened up they would talk about that and see each others perspective. No. That didn't happen. We go from anger and frustration to I was wrong all within the same 15% with no actual character growth or development. THEY DIDN’T EVEN TALK DURING THAT TIME.
Then, the theme of sweeping things under the rug continues as we move to the last chapter and epilogue. What do you mean you spent a whole book telling me your family picked your abusive boyfriend and brought him around so often that you stopped going home and now you're perfectly okay with them and just happy pals? What do you mean your boyfriend brings them to HIS book launch party to open thay door for you and they STILL mention you getting back together with your ex but it's fine because "they're here"? Absolutely not.
All in all, I don't think I'm delusional enough to have enjoyed this book properly. I wanted to, desperately. But I can't just casually ignore some pretty glaring issues and what feels like an underdeveloped plot and characters.
In summary, this book could have been amazing if not for the:
- making Evan out to be the bad guy with the wrong opinion when HE HAS A FRICKIN POINT
- constant sweeping things under the rug even including FAMILY ABUSE
- An abrupt 180 that could have given me whiplash
- characters that left the book the same way they entered it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2025
I loved Evan and Rachel’s story so much!! Rachel is a woman who is finding her voice and worth in this messy world, after being mistreated by her ex and family. She’s healing her heart by writing fanfiction…and falling for a grumpy best selling author that she “shouldn’t be” falling in love with!! Evan is a best selling author that had to grow up too fast in life and had a rough exterior. The last thing he expected to do was fall in love with this “messy” fanfiction writer who “stole” his character!
If you love a story that involves grumpy sunshine, protective big brother, forced proximity, “enemies” to lovers, hilarious banter, inspirational quotes, and a happily ever after?? Then you will love Not a Fan! Shelbey became an auto-read author for me!🩷
If you love a story that involves grumpy sunshine, protective big brother, forced proximity, “enemies” to lovers, hilarious banter, inspirational quotes, and a happily ever after?? Then you will love Not a Fan! Shelbey became an auto-read author for me!🩷
November 8, 2025
I absolutely loved this book and was hooked from page one! This delightful laugh-out-loud novel features such charming characters, Rachel and Evan! The tension between these enemies-turned-lovers is executed so well, and the playful banter adds so much fun and keeps things lively. The book is filled with quirky and rich characters, fantastic dialogue, an unforgettable first kiss, and just the right amount of tension that kept me reading way past my bedtime! It’s fresh and clever, with deeper layers that made reading it such a joy.
August 26, 2025
This was such a clever and unique read! Lots of banter, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, reluctant to fall goodness. I loved that this was an author and a fan fiction writer, I’ve never read anything like it and loved the dynamic! The character arcs were so good and I loved all the side characters too!
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TW: Stalker (briefly), Past Parental Abuse/Neglect & Abandonment (not detailed), Past Unhealthy Relationship & Current Toxic Family Relationships
—
TW: Stalker (briefly), Past Parental Abuse/Neglect & Abandonment (not detailed), Past Unhealthy Relationship & Current Toxic Family Relationships
Read
September 11, 2025That cover 😍😍
Conceptually, this book was a lot of fun! A mystery writer meets his most successful fan fiction writer and shenanigans ensue, haha. I liked Evan and Rachel, even though personally I found the enemies to lovers felt a bit immature for the ages (early thirties). But the romance is sweet and the lessons Rachel learns about growing from a toxic relationship were profoundly beautiful & incredibly necessary. 💛
Conceptually, this book was a lot of fun! A mystery writer meets his most successful fan fiction writer and shenanigans ensue, haha. I liked Evan and Rachel, even though personally I found the enemies to lovers felt a bit immature for the ages (early thirties). But the romance is sweet and the lessons Rachel learns about growing from a toxic relationship were profoundly beautiful & incredibly necessary. 💛
June 15, 2025
This (tad bit suspenseful) rom-com is a slow burner but it is so worth the wait. It is tastefully done. No cussing, no spice, but all the butterflies and witty banter!
First, I loved the raw vulnerability and admission in the in “the confession”. Thank you Shelbey for your honest heart. (I won’t spoil it-but I felt like I really got to know the soul behind the art in just these few paragraphs)
Then, that dedication. Oof!! Sometimes I decide if I want to read a book but how interesting the dedication is — this one is top notch and hit me right in the gut.
Now for the book…
I found myself identifying to Rachel in her season of waiting/wanting to follow her dreams. She tugged at every single piece of my heart with her personality and ambition. Evan comes across arrogant and jerky in the beginning but the way he protects her in Chapter 15, ahhh *swoon*! I started rooting for them at that moment and man, they really had that pent up energy building!
Shelbey’s attention to detail in the development of the characters in this story was evident. She described them in real time. They experience/ed real life situations; the good, the bad, the ugly. You could immerse yourself in their story as if you truly knew them.
The Epilogue was beautifully written - flowing right on cue. Perfect ending to such a sweet story!
Overall, this book was an easy read and an easy 5 star review! This closed door romance has you hooked from the beginning and the characters are so relatable! I cannot wait to read more rom-coms from Shelbey in the future!
**I read this as an ARC reviewer. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
First, I loved the raw vulnerability and admission in the in “the confession”. Thank you Shelbey for your honest heart. (I won’t spoil it-but I felt like I really got to know the soul behind the art in just these few paragraphs)
Then, that dedication. Oof!! Sometimes I decide if I want to read a book but how interesting the dedication is — this one is top notch and hit me right in the gut.
Now for the book…
I found myself identifying to Rachel in her season of waiting/wanting to follow her dreams. She tugged at every single piece of my heart with her personality and ambition. Evan comes across arrogant and jerky in the beginning but the way he protects her in Chapter 15, ahhh *swoon*! I started rooting for them at that moment and man, they really had that pent up energy building!
Shelbey’s attention to detail in the development of the characters in this story was evident. She described them in real time. They experience/ed real life situations; the good, the bad, the ugly. You could immerse yourself in their story as if you truly knew them.
The Epilogue was beautifully written - flowing right on cue. Perfect ending to such a sweet story!
Overall, this book was an easy read and an easy 5 star review! This closed door romance has you hooked from the beginning and the characters are so relatable! I cannot wait to read more rom-coms from Shelbey in the future!
