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More Than I Expected
She downloaded an accountability app to get her life together. She didn’t expect to find someone who made her want to start living again.
Sydni Benton isn’t falling apart, she’s just quietly unraveling. After months of hiding in her apartment, drowning in work, and avoiding every emotion that asks too much of her, she decides to try something a goal-setting app called Resolve.
What she doesn’t expect is Elias Monroe, the complete stranger paired with her as her “accountability partner.”
Elias is steady, gentle, annoyingly disciplined… and unexpectedly kind. His encouragement is soft, simple, and exactly the thing Sydni doesn’t know how to accept. She’s not used to anyone noticing her small victories, much less cheering for them.
But just when Sydni starts to feel a spark of hope, she retreats.
What she doesn’t know is that Elias recognizes the silence because he’s lived it himself. He’s spent years retreating from connection, convinced distance keeps him safe. Seeing Sydni vanish hits a little too close—and makes him realize he cares more than he intended to.
When their worlds collide offline, messy, awkward, and a little magical, everything shifts. Their chemistry is undeniable, but both carry wounds that make trust complicated. Between Sydni’s protective walls, Elias’s instinct to withdraw, and Sloan (Sydni’s dramatic, overprotective best friend with abandonment issues of his own), the path to connection is anything but simple.
Yet something gentle keeps pulling them back to each other.
A look.
A conversation.
A moment where Sydni finally breathes without bracing for impact.
A moment where Elias lets himself hope again.
Perfect for readers who
• slow-burn, soft romance
• mental-health-positive storylines
• messy, lovable main characters
• emotional healing arcs
• supportive cinnamon-roll heroes
• chaotic best-friend energy
• cozy, character-driven love stories with heart and humor
More Than I Expected is a tender, funny, deeply human romantic comedy about rebuilding your life one tiny goal at a time—and finding someone who sees you, chooses you, and gently pushes you forward when you’re finally brave enough to try.
Trigger This novel gently explores themes of trauma,past emotional/physical abuse, panic attacks, and grief. While handled with care, these elements may be difficult for some readers. These themes are portrayed thoughtfully and without any graphic descriptions.
Content
This story includes light references to grief, anxiety, and past emotional/physical trauma. Themes are handled with warmth, humor, and healing.
"I’ve read many long books by other authors, and this one stands out as truly exceptional. Well done, Wynn, for crafting a story that kept my attention and exceeded all my expectations. I wholeheartedly recommend it!" -Reader R.J. Greyta
"More Than I Expected is a beautifully tender, slow-burn romance that will charm readers with its emotional depth, lovable characters, and gentle reminder that healing—and love—often begins with the smallest steps." – NewInBooks
"More Than I Expected is a story that begins with the familiar beats of a rom-com but delivers something far more substantial.
Sydni Benton isn’t falling apart, she’s just quietly unraveling. After months of hiding in her apartment, drowning in work, and avoiding every emotion that asks too much of her, she decides to try something a goal-setting app called Resolve.
What she doesn’t expect is Elias Monroe, the complete stranger paired with her as her “accountability partner.”
Elias is steady, gentle, annoyingly disciplined… and unexpectedly kind. His encouragement is soft, simple, and exactly the thing Sydni doesn’t know how to accept. She’s not used to anyone noticing her small victories, much less cheering for them.
But just when Sydni starts to feel a spark of hope, she retreats.
What she doesn’t know is that Elias recognizes the silence because he’s lived it himself. He’s spent years retreating from connection, convinced distance keeps him safe. Seeing Sydni vanish hits a little too close—and makes him realize he cares more than he intended to.
When their worlds collide offline, messy, awkward, and a little magical, everything shifts. Their chemistry is undeniable, but both carry wounds that make trust complicated. Between Sydni’s protective walls, Elias’s instinct to withdraw, and Sloan (Sydni’s dramatic, overprotective best friend with abandonment issues of his own), the path to connection is anything but simple.
Yet something gentle keeps pulling them back to each other.
A look.
A conversation.
A moment where Sydni finally breathes without bracing for impact.
A moment where Elias lets himself hope again.
Perfect for readers who
• slow-burn, soft romance
• mental-health-positive storylines
• messy, lovable main characters
• emotional healing arcs
• supportive cinnamon-roll heroes
• chaotic best-friend energy
• cozy, character-driven love stories with heart and humor
More Than I Expected is a tender, funny, deeply human romantic comedy about rebuilding your life one tiny goal at a time—and finding someone who sees you, chooses you, and gently pushes you forward when you’re finally brave enough to try.
Trigger This novel gently explores themes of trauma,past emotional/physical abuse, panic attacks, and grief. While handled with care, these elements may be difficult for some readers. These themes are portrayed thoughtfully and without any graphic descriptions.
Content
This story includes light references to grief, anxiety, and past emotional/physical trauma. Themes are handled with warmth, humor, and healing.
"I’ve read many long books by other authors, and this one stands out as truly exceptional. Well done, Wynn, for crafting a story that kept my attention and exceeded all my expectations. I wholeheartedly recommend it!" -Reader R.J. Greyta
"More Than I Expected is a beautifully tender, slow-burn romance that will charm readers with its emotional depth, lovable characters, and gentle reminder that healing—and love—often begins with the smallest steps." – NewInBooks
"More Than I Expected is a story that begins with the familiar beats of a rom-com but delivers something far more substantial.
