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Life, Unscheduled
A smart, modern novel about a woman trying to balance her career, her best friend, and falling in love without crashing and burning.
Nicole Palmieri is married to her job. As a user experience designer at Virtuality, an artificial intelligence company in Los Angeles, Nicole is at her desk from sunrise to sunset. She doesn’t have time for a social life (or a love life), but that’s perfectly fine with her. Until her best friend, Parisa Shahin, announces her engagement and asks Nicole to be her maid of honor.
That’s when Nicole decides to meticulously schedule out the next six months of her life—from her project due dates to her dress-fitting appointments to how many hours she plans to sleep each night. If she can stick to her schedule, she’ll balance everything fine. Of course, that’s a really big if. And after she crosses paths with emerging restaurateur Brandon Phelps, Nicole is feeling feelings she hasn’t felt in…well, ever. But scheduling time to fall in love might push even the most meticulous plans into pure chaos.
Nicole Palmieri is married to her job. As a user experience designer at Virtuality, an artificial intelligence company in Los Angeles, Nicole is at her desk from sunrise to sunset. She doesn’t have time for a social life (or a love life), but that’s perfectly fine with her. Until her best friend, Parisa Shahin, announces her engagement and asks Nicole to be her maid of honor.
That’s when Nicole decides to meticulously schedule out the next six months of her life—from her project due dates to her dress-fitting appointments to how many hours she plans to sleep each night. If she can stick to her schedule, she’ll balance everything fine. Of course, that’s a really big if. And after she crosses paths with emerging restaurateur Brandon Phelps, Nicole is feeling feelings she hasn’t felt in…well, ever. But scheduling time to fall in love might push even the most meticulous plans into pure chaos.
317 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2021
1842 people are currently reading
6670 people want to read
About the author
Kristin Rockaway
7 books529 followersKristin Rockaway is a native New Yorker and recovering corporate software engineer. After working in the IT industry for far too many years, she finally traded the city for the surf and chased her dreams out to Southern California, where she spends her days happily writing stories instead of code. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son, browsing the aisles of her neighborhood bookstores, and trying to catch up on sleep.
Be sure to follow Kristin on BookBub for the latest sales! https://www.bookbub.com/profile/krist...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 435 reviews
January 31, 2022
This is a story about a single woman named Nicole who's so committed to her career, she has no life outside of work. She works at Virtuality (an artificial intelligence company), where taking time off is definitely frowned upon. Nicole's best friend, Parisa, is experiencing the pressures of family and traditions while planning her wedding. Both Nicole and Parisa must learn to take charge of their lives.
The story fell flat at times, but has a good message. Overall, this is a story about choosing the life you want. It's a reminder to prioritize and be present for what matters in life.
As an aside, I found it pretty interesting that I met three female characters in STEM careers this month. I met Olive (The Love Hypothesis), Annie (This Won't End Well), and now Nicole in this story. While I didn't like all the stories, I do like to see more books about women in STEM careers.
The story fell flat at times, but has a good message. Overall, this is a story about choosing the life you want. It's a reminder to prioritize and be present for what matters in life.
As an aside, I found it pretty interesting that I met three female characters in STEM careers this month. I met Olive (The Love Hypothesis), Annie (This Won't End Well), and now Nicole in this story. While I didn't like all the stories, I do like to see more books about women in STEM careers.
September 6, 2021
Life, Unscheduled is another book that I absolutely adored by Kristin Rockaway.
I continue to fall in love with her books every time I read them! I will read anything by this author.
Kristin's writing is so real and relatable and can gobble her stories up in just a few days.
This story was amazing in which the main character Nicole struggles with work- life balance, identity issues, and different priorities. The love story between Brandon and Nicole is sexy and sweet but realistic.
What I love most about Rockaway's books is the female friendships. They are written with so much strength and love. I absolutely love the dynamic between Nicole and Parissa. They both supported and challenged one another. Life got hard at times but this friendship always stood strong between the both of them.
Such a wonderful read and I can't wait to see what Rockaway has coming next.
4.5/5 stars
Pub date: 9/1/21
Published to GR: 9/6/21
I continue to fall in love with her books every time I read them! I will read anything by this author.
Kristin's writing is so real and relatable and can gobble her stories up in just a few days.
This story was amazing in which the main character Nicole struggles with work- life balance, identity issues, and different priorities. The love story between Brandon and Nicole is sexy and sweet but realistic.
What I love most about Rockaway's books is the female friendships. They are written with so much strength and love. I absolutely love the dynamic between Nicole and Parissa. They both supported and challenged one another. Life got hard at times but this friendship always stood strong between the both of them.
Such a wonderful read and I can't wait to see what Rockaway has coming next.
4.5/5 stars
Pub date: 9/1/21
Published to GR: 9/6/21
October 1, 2021
3.25 stars
An enjoyable palate cleanser.
