Synopsis:

Is it possible to love someone you’ve never met? A young woman finds out in this sweeping will-they-or-won’t-they love story that begins with a chance wrong number dial. . . .

When Hannah picks up a call from an unknown number, she thinks nothing of it–it’s just an easygoing American named Davey who misdialed her while calling into a job interview. And when Hannah wishes him luck after clearing up the confusion, she never actually expects to hear from him again.

Then she gets a text saying he got the job and he’ll be moving to London, and she can’t help but smile. Soon their texts become phone calls that turn into video calls, and their friendship becomes a relationship they can’t wait to start in earnest once Davey lands in London in a month’s time.

But when Hannah goes to meet him at the airport, Davey isn’t there–and the reason why changes both of their lives in an instant. With their future together suddenly so uncertain, they don’t know what to do but try to move on from each other.

Though their chance at love seems lost forever, neither is never far from the other’s thoughts. Will fate intervene once more to bring the two together, or will Davey always be the man that Hannah never met?

I was fully prepared for The Man I Never Met to be emotional, but it was also sweet and light-hearted, despite some heavier topics. But if you go into this one expecting a rom-com, you’ll probably be disappointed. While the first few chapters do read like a romance, including an adorable meet-cute, the book does take a more serious turn, but still manages to hold on to its joyful tone. I found myself not wanting to set this one aside, almost reading it within twenty-four hours.

Do you remember where you were and what you were doing the moment your life changed for ever? I do. I was standing outside the gym, hair in a bit of a tangle, in need of a shower after a grueling spin class, rifling in my bag for my gloves while my mobile buzzed away. But of course I didn’t know it at the time. That’s always how it is, though, isn’t it? You never realize the true significance of a moment until later.

Elle Cook, The Man I Never Met

Reminiscent of classic rom-com films like Sleepless in Seattle and When Harry Met Sally, I loved Hannah, I loved Davey, and I loved their friendship. An accidental call that turns into more, it may sound predictable, but their story is consuming. While they both go through a difficult journey, there is happiness ahead.

Hannah’s story opens at Christmastime and covers several years. I enjoyed spending the changing seasons with Hannah, traveling with her, and experiencing several different locales with her, including London. The author surprised me, introducing Davey’s point of view almost halfway into the story at a pivotal moment, and it worked! The second point of view increased the emotion and the anticipation.