When hiding behind the scenes is no longer an option…As an introverted party planner, Emma Toplin’s superpower is to blend behind the scenes. Except on her birthday when she tries to flee the worst public humiliation of her life, but can’t—because someone stole her Parte’ van. Struggling to shun the media spotlight, prank callers, and her sister, she’s also got a delicious detective on her case … she’s also got a delicious detective on her case who’s a party-favour she doesn’t need.
Newly promoted detective, Ryan Lewis, always follow orders, and it’s his job to catch the Parte’ van. Yet, working with Emma blurs his lines of professionalism, stirring the battle between his heart and his badge.
But when an uninvited guest threatens to wrench them apart, past secrets are revealed at a party that could be Emma’s last…
Unplanned Party is a fun fling, celebrating lives filled with flaws, cocktails, and gallons of glitter.
It’s the perfect blend of drama, romance, friendship, and love; where its characters (and pets) are flawed and funny, making them perfectly relatable to readers who enjoy their heartfelt romance combined within today’s women’s fiction.
more
*Spoilers*
This is my first book by this author. I honestly struggled to finish it. There were some highlights like the relationship between Emma and Ryan. They were definitely cute together and it was amusing how they met. But the descriptors like ‘tummy twirled its own glitter parade’ were a little annoying after a while. Additionally, the whole crime spree with the van was just confusing. I understood what the author was trying to achieve regarding Jae’s background and how he was lashing out but I don’t think it was well done. I’m unsure if I’ll try another book by this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A rom-com with fun flings, celebrating lives filled with flaws, cocktails, and gallons of glitter.
Quirky characters and a missing van make this book one of its kind; the rom-com part of this book was great but then the other subjects didn’t mesh well.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I got the distinct feeling that this book did not know what it wanted to be: a witty rom-com with quirky characters, or a commentary on multi-culturalism and racism. As a result, it felt quite uneven. I loved the rom-com side and think there was more than enough material to focus a full and entertaining novel on just that. I also think that the author had some very good points to make during Jae’s side of the story, and that would have been an interesting exploration. But the two did not go together. It seems rather unbelievable that such a noticeable van would be able to escape police detection for 3 weeks unless the police were just completely inept and horrible at their jobs. I understand the need for characters to be able to relate to each other, but the “big moment” that spilled all secrets seemed forced. I still recommend it, but be warned, it is not only a “fun fling” as mentioned in the blurb. Thank you to Booksprout and the author for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.