**I read this as an ARC reviewer. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2025
Shelbey has a way of taking ordinary situations and making them come to life with hilarious metaphors that make the story so rich and full, you’ll want to keep turning the pages. I’m totally a fan of “Not a Fan” and once you read this story you will be too! You’ll find funny banter, flirty tension, bookish MC’s, and a splash of suspense. I loved the side characters in this story too and I hope they get their own story too. 😉 Definitely read this one to follow along as the two MC’s go on a book tour together.
FMC: Rachel - journalist & fanfiction writer
MMC: Evan - best-selling murder-mystery author
What you’ll find:
🔸 Dual POV
🔸 Secret Identity
🔸 Enemies to lovers
🔸 Forced Proximity
🔸 Celebrities
🔸 Hilarious banter
🔸 Swoony moments
🔸 Bookish MCs
🔸 Book tour
🔸 Romcom + a splash of Suspense
INFO:
📚: Standalone
📖: 326 pages
CONTENT:
🌶️: kissing only
🤬: heck (2x)
⚠️: stalker, neglective parents (past)
"𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬. 𝘖𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯."
FMC: Rachel - journalist & fanfiction writer
MMC: Evan - best-selling murder-mystery author
What you’ll find:
🔸 Dual POV
🔸 Secret Identity
🔸 Enemies to lovers
🔸 Forced Proximity
🔸 Celebrities
🔸 Hilarious banter
🔸 Swoony moments
🔸 Bookish MCs
🔸 Book tour
🔸 Romcom + a splash of Suspense
INFO:
📚: Standalone
📖: 326 pages
CONTENT:
🌶️: kissing only
🤬: heck (2x)
⚠️: stalker, neglective parents (past)
"𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬. 𝘖𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯."
March 11, 2026
Such a delightful, light-hearted, enemies to lovers romance. I love the FMC, Rachel’s, feistiness & quirkiness. Evan’s softness beneath his hard exterior was endearing and I loved reading this character as he allowed himself to come back to life emotionally. Lily is an absolute gem.
I’ve also read Kendall’s first novella, “It Could Have Been Great”. I think her writing is slightly unpolished at times but I still really enjoy it! Looking forward to her next story “Little Miss Goody Two Shoes”. I hope to be an ARC reader for this author someday when I have more time!
I’ve also read Kendall’s first novella, “It Could Have Been Great”. I think her writing is slightly unpolished at times but I still really enjoy it! Looking forward to her next story “Little Miss Goody Two Shoes”. I hope to be an ARC reader for this author someday when I have more time!
June 13, 2025
Simply put, I am without a doubt a fan! First and foremost, as someone who has written their fair share of fanfiction, I absolutely loved the idea of this story... a fanfiction writer and the author whose stories inspired her own going on a book tour together... and falling in love!? Um, yes please! Right from the start, I was absolutely drawn in. I'll admit, Evan wasn't my favorite from the start--- he's definitely gruff and even came across as a bit jerky in the beginning, but the more we get to know him and see the story about why he appears closed off? Well, I couldn't help but love him by the end as we see those ealls coming down. Rachel balanced him out so perfectly with her positive outlook on life-- despite the heartbreaks she too had faced. The banter between them early on was absolutely fantastic... and the sparks? Even better! Their story was definitely a slower burn, but when we finally get that first kiss!? Oh. My. Goodness. This story was truly the perfect blend of tender and heartfelt moments with those that had me laughing out loud... and I was here for all of it!
Not a Fan is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
Not a Fan is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
February 21, 2026
I AM a Fan
This was such a sweet and fun story! GREAT banter, lovable characters and an adorable love story. Shelbey Kendall has written a fantastic book. Highly recommend!
This was such a sweet and fun story! GREAT banter, lovable characters and an adorable love story. Shelbey Kendall has written a fantastic book. Highly recommend!
June 30, 2025
ARC REVIEW:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Getting noticed by the publishing industry is no easy feat. No one knows this better than Rachel Perry. Finding no success on her own, she has taken to writing fanfiction for bestselling author, Evan Michaels. By implementing romance into Evan’s storyline via BarrettAfterDark, Rachel has amassed a cult following. So much so, that the PR team for Evan Michael’s reach out. Will six weeks of traveling the United States on Evan’s book tour be the thing that finally gets Rachel published, or will Evan’s disdain for her work land her on the blacklist?
Shelbey Kendall’s first full-length novel, Not A Fan, is a must-read for book lovers!!!
As an independent author, Kendall’s plot line serves as a love letter to the self-published community. While readers have been privy to books about books, they have all been focused on traditional publishing. It was so fun to see a character write fanfiction.
In addition to pulling the curtain back on fanfiction, she explores the world of book tours. I have been blessed to attend several book tours. However, I have only viewed them through the lens of an audience member. Seeing how vulnerable and taxing a book tour can be on an author was eye opening.
In addition to being blown away by Kendall’s plot line, I adored her character development via relationships.
I gained so much insight into who Evan was as a man through his relationships with Lily. Unlike most brother-sister dynamics, Evan had to take on extra roles. He wore many hats. He wasn’t just a sibling, but a provider, protector, comforter, friend, etc.
While it was sweet to see the tender side of Evan, it was even more enjoyable to see him as a leading man. Rachel brought out his passionate side. She challenged him in a way no one else had. The two engaged in witty banter that created palpable chemistry. This made for the perfect will they, won’t they!
Special thanks to Shelbey Kendall for gifting me a copy of Not A Fan in exchange for an honest review. I cannot wait to read more of her terrific writing in the near future!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Getting noticed by the publishing industry is no easy feat. No one knows this better than Rachel Perry. Finding no success on her own, she has taken to writing fanfiction for bestselling author, Evan Michaels. By implementing romance into Evan’s storyline via BarrettAfterDark, Rachel has amassed a cult following. So much so, that the PR team for Evan Michael’s reach out. Will six weeks of traveling the United States on Evan’s book tour be the thing that finally gets Rachel published, or will Evan’s disdain for her work land her on the blacklist?
Shelbey Kendall’s first full-length novel, Not A Fan, is a must-read for book lovers!!!
As an independent author, Kendall’s plot line serves as a love letter to the self-published community. While readers have been privy to books about books, they have all been focused on traditional publishing. It was so fun to see a character write fanfiction.
In addition to pulling the curtain back on fanfiction, she explores the world of book tours. I have been blessed to attend several book tours. However, I have only viewed them through the lens of an audience member. Seeing how vulnerable and taxing a book tour can be on an author was eye opening.
In addition to being blown away by Kendall’s plot line, I adored her character development via relationships.
I gained so much insight into who Evan was as a man through his relationships with Lily. Unlike most brother-sister dynamics, Evan had to take on extra roles. He wore many hats. He wasn’t just a sibling, but a provider, protector, comforter, friend, etc.
While it was sweet to see the tender side of Evan, it was even more enjoyable to see him as a leading man. Rachel brought out his passionate side. She challenged him in a way no one else had. The two engaged in witty banter that created palpable chemistry. This made for the perfect will they, won’t they!
Special thanks to Shelbey Kendall for gifting me a copy of Not A Fan in exchange for an honest review. I cannot wait to read more of her terrific writing in the near future!
June 13, 2025
Shelbey writes characters that don’t fit in a box. They are real and have messy pasts. She weaves a cute rom-com tale that also allows you to feel with the main characters.Rachel could be me. But, I identified with Evan as well. No Spice. No language. Lots of banter and kisses! This book is like a pan of Rice Krispies - sweet, gooey and sticks with you!
June 27, 2025
A must read! I felt very privileged to be an early reader of this book. You will laugh, you will feel big feels, and you will relate in ways you probably never have in a book. Kendall does an amazing job of creating engaging characters that you live right along with. I hope Lily’s story is next, and maybe includes Leo!
May 25, 2026
I’m sad it’s over 🥲
December 8, 2025
I really enjoyed the first 1/3 of this book. I loved Evan and Rachel’s banter; the seamless, captivating way backstories were being introduced; and was looking forward to Evan’s glow up. It felt like this was gonna be enemies-to-lovers done well for once—not pettiness-to-lovers like most similar rom coms are.
But then it seemed like every chapter Rachel became more and more✨“nOt LiKE oTHeR giRLs”✨. The in-your-face quirky that is just SO much better than those thirsty skanks who want their boobs signed and show up to fan dates in tight dresses. 🙄 The bar is so high.
Girl, you walking around NEW YORK CITY barefoot?!! The epicenter of all filth known to humankind?
She better be soaking her feet in boiling-hot bleach on the daily, ya nasty!
And Evan. Good gravy, the author dug him into such a deep hole that the last 30% felt like a desperate attempt to claw him out. His apologies were so half-baked, and his internal dialogue did nothing to redeem him.
I enjoy dual-POV for romance books, but sometimes it seems like authors forget that what WE read in one character’s POV isn’t privy to the other main character. So just because Evan tells me he feels remorse, doesn’t mean Rachel should see him as anything but the complete jerkwad that he was.
He would say things internally like, “I know I should help that person but I’m just not going to.”
Doesn’t that prove that he doesn’t have common decency?
So, as Rachel is force-feeding us that he’s sOooOOo great and this effervescent multilayered literature masterpiece that she can’t put down, I’m still thinking about an able-bodied man who refuses his conscience to help a struggling mom at the airport.
And no, sir, you don’t get a free pass for having a terrible childhood!
The pacing didn’t work. We stayed in the enemies stage for too long, switched to lovers too quickly, and ended with I-love-yous at whiplash-inducing speed. Why was I still waiting for my glow up 75% into the book?
The [spoilers] middle section suspense plot was so outta left-field and wasn’t used as a bridge-building plot point like it should’ve been. AND, we could have made the main conflict of Evan feeling like his work was stolen to connect the main leads, too. Help them meet in the middle.
AND AND why do we have to repeat each scene with hindsight retelling every time we switch POVs? We were all there, dear—literally 3.2 seconds ago—please just move on.
Ugh, I just didn’t like the direction the book went after the rising action. Kind of downhill from there. You could say I’m “not a fan,” but maybe it was just barely good enough to finish.
2.7 ⭐️
But then it seemed like every chapter Rachel became more and more✨“nOt LiKE oTHeR giRLs”✨. The in-your-face quirky that is just SO much better than those thirsty skanks who want their boobs signed and show up to fan dates in tight dresses. 🙄 The bar is so high.
Girl, you walking around NEW YORK CITY barefoot?!! The epicenter of all filth known to humankind?
She better be soaking her feet in boiling-hot bleach on the daily, ya nasty!
And Evan. Good gravy, the author dug him into such a deep hole that the last 30% felt like a desperate attempt to claw him out. His apologies were so half-baked, and his internal dialogue did nothing to redeem him.
I enjoy dual-POV for romance books, but sometimes it seems like authors forget that what WE read in one character’s POV isn’t privy to the other main character. So just because Evan tells me he feels remorse, doesn’t mean Rachel should see him as anything but the complete jerkwad that he was.
He would say things internally like, “I know I should help that person but I’m just not going to.”
Doesn’t that prove that he doesn’t have common decency?
So, as Rachel is force-feeding us that he’s sOooOOo great and this effervescent multilayered literature masterpiece that she can’t put down, I’m still thinking about an able-bodied man who refuses his conscience to help a struggling mom at the airport.
And no, sir, you don’t get a free pass for having a terrible childhood!
The pacing didn’t work. We stayed in the enemies stage for too long, switched to lovers too quickly, and ended with I-love-yous at whiplash-inducing speed. Why was I still waiting for my glow up 75% into the book?
The [spoilers] middle section suspense plot was so outta left-field and wasn’t used as a bridge-building plot point like it should’ve been. AND, we could have made the main conflict of Evan feeling like his work was stolen to connect the main leads, too. Help them meet in the middle.
AND AND why do we have to repeat each scene with hindsight retelling every time we switch POVs? We were all there, dear—literally 3.2 seconds ago—please just move on.
Ugh, I just didn’t like the direction the book went after the rising action. Kind of downhill from there. You could say I’m “not a fan,” but maybe it was just barely good enough to finish.
2.7 ⭐️
January 13, 2026
"I'm always in my favorite place when I'm with you."
Not a Fan by Shelbey Kendall
Wanting a book that will delight you, make you swoon, and deliver some of the best banter with a unique plot and the best characters with flaws and insecurities? Look no further than Evan and Rachel in "Not a Fan"!
I absolutely loved this whole book--the side characters, the growth both Evan and Rachel go through, their banter and chemistry, protective Evan, and so much more! I can't even choose a favorite part because the whole book was just that good. And also, I couldn't put the book down around 30%, and finished 70% of the book in one day. And that says something because if I'm sucked into a book and can't put it down like that, it's an amazing one!
Evan, at first glance, is a grumpy and surly successful mystery writer. He doesn't like the fact that Rachel is messy, chaotic, and most of all, takes his characters and changes them in her fanfiction. Then, as he gets to know her, things shift.
Also, I loved that Shelbey made him an older brother--we get to see a soft side of him that we wouldn't otherwise see. I looooved Lily! She was actually probably my favorite character and I cannot wait for her story.
Rachel is fun, loves lots of colors and life, trusts and loves everyone, is a bit messy and chaotic, and successfully writes fanfiction with big dreams to someday be a published author. She also has her insecurities because of things and people in her past.
Together they both help each other grow, and as they grow, so do their feelings for each other.
There is a plot twist thrown in that will have you on the edge of your seat. It did for me!
I highly recommend this delightful romcom and think you would love it too! It is a new favorite for me and I am so grateful to Shelbey for sending me my own gorgeous paperback to have as a trophy on my shelves.
Favorite Parts/My Reactions:
Enemies to lovers
Their banter and chemistry
Latte
The forum practice
On the plane
Getting burgers
Before the stage
On stage
Protective Evan
Oh no!!
Older brother
The Bean
Italian restaurant
Board game conversation
Pink suitcase
Tacos
Bookstore signing
Social Sciences section
Healing and forgiveness
The whole delightful book
Content Guide:
Language: none
Sexual Content: Closed-door: mild innuendos, passionate kissing
Violence/gore: Mild-Stalker, threats, physical abuse (remembered from the past)
Substance Use: Moderate -wine drinking, two main characters go to a bar (spoiler-alert: they don’t drink alcohol), side character drank a lot in the past to the point it was a huge problem
Prejudices: none
Religious Content: none
Other: Toxic past relationship, estranged and toxic family relationships, Abandonment by parents (past), grief, mild panic attack (on page)
Book Info:
Series: Book 1
Genre: Contemporary Romcom
Romance Level: Closed-door
Release Date: Available Now
Publisher: Indie
POV: Dual
Thank you to the Author for my gorgeous review copy. All thoughts are my own.
Not a Fan by Shelbey Kendall
Wanting a book that will delight you, make you swoon, and deliver some of the best banter with a unique plot and the best characters with flaws and insecurities? Look no further than Evan and Rachel in "Not a Fan"!
I absolutely loved this whole book--the side characters, the growth both Evan and Rachel go through, their banter and chemistry, protective Evan, and so much more! I can't even choose a favorite part because the whole book was just that good. And also, I couldn't put the book down around 30%, and finished 70% of the book in one day. And that says something because if I'm sucked into a book and can't put it down like that, it's an amazing one!
Evan, at first glance, is a grumpy and surly successful mystery writer. He doesn't like the fact that Rachel is messy, chaotic, and most of all, takes his characters and changes them in her fanfiction. Then, as he gets to know her, things shift.
Also, I loved that Shelbey made him an older brother--we get to see a soft side of him that we wouldn't otherwise see. I looooved Lily! She was actually probably my favorite character and I cannot wait for her story.
Rachel is fun, loves lots of colors and life, trusts and loves everyone, is a bit messy and chaotic, and successfully writes fanfiction with big dreams to someday be a published author. She also has her insecurities because of things and people in her past.
Together they both help each other grow, and as they grow, so do their feelings for each other.
There is a plot twist thrown in that will have you on the edge of your seat. It did for me!
I highly recommend this delightful romcom and think you would love it too! It is a new favorite for me and I am so grateful to Shelbey for sending me my own gorgeous paperback to have as a trophy on my shelves.
Favorite Parts/My Reactions:
Enemies to lovers
Their banter and chemistry
Latte
The forum practice
On the plane
Getting burgers
Before the stage
On stage
Protective Evan
Oh no!!
Older brother
The Bean
Italian restaurant
Board game conversation
Pink suitcase
Tacos
Bookstore signing
Social Sciences section
Healing and forgiveness
The whole delightful book
Content Guide:
Language: none
Sexual Content: Closed-door: mild innuendos, passionate kissing
Violence/gore: Mild-Stalker, threats, physical abuse (remembered from the past)
Substance Use: Moderate -wine drinking, two main characters go to a bar (spoiler-alert: they don’t drink alcohol), side character drank a lot in the past to the point it was a huge problem
Prejudices: none
Religious Content: none
Other: Toxic past relationship, estranged and toxic family relationships, Abandonment by parents (past), grief, mild panic attack (on page)
Book Info:
Series: Book 1
Genre: Contemporary Romcom
Romance Level: Closed-door
Release Date: Available Now
Publisher: Indie
POV: Dual
Thank you to the Author for my gorgeous review copy. All thoughts are my own.
September 8, 2025
⭐���⭐ (3/5 stars)
From the moment I saw this cover, I was convinced I had to read this one. I mean, I don’t really read or write fan-fiction, so I was interested in giving this one a try, and since I hadn’t read anything from this author before, I figured this might be a really good time.
And, part of the time, it was.
Their enemies-to-more romance was really fun, and I found myself giggling over some of their conversations, and the passive-aggression during the book tour. That was definitely the most amusing part of this story in my opinion, and why I kept reading.
I mean, it’s enemies-to-more. Y’all know I have to read it.
The whole fan-fiction aspect added more depth to this story, I thought. I really liked how this author handled both sides of that issue, and it did make me think a fair bit about the ethics of fan-fiction. Her character seemed very interesting and I did feel like we could be friends based off what we hear of her thinking process.
The main guy was definitely the grumpy to her sunshine, and I was so glad that he got some serious character growth. I also thought that he had very valid reasons for wanting to not be emotionally vulnerable, and I thought the author did a good job of writing that aspect of the story.
I will say that I did have one significant issue with this book… and that would be the stalker. I mean, I really wasn’t expecting that part– it kind of felt out of left field. I don’t know how to explain it, but it definitely felt like a really gross and weird element in what would otherwise have been a perfectly normal rom-com. Just too creepy for my taste in a rom-com.
There also were some fairly descriptive kissing scenes that made me feel uncomfortable, so I went ahead and skimmed those. It crossed some lines as far as I’m concerned, but there wasn’t anything open-door, if that makes sense. I would say this book is really going to be a decision based on how you feel about levels of romancing and creepy stalkers in your book.
This story was available on Kindle Unlimited, and I was very excited to be able to give this one a shot. While it wasn’t necessarily a winner for me, I did enjoy parts a lot, which is why I’m giving it three stars, because the whole fan-fiction aspect was so interesting– and something I knew virtually nothing about.
EMOJI REVIEW!
😡 enemies-to-more
✍️ award-winning author
📓 fanfiction writer
✈️ book tour
🕵️ detective stories
📱 kindle unlimited
From the moment I saw this cover, I was convinced I had to read this one. I mean, I don’t really read or write fan-fiction, so I was interested in giving this one a try, and since I hadn’t read anything from this author before, I figured this might be a really good time.
And, part of the time, it was.
Their enemies-to-more romance was really fun, and I found myself giggling over some of their conversations, and the passive-aggression during the book tour. That was definitely the most amusing part of this story in my opinion, and why I kept reading.
I mean, it’s enemies-to-more. Y’all know I have to read it.
The whole fan-fiction aspect added more depth to this story, I thought. I really liked how this author handled both sides of that issue, and it did make me think a fair bit about the ethics of fan-fiction. Her character seemed very interesting and I did feel like we could be friends based off what we hear of her thinking process.
The main guy was definitely the grumpy to her sunshine, and I was so glad that he got some serious character growth. I also thought that he had very valid reasons for wanting to not be emotionally vulnerable, and I thought the author did a good job of writing that aspect of the story.
I will say that I did have one significant issue with this book… and that would be the stalker. I mean, I really wasn’t expecting that part– it kind of felt out of left field. I don’t know how to explain it, but it definitely felt like a really gross and weird element in what would otherwise have been a perfectly normal rom-com. Just too creepy for my taste in a rom-com.
There also were some fairly descriptive kissing scenes that made me feel uncomfortable, so I went ahead and skimmed those. It crossed some lines as far as I’m concerned, but there wasn’t anything open-door, if that makes sense. I would say this book is really going to be a decision based on how you feel about levels of romancing and creepy stalkers in your book.
This story was available on Kindle Unlimited, and I was very excited to be able to give this one a shot. While it wasn’t necessarily a winner for me, I did enjoy parts a lot, which is why I’m giving it three stars, because the whole fan-fiction aspect was so interesting– and something I knew virtually nothing about.
EMOJI REVIEW!
😡 enemies-to-more
✍️ award-winning author
📓 fanfiction writer
✈️ book tour
🕵️ detective stories
📱 kindle unlimited
March 13, 2026
Not a Fan by Shelbey Kendall is an excellent read. I am a HUGE fan of this story (see what I did there?!). This story is an enemies-to-lovers romance that works perfectly. I’m not usually the biggest fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope, but Kendall did it justice and then some. Honestly, it’s the pacing of her story. Maybe a seemingly-insignificant feature of any story, but Not a Fan‘s pacing is perfect. When Rachel and Evan were “enemies” it never felt over the top or too angry. It was the best level of negative friction and chemistry that turns into the best friendship and romance. I’ve actually never read fan-fiction before and had no idea how popular it is. It’s an industry unto itself! So, I did come into this story a little behind the curve, but that’s totally OK as jumping in cold might have actually made it even more of a fun read. What drew me to this book in the first place is the idea of a well-established, NYT best-selling author feuding with a fan-fiction author. I expected this premise could really deliver, and, boy, did Kendall deliver. Evan is exactly the grumpy, established, stagnant author you would expect from a storyline like Not a Fan. My favorite part of this story was watching Evan grow from a really uptight, closed-off guy into a chilled out, calmer, able-to-adapt kind of hero. Naturally, this makes Evan not just a better man but a better storyteller. You see, he absolutely needed a breath of fresh air, and who better to be that breath than Rachel?! Rachel is magical. I love how free she is: her wild hair, her no need for make-up, all of her pretty, frilly dresses, and her penchant for no shoes approach to life is refreshing. Rachel is a beautiful, intelligent, passionate, and super-kind woman with a dream she is willing to chase like a dog with a bone. She feels completely relatable in almost every way (except the no shoe thing…that I can’t get behind). I thoroughly enjoyed journeying with Rachel as she grabs her dream with both hands. She is quite inspirational, and I genuinely cheered for her the entire read.
Not a Fan is a delightfully endearing read. This is a story I will not soon forget. If you’re in the mood for a very well-written, highly engaging contemporary rom-com full of heart and depth, then this is the book for you. You will not want to miss this story!
I purchased a copy of this novel in eBook form from Amazon.com on February 28, 2026 in order to review. I am under no obligation to leave a positive review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Not a Fan is a delightfully endearing read. This is a story I will not soon forget. If you’re in the mood for a very well-written, highly engaging contemporary rom-com full of heart and depth, then this is the book for you. You will not want to miss this story!
I purchased a copy of this novel in eBook form from Amazon.com on February 28, 2026 in order to review. I am under no obligation to leave a positive review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
March 11, 2026
This was SUCH a fun and unique romcom, and I’m so happy I picked it up! It was my first read by Shelbey Kendall and I’m excited to read more of her books.
Rachel Perry is a writer for a magazine—an interim occupation while she waits for her dream of being an author to be realized. But rejection after rejection leaves her wondering if that will ever be in the cards… She’s dabbled in fanfiction, building off a character by one of her favorite authors, and she’s shocked by the immediate love her work gets.
Best-selling author Evan Michaels needs a miracle…even if he won’t admit it. He’s in a writing slump and doesn’t want to leave his fans as disappointed as they were with his last release. But he does NOT want help in the form of a fanfiction writer. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what his publisher prescribes—a six-week long book tour with the woman who has the audacity to think she can write about *his* fictional character.
Ah, this story is beautiful. Evan is a void of what he used to be. Past scars have kept him distant and closed off. Rachel is a dreamer and a fighter. She’s daring to spread her wings and fly and wants Evan to know the joy that comes from letting people in—from letting yourself feel things even when you’re scared to feel them.
If you love great character growth and self-discovery, watching characters challenge each other to look deeper and be authentic, and seeing them learn what real love looks and feels like, then PICK THIS ONE UP! It has all the tension and enemies-to-lovers banter that I adore in a romcom PLUS the sweet and tender moments that taste like drinking a milkshake after having a burger and fries.
✨ Gems ✨
Forced proximity
the LINGERING 😱… iykyk
Daring to dream
Fanfiction comments 😂
Dual POV 💞
THEIR FIRST KISS 🥵
Real moments 🥹
Author x aspiring author
Tacos 👏🏻
Evan’s sister 🤍
CW: brief episode of a stalker
Rachel Perry is a writer for a magazine—an interim occupation while she waits for her dream of being an author to be realized. But rejection after rejection leaves her wondering if that will ever be in the cards… She’s dabbled in fanfiction, building off a character by one of her favorite authors, and she’s shocked by the immediate love her work gets.
Best-selling author Evan Michaels needs a miracle…even if he won’t admit it. He’s in a writing slump and doesn’t want to leave his fans as disappointed as they were with his last release. But he does NOT want help in the form of a fanfiction writer. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what his publisher prescribes—a six-week long book tour with the woman who has the audacity to think she can write about *his* fictional character.
Ah, this story is beautiful. Evan is a void of what he used to be. Past scars have kept him distant and closed off. Rachel is a dreamer and a fighter. She’s daring to spread her wings and fly and wants Evan to know the joy that comes from letting people in—from letting yourself feel things even when you’re scared to feel them.
If you love great character growth and self-discovery, watching characters challenge each other to look deeper and be authentic, and seeing them learn what real love looks and feels like, then PICK THIS ONE UP! It has all the tension and enemies-to-lovers banter that I adore in a romcom PLUS the sweet and tender moments that taste like drinking a milkshake after having a burger and fries.
✨ Gems ✨
Forced proximity
the LINGERING 😱… iykyk
Daring to dream
Fanfiction comments 😂
Dual POV 💞
THEIR FIRST KISS 🥵
Real moments 🥹
Author x aspiring author
Tacos 👏🏻
Evan’s sister 🤍
CW: brief episode of a stalker
May 22, 2025
I started writing my own reviews on my own books with my first romance novella—so here I am. Writing a love letter to my newest love story because I’m highly aware there are going to be some reviews saying “Not a Fan” as if I haven’t already used this phrase a million times about a million other things in my life for the last year writing this. “Not a Fan” is a running joke in my house and one we’ll now forever use.
And if you aren’t a fan? Cool. I am. 😊
I hope you can find a book you are a fan of.
So, here we go!
To “Not a Fan”,
Whew. We did it. We went through so many rewrites, edits, tears, and more creating a beginning, ending, and everything in between. 87,000 words of going from “THIS IS AMAZING!” to “Am I even any good at this?” to “I love this story even if no one else does!”
And I hope you know, I did my best, which is really all a person can do.
Rachel…Maybe others will appreciate what you represent. A woman that believed in the lie of what love was and had big dreams. That was brave and left. That chose space to heal but still has doubts. Because don’t we all? Your sunshine isn’t without storm clouds; your sunshine is the brightness that shines around them giving light to the darkness.
Evan…Writing you was both the easiest and hardest thing. To make others hate you *just enough* without actually hating you because really, there’s nothing about you to hate at all.
Whether others love this story or not, I have thoroughly enjoyed all the months I spent in these words. I wrote what I needed, what made me smile, what made me stretch, grow, and even heal.
Thank you for allowing me to be the heart and brain behind this book. I feel like moving on is like moving away from a friend, but I’ll always be thankful for the time we had together.
Thank you. Five Stars. Highly recommend.
Love,
Shelbey
And if you aren’t a fan? Cool. I am. 😊
I hope you can find a book you are a fan of.
So, here we go!
To “Not a Fan”,
Whew. We did it. We went through so many rewrites, edits, tears, and more creating a beginning, ending, and everything in between. 87,000 words of going from “THIS IS AMAZING!” to “Am I even any good at this?” to “I love this story even if no one else does!”
And I hope you know, I did my best, which is really all a person can do.
Rachel…Maybe others will appreciate what you represent. A woman that believed in the lie of what love was and had big dreams. That was brave and left. That chose space to heal but still has doubts. Because don’t we all? Your sunshine isn’t without storm clouds; your sunshine is the brightness that shines around them giving light to the darkness.
Evan…Writing you was both the easiest and hardest thing. To make others hate you *just enough* without actually hating you because really, there’s nothing about you to hate at all.
Whether others love this story or not, I have thoroughly enjoyed all the months I spent in these words. I wrote what I needed, what made me smile, what made me stretch, grow, and even heal.
Thank you for allowing me to be the heart and brain behind this book. I feel like moving on is like moving away from a friend, but I’ll always be thankful for the time we had together.
Thank you. Five Stars. Highly recommend.
Love,
Shelbey
July 1, 2025
“…You don’t have to wait to be chosen, Rachel. You can choose yourself…”
This story is sweet, swoony, endearing, heartwarming, and an overall enjoyable read!! I giggled at the witty banter between Rachel and Evan! The tension is sizzling and the forced proximity on the book tour added the cherry on top!!
I LOVED seeing how our two main characters evolve through the story and the author has done an outstanding job creating very real scenarios that our MC’s have to face and overcome! This made me love the story even more! Side note: everyone needs a Lily in their lives. Evan’s sister is so epically amazing!! Chapter 40 had me laughing out loud!! 🫣😂
Evan is the grump to Rachel’s sunshine. He is closed off, stubborn, and keeps to himself while Rachel dresses in bright fun dresses, cries in tender moments, good or bad, and is very open to help those around her. Evan writes murder mysteries with no romance and Rachel writes fanfiction of Evan’s stories filled with romance. He is 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒶 𝒻𝒶𝓃 of her! 🔥
This story will pull at your heart and leave a smile in your soul with the lessons of opening your heart, braving difficult trials, and taking a chance on yourself.
“𝕆𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕤𝕚𝕕𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕕𝕠𝕠𝕣 𝕚𝕤 𝕒 𝕨𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕒 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕀 𝕔𝕒𝕟’𝕥 𝕤𝕔𝕣𝕚𝕡𝕥. 𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕤𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕖𝕤 𝕞𝕖, 𝕓𝕖𝕔𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖 𝕀’𝕞 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕫𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖 𝕀 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕀’𝕧𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕖𝕟 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕞𝕪𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕗 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕞 ℝ𝕒𝕔𝕙𝕖𝕝, 𝕀’𝕧𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕖𝕟 𝕤𝕝𝕠𝕨𝕝𝕪 𝕝𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕚𝕟.”
Things I loved:
The meeting at the publicist’s office
The first airplane ride
Rachel’s outfits
How protective Evan is
The board games
Lily-everything about her!
The forums
The first kiss
The epilogue 🥹♥️
Even more- but I don’t want to spoil it 😉
This story is sweet, swoony, endearing, heartwarming, and an overall enjoyable read!! I giggled at the witty banter between Rachel and Evan! The tension is sizzling and the forced proximity on the book tour added the cherry on top!!
I LOVED seeing how our two main characters evolve through the story and the author has done an outstanding job creating very real scenarios that our MC’s have to face and overcome! This made me love the story even more! Side note: everyone needs a Lily in their lives. Evan’s sister is so epically amazing!! Chapter 40 had me laughing out loud!! 🫣😂
Evan is the grump to Rachel’s sunshine. He is closed off, stubborn, and keeps to himself while Rachel dresses in bright fun dresses, cries in tender moments, good or bad, and is very open to help those around her. Evan writes murder mysteries with no romance and Rachel writes fanfiction of Evan’s stories filled with romance. He is 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒶 𝒻𝒶𝓃 of her! 🔥
This story will pull at your heart and leave a smile in your soul with the lessons of opening your heart, braving difficult trials, and taking a chance on yourself.
“𝕆𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕤𝕚𝕕𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕕𝕠𝕠𝕣 𝕚𝕤 𝕒 𝕨𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕒 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕀 𝕔𝕒𝕟’𝕥 𝕤𝕔𝕣𝕚𝕡𝕥. 𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕤𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕖𝕤 𝕞𝕖, 𝕓𝕖𝕔𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖 𝕀’𝕞 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕫𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖 𝕀 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕀’𝕧𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕖𝕟 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕞𝕪𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕗 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕞 ℝ𝕒𝕔𝕙𝕖𝕝, 𝕀’𝕧𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕖𝕟 𝕤𝕝𝕠𝕨𝕝𝕪 𝕝𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕚𝕟.”
Things I loved:
The meeting at the publicist’s office
The first airplane ride
Rachel’s outfits
How protective Evan is
The board games
Lily-everything about her!
The forums
The first kiss
The epilogue 🥹♥️
Even more- but I don’t want to spoil it 😉
July 4, 2025
This was such a cute and fun read—I finished it in just two days! I was immediately hooked by Rachel and Evan’s witty, playful banter. Their dynamic made it hard to put the book down. I especially loved that both characters were writers. It made their dialogue feel even sharper and more intentional, and Shelbey Kendall did a great job giving them distinct voices while also showing how alike they were in how they expressed themselves.
Rachel was incredibly relatable—especially with her rambling. I, too, am a rambler who sometimes spills my guts out to people, and seeing that part of myself in her made me love her even more. Her tendency to settle for breadcrumbs, even when she wanted more, really hit close to home.
But what really stayed with me was the theme of dreaming. Sometimes I push aside my own dreams because life be life-ing, but every time Rachel talked about chasing hers, it reminded me to keep going after mine too. It was such a beautiful reminder that dreaming—big or small—is always worth it.
One line that really stuck with me:
“Chasing dreams isn’t for the weak, and dreams—they aren’t guaranteed, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t strong for chasing them.”
If you’re looking for a lighthearted, heartfelt story with characters who’ll make you laugh and reflect, this one’s worth picking up.
**Thank you to Shelbey Kendall for my ARC copy in exchange for my honest review. **
Rachel was incredibly relatable—especially with her rambling. I, too, am a rambler who sometimes spills my guts out to people, and seeing that part of myself in her made me love her even more. Her tendency to settle for breadcrumbs, even when she wanted more, really hit close to home.
But what really stayed with me was the theme of dreaming. Sometimes I push aside my own dreams because life be life-ing, but every time Rachel talked about chasing hers, it reminded me to keep going after mine too. It was such a beautiful reminder that dreaming—big or small—is always worth it.
One line that really stuck with me:
“Chasing dreams isn’t for the weak, and dreams—they aren’t guaranteed, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t strong for chasing them.”
If you’re looking for a lighthearted, heartfelt story with characters who’ll make you laugh and reflect, this one’s worth picking up.
**Thank you to Shelbey Kendall for my ARC copy in exchange for my honest review. **
August 29, 2025
I don’t really know where to start with this review, there’s a lot to process.
The characters are real. Raw. They have true flaws, but doesn’t everyone? I’m so glad they find their own happiness in the end.
I think there’s something beautiful about broken people, how they can relate to so much, and how much more aware of the world they are of it.
Rachel was so cute. Literally. I loved her little quirks and how clumsy she was in certain aspects, and how she stayed true to her own style even when fearing judgement from those around her. I especially admire how much she cares for people, and puts in energy to make someone’s day a little better. People deserve to be seen.
Evan was, well, stuck in a little box at first. A box he made for himself and had a really hard time crawling out of. I enjoyed how observant he was, and how much he cares for the people he loves. I did find his abhorrence to social media interesting, his perspective was unique and slightly one sided, which I get is part of his personality.
I also enjoyed the redemption arc for certain characters, and truly admire Rachel for how she can see the good in everyone, because at the end of the day, all people can be good in the right circumstances. Forgiveness is life changing.
Oh and on a final note, I love a good side character and this book did amazing on that. Each character was well written and unique, and felt real. Special shout out to Wonton, who I think is adorable despite the FMC obvious disgust.
So Shelbey Kendall, I might be becoming a fan ;)
The characters are real. Raw. They have true flaws, but doesn’t everyone? I’m so glad they find their own happiness in the end.
I think there’s something beautiful about broken people, how they can relate to so much, and how much more aware of the world they are of it.
Rachel was so cute. Literally. I loved her little quirks and how clumsy she was in certain aspects, and how she stayed true to her own style even when fearing judgement from those around her. I especially admire how much she cares for people, and puts in energy to make someone’s day a little better. People deserve to be seen.
Evan was, well, stuck in a little box at first. A box he made for himself and had a really hard time crawling out of. I enjoyed how observant he was, and how much he cares for the people he loves. I did find his abhorrence to social media interesting, his perspective was unique and slightly one sided, which I get is part of his personality.
I also enjoyed the redemption arc for certain characters, and truly admire Rachel for how she can see the good in everyone, because at the end of the day, all people can be good in the right circumstances. Forgiveness is life changing.
Oh and on a final note, I love a good side character and this book did amazing on that. Each character was well written and unique, and felt real. Special shout out to Wonton, who I think is adorable despite the FMC obvious disgust.
So Shelbey Kendall, I might be becoming a fan ;)
February 25, 2026
THIS BOOK 👏👏👏
My review might be long, so bear with me.
I came across this book from a free closed-door romance event a month ago. A friend of mine told me about it and I couldn’t pass it up. As I looked through many different titles, this one caught my attention.
When I finally picked it up, saying I was hooked is an understatement. I don’t often read romance books like I used to. I am not a smut girlie so it’s been hard to find closed-door romance books that align with my heart. Thankfully, more and more people are advertising this genre.
Anyways, this book was meant to be. I fell in love with the characters, the plot, the writing style, and how much it hit right at home. I aspire to be an author, to “change the world” through my stories too. Quoting this from Chapter 39.
My life now consists of my relationship with Jesus, being a wife, a sister, a daughter, a Youth Pastor, and more.
I relate to Rachel in so many avenues - I see people and I want them to feel loved; to be kind and cherish moments; that bad people don’t exist, but bad choices or decisions.
Not a Fan is my #1 favorite read of 2026 and has been added to my favorites collection. I know will recommend this book to many people over the years!
My review might be long, so bear with me.
I came across this book from a free closed-door romance event a month ago. A friend of mine told me about it and I couldn’t pass it up. As I looked through many different titles, this one caught my attention.
When I finally picked it up, saying I was hooked is an understatement. I don’t often read romance books like I used to. I am not a smut girlie so it’s been hard to find closed-door romance books that align with my heart. Thankfully, more and more people are advertising this genre.
Anyways, this book was meant to be. I fell in love with the characters, the plot, the writing style, and how much it hit right at home. I aspire to be an author, to “change the world” through my stories too. Quoting this from Chapter 39.
My life now consists of my relationship with Jesus, being a wife, a sister, a daughter, a Youth Pastor, and more.
I relate to Rachel in so many avenues - I see people and I want them to feel loved; to be kind and cherish moments; that bad people don’t exist, but bad choices or decisions.
Not a Fan is my #1 favorite read of 2026 and has been added to my favorites collection. I know will recommend this book to many people over the years!
March 30, 2026
I absolutely loved Not a Fan—this was such a fun, refreshing read that completely exceeded my expectations.
First off, the banter? Top tier. The dialogue felt so natural and witty, and it had me smiling pretty much the entire time. This is one of those books where the characters feel alive, and their interactions are just as entertaining as the plot itself.
Speaking of the plot… those twists?? I did not see some of them coming, and I loved every second of it. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story would pivot in the best way. It kept me hooked and turning pages way past when I should’ve gone to bed.
Also, I genuinely laughed out loud multiple times—which doesn’t happen often for me when reading. The humor landed perfectly without feeling forced, and it balanced so well with the mystery elements.
One of my favorite parts, though, was the dynamic between a murder mystery author and a fanfic writer. That combination was so unique and added such a fun layer to the story. It gave the book this playful, self-aware charm while still delivering a compelling and engaging plot.
If you’re looking for something clever, funny, and full of surprises, this one is 100% worth it. I’ll definitely be thinking about these characters for a while.
First off, the banter? Top tier. The dialogue felt so natural and witty, and it had me smiling pretty much the entire time. This is one of those books where the characters feel alive, and their interactions are just as entertaining as the plot itself.
Speaking of the plot… those twists?? I did not see some of them coming, and I loved every second of it. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story would pivot in the best way. It kept me hooked and turning pages way past when I should’ve gone to bed.
Also, I genuinely laughed out loud multiple times—which doesn’t happen often for me when reading. The humor landed perfectly without feeling forced, and it balanced so well with the mystery elements.
One of my favorite parts, though, was the dynamic between a murder mystery author and a fanfic writer. That combination was so unique and added such a fun layer to the story. It gave the book this playful, self-aware charm while still delivering a compelling and engaging plot.
If you’re looking for something clever, funny, and full of surprises, this one is 100% worth it. I’ll definitely be thinking about these characters for a while.
February 22, 2026
This book was a delight! Evan and Rachel had such great banter. Mystery author Evan is less than thrilled to find Rachel has been writing fan fiction for his books. Inviting her on his book tour was not what he wanted but turned out what to be what both Evan and Rachel needed. They truly challenged each other but also gave so much support.
Favorite parts:
-Evan being driven crazy by Rachel’s lack of shoes or clothing choices.
-Lily. She was so funny
-their flirting and their first date
-the first kiss
Favorite Quotes:
Her everything is going to fill my every second until I see her again. In fact, I don’t think I’ll even have to really think about her. She’s just going to live in my thoughts. Take up permanent residence. And she can have it all.
She did, after all, take Barrett and give him a new life. ‘Resuscitating him’ is actually what she said. And I think she can resuscitate me.
“I’m always in my favorite place when I’m with you,”
Favorite parts:
-Evan being driven crazy by Rachel’s lack of shoes or clothing choices.
-Lily. She was so funny
-their flirting and their first date
-the first kiss
Favorite Quotes:
Her everything is going to fill my every second until I see her again. In fact, I don’t think I’ll even have to really think about her. She’s just going to live in my thoughts. Take up permanent residence. And she can have it all.
She did, after all, take Barrett and give him a new life. ‘Resuscitating him’ is actually what she said. And I think she can resuscitate me.
“I’m always in my favorite place when I’m with you,”
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