In the Unlikely Event

By: L.J. Shen

Narrated by: Joe Arden, Shane East, Muffy Newtown, Savannah Peachwood

Length: 11 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

"The perfect blend of soul-crushing angst, laugh out loud wit, and heart-melting romance.” (Helena Hunting, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author)

From number one Amazon best seller L.J. Shen comes a new, star-crossed lovers romance about loss, love, and meeting The One when you are too young to know how to keep them.

Sometimes you meet people who are out of this world, so you make them a part of yours.

A one-night stand born from vengeance in a foreign land.
An explosive chemistry neither of us could deny.
We signed a contract on the back of a Boar’s Head Pub napkin that said if we ever met again, we would drop everything and be together.
Eight years and thousands of miles later, he’s here.
In New York.
And he’s America’s music obsession.
The intangible Irish poet who brings record executives to their knees.
The blizzard in my perfect, unshaken snow globe.
Last time we spoke, he was a beggar with no intention of becoming a king.
But a king he became, and now I’m his servant.
I’m not the same broken princess Malachy Doherty put back together with his callused hands.
I have a career I love.
A boyfriend I adore.
An apartment, a roommate, a life.
I changed. He changed, too.
But Mal kept the napkin.
Question is, will I keep my word?

©2019 L.J. Shen (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

Disappointing ending

EVERYONE lied to Rory, EVERYONE betrayed her. I get that this is a romance and happy endings, no matter how ridiculous, are mandatory. But why couldn’t Rory be angry, at least for little while? It would have been a lot (immensely, enormously, immeasurably) better if she was allowed to succumb to a realistic melt down like 99.9999% of all other women. Instead she gets to be angry at her mother who sacrificed everything for her but hurt her self-centered, selfish, myopic Irish poet!...the same person who treats her like trash, as well as those around him because he feels sorry for his pathetic self.

No, Rory, a mix between Mother Theresa and Mary Magdalene forgives everyone without any angst...sigh. Oh, and she gets to live in a tiny village where everyone hates her because her beau is a pig and only cares about himself.

The story was great until the end, the plot was great, until the end, the performances were great throughout.

Prepare to be blown away!

This story will be one that stays with me for a long time. Different on so many levels, this story is one that grips you mind, makes you laugh, breaks your heart and heals your soul. The narrators did an amazing job. Kept you engaged throughout the whole book. I can say enough about how fantastic it wad! A MUST READ \LISTEN!

Want to rate parts of it higher

I mostly liked this book. The author carefully constructed a decent plot. The characters kept my interest. I loved the creativity of speaking inanimate objects and voices from Beyond. I thought the sex scenes were given too much importance and were too graphic. Rory`s ending was saccharine. The narration killed me though: the lead actor was a great narrator for Aurora's voice. However, when she tried to do a male Irish accent it was abysmal! Take a dialect class! Please?

Angsty and dramatic!

LJ Shen took a little detour on her usual "hotholes" and I'm personally pleased with it! I enjoy the angst and the drama. I feel like so many of these books wouldnt work if the characters just communicated with each other. Why do they have to lie and keep so many secrets? This could have been 50 pages without all the lies and secrets. Tsk, tsk! I've read reviews that say this has been over the top drama and angst... totally keeping with the times if you ask me! People lie and keep secrets these days like it's their job! I enjoyed it. It was certainly different than what Miss Shen has been writing. Personally, I like it when authors branch out and write something different.

The narration was phenomenal. This is like a feast for the ears! I mean we have Shane East, Joe Arden, Muffy Newton and Savannah Peachwood creating something that sounds enchanting together. These narrators are so good. I'm not sure anyone could have captured this story the way they did.

Farfetched Story w/Poor Accents

While I was able to make it through, it eased tough. Parts of the story were entertaining, but overall this book is a vehicle for explicit sex, which there's nothing wrong with. I just wouldn't have purchased it had I known. The poor accents are much like poor acting in an adult film. It really doesn't matter, right? The characters were not very likable but I get the feeling they were supposed to be.

Narration makes the Audible book. It fell short here. Thank goodness Audible has a return policy.

LJ Shen Does It Again

I cannot even begin to fully describe how much I loved this book. I could not stop listening to it, no matter how hard I tried. To date, I have read all but one of LJ Shen's books and, to be honest, I wasn't sure if the hype for this book would be worth it. Oh, how I was mistaken.

For newcomers to LJ Shen as an author, this is a wonderful stand-alone novel that juggles the realities of life and heartbreak and the fantasy of true love conquering all in the end. This story is not sappy or overwrought in stereotypes, but I can almost guarantee it will please veteran romance novel enthusiasts as well as anyone just starting out in the genre.

I think Leigh has outdone herself with this one and I honestly had not thought she could top Pretty Reckless, Vicious, or The Kiss Thief (my three favorites of her books before I read In The Unlikely Event) but she somehow managed to do just that.

If you are looking for a romantic, funny, heart wrenching love story that includes a witty cow, a lucky napkin, and a very excited chocolate bar... Just read this book 😅 Then, you will understand why this review was necessary and why (if you haven't already) you need to read more from this brilliant author.

mixed feelings

while overall I really liked the story,
I'm kinda annoyed at the Heroine at how easy it was for her to forgive the lies and betrayal by the other characters in the book.
the overall treatment of her at their hands pissed me off. I dont feel she got an appropriate explanation and forgave them too easily.
other than that I liked the book overall amd wpuld recommend it.

When you think you know but your oh so wrong

What a riveting book. The characters are clear and desirable. I thought this book was going to be predictable.....far from it. I love a good book that is blows your mind.

Great story, worst Irish accent I’ve ever heard

If you know the main character will be consistently speaking in both an Irish and English accent why in the world wouldn’t you pick someone who can do a good accent? I’m American and the accent was so bad it pulled me from the story!

Such a good book, obviously good enough for me to finish despite the accent, but I would have enjoyed this book so much more with a good Irish accent!!

superior story!

Wonderful story. I loved the characters. Couldn't stop reading, had to finish it in one sitting!