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Not According to Plan: A Second Chance Workplace Romance
When the wedding of the season brings them together, what could go wrong?
As the rising star in the local wedding planning industry, Brooke Spencer is ready to handle whatever life throws at her. This wedding season, she plans to prove to her boss—who just happens to be her mom—that she’s ready to take over Spencer Soirees, her mom’s wedding planning agency. What Brooke didn’t plan on was Caleb Foley coming home. The last time she saw Caleb, he was walking away after she kissed him at the biggest industry party of the year. Brooke’s been trying to forget about him ever since.
Caleb Foley had a plan, once upon a time, but he screwed that up when he ran off to the West Coast. Now that he’s back home for the season to help with the family business, Foley’s Market & Fine Catering, he’s forced to face the past while hesitantly planning for the future. On his second night in town, Caleb runs right into the one person he hasn’t been able to forget about for the last five years.
When one of New England’s most popular influencers wants to hire both Spencer Soirees and Foley’s for her wedding, there’s one the Foleys have refused to work with wedding planners ever since the epic falling out between the families decades earlier. They put the rivalry aside for this one very important client, and Brooke and Caleb are forced to work together on the biggest wedding of their careers. Can Brooke and Caleb pull off the wedding of the season, mend the past, and find their way back to one another?
As the rising star in the local wedding planning industry, Brooke Spencer is ready to handle whatever life throws at her. This wedding season, she plans to prove to her boss—who just happens to be her mom—that she’s ready to take over Spencer Soirees, her mom’s wedding planning agency. What Brooke didn’t plan on was Caleb Foley coming home. The last time she saw Caleb, he was walking away after she kissed him at the biggest industry party of the year. Brooke’s been trying to forget about him ever since.
Caleb Foley had a plan, once upon a time, but he screwed that up when he ran off to the West Coast. Now that he’s back home for the season to help with the family business, Foley’s Market & Fine Catering, he’s forced to face the past while hesitantly planning for the future. On his second night in town, Caleb runs right into the one person he hasn’t been able to forget about for the last five years.
When one of New England’s most popular influencers wants to hire both Spencer Soirees and Foley’s for her wedding, there’s one the Foleys have refused to work with wedding planners ever since the epic falling out between the families decades earlier. They put the rivalry aside for this one very important client, and Brooke and Caleb are forced to work together on the biggest wedding of their careers. Can Brooke and Caleb pull off the wedding of the season, mend the past, and find their way back to one another?
323 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 26, 2026
32 people are currently reading
246 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
February 27, 2026
Meg absolutely knocked it out of the park with this debut novel! If you love a book without a third act breakup, a completely hateable side character, and a dog with an adult human name, you better be picking this one up when it releases on 3/26!
April 1, 2026
Such a good book! Overall this is a feel-good book with a workplace summer romance in Connecticut during wedding season where a wedding planner and caterer with history are thrown together for the biggest wedding of the year. I love a romance where the characters are evolved and don’t play games for the most part. Chapters alternate between Brooke and Caleb’s perspectives, and I was really impressed with Caleb’s chapters. They are both realistic characters, especially Brooke who deals with her problems head-on and even goes to therapy. The level of spice was perfect, too. The book’s tension revolves around her relationship with her mom and the wedding planning business. I enjoyed learning more about wedding planning. I was pleasantly surprised by the end resolution with her mother. This is a fun one!
March 11, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Thank you @bookedwiththeemilys @megdoodywrites for the #gifted copy!
🔥🔥🔥🔥 Three open door scenes and innuendo
CW: narcissistic mother, on-page migraine attack
Quick intro:
What happens when a wedding planner and a chef are thrown together to pull off the wedding of the season (and probably their careers) five years after he rejected her and walked out of her life? Will they be able to find their way back to one another amidst decades of family drama, their own complicated feelings, and the immense pressure of the highest of high profile weddings?
Quick thoughts:
Ok, first things first. SCREW JUDY. She sucks so bad. And I hate her I hate her I hate her. But seriously, if you have any experience with a narcissistic toxic mother, you will feel seen while reading this book. And also maybe triggered? And probably angry. Lol. Ok, now that we have that out of the way….
I honestly thought this was a really solid debut. Meg is FUNNY. I laughed out loud more times than I could count. Meg is super funny in real life and her sense of humor translated well on page. I also found her dialogue to flow easily - sometimes with debuts the dialogue feels clunky and it really didn’t. And having worked as a wedding planner in the past, Meg writes about the wedding industry with a keen insider’s eye. You can tell she knows her stuff! Man, what I wouldn’t give to have had Brooke Spencer plan my wedding!!
I found Brooke and Caleb’s relationship quite lovely. I ate up their banter, teasing, and tension. But where Caleb really SHINED was the caretaking. He took Brooke’s migraine diagnosis seriously, which made her feel so seen. And he was really tender with her. If you’re a fan of caretaking micro trope you’ll eat it up. I also loved how they supported one another so well on their journeys to sort of break out of parental expectations. Meg gave both of them a really strong character arc and journey and I found that the complimented each other well along the way.
Read this book if you like spicy friends to lovers second chance romances, a wedding industry setting with a chef and wedding planner, the nickname babe, realistic migraine representation, stories with complicated family relationships, NO THIRD ACT BREAKUPS, and supporting indie authors.
Thank you @bookedwiththeemilys @megdoodywrites for the #gifted copy!
🔥🔥🔥🔥 Three open door scenes and innuendo
CW: narcissistic mother, on-page migraine attack
Quick intro:
What happens when a wedding planner and a chef are thrown together to pull off the wedding of the season (and probably their careers) five years after he rejected her and walked out of her life? Will they be able to find their way back to one another amidst decades of family drama, their own complicated feelings, and the immense pressure of the highest of high profile weddings?
Quick thoughts:
Ok, first things first. SCREW JUDY. She sucks so bad. And I hate her I hate her I hate her. But seriously, if you have any experience with a narcissistic toxic mother, you will feel seen while reading this book. And also maybe triggered? And probably angry. Lol. Ok, now that we have that out of the way….
I honestly thought this was a really solid debut. Meg is FUNNY. I laughed out loud more times than I could count. Meg is super funny in real life and her sense of humor translated well on page. I also found her dialogue to flow easily - sometimes with debuts the dialogue feels clunky and it really didn’t. And having worked as a wedding planner in the past, Meg writes about the wedding industry with a keen insider’s eye. You can tell she knows her stuff! Man, what I wouldn’t give to have had Brooke Spencer plan my wedding!!
I found Brooke and Caleb’s relationship quite lovely. I ate up their banter, teasing, and tension. But where Caleb really SHINED was the caretaking. He took Brooke’s migraine diagnosis seriously, which made her feel so seen. And he was really tender with her. If you’re a fan of caretaking micro trope you’ll eat it up. I also loved how they supported one another so well on their journeys to sort of break out of parental expectations. Meg gave both of them a really strong character arc and journey and I found that the complimented each other well along the way.
Read this book if you like spicy friends to lovers second chance romances, a wedding industry setting with a chef and wedding planner, the nickname babe, realistic migraine representation, stories with complicated family relationships, NO THIRD ACT BREAKUPS, and supporting indie authors.
April 1, 2026
Thanks so much to @megdoodywrites and @bookedwiththeemilys for the generous #gifted e-book!
This delightful romance novel marked a wonderful debut from a new author, and I was completely captivated.
Caleb and Brooke’s second chance at love was utterly heartwarming. Their history together was so sweet, I found myself cheering them on every step of the way.
Caleb was an incredibly caring man who always looked out for Brooke. I couldn’t stand Judy, Brooke’s mother, and felt so much sadness over their strained relationship, she was truly a horrible person and mother. I loved seeing Brooke find love and a family that embraced her. Her friends, Jordan and Maddie, were absolutely fantastic, supporting and loving her unconditionally.