458 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 8, 2025
4 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 10, 2026
What can I say—what a book! Each chapter drew me in so completely that I thought I might get lost, especially as someone with dyslexia and ADHD. Instead, it awakened my ADHD hyper-focus and kept me completely absorbed from start to finish. The story was far more than I expected—rich, detailed, and full of twists that kept me guessing. I might even suggest that this book could be split into 3 or 4 separate books, as it’s packed with so much content, but don’t let that put you off—it only adds to its depth. I’ve read many long books by other authors, and this one stands out as truly exceptional. Well done, Wynn, for crafting a story that kept my attention and exceeded all my expectations. I wholeheartedly recommend it!
January 6, 2026
Slow-burn & Cozy
Lots of little important special things and moments. I appreciated how it dealt with mental health and healing. As a survivor I really appreciated the attention and pacing. The characters felt very real in their depth. Much of the book reads like a screenplay.
Lots of little important special things and moments. I appreciated how it dealt with mental health and healing. As a survivor I really appreciated the attention and pacing. The characters felt very real in their depth. Much of the book reads like a screenplay.
December 29, 2025
I read this cozy read in a weekend on my kindle ❤️
This was such a sweet, comforting read. It’s very character-driven and really shines in the quiet moments — small conversations, little wins, and the slow build of trust between people who are just trying to figure themselves out.
I especially appreciated how gently it handles mental health and healing without feeling heavy or preachy. The characters feel messy and real, and there’s a lot of warmth and humor woven throughout that makes it easy to settle into. If you like slow-burn romance, cozy vibes, and emotionally kind stories, this one is definitely worth picking up.
This was such a sweet, comforting read. It’s very character-driven and really shines in the quiet moments — small conversations, little wins, and the slow build of trust between people who are just trying to figure themselves out.
I especially appreciated how gently it handles mental health and healing without feeling heavy or preachy. The characters feel messy and real, and there’s a lot of warmth and humor woven throughout that makes it easy to settle into. If you like slow-burn romance, cozy vibes, and emotionally kind stories, this one is definitely worth picking up.
December 30, 2025
Extremely Slow Burn Must Read
If you like slow burn, trauma healing, and a sweet love story then this one is for you. Amara definitely knows how to tell an unforgettable story. The pacing is superb and the characters are great! I think Sloan is my favorite character.
If you like slow burn, trauma healing, and a sweet love story then this one is for you. Amara definitely knows how to tell an unforgettable story. The pacing is superb and the characters are great! I think Sloan is my favorite character.
February 1, 2026
I finished this book on Christmas Eve which somehow seems appropriate because in many ways More Than I Expected is a gift: it’s a debut novel by someone unexpected; it’s characters that stay with you even after the book is closed; and it’s an additional adorable dog to add to my Book Pet list. Are you prepared to fall in love? If not, then don’t read this book, because you are going to meet Sydni and Elias and you are going to fall in love. You might also fall in love with Sloan, and you are definitely going to fall in love with Clementine!
Being an Indie author is scary. What it means is you are your own publisher because none of the big guys wanted to take a chance on your work. They have a budget and they want to spend it on authors whose work is proven. As those of us who’ve invested our time, our money, and our hearts in reading work by Indie authors can tell you, you are missing out on some good reading! Occasionally you’ll choose a book that is an eye-roller or a head-shaker, but isn’t that also true with books by best-selling authors who’ve been around for years? I can certainly name a few! So take a chance and read More Than I Expected. It’s delightful and touching and funny and will stay with you long after you read the final page. You’ll meet some people you’d love to hang out with because they are real. Oh, and did I mention, there’s a dog? Five stars to Author Amara Wynn for sharing her gift and for having the strength and courage to join the ranks of Indie Authors! I’m definitely expecting more!
Being an Indie author is scary. What it means is you are your own publisher because none of the big guys wanted to take a chance on your work. They have a budget and they want to spend it on authors whose work is proven. As those of us who’ve invested our time, our money, and our hearts in reading work by Indie authors can tell you, you are missing out on some good reading! Occasionally you’ll choose a book that is an eye-roller or a head-shaker, but isn’t that also true with books by best-selling authors who’ve been around for years? I can certainly name a few! So take a chance and read More Than I Expected. It’s delightful and touching and funny and will stay with you long after you read the final page. You’ll meet some people you’d love to hang out with because they are real. Oh, and did I mention, there’s a dog? Five stars to Author Amara Wynn for sharing her gift and for having the strength and courage to join the ranks of Indie Authors! I’m definitely expecting more!
January 17, 2026
More Than I Expected is an engaging read that drew me in with its emotional honesty and gentle humor. The story unfolds in a way that is both soft and compelling. The pacing supports a slow-burn romance without feeling heavy. It explores meaningful themes of healing, trust, and personal growth.
What truly stands out to me were the relatable characters. Sydni’s tendency to retreat when life feels overwhelming and Elias’s calm, compassionate steadiness mirror real emotional patterns many readers will relate to. Their connection feels earned. This novel offers a comforting, character-driven romance that balances emotional depth with readability, making it a good choice for readers who appreciate realistic heartfelt stories.
What truly stands out to me were the relatable characters. Sydni’s tendency to retreat when life feels overwhelming and Elias’s calm, compassionate steadiness mirror real emotional patterns many readers will relate to. Their connection feels earned. This novel offers a comforting, character-driven romance that balances emotional depth with readability, making it a good choice for readers who appreciate realistic heartfelt stories.
January 11, 2026
More Than I Expected is a story that begins with the familiar beats of a rom-com but delivers something far more substantial. It is a refreshing and deeply resonant debut novel from indie author Amara Wynn. While it wears the vibrant coat of a contemporary romantic comedy, the story possesses a level of emotional maturity and psychological depth that sets it apart from typical beach reads.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews