Review: I Never Planned on You by Stefanie Jenkins (I Never #1)


Note: An advanced reader copy (ARC) was provided by the author via Give Me Books Promotions.

“I hate you for leaving me. I hate you for loving me so fucking much that without you I can't breathe. I don't want to be sad all the time anymore—I just don't know how to do that without you. Please help me, baby. I miss your laugh, your touch, your kisses, your voice, your love, your everything. I miss who I was with you. How do I move on when I spent my whole life loving you? I didn't get to say goodbye to you. Our last conversation was about boners in the library. Why did you leave me behind? We were supposed to be together forever—that's what you promised. That was the plan!”
The angst! Gah! If you're familiar with my reviews, then you know how much of an unrepentant angst addict I am when it comes to my romance reads—although I do love my romantic comedies just as much—and Stefanie Jenkins's I Never Planned on You more than delivered on the angst. The fact that Jenkins also happened to showcase just how promising an author she is, both in terms of the quality of her writing and the story that she wanted to share with readers. This was, hands down, one of the most heartrending and gut-wrenching stories I've ever read, but it also reminds us that even after such tremendous loss, hope and love can always be found again.

From the moment her brother's best friend asked her to skate with him on her thirteenth birthday, Danielle Kathryn Jacobs knew her heart belonged to Emmett Hanks. They committed their lives to one another, making plans and promises, believing the future was theirs. And then the unthinkable happened and Dani found herself alone, her heart shattered because Emmett was no longer by her side, no hope of those jagged pieces ever coming together again. So when she meets Kyler Lawson four years later, she isn't willing nor prepared to share any part of herself with her brother's best friend from college. But fate—and Kyler himself—have other plans for Dani's heart.

Stefanie Jenkins does a tremendous job with this first published novel of hers. Dani's story begins with her as a girl who dreams of spending the rest of her life with her first love but experiences the greatest heartbreak when she losses him and we see her evolve into a young woman discovering that there is light in the darkness as she finds love once again. I loved that Emmett and Kyler were truly good guys, both of whom loved Dani with their whole hearts at just the right times in her life. This was an absolutely beautiful and inspiring read, one that I would happily recommend. Plan on having tissues nearby when you read I Never Planned, which receives five-plus stars. ♥

Release Date: 22 August 2019

Date Read: 21 August 2019

Learn more about Stefanie Jenkins.

Purchase I Never Planned on You on Amazon.

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