Didn't See That Coming

by Alaina Erdell

Rebecca Jenkins is comfortable in her career as a child psychologist, supporting her bereaved sister, and spending time with her beloved nephews. But when she sees the same beautiful treble clef tattoo she pressed her lips to on steamy Berkeley nights fifteen years earlier on the ankle of the new first violinist of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, she’s shaken more than she ever thought possible.

Allison O’Leary has finally achieved her lifelong dream of becoming concertmaster in a top-tier orchestra, a career move that stirs up good and bad memories when it returns her to the Bay Area, where she broke the heart of her first love. Hell, her only love. And when she sees her in the audience, no amount of discipline she’s developed over the years can help her. She has to find a way to talk to her.

When they agree to forge a friendship, they discover similarities and differences from the women they were in their college days, but they’re both drawn closer by the rekindled heat that still smolders between them. Can Rebecca find forgiveness in her heart and Allison avoid making the same mistake twice so they can have a second chance at love?

Genres: Second Chance, Romance, LGBT, Lesbian, Audiobook, Lesbian Fiction, Lesbian Romance

410 pages, ebook

Published September 1, 2026

About the author

Alaina Erdell lives in Ohio with her partner and their crazy but adorable cats. Prior to writing, she worked as a chef. She enjoys painting, experimenting with molecular gastronomy, reading, traveling, and spending time with her beloved nephews.

Reviews

[Clara Addicted to sapphic books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.I liked how the book started. Reading about a accomplished characters in their late thirties, is always something I appreciate. I liked the dynamic where Allison was chasing Rebecca’s forgiveness, and the weariness between them. I was surprised by the twist that put them in a forced proximity situation, and nursing with benefits is a new favorite trope. They really behaved like ostriches at first, burying their heads in the sand; it brought spicy scenes that were pleasant to read and the perfect amount of "two fools in love." I was less convinced by the last third of the book. The main reasons are the pace, which felt slower, and the reason for the final fight. Although Erdell tried to explain it, I don’t understand why Allison behaved as if she was torturing kittens during her free time in her basement, rather than doing a noble thing. This could have been easily revealed when she apologized for her past mistakes and explained why it helped her understand Rebecca better. The way their inner thoughts were written in the last part made it less smooth to read compared to the start of the book, maybe because they were more present.
To summarize, I loved the second chance and forced proximity aspect, but the secrets and miscommunication frustrated me.

[Guerunche · Rating 5 out of 5]

On occasion I will describe reading or listening experiences as delicious desserts. Sweet, fun and enjoyable, but when the experience is over, they rarely if ever come back to mind.

And then there are books like this - full meals. Ones with interesting, fully fleshed out characters readers can invest in that take you on a journey. Where the author doesn’t cut corners, but takes the time to allow believable scenarios to play out. There’s no rushing here.

Are the characters perfect? No. Do they frustrate you at times? Yes. Both live in fear of truly opening their hearts to each other again even though they are obviously the perfect match.

Then there’s the fabulous narration by Abby Craden. Erdell couldn’t have picked a better voice actor to perform this work. Craden excels at bringing the emotion and chemistry to life. And she has such a delicious tone that the swoon factor is high.

For those that love a slow burn, well written second chance romance, this one is for you.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet read

[Leonie · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

Meet Rebecca Jenkins, a child psychologist, who is busy working, being a good sister and aunt to her sister’s young kids. Until she runs into her ex-girlfriend Allison O’Leary…or to put it more accurately, the woman who broke her heart 15 years ago.
This book is unexpectedly tender and deeply relatable. Especially because both Rebecca and Allison carry their packages of history and hurt in a way that made this second chance romance feel really earned.
I really loved the way their romance, and generally, their relationship was written, with all of the unexpected turns and live-in situations. I liked how they tried to be friends at first and how we, as readers, got to slowly see them melt each other down.
Moreover, I also really liked the supporting characters and how they were included within the story. It felt really well done, especially Rebecca’s sister who was dealing with the grief of losing her husband and managing her two young children simultaneously.
Besides that, I also really liked how family in general was approached in this book. Specifically the scene in which Allison was somewhat forced to reconsider her view on her family and how she existed in it. Without giving spoilers, I just wanna say that this is a scene that I kept really close to my heart.
Overall though, I think this was a really solid book with well drawn out character and a tender 2nd chance romance. If you’re in a mood for a feel good romance that handles emotional depth really well, then you might just want to go for this!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and voluntarily given review!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebecca Jenkins is a child psychologist who is usually kept busy being a supportive sister and aunt, doing her work, and spending time with her walking group. Then, completely unexpectedly, she runs into her ex-girlfriend, Allison O’Leary — the woman who broke her heart 15 years ago and has recently moved back to San Francisco. Can Rebecca and Allison really be friends, or are there still unresolved feelings between them?

I absolutely loved this second-chance romance. Both MCs are wonderfully written — flawed, very human, and determined to learn from their past mistakes and grow into better versions of themselves. I especially loved seeing how Rebecca and Allison navigate their relationship this time around. Their connection felt genuine, and I really enjoyed watching them find their way back to each other.

I also absolutely loved all the secondary characters in this book. Rebecca’s sister, nephews, and best friend, as well as Allison’s best friend and family, all added so much warmth and personality to the story. They felt like real people rather than simply characters there to move the romance along.

My only real issue was the conflict. I didn’t particularly love how Rebecca reacted, and I found myself a little frustrated with the way she handled the situation. That said, I think it also fits with the fact that both characters are flawed and still learning from their past, so it didn’t take away too much from my overall enjoyment of the book.

If you’re looking for a feel-good second-chance romance filled with warmth, lovable characters, and plenty of the warm-and-fuzzies, this is definitely one to pick up.

I received this ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Candaleese · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Frankenberg Press for the ALC!

Rating: 3.25 / 5 stars
Didn't See That Coming by Alaina Erdell was a sweet contemporary sapphic romance, but certain execution choices prevented it from being a fully satisfying read. The novel follows Rebecca, a dedicated child psychologist, as she navigates her personal and professional life while crossing paths again with her past love, Allison.