The writing was captivating and truly pulled me into the story. The characters were endearing, and I loved the heartfelt journey of self-discovery that Caleb and Brooke experienced as they found their way.
If you’re a fan of sweet romances with second chances, this book is an absolute must-read. I am looking forward to the next novel by Meg!!!
What You’ll Find:
💘 Second chance
🔥 Friends to lovers
💋 Workplace romance
💍 Wedding industry
🗝️ Locked in a closet
🍅 Migraine rep with caretaking
This delightful romance novel marked a wonderful debut from a new author, and I was completely captivated.
Caleb and Brooke’s second chance at love was utterly heartwarming. Their history together was so sweet, I found myself cheering them on every step of the way.
Caleb was an incredibly caring man who always looked out for Brooke. I couldn’t stand Judy, Brooke’s mother, and felt so much sadness over their strained relationship, she was truly a horrible person and mother. I loved seeing Brooke find love and a family that embraced her. Her friends, Jordan and Maddie, were absolutely fantastic, supporting and loving her unconditionally.
The writing was captivating and truly pulled me into the story. The characters were endearing, and I loved the heartfelt journey of self-discovery that Caleb and Brooke experienced as they found their way.
If you’re a fan of sweet romances with second chances, this book is an absolute must-read. I am looking forward to the next novel by Meg!!!
What You’ll Find:
💘 Second chance
🔥 Friends to lovers
💋 Workplace romance
💍 Wedding industry
🗝️ Locked in a closet
🍅 Migraine rep with caretaking
February 28, 2026
Thank you so much to the author for this ARC!
I absolutely loved this book!!! As a fellow former wedding industry pro, the behind-the-scenes details felt so authentic, and the chaos, pressure, and magic of that world were captured perfectly.
The migraine representation really spoke to me. As someone who has been newly inducted to the migraine club :( this was so impactful. It’s actually the first rom-com I’ve read that incorporated it so accurately, especially the frustration of people dismissing them as “just little headaches.”
Brooke was fierce yet graceful in a way that made her impossible not to root for, and Caleb’s parents were such a dream. The happily-ever-after felt realistic, with family drama that made the ending feel grounded and relatable. Her descriptions were so vivid that I felt like I was actually there, soaking up a sweet New England summer (which was especially lovely during this chilly February!).
You can expect:
• Swoony MMC
• Yummy spice: Yes, Chef 🤤
• Friends to lovers
• New England vibes
It’s an absolute must read!! Bravo 👏🩵
I absolutely loved this book!!! As a fellow former wedding industry pro, the behind-the-scenes details felt so authentic, and the chaos, pressure, and magic of that world were captured perfectly.
The migraine representation really spoke to me. As someone who has been newly inducted to the migraine club :( this was so impactful. It’s actually the first rom-com I’ve read that incorporated it so accurately, especially the frustration of people dismissing them as “just little headaches.”
Brooke was fierce yet graceful in a way that made her impossible not to root for, and Caleb’s parents were such a dream. The happily-ever-after felt realistic, with family drama that made the ending feel grounded and relatable. Her descriptions were so vivid that I felt like I was actually there, soaking up a sweet New England summer (which was especially lovely during this chilly February!).
You can expect:
• Swoony MMC
• Yummy spice: Yes, Chef 🤤
• Friends to lovers
• New England vibes
It’s an absolute must read!! Bravo 👏🩵
March 14, 2026
Brook Spencer is great at what she does as a wedding planner—meticulous checklists, design boards, color-coded files, notes, pictures, and more. She works alongside her mom, Judy, and hopes to one day take over the family wedding planning business, Spencer Soirées. Brooke has been requested as the planner for the upcoming wedding of Hannah and Preston, a celebration that has the potential to change both her career and Judy’s business.
The only problem? The same couple has selected Foley’s Market & Fine Catering as their food vendor, owned and operated by Paul Foley and his wife. Their son, Caleb Foley, is back in Connecticut to help run the family business—and he definitely did not anticipate working alongside Brooke.
They have history. Once friends, things drastically changed between them after Brooke tried to kiss Caleb.
Can they look past their rivalry to plan the wedding of the season—and possibly reshape their futures?
This is Meg Doody’s debut novel, and it was GREAT! I had many laugh-out-loud moments, some starting within the first five chapters. Brooke is as dedicated to her career as Mary was in the movie The Wedding Planner (minus falling for the groom), and I knew right away that I was going to be hooked. If you love wedding-planner vibes, this book is definitely for you!
Brooke and Caleb’s relationship was very enjoyable, and I loved watching them grow and find their paths in life. Both characters are following in the family business but want more for themselves.
The supporting characters in this book—like Caleb’s parents and Brooke’s friends—were so lovable. You can really see how much they care about the main characters through their actions. I always enjoy books where the supporting cast is just as well written as the leads.
All of the tropes in this book are done so well! I love a good friends-to-lovers and second-chance romance, and Meg executes these tropes beautifully. If those tropes are your thing and you enjoy wedding planner and chef vibes, pick up this book—you won’t be disappointed!
Thank you Meg Doody and Booked with the Emilys for the opportunity to ARC read Not According to Plan!
The only problem? The same couple has selected Foley’s Market & Fine Catering as their food vendor, owned and operated by Paul Foley and his wife. Their son, Caleb Foley, is back in Connecticut to help run the family business—and he definitely did not anticipate working alongside Brooke.
They have history. Once friends, things drastically changed between them after Brooke tried to kiss Caleb.
Can they look past their rivalry to plan the wedding of the season—and possibly reshape their futures?
This is Meg Doody’s debut novel, and it was GREAT! I had many laugh-out-loud moments, some starting within the first five chapters. Brooke is as dedicated to her career as Mary was in the movie The Wedding Planner (minus falling for the groom), and I knew right away that I was going to be hooked. If you love wedding-planner vibes, this book is definitely for you!
Brooke and Caleb’s relationship was very enjoyable, and I loved watching them grow and find their paths in life. Both characters are following in the family business but want more for themselves.
The supporting characters in this book—like Caleb’s parents and Brooke’s friends—were so lovable. You can really see how much they care about the main characters through their actions. I always enjoy books where the supporting cast is just as well written as the leads.
All of the tropes in this book are done so well! I love a good friends-to-lovers and second-chance romance, and Meg executes these tropes beautifully. If those tropes are your thing and you enjoy wedding planner and chef vibes, pick up this book—you won’t be disappointed!
Thank you Meg Doody and Booked with the Emilys for the opportunity to ARC read Not According to Plan!
April 2, 2026
Not According to Plan 💐 Book Review 🍰 Thank you so much partner @bookedwiththeemilys @megdoodywrites for the gifted copy!
Not According to Plan
by Meg Doody
out NOW!
When rising wedding planner Brooke Spencer gets the chance to prove she’s ready to take over her mom’s business, the last thing she expects is Caleb Foley walking back into her life. The same guy she hasn’t been able to forget since their almost moment years ago. Meanwhile, Caleb is back home to help with his family’s catering business, forced to face both his past mistakes and the one person who still lingers in his mind.
When a high profile influencer hires both their rival family businesses for the wedding of the season, Brooke and Caleb are pushed to work together despite years of tension between their families. As old feelings resurface and the pressure builds, they’ll have to navigate their complicated history while trying to pull off the biggest event of their careers and maybe find their way back to each other in the process.
🍰 My thoughts:
A wedding of the season, second chances, and a romance that feels like coming home.
This was such a bingeable read and honestly deserves all the stars. It has everything…second chances, friends to lovers, workplace romance, wedding industry drama, forced proximity (locked in a closet 🤤), and even some really tender caretaking moments. And it’s all done so well!! I couldn’t put it down. Caleb was absolutely wonderful, and I loved how deeply he showed up for Brooke. She truly deserves the love she gets and not just from him, but from her friends and his family too. And while I don’t personally relate to having a complicated relationship with a parent, Brooke and Judy’s dynamic still hit me hard and made me feel everything. By the end, I had that perfect little happy tear, like the cherry on top of such a heartwarming story. If you love swoony second chances, emotional depth, and romances set in the wedding world, this is definitely one to pick up! Thank you to Booked with the Emily’s for introducing me to this author!
Happy reading 📖 💐💒🍰✨
Not According to Plan
by Meg Doody
out NOW!
When rising wedding planner Brooke Spencer gets the chance to prove she’s ready to take over her mom’s business, the last thing she expects is Caleb Foley walking back into her life. The same guy she hasn’t been able to forget since their almost moment years ago. Meanwhile, Caleb is back home to help with his family’s catering business, forced to face both his past mistakes and the one person who still lingers in his mind.
When a high profile influencer hires both their rival family businesses for the wedding of the season, Brooke and Caleb are pushed to work together despite years of tension between their families. As old feelings resurface and the pressure builds, they’ll have to navigate their complicated history while trying to pull off the biggest event of their careers and maybe find their way back to each other in the process.
🍰 My thoughts:
A wedding of the season, second chances, and a romance that feels like coming home.
This was such a bingeable read and honestly deserves all the stars. It has everything…second chances, friends to lovers, workplace romance, wedding industry drama, forced proximity (locked in a closet 🤤), and even some really tender caretaking moments. And it’s all done so well!! I couldn’t put it down. Caleb was absolutely wonderful, and I loved how deeply he showed up for Brooke. She truly deserves the love she gets and not just from him, but from her friends and his family too. And while I don’t personally relate to having a complicated relationship with a parent, Brooke and Judy’s dynamic still hit me hard and made me feel everything. By the end, I had that perfect little happy tear, like the cherry on top of such a heartwarming story. If you love swoony second chances, emotional depth, and romances set in the wedding world, this is definitely one to pick up! Thank you to Booked with the Emily’s for introducing me to this author!
Happy reading 📖 💐💒🍰✨
March 27, 2026
Thank you Booked with the Emilys and Meg Doody for my gifted book.
A wedding planner, a caterer, and a whole lot of history!
This was such a cute debut!
Five years ago after a fun summer working together, Caleb ran out at the moment Brooke moved to make their friendship more. Now he’s back in town and working for his parents catering company and they’re forced to work on the wedding of the year together.
The behind the scenes look at the wedding industry was so much fun, with every detail planned and covered. Brooke had so many emotional walls to break through between Caleb running out, and the bad blood between their families, and Caleb was so kind, patient, and swoony to carefully dismantle her walls.
As a post-COVID chronic migraine sufferer - I loved the migraine rep in the story. Brooke’s mom went straight to the “throat punch” list for me. 💥🥊
Romance content: 3 open-door scenes
[closed-door modification: 27, 29, 34-35]
A wedding planner, a caterer, and a whole lot of history!
This was such a cute debut!
Five years ago after a fun summer working together, Caleb ran out at the moment Brooke moved to make their friendship more. Now he’s back in town and working for his parents catering company and they’re forced to work on the wedding of the year together.
The behind the scenes look at the wedding industry was so much fun, with every detail planned and covered. Brooke had so many emotional walls to break through between Caleb running out, and the bad blood between their families, and Caleb was so kind, patient, and swoony to carefully dismantle her walls.
As a post-COVID chronic migraine sufferer - I loved the migraine rep in the story. Brooke’s mom went straight to the “throat punch” list for me. 💥🥊
Romance content: 3 open-door scenes
[closed-door modification: 27, 29, 34-35]
March 30, 2026
First and foremost, shoutout to Meg for giving me an eARC. It was an honor and a pleasure to read your debut novel. ❤️
If you know me, you know I will not glaze a book if the glazing is not deserved. That being said, Meg and her debut novel deserve all the flowers! What an exquisite debut novel *chef’s kiss* 👨🍳💕
Following Brooke and Caleb, a dynamic wedding planner/sexy chef duo, you get a clear window into the wedding industry AND the toils of being raised by a narcissist. Some of those mother/daughter scenes…’twas a real ouchie, bro! 🤕
This novel was the perfect balance of funny and sexy. The spice was great and the chemistry felt authentic. I HAAATE a forced funny moment or sex scene, and those were nowhere to be seen! From the setting details to the banter…nothing felt overdone.
Overall, I think this could be a good romance novel for recovering romance haters (me). Embrace the whimsy of this genre by picking up Not According to Plan. You won’t regret it!
If you know me, you know I will not glaze a book if the glazing is not deserved. That being said, Meg and her debut novel deserve all the flowers! What an exquisite debut novel *chef’s kiss* 👨🍳💕
Following Brooke and Caleb, a dynamic wedding planner/sexy chef duo, you get a clear window into the wedding industry AND the toils of being raised by a narcissist. Some of those mother/daughter scenes…’twas a real ouchie, bro! 🤕
This novel was the perfect balance of funny and sexy. The spice was great and the chemistry felt authentic. I HAAATE a forced funny moment or sex scene, and those were nowhere to be seen! From the setting details to the banter…nothing felt overdone.
Overall, I think this could be a good romance novel for recovering romance haters (me). Embrace the whimsy of this genre by picking up Not According to Plan. You won’t regret it!
April 4, 2026
I LOVED this book! And it’s written by a local author!
The main characters in this are Brooke and Caleb. They knew each other growing up, as both of them had parents in the wedding industry. Now Brooke is the head wedding planner for Spencer Soirees, her mom’s company, and Caleb is head chef for Foley’s Market & Fine Catering, his dad’s business. After an angsty past, one where Brooke kissed Caleb and he walked away, they are thrust together to plan the wedding of a popular influencer. The wedding planning, their family drama, and their unresolved feelings all come to light
I love a rom com, and this did sooo many things right. Brooke and Caleb’s characters were both well developed as was their relationship. Plus they both deal with some realistic family issues. The wedding backdrop was great, and there were steamy scenes without it being too much. I can’t wait to see what this author does next!
The main characters in this are Brooke and Caleb. They knew each other growing up, as both of them had parents in the wedding industry. Now Brooke is the head wedding planner for Spencer Soirees, her mom’s company, and Caleb is head chef for Foley’s Market & Fine Catering, his dad’s business. After an angsty past, one where Brooke kissed Caleb and he walked away, they are thrust together to plan the wedding of a popular influencer. The wedding planning, their family drama, and their unresolved feelings all come to light
I love a rom com, and this did sooo many things right. Brooke and Caleb’s characters were both well developed as was their relationship. Plus they both deal with some realistic family issues. The wedding backdrop was great, and there were steamy scenes without it being too much. I can’t wait to see what this author does next!
April 2, 2026
Self-discovery and finding a love that will last through it all were some of sweet messages that this sweet workplace romance treated us to. Brooke needed to prove herself to her controlling, narcissist mother to take over the wedding planning business, but that also meant working with a rival family catering business, and Caleb, the one that walked away after a steamy night and lots of feelings. There was humor, there was affection compassion, there was passion and spice, These two characters were relatable, had so much growth, and complimented each other so well—I rooted for them and their romance for the entirety of their journey, feeling that happy sense of satisfaction when they got their happily ever after. An entertaining debut, definitely looking forward to more from this author.
Thanks to the author and Booked With the Emily’s for the eARC
Thanks to the author and Booked With the Emily’s for the eARC
April 30, 2026
What a delightful breath of fresh air! This debut novel by local Omaha author, Meg Doody, created a world with characters I cared about and rooted for. Brooke and Caleb were easy to fall in love with and their journey together was one I was invested in. The secondary characters were both hilarious and endearing and I absolutely loathed the one character we were supposed to hate.
Never once did I feel like the story dragged. It continued on at a perfect pace that kept the plot moving and me engaged. The relationship between Brooke and Caleb wasn’t rushed and ample time was given to allow them to fall (back) in love with each other.
I can’t wait to see what Meg Doody comes up with next, and if this fantastic debut is any indictment, I’m going to be hooked!
Never once did I feel like the story dragged. It continued on at a perfect pace that kept the plot moving and me engaged. The relationship between Brooke and Caleb wasn’t rushed and ample time was given to allow them to fall (back) in love with each other.
I can’t wait to see what Meg Doody comes up with next, and if this fantastic debut is any indictment, I’m going to be hooked!
April 3, 2026
4.5/5⭐️
Such a fun read from a debut author! This book is perfect for pop culture loving millennials, and I want to be friends with the characters (except Judy obviously)! I finished this book wishing I could read a follow up about what is next for all of the characters. I didn’t want Brooke and Caleb’s story to end!
Such a fun read from a debut author! This book is perfect for pop culture loving millennials, and I want to be friends with the characters (except Judy obviously)! I finished this book wishing I could read a follow up about what is next for all of the characters. I didn’t want Brooke and Caleb’s story to end!
March 4, 2026
This book! YES, CHEF!!
Meg did a phenomenal job with Brooke and Caleb's story. I loved the gentle nature of both of them and how in tune they were with each other. This is an incredible debut!
As a wedding planner of 15+ years the wedding details of this book are IMPECCABLE. You can tell the author has real experience and didn't just watch The Wedding Planner. I've never nodded to myself while reading a book more. UNMATCHED ACCURACY! So Impressed.
Loved it and can't wait to read her next one!
Meg did a phenomenal job with Brooke and Caleb's story. I loved the gentle nature of both of them and how in tune they were with each other. This is an incredible debut!
As a wedding planner of 15+ years the wedding details of this book are IMPECCABLE. You can tell the author has real experience and didn't just watch The Wedding Planner. I've never nodded to myself while reading a book more. UNMATCHED ACCURACY! So Impressed.
Loved it and can't wait to read her next one!
April 26, 2026
I might be biased because my best friend wrote this book but I also feel like I could tell her the truth and TRUTHFULLY this book is so well written and funny and cute and SEXY. It’s everything you look for in a rom com type book and I can’t wait to see if we get more books about the other characters like Maddie and Jordan!
Read
April 18, 2026So proud to read Meg’s first novel!! A sweet and spicy little journey set in a beautiful town and filled with so many references that had me laughing! Monica’s secret closet!? A fun summer read with some real heart and healing!
March 19, 2026
5 🌟 Thank you Meg Doody & Booked With The Emilys for allowing me to be an ARC reviewer for Not According to Plan! I loved it.
I have SO much to say so here’s another ✨super official✨ review!
THE WEDDING VIBES 🪻
Soooo I’m planning a wedding right now and all of the fun wedding vibes really hit for me! Brooke’s personality was really relatable for me (ah perfectionism) and her wedding planning career was so fun to be immersed in!
BROOKE 📋
Loved this FMC! Home girl and I could get coffee and sit there for ✨hours✨. I have so much in common with her (some I will get into detail below in another section). Loved having a migraine rep. My migraine condition has only gotten worse in the last year and it felt really validating to see people who both don’t take it seriously and people who truly care—it was like a “oh I’m not crazy!” moment! Other people have these problems too! I loved Brooke’s bravery and strength and thought she was a great FMC overall.
CALEB 🧑🏽🍳
Loved this man! In the beginning I wanted to knock a lil sense into him but the moment he started to care for her during a migraine attack I fell in love lolol. Some of my fav quotes of his:
- “She laughs and I want to bottle it up so I can listen to it over and over"
- “I’m still not perfect, but I’m going to make it my mission to be perfect for her.”
- “Brooke… I don’t hate the idea of driving you crazy.”
- “She could read the phone book and I’d listen.”
NARCISSISTIC MOTHER
I won’t lie, some moments were hard for me to read—but it’s because she wrote it so well. I think I’ve only read 1 other book where there was a narcissistic mother, so I was intrigued when I saw this book had one in another review. I can, very unfortunately, tap into real life experience with this one. I am no contact with my narcissistic mother. Well, again, she nailed it. There were many MANY quotes I highlighted that are statements I have made in my lifetime. I felt so seen. The ones that just really hit were:
- “ I’m never entirely sure what I’m apologizing for, but it’s the only way to end the argument. ”
- “ “This is terrible…I’m making it all about me…like she does. ” This one HURT. For context she is crying while saying this. The way a narcissist in your life can make you feel selfish for thinking of yourself or even showing emotions just sucks. This quote just really hit deep.
- “She’s proud of how I reflect on her. My praise is her praise.” Ohhh the messed up world of how narcissists show love.
Anyhoo—I don’t think someone with a similar relationship (ie me) would be triggered by this. It just made me feel seen honestly. It’s not a relationship dynamic talked about much (specifically narcissistic mothers) and I’m glad another literary piece talking about it made it out into the world.
THE STORY 🫶🏻
Overall I really loved this. For a debut, I was blown away! It flowed nicely and I couldn’t put this book down. I was very invested in their story! Also props for NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP 👏🏼 Thank you Brooke & Caleb (and Meg) for communicating like adults! I highly suggest you pick up this book 🥰
I have SO much to say so here’s another ✨super official✨ review!
THE WEDDING VIBES 🪻
Soooo I’m planning a wedding right now and all of the fun wedding vibes really hit for me! Brooke’s personality was really relatable for me (ah perfectionism) and her wedding planning career was so fun to be immersed in!
BROOKE 📋
Loved this FMC! Home girl and I could get coffee and sit there for ✨hours✨. I have so much in common with her (some I will get into detail below in another section). Loved having a migraine rep. My migraine condition has only gotten worse in the last year and it felt really validating to see people who both don’t take it seriously and people who truly care—it was like a “oh I’m not crazy!” moment! Other people have these problems too! I loved Brooke’s bravery and strength and thought she was a great FMC overall.
CALEB 🧑🏽🍳
Loved this man! In the beginning I wanted to knock a lil sense into him but the moment he started to care for her during a migraine attack I fell in love lolol. Some of my fav quotes of his:
- “She laughs and I want to bottle it up so I can listen to it over and over"
- “I’m still not perfect, but I’m going to make it my mission to be perfect for her.”
- “Brooke… I don’t hate the idea of driving you crazy.”
- “She could read the phone book and I’d listen.”
NARCISSISTIC MOTHER
I won’t lie, some moments were hard for me to read—but it’s because she wrote it so well. I think I’ve only read 1 other book where there was a narcissistic mother, so I was intrigued when I saw this book had one in another review. I can, very unfortunately, tap into real life experience with this one. I am no contact with my narcissistic mother. Well, again, she nailed it. There were many MANY quotes I highlighted that are statements I have made in my lifetime. I felt so seen. The ones that just really hit were:
- “ I’m never entirely sure what I’m apologizing for, but it’s the only way to end the argument. ”
- “ “This is terrible…I’m making it all about me…like she does. ” This one HURT. For context she is crying while saying this. The way a narcissist in your life can make you feel selfish for thinking of yourself or even showing emotions just sucks. This quote just really hit deep.
- “She’s proud of how I reflect on her. My praise is her praise.” Ohhh the messed up world of how narcissists show love.
Anyhoo—I don’t think someone with a similar relationship (ie me) would be triggered by this. It just made me feel seen honestly. It’s not a relationship dynamic talked about much (specifically narcissistic mothers) and I’m glad another literary piece talking about it made it out into the world.
THE STORY 🫶🏻
Overall I really loved this. For a debut, I was blown away! It flowed nicely and I couldn’t put this book down. I was very invested in their story! Also props for NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP 👏🏼 Thank you Brooke & Caleb (and Meg) for communicating like adults! I highly suggest you pick up this book 🥰
March 31, 2026
Brooke is known across New England for her wedding planning skills and is looking to take over her family’s business. Caleb is a chef and has recently returned home to help his family with their catering business during wedding season. When an influencer requests the support of both their families’ businesses for the wedding, Brooke and Caleb realize they will have to work together and that their feelings for each other never went away.
I enjoyed reading Caleb and Brooke’s story. Their story is not only one of reunion and reconciliation, but also the bravery of pursuing their own dreams. There are expectations and judgements that they both have faced, and we see in the novel how they take the brave next steps to pursue their dreams - to create their own plans - and to realize their own strengths and to let go of the expectations and judgement of others.
It reminds us of the power of supportive partners who amplify and encourage the pursuit of dreams and goals. Brooke has long dreamt of taking over her family’s wedding planning business. However, she has faced the pressure and criticisms from her mother that her work wasn’t good enough. Caleb has felt that he was not enough to be with Brooke. They both learn to see the strength in themselves to pursue the dreams they want and to find their way back to each other.
Caleb is a supportive caretaker and I thought he was an excellent listener. He always meets Brooke where she is at as she navigates complex family dynamics. We see how attentive and thoughtful he is, especially when Brooke faces migraine attacks.
Their story is heartfelt, and there are also humorous moments. Caleb and Brooke have a great banter between them. I enjoyed reading their story of finding each other again and the individual growth of their character journeys.
Congratulations, Meg, on your debut!! I enjoyed Not According to Plan and look forward to reading your next book!
Thank you to Meg Doody and Booked with the Emilys for the opportunity to be part of the tour!
I was provided a copy of this book for free and am leaving an honest review.
I enjoyed reading Caleb and Brooke’s story. Their story is not only one of reunion and reconciliation, but also the bravery of pursuing their own dreams. There are expectations and judgements that they both have faced, and we see in the novel how they take the brave next steps to pursue their dreams - to create their own plans - and to realize their own strengths and to let go of the expectations and judgement of others.
It reminds us of the power of supportive partners who amplify and encourage the pursuit of dreams and goals. Brooke has long dreamt of taking over her family’s wedding planning business. However, she has faced the pressure and criticisms from her mother that her work wasn’t good enough. Caleb has felt that he was not enough to be with Brooke. They both learn to see the strength in themselves to pursue the dreams they want and to find their way back to each other.
Caleb is a supportive caretaker and I thought he was an excellent listener. He always meets Brooke where she is at as she navigates complex family dynamics. We see how attentive and thoughtful he is, especially when Brooke faces migraine attacks.
Their story is heartfelt, and there are also humorous moments. Caleb and Brooke have a great banter between them. I enjoyed reading their story of finding each other again and the individual growth of their character journeys.
Congratulations, Meg, on your debut!! I enjoyed Not According to Plan and look forward to reading your next book!
Thank you to Meg Doody and Booked with the Emilys for the opportunity to be part of the tour!
I was provided a copy of this book for free and am leaving an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Not according to plan review
This was my first ARC I’ve ever received, and I just have to thank Meg for
A) finding my email after I mistyped it on the form,
&
B) trusting me to read this wonderful novel before it’s released into the wild!
Not According to Plan is everything you could want from a romcom.
A female strong female lead with a gentle heart? Check.
A hot chef with emotional intelligence? Check.
Semi-forbidden love tied with family drama? Check.
Main characters who find their worth in themselves & each other? Check, check, check!
This is a second-chance romance set in the wedding industry. Brooke is an elite wedding planner tasked with one of the biggest weddings of her career. She’s organized & professional, but not cutthroat, she just genuinely loves love. She’s kind & gentle, but knows how to handle BS when she needs to.
Then we have Caleb, the head chef for the same wedding & the forbidden fruit in Brooke’s life. He’s charming, protective, & fully believes in Brooke, which is honestly one of the most attractive things a man can do.
This story has so much depth, touching on chronic illness, toxic family dynamics, & learning to believe in yourself when no one else does. I loved watching not just Brooke & Caleb’s relationship grow, but also the connections with Caleb’s family, Brooke’s friends, & even the wedding party.
The pacing worked perfectly for me, once the buildup starts to unravel, you can’t help but keep turning pages. The dialogue flows beautifully, balancing humor, wit, & genuine emotional moments.
It’s honestly hard to believe this is a debut novel, it reads like Meg’s been cranking out books for years. That just goes to show the care & time she’s put into crafting this story.
I can officially call myself a fan & can’t wait to see what she writes next!
This was my first ARC I’ve ever received, and I just have to thank Meg for
A) finding my email after I mistyped it on the form,
&
B) trusting me to read this wonderful novel before it’s released into the wild!
Not According to Plan is everything you could want from a romcom.
A female strong female lead with a gentle heart? Check.
A hot chef with emotional intelligence? Check.
Semi-forbidden love tied with family drama? Check.
Main characters who find their worth in themselves & each other? Check, check, check!
This is a second-chance romance set in the wedding industry. Brooke is an elite wedding planner tasked with one of the biggest weddings of her career. She’s organized & professional, but not cutthroat, she just genuinely loves love. She’s kind & gentle, but knows how to handle BS when she needs to.
Then we have Caleb, the head chef for the same wedding & the forbidden fruit in Brooke’s life. He’s charming, protective, & fully believes in Brooke, which is honestly one of the most attractive things a man can do.
This story has so much depth, touching on chronic illness, toxic family dynamics, & learning to believe in yourself when no one else does. I loved watching not just Brooke & Caleb’s relationship grow, but also the connections with Caleb’s family, Brooke’s friends, & even the wedding party.
The pacing worked perfectly for me, once the buildup starts to unravel, you can’t help but keep turning pages. The dialogue flows beautifully, balancing humor, wit, & genuine emotional moments.
It’s honestly hard to believe this is a debut novel, it reads like Meg’s been cranking out books for years. That just goes to show the care & time she’s put into crafting this story.
I can officially call myself a fan & can’t wait to see what she writes next!
Review of advance copy received from Author
There’s just something about a contemporary romance featuring a wedding planner that I just can’t resist. Maybe it’s the romantic in me? Whatever it is, I always love reading about all things weddings!
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗:
Brooke, a wedding planner, & Caleb, a chef, are thrown together to work the wedding of the year five years after Caleb rejected Brooke & walked out of her life.
𝙼𝚢 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎:
What a cutie little debut! There was a lot of laugh out loud moments, swoony moments and a great ride or die girl bestie gang!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗱:
❤️Girl Gang. OMG this found family friendship group had me cackling. Maddie is an absolute FORCE & I need her to get a book asap.
❤️Caleb’s family. I loved all of the moments we got with them & how much they embraced Brooke.
❤️The slow burn. We get a bit of angst, some flirty banter, a solid working relationship & COMMUNICATION!
“𝘐’𝘮 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐’𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳.” —> we love a man who’s down bad!
❤️Brooke’s relationship with her mother. I didn’t love the relationship, because obviously it was toxic, but I loved how it was portrayed in such a relatable way. As someone who lives with a narcissistic mother, I felt myself in Brooke.
“𝘐’𝘮 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐’𝘮 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵.” —>the way this quote hit me though.
❤️All the wedding goodness!
Overall this was a super cute debut! The girl gang was everything, the relationship was swoony & there’s NO THIRD ACT STUPIDITY which automatically makes it a winner for me!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁:
🩵Second chance
💍Friends to lovers
🩵Workplace romance
💍Wedding industry
🩵Locked in a closet
💍Migraine rep with caretaking
🩵Toxic family dynamics
💍No third act stupidity
Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗:
Brooke, a wedding planner, & Caleb, a chef, are thrown together to work the wedding of the year five years after Caleb rejected Brooke & walked out of her life.
𝙼𝚢 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎:
What a cutie little debut! There was a lot of laugh out loud moments, swoony moments and a great ride or die girl bestie gang!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗱:
❤️Girl Gang. OMG this found family friendship group had me cackling. Maddie is an absolute FORCE & I need her to get a book asap.
❤️Caleb’s family. I loved all of the moments we got with them & how much they embraced Brooke.
❤️The slow burn. We get a bit of angst, some flirty banter, a solid working relationship & COMMUNICATION!
“𝘐’𝘮 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐’𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳.” —> we love a man who’s down bad!
❤️Brooke’s relationship with her mother. I didn’t love the relationship, because obviously it was toxic, but I loved how it was portrayed in such a relatable way. As someone who lives with a narcissistic mother, I felt myself in Brooke.
“𝘐’𝘮 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐’𝘮 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵.” —>the way this quote hit me though.
❤️All the wedding goodness!
Overall this was a super cute debut! The girl gang was everything, the relationship was swoony & there’s NO THIRD ACT STUPIDITY which automatically makes it a winner for me!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁:
🩵Second chance
💍Friends to lovers
🩵Workplace romance
💍Wedding industry
🩵Locked in a closet
💍Migraine rep with caretaking
🩵Toxic family dynamics
💍No third act stupidity
Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
March 9, 2026
First, thank you to Meg for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Not According to Plan. I’m so grateful I had the chance to read this one early because I really enjoyed it. From the start, this story had so many of the things I love in a romance.
One of those is a second-chance love story—and when it comes to Brooke and Caleb, it absolutely feels earned. Their dynamic really worked for me. Caleb is protective of Brooke, but never in a possessive way. He listens to her, supports her, and genuinely wants to see her succeed, which honestly might be one of the sexiest qualities in a man!
Brooke is very type-A, which I could absolutely relate to (Virgo problems), and I enjoyed seeing how driven she is when it comes to her career and proving herself. Watching her navigate work, family expectations, and having to collaborate with someone from her past made the story really engaging.
I will say… Brooke’s mother drove me absolutely up the wall. I have several choice words about her, but I’ll keep this rating clean. Let’s just say I cannot imagine having a parent like that!
The story also has a great cast of side characters, and I’d honestly love to see more from some of them in the future—there’s definitely sequel potential here.
Overall, this was a really strong debut. Meg Doody’s writing flows easily, the characters feel developed, and even though I had a sense of where Brooke and Caleb’s story might go, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey of watching everything unfold. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever she writes next!
One of those is a second-chance love story—and when it comes to Brooke and Caleb, it absolutely feels earned. Their dynamic really worked for me. Caleb is protective of Brooke, but never in a possessive way. He listens to her, supports her, and genuinely wants to see her succeed, which honestly might be one of the sexiest qualities in a man!
Brooke is very type-A, which I could absolutely relate to (Virgo problems), and I enjoyed seeing how driven she is when it comes to her career and proving herself. Watching her navigate work, family expectations, and having to collaborate with someone from her past made the story really engaging.
I will say… Brooke’s mother drove me absolutely up the wall. I have several choice words about her, but I’ll keep this rating clean. Let’s just say I cannot imagine having a parent like that!
The story also has a great cast of side characters, and I’d honestly love to see more from some of them in the future—there’s definitely sequel potential here.
Overall, this was a really strong debut. Meg Doody’s writing flows easily, the characters feel developed, and even though I had a sense of where Brooke and Caleb’s story might go, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey of watching everything unfold. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever she writes next!
April 4, 2026
A fantastic debut from author Meg Doody!
Thank you partner, Booked with the Emilys, and the author, Meg Doody, for the gifted e-arc. All opinions are my own.
Short Synopsis:
As the rising star in the local wedding planning industry, Brooke Spencer is ready to handle whatever life throws at her, including her plan to prove to her boss—who just happens to be her mom—that she’s ready to take over the wedding planning agency. What Brooke didn’t plan on was Caleb Foley coming home.
When one of New England’s most popular influencers wants to hire both Spencer Soirees and Foley’s for her wedding, there’s one problem: the Foleys have refused to work with wedding planners ever since the epic falling out between the families decades earlier. Can Brooke and Caleb pull off the wedding of the season, mend the past, and find their way back to one another?
My Thoughts:
I loved every minute of this story! The author expertly navigated this second chance romance between a type A wedding planner and her friend turned one time kiss that she never got over. I loved the playful banter between Brooke and Caleb, the complicated dynamics between Brook and her mom (that I know first-hand all too well), and the chronic migraine pain representation. This didn’t read like a debut novel, every plot point was handled with care, and I cannot wait to see what’s next from this author!
Read this if you like:
🍷 Second chance
🍷 Friends to lovers
🍷 Workplace romance
🍷 Wedding industry
🍷 Locked in a closet
🍷 Migraine rep with caretaking
Thank you partner, Booked with the Emilys, and the author, Meg Doody, for the gifted e-arc. All opinions are my own.
Short Synopsis:
As the rising star in the local wedding planning industry, Brooke Spencer is ready to handle whatever life throws at her, including her plan to prove to her boss—who just happens to be her mom—that she’s ready to take over the wedding planning agency. What Brooke didn’t plan on was Caleb Foley coming home.
When one of New England’s most popular influencers wants to hire both Spencer Soirees and Foley’s for her wedding, there’s one problem: the Foleys have refused to work with wedding planners ever since the epic falling out between the families decades earlier. Can Brooke and Caleb pull off the wedding of the season, mend the past, and find their way back to one another?
My Thoughts:
I loved every minute of this story! The author expertly navigated this second chance romance between a type A wedding planner and her friend turned one time kiss that she never got over. I loved the playful banter between Brooke and Caleb, the complicated dynamics between Brook and her mom (that I know first-hand all too well), and the chronic migraine pain representation. This didn’t read like a debut novel, every plot point was handled with care, and I cannot wait to see what’s next from this author!
Read this if you like:
🍷 Second chance
🍷 Friends to lovers
🍷 Workplace romance
🍷 Wedding industry
🍷 Locked in a closet
🍷 Migraine rep with caretaking
March 20, 2026
4.5 Stars ⭐️- Thank you so much, Meg Doody for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
If you are looking for a friends-to-lovers with a little bit of second-chance romance thrown in there, set in Connecticut during wedding season with some open-door spice, then this is the book for you! I can't believe this is Doody's debut novel, it was such a fun read, and I read most of it in one day because I could not put it down. I love the romance between Brooke and Caleb and how Brooke tried to avoid falling into another romance with Caleb because he had hurt her the first time. But when Caleb stepped up when it came to her migraines and believed her and told her it was important to listen to her body, she fell hard for him (I mean, who wouldn't).
Something Doody also did very well was give us all an enemy in Judy; she was the worst from the beginning and growing up in CT, I know the type of woman Judy is. Someone who only cares about appearances and how her life looks to those on the outside looking in, and because Brooke is her daughter, how people see Brooke reflects on her. I know that Brooke did stand up to her mom in her own way, but I do wish there was a bit more of it, and Brooke really telling her mom off.
I was so happy there was no third-act breakup and we got to just be in the romance with the characters towards the end of the book. I would love to jump back into this world and see either Maddie or Jordan's story!
If you are looking for a friends-to-lovers with a little bit of second-chance romance thrown in there, set in Connecticut during wedding season with some open-door spice, then this is the book for you! I can't believe this is Doody's debut novel, it was such a fun read, and I read most of it in one day because I could not put it down. I love the romance between Brooke and Caleb and how Brooke tried to avoid falling into another romance with Caleb because he had hurt her the first time. But when Caleb stepped up when it came to her migraines and believed her and told her it was important to listen to her body, she fell hard for him (I mean, who wouldn't).
Something Doody also did very well was give us all an enemy in Judy; she was the worst from the beginning and growing up in CT, I know the type of woman Judy is. Someone who only cares about appearances and how her life looks to those on the outside looking in, and because Brooke is her daughter, how people see Brooke reflects on her. I know that Brooke did stand up to her mom in her own way, but I do wish there was a bit more of it, and Brooke really telling her mom off.
I was so happy there was no third-act breakup and we got to just be in the romance with the characters towards the end of the book. I would love to jump back into this world and see either Maddie or Jordan's story!
March 30, 2026
4.5
I can't believe this is a debut novel. I was so pleasantly surprised that I didn't want to put it down.
The world of weddings and events has been a big part of my life for most of my career. And my boyfriend has been a banquet chef/executive chef as long as I’ve known him. Add in the migraine rep and I was in love before I even opened the book.
The feud between their parents has kept them to just friendship for years, until Caleb broke her heart. Caleb never thought he was good enough for Brooke, and knowing that their parents dislike each other so much influenced his decisions towards her negatively.
I love that this book is set in New England. Books set where I live always suck me in. They may live in a much fancier area than I do, but the country club life isn’t foreign to me (at least from a service point of view).
The way that Caleb takes care of Brooke during her migraine attacks brought tears to my eyes. I’ve struggled with chronic migraines for years and there’s always the fear of people not believing you and treating you differently because of your illness. Brooke’s mother isn’t supportive and seeing Caleb being the opposite really hit me hard.
The only thing that kept this from being a full 5 stars for me was that Caleb wore jeans while he was working and not chef's pants. I get the emphasis of him having a fine ass, but chefs wear chef's pants when they cook, especially where clients would see them.
Thank you Booked with the Emilys and Meg for the opportunity to read this book. I really hope we get more of this bunch of characters.
I can't believe this is a debut novel. I was so pleasantly surprised that I didn't want to put it down.
The world of weddings and events has been a big part of my life for most of my career. And my boyfriend has been a banquet chef/executive chef as long as I’ve known him. Add in the migraine rep and I was in love before I even opened the book.
The feud between their parents has kept them to just friendship for years, until Caleb broke her heart. Caleb never thought he was good enough for Brooke, and knowing that their parents dislike each other so much influenced his decisions towards her negatively.
I love that this book is set in New England. Books set where I live always suck me in. They may live in a much fancier area than I do, but the country club life isn’t foreign to me (at least from a service point of view).
The way that Caleb takes care of Brooke during her migraine attacks brought tears to my eyes. I’ve struggled with chronic migraines for years and there’s always the fear of people not believing you and treating you differently because of your illness. Brooke’s mother isn’t supportive and seeing Caleb being the opposite really hit me hard.
The only thing that kept this from being a full 5 stars for me was that Caleb wore jeans while he was working and not chef's pants. I get the emphasis of him having a fine ass, but chefs wear chef's pants when they cook, especially where clients would see them.
Thank you Booked with the Emilys and Meg for the opportunity to read this book. I really hope we get more of this bunch of characters.
April 1, 2026
Thank you to Booked with the Emily's and to the author for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
4.5 Stars
This book is absolutely beautiful! To know that this is a debut just blows my mind. It was so good. The characters were really well fleshed out and showed growth and just real and raw emotions that made the story that much more poignant. I absolutely adored the mental health rep and the physical health rep! It was so well done and felt like it flowed perfectly with the storyline and was meant to be there. Caleb being a caretaker for Brooke during her migraines brought tears to my eyes - as someone that struggles with migraines herself, the beauty in being seen and taken seriously is a beautiful thing.
I loved the romance; the never feeling like he was good enough and then just crashing into each other and being all in? *swoons*. The spice was also delicious and perhaps I now have a thing for mirrors!
Overall this was an incredible debut - Meg is FUNNY - there are lines and little moments that made me laugh out loud more than once. (Bush to bush!) Love the banter and tension, and the found family elements were well done and honest. I LOVED the epilogue as well! Cannot wait to read more from this author in the future, I feel like she's going to be one of my favorites!
4.5 Stars
This book is absolutely beautiful! To know that this is a debut just blows my mind. It was so good. The characters were really well fleshed out and showed growth and just real and raw emotions that made the story that much more poignant. I absolutely adored the mental health rep and the physical health rep! It was so well done and felt like it flowed perfectly with the storyline and was meant to be there. Caleb being a caretaker for Brooke during her migraines brought tears to my eyes - as someone that struggles with migraines herself, the beauty in being seen and taken seriously is a beautiful thing.
I loved the romance; the never feeling like he was good enough and then just crashing into each other and being all in? *swoons*. The spice was also delicious and perhaps I now have a thing for mirrors!
Overall this was an incredible debut - Meg is FUNNY - there are lines and little moments that made me laugh out loud more than once. (Bush to bush!) Love the banter and tension, and the found family elements were well done and honest. I LOVED the epilogue as well! Cannot wait to read more from this author in the future, I feel like she's going to be one of my favorites!
March 31, 2026
Read if you like:
* workplace romance
* Friends to lovers
* Second chance
* Wedding planner x caterer
* New England vibes
* No 3rd Act Break-up!
This cute debut rom-com by Meg Doody was such a fun read! I mean who doesn’t love rival families in a New England town that are brought together for THE wedding of the season?!?!
Brooke and Caleb grew up together and were thisclose to admitting their feelings towards each other … but Caleb moved away after their first kiss. Now he’s back and Brooke is being forced to work with him while also trying to show her mom she can take over the family’s wedding planning business.
Caleb is back to run his family’s catering business after his dad’s recent health episode… but he’s not entirely sure he wants to take over the business. What he is sure of is that he made a mistake leaving Brooke last time and he wants to get her back.
Mixed in with all the fun forced proximity, banter, and pining is two MCs that need to figure out what their future holds and if they can see each other in it.
Definitely read this one! 4.5 ⭐️
It released March 26th and is available on Kindle Unlimited!!!
Thank you @bookedwiththeemilys and @megdoodywrites for the #gifted copy of this book!
* workplace romance
* Friends to lovers
* Second chance
* Wedding planner x caterer
* New England vibes
* No 3rd Act Break-up!
This cute debut rom-com by Meg Doody was such a fun read! I mean who doesn’t love rival families in a New England town that are brought together for THE wedding of the season?!?!
Brooke and Caleb grew up together and were thisclose to admitting their feelings towards each other … but Caleb moved away after their first kiss. Now he’s back and Brooke is being forced to work with him while also trying to show her mom she can take over the family’s wedding planning business.
Caleb is back to run his family’s catering business after his dad’s recent health episode… but he’s not entirely sure he wants to take over the business. What he is sure of is that he made a mistake leaving Brooke last time and he wants to get her back.
Mixed in with all the fun forced proximity, banter, and pining is two MCs that need to figure out what their future holds and if they can see each other in it.
Definitely read this one! 4.5 ⭐️
It released March 26th and is available on Kindle Unlimited!!!
Thank you @bookedwiththeemilys and @megdoodywrites for the #gifted copy of this book!
April 5, 2026
This book was an absolute breath of fresh air. From the stunning soft-blue cover (which I'm obsessed with), to the relationship between Brooke and Caleb, I ate it all up like a plate of pigs in a blanket.
