The blurb really intrigued me but this story just completely fell flat for me. I could not stand the FMC. At all. I really struggled to finish the book.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

I’ve read Christy McKellen before (The Best Mistake Ever), and while I didn’t rush out to read more at the time, I was intrigued enough by the blurb for So That Happened to give it a go.

The premise is certainly eye-catching: Connor Preston, fresh off his travels, arrives at his holiday home in the south of France expecting peace, quiet, and a well-earned break. What he finds instead? Josie Marchpane—naked, in bed, and completely unprepared for company.

Cue the awkwardness, the banter, the inevitable slow drift from strangers to lovers… and then the hijinks. You know the drill.

What Worked:

The setting: who doesn’t love a little escapist getaway to the south of France?

The premise has plenty of rom-com potential, and it definitely starts with a bang (or at least, a very uncomfortable bedroom standoff).

What Didn’t Quite Land for Me:

Unfortunately, the chemistry between Connor and Josie felt a bit flat. For strangers-to-lovers, the emotional build just wasn’t there.

The romance leaned heavily into insta-love territory, and I struggled to fully buy into it.

Much like with the previous book I read by this author, the relationship development lacked depth, and that made it hard for me to really connect with the characters or their journey.

The tension was there, but the resolution didn’t quite hit the mark either—it felt like it fizzled more than concluded.

Final Thoughts:

This one just didn’t quite work for me. I wanted to be charmed or swept away, but I found myself mostly underwhelmed. That said, if you’re after a light, low-stakes rom-com with some steamy moments and an idyllic setting, you might still enjoy it. Just not my kind of love story this time.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

The overall story was cute and fun to read with good spice but I had a hard time feeling and believing the chemistry between the main characters.

For me this was a 2.5 and I felt like I was slogging through just to review instead of enjoying the story. I zoned out of what was happening and I just didn’t feel the chemistry or believe the story. It was an ok read and the spicy scenes were lighthearted and not too in-depth. Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

Arc Review

Two strangers. One Bed. A lot of tension to burn 🔥😉
When Connor returns to his holiday home in the South of France from his worldwide work travels, he finds a naked woman in his bed…. She is workaholic-Josie, his sister’s business partner, forced to take a break in a French farmhouse, to recover from a bad burn-out. She wasn't anticipating company either. Connor, with his six foot four inches of pure muscle and a sexy smile tells her to leave, but she stands her ground, because she’s not used to give up on anything without a fight (except maybe her own happiness). They start talking, then understanding each other, then wanting to spend time together around French Riviera then… sharing a bed, knowing that some hot sex is good to burn tension and bed thoughts. As long as no feelings are involved (Yeah, sure! 😏😉). So initially it was all lust because they were avoiding the elephant in the room (their emotional and trust issues). But then they fall for each other, and hard. And while they are falling, they learn to know themselves better and what makes them happy for real.

It was a really sweet story and I liked it a lot. What I loved the most was the way Josie and Connor’s fears are told: they are afraid to not be enough for someone they really love, and don’t want to be hurt again. Both of them had felt not important enough for their family in the past, and had chosen a life away from feelings and love (and the chance to be hurt). They seem real and relatable and you end up engaged in their lives.
Maybe the pacing was a bit slow and I would have liked to read more about the development of their chemistry and how all that became love. But it’s a solid 3 ⭐ for this sweet book.
I want to thank the author Christy McKellen and NetGalley because they allowed me to read this in advance in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this arc copy of So That Happened.

This was a fun read. I would maybe reach as far as to consider this is a grumpy/grumpy romance. I loved the setting in the vacation house and how Connor took care of Josie.

By the way, Josie’s family is a crappy family and I loved the moment with Connor, Josie, and Maddie at the end.

Thanks again to NetGalley and Boldwood Books! All opinions in this review are my own.

3.5⭐️


Josie Marchpane, una workaholic, se ve obligada a tomar un descanso en una lujosa casa de campo en el sur de Francia. Allí se encuentra con Connor Preston, un empresario que regresa de un agotador viaje de negocios, solo para descubrir que una mujer desnuda ocupa su cama. Lo que comienza como una atracción física se convierte en una tensión emocional cuando ambos se ven obligados a convivir bajo el mismo techo. A pesar de la química evidente y las luchas internas de ambos personajes, el romance se siente algo bajo de desarrollo. Sin embargo, es lo suficientemente entretenida para terminarla.


Me hubiera gustado leer como fue el reencuentro de Connor con su hermana.





Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Christy McKellen for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a quick, fun read with some mild, but abundant, spice throughout the heart of the book, but it lacked significant character development. The trope of dislike-to-lovers dissipated quickly into insta-love, and it felt a little forced. I also had difficulty with the plausibility of the FMC staying in a vacation home that belonged to someone else when he's returned - he's a stranger, albeit a co-worker's brother - but she had never met him before. I'd be completely uncomfortable, but maybe that's just me.

There's a few plot points that feel completely glossed over as well, including a break in of the home. It's mentioned once, but not again.

If you want something slightly spicy and a quick read to completely escape reality, it would be an enjoyable book.

This book offers a breezy, heartwarming escape, filled with witty banter, endearing mishaps, and just enough chemistry to keep the pages turning. The love interest is suitably charming, with enough depth to make their dynamic engaging, even if some of their conflicts feel a bit predictable.

While the book excels in humor and sweet moments, the protagonist’s personal growth occasionally takes a backseat to the romantic plot. A deeper exploration of their emotional journey could have added more weight to their happily-ever-after.

That said, the supporting cast adds plenty of fun, and the romantic tension is well-paced, making it easy to root for the central couple. The writing is light and engaging, perfect for readers looking for a feel-good story with a few laughs along the way. If you don’t mind a little predictability and enjoy banter-filled romance, this book is a charming pick—just don’t expect too much introspection between the meet-cutes and grand gestures.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! New to this author, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Typically I’m a fan of trope-laden stories - often inevitable in romcoms! - but this missed the mark for me. Seemed to be missing some detail and development that could’ve helped me understand why the rivalry began immediately. Perhaps some of what I perceived as oddities in the word choice was language-based, but I wouldn’t choose to describe a woman’s wet hair as “clumpy,” for example, if my intentions were to invoke positive imagery. Found myself struggling not to skim. Might be a good choice for others who are fans of short, quick, easy reads!

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and the author for granting my request to read this e-ARC and provide my honest opinions.

Insta-love is not one of my favorite tropes, and Connor and Josie were just ummm... Lacking in the chemistry department.

Both our MCs had all this pent-up energy, with Josie being on a forced break from work and Connor returning from one of his trips. Being in close proximity with each other didn't help at all, because they had to burn a little energy, if you get what I mean 😉.

Initially it was all lust because they were skirting around very important issues that needed to be talked about. Also, a lot of things didn't tie well with the story; for example, the break-in at the house.

Overall, it was an okay read, but the romance felt underdeveloped, with little chemistry or character growth.

Thank you once again for the e-ARC.

I didn’t know what to expect with ’So That Happened’ but the standing reviews around Christy McKellen’s work say that her stories tend to be short, to the point and…depending on which side you stand on, trope-laden, rushed but easy to read.

I did find the start very abrupt though; the main characters were quite literally plopped into the same house in a supposed grumpy-meet-cute (?). She’s naked, he’s exhausted. They fumble in outrage, then it’s instant lust for her in the morning with every little move he makes at the breakfast table, then becomes petulantly, defensively unreasonable when she gets caught ‘trespassing' in his house.

Things got…weird though, after that. Their conversation and course of action before getting into one bed took an odd, inane turn.

I think stories like these simply focus on that one, intense bit of forced proximity, drawn out by (inane) conversations that don’t further any plot and a hyper-focus on the superficial. Insta-lust certainly, but I couldn’t feel the chemistry and started skimming through because it all felt off to me without a build-up or a backing plot that would tie them together beyond a few days at a secluded farmhouse.

As true as ‘So That Happened’ is to its blurb—what happens is literally what it says on the book cover—, I think I like my stories short, but also packed with a bit more substance than a fling and two irascible protagonists whom I just didn’t like at all. Unfortunately this just wasn’t for me.

*ARC by the publisher via Netgalley

I personally did not like this at all . The characters did not have chemistry, the story felt clunky and rushed. There was not enough description in the settlings or the activities that could have added to the characters' bonding aside from the author telling me they are sexually attracted to each other. I respect josie and Connor needing to have a tension releasing holiday fling but very little of that was supported through the buildup to the moment they start the fling. I also did not like the chummy almost a-hole but not charismatic traits of Connor. He was not of any interest for me as a reader, which is the entire point- for me to want him as much as josie the main girl does. also, josie needs a prescription to anxiety meds and some therapy... not sex.

I loved the book…it was super funny but it was in 3rd POV that isn’t my favorite. It’s a pretty mild spicy book (🌶️🌶️). Thought it was gonna have a little more extra spice but that’s okay. This is a forced proximity/ one bed situation. The characters throughout the book were very relatable in their situations.

3.5 stars.
the 3rd person pov isnt the best and annoyed me quite a bit becuase we couldnt connect fully to the characters.
also i was promised a spicy book....... it was mild so barley spice.
but the forced proximity and one bed trope was represented so well.
im not gunna lie i was GIGGLING.
both characters had there problems but were so relatable.

if your looking for a one bed, forced proximity, kinda spicy romance this is soo your book

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing a DRC of this title for review.

This was pretty fun! I liked the setting, the forced proximity, and the chemistry between the two characters. I wish I had been able to connect more with Josie-- even as someone who enjoys unlikeable heroines, an FMC who is so abusive to her staff that she is on an enforced sabbatical to deal with her anger issues was a bit of a tough sell... All in all, though, I think this would still catch the eye of a lot of readers who love a forced proximity/only one bed situation.

If you’re a fan of the strangers-to-lovers trope, a sucker for forced proximity, and live for those deliciously tense “only one bed” moments, then So That Happened will hit every one of your romance sweet spots.

Christy McKellen delivers a fast-paced, emotionally charged, and scorchingly addictive read that combines laugh-out-loud banter with real emotional stakes. The setup is irresistible: Josie Marchpane, a workaholic marketing powerhouse, is forced to take a break in a luxurious French farmhouse. She’s ready to recharge, maybe even get her life back on track. What she’s not ready for? Connor Preston—a hot, exhausted entrepreneur who’s just returned from a grueling business trip only to find Josie naked in his bed.

From the very first chapter, the tension crackles. Neither of them is backing down, and neither is about to leave the house. So they stay. Together. In close quarters. And things get complicated in the best kind of way.

What makes this book stand out isn’t just the sexy setup or the witty sparring (though both are top-notch). It’s the emotional core beneath all the heat. Josie is fiercely driven but quietly unraveling; her struggles with self-worth and validation—especially in relation to her parents—are painfully relatable. Connor, meanwhile, is more than just the brooding alpha type. He’s layered, vulnerable, and dealing with panic attacks that complicate his instinct to control everything around him. Watching these two break down their walls—and fight each other and for each other—makes for a rewarding emotional ride.

McKellen writes with sharpness and heart. Her dialogue feels authentic and modern, with just the right balance of humor and intensity. The chemistry between Josie and Connor isn’t just physical (though it’s very much that); it’s emotional. They challenge each other, push each other, and ultimately help each other grow.

And can we talk about the setting? The South of France isn’t just a backdrop here—it’s a mood. The lavender fields, the heat, the food, the wine—it all adds to the romance and the escapism. If you can’t hop on a plane right now, reading this book is the next best thing.

One of my favorite elements is how grounded the story feels even as it’s full of those big rom-com moments. The sex scenes are honest, steamy, and refreshingly real. There’s humor, but also heartache. Playful conflict, but also meaningful resolution.

Bonus: I’m really hoping McKellen writes a book for Connor’s sister Abi. She was only in a few scenes, but she had personality, backstory hints, and enough spark to carry her own story.

Final thoughts:
So That Happened is smart, sexy, funny, and emotionally rich. It’s for readers who like heat with heart, steam with substance. Think Tessa Bailey meets Christina Lauren, with a touch of Hannah Grace’s emotional depth. Whether you’re looking for your next beach read or just need a good book to get lost in, this one’s a winner.