While the initial setup for their second-chance romance is compelling, the pacing of their reunion feels off. After spending fifteen years apart, the lead characters move back into their relationship far too quickly. Given the amount of time that has elapsed and the weight of their history, their romantic reconnect would have benefited from a slower burn to let the emotional tension and character development breathe properly.

The central conflict relying on the miscommunication and lie trope also falls flat. Throughout the rest of the book, Rebecca and Allison demonstrate a strong capacity for openness, honesty, and emotional vulnerability. Because they are established as grounded and mature adults, the key misunderstanding that drives their drama feels unnatural and contradicts the emotional intelligence they display in other scenes.

In terms of execution, Haley Cass handles similar second-chance themes and emotional baggage with a stronger emphasis on believable communication and gradual relationship pacing. Where Cass excels at constructing realistic barriers between mature adults, Erdell's reliance on manufactured miscommunication creates a disconnect in character behavior.

Overall, Erdell shows promise with engaging character dynamics and warm domestic moments. However, the rushed reconciliation and fragile conflict hold the narrative back from reaching its full potential. It remains an enjoyable read for fans of the genre, but it requires a bit of suspended disbelief regarding how the main conflict plays out.

[Sam · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

I think I am learning to appreciate the talent that’s Abby Craden. I think no one else is able to narrate a book and have such distinct voices for each character.

I love music, listen to all sorts, but classical isn’t want. For some reason it tends to make me a little antsy. This means one of the main subjects of this book is a bit outside of my general liking. I appreciate how the main characters connect through music, over music. They will have tonight one of them being a musician. A musician who plays an instrument I am most likely to not enjoy: violin.
I did enjoy this book and all the classical music mentions, no idea what those are about, but hats ok.

This second chance love story is lovely and happens a bit out of happenstance, I like it.
The dark moment is rather ridiculous and late in the book, could have done without it altogether.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

(October 9, 2026) I listened to the audio book with voice acting by Abby Crayden. She is one of my favorite narrators and I enjoyed listening to her bring the story to life. I have already given the novel five stars and I stand by my previous review. It is easy to recommend the novel in which ever format you prefer to use. Thank you to NetGalley and Frankenberg Press for the audio book and I am learning an honest review.

**************************
(September 1, 2026) Very sweet and endearing second chance romance. Rebecca Jenkins is a child psychologist in San Francisco. She enjoys her season tickets to the symphony orchestra often bringing her sister who is mourning the loss of her spouse. She is shocked to see Allison O’Leary is the new concert master (first violinist). Allison and Rebecca were each other’s first loves when they attended Berkley. But Allison broke up with her before she moved on to Julliard, leaving them both broken-hearted. There is shock on both their parts but Rebecca tries to be friendly inviting Allison to her walking group. That starts the rekindling of feelings that maybe have never gone away.

This is thoughtfully plotted. I love the friendship, and then caretaking, leading to more. Allison had her reasons for the breakup but needs to wait for Rebecca to be willing to listen to them. She is also reluctant to rock the boat by sharing her last secret. The romance itself is good enough but the book elevates itself even more with the other relationships going on. Rebecca’s relationship with her sister Sadie is lovely, as is being a beloved aunt to her two young nephews. Allison and Rebecca each have a best friend that is supportive and pushy and they get a romance as well. I also loved the mentor relationship Allison has with a famous violinist and how she pays it back by being a mentor to others. The grand gestures are fitting even though a flash mob seems dated. And I was excited to see many San Francisco locations that I have visited on vacations there.

As an added bonus the author included a link to a bonus chapter or epilogue that is easy to request and download. I can see myself reading this again to enjoy the various relationships whether romantic or with family. Thank you to Frankenberg Press and NetGalley for the eARC and I am leaving an honest review.

[Naori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Frankenberg Press for this advanced reader’s audio copy of Alaina Erdell’s Didn’t See This Coming in exchange for an honest review. My words are my own.

I Didn’t See This Coming is a charming queer novel featuring two women living in San Francisco who reunite fifteen years after dating in college. Rebecca is a child psychologist on on ill-fated date at the San Francisco Symphony when she notices someone onstage with familiar mannerisms: a musician in the front row, tapping her heel with a G clef tattoo on the bottom of her foot. Allison is a gifted violinist, back in the Bay area after years of touring the world, having taken the position of concert master of the San Francisco Orchestra.

I found value in this book because of the nuanced evolution of the storyline. It follows many traditional romance tropes: past lovers meet again, emphatically agree they are no longer interested, are plagued by long-simmering grievances, deny emerging emotions, succumb to sexual tension, start falling back in love etc. However, for the most part, the writing is not pedantic, the method of reconnection is organic, and Erdell doesn’t shy away from including subjects that are usually ignored in more whimsical romantic novels. The novel broaches topics like death, child rearing, survivor’s guilt, parental obligation, juvenile neglect, grief, communal integration, intergenerational reconciliation, and multi-layered forms of trauma. While none of this overwhelms the texts or forces a departure from its genre, it really reads as a piece of women’s fiction more than what usually constitutes “sapphic romance”.

As a musician I sincerely appreciated the in-depth depictions of orchestral life, the author’s knowledge of string instruments, and their accurate conversations on classical composition. When a writer adds a backstory for a character that is highly specialized it can be frustrating if that isn’t followed up with research. Regardless of whether Alaina Erdell had firsthand knowledge of life as a professional musician or used primary sources, it is clear they took great care to present an authentic portrayal. This was an additional means by which this book elevated itself above the tropes of conventional romance literature.

Narrator Abby Craden was exceptional. She had excellent pacing, terrific voice work, and nuanced timing. I was deeply impressed with her ability to quickly slide between the vocal registers of the main characters without breaking or blending them, which is I feel, one of the biggest challenges of narrating a book. This only got more notable as the plot developed and expanded into a full cast.