While there are SO many great things about Meg's debut (I can't believe this is a DEBUT) novel, one of the things I truly loved was how gentle Brooke and Caleb were with each other. They accepted each other's flaws--even came to admire them--they were respectful even in their teasing.
And most importantly, they took care of each other.
I just kept thinking while I was reading that this is what a healthy relationship looks like : kindness, respect, admiration, apologizing, helping the other through a difficult situation, whether it's work related or medically.
And of course, a cute pet name that she "hates".
I also appreciated the migraine representation. As someone who suffers from them, Meg captured their debilitation perfectly. Migraine girlies unite!! (And get you a Caleb that'll rub your temples).
A huge thank you to @bookedwiththeemilys for having me on the tour and to the author for sending me a copy of this wonderful book. I can't wait to see what else Meg brings to the writing world.
While there are SO many great things about Meg's debut (I can't believe this is a DEBUT) novel, one of the things I truly loved was how gentle Brooke and Caleb were with each other. They accepted each other's flaws--even came to admire them--they were respectful even in their teasing.
And most importantly, they took care of each other.
I just kept thinking while I was reading that this is what a healthy relationship looks like : kindness, respect, admiration, apologizing, helping the other through a difficult situation, whether it's work related or medically.
And of course, a cute pet name that she "hates".
I also appreciated the migraine representation. As someone who suffers from them, Meg captured their debilitation perfectly. Migraine girlies unite!! (And get you a Caleb that'll rub your temples).
A huge thank you to @bookedwiththeemilys for having me on the tour and to the author for sending me a copy of this wonderful book. I can't wait to see what else Meg brings to the writing world.
Review of advance copy received from Author
*Thank you to the author for the chance to read and review an Advanced Reader Copy of her debut novel.*
This book was everything light, fluffy, and romantic. The FMC, Brooke, is so incredibly adorable. A focused, self motivated worker who cares deeply about her job working in the wedding industry for her mother's business. The MMC, Caleb, dare I call him a golden retriever, was the kindest, sweetest soul who was always looking out for Brooke even when she wanted nothing to do with him. It was endearing to say the least! And MEG- I must add, THANK YOU for no 3rd act breakup. Although I almost thought it was coming 80% through, we were spared.
The plot line includes a little family drama. This book was also full of tropes, which I almost expected to be overwhelming, but they all pieced the book together so nicely. So if you enjoy friends to lovers, second chance romance, and forced proximity, you will enjoy this book. I also must add that I really appreciated the representation of a migraine girlie in the book, as one myself. This book was so beautifully done. There was no lull, it kept me sucked in the entire time. Do yourself a favor and check it out!
This book was everything light, fluffy, and romantic. The FMC, Brooke, is so incredibly adorable. A focused, self motivated worker who cares deeply about her job working in the wedding industry for her mother's business. The MMC, Caleb, dare I call him a golden retriever, was the kindest, sweetest soul who was always looking out for Brooke even when she wanted nothing to do with him. It was endearing to say the least! And MEG- I must add, THANK YOU for no 3rd act breakup. Although I almost thought it was coming 80% through, we were spared.
The plot line includes a little family drama. This book was also full of tropes, which I almost expected to be overwhelming, but they all pieced the book together so nicely. So if you enjoy friends to lovers, second chance romance, and forced proximity, you will enjoy this book. I also must add that I really appreciated the representation of a migraine girlie in the book, as one myself. This book was so beautifully done. There was no lull, it kept me sucked in the entire time. Do yourself a favor and check it out!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to the publisher and BWTE for a chance to read this early! 4.5 / 5 stars
I love "Yes Chef" vibes and this had it in spades when wedding planner Brooke and chef Caleb have to come together for the wedding of the season and forgive some past rejections. I also am a huge fan of second chance romance and I really loved this take: we really DON'T see what drove these two apart in the past, and I surprisingly loved that. Sometimes its fun to just live in the moment and fall for these two over again.
This was really funny. Brooke's best friend Maddie is downright hysterical, and watching some of the hijinks of wedding planning (BUSH! TITS UP) is just fantastic. You could tell the author has experience in the industry and it just makes my type A brain swoon.
The chemistry between our leads is great and believable, the spice isn't over the top, there's no 3rd act breakup, YAY! And I just enjoyed these two. The dialogue is strong and not cringy.
I really love my romance to have some strong subplots, and this deals heavily with family trauma, particularly a narcisisstic mother, and man...Judy is triggering and gross. But she's done in a way that's believable: you can understand entirely why Brooke wants to make her happy, and while triggering its not overdone or silly.
This sounds really unneeded but so true for me...thankkkkk you for some migraine awareness! Seeing myself so well represented in a type A lead who also STRUGGLES with something she can't control...check check check. A++. I just wanted to highlight some of these passages and send them to the people who have ignored me in my life.
Overall highly enjoyed this debut!.
I love "Yes Chef" vibes and this had it in spades when wedding planner Brooke and chef Caleb have to come together for the wedding of the season and forgive some past rejections. I also am a huge fan of second chance romance and I really loved this take: we really DON'T see what drove these two apart in the past, and I surprisingly loved that. Sometimes its fun to just live in the moment and fall for these two over again.
This was really funny. Brooke's best friend Maddie is downright hysterical, and watching some of the hijinks of wedding planning (BUSH! TITS UP) is just fantastic. You could tell the author has experience in the industry and it just makes my type A brain swoon.
The chemistry between our leads is great and believable, the spice isn't over the top, there's no 3rd act breakup, YAY! And I just enjoyed these two. The dialogue is strong and not cringy.
I really love my romance to have some strong subplots, and this deals heavily with family trauma, particularly a narcisisstic mother, and man...Judy is triggering and gross. But she's done in a way that's believable: you can understand entirely why Brooke wants to make her happy, and while triggering its not overdone or silly.
This sounds really unneeded but so true for me...thankkkkk you for some migraine awareness! Seeing myself so well represented in a type A lead who also STRUGGLES with something she can't control...check check check. A++. I just wanted to highlight some of these passages and send them to the people who have ignored me in my life.
Overall highly enjoyed this debut!.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Just a delight. I loved reading this book, I loved the story, it was such a joy to read (except every time Brooke's mother came into a scene and I wanted to SLAP her).
Brooke is an excellent wedding planner, who is hoping a big time successful event this summer will finally convince her narcissist mother to hand over the reins of their family business. Meanwhile, Caleb has returned to town to help his family catering business after his father's health scare, and now he and Brooke will have to work together on this huge wedding.
I love dual POV romances, and this was no exception. Each main character was strong on their own, and the chemistry of the two of them was palpable. The writing is smooth and flows nicely, so you can simply sink into the story and enjoy watching these two great people realize they are great together - no matter what Brooke's mother thinks!
Not According to Plan is medium spicy (meaning it was Goldilocks - not too much, not too little, and tastefully done to fit with the plot not overtake it).
Highly recommend for anyone who wants a heartfelt and smile-inducing romance story to escape with.
Brooke is an excellent wedding planner, who is hoping a big time successful event this summer will finally convince her narcissist mother to hand over the reins of their family business. Meanwhile, Caleb has returned to town to help his family catering business after his father's health scare, and now he and Brooke will have to work together on this huge wedding.
I love dual POV romances, and this was no exception. Each main character was strong on their own, and the chemistry of the two of them was palpable. The writing is smooth and flows nicely, so you can simply sink into the story and enjoy watching these two great people realize they are great together - no matter what Brooke's mother thinks!
Not According to Plan is medium spicy (meaning it was Goldilocks - not too much, not too little, and tastefully done to fit with the plot not overtake it).
Highly recommend for anyone who wants a heartfelt and smile-inducing romance story to escape with.
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