Life, Unscheduled has a relatively simple premise with just enough complexity. Nicole works for a large tech company. She is a workaholic who seeks validation through her job and productivity. She meticulously schedules tasks and uses her full calendar to stay in control of her life, or so she thinks. She is up for a promotion at work and is assigned to a big important project to prove herself, her best friend Parisa is getting married and asks Nicole to be the maid of honor, and she meets a guy she likes who has plans to move away. She has a lot of competing demands!
The novel contains some drama, as Nicole tries to work through her priorities and ultimately runs into conflicts. She comes to some hard truths about who she and what she wants out of life.
I liked the female friendship and chosen family aspects included. The main characters were developed pretty well. The book felt light enough, but also had some good messages about facing your feelings, standing up for yourself, and embracing the unknown. I found the book easy to read. However, there was some repetition, where it felt like the same type of events were happening again and again until Nicole and Parisa learned to make a change. The book did have a cute ending.
Overall, Life, Unscheduled is a somewhat predictable, but pleasant read about finding joy and meaning in life.
An enjoyable palate cleanser.
Life, Unscheduled has a relatively simple premise with just enough complexity. Nicole works for a large tech company. She is a workaholic who seeks validation through her job and productivity. She meticulously schedules tasks and uses her full calendar to stay in control of her life, or so she thinks. She is up for a promotion at work and is assigned to a big important project to prove herself, her best friend Parisa is getting married and asks Nicole to be the maid of honor, and she meets a guy she likes who has plans to move away. She has a lot of competing demands!
The novel contains some drama, as Nicole tries to work through her priorities and ultimately runs into conflicts. She comes to some hard truths about who she and what she wants out of life.
I liked the female friendship and chosen family aspects included. The main characters were developed pretty well. The book felt light enough, but also had some good messages about facing your feelings, standing up for yourself, and embracing the unknown. I found the book easy to read. However, there was some repetition, where it felt like the same type of events were happening again and again until Nicole and Parisa learned to make a change. The book did have a cute ending.
Overall, Life, Unscheduled is a somewhat predictable, but pleasant read about finding joy and meaning in life.
December 23, 2021
Life, Unscheduled speaks a volume to me. I could not be more happy picking up this book after what I been through. Like many career women out there, I too had a demanding job. It took me years to realize that I do not want to be slave to my job. It was a sobering revelation.
Miss Rockaway done a wonderful job painting a plot where the heroine is burned out and losing what is important for her. The book is long but it speaks volume. Especially for you out there who feel burned out by demanding career. Sometimes when I browse social media, I am dumbfounded with people who have it all. Posting all that cheery and happy pictures. I can not help asking are the pics fake? Just acting to get many likes?
Maybe some people are lucky to have it all.
This is a wonderful book.
5 stars
Miss Rockaway done a wonderful job painting a plot where the heroine is burned out and losing what is important for her. The book is long but it speaks volume. Especially for you out there who feel burned out by demanding career. Sometimes when I browse social media, I am dumbfounded with people who have it all. Posting all that cheery and happy pictures. I can not help asking are the pics fake? Just acting to get many likes?
Maybe some people are lucky to have it all.
This is a wonderful book.
5 stars
September 16, 2021
I tried, but only made it maybe 10% before I just don't care any more. Nicole is being exploited by a company that hasn't promoted her in five years despite obscene amounts of hard work and dedication—dedication that it expects as a matter of course from all of their employees. And I just don't buy it. A cult maybe. But burnout is a constant "feature" of a company like this one and those companies are never "the place to work" in whatever industry they inhabit. The fact Nicole is buying into the insanity is breaking all my sympathy with her. And I don't even care if it's a common feature in places like Silicon Valley or Houston or whatever. It isn't, but even if it were, I just don't have any respect for people who devote themselves, cult-like, to a company that obviously has no respect for them as people.
And, just to add an extra layer of unreality to the mess, I'm being asked to buy a high-profile tech company where a well-known and highly capable female with a track record of success is passed over for promotions in favor of some white guy named Charles? Yeah, that's not a thing that can happen in this day and age. Companies with enough of a profile to find themselves subject to magazine articles or news reports are dying to up their female-male ratio, particularly in higher positions. Every one of those companies is aware of public scrutiny regarding women in STEM and would love to have as many cases as they can lay their hands on of how they're "not like that".
And if that were all background, I'd roll with it as "give the story its premise". But it's the central feature of the book. All of the conflict is going to be Nicole trying to reconcile the demands of being a maid of honor with her insane workplace and the monkey-wrench thrown in by a love interest. And frankly, I don't want her to succeed. I mean, the story is probably that she won't because being a best friend is irreconcilable with a workplace that's all about "company over everything". And the fact she's bending into a pretzel already has me tired and I don't care if the message will eventually be "don't give your primary loyalty to jerks who don't care about you." I want her to quit right now, before the completely foreseeable crisis that finally prompts her to do the only reasonable thing.
And, just to add an extra layer of unreality to the mess, I'm being asked to buy a high-profile tech company where a well-known and highly capable female with a track record of success is passed over for promotions in favor of some white guy named Charles? Yeah, that's not a thing that can happen in this day and age. Companies with enough of a profile to find themselves subject to magazine articles or news reports are dying to up their female-male ratio, particularly in higher positions. Every one of those companies is aware of public scrutiny regarding women in STEM and would love to have as many cases as they can lay their hands on of how they're "not like that".
And if that were all background, I'd roll with it as "give the story its premise". But it's the central feature of the book. All of the conflict is going to be Nicole trying to reconcile the demands of being a maid of honor with her insane workplace and the monkey-wrench thrown in by a love interest. And frankly, I don't want her to succeed. I mean, the story is probably that she won't because being a best friend is irreconcilable with a workplace that's all about "company over everything". And the fact she's bending into a pretzel already has me tired and I don't care if the message will eventually be "don't give your primary loyalty to jerks who don't care about you." I want her to quit right now, before the completely foreseeable crisis that finally prompts her to do the only reasonable thing.
October 26, 2021
This was great. I needed a light read, and at times this was not (there's a lot of discussion of alcoholism) but the main story of Nicole slowly realizing that her job is not going to be enough was great. I also loved Nicole's strong friendship with Parisa. I assumed this book would be about how her friend goes crazy with the wedding and Nicole is pulled in too many directions, but I liked how Rockaway focused on these two women who love and support each other and also say the hard thing to each other when the other one needs it. I would have loved a prequel to this one showing how Parisa met her fiancee.
"Life, Unscheduled" follows Nicole Palmieri. She works at a high-tech firm called Virtuality, as a user experience designer. Nicole keeps getting great ratings, but passed over for promotion. She finally meets with her boss to ask what she needs to do in order to get he long sought promotion. When her boss assigns her a new project that means that she's going to be working longer hours than ever, she starts focusing more on her schedule. Throw in Nicole's best friend becoming engaged and asking for her to the Maid of Honor, Nicole now has even more things to juggle.
I really liked Nicole. Her backstory and family history is a lot, but you can see why she and Parisa are so close. And I loved that Nicole isn't dependent on Parisa or vice versa. They just support each other throughout this book. When Nicole gets into Parisa's issues with her body due to an ex who used to berate her about how she looks, I felt Nicole's fury about anyone ever making Parisa think she's less than who she is. I did like some of the things that Nicole did though to deal with Parisa's overbearing sisters too.
There is a romance, but I thought the romance was not as important while reading. I liked the love interest, but he barely felt in this book.
The writing and flow were really good and I liked the push/pull between Nicole wanting to get ahead at her job and her trying to be there for everyone who needs her at the same time.
The ending was great!
"Life, Unscheduled" follows Nicole Palmieri. She works at a high-tech firm called Virtuality, as a user experience designer. Nicole keeps getting great ratings, but passed over for promotion. She finally meets with her boss to ask what she needs to do in order to get he long sought promotion. When her boss assigns her a new project that means that she's going to be working longer hours than ever, she starts focusing more on her schedule. Throw in Nicole's best friend becoming engaged and asking for her to the Maid of Honor, Nicole now has even more things to juggle.
I really liked Nicole. Her backstory and family history is a lot, but you can see why she and Parisa are so close. And I loved that Nicole isn't dependent on Parisa or vice versa. They just support each other throughout this book. When Nicole gets into Parisa's issues with her body due to an ex who used to berate her about how she looks, I felt Nicole's fury about anyone ever making Parisa think she's less than who she is. I did like some of the things that Nicole did though to deal with Parisa's overbearing sisters too.
There is a romance, but I thought the romance was not as important while reading. I liked the love interest, but he barely felt in this book.
The writing and flow were really good and I liked the push/pull between Nicole wanting to get ahead at her job and her trying to be there for everyone who needs her at the same time.
The ending was great!
August 1, 2021
Workaholic finds love
I'll openly admit that I was hoping this would be more of a romance (given the Rockaway's other books), but it's definitely women's fiction with a side of (closed door) romance. Our heroine is the star, and the story is very much about her personal journey - coming to terms with the fact that her job has overtaken her life, and it's no longer healthy for her. While heavy subjects like alcoholism, addiction, and body image issues are discussed, the overall tone remains light and relatively low angst. I'll warn you now: Nicole's job is THE star of the show, with nearly every page devoted to her career. That's why this isn't getting 5 stars from me, and why I considered a lower rating. But this is well done women's fiction, with solid writing, an engaging (if a little slow) storyline, and enough romance to add in something extra.
The story follows Nicole, a woman who thinks about her job from the time she gets up in the morning until the time she goes to sleep at night. She enjoys what she does and has made some friendships at work - and every one of her co-workers has the same kind of work schedule. Though Nicole's other friends have tried to tell her that she works too much, it's not until Nicole takes on the role of maid of honor for her best friend's wedding that it becomes obvious to her as well. And when Nicole meets a great guy, she realizes that she might miss out on something amazing if she sidelines their relationship for her work.
The romance lover in me appreciated how integral Nicole's guy is to her personal growth - even if he's in the background for a lot of the book. Brandon is seriously the book boyfriend that dreams are made of: a perfectly swoony, sweet lumberjack. I personally would've loved a LOT more of them together, but this is more women's fiction than anything else. There are only a few PG kissing scenes and much of their relationship is glossed over in favor of Nicole's work. Which... yeah, not my favorite. This loses major points because it is SOOOO focused on Nicole's job. I loved the subtle storyline about addiction and unhealthy habits as much as the romantic element, and I think that could've been highlighted instead of so many scenes about her job. But that's also sort of the point of the book, so I get it. This one will be a win for women's fiction fans, or romance lovers who appreciate a slow burn and don't need the love story to be the star.
I'll openly admit that I was hoping this would be more of a romance (given the Rockaway's other books), but it's definitely women's fiction with a side of (closed door) romance. Our heroine is the star, and the story is very much about her personal journey - coming to terms with the fact that her job has overtaken her life, and it's no longer healthy for her. While heavy subjects like alcoholism, addiction, and body image issues are discussed, the overall tone remains light and relatively low angst. I'll warn you now: Nicole's job is THE star of the show, with nearly every page devoted to her career. That's why this isn't getting 5 stars from me, and why I considered a lower rating. But this is well done women's fiction, with solid writing, an engaging (if a little slow) storyline, and enough romance to add in something extra.
The story follows Nicole, a woman who thinks about her job from the time she gets up in the morning until the time she goes to sleep at night. She enjoys what she does and has made some friendships at work - and every one of her co-workers has the same kind of work schedule. Though Nicole's other friends have tried to tell her that she works too much, it's not until Nicole takes on the role of maid of honor for her best friend's wedding that it becomes obvious to her as well. And when Nicole meets a great guy, she realizes that she might miss out on something amazing if she sidelines their relationship for her work.
The romance lover in me appreciated how integral Nicole's guy is to her personal growth - even if he's in the background for a lot of the book. Brandon is seriously the book boyfriend that dreams are made of: a perfectly swoony, sweet lumberjack. I personally would've loved a LOT more of them together, but this is more women's fiction than anything else. There are only a few PG kissing scenes and much of their relationship is glossed over in favor of Nicole's work. Which... yeah, not my favorite. This loses major points because it is SOOOO focused on Nicole's job. I loved the subtle storyline about addiction and unhealthy habits as much as the romantic element, and I think that could've been highlighted instead of so many scenes about her job. But that's also sort of the point of the book, so I get it. This one will be a win for women's fiction fans, or romance lovers who appreciate a slow burn and don't need the love story to be the star.
December 28, 2021
This book made me so mad. The fact that everyone was ok for most of the book with the abusive corporate culture portrayed AND the abusive family dynamics made me physically anxious. Romances shouldn't create that level of anxiety. The romance was also not good, as I'm never a fan of insta-love, and the love interest was primarily described as a bicep. I did make it all the way to the end with a lot of speed reading, but can't say it was worth it.
August 31, 2021
This was okay. Very heavy on the workaholism plotline but a good message in it all.
October 27, 2021
📚 Hello Book Friends! I am buddy reading LIFE, UNSCHEDULED by Kristin Rockaway with my good friend Annie (a.k.a. @pawsandpagesbyannie). I suggested this book for our buddy read not knowing much about the book. As soon as started reading it, I recognised myself in the main character. There was a time in my life when work was everything. I would work late evenings and weekends for a chance to climb the corporate ladder. Like Nicole, I eventually learned that work is not everything and that finding your happy place in life is more important. This book has it all: great characters, awesome plot, beautiful romance, and a happy ever after ending. I recommend you get a copy and enjoy this remarkable book soon. You will not regret it.
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September 9, 2021
This book is full of so many dumb clichés about being a millennial in the corporate world. If I had to read something like “hey, look at me. We’re not our parents, okay? We’re carving our own paths” one more time I was going to lose it. I tried to finish this because I hate not finishing books but it was horrendous. It was like reading the Instagram captions of the girl you hated in high school.
December 18, 2021
One of the most boring books I’ve read this year. The heroine didn’t have a character.
September 9, 2021
I originally didn't have Life, Unscheduled in my Kindle queue as of yet, but then something happened with a book that I was planning to read (the formatting was messed up), and decided to go for this one while waiting for the new file. I'm SO glad I did. Kristin Rockaway is now two-for-two with sweet and entertaining rom coms. (The other one I enjoyed is She's Faking It.) I haven't read her other novels yet, but now I want to even more!
