Olive and Ethan can't stand each other, but through a series of mishaps end up on a dream vacation together. What will happen when they're tnrown together?
This is my first Christina Lauren book and I think their 2-friends-writing-team works really well. The story was fun and much funnier than the usual. I laughed out loud at several points. The story was unsurprising but the main characters felt fully realized and the side characters were well drawn.
Recommended for romcom fans

I ♡ this, hard!
Enemies to lovers along with forced proximity tropes are my fav.

Olive and Ethan are imperfectly perfect, vulnerable characters. Just my cuppa. And their story was just what I was hoping for.

Who doesn't enjoy well written snark? Their quick-witted banter kept me happily moving along in their journey. I know , I know, its almost cliché in a review, but damn it, some of that back-and-forth argument logic had me chortling out loud, people! COL...it sb a new acronym IMHO.

Ethan turns out to be a homebody with food quirks, a math nerd, and on the mend of a broken heart. It took a bit of reading time to find out his side of hateship, but I love a good onion peel.
He also volleyed his fair share of snide remarks right back to Olive's court!
The way they toyed with each other's name throughout the story #justadorbes
Olive's personal introspection and growth was touching. She and Ethan learn a thing or two about each other AND themselves along the way ;) I think bikinis and hotel massage packages also helped the getting-to-know-you stage.

The real plus for me? Christina Lauren's characters don't have all the answers, the authors really made Olive and Ethan work through all the obstacles thrown at them. A few plot twists made me laugh, but a few real life issues had me unexpectedly take pause...could they really work it all out? I love when I'm not sure about the outcome, right? It's what my reading heart craves! Great pacing throughout makes this an easy, fun, and engaging read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hello there, Jaime and Roxie are here again!!! #ReunitedAndItFeelsSoGood!!!
Christina Lauren have been a big part of the bond we have formed as blogger buddies. We chat about their books non-stop. It only seems natural that our second review collaboration is for one of their books. They are easily the most consistent author when it comes to meeting, and exceeding our expectations. We can always count on their stories to be laugh out loud funny and realistically romantic with just the right touch of conflict to round out the plot perfectly. When we want to escape from reality (which is far too often lately) their books provide the perfect escape while still managing to be relatable and authentic. The Unhoneymooners was no different. #Perfection

We fell for Olive and Ethan right away. We could feel the attraction between them instantly and their crazy banter was hilarious. The push and pull, the hate-love. We wanted to know more. We loved watching as their connection grew from an obvious attraction but seemingly unfriendly tolerance to a real and honest emotional connection.

It definitely didn’t hurt that it all took place on the lovely island of Maui without the noise of the “real” world awaiting them back home. Their unhoneymoon was unforgettable, filled with so many laugh out loud moments.

“Honesty has always seemed to work best for us: “I’m freaking out a little that you suggested we spend the day together, just us, and it doesn’t make me want to rappel down the balcony.” Ethan laughs. “I promise to be as irritating as possible.” And then he turns, shuffling back to the living room, calling out, “And as smug, too.””

But also there was no shortage of swoony and romantic moments.

“It was the kind of kiss that feels like fucking.” All the air is sucked out of my lungs, and I’m left staring up at him, speechless. I was expecting him to say something safe, not something that would send my libido spiraling out of any controlled orbit.”

These two cracked us up.

Once their fake honeymoon is over and they are back to reality, life quickly gets complicated. Will they find happiness in the real world?

Christina Lauren never fails to deliver unique plots filled with genuine characters who have flaws and make is fell completely in love with them. Stories like these why we read!!! If you are looking for the perfect summer read, pick up The Unhoneymooners and don’t look back!

Hello there, Jaime and Roxie are here again!!! #ReunitedAndItFeelsSoGood!!!

Christina Lauren have been a big part of the bond we have formed as blogger buddies. We chat about their books non-stop. It only seems natural that our second review collaboration is for one of their books. They are easily the most consistent author when it comes to meeting, and exceeding our expectations. We can always count on their stories to be laugh out loud funny and realistically romantic with just the right touch of conflict to round out the plot perfectly. When we want to escape from reality (which is far too often lately) their books provide the perfect escape while still managing to be relatable and authentic. The Unhoneymooners was no different. #Perfection

We fell for Olive and Ethan right away. We could feel the attraction between them instantly and their crazy banter was hilarious. The push and pull, the hate-love. We wanted to know more. We loved watching as their connection grew from an obvious attraction but seemingly unfriendly tolerance to a real and honest emotional connection.

It definitely didn’t hurt that it all took place on the lovely island of Maui without the noise of the “real” world awaiting them back home. Their unhoneymoon was unforgettable, filled with so many laugh out loud moments.

“Honesty has always seemed to work best for us: “I’m freaking out a little that you suggested we spend the day together, just us, and it doesn’t make me want to rappel down the balcony.” Ethan laughs. “I promise to be as irritating as possible.” And then he turns, shuffling back to the living room, calling out, “And as smug, too.””