All of that said, I did struggle with the reading experience of this book. It slowed down towards the middle and was really lagging at the three quarters mark. It was an eleven hour audiobook and while the innovative components of the plot were well researched, it was simply not complex enough to sustain an audience’s attention for that long. There was only one major plot complication by the midpoint, a secret being kept from one character by the other, which was predictably going to divide them towards the end. Without more complexity in what was a genuinely mature foundation, the book unraveled substantially because there simply weren’t enough threads to keep it from fissuring out. I was certainly entertained for most of the audio experience but eventually disengaged and kept listening just for a sense of resolution. In order to grow this novel I would add more underlying tensions to the apex or edit it down in the final third. Still, a nice piece of queer romance that thankfully departed from binary portrayals of lesbian stereotypes.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

October 10 update
I received a free copy of the audiobook via NetGalley and listening to the book I loved reading gave me a new and even better experience. Abby Craden narrated this book in an excellent way, the voices used just perfect, and I really recommend this audiobook to all readers loving a great second chance romance.


This was such a sweet second chance story with an amazing setting in San Francisco and the orchestra world. In this book the reason for the break-up and why a second chance could be an option is explained in such a believable way, I was invested from the very beginning. I loved to read about Rebecca and Alison reconnecting even though Allison hurt Rebecca so much when she broke up with her 15 years ago. I think a trademark For Alaina Erdell is to write about characters that feel real and relatable and this is on point also in this book.

The start of the book is excellent, Rebecca going to watch the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra with an extremely bad blind date and then totally baffled when seeing that the new concertmaster is Alison. Alison, the one that broke her heart all those years ago, her one true love that she never has been able to forget. When Allison sees Rebecca, she is also affected in a way she never could have imagined.

Despite all their unresolved feelings they try to reconnect, become friends, the very lesbian way of handling exes. It’s not easy though, Allison inflicted so much pain on Rebecca, so hard to let her in, allow her to explain and show Rebecca that she has changed. To me the reason for the break-up was very selfish, but also understandable for a musician like Alison, so much up in her head at that age.

When Rebecca takes Allison in when she is injured, of course she does she still loves Allison, it’s great to see how they start their new type of relationship as mature women. They are so wonderful together, clear they are perfect for each other, but can the past be forgotten and forgiven. Allison has changed a lot, but is it enough, she still has that insecurity when she feels she is neglected.

I received a free ARC via NetGalley and voluntarily leave an honest review.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abby Craden did a fantastic performance! Thank you to NetGalley, Frankenberg Press and the author for an advance listening copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a lovely second chance romance. I enjoyed the characters overall. Forced proximity is a fave trope and I loved how this one was done. I loved the music and premise.

The only aspect I didn’t appreciate was the withholding Allison did. I just feel like if this is a second chance then there shouldn’t be another third act issue because then it’s not second chance but third chance and come on lol.

Recommend!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warm and sensitive second chance romance.
I liked all the characters. All very warm and supportive.
My only confusion was I dont think it was made very clear , until the end of the story, why Allison and Rebecca broke up. Once I knew that more of the secrets made sense.
Lots of emotions, lots of hot sex, lots of great clever dialog. Good writing.
One of the reasons I selected this audio version was the narrator. Abbie Crayden is one of my favorite narrators. She brings to life any character, any love making, just any emotion.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Vita L. Licari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quickly, get on your Amazon account and búy this wonderful, beautiful book! You will fall in love with Rebecca and Allison as they become friends and a couple again! But they've to navigate the past first! This is a gem!More than 5 stars! A FAVORITE!

[Beatriz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not for me, I grabbed it because the cover was super cute but didn’t realize it was second chance with a long time gap, and then I really didn’t like Allison very much, but I have to say it made me so mad, and you know that’s good, a book should be able to make you feel, and this did.

[Elsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

[Demetri Papadimitropoulos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second Chances, First Violins, and the Trouble With Knowing Better
Alaina Erdell’s “Didn’t See That Coming” brings old lovers, orchestral ambition, bad assumptions, good sex, and fifteen years of unfinished business back into the same San Francisco room.
By Demetris Papadimitropoulos | August 31st, 2026

Dazzling recognition can be its own kind of mistake. Rebecca Jenkins does not first know that the new concertmaster of the San Francisco Symphony is Allison O’Leary because of a name in the program, a remembered face or even that unmistakable fall of copper hair. She notices a heel lifting scarcely a centimeter in time with the music. Then the treble-clef tattoo on an ankle she once knew well enough to kiss. Fifteen years have passed since Allison broke her heart, but Rebecca’s body identifies her before her mind quite catches up. Recognition is not the problem in Alaina Erdell’s “Didn’t See That Coming.” The trouble begins with everything Rebecca thinks recognition entitles her to know.

Erdell returns these women to one another only after giving them lives sturdy enough to disrupt. Rebecca is now a child psychologist in San Francisco, established in her work and closely involved with her bereaved sister Sadie and Sadie’s two young sons. Allison has become the musician she always meant to be, coming back to the Bay Area as concertmaster after years of orchestras, travel and temporary homes. They have salaries, schedules, friends, family obligations and much better command of a room than they did in college. None of these achievements, alas, has made the human nervous system especially sophisticated around an ex.

Most of what matters follows from an old mistake Allison can now describe perfectly. In college, she resented Rebecca’s devotion to teaching children and convinced herself that Rebecca would eventually want a family Allison did not. Rebecca said otherwise. Allison believed the scenario in her head instead and left. Fifteen years later, both women possess considerably better language for hurt, but Erdell understands the limited usefulness of self-knowledge once panic begins issuing instructions. Love was present the first time. What failed was conduct. Their reunion becomes convincing only when one of them feels the old fear and does something different with it.

Erdell gives Allison exactly that opportunity by making her adult life embarrassingly ironic: she now volunteers teaching music to children. In one crucial respect, she has become the person she once failed to understand. Yet she keeps this work from Rebecca, partly from shame at the contradiction and partly from fear that Rebecca will hear it as mockery of their old wound. She has changed. She has also repeated herself. What Allison hides is evidence of growth; hiding it preserves the defensive habit that made growth necessary. No third-act rival could do the job half so neatly.

The pleasure of the paired narration is that neither woman owns the authoritative version of events. Rebecca notices Allison disappearing for unexplained stretches and begins imagining another woman. Allison decides what Rebecca will feel about the community center before Rebecca has the chance to feel anything. An apartment becomes a verdict; reserve begins to look like rejection. Because we can watch both private accounts forming, Erdell distributes error rather than simply guilt. Allison is not only the ex auditioning for forgiveness, and Rebecca is not the injured party waiting at the judges’ table. Each woman gets to be wrong in private. They are not poor readers of people. They are poor readers of fear, especially their own.

Rebecca encounters a harsher version of that uncertainty every day at work. Her young patients cannot be rescued by an elegant insight or a better romantic conversation. After a child she treats is abandoned again by an unreliable parent, Rebecca comes apart in the muted fashion of competent people who still have appointments tomorrow. Allison cannot repair what happened and does not pretend otherwise. She asks what Rebecca needs, goes with her, stays near. More important, she does not pry for details Rebecca cannot ethically give or turn the moment into proof that Rebecca needs her. Allison once confused love with being chosen first. Here she manages care without keeping score.

If there is a quieter center beneath the concerts, sex and spectacular reunions, it is all this unglamorous attention. Beatrice mentors Allison, lends her the instrument central to her career and eventually leaves her the Stradivarius rather than consigning it to decorative silence. Allison teaches young musicians and begins guiding her niece Ramona. Rebecca organizes large parts of her life around Sadie and her nephews without treating those obligations as detours from some truer existence. Even Allison’s family, however imperfectly, reveals forms of attention she had not always known how to read. Love here is frequently administrative. It drives someone home, remembers the medicine, buys the instrument, changes the schedule, cooks, watches children, sits in the bad chair beside the bad day. Erdell is at her most persuasive when affection has errands.

Perhaps the cleanest proof comes after Sadie receives a letter connected to Amir’s organ donation and is pitched abruptly back into grief. Rebecca needs to stay with her sister. Allison offers to take Cameron and Asher overnight. She knows where their pajamas are, remembers what the boys need and sees immediately that Rebecca cannot care properly for Sadie while mentally supervising two children across town. Trust becomes childcare. When Rebecca watches Allison drive away with the boys and discovers that she is calm, the romance has obtained evidence no apology could supply. The younger Allison regarded Rebecca’s attention to children as time stolen from her. This Allison takes some of the work herself.

After so much anxiety about what love means, the novel is shrewdest when it makes partnership embarrassingly practical. Rebecca and Allison spend months looking for a new home before admitting that Allison already feels at home in Rebecca’s Telegraph Hill condo. Rebecca primes the walls so the apartment will not remain a museum of choices made before Allison entered it. Allison insists on paying half the mortgage and household expenses; they talk about legal agreements, paint, money, furniture, who gets to choose what. It is almost comically uncinematic. Good. After the orchestral flourishes, adulthood arrives carrying a paint roller and a spreadsheet. The romance has stopped asking whether Allison may return to Rebecca’s life and begun asking how much of that life she should own.

Prose this openhearted depends on velocity. Erdell keeps hers moving through dialogue, physical business and the vocabulary of work. Rehearsal rooms have hierarchies; instruments need tending; a fractured wrist has consequences far more specific than generalized career anxiety. Rebecca’s practice has clients, colleagues and ethical boundaries rather than functioning as flattering résumé décor. Food, clothes, neighborhoods, errands and traffic keep entering the frame. San Francisco is less postcard than repeated route: a hill climbed often enough to carry memory, a concert hall impossible to enter innocently again, the bay visible while somebody postpones saying the thing she came to say. Erdell’s sentences rarely ask to be admired in isolation. They are built for people thinking while doing.

A price comes with that accessibility. A scene lands, a character understands it, a friend helps her understand it, and sometimes a relative later arrives to make sure the lesson has been properly filed. Erdell rarely leaves an emotion unattended, and sometimes she also leaves it no room to echo. The Thanksgiving sequence in which Allison’s family brainstorms how she might repair things with Rebecca is affectionate and funny; it is also perilously close to a committee meeting on the book’s themes. Candor is not the problem. The problem is that Erdell occasionally writes footnotes to scenes that have already made their case.

Domestic comedy keeps that explanatory instinct from turning clinical. Sisters pry because affection apparently suspends ordinary privacy law. Friends meddle while maintaining a fiction of accidental involvement. Cameron and Asher possess the useful child’s talent for walking straight through whatever atmosphere the adults have spent several pages arranging. Sex belongs to the same continuum as breakfast, rehearsals and teasing rather than opening a trapdoor into a different book. The social crowding matters. Rebecca and Allison are never the only two emotionally employed people in San Francisco.

Injury earns its place for similar reasons. Allison’s broken wrist is obviously convenient for a plot that wants former lovers under one roof, but it strikes at the body through which she has built her authority. She has spent decades making virtuosity look dependable. Suddenly a shampoo bottle is a problem. So are dressing, cooking, opening things and the much larger terror of whether her hand will again do what her profession demands. Rebecca’s help becomes intimate before either woman has agreed on what their renewed intimacy means. Gratitude muddies desire instead of automatically certifying it. Dependency supplies information here, but not always reliable evidence.

More troubling, and in some ways more moving, is the version of this argument playing out beside them. Sadie and Phillip have not betrayed one another; both have lost spouses. Their slow drift toward romance asks whether a future attachment can coexist with a love that ended without consent. Years after Amir’s death, Sadie can still wonder whether dating Phillip is somehow cheating. Earlier, the letter from someone helped by Amir’s donated corneas has already shown how badly grief behaves around schedules. A good thing can reopen the worst day. Sadie need not stop loving Amir before Phillip becomes possible. The past can remain in the room without being given the only vote.

In the middle, however, “Didn’t See That Coming” spends too long checking whether feelings we already understand have changed their paperwork. Rebecca and Allison reconsider whether what binds them is nostalgia, gratitude, loneliness or love, then return to the question after relatively modest shifts in circumstance. Some repetition is psychologically honest. Too much resembles furniture being moved from wall to wall while everyone insists the room is new. At a listed 410 pages, the novel has more room than its dramatic load requires. It knows where it is going; it simply takes the scenic route after we have already seen the view.

The last stretch pays nearly every outstanding account. Allison’s career recovers, Beatrice’s violin remains with her, family relationships soften, mentorship flourishes, Rebecca and Allison make a home and eventually marry; other relationships nearby also bend toward happiness. None of these outcomes is implausible by itself. Together they make adversity look slightly underfunded. The novel is most interesting when insight has arrived but fear has not received the memo. Its closing pages prefer completed repairs. Romance need not ration joy, but a few unpaid emotional invoices might have left the happiness with more weather in it.

Rebecca’s refusal of motherhood gives the book one particularly welcome point of firmness. She does not want children of her own. She also adores her nephews and has built a profession around helping children. Allison, who once treated those facts as incompatible, eventually discovers pleasure in teaching, mentoring and being an aunt without being marched toward a revelation that she secretly wanted motherhood after all. Erdell lets care remain larger than reproduction. Neither woman has to graduate into a more conventional life to prove she has matured. They simply have to get better at believing the other when she says what sort of life she wants.

One nearby key is Ashley Herring Blake’s “Make the Season Bright,” which also brings sapphic former lovers, music and unresolved hurt into the same room, though Blake moves at a tighter, cozier tempo. Tia Williams’s “Seven Days in June” sits farther away tonally but closer in its suspicion of mere persistence: desire surviving the years does not mean the people carrying it have learned anything useful. Erdell is gentler and considerably more determined to make emotion legible. Sometimes that generosity is the pleasure. Sometimes one wishes she would turn the lights down and let the room acquire a few shadows.

Put simply, “Didn’t See That Coming” earns 76/100 – 3/5 stars. Its cleverest move is sending the old conflict back in altered form; its most persuasive character work occurs when care becomes behavior rather than testimony; its clearest weakness is the refusal to stop interpreting once the evidence has arrived. Wanting someone again is cheap evidence. Behavior is harder currency. Erdell’s novel is too roomy and too eager to explain itself to climb much higher, but its central standard is sound: reconciliation should demand more than desire surviving on schedule.

Of all the romantic gestures Erdell arranges, the one designed for memory is the declaration on Marina Green: musicians rising out of the crowd, Vivaldi in the air, Allison approaching Rebecca with the bridge behind her and strangers ready to cheer. It is enormous, unabashed and, if the book has already won you over, probably delicious. I prefer what happens after the applause. The walls are freshly primed. Two women have to decide what color they want, what each will pay, what belongs to whom and what can belong to both. Fifteen years earlier, they loved each other and assumed love would translate everything for them. This time they begin with the less glamorous work of making a room neither has to misread.

[Kexx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story -first one of Adaina Erdell I’ve read: lovely back characters and whole lives outside romance. Recommended.

[Amy · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

Okay, thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of this audiobook, with this being an honest review.
I *really* wanted to love this book: it’s a Second Chance romance between two lesbians who dated in college but we’re forced apart due to different goals in life and career competitiveness or jealousy maybe is the better way to describe it? They meet each other again in their late 30s to early 40s and are immediately forced into a shared space turned friends with benefits relationship that is still unsteady and without honesty… But then they decide to actually start dating and after further hiding in lack of honesty they are finally in a better place together? That might sound harsh, but that’s the way that the story goes.
One of the better parts of this book is that, despite being high success and profile career women, Alison and Rebekah both have parts of their personality and behaviors that are very relatable, but in some ways that felt like a bad thing because I am barely in my 30s and I felt that they had some immature thoughts that I wouldn’t expect to still be feeling and thinking 10 years from now…
I didn’t really like how the timeline in this book was a bit chaotic. The book somehow felt slow and way longer than it had to be, but there were also times that within a single chapter the setting or time would jump from one paragraph to another in a very abrupt way.
My least favorite part of the book was really what seemed to drive them apart from the get-go and almost drove them apart again. From the start, it was awkward that Rebekah was hiding her nephews and was afraid to bring anything up about them for fear of making Allyson upset, but it was even weirder that Alison was hiding her volunteer activities because, what? She was afraid to show Rebekah that she had grown in the 10 to 15 years since they’ve been apart?
And lastly I will say that this audiobook is really one of the only reasons I kept listening to the story. The narrator did a great job of distinguishing voices even though it was only one narrator. Things were well paced and had a good level of emotion, there was only maybe one character that she used a quite annoying voice for but it was used in such a short amount of time that it didn’t bother me and it had to set the person apart when there was a conversation between about five or six people. Had I not been listening to the audiobook during some longer drives this week, I may have not finished the story.
All in all, I think this is a book that is for some people but it was not for me. I also may have enjoyed it more if I had read it rather than listened as I could sometimes skim over the lengthier descriptions and pieces of time or I wouldn’t have been as stunned by the abrupt changes in setting as maybe it was delineated in someway on the pages. Either way, I’m very grateful for NetGalley for providing a copy of this audiobook.

[lukewarmreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF at 67% | 3 stars

NetGalley provided me with an advanced listening copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really appreciate what this book is trying to offer, even if it ultimately wasn't quite for me.

There's a real need for more romances featuring older leads, particularly sapphic romances centered on women in their 30s and 40s. I also know there are readers looking for lower-conflict romances that simply let two women fall in love without relying on contrived misunderstandings or unnecessary drama. I think this book will appeal to readers looking for exactly that.

At its heart, this is a story about two women finding their way back to each other after a relationship that ended more than a decade ago. The focus is on getting to know each other again, reckoning with the ways they've changed, and figuring out how to make room for one another in their lives as they are now. The characters communicate like adults, and the relationship itself is the primary source of tension. For readers who enjoy a slower, more relationship-focused romance, particularly one that prioritizes emotional reconnection over external drama, I can see the appeal.

I also enjoyed the Bay Area setting, with Berkeley providing a fun sense of place.

Unfortunately, the approach didn't quite work for me. I enjoy romances where the relationship is the driving force of the story, but I still need a little more in the way of external stakes or complications to keep me invested. Here, I found myself wanting another subplot or two, something beyond the central relationship that could add dimension to the story and influence how these women navigate their second chance.

While I appreciated the lack of the miscommunication tropes that can make romance frustrating, I sometimes felt that the central conflict could have been resolved with a single, honest conversation. By the time I reached 67%, I was struggling to see what else there was to explore beyond the question of whether these two would ultimately get back together. With more than three hours left in the audiobook, I realized I wasn't invested enough in that outcome to continue.

Ultimately, I think this is a case of a book offering something that will genuinely appeal to a particular audience, even if it wasn't the right fit for me. If you want a mature, low-drama sapphic romance about two women learning who they've become and choosing whether to love each other again, this is worth considering. If you prefer a romance with more external conflict, higher stakes, or additional plot threads beyond the relationship itself, you may find it a little too low-key.

I'm glad books like this are being written, and I can appreciate what it's going for even though I wasn't compelled to finish it.

[Cat's Bookery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn’t See That Coming
Format: Audiobook
Written By: Alaina Erdell
Narrated By: Abby Craden
Releases on September 23, 2026

Thank you to Alaina Erdell, Frankenberg Press and Netgalley for providing me with an Advanced Copy to review! All opinions in this review are my own.

This was so cute and the narration cast was amazing. I loved the characters and their story!

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶🌶
* My rating breakdown is included at the end of this review.

Description (from NetGalley):
“Rebecca Jenkins is confident and comfortable in her career as a child psychologist, supporting her bereaved sister, and spending time with her beloved nephews. But when she sees the same beautiful treble clef tattoo she pressed her lips to on steamy Berkeley nights fifteen years earlier on the ankle of the new first violinist of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, she’s shaken more than she ever thought possible.

Allison O’Leary has finally achieved her lifelong dream of becoming concertmaster in a top-tier orchestra, a career move that stirs up good and bad memories when it returns her to the Bay Area where she broke the heart of her first love. Hell, her only love. And when she sees her in the audience, no amount of discipline she’s developed over the years can help her. She has to find a way to talk to her.

When they agree to forge a friendship, they discover similarities and differences from the women they were in their college days, but they’re both drawn closer by the rekindled heat that still smolders between them. Can Rebecca find forgiveness in her heart and Allison avoid making the same mistake twice so they can have a second chance at love?”



My Book Rating System
⭐️ means it was a DNF.
⭐️⭐️ means I should have chosen to DNF.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ means it was okay. I will not read this again.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ means it was good. I will probably read this again.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ means it was amazing. I am obsessed!

My Spice Rating System
🫑 means no spice.
🌶 means it has closed door or implied spice.
🌶🌶 means it has open door scenes but they're more on the vanilla side.
🌶🌶🌶 means it has descriptive scenes, starting to get kinker in description.
🌶🌶🌶🌶 means it has numerous scenes in the books and lots of description.
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 means that we aren't reading it for the plot anyways.

* Please note that I will not add my Spice Rating Scale on any book reviews that are meant for young children or middle grade ages.
* A Green Pepper or 1 Pepper may appear on books classified as Young Adult.

[Kiernan Monasmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Narrator Rating: 5/5
Right out of the gate, I liked the narrator, Abby Craden. She has a nice cadence and is easy to follow. She portrayed emotions well and kept me engaged. I always appreciate when a narrator can make it clear what is being said and what is internal commentary, and Abby does this perfectly.

Story Rating: 3.75/5
I will start with the one issue I have with this novel: Second chance romances are hit or miss for me. I love when there’s been character development in the time that has lapsed since the initial relationship so it feels like the characters had a ‘right person, wrong time’ moment; however, it didn’t feel like there was much change in our characters in the 15 years they were apart. Again and again, we hear the characters think about how specific things haven’t changed about the other. I don’t find that as realistic or captivating. Not being able to see how a person has changed in the years past is a character flaw to me, because what is preventing you from repeating past mistakes that led you to break up? How do we know you’re ‘in love’ with the person they became instead of the person you once knew?

Other than that, I have zero hesitations about this novel. Alaina Erdell’s writing is descriptive and flows well. She is a wonderful writer and creates a story that can easily become a comfort read. I have not found many sapphic writers that are on my instant-read list and Erdell has made it to my list. She has made frustrating tropes, like the miscommunication trope, engaging and plausible. She made sure the characters were their own before they got together, so I was rooting for each person throughout the novel to find their happiness. I liked that they talked about their likes and dislikes before they got back together instead of figuring it out later, like a lot of couples in other novels tend to do.

Thank you to Frankenberg Press and Netgalley for providing me with an Audio-ARC of Didn’t See That Coming by Alaina Erdell! I’m grateful for the opportunity to read this book early and share my thoughts with you all. As always, my review reflects my honest opinions and personal reading experience. All thoughts are entirely my own.

[Fran Sappharc · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn’t grabbed by the start, possibly because the blind date was such a caricature. I also wasn’t particularly grabbed by the first re-meetings from a distance. However once they actually have a conversation I want to know what happened in the past and more importantly why it happened. I also very much want to know how, what will happen in the future, (it IS a romance….) will actually happen. A good first 10%, despite my initial ambivalence.
20% in and there is a plot event that shakes things up. My ambivalence which had been hanging about in the wings has exited again. The plot event forces the mains to spend time together and their relationship develops…… For me pacing faltered. There was still a lot of book to go….. Yes there are questions around the future, what will happen when their forced proximity is no longer forced…… but I feel my ambivalence is about to come to the fore again….. There just isn’t much urge to find out what happens. I am not tempted to stop nor am I compelled to rush read….. I am currently a bit meh.
Then there is a scene with parents and one main is forced to reconsider her view of family as she existed in it……. This brought me back in and possibly is my favourite scene, certainly is so far. From that moment on, the book seemed to hit its stride. There was still a looming secret, which never goes well, and when discovered this time, didn’t. The only problem I had was that I didn’t get why it was such a big deal. The writer tried to show but I couldn’t understand it. Unfortunately the discovery scene didn’t make me understand it more. If anything, the other mains reaction underscored why there had been secrecy. I wasn’t convinced it was the secrecy that was the issue, rather than what the secret was about. I got slightly more on board after another chapter and enjoyed the emotional making up. For me a firm 3, if the whole book had been like the last 40%, with the emotional connection I made to the book, it would have been 4, if it had stayed like the rest I would have rounded up to 3.

[Lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Frankenberg Press for my very first ALC!!

Didn’t See that Coming, by Alaina Erdell.
Narrated by Abby Craden.
Out now!!

Narrator: 5/5
Novel: 4/5

This novel is a sapphic contemporary romance, and it follows the story of Rebecca, a child psychologist who struggles to find the balance between her present and the her past with Allison, an old love who’s now back in her life.

I love, LOVE a second chance romance, so I immediately knew this book would be up my speed. The character meet up again after 15 years of no contact, and we get to know about the issues they’ve had in the relationship. Here’s the thing: I’m not a big fan of the miscommunication trope, but I can work around it if it’s done in a compelling way. The characters first meet when they’re younger and it makes sense for them to struggle with communication in their earlier years, but once we meet them again as two mature women who have worked on themselves, it just doesn’t make sense to continue this trope. It clashes with the character development shown throughout the book, and it feels like they’re ‘childish’ in the relationship, but then they’re completely different outside of the relationship?

Also, and this might be a personal preference, when dealing with a second-chance romance, I want to see the angst between the characters, and the reconciliation is not supposed to be a super quick thing. I want to see them go through their struggles around their past and move forward, not bring it up every few conversations and then use it as a bit of a plot device (argue, then make up and make out).

“But they weren’t you” moment 💕💕💕
Taking care of her ❤️‍🩹
Forced proximity
Second chance
Working on communication

I started reading this book on EBOOK but finished it through the audiobook. As per the narrator, Abby Craden is an absolute gem, and she brings the story to life in a perfect way!!

[Brigitte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read if you like:
- Second-chance romance
- Reading about San Francisco
- Classical music
- Spicy open-door
What I didn’t like:
- Miscommunication
- Dwelling on feelings for years and years

Rebecca (child psychologist) and Allison (concert-violinist) meet eachother again 15 years after they broke-up. They were eachothers first grown-up loves. Living together in San Francisco during and after college. Allison broke it off and travelled the world as a famous violinist. But now Allison is back in San Francisco and is the concertmaster at Rebecca’s favourite Symphony Orchestra. When Rebecca spots her on stage she is rattled. What is she doing back? They meet after a show and try to be friends. Allison having none being new in the area. Then Allison takes a fall and breaks her wrist and sprains her ankle. Not being able to take care of herself in her own apartment. Rebecca already feeling that her feelings for Allison never went anywhere for the last 15 years, takes her in and takes care of her, in all the obvious ways.
We get a little bit of info about why they broke up. But the reason I found terrible, also they still seem to have a lot of trust issues, that they didn’t work through in the past 15 years. It plays a role in the third act break-up which is off course in this sapphic romance as well.
Maybe it’s because I read a lot of second-chance romances before, but I didn’t find this one so original. Being in their late 30’s they didn’t get that far in their development. Also where’s the queer friendgroup? Rebecca seems to have very little friends of her own as well. Just her collegue and her sister. I mean the friendgroup could’ve talked some sense in these 2 for wasting 15 years of their life apart while they could’ve been together!
3-stars!

Thanks to #NetGalleyUK for the #ARC.

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a beautifully written second-chance romance about Allison, a newly hired concertmaster for the San Francisco Orchestra, and Rebecca, a child psychologist, who find themselves back in each other's lives fifteen years after their college relationship ended.

What I especially loved was the emotional depth of this story. Allison and Rebecca aren't simply two people who reconnect and fall back into bed together (although there is definitely plenty of chemistry and steam along the way!). They are two women carrying fifteen years of memories, heartbreak, regrets, and unresolved feelings. The author does an incredible job getting inside both of their heads, allowing us to really understand what each woman is thinking and feeling at every stage of their complicated journey. I found myself rooting for them even when I wanted to shake some sense into them!

Their chemistry is 🔥🔥🔥, with plenty of steam that never feels gratuitous or over the top. But what really makes this romance work is the emotional connection underneath the physical attraction. Watching these two women navigate old wounds, trust, vulnerability, and the possibility of building something lasting made this much more than just a second-chance romance.

I also really enjoyed the supporting characters and the way Rebecca's relationship with her sister and young nephews was woven into the story. Those relationships gave us another side of Rebecca and added depth to her character.

If you enjoy sapphic second-chance romances with complicated feelings, incredible chemistry, emotional vulnerability, and characters who have to do the hard work of figuring out whether love can get a second chance, definitely add this one to your TBR.

Thank you to the NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Rach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two women reconnect who both have a great love of the orchestra in San Francisco and apparently still with each other. Rebecca, an avid concert fan has enjoyed supporting the musical talents of the San Francisco symphony and for the latest session there is a new but familiar face playing as the concertmaster.

Surely it can’t be her ex of 15 years ago - jump ahead to Alison who surprisingly can’t believe who she looks up and sees from the stands. Alison rushes to see if it’s her and wow 15 years later there is her ex back in front of her.

After a hard breakup neither women has had a meaningful relationship that’s lasted so they try to be friends however unfortunately Alison takes a tumbled and breaks her wrist, Rebecca the as a now dutiful friend says she can help look after her, it’s very awkward at first moving into Rebecca apartment and having her cook and wash her - however the tension plus ache is still there, it was a hard breakup for Rebecca but can they try again until one night pulls them back into a bedroom!

I won’t spoil it but the premise is a second chance romance, they break up when they are 23 so both have matured but didn’t stay connected, there is an good cast of supporting characters but her sister story as tragic as it I felt took a lot of focus, there is unfortunately a miscommunication element and a slight break between the two but my main issue is that the story was so long and at times they are both ridiculous that honestly just get to the point! Also if Rebecca is a psychologist she’s not great at spotting triggers or at times being reasonable!

Still enjoyable, it has a bit of spice and some nice romantic moments. It’s a solid read but I wanted the pace to tighten up! Thank you for NetGalley and Frankenberg Press for an opportunity to read.

[Karen M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read and reviewed several Alaina Erdell books, and truly loved each one. But this one has to be my favorite. It may be in part because most of my “reading” is via audiobook, and I listened to Didn’t See This Coming narrated by the spectacular Abby Craden, but it’s also just a wonderful, extremely well written story.

Allison and Rebecca’s story has stayed with me. I loved the sparks and flaws of both characters – the elite violinist and concertmaster Allison, the child psychologist Rebecca. Music played such a lovely part through entire book, as did both MC’s relationships with their families and the interactions with the children in their lives.

Author Erdell was tremendously effective in using secondary characters and interactions as a way to progress the story. The situations with their friends and family separately and together added a great deal of depth and meaning to the story, making it such a sweet journey. These very appealing secondary characters (Rebecca’s sister, Allison’s best friend and colleague plus other family and friends) were so key for me in getting to know and understand the lead characters. As the story moved forward, these situations helped build my attachment to Rebecca and Allison as individuals and my desire to see them find their “together”.

Rebecca and Alison clearly care a great deal for each other, but each also experience internal angst over their much younger and unsuccessful past as a couple. Not so much angst as to make me slow down, but very realistic and serious hurdles they have to work through alone and together to determine if their second chance relationship this time is “forever”. It culminates in a very creative grand gesture which I did NOT see coming.

This one definitely gets a “HIGHLY recommend” from me – such a lovely, satisfying listen (or read!).

[Stephieloohoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC copy for my honest review.

I loved this book. I'm usually iffy when it comes to the second chance romance trope but it's so well done. Erdell is a fantastic author, and is always an insta-buy for me, and Didn't See That Coming is no exception.

There are so many wonderful things in this story, our two FMCs included. Both Rebecca and Allison are well written and developed characters. There's fifteen years of distance between them but still so much of a connection, like no time has passed at all.

Rebecca has changed careers, helps her sister and spends so much time and love on her nephews. She has some issues when it comes to Allison, and rightfully so, like: trust and other insecurities; but the love never left. She tries to keep the past in the past because she can't fight (not for lack of trying) the pull to want to be around Allison.

Allison is a lovely character. She's sweet, passionate, and caring. She knows she messed up in a lot of ways and ultimately their college relationship failed because of her. She has done a lot of maturing and growing in the fifteen years since she's seen Rebecca and it's shown throughout the book. She knows she can never change the past but she tries to make up for breaking Rebecca's heart by proving her growth and love.

There are a lot of great side characters here and I really did enjoying every scenario that included other players. There's a decent amount of spice mixed with yearning, heartfelt emotions, and just sweet, tender moments. I felt like the pacing was great and enjoyed getting to go on this experience with Rebecca and Allison.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't See That Coming explores the profound impact of reconnecting with a first love years later, delivering a truly captivating story. Rebecca, a disciplined child psychologist, finds her carefully constructed world upended when she encounters Allison, her first love and now the San Francisco Symphony's new concertmaster. A familiar tattoo instantly shatters Rebecca's composure, revealing a past she thought she'd buried.

Allison, thriving professionally, faces unresolved history upon her return to the Bay Area. Seeing Rebecca reignites a powerful, long-suppressed connection, forcing both women to confront a shared past of heartbreak. What unfolds is a poignant exploration of second chances. As they tentatively rekindle a friendship, the potent chemistry and unresolved emotions emerge, forcing them to grapple with forgiveness and the possibility of a renewed connection.

This isn't just another romance; it's a deeply affecting narrative set against the vibrant classical music scene of San Francisco. Erdell’s masterful writing breathes life into every character and setting, making Rebecca and Allison’s emotional journey compelling and authentic. The San Francisco Symphony isn't merely scenery; it's intricately woven into the story's fabric, adding a unique richness.

For readers seeking a heartfelt sapphic romance with complex characters, significant growth, and a unique, vivid backdrop, Didn't See That Coming is an absolute must-read. Prepare for a profoundly satisfying journey of love, forgiveness, and second chances.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Tory]

I would like to thank the author and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book and for the opportunity to read it and review it.

I decided to DNF this book at 27%, after reading approximately 100 pages. I really tried to give it a chance, but by that point I was already extremely bored and quite frustrated with the story. My main issue was that I felt like nothing was actually happening, there were events taking place, but they seemed like a series of random things happening one after another without enough connection or progression to keep me invested. I also think this book could benefit from significantly more editing, 400 pages are unnecessary for this story to me, but since I read an ARC I don’t know how much editing happened before the final version. Second chance romance is already one of my least favorite tropes, although I always try to give individual books a chance because I’ve definitely enjoyed stories featuring tropes I normally dislike. But in this case, the way the trope was developed didn’t work for me either. I wasn’t invested in the characters, and I didn’t feel enough chemistry between them to make me care about their relationship. I reached a point where I knew I simply didn’t want to keep reading, and I also knew that forcing myself through another 300 pages when I was already feeling this way would most likely result in a negative review, and I dislike leaving bad reviews unless I feel they’re necessary. So I’m choosing to stop here and leave a neutral rating. I don’t think this is a bad book, and I’m sure there will be readers who connect with the characters and the story much more than I did.