Unexpected by Laylah Abrams – Review by Beverly Finnie

Unexpected by Laylah Abrams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

How many romances have we read where one character is wealthy and one is living in poverty? How many of those are the billionaire male and the struggling female?
Well Unexpected is the story mentioned in the first question, but the roles in the 2nd question are reversed. The author put together a sweet heartbreaking story of two people who see one another but let things hold them back from who they truly are. The growth displayed within the 2 main characters was frustrating at times and beautiful at others.
Claire is a socialite that wishes to be more than a pretty face. A former model who has extensive business zeal and knowledge in engineering & programming, but no one sees it. They see what she wants them to see. The many masks she uses to navigate a very publicized life. Thanks to the paparazzi. That is until she meets Nick, her waiter, a one off stranger. Yet this stranger can see right through her masks to who she truly is. Well at least the parts she will share. She wants him but could she ever really have him as more than just a fling. He’s an artist that is below her social standing, but she doesn’t want to let him go.
Nick never expected Claire to ever show an interest in him. What started as a fling turned out to be a lot more. With a fear of losing his grad school scholarship due to his lack of/confusing paintings feelings. Claire’s presence in his life even as a random night here and random night there has had a profound impact on his work. She’s his muse. He’s taking risks, using bold colors and strokes, and not being as precise and detailed as previously perfect his landscapes used to be. And those higher ups/visitors at school are starting to notice.
However the social standing between the two of them is a glaring fact, that’s staring them in the face.
Can they get past it?
Will they finally admit how they truly feel about one another?
So many questions and plenty of answers. No romance is ever just pretty with no conflict. It’s how the conflict is handled that determines the outcome. The conflict in this one is heartbreaking because you as the reader want these two to defy the odds, you’re rooting for them.. And the need to continue to see what happens will have you saying “just one more chapter” when you have something to do and should be going to bed.
Me, well I’m going to be looking for other works by this author.
You will be making sure you carve out a window to read the book in one shot. Because you won’t want to put it down. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

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