But also there was no shortage of swoony and romantic moments.

“It was the kind of kiss that feels like fucking.” All the air is sucked out of my lungs, and I’m left staring up at him, speechless. I was expecting him to say something safe, not something that would send my libido spiraling out of any controlled orbit.”

These two cracked us up.

Once their fake honeymoon is over and they are back to reality, life quickly gets complicated. Will they find happiness in the real world?

Christina Lauren never fails to deliver unique plots filled with genuine characters who have flaws and make is fell completely in love with them. Stories like these why we read!!! If you are looking for the perfect summer read, pick up The Unhoneymooners and don’t look back!

This was my first book I've read by Christina Lauren. I absolutely loved it! This is a great book to take on vacation or to read on a weekend getaway. I can't wait to read more books by this author!

Another hilarious romantic comedy from the dynamic duo that is Christina Lauren, this one in the form of an enemies to lovers story that is anything but typical. Olive and Ethan are firmly in the love to hate you category, but it's impossible for them to avoid each other when his brother is marrying her sister. While I felt like the story was a bit longer than it needed to be, the quips and banter between this pair, plus the crazy situations they find themselves in, keep the momentum going at a steady pace. The chemistry between Ethan and Olive is crazy good even when they're still hating on each other, and I love how the romance kind of sneaks up on them. There is a bit of angst, but overall, the story is just what a good romantic comedy should be - lighthearted and loads of fun.

Christina Lauren is a go to for me. Their books are always hilarious and a great pick me up. The Unhoneymooners is an enemies to lovers mix in with a forced quarters. Olive and Ethan are the only two not to come down with food poisoning after free buffet at her sister and his brother’s wedding. The enemies are both given the opportunity to go on an all expense paid trip to Hawaii but must act as a couple to redeem the prize.

“Mind-reading Olive Torres.”
My sarcastic smile matches his.
“Mark the moment, people. Ethan thomas remembered my name three years after we first met.”

There’s certain elements that I loved about this story one of them being Olive and Ami’s family. This Mexican-American family is everything. I could read more books about that. As a Hispanic American, I love books that highlight other culture particularly seeing others I identify with. The casserole dinners, the constant texting and the snide yet while being loving remarks made this colorful family a great addition to the book. They show the complexities of close-knit families while also showing how family can also be friends. (spoiler) Which leads to a huge incident that leaves Olive in a terrible predicament. I love how they captured the realness of the moment because making that choice is pretty rough and no one wants to be caught in the middle.

“How did this even happen?”
I shrug, wincing.
“I hated him until i didn’t?”

Olive and Ethan’s relationship is certainly hard fought. Their enemy status began as a misunderstanding that was never talked about between the two. One outing had two totally different perspectives to it and it completely changed their relationship. I liked that they didn’t even realize these two perspectives were so different until after they had already begun a relationship. Their banter, a Christine Lauren trademark, is ever present and had me loling. Olive and Ethan’s opposite personalities balance off well in this story and it makes their sexual chemistry skyrocket. As they say, there’s a thin line between love and hate.

4.5 stars

The Unhoneymooners is laugh out loud funny and cringe inducing awkward all at the same time. Between bought of snort like laughter and honestly cringe inducing moments (like a certain reception), you will be too busy speeding through the book to realize you've already got the end. I almost cried when I realized it was over. I had so much fun and am still shaking my head at certain scenes.

The Unhoneymooners is definitely a rare treat. Awkward humor, wildly inappropriate meetings, and hilarious injuries/bathroom moments are just the tip....
(Where did you think I was going with that!?! It is a honeymoon after all!)😆

Fun, funny, and snort inducing The Unhoneymooners is worth your time, coupons, and all the sweepstakes entries ever! Luck has nothing to do with it! Christina Lauren own your heart, mind, and funny bone in this book. No lucky pennies needed!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free ARC of this novel. Regardless of the way I acquired the novel, the thoughts, opinions, and views stated in this review are completely unbiased and one hundred percent my own.

I’m not sure why it’s taken so long, but this is my first time reading a novel by Christina Lauren, despite her being on my radar for years now!

I’m so happy my first dip into her pool of work is The Unhoneymooners, because I am a sucker for the enemies to lovers trope. Our two main characters felt so real and fleshed out, that it was easy to connect with them moment to moment. Another big, big fantasy plus for me was our destination: Hawaii! I’ve only been dreaming about going there since forever, and it definitely added to the overall quintessential-summer-book vibe.

I really connected with the way Christina Lauren wrote these characters, portrayed emotions, cataloged the setting, and set up certain snafus within the plot. *Slight diversion ahead* You know how in a suspenseful movie, the actor will open the refrigerator, and the killer will be standