“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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This is the story about Malachy Isaac Doherty and Rory or Aurora Belle Jenkins, and oh what a story it is too!
I have to say first up that while yes this certainly is a very different story from this author, a change of pace so to speak, it is without doubt one filled with a lot of humour. Quite a variety of humour too from a variety of people…both dead and alive..yep-both! Everything from dark to self-deprecating humour to extremely witty humour-one of my favourites is the opinion of Aston’s singing . Much is in the form of sarcasm but also the feisty banter between the lead characters especially is fun, too.
This story, told in two timeframes yet with another added that distorts things as well, is definitely not straight forward. But hey, since when have any of this author’s books been straightforward?That would be boring and this is anything but boring. Gradually, and I do mean very slowly, pieces of the puzzle from Mal and Rory’s past are filtered through, often through multiple points of view and even though it shouldn’t really work, the way it was done.. it did and brilliantly, too. As the pieces start to form the completed picture you experience the emotional turmoil, as well as exaltations, the characters did and feel them deeply too.
Although at times I could have cheerfully smacked Mal because he was so annoying, he was also without doubt one gorgeous guy with a huge capacity for love. Rory I liked instantly with her feisty, quirky nature, she too had a huge heart. Together they are magic
OMG!! The cow…I can’t even… and the napkin… I was dying!! But hands down…the chocolate bar!!! All of the “notes” just added another layer to this fantastic mysterious tale…sometimes things are just meant to be!
LJ said it herself, this book was nothing like she had ever written before. It was maddening, sad, sweet, sexy, hilarious, off the wall, down right crazy, but above all perfection!! I was drawn in immediately and could not stop until the last piece of the puzzle was locked into place.
Rory and Mal’s story was bigger than either of them but they were too blind to see it. What they thought they knew was only a small fraction of the truth. A horrible lie caused so many small ripples that eventually they turned into a tidal wave. Will the promise of love from years past still hold true or will hate and anger reign?
This book had so many stories from so many sources all coming together to rock my world! I can’t express how much I enjoyed this book. It truly was like nothing else I have ever read!! I love all of LJ’s work but this was a special treat!! In The Unlikely Event you don’t read this, I will tell you one thing – You are missing out!!
This was the strangest story with the weirdest storyline that I’ve ever read. It was also one of the BEST stories. This 10 star story was devoured in a matter of of a few short hours. Perfectly created characters that were unique. The POV’s were quite entertaining. From a cow to a napkin.
This story was funny, bizarrely told but it was also about pure and raw love. I had goosebumps and I might have said WTF a few times. There are plenty of jaw dropping moments and WTF too. Bottomline is if you are going to read just one book this year, pick this one. I STRONGLY recommend it.
L.J. Shen did a wonderful job on this story. In the Unlikely Event was a great story. The plot was strong, it was packed with many emotions, it was written well. I couldn’t put it down. A lot happened in this story. Rory and Mal were strong characters, both were wonderful people, you just have to love them. I enjoyed their story, they were perfect for each other. The bond was strong between them, their attraction and chemistry was off the charts. They were good for each other, they completed one another. They were just great together.
I enjoyed this story, it was great. I’d recommend reading it. Plus you can never go wrong with one of L.J. Shen’s story, they’re always fantastic. I haven’t found one that I haven’t loved.
Thank you, L.J. Shen. Wonderful job 🙂
5 Stars!
Looks are deceiving when it comes to L.J. Shen’s latest story ‘In the Unlikely Event’. This is not a typical holiday love story or even a holiday focused book, but more of a Romeo & Julietesque love filled with angst, bitterness, heartbreak, lies, and enough nosey, intruding family and friends that fate could provide. All of these elements called to the angst lover in me and I quickly found myself devouring this story.
Aurora ‘Rory’ Jenkins and Malachy Doherty met under unfortunate circumstances, but fell hard for each other under the Irish stars. Cynical about love, Aurora runs back to college and a life that is waiting for her back home in America. Eight years, two countries, and a ocean may have separated them, but when Malachy and Rory meet again, bam!, their chemistry can’t be denied. But does a promise on a napkin, made when they were kids, still have control of their present, even when it seems that everyone has moved on?
I love a good angry bad boy and Malachy Doherty definitely lives up to the image. But he is so much more than a typical bad boy (and you will definitely love him and love to hate him)! He is a smooth talking street musician with enough charm to seduce a nun and a delicious Irish accent to match. Rory’s fragile heart doesn’t stand a chance against this careless, reckless Irish poet. But Rory is a lot stronger than she gives herself credit for. She is also a little careless with the feelings of the ones around her, sometimes self-centered, but really so was everyone else in this story.
There are so many flawed and quirky characters in this story, mainly Malachy and Rory’s friends and family. They all add the right amount of anger, sadness, and, shockingly, light-heartedness to make this angsty romance an interesting read. I hope L.J. Shen writes more books in this unique style in the future.
L.J. Shen has done it again! In the Unlikely Event is refreshingly unique and unexpected and yet so quintessentially Shen at the very same time. Get ready to drop everything you’re doing and devour each word like it was air and you’re gasping to breathe.
Rory and Mal’s story brings us a different side of Ms. Shen. We get the spectacular writing that grabs you and doesn’t let go, but it’s balanced by a lighter, brighter side that had me laughing out loud and smiling like an lunatic at my kindle. Of course it wouldn’t be an L.J. Shen novel without the delicious angst, hypnotic storytelling, and crushing waves of feels both drowning us and driving us toward a most perfect ending. With ITUE we get both sides working together in perfect harmony and the result is a book that lives up to the hype and then some. And I haven’t even talked about Mal yet! All you need to know is he’s fecking brilliant.
In the Unlikely Event is beautiful, addictive, and deliciously unique. It’s also unputdownable and unmissable and certainly about to top everyone’s top 10 list of 2019! Wow.
4 Stars
Well, this book is definitely different than anything LJ Shen has written before and I have some mixed emotions about it. Mal and Rory have an amazing connection that we see from the get go and definitely take the long way around to be together. But there were so many things happening at once, I admit I had trouble keeping up at times. I enjoyed most of the story, but some parts I definitely struggled with. Overall, it’s emotional and angsty and worth the read.
Angela – Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
Well, damn. My opinions and emotions were all over the place the entire time I was reading this book, and now that it’s over, I feel like they are in such complicated knots that I can’t unravel them. I’ve been thinking about this story all day nonstop, and to be honest, I’m still unsure if I have my thoughts sorted out even now. That being said, I’m going to try my best.
In the Unlikely Event is nothing like what I was expecting it to be and completely different from anything else L. J. Shen has ever written. I thought I knew (based on what the author warned on social media) what type of book I was getting into. I did not.
It’s hard to describe such an original story in a way that doesn’t spoil it or misrepresent it. I wouldn’t call this a romcom, but I wouldn’t say it doesn’t share some similarities. The first half of the book reminded me of a chick flick that I could easily see as a movie. The meet cute was perfection. The first night Rory and Malachy spend together is sexy, adorable, and gave me all the feels. Then, the second half took a turn that changed the way I felt about the book entirely. It could still totally be a movie, but it would be somewhat heavier and a tad bit twisted. One thing that didn’t change was my level of enjoyment. In fact, the more crazy and messed up the story became, the more I couldn’t stop reading!
Bottom line, don’t think ITUE is light and fluffy, because it’s not. This book is not all moonlight and roses. There is tragedy, betrayal, death, alcoholism, abandonment, and that’s not all. I have to leave out a few more things that are super fucked up, because they could be considered spoilers. In other words, it’s not the Hallmark holiday movie the cover may lead you to believe it is. That’s a selling point for me, because I don’t really like sweet, simple romances or Hallmark movies (gasps lol).
For example, the characters in this story are incredibly flawed and downright unlikable at times. In fact, I can’t say that I loved any of them 100 percent of the time. That includes the hero and the heroine. Yes, you heard me right. No one person was completely innocent. In fact, some were guilty of more than one instance of despicable behavior.
By the same token, the characters weren’t all bad either. Most of them had some redeeming qualities. I got emotional several times in the book, because of how much I felt for them. They were clearly purposefully written to be complicated, imperfect individuals. It seemed like the author enjoyed playing around with morality in this one. Everyone does messed up things to people they are supposed to care about, and fucked up things happen to them that can’t be taken back or changed.
I can’t conclude my review without talking about an unique aspect of the story that I absolutely loved. The point of views of inanimate objects, a farm animal, side characters, and a few deceased family members are sprinkled throughout the usual dual perspective narrative we’re used to in Leigh’s novels. If that sounds bizarre, that’s because it is. The thing about weird shit though is that I like it. Lol In my opinion, it was a cool addition to the story.
In the Unlikely Event is a fresh and surprising second chance romance that will have you laughing, fuming, smiling through the tears, and absolutely captivated from the very first page. This story may be something we’ve never seen from this author before, but her writing is just as incredible as it always has been. Her characters make you feel all the feelings, and her story stays with you long after you finish the last page.
If you want something new and different from one of the best authors in the romance industry, this one’s for you!
In The Unlikely Event book was refreshing, witty, heartbreaking and breathtaking at the same time with the unexpected plot from L.J Shen author.
I’ve had truly the highest rollercoaster of emotions during the reading this story. Aurora and Malachy gave me a crazy ride with love and hate, angst and desire mixed together. My heart was bleeding, swelling and melting over their complicated relationship and I felt their high and lows with every beat of my heart.
I am delighted with this book.
Many of the plot I can’t describe here to you, because I don’t want spoil such a great book, but the action is happening here so quickly and just as quickly change the course of events, that my surprise was enormous. There is only one way to experience all of those feeling, simply read this book. I highly recommend it to every book romance lover.
Overall Rating – +
This book is everything you need from LJ Shen. There’s fun, flirting, jealously, angst, death, betrayal, sexy time but at the heart of it, true love, that wholeheartedly shines through.
We see Mal and Rory met when Rory goes to Ireland to visit her fathers home town and she’s put into Mal’s path. When she meets Mal, without knowing who he is, she knows that’s it’s him, he just has a presence and is ‘radiant’.
Having never met her dad and knowing Mal was close to him, she’s looking for anything she can get to feel close to the dad she never knew. Mal takes her on a journey of sorts for the night, introducing her to a half-sister she didn’t know she had, all while stealing her heart and the innocence she thought she lost with someone else. Their chemistry is insane and you definitely feel it buzzing between them.
Just when they are due to part with Rory going back home to New York, they know there is something between them that is special, but neither is in a position to give up the life they have and follow the other. Therefore, make a pact that ‘In The Unlikely Event’ they do meet again, they will drop everything to be together. Eight years later, they do and the story of love, forgiveness and redemption begins.
I loved every moment of this book. It’s told from both POV’s but what’s unique about this book, is there is POV’s from side characters that pop up, and not just people, cows and chocolate too! That only added to the uniqueness of this EPIC read.
Shen writes Mal with such a heart. From the minute you meet him, you become intoxicated by him, he’s fun, flighty, oozes sex appeal and is someone you would easily become lost in as his magnetism is so strong. He makes questionable decisions, but for me that only adds to his appeal and he now owns a piece of my heart.
Rory is perfect, she has some flaws, but her sassy attitude and headstrong beliefs make her the perfect heroine for Mal.
This read will take you on a magical fairytale journey giving you all the feels. I felt totally submerged in their love and never wanted it to end and I’m already looking forward to a re-read.
This was a little pet project for Shen and I hope we get many more of these projects, I for one will be at the front to one-click it!
*An ARC received for an honest review*
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Overall Ratings;u2063
First Sex Scene – 17%
POV – Duel, plus side characters
Hero – +
Heroine –
Story – +
Angst –
Steam –
Chemistry – +
Unlikely Event by L.J. Shen is the story of Aurora ‘Rory’ and Malachy ‘Mal’.
Wow…what a different romance story line for me. Aurora and Malachy meet in a meet when they are young and in a total different country where they have a hot encounter. They write down on a napkin if they every meet again they would drop everything to be with each other. They both were a different points in their lives besides being young. So what happens years later when they actually do meet up again. Yes they are still at different points in their lives but this time that napkin just might seal their fate.
I am such a fan of Ms. Shen’s writing that this was a must read for me! Loved it!
5 Outstanding Stars!!!
I’m still trying to figure out how to write this review and say everything I feel about this book without giving too much away because this is a book EVERYONE needs to read!! This newest story by Ms. Shen hits all the emotional buttons plus some I wasn’t expecting.
There was this cloak of secrecy about this book up until about a week or so before the release which just intrigued me more. I’ve slowly but surely become a fan of Ms. Shen’s writing and when the blurb was released, in full disclosure, I wasn’t really sure how I felt about the book. I mean I knew it would be good, but how would she make this second-chance romance based on an agreement written on a napkin work? I can tell you with all honesty, she made it work BRILLIANTLY!!!
Mal and Rory are so much more than I was expecting and everything I wanted without knowing it! They have chemistry that is off the charts, they’re witty, sexy and at completely different places in their lives!! And this is where the angst comes in… it’s eight years after that fateful night, Mal has gone from a street musician to being a superstar and Rory has a great career and, oh yeah, a boyfriend…but per their napkin agreement Mal is going to get her to marry him!!!
This book moves so smoothly with just the right amount of laughs, drama, HAF sexy times, and pure love that develops slowly but is the kind that lasts a lifetime. This book is unlike any book I’ve read by this author and what it all comes down to is that this book captured my heart from the Prologue and hasn’t let go yet. This is one of the books that I’ll be reading again and again because I can’t get enough of Mal and Rory!
This book is truly one of the most unique books I’ve read so far!!! So much emotion and roller coaster butterflies!! So much secret and yet it all forms such a beautiful book that I’ll always remember and probably reread a million times!!!
In The Unlikely Event is brilliantly written! LJ Shen has had a stellar year with her dark, angsty romances. In The Unlikely Event is still Shen page-turning magic, but a little lighter with a well crafted, gripping story folded in the pages.
In the unlikely event that two people actually meet one another again they have promised each other that they will drop everything and be together. This means whomever they are seeing, jobs, raise each others children, etc…
In the unlikely event that they actually see one another, without trying to reach out and stay in touch. That means no social media contact, no letter writing, no phone calls, no nothing, nada, zip. Just divine intervention, karma, destiny.
In the unlikely event that this crazy pact actually works, would one of them actually go through with it? Would you?
Oceans apart, years build up, the thought of actually seeing each other becomes less likely. They each eventually lead very different lives, but fate does eventually set events in motion and the unlikely becomes likely. Will Rory and Mal agree to the pact they made years ago or has too much come between them to mend the obvious broken rift.
In The Unlikely Event has everything you could want in a story. It’s filled with every emotion that will keep you turning pages long into the night. This is a book that you need on your MUST read list for 2019!!
Wasn’t really sure what I was expecting when I started this one but I wasn’t disappointed. This is unlike the authors other books and I think that’s what I like most about it. It was new, it was fresh….I loved every word. It was raw, emotional and beautiful.
Caught up in the historical mistakes of others Malachy Doherty and Aurora Belle Jenkins converged for a monumental chemistry that they were incapable of denying. As fate intervened and separated them their reunion eight years later was anything but joyous.
L.J. Shen went from three dimensional to infinitely dimensional with In The Unlikely Event! This author’s characters are the last things that would be labeled as clearly defined with their versatility and unpredictable evolvement. Mal was a hero who verged on villain at any given moment only to be redeemed in his fallibility. He oozed charm and sex appeal but more importantly he bleed authenticity. Rory brought power in the purity of her heart and her ability to forgive, loving completely and to the fullest. From the first instance Mal and Rory meet it was apparent they were well matched and a love story worth pursuing. The seeming fraility of this couple’s relationship had an underlying strength that ultimately even held them in awe of its resiliency. Ms. Shen took full control of this work with Mal and Rory’s meaningful exchanges and touching moments.
This story was beautifully messy with lots of sad and happy punctuations. L.J. Shen brought honest perspectives from the most unexpected sources as a creative way of enlightening her readers. As this author developed her characters she did so without making them unrecognizable or stagnating them. No one was perfect in this story but this author did a fine job of honing in on what was relevant and making it pretty much inconceivable for her audience to not turn into hopeless romantics reading this book. In The Unlikely Event shows yet another side to L.J. Shen’s immense talent and will appeal to her readers with its fresh approach to her trademark angsty portrayals.
*I was given an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own. *
Something completely different from LJ Shen but still with that angsty feel to it that I’ve come to love in her books.
I never know what to expect with every new book but this one was another level. The story is a magical ride of uniqueness. Malachy Is the Irishman with the gift of the gab which I’m sure could charm your knickers off at twenty paces. Roey is quirky and sweet but with a fiesty side. As the story is told in multiple POV’s we get an insight into all the characters even the one’s I didn’t like much.
A story that will surprise and delight you. The romance will make you swoon, the betrayals will have you wanting to throw your kindle. The storytelling is amazing with characters I became obsessed with. Give yourself a treat and give this book a look you won’t regret it.
Rate: 4,5/ 5 stars
I hadn’t known what to expect from ITUE. People said it was very different from what L J Shen usually but I honestly don’t think it was all that different. The thing that felt most different was the setting… and all the fun bits. But this book is a combo of all the best L. J. Shen traits… it has the musician feel from Midnight Blue which to this day is still one of my favs; it has an epic, crazy love which all LJ Shen books have; it had an amazing, unexpected plot; epic, crazy and fun side characters; it had so much angst, way more than I had been expecting from a book people were saying was an holiday read and more on the romcom side… okay, yes it had very funny bits, specially the note’s section at the end of most chapters but girl this book was a rollercoaster of emotions, you got angst from every direction you looked and ooh I loved it but it sure put me through the ringer.
Imagine L J Shen sprinkling a lit bit of all her best traits and talents into a pot, and saying OOPS when she almost put the whole bottle of ANGST. Yup, that’s a pretty accurate picture.
You also get two amazing new characters that will steal your heart and take you on an epicly crazy ride of emotions. These two fell in love in 24h and although there has never been a more insta love plot than this… I loved it and I was rooting for these two even before they met. Leigh made their love feel genuine, feel real and this is the kind of insta love story I don’t mind reading because I felt it, I felt everything but most of all I understood from the get-go how these two fit and were made for each other… and well that’s something not many authors can do when writing a insta love book.
Nothing about Mal and Rory is easy. Their journey was insane and full of lies, deceit and unlucky moments but also full of lucky, magical ones. I loved these two, they were the definition of angst and soulmates. In the Unlikely Event was a beautiful second chance romance that will break and heal you and these two and their journey will stay with for a long time.
Rory went to find out about her father but gets more than she expects when she meets Mal. They have an amazing connection but neither are willing to move. They make an agreement but will either follow it? Will they end up together or move on to other people?
This book. This amazing, beautiful, perfect book. I loved every single thing about it. It was fun and quirky and sexy and angsty and everything that LJ Shen is known for. But, it was also whimsical and effervescent and there was a magical quality to the writing that left me in total awe of Shen’s talent. Her ability to create totally original, engaging stories is unsurpassed. I loved Mal and Rory. Their story is complete, and yet I could never get enough of them. The side characters gave the story so much depth. There were character I loved, characters I hated, and characters that tried to completely steal the show, and they almost succeeded at times. The storyline grabbed me from the very first page and I had to finish this book in one sitting. I absolutely loved the “Notes” scattered throughout the book. They added so much depth to the story. And SO MUCH FUN! This book is definitely going on my list of favorites. If you haven’t read it yet, READ THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW!