“The perfect blend of soul-crushing angst, laugh out loud wit, and heart-melting romance.” – Helena Hunting, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author.From #1 Amazon Bestseller L.J. Shen comes a new, star-crossed lovers romance about loss, love, and meeting The One when you are too young to know how to keep them.Sometimes you meet people who are out of this world, so you make them a part of … this world, so you make them a part of yours.
A one-night stand born from vengeance in a foreign land.
An explosive chemistry neither of us could deny.
We signed a contract on the back of a Boar’s Head Pub napkin that said if we ever met again, we would drop everything and be together.
Eight years and thousands of miles later, he’s here.
In New York.
And he’s America’s music obsession.
The intangible Irish poet who brings record executives to their knees.
The blizzard in my perfect, unshaken snow globe.
Last time we spoke, he was a beggar with no intention of becoming a king.
But a king he became, and now I’m his servant.
I’m not the same broken princess Malachy Doherty put back together with his callused hands.
I have a career I love.
A boyfriend I adore.
An apartment, a roommate, a life.
I changed. He changed, too.
But Mal kept the napkin.
Question is, will I keep my word?
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In the Unlikely Event has characters that have what we’ve come to expect from LJ Shen: charisma, quirkiness, snark, and strong personalities. Both Mal and Rory have these traits in spades. What makes this novel such a stand out are some of the features that we don’t always see in such abundance when it comes to her work. For instance, the sheer variety and number of voices we hear from is something you don’t see very often in literature and enhances the reading experience by adding levity, perspective, and drama. Another thing that stood out to me as different from Shen’s previous novels is the humor–sometimes it felt like a romcom and sometimes the humor seemed to work as a shield against some of the deeper truths. Additionally the build up to the big reveal was more fun than angsty which had me turning pages and making guesses about what was to come. While none of my guesses were wrong, and there was definitely a sense of satisfaction to guessing correctly, it was how the characters revealed and reacted to the information that made it even more pleasurable to read.
This more lighthearted love story was an unexpected delight for LJ Shen and just reiterates what I already know–I’m here for everything she writes and I always look forward to what’s coming next.
I cannot even describe how much I loved this book, the characters, and the story within the story. This story was about two people who met when they least expected, this was a story about how their life was full of obstacles for them, but one thing that was always clear. LOVE. ALWAYS. WINS.
LJ Shen wrote a book that made me smile, laugh, cry, and swooned. I was on the edge of my seat wanting more. Mal and Rory will forever be in my heart. I just loved how these two found their way back to each other, after a heartbreak they are found with the past they cannot move from.
I loved Mal, but I loved Rory so much more. I just loved how strong she was, how sweet, and amazing she was. I loved how Shen adds these little things that make the story be epic and unforgettable. This is a MUST READ, this book is one you need to pick up right now and not put on hold. You have done it again Leigh, you have left me speechless and so in love with yet another story and characters.
Ahhh freaking mazing!!! I could not put ITUE down. Definitely different from anything she has written that I have read and that’s not a bad thing. The chemistry between Rory and Mal is a chemistry every girl dreams of. 5 golden, amazing stars from me!!! LJ Shen did NOT disappoint!!
I have to say, reading this story to me felt like I was watching a train wreck. In a good way. I know that sounds odd because when is a train wreck good? Well this plot just screamed walking disaster. A deal made between two people on the off chance they meet again. And of course they do but things have changed. Rory is in a relationship and as it turns out, so is Mal. So what does he hope to achieve by bringing her back to Ireland with him on a job? For the most part, Mal irritated me to no end. He was incredibly rude and all around douchebag towards Rory who doesn’t seem to deserve it. I wanted to punch Mal in the face multiple times. He seems childish and vindictive but it was somewhat understandable but not justified once certain details emerged. I still think he went about it all wrong. Rory frustrated me because she seemed naïve in believing she could remain civil and aloof around Mal. Just by accepting that job she was risking everything including her heart and relationship. And yet she still goes. This is why it seemed like their journey was going to be a train wreck of epic portions.
Even though both protagonists annoyed me I still needed to keep reading. Something about it just pulled me in and I had to know what was going to happen. What was interesting about the writing was the multiple voices that were included. Each character added their thoughts and their piece of the story that built up the bigger picture. It also allowed these individuals to explain their actions and, in part, change the views of the reader about their character. Of course for me, there was one character in particular that I despised. Her fake kindness and warmth did nothing to imbue her to me and then later her actions with Mal made me realise, that in my eyes, she couldn’t redeem herself. Her actions were inexcusable. One character however left me feeling mixed because while she was protecting her loved one, her actions went too far in her quest to shield the one she loved the most. LJ Shen caused mixed emotions throughout the story for me but the ending actually left me feeling content. While I didn’t agree with a lot of the actions of the characters, I was happy with where they ended up in their journey.
***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***
Storyline: 5 stars
Characters: 5 stars
Heat Factor: 5 stars
Overall Rating: 5 stars
“Sometimes you meet people who are out of this world, so you make them a part of yours.”
In the Unlikely Event is a brand new and unique story by LJ Shen. This story is nothing like what you’d expect from the beloved LJ but I can promise that it will still leave you with all the feels.
This book is angsty, beautiful, honest and raw which makes it so special and memorable. It was witty, funny and sometimes unusual too. Together these things created a recipe for a wonderful and unforgettable story.
Mal and Rory met 8 years ago and made a promise. If they ever ran into one another again in the future, they’d marry regardless of what their current status was in life.
Mal and Rory will go down as one of the most memorable couples in book history. Their chemistry was hot but their communication was not! There were times where I yelled at my Kindle but I wouldn’t trade those feelings for anything. Mal and Rory were true soulmates and I loved watching their insane story unfold.
This book is multi-POV giving readers multi-views of characters. I loved that all the characters had their own flaws and revelations that came to light throughout the story. Some of the POV’s were just odd. A cow? A napkin? A Candy bar? However odd it seemed; it brought much needed lightness to the story.
This book is a second chance romance, but its more than that. It really is its own genre of uniqueness. Leigh branched out of her comfort zone in a big way and it worked out very well for her. I look forward to seeing what she has in store for us next!
5 stars!
In the Unlikely Event is a standalone book by L.J. Shen.
“Sometimes you meet people who are out of this world, so you make them a part of yours.”
So, have any of you ever had a paper cut, put hand sanitizer on then you feel the burn in your skin seeping through your skin? I felt like a sizzling burn the whole time I was reading this book. I felt like I was burnt and it was never letting up. I felt out of breath and I instantly felt lost when I finished the book. You know those witches that casts spells? This was Leigh and this entire book. It was spell-binding and hypnotizing.
“The first flakes of snow fall around us. On my nose. Eyelashes. Shoulders. A storm is brewing inside my snow globe.”
We were prepared by Leigh that it was going to come from left field and what we didn’t know how far left Leigh was going to take us because I feel out of orbit. This was second chance at romance with a splash of comical situations, a cup of angst, a bag of misunderstandings, a duffle of romance, and a whole lot of steam. We were waiting for this and Leigh absolutely delivered with an explosive bang.
“This guy can move me without touching me, and touch me without laying a finger on me. His grandfather was right. He’s trouble.”
Malachy Doherty is an Irish poet, songwriter, and singer. He is a talented musician that is absolutely unimpressed with anything money and glamour. He is cocky yet so sweet. He is the epitome of the word sexy. He is a catalyst to trouble, sorrow, and sadness. Yet he is also the most loyal.
“A completely unhinged, typhoon-souled, damaged Romeo who would break your bed, heart, and resolve if you let him.”
Aurora Belle Jenkins is an American photographer. She is beautiful, brave, sassy, and just overall wonderful. She has a wild spirit from New Jersey. She is loyal and lovely. An absolutely spitfire.
“He feels like he’s never left my side. Like I carried a tiny part of him with me from the moment I was born, and now that he’s here, we can fit the part I kept with the rest of him, like finishing a puzzle.”
After finally turning of age, Rory decided to journal to Ireland to seek closure from her unknown past. Here she instantly meet Mal. And Mal walked his fine behind into Rory’s life like a silent storm and wrecked havoc in his wake. Mal and Rory shared a brief romance and a contract on a napkin. They are across the oceans from each other so a long distance relationship seemed pointless. It was either go all in or not at all.
“We signed a contract on the back of a Boar’s Head Pub napkin that said if we ever met again, we would drop everything and be together.”
A trail of unforgotten memories from a promise years ago is still fresh and will instantly change many lives including but not limited to a cow and a chocolate bar. After many years, the journey of misunderstandings and eventually learning of the past and the present will fly around like a tornado and wreck havoc into Mal and Rory’s life.
“Because you’re stealing my breath, so you’re already halfway there with the killing part.”
Eight years is a long time to be apart, but with the power of kismet; that does not matter. However, the reunion is a roller coaster of emotions and new situations. There are a lot of lies, secrets, and betrayals. This becomes a journey of unraveling secrets, seeking answers, and finding forgiveness.
“All is fair in love and war, and I’m certainly prepared for battle.”
Mal and Rory have explosive chemistry. They were magical together. They will down right destroy you because they absolutely belong together from the start. Their banter was phenomenal. Their romance was a wild ride. Their sex life was a sexy ride.
“Mine. It is primal and carnal and caveman and stupid, but I never fancied myself a particularly bright person.”
This was pure bliss. An ecstasy. Actually, this was euphoria. A force to be reckoned with. Leigh slayed us with this book and I am quite not sure how to bounce back. To be fair, she warned us yet I’m blinking like a fish out of water; gasping to breathe from this book. This was such an emotional turmoil. This was addicting and I hope you take responsibility to my heart. It is currently not beating normally anymore. This was kismet. It was fate that I learned about you Leigh. I can’t wait for the next thing you come up with.
“Like a moth to a flame, a junkie to his drug, a girl with daddy issues to a destructive bad boy, I’m hooked again.”
5 Stars!
Rory Jenkins is a 26 yr. old eccentric, vibrant woman with a wild spirit from New Jersey. She works as a photographer for a record label in New York, and seems to have it all. The perfect job, apartment, roommate, and boyfriend. Then the one night stand she thought she’d never see again walks back into her life. She’d met Mal Doherty when she was eighteen, and he was a bright spot during a dark time. Eight years ago they spent twenty four hours together that were pure bliss. They had explosive chemistry, and were magic together. They signed a contract on a napkin stating that if they ever crossed paths again in the future, they would drop everything, and be together.
Mal is now America’s newest music obsession. The Irish poet/ songwriter is a brilliant sought after musician. The new Mal is nothing like the one she left behind. They’ve both changed, and live miles apart. He couldn’t possibly expect her to give up her current life and honor a contract from years ago written on a napkin. As she spends time with her old fling, she realizes there may be more between them than she’s ready to admit.
In The Unlikely Event by L.J. Shen is a unique, complex, romantic, beautiful story full of secrets, lies, angst, emotion, and humor. It’s one of those books you get completely lost in, and can’t put down. It’s a wild, sexy ride, and I loved every minute! This is the second book I’ve read by this amazing author, and each story is so different and original. L.J. Shen has become one of my favorite author unicorns! This book was absolutely stunning and brilliant!
Overall Grade:
It’s been twenty-four hours since I finished reading L.J. Shen’s In the Unlikely Event, and I’ve needed this time to try to find the words for this review. I’ve been thinking quite a bit about Shen as an author. Her fanbase, L.J.’s Sassy Sparrows (of which I include myself), is a rabid fanbase. I’ve been reflecting on this phenomenon. Yes, I believe her street team is largely responsible for creating this fervor. But it’s really something more. It’s the care and craftsmanship she puts into her writing that elicits the virulent response you find in her Facebook group. People want her books as soon as possible. Why?
Usually, it’s her evocation of the alpha-heavy hero. She has this way of bringing this type of hero to his knees at the feet of a heroine who carries an inner strength redolent of a warrior. He’s changed forever, and he and she find their happily ever after, even with his continued alpha tendencies. We find this over and over again in her books, and her storytelling is loved by many. She changes the stories, she changes the characters, and she changes their endings, but this thread, this distinct Shen voice, can be found in her work. And this voice resonates with her readers; her voice is the “thing” that keeps people rabid.
Enter In the Unlikely Event, her newest book. She warned her readers and her most devout fans that this book was different. She didn’t lie. Like I said at the beginning of this review, I needed some space and time from it because, while there is a melody that flows through it that is distinctly Shen, this isn’t typical L.J. Shen. It’s an iteration, but it does the thing that all of her other books do: invests you in her story in the most emotional of ways. This is a “several shades of Shen” tome.
There is this moment in a Shen book when your heart drops to your stomach. I’ve read almost every one of her books, and this moment is distinct in each of them. Usually, the hero makes a choice that indelibly changes the relationship between the hero and heroine. Honestly, I think we, her readers, live for this moment. It makes us feel alive and connected emotionally to the story. In the Unlikely Event does this same thing. In fact, this moment begins fairly early in the story. My heart was pounding, and I felt nauseous as our hero, Mal, looked at the heroine, Aurora “Rory,” with disdain and revenge in his eyes. I died a little bit because Shen had crafted their connection earlier in the book so perfectly that this moment felt like a knife to my gut. These moments continue throughout the book, and they’re a constant reminder of Shen’s ability to emotionally invest us in her storytelling. This is her gift, her genius. This is one of the reasons her readers obsess over her upcoming books. It’s why I obsess over her writing.
Unlike her past books, Malachy “Mal” doesn’t read like her typical heroes. I wouldn’t say he is necessarily “alpha” although he has aspects of this in his characterization. Instead, there is a sensitivity and humor to Mal’s character. He’s not typical Shen. He’s more. I appreciated him instantly. But I think I like Rory even more, and this is different for me as an L.J. Shen reader. I tend to prefer the heroic journey of our hero over the heroine. Yet, Rory’s strength to endure Mal’s ire, her mother’s meddling, her boyfriend’s assumptions, and her best friend’s deceit makes her my favorite character in this book. Even at the outset of the story, her summation of Mal’s inept handling of women and Kathleen made her more likable to me. It took me longer to appreciate the depth of Mal’s characterization. As the story progressed, I struggled with him even more. Yet, it’s this tension between wanting to protect Rory and feeling disdain for Mal that illustrates Shen’s want to challenge her reader about these characters and their journey. From its beginning, this romance is the story of soulmates, two people fated for each other, and the obstacles set before them. Rory and Mal’s disconnect is Shen’s way of problematizing their journey, worrying us about their future. This is decidedly Shen, even if the typical characterizations are different.
What I found MOST interesting about In the Unlikely Event is her use of point of view and its break of the narrative. The chronology of this story is broken at various points by the past. Shen uses strategically placed flashbacks to provide the backstory of Mal and Rory. She doles these details out, building the tension between Mal and Rory. This is the means by which she drives us forward into the mire of their emotional drama. And it’s delicious. However, she uses outside points of view, interrupting the tension of the story. It’s intriguing, and I’m still trying to figure it out. Again, this is not a typical Shen book. She’s playing with narrative structure and point of view in a way that felt fresh and different from other romances, from her own voice. These interruptions also add humor to the story, another trait so often lost in the seriousness of her storytelling.
I love surprises. Even more, I love it when writers try something new. Even when it might not seem like the new tactic works, it’s important because it shows a writer striving forward, challenging themselves. In the Unlikely Event is Shen’s ode to her storytelling. Infusing her naturally serious, drama-filled romance with aspects of rom-com, crafting a hero who is more artistic and sensitive than most of her other heroes, and offering a heroine who seems more emotionally insightful, Shen is flexing more of her writing muscle. I enjoyed and appreciated every moment of her newest book. In the Unlikely Event suggests that the trope of soulmates fated for each other can always use a fresh look.
This was my first L.J.Shen book and whoa, did I go for a ride with this one. I’m in love with L.J.Shen now. This book was full of angst. It was full of sexual tensions, great writing, and an all around great story line. The whole story was just epic. The way it was written was creative. I absolutely loved the characters. They were written with such human flaws that made them that much more relatable.
Oh, dear Mal. He was one of the best book boyfriends anyone could ask for. Smoldering, yummy, alpha yet vulernable. Where can I find a Mal in my life?! He was frustrating at times but he was definitely worth it.
The whole book was worth it.
What a book!! LJ has done it again with another fantastic story. This story will have you laughing and oohing and ahhing as 2 stranger’s Rory & Malachi meet one night and experience something we can only dream about. When I started reading this I just knew this was going to stay with me and I was right man this book was just so good. This is one that is definitely a must read.
OMG my poor heart stopped reading this so many times!!!
Leigh again you floored me- each time when I think you’ve reached your greatness you deliver another book like this and raise your own bar.
You’re a truly magical writer and for me this book is my ultimate favourite of yours.
You.
Blew.
It.
Riiiiiiight.
Out.
The.
Water.
I think you’re truly incredible and the connection I felt in this book from that very first trip I felt it in my bones. Some people don’t believe in connections well let me tell you I do, and I felt it bleeding onto the pages.
My paperback is ordered
In the unlikely event- this is truly 5
There are so many quirky and flawed characters in the story that it makes it enjoyable because they are so relatable. There is just the right and mount of angst and drama in this book to keep it interesting and to keep the characters on their toes. Mal and Rory‘s whirlwind romance is highly addictive and unique. This author breaks our hearts and then slowly mends them together with Mal and Rory’s love story. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next!!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie’s Book Reports.
A one night stand born for vengeance in a foreign land. An explosive chemistry neither of us could deny. We signed a contract on the back of a Boar’s Head Pub napkin that said if we ever met again, we would drop everything and be together. Eight years and thousands of mile later, he’s here In New York. And he’s America’s music obsession. The intangible Irish poet who brings record executives to their knees. The blizzard in my perfect, unshaken snow globe. Last time we spoke, he was a beggar with no intention of becoming a king. But a king he became and no I’m his servant. I’m not the sam broken princess Malachy Doherty put back together with his callused hands. I have a career I love. A boyfriend I adore. An apartment, a roommate, a life. I changed. He changed too. But Mal Kept the napkin. Question is, will I keep my word?
If you have been waiting on this book, the book the the author said was different from anything she has ever written, the title was a huge secrets and there was a big reveal. This is that book and she wasn’t kidding. This book is different from her other’s and it is also a beautiful love story that will have your swooning and waiting to be Rory because man is she one lucky girl. They are so going to be one if not the all time favorite couple from M. Never. Many years ago Rory met Mal and they shared the most amazing time together. So amazing that she has never forgotten him and they even went so far as to write a contract and sign it on the back of a napkin. The contract was to marry if they ever met up again. Well again is here and he is for sure not the same guy she met many years ago. Not to mention that her life is a life that she loves. Her job, her boyfriend, her apartment. She is living her life just the way she wanted. Rory has turned into a cold hearted musical genius. He is so different that Rory is shocked. How did someone change so much in all these years apart. How is he keeping so many secrets. What has happened to Rory? You will have to read and find out. I promise you though that you will not regret it at all. This book is amazing and you are not going to be able to put it down. It is going to go down as one of your favorite L.J. Shen books and probably one of your top reads of the year. Go grab this book and enjoy. You will not regret it.
And I am DED!
I’m still in a delicious book hangover from this story.
Author L.J. Shen is brilliant at giving readers those intimate, deliriously outrageous love stories that we fall for super hard and never want to let go! Well done & Thank you!
I was swooning, gasping, loving, feeling flushed from all the steamy times, hating on tons of people, wanting to slap sense and then some into the main characters of Malachy & Rory but at last; this book delivered a story that I will never forget.
Cows, Napkins & Chocolate Bars will never look the same to me again.
Believe me this book will suck you in and make you question whether there can be a Happily ever after.
I loved everything about this book.
Just go get this book and be ready to believe if promises can be broken but fixed with the ones you love.
5 popped!
Aurora Belle headed to Ireland to learn the truth, for so many years she has wondered about her father and the life he lead. Her mother has always kept that part of their life quiet, never really giving too many details when it came to him. But once she arrived she quickly learned her presence was not welcomed, with the exception of a local handsome songwriter. Mal was a welcomed surprise.
They spent a couple glorious days together, but when it was time for her to leave Mal wasn’t so ready to part ways, he begged her to stay. But with the start of college looming, and obligations at home, she knew she couldn’t stay, so she walked away. Armed with the agreement that if they ever had a second chance together they would take it…
Now eight years have passed and he has found his way to her in New York, armed with a deal she can’t refuse, a career opportunity of a lifetime. She wants to take the deal, but taking it could put her relationship with her boyfriend in jeopardy….
In the Unlikely Event brings you into the lives of two former lovers who now have the chance to rediscover what they had eight long years ago… if they are brave enough to go for it. But this second chance doesn’t come easily, both have secrets they are harboring, scores to settle, and Rory has a new man in her life that she isn’t so sure she wants to part ways with. This reunion not only stirs up old feelings, but also lots of old hurts too, ones that will put a torturous squeeze on your heart. Watching these to try and make sense of things and find their way back to one another will leave you dying of anticipation, it’s evident they belong with one another, but with so much in their way it’s hard to tell if they will ever be able to find their way back. I really enjoyed this newest offering from Ms. Shen, her beautifully penned words kept me captivated and drowning in feels from beginning to end!! Highly recommend this one, it’s an all consuming love story that will take you on a journey you will never forget!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
4.5 stars!
Rory and Malachy first meet when Rory travels to Ireland to learn more about her deceased father. Mal shows her around town and the two share a passionate connection. It’s so strong that when Rory heads back home they vow that if in the unlikely event they meet again, they will drop everything and be together. Eight years later they run into each other in New York City and everything has changed except for the words – their vow – that they wrote on a bar napkin.
In The Unlikely Event is a second-chance romance with all the feels. With breathtaking highs and heartbreaking lows, the emotion will tear you apart before it makes you soar. This story is far from easy and when you learn about everything Mal and Rory go through, you question if it’s even possible for them to find their way back to each other where love reigns and hate fades.
I loved Mal and Rory from the start. They fall in love fast and I felt how good they could be together. When Rory leaves I was so unhappy. I couldn’t wait for them to be together again, I just didn’t know how difficult it would be and the heartache I’d experience for them to find a happily ever after.
Mal and Rory are flawed and complicated. They do things that are awful and they break each other’s hearts. I wanted to scream at the choices that are made and the hurt is greater because of who they were then and who they are now. These two are so different and it is hard to grasp who they’ve become. All the pain they go through, the situations, the heartache, the decisions, the secrets. It’s all too overwhelming. I was giddy, elated, and full of love in the beginning but then the frustration, anger, and hurt comes and I was wrecked. But their love is undeniable and they can’t help themselves around each other even if it hurts, and there was no stopping them from being together.
“I can deny myself of a lot of things, but he’s never been one of them.
Mal makes me burn. Crackle. Melt. My love for him is thick and sturdy. Metallic and alive. A beating organ, co-existing with my heart.”
Their chemistry is charged and the sexual tension is thick. The mix of love and hate heightens everything and they are combustible. These two are passionate and the emotion is intense, I felt everything. And even when they broke my heart, I was still rooting for them.
The story alternates between past to present and is written in dual POV so we get both side of the story. The way everything unfolds is mind-blowing and I loved experiencing the slow buildup to the truths. I couldn’t put the book down because each chapter left me desperate for more.
“Through my carefully crafted exterior, it hits me like a ton of bricks.
I’ve been missing a big part of the truth of it all. The one unspoken. Her truth.”
The secrets and lies grow with every moment they remain hidden until it’s almost impossible to come back from them. The twists are shocking and some of the truths are gut-wrenching. I cried for these characters and couldn’t fathom having to experience what they do. There is so much drama and angst and it was difficult to get through some scenes. There are certain details that were a little too much for me and I had to take a breather. Then there were times that I cooled down and remembered that life isn’t perfect. It’s messy and hard, and you have to fight for love. And Mal and Rory do. In the end it is all worth it for a love like theirs.
Overall, In The Unlikely Event is a highly emotional second-chance romance that will stick with you long after the last page it’s turned, and I loved it!
5 ‘Have you ever been in love?’ Stars!
ARC provided via Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review.
L.J. Shen is such a talented author. Holy moly, she did this! Another unique, emotional love story that I literally devoured in less than a day. I could not stop reading! You always know, when you get into reading one of this woman’s books, you’ll get one hell of a ride and still, Leigh managed to surprise us again and give us a fresh and outstanding holiday romance.
So, In the Unlikely Event is a standalone contemporary romance and it’s a holiday themed story between two people who had an instant spark and shared an unforgettable one-night stand that changes their lives forever. They fall in love and they promise, after signing a napkin contract, that if they found each other again they will drop everything and be together. But life is not that easy. Eight years pass, they reunite and there are a lot of emotions bringing so many other people and difficult situations in the mix. Will Mal and Rory find the way back to each other?
Life is too short not to kiss the one you want.
I always use the same word to describe L.J. Shen’s work but I don’t know if any other would do as good. Her words and characters are simply UNIQUE. There are so many layers to both Mal and Rory and it’s always wonderful to read how they peel them off and become vulnerable with each other and with the rest of the characters. This is so much more than a love story, it’s the journey back to love and forgiveness for this couple and the people around them. You’ll see how Leigh has given such a fresh twist to the book in order to involve everyone and everything in the story.
“Surrender,” I whisper. “I want us to surrender to this, Rory, like you promised all those years ago.” Before life tainted what we had.
Of course, this is a romance, and what I enjoyed the most is Mal and Rory’s chemistry. That instant spark, the tension, the sexiness, the promises, the secrets and the emotions. Everything was on point. Leigh definitely knows how to bring the angst and ITUE did not disappoint. I loved and hated all these characters and I loved experiencing every second of it. Mal and Rory are such a fantastic couple and together they are explosive and just perfect for each other.
“I loved you when you hated me, I loved you when I thought you were indifferent to me, and I loved you when you were on the fence about me. But when I realized you loved me back? All bets were off. The world kept spinning. Days went by. Things changed—other than one thing, my love for you.”
Therefore, I am rating In the Unlikely Event with 5 STARS because it an angsty and fresh holiday romance that had me hooked from start to finish. Surely one of my favorite books this year and I am so glad we got another incredible novel from this freaking talented woman. I loved this couple, their story, the past and present, the ups and downs and their much deserved HEA. If you are in the mood for a holiday romance with a unique twist, make sure to read this one because it’s 100% worth it!
“Sometimes you meet people who are out of this world, so you make them a part of yours.”
This is everything!
Mal and Rory are freaking amazing. Apart they are each something special but together they are nothing short of brilliant.
The humor in this book is sprinkled throughout and is the bomb!
Napkins, tomato soup cans and chocolate round out this adventure. Best. Day. Ever.
“There wasn’t one moment in time, from the second we met, that you weren’t mine. Just like I’ve always been yours.” This was just one of many moments that you just stop and say wow! Many times while reading I had to stop and pause and just let what I read be absorbed.
This was no ordinary tale, this was writing at its finest. When Ms Shen sets her mind to something she delivers amazing results.
I am not sure how she will top this one, it is my top read of the year but in true LJ Shen fashion I am sure her next will surprise us all and again be the best we’ve ever read from her.
In the Unlikely Event has had a lot of buzz swirling around for months, with little to no details being released. And after reading it I completely understand why – there is no way to prepare for this book, you need to go into it with zero expectations. It is nothing like I was expecting, and proved just how talented L.J. Shen truly is.
“Isn’t that the essence of love? Find someone worth killing for? Someone with the power to ruin you?”
This book has quite a few tropes rolled into one, however, they’re all woven together seamlessly and not in a clunky way. Insta-love, second chance, enemies to lovers, rockstar romance – they are all present and developed beautifully.
My favorite thing in every L.J. Shen book is the characters. She writes them so realistically, flaws and all. Malachy and Rory are perfect examples, their faults highlighted over their perfections. I loved these two characters, alone and separate, and was pulling for them from the very beginning. The sexual tension between them sizzled, their banter laced with hatred and desire at the same time was absolutely addicting.
As I said, this book really is completely different from anything I expected. It’s not a simple second chance, and it was really interesting seeing how simple actions had a butterfly effect that changed so many lives for years to come. I really enjoyed the additions of multiple character points of view and felt they really brought the whole storyline together.
This book was nothing and everything I expected. L.J’s books always deliver and this book is no different. I love Rory and Mal’s story there were twists I never saw coming and yet loved every minute of the reading experience!!! Amazing job Leigh!!!