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trudyd's review against another edition
5.0
My Unexpected Love was so much more than I expected. I was a little cautious beginning this book. I remember the Elle from Forever My Girl. Her dad had died and her life would never be the same. I remember Elle from My Unexpected Forever. The little girl was growing up, having issues with her dad being gone and accepting Harrison and Quinn into her life.
The girl in Unexpected Love is dealing with the aftermath of her twin almost dying the same way their dad had died. Ironically, Peyton was back to living while Elle was crashing. If she wasn't careful she was going to destroy the best thing that ever happened to her--Ben.
Ben has loved Elle forever. He won't speak it out loud. She won't listen. And when she speaks loudly of denial he runs. He leaves without a word. He disappears from her life creating a roller coaster of emotions that takes the reader on so many twists and turns. I was so happy to longer be young and discovering love.
My Unexpected Love brought back memories of being young and clueless. It was a joy being the wallflower watching Elle grow and become what she was always meant to be.
The girl in Unexpected Love is dealing with the aftermath of her twin almost dying the same way their dad had died. Ironically, Peyton was back to living while Elle was crashing. If she wasn't careful she was going to destroy the best thing that ever happened to her--Ben.
Ben has loved Elle forever. He won't speak it out loud. She won't listen. And when she speaks loudly of denial he runs. He leaves without a word. He disappears from her life creating a roller coaster of emotions that takes the reader on so many twists and turns. I was so happy to longer be young and discovering love.
My Unexpected Love brought back memories of being young and clueless. It was a joy being the wallflower watching Elle grow and become what she was always meant to be.
karlisimp's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book is so fast. The characters don’t really develop and their love story doesn’t make a lot of sense.
beckyrendon's review
4.0
3.5 stars
Poor, Poor Ben. I just want to hug him and keep him forever. Unrequited love is torture. It's both ecstasy and excruciating. Ben knows this first hand. Years of being in love with his best friend isn't easy. It seems the only way to survive is to leave.
It's angsty and hurts your insides. My Unexpected Love is the second of the series, Beaumont- Next Generation. I somehow missed it was the second book and jumped in. My recommendation is to read book one (Holding Onto Forever) first. I was lost and playing catch up. I am especially at a disadvantage because I haven't read the original series these spin off of either. So for maximum enjoyment and understanding, I highly recommend immersing yourself in the Beaumont world starting at the beginning.
Reviewed for Naughty Book Blog
Poor, Poor Ben. I just want to hug him and keep him forever. Unrequited love is torture. It's both ecstasy and excruciating. Ben knows this first hand. Years of being in love with his best friend isn't easy. It seems the only way to survive is to leave.
It's angsty and hurts your insides. My Unexpected Love is the second of the series, Beaumont- Next Generation. I somehow missed it was the second book and jumped in. My recommendation is to read book one (Holding Onto Forever) first. I was lost and playing catch up. I am especially at a disadvantage because I haven't read the original series these spin off of either. So for maximum enjoyment and understanding, I highly recommend immersing yourself in the Beaumont world starting at the beginning.
Reviewed for Naughty Book Blog
michalice's review
5.0
I LOVE the Beaumont series, so when a new series following the children was announced I was beyond excited. As soon as Amazon allowed me to I pre-ordered a copy of My Unexpected Love, it took a few days for me to get around to reading it but as soon as I began I was hooked. I love the twins and was excited to see Elle get her own story. Seeing how the events of the previous book have affected Elle was sad, seeing her go on a downward spiral in all aspects of her life, but also leaving her unwilling to accept or even face the consequences of her actions. There were definitly a lot of emotional ups and downs within the pages of My Unexpected Love, but I loved every page of this book, and I'm already eager to find out who gets to tell their story next.
caseroo7's review
3.0
Find this review and more at Ramblings From This Chick
My Unexpected Love is the second book in the Beaumont Next Generation series by Heidi McLaughlin. While this could technically be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading Holding Onto Forever before this one as I think it will help the reader really understand the characters better here. That being said, it isn’t necessary to read it or the Beaumont series to enjoy this one.
This is Elle James and Ben Miller’s story. They have been best friends since they met in high school, and Ben has been in love with her just as long. While he has loved her, they have only ever been friends. But after a tragic accident in which she almost lost her sister, Elle hasn’t been the same. Struggling to cope and move forward with her life, Elle turns to parties and alcohol and Ben finds himself unable to help her. So when he gets the chance to head to New York for an opportunity, he realizes that it’s a chance for a new start.
I will admit that I struggled with Elle here. I found it hard to relate to her, and honestly I found it hard to understand her. I do see how almost losing her sister would be a life changing event that would be cause for some of what she was going through, but honestly that only goes so far with me. She was very self absorbed and it didn’t get much better as the story went on. I felt so badly for Ben an all that he went through with her, trying over and over. He was fantastic. He deserved better than what Elle put him through. If there was one really high point for me in this story, it was absolutely Ben.
Overall, I liked how things ended here and Ben is worth the read. I just wish that I had been better able to relate to Elle. It was great to see familiar faces though and I love the Beaumont world that Heidi McLaughlin has created. I think fans of this world will enjoy My Unexpected Love and should give this one a shot. While this wasn’t my favorite of Heidi’s, it was worth the read and I always look forward to Heidi’s books.
**ARC Provided by Buoni Amici Press**
My Unexpected Love is the second book in the Beaumont Next Generation series by Heidi McLaughlin. While this could technically be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading Holding Onto Forever before this one as I think it will help the reader really understand the characters better here. That being said, it isn’t necessary to read it or the Beaumont series to enjoy this one.
This is Elle James and Ben Miller’s story. They have been best friends since they met in high school, and Ben has been in love with her just as long. While he has loved her, they have only ever been friends. But after a tragic accident in which she almost lost her sister, Elle hasn’t been the same. Struggling to cope and move forward with her life, Elle turns to parties and alcohol and Ben finds himself unable to help her. So when he gets the chance to head to New York for an opportunity, he realizes that it’s a chance for a new start.
I will admit that I struggled with Elle here. I found it hard to relate to her, and honestly I found it hard to understand her. I do see how almost losing her sister would be a life changing event that would be cause for some of what she was going through, but honestly that only goes so far with me. She was very self absorbed and it didn’t get much better as the story went on. I felt so badly for Ben an all that he went through with her, trying over and over. He was fantastic. He deserved better than what Elle put him through. If there was one really high point for me in this story, it was absolutely Ben.
Overall, I liked how things ended here and Ben is worth the read. I just wish that I had been better able to relate to Elle. It was great to see familiar faces though and I love the Beaumont world that Heidi McLaughlin has created. I think fans of this world will enjoy My Unexpected Love and should give this one a shot. While this wasn’t my favorite of Heidi’s, it was worth the read and I always look forward to Heidi’s books.
**ARC Provided by Buoni Amici Press**
nat_kli_20's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
smbmar's review
5.0
Heidi's best book yet! I love this series so much. It's always the first books I recommend to people. I really couldn't stand Elle at the beginning of the story. But I couldn't put it down for very good reason. It's amazing! I really hope that McLaughlin continues with this series. It's so worth one-clicking.
bookdrgn's review
4.0
This book was a change of pace for the overused manipulative ex and fake pregnancy trope we've seen in nearly every Beaumont universe book.
Elle Powell-James is a mess. After nearly losing her twin in a car accident that rings similar to the one that cost them their father as children and after saying goodbye to her and trying to get Noah to do the same; Elle isn't coping. And no one notices until she self-destructs in a haze of alcohol binges, public behaviour she used to mock and declining grades.
Her brother and parents are on her case to shape up or ship out to rehab. They even have her long time best friend Ben on side.
Ben has been in love with Elle since the nanosecond he saw her. He became her best friend because he was afraid if he tried for more he'd lose her. He wants to help her, but doesn't want to lose her. So he sides with her family in their effort to get her help. In the near decade they've been friends he has also become part of their close-knit extended family and not for their fame. He loves these people.
It all comes to a head at his birthday party.
Elle is drunk and ends up sleeping with Ben.
A dream come true for him until they wake up and she doesn't remember.
This serves as the catalyst Ben needs to chase his professional dream after being offered a ten week internship at his dream company.
I get where Ben is coming from. He absconds to New York without telling anyone but his brother and mostly maintains radio silence with Elle.
They keep using "friendzone" to describe his friendship with Elle and I think this does a disservice to their relationship. Especially since it's being used incorrectly.
The friendzone is a word used when a guy acts like a friend in order to get a girl into bed and gets angry when it doesn't happen.
Ben is genuinely Elle's friend so this doesn't apply.
I feel for Ben, but I was glad when he pulled on his independent pants and went and lived his life.
Of all the characters in the Beaumont universe, Elle has developed the most as a character so far. She has the most human reactions to things and even though she doesn't think so, wears her hears on her sleeve.
She feels guilty that she told Noah to say goodbye to Peyton and he didn't, and she pulled through. Elle took the responsibility of it on her shoulders.
It was good she took the time to own her issues and work on them before fighting for Ben. If she hadn't, I don't think they would have worked
I'm looking forward to Quinn's book. So far, he's the most enigmatic character.
Elle Powell-James is a mess. After nearly losing her twin in a car accident that rings similar to the one that cost them their father as children and after saying goodbye to her and trying to get Noah to do the same; Elle isn't coping. And no one notices until she self-destructs in a haze of alcohol binges, public behaviour she used to mock and declining grades.
Her brother and parents are on her case to shape up or ship out to rehab. They even have her long time best friend Ben on side.
Ben has been in love with Elle since the nanosecond he saw her. He became her best friend because he was afraid if he tried for more he'd lose her. He wants to help her, but doesn't want to lose her. So he sides with her family in their effort to get her help. In the near decade they've been friends he has also become part of their close-knit extended family and not for their fame. He loves these people.
It all comes to a head at his birthday party.
Elle is drunk and ends up sleeping with Ben.
A dream come true for him until they wake up and she doesn't remember.
This serves as the catalyst Ben needs to chase his professional dream after being offered a ten week internship at his dream company.
I get where Ben is coming from. He absconds to New York without telling anyone but his brother and mostly maintains radio silence with Elle.
They keep using "friendzone" to describe his friendship with Elle and I think this does a disservice to their relationship. Especially since it's being used incorrectly.
The friendzone is a word used when a guy acts like a friend in order to get a girl into bed and gets angry when it doesn't happen.
Ben is genuinely Elle's friend so this doesn't apply.
I feel for Ben, but I was glad when he pulled on his independent pants and went and lived his life.
Of all the characters in the Beaumont universe, Elle has developed the most as a character so far. She has the most human reactions to things and even though she doesn't think so, wears her hears on her sleeve.
She feels guilty that she told Noah to say goodbye to Peyton and he didn't, and she pulled through. Elle took the responsibility of it on her shoulders.
It was good she took the time to own her issues and work on them before fighting for Ben. If she hadn't, I don't think they would have worked
I'm looking forward to Quinn's book. So far, he's the most enigmatic character.