Nicole was a relatable character, even though our lives are completely different. She was being pulled in so many different directions and I totally felt her stress. Some characters were just so frustrating and unlikable and I felt bad for Nicole for having to put up with them. She did not need that extra stress! I liked Brandon as the male romantic lead and his cabin-living lifestyle sounded so enticing and sexy. I also liked Nicole's best friend Parisa a lot. The story reminded me of Susie Schnall's The Balance Project paired with the office from Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist.
If you're looking for a fun and easy read that also has a lot of substance (and some valuable life lessons), definitely check this one out!
Movie casting suggestions:
Nicole was a relatable character, even though our lives are completely different. She was being pulled in so many different directions and I totally felt her stress. Some characters were just so frustrating and unlikable and I felt bad for Nicole for having to put up with them. She did not need that extra stress! I liked Brandon as the male romantic lead and his cabin-living lifestyle sounded so enticing and sexy. I also liked Nicole's best friend Parisa a lot. The story reminded me of Susie Schnall's The Balance Project paired with the office from Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist.
If you're looking for a fun and easy read that also has a lot of substance (and some valuable life lessons), definitely check this one out!
Movie casting suggestions:
Nicole: Victoria Pedretti
Brandon: Josh Bowman
Parisa: Nadia Mohebban
Charles: Nicholas Braun
Abigail: Sadie Sink
Jon: Anders Holm
Brandon: Josh Bowman
Parisa: Nadia Mohebban
Charles: Nicholas Braun
Abigail: Sadie Sink
Jon: Anders Holm
March 26, 2022
Thank you to the publisher for a free Kindle copy in exchange for my unbiased review!
This book was neither very good nor very bad. I can really appreciate that the author’s writing was flowing and made sense~not jarring in any manner, realistic sounding conversations, the right amount and type of detail, situations which unfolded in a natural, somewhat entertaining at times manner. Sometimes as a reader, I forget just how hard this in itself can be to pull off, while managing an engaging storyline. There were surprises and a storyline which wasn’t utterly predictable~though somewhat~ but had some unexpected aspects. And it was interesting that she included some themes not always found in this type of light escapist genre, such as body image, alcoholic parents, controlling neurotic family, and corporate toxicity in a tech workplace (a main feature of the plot).
But not really my cup of tea. I found the stresses (the main plots) of these privileged, gainfully employed well-paid young professionals to be SO shallow and neurotic! I realize the main character was trying to grow and learn about herself, but she just seemed so emotionally stunted and immature, even often stating how she couldn’t express any deep, real, thoughts nor feelings. The characters around her did not impress me either. Their woes, which formed the various storylines, were so, so #FirstWorldProblems.
So, it lacked the fun, joy, effervescence or wit of some of the escapist romance or comfort type books I liked and hoped this would be…but by trying to have the characters dealing with real problems instead….it backfired for me as their problems were of those of the most shallow and affluent, and they seemed fairly unconscious with low emotional IQs.
Side notes:
-I enjoyed seeing the Westside of Los Angeles area references as I am from there.
-Just FYI: There is zero sex in this novel…surprised me for this genre these day (some kissing & intimations of possible sex).
-There is, however, LOTS of attention to good gourmet food, in some detail. Reading this book made me hungry MANY times!
In summary, not a book I’d recommend to anyone, ever, but I wish the author well, and again thanks to the publisher for my free copy.
This book was neither very good nor very bad. I can really appreciate that the author’s writing was flowing and made sense~not jarring in any manner, realistic sounding conversations, the right amount and type of detail, situations which unfolded in a natural, somewhat entertaining at times manner. Sometimes as a reader, I forget just how hard this in itself can be to pull off, while managing an engaging storyline. There were surprises and a storyline which wasn’t utterly predictable~though somewhat~ but had some unexpected aspects. And it was interesting that she included some themes not always found in this type of light escapist genre, such as body image, alcoholic parents, controlling neurotic family, and corporate toxicity in a tech workplace (a main feature of the plot).
But not really my cup of tea. I found the stresses (the main plots) of these privileged, gainfully employed well-paid young professionals to be SO shallow and neurotic! I realize the main character was trying to grow and learn about herself, but she just seemed so emotionally stunted and immature, even often stating how she couldn’t express any deep, real, thoughts nor feelings. The characters around her did not impress me either. Their woes, which formed the various storylines, were so, so #FirstWorldProblems.
So, it lacked the fun, joy, effervescence or wit of some of the escapist romance or comfort type books I liked and hoped this would be…but by trying to have the characters dealing with real problems instead….it backfired for me as their problems were of those of the most shallow and affluent, and they seemed fairly unconscious with low emotional IQs.
Side notes:
-I enjoyed seeing the Westside of Los Angeles area references as I am from there.
-Just FYI: There is zero sex in this novel…surprised me for this genre these day (some kissing & intimations of possible sex).
-There is, however, LOTS of attention to good gourmet food, in some detail. Reading this book made me hungry MANY times!
In summary, not a book I’d recommend to anyone, ever, but I wish the author well, and again thanks to the publisher for my free copy.
March 16, 2021
Another book by Kristin Rockaway that I just adored!
I am not a rom com reader but I will read anything Rockaway writes. Her writing is so real and relatable.
I loved the characters in this book and found myself laughing and even crying as I could see easily see myself in their situations.
Nicole is an overachiever who lives her life by her planner. She’s yearning for a promotion and tasked with a big project when her best friend calls her with news of her engagement and of course Nicole will be the maid of honor. Nicole tries to plan every single thing but as well all know there are some things you just can not plan for which forces Nicole to sit back and take a look at her life.
This book was funny and real and I loved every word.
Definitely put this on your tbr for June.
Thanks to the author, Kristin Rockaway for my gifted copy.
I am not a rom com reader but I will read anything Rockaway writes. Her writing is so real and relatable.
I loved the characters in this book and found myself laughing and even crying as I could see easily see myself in their situations.
Nicole is an overachiever who lives her life by her planner. She’s yearning for a promotion and tasked with a big project when her best friend calls her with news of her engagement and of course Nicole will be the maid of honor. Nicole tries to plan every single thing but as well all know there are some things you just can not plan for which forces Nicole to sit back and take a look at her life.
This book was funny and real and I loved every word.
Definitely put this on your tbr for June.
Thanks to the author, Kristin Rockaway for my gifted copy.
April 11, 2021
Like all of Kristin's books, this novel made me want to travel, in this case to a secluded cabin in the mountains. This book contains another of her pitch-perfect send-ups of the tech worker life, too. I enjoyed how the pair of friends at the center of the story support each other. Just the light read I needed.
Review copy received from the author who is, full disclosure, my friend.
Review copy received from the author who is, full disclosure, my friend.
May 8, 2022
Nicole has her days scheduled. Not just her Monday through Friday work days, but Sunday through Saturday and from the moment she opens her eyes in the morning until she closes them again at night. That's because she's always working or on call for work. She can't miss an email or be unprepared. Nicole is a software designer for Virtuality. Yes, she works for the top company. No other company can compare. They hire only the best and they demand your best. She works hard to stay worthy of her position. She is the best, so the work is pleasure. She has built her life around her work. It helps her deal with the less than perfect family she comes from. The one she'd like to forget. She has friends at work. Her best friend is from back home though and she knows all the secrets. Parisi is getting married and wants Nicole to be her maid of honor. Well, of course she will be. She will put the duties into her schedule and do some research to make sure she knows what she should do. Of course, Nicole's not the only one with a family that can get out of control, especially at a bachelorette party in Las Vegas. Maid of honor duties aren't the only thing hitting her schedule right now. Nicole's asked to be assigned to a special project so she's eligible for a promotion and Virtuality is demanding around-the-clock attention. And a chance meeting has introduced Nicole to someone that she simply can't ignore. He makes her feel warm inside and she simply lights up in his presence. How do you quantify that to prioritize it for assigning time? What will it take to break Nicole's schedule? Enough so that she can actually live life? Read Life, Unscheduled to find out and find your own happy place. Recommended.
December 29, 2023
I tried to finish this book, but unfortunately, I did not finish. It may be due to the characters that did not stand out, but ultimately I felt the plot was a bit too dry without interesting twists.
1 star
1 star
September 5, 2021
A nerdy read about a crazy hectic all consuming work life, unplanned chaos and impromptu changes for some happiness.
September 11, 2021
I felt personally attacked by this story. The main character is a workaholic overachiever who stretches herself too thin and drops the ball on some things because it’s too hard to juggle it all. It was nice to see someone address their flaws and make positive changes and come out on top of them. Cute, quick read that hits close to home.
January 15, 2022
I wanted a light read for my first book of 2022, and I’m glad I picked this one. ✨ The story of Nicole Palmieri is so relatable on some levels.
I enjoyed reading this one and I appreciate the book so much ‘coz for us millennials who have strong career goals, I realized there should still be a balance between work and personal life. There are things you can't control so allow yourself to go with the flow sometimes. Prioritize your happiness, girl! ♥️
I enjoyed reading this one and I appreciate the book so much ‘coz for us millennials who have strong career goals, I realized there should still be a balance between work and personal life. There are things you can't control so allow yourself to go with the flow sometimes. Prioritize your happiness, girl! ♥️
June 21, 2021
Kristin Rockaway has a knack at writing compulsively readable books that I can pick up and finish in an entire weekend. I should also point out that I'm not a fast reader, so this says a lot about the prose and storytelling mastery of the author.
Nicole was so relatable. In this digital age, it's so hard to prioritize obligations, and the stress and anxiety around juggling work, family and personal priorities is such a real thing that readers will be able to relate to. And as someone who has worked at a large global tech company, I can confirm that there's an expectation to be available 24/7.
I loved the romance in this story...Brandon was a winner and I loved his chemistry with Nicole.
Can't wait to read more books from this author!
Nicole was so relatable. In this digital age, it's so hard to prioritize obligations, and the stress and anxiety around juggling work, family and personal priorities is such a real thing that readers will be able to relate to. And as someone who has worked at a large global tech company, I can confirm that there's an expectation to be available 24/7.
I loved the romance in this story...Brandon was a winner and I loved his chemistry with Nicole.
Can't wait to read more books from this author!
August 1, 2021
No regrets!
So this was a dicey choice for me - I hate stress & have plenty of it in my life right now. I'm so far away from being a type A, I'm a type Z. The last thing I wanted to do was read about someone else's stress. But the book was said to be amusing, & most of the other prime options held little appeal, so I decided to go for it.
Nicole is everything I've always aspired not to be. She's living her life for her job at a Google "work culture" type company - let's go, team! Blech.
She's also one of those people who doesn't know how to set healthy limits & because of her conflict avoidance frequently doesn't speak up when she should. I couldn't empathize with her much, & I hate doormats. I wasn't sure if I was going to make it thru to the end.
We learn her mom's a case, now I'm a little more sympathetic. Parisa's sisters are a selfish nightmare & her mom's not much better - I would definitely have eloped.
Brandon turned out to be promising though...
And then the chatbox thing was pretty funny, & I found myself getting drawn in to the story.
There were several plot points where I was ready to criticize, but then the author actually addressed them satisfactorily, so no spoilers.
I actually ended up enjoying this quite a bit more than I thought I would. Some funny moments amidst the life stuff that keeps the tone from getting too down. I think it would have benefitted from being about 5 chapters shorter, but the author kept me reading, & the ending - though a smidge too pat - was satisfyingly happy.
So overall, worth the time!
POTENTIAL CONTENT ISSUES:
Main couple has sex but there are no graphic details
A bachelorette party with penis paraphernalia & male strippers
Some secondary characters have a same sex hookup
Minor swearing + 5 f-bombs
Casual/trivial use of the Lord's Name (ie in vain) about 2 dozen times - 2 of those, sadly & unnecessarily, as curses
So this was a dicey choice for me - I hate stress & have plenty of it in my life right now. I'm so far away from being a type A, I'm a type Z. The last thing I wanted to do was read about someone else's stress. But the book was said to be amusing, & most of the other prime options held little appeal, so I decided to go for it.
Nicole is everything I've always aspired not to be. She's living her life for her job at a Google "work culture" type company - let's go, team! Blech.
She's also one of those people who doesn't know how to set healthy limits & because of her conflict avoidance frequently doesn't speak up when she should. I couldn't empathize with her much, & I hate doormats. I wasn't sure if I was going to make it thru to the end.
We learn her mom's a case, now I'm a little more sympathetic. Parisa's sisters are a selfish nightmare & her mom's not much better - I would definitely have eloped.
Brandon turned out to be promising though...
And then the chatbox thing was pretty funny, & I found myself getting drawn in to the story.
There were several plot points where I was ready to criticize, but then the author actually addressed them satisfactorily, so no spoilers.
I actually ended up enjoying this quite a bit more than I thought I would. Some funny moments amidst the life stuff that keeps the tone from getting too down. I think it would have benefitted from being about 5 chapters shorter, but the author kept me reading, & the ending - though a smidge too pat - was satisfyingly happy.
So overall, worth the time!
POTENTIAL CONTENT ISSUES:
Main couple has sex but there are no graphic details
A bachelorette party with penis paraphernalia & male strippers
Some secondary characters have a same sex hookup
Minor swearing + 5 f-bombs
Casual/trivial use of the Lord's Name (ie in vain) about 2 dozen times - 2 of those, sadly & unnecessarily, as curses
August 10, 2021
Nicole works for a Google-type place. She likes her job, but it seems to occupy most of her time. Most of her friends (save her BFF) work there too, so most of her social life revolves around her workplace. Mostly it seemed like Nicole was ok with her life, it was everyone else that had a problem with how much she worked. She meets a guy who promises her that he'll be understanding about her job, but then isn't. And of course it's on Nicole to fix things, not the guy who didn't want to compromise.
There's an enjoyable subplot about Nicole's BFF and her over-the-top wedding, some of the antics and fights were entertaining. Honestly, I enjoyed those parts of the book the most.
There's an enjoyable subplot about Nicole's BFF and her over-the-top wedding, some of the antics and fights were entertaining. Honestly, I enjoyed those parts of the book the most.
March 17, 2023
3.5 stars It took a while to get there but the ending was worth it. There was just too much time setting up the protagonist as an over-worked tech worker who was out of touch with her feelings. All the resulting comes in the last few chapters - she could have been doing a little growing throughout.
December 18, 2025
DNFed August 2022.
DNFed at about the halfway point. I am bored to tears. I don’t care about Nicole or Brandon or Parisa or even HOPS!!! I just don’t.
DNFed at about the halfway point. I am bored to tears. I don’t care about Nicole or Brandon or Parisa or even HOPS!!! I just don’t.
July 25, 2021
This book was absolutely fantastic! The storyline was captivating and I fell in love with & could relate to all the characters. I can't wait to read more from this author.
Nicole has found her dream job & is no married to her work. Late hours and working weekends are not a problem for Nicole, and now that she is up for a promotion and got assigned big project, Nicole is expected to live and breathe work for the next few months. At the same time Nicole's best friend is getting married, and has asked Nicole to be the maid of honour, not to mention a cute guy has caught Nicole's attention. Nicole tries to stick to her master schedule but when things go wrong Nicole has to choose between work, her best friend and her new man.
I loved this book so much! Nicole is an amazing character and I could relate to her so much, she really reminds me of my younger self back when I was in university trying to balance school, work and life. Her character development throughout the book is slow but boy is it amazing once you get there. I also fell in love with all the side characters as well, Nicole's best friend Parisa is hilarious and adorable, her character development is also very well written. And you can't help but root for Nicole and her love interest Brandon, they make a great couple and every scene with them made me very happy.
This book had a great plot, it was moving at the right pace. The writing was great, the characters were great, the ending was great. Honestly it is the perfect feel good book, or the perfect summer read at the beach.
The only thing that would make this book better would be if there was more of an "AHA" moment or a revelation at the end. I'm not saying there isn't one, because there is... but there were no big surprises and the book was slightly predictable.
Overall, it was an amazing book and I highly recommend it to all hardworking and busy women who want a feel good cute read. I can't wait to read future books by this author.
Nicole has found her dream job & is no married to her work. Late hours and working weekends are not a problem for Nicole, and now that she is up for a promotion and got assigned big project, Nicole is expected to live and breathe work for the next few months. At the same time Nicole's best friend is getting married, and has asked Nicole to be the maid of honour, not to mention a cute guy has caught Nicole's attention. Nicole tries to stick to her master schedule but when things go wrong Nicole has to choose between work, her best friend and her new man.
I loved this book so much! Nicole is an amazing character and I could relate to her so much, she really reminds me of my younger self back when I was in university trying to balance school, work and life. Her character development throughout the book is slow but boy is it amazing once you get there. I also fell in love with all the side characters as well, Nicole's best friend Parisa is hilarious and adorable, her character development is also very well written. And you can't help but root for Nicole and her love interest Brandon, they make a great couple and every scene with them made me very happy.
This book had a great plot, it was moving at the right pace. The writing was great, the characters were great, the ending was great. Honestly it is the perfect feel good book, or the perfect summer read at the beach.
The only thing that would make this book better would be if there was more of an "AHA" moment or a revelation at the end. I'm not saying there isn't one, because there is... but there were no big surprises and the book was slightly predictable.
Overall, it was an amazing book and I highly recommend it to all hardworking and busy women who want a feel good cute read. I can't wait to read future books by this author.
September 11, 2021
This is my third book by Kristin Rockaway and while I thoroughly enjoyed the others, Life, Unscheduled is my favorite. It was just so damn relatable! The main character Nicole's struggle to fit everything into a tightly kept schedule, to have it all, and prioritizing based on what she thinks she wants/needs rather than what her heart is trying to tell her was so well done. It was romantic, funny, touching, and had a nice amount of depth. Great female friendship representation as well!
September 18, 2021
This book was so cute!! This is my third book by the author and I love her style. Her characters are always relatable women and I love how they’re all competent and successful too. There’s also a sweet little romance and an awesome female friendship between Nicole and her best friend Parisa and their support of each other was so cool. This also balanced light with some substance and was just overall a really fun read.
September 3, 2022
CW: sexual language, sex (not graphic)
What a great result from a random find. I found the MC very relatable. She was responsible and mature and considered the repercussions of her actions. She made mistakes and learned from them. The relationship she had with her best friend was great - mutually supportive. The LI was very considerate. It was refreshing to hear from a MC who waits until she feels secure in a relationship to have sex.
Towards the end the sexual language got a bit much for my personal taste, but I don't get bachelorette parties to begin with. :shrug:
I bet many of you are laughing and rolling your eyes at the ridiculous promotion requirements at Virtuality, but that is literally how it worked at my last job.
What a great result from a random find. I found the MC very relatable. She was responsible and mature and considered the repercussions of her actions. She made mistakes and learned from them. The relationship she had with her best friend was great - mutually supportive. The LI was very considerate. It was refreshing to hear from a MC who waits until she feels secure in a relationship to have sex.
Towards the end the sexual language got a bit much for my personal taste, but I don't get bachelorette parties to begin with. :shrug:
I bet many of you are laughing and rolling your eyes at the ridiculous promotion requirements at Virtuality, but that is literally how it worked at my last job.
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