Not in the Plan

Title: Not in the Plan

Author: Dana Hawkins

Genre: Contemporary Romance, LGBTQIA+

Category: 2024 Release (January 31, 2024)

Summary: Not in the Plan follows Charlie, an entrepreneur who owns her own coffee shop that she runs with her best friend, and Mack, an author of a best-selling mystery novel. Both girls are navigating life in their mid-twenties and are facing individual dilemmas. What starts as an innocent barista and customer relationship turns into a deep connection that opens doors for both of them, changing the way they see each other and the way they see themselves. 

Thoughts: This book is very character-driven and takes place within the same few settings. I often struggle with books that don't have in-depth world-building or plot development, but I enjoyed the growth each character goes through and the relationship they form with each other. By the end of the book, I am so proud of both characters and their journeys. Charlie gives herself the respect she deserves and stands up to those who don't treat her right. Mack realizes that some of her habits can hurt others and develops new ways to create stories for her books. They support and love each other despite their differences and form a beautiful relationship and life with each other that encourages each of them to continue growing and learning from the experiences in their lives. Dana Hawkins writes a beautiful story of personal growth. The characters learn to allow themselves to be vulnerable with those who care about them. This book dives into different family relationships, trials, and traumas of the characters, and as the reader, you follow them as they grow from their pasts.