Such a fun book! I was instantly intrigued. Love a book abt a cool it girl especially one that highlights a good cause. It was fun also seeing Tom dig deep and not only uncover her “secret” but fall in love as well! This one is going to be a bit hit next year I just know it! Can’t wait for another book from this author in the future

Unapologetic love story has everything a romance fan could want in a book!

I absolutely adored this book, and I read it in less than a day! The story gets you quickly invested and wanting to know more about the characters and how the romance between Raina and Tom will develop, as well as the stories of their friends and family.

I loved the character of Raina and felt she was very relatable, as a fellow autistic woman. I thought she was a well written protagonist and it was very interesting to see her develop as a character. I found it great how her portrayl combated stereotypes of disabled people only existing in media either to be inspirations or to be pitied, by her being represented as empathetic, loving, intelligent, well liked, yet also flawed. The book did a great job at highlighting the abelism and other hardships she had experienced, whilst also showcasing her successes and the positives about being autistic. I also loved how her podcast was a safe space for disabled women to be themselves and I adored her line "stay uninspiring"

I also really liked the character of tom, and found it interesting how his experiences in his childhood and with his family shaped him and his writing.

The relationship between the two main characters was well written, and I thought they worked well together, and the whole time i was rooting for them to get together.

The supporting cast were very strong as well. I thought Pepper was a very nuanced, but loveable character, and that Solana was very interesting and loving towards her family and friends. Even the less nice characters, are very well written, and incredibly hateable. Whilst you can't help but dislike them, you can see why they are that way and honestly pity them for that.

Although the main love story was that of Raina and Tom, this book is absolutely brimming with love, showcasing love between friends, familial love, love for local community and neighbors, love within the neurodivergent and disabled community, Raina's love for London, Tom's love for Scotland, of course lots of romantic love! Overall this was an incredible read, and i am certain it will be very popular when published. I think it would work great as a film, so fingers crossed that happens in future!

An absolutely dreamy and delightful debut by Elle McNicoll. It contained everything I love about a will they, won’t they romance, and more. It comprises a small cast of super believable characters, not least the neurodivergent protagonist, that everyone will adore. I can’t wait to read whatever Elle writes next!

It is rare that I read a book and know it is going to be 5 stars within the first 3 chapters, but here we are!

This is Elle McNicoll's first adult Romance and oh my goodness it was perfection!

Raina is a 28 year old autistic woman who runs a podcast for disabled women, who meets the "King of Cancel Culture", Tom. Tom needs a positive story to finish his book on his previous subjects, who were scam artists, liars and overall bad people, to weigh out the bad with the good. However, Raina is sceptical about his intentions, but intrigued.

Raina and Tom's love story was truly wonderful and their chemistry was off the charts from the start. Tom fell first and he feels hard!! Their love was gentle, understanding the others needs and full of passion.
The neurodivergent rep was so fantastic in this! I could not believe how much I related to Raina, it made me cry several times.
The ableism and internalised ableism in this hit hard and Raina's resilience against people always trying to put her down was something extraordinary and how hard she worked against it. It was also realistic in that some days are harder than other to battle people's opinions, but having people who love you and can prop you up is a great thing.

This is a love story for all the autistic people who were told they would never find love and just how wrong society was to say that!

Please check the trigger warnings for this book, as it contains mentions of eating disorders, controlling behaviours from a parent, ableism, internalised ableism, mentions of bullying, death of a parent (in the past) and mentions of alcoholism.

Raina runs a successful podcast spotlighting autistic women called 'The Disability Track' and lives in London, spending her free time with her best friend and socialite Pepper Cousins. During a charity event at at the V&A, Raina meets Tom Branimir, an investigative journalist who takes an interest in Raina. Their first meeting is less than successful on Tom's part but, undeterred, he pursues Raina, to find out more about her for his book and because he finds her fascinating.
What unfolds is a love story that will draw you in and sweep you away.

I don't quite know where to begin with this review, and before I've even begun typing I know that my words will not be able to do this book the justice it deserves. Unapologetic Love Story is an utter triumph and Elle deserves all the praise and accolades that will undoubtedly come her way when this book publishes in April.

What I loved:
Raina is a master-piece (she's strong, fiercely independent, funny and blows serious raspberries at autistic stereotyping).
Tom is deliciously at odds with himself, battling the strength of his feelings with his professional curiosity.
There are host of other wonderful people in the book; some you will love, some will make you squirm and some will really touch your heart.
The romance: the tension and the thrill of the chase; the will they, won't they... the need to keep reading to find out if they do... ❤️
The sex: steamy and romantic!
The twist you think is coming but you desperately hope isn't, then the tension to see if what you really want to happen in the end happens ...
The fact that I got completely lost in the book and had to be reminded to eat!
Dalkeith. Ok, this is a personal one for me but as a kid, we used to drive through here to get to my grandparents' and it's where my grandad used to go on a Saturday to buy his weekly bag of sweets! Every time the town is mentioned, I can hear him saying the name in his wonderful Scottish accent and it brings back such fond memories.
The fact that I love a good romance story and this is absolutely that.

Unapologetic Love Story is unapologetically brilliant. I read it in one sitting and got completely and utterly swept away by it. This is Elle's first book for adults but I sincerely hope it won't be her last. For so many reasons, this book left me completely broken in the very best way (there were many tissues used!) and I woke this morning still thinking about it. I said it at the beginning of this review and I'll say it again: Unapologetic Love Story is an utter triumph and I can't wait for the rest of the world to read it when it publishes on the 2nd April.

Unapologetic Love Story is a special type of romance story. Special in the way that it speaks volumes and truths while at the same time warming hearts and getting the reader involved in a way that makes putting the book down near impossible.

Autism is not a new subject to Elle McNicoll, nor are female autistic characters. What is new, and so devastatingly refreshing, is and adult autistic woman. It’s no surprise Raina is strong, clever, witty, and smacks every stereotype of what others expect of autism/autistics in the face.

Raina’s experience to get to her full self-acceptance is not straightforward, and we see her needing to acknowledge her humanity in needing community. Not her disability – her humanity. We all need some sort of community, and I loved that there was a small distinguishing note of that in here. As an autistic woman, sometimes I just want to remind people that I'm as human as they are - if just a little different. Elle writes this in Raina's character beautifully.

Tom’s unapologetic love of Raina may seem to the reader to be unrealistic. But it’s not. There are people who love like that. Who will love like that. Who need help too, who need their community, too. The founding of romance in intelligence and wit, in the banter and joy of each other was a delight to read. Their love, their romance, is beautiful.

Yes to the sweary words, the big feels, the sexy times, but also the reality of being autistic, of loving and supporting an autistic. As a debut adult romance novel, Elle did a damn fine job, and I’m going to be unapologetic about my swooning over this book!

I received this as an eARC from the publisher through NetGalley. And how privileged I feel to have received it.

I genuinely loved this book—both the romance and the insight it offers into neurodivergence. It opened my eyes to how many people’s daily struggles might come from a lack of diagnosis, understanding, or access to the right tools. I learned so much without ever feeling lectured.

The FMC is a neurodivergent woman who has faced a lifetime of bullying, misunderstanding, and ignorance, yet she’s thriving as a podcaster who discusses topics related to neurodivergence with honesty and courage. The MMC is a brooding Scottish writer, known for his political criticism, now digging into the world of social-media fraud. Their relationship begins with an enemies-to-lovers spark—at least from her side—but the story quickly expands into something deeper. It explores friendship, family expectations, social class, and the quiet cruelties society often directs at people who don’t fit its narrow mold. The supporting cast adds so much warmth and depth.

I don’t pretend to be a professional reviewer; I can only share what the story made me feel. And this one made me reflect deeply. It made me realize how overwhelming daily life can be for neurodivergent people and how isolating it must feel when the world responds with judgment instead of empathy. We easily accept friends who are grumpy, anxious, dramatic, or overly cheerful—so why do we struggle to extend that same acceptance to autistic or otherwise neurodivergent people? That question stayed with me. At the end, we are all different and should be accepted as we are.

This book didn’t just entertain me; it gave me a reality check. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Rainia was such an amazing character she was such a strong women and independent. This book was just amazing I was hooked from the beginning!!!!