Didn't See That Coming

by Alaina Erdell, Ani Vaughn (Editor), Ali Shearer (Illustrator)

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: LGBT, Lesbian Romance, Friends To Lovers, Second Chance

428 pages, Kindle Edition

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.

[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

[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!

[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.

[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.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[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.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[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.

[Parker]

I'd like to thank the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing me with a digital advanced reader copy to read and provide an honest review. I want to be upfront and say that I did not finish this book stopping at 25%, but then reading excerpts of chapters until the end.

I was intrigued with the premise, attending a symphony performance to find your ex back in town as the concertmaster, someone who broke your heart years before and you hadn't heard from since. Second chance romances are a favourite trope and this set up was in keeping with the types of books I enjoy.

The reason I didn't finish is that I didn't connect with the lead characters and I found there were too many extraneous elements added too early in the book. I realize many were to be devices to assist the characters in re-connecting, but I felt they were brought in very early and weren't connected naturally into the story line. As an example the walking group, a reason for one of the characters to make more friends, yet the two leads continually just went off and waked on their own away from the group.

I'm sure if I had read further the reasons behind several of the secondary characters being introduced would have become apparent, but I couldn't get into the story long enough to be able to connect with the leads and that made it impossible for me to care about the secondary characters.

There will be people who will love this story, the large cast, the setting in San Francisco, but it wasn't for me.

[ClaireH · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second-chance romance, set against the backdrop of modern-day San Francisco, drew me in straight away and kept me engaged throughout. Alison and Rebecca were once in love, but Alison hurt Rebecca 15 years ago, and I really appreciated that the story allows you to feel for both of them as they find their way back to each other. I was invested in seeing them get their second chance.
The author does a great job of building the tension and gradually developing the emotional connection between the two women. There is some spice, but essentially this is a romance novel, with the story also weaving in their professional lives - Rebecca is a psychologist and Alison a classical musician - as well as a cast of believable, three-dimensional supporting characters. I particularly enjoyed the storyline involving Rebecca’s widowed sister and her two young children. It is beautifully woven into the main story and becomes significant at various points in the narrative without feeling like a distraction.
I’ve read several books in this genre, and this one is definitely a cut above. It is well written, engaging and emotionally satisfying.
My only criticism is that I don’t think the title or cover do the book justice. The title is fairly bland, and a more engaging title and stronger cover artwork might have attracted more attention to what is actually a very good romance. This was a four star read for me.

[Sue Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

rebecca is settled into her life now.... she is an aunt to her two nephews and loves the time she spends with them... she just hopes she can be there for her sister sadie who has been through the mill these past few years after losing her husband tragically.... its so hard for all of them

what she hadnt expected was on a blind date to see her ex .... that the blind date didnt go well also didnt bode well....

her ex was allison and was now the concert master at the orchestra that rebecca loved to watch...she had hoped that allison hadnt seen her but on the night she attended with sadie there was no doubt when allison made her way to the front to see her....

feelings were abound for them both and rebecca surprised herself when she invited allison along for a walk with the group she met daily so that allison could find her people now that she was settled in her town...

ohhh man this was a compelling storyline... this one hit the right notes when it came to families, drama, and history could rebecca and allison get around their history to see what was right in front of them....

time would tell and the accident that allison had what repercussions from that would hold her back...

its a great storyline and one that grips you right to the end and watch out for tears along the way

[Mar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Didn't See That Coming covered a surprising amount of emotional ground without making any one part of the story feel like it existed only to serve the romance. I was invested in the relationship, but I was equally invested in Allison and her individual growth, her relationship with her past, and especially her relationship with music and her work.

I really appreciated that the character development extended beyond the central couple, too. Sadie, Monica, and Braeden all felt like people with their own lives and development rather than side characters who disappeared whenever the romance needed the page.

The incorporation of music was one of my favorite parts. It felt integral to Allison's identity and emotional journey rather than simply being her profession or a backdrop for the story.

And somehow this book got me with a flash mob. A FLASH MOB. Something that could very easily have had me hiding from secondhand embarrassment instead had me internally squealing, which probably says everything about how invested I'd become by that point.

What worked best for me was that falling in love didn't replace either woman's individual story. They both had histories to reckon with and lives that mattered outside the relationship, and their growth as individuals made their growth together more satisfying.

[Jennabeebs79 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, Didn’t See That Coming is a heartfelt and beautifully layered second-chance romance that pulled me in from the beginning. Allison and Rebecca’s story is filled with complicated history, genuine emotion, personal growth, and the kind of connection that makes you root for two people to find their way back to each other. I also loved how classical music and the San Francisco Symphony became such an important part of Allison’s life and, in many ways, the story itself. The author’s attention to the music, the orchestra, and Allison’s role as concertmaster added a depth and richness that I wasn’t expecting and really enjoyed.
And then there’s San Francisco, which practically becomes a character of its own through the vivid descriptions and incredible attention to detail. By the end, I was completely invested in these characters, their journey, and the world they inhabit. If you’re a fan of second-chance sapphic romance with heart, meaningful character growth, a unique storyline, and a beautifully developed setting, Didn’t See That Coming is one I highly recommend.

Check out my complete review at TheLesbianReview.com

[Isabel Krakoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher, author, and net galley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Alaina Erdell's writing and this book did not disappoint. I really enjoyed watching Rebecca and Allison come back together after so long apart to find that they still have the same level of chemistry even after a world of hurt and 15 years. I liked the way the author had each character work through their own issues in addition to trying to move forward from that original heartbreak.

The one place the book fell slightly short for me was that I think for the amount of weight Rebecca placed on the way Allison hurt her in the past, the resolution and "getting over it" felt a bit rushed as it was essentially one conversation where they both admitted fault. I don't think that was entirely fair to Rebecca as I don't think she WAS at fault - it sounded more like Allison just really needed therapy.

Overall, I loved the symphony context and seeing it from the perspective of both a member and an observer. I think the author did a wonderful job tying in specific meaningful musical elements that didn't feel cheesy or overdone.

[Nia · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a second-chance romance, where feelings develop slowly—and yet not quite, because things get pretty steamy relatively quickly.
That is absolutely not meant as a criticism!
The two protagonists used to be an incredible couple.
It was a deep, promising love; they couldn't even imagine a life without one another. And yet, back then, Allison made a mistake and left Rebecca—for reasons she had hinted at, perhaps, but which remained a mystery for a long time.
Rebecca was left with a shattered heart, and that pain seems to linger to this day; the moment she sees Allison again on stage with the San Francisco Symphony—where Allison is the concertmaster—her body reacts instinctively!
Allison feels the same way, and through a twist of fate, their encounters soon take an unexpected turn and become more frequent...
I really enjoyed the book!
There is a bit of drama, stemming from the past and from fears, as well as from overthinking and making assumptions.
Add to that steamy nights and afternoons, along with profound conversations... a love story about two women who are simply meant for each other!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A contemporary, sapphic, second-chance romance, "Didn't See That Coming" by Alaina Erdell takes place fifteen years after the MCs' abrupt breakup. Following San Francisco Symphony Orchestra's new concertmaster, Allison O'Leary, and child psychologist, Rebecca Jenkins, this story has the emotional depth of the Golden Gate strait and the a number of delectable open-door sex scenes.

Erdell was already a go-to author, but this story really takes the sushirrito and runs with it. Mid-30s MCs working through personal, professional, and familial drama in a way that doesn't feel forced and with a timeline that is actually realistic? Learning how to overcome misconceptions and figuring out effective communication with family, friends, and romantic partners? Count. Me. In.

Thank you Alaina for once again creating MCs I can cry over, root for, and connect with! AND thank you Alaina and NetGalley for the eARC.

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy of this book!
This was a very sweet second chance romance set in San Francisco. I really enjoyed the orchestra component of this novel with a focus large part of the plot focusing around music/symphony. Seeing how big of a part music plays in both the MC’s lives was very relatable to me and I was really able to see my self in Allison.
This story is very heartfelt and has lovable characters all around. As a second chance romance I already was cautious to read since I feel I am usually more critical of the connection between characters, but I felt they had true growth both individually and as a couple that made getting back together make sense even with the complicated feeling and history. There was a real magnetic pull between Allison and Rebecca that had me wanted to just push them together through out the book and wanting to yell at them to communicate more!

[Kelsee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't See That Coming is a beautiful book set in San Francisco. I felt fully immersed in the city and was super jealous of all the good food the MCs had!

I immediately was drawn to Rebecca and really related to her journey. Her blind date mishaps were painfully real, too. But when someone from her past appears, she's shocked to her core.

But as we get to know Allison and her and Rebecca's past is slowly revealed, you start to see what first brought them together and why that undeniably chemistry is still there.

This book handles some heavier topics of grief, but it was beautifully done. I felt like I really got to know each of the characters well.

As both a lover of the symphony and a former musician, this one really was lovely to read.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[AGC · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of Alaina Erdell’s books from the beginning, and with each release, her writing reaches a new level. Her latest, Didn’t See That Coming, is her best yet.

The characters are fully developed, with compelling backstories that make you genuinely care about them. The story is heartbreaking, frustrating, and satisfying all at once. But what really drew me in was the setting. I have a long history with San Francisco, so that made the book even more special. Reading it felt like taking a walk down memory lane.

I’m not going to give you a long explanation of the plot or story. Just know that this is a book you’ll want to read—and listen to. It’s narrated by Abby Craden, who I’m sure will bring even more depth to an already wonderful book.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley, the IBPA, and Frankenberg Press for the free e-ARC.

Giving this 4 stars.

This is one of the better second-chance romances that I have read. The characters feel generally more mature and more capable of having adult conversations about their past and their feelings (yay for therapy). The communication isn't perfect, but it's still a breath of fresh air to read about late-thirties adults with a decent amount of emotional maturity.

I also personally love child-free but devoted auntie rep. That's one of the things that drew me to this book in the first place, and it didn't disappoint.

If you enjoy a good second-chance romance, with a side of sort-of-forced proximity, or just sapphic romance in general, give this one a try.

[Jamie P-Kretzschmar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alaina Erdell delivers a remarkably unique and well-written story in Didn't See That Coming. This book strikes an incredible balance in its tone—it manages to be both appropriately sad and genuinely funny, never leaning too far into heavy angst without offering some necessary levity.

The character work here is exceptional. Both protagonists are incredibly well-developed and easy to root for, carrying the emotional weight of the story perfectly. But what really elevates this book is the supporting cast. Instead of just existing as flat sounding boards for the main characters, the sidekicks are fully fleshed out with their own distinct issues and narrative arcs. It makes the world feel authentic, messy, and deeply lived-in.

If you are looking for a beautifully written, emotionally balanced read with a fantastic ensemble of characters, this one is an absolute must-read.

[Ashlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Alaina Erdell and I don’t think it will be my last. I enjoyed this fun second chance set in San Francisco a lot. This city is one of my favorites and after spending some time living in the Bay Area myself, this was a fun bit of reminiscing for me. The two MCs are both a bit shocked to see each other initially but quickly find themselves spending time together and end up in a forced proximity situation. The story is low angst and feels very much a cozy reunion with the prerequisite small exception that rears its head at the 85% mark. If you’re looking for a cozy book this one fits the mark.

[luciana · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

I had fun with Rebeca and Allison. It was my first book by Alaina Erdell and I already want to read her other ones.

This story is set in San Francisco and I liked how alive the city felt like. The secondary characters are also well developed, especially Rebeca's sister.

I had no major problems with the pacing till I got into the 70%, then it felt like the drama was dragging a tad longer than I liked, I'd have loved everything if the book ended a few chapters earlier, but overall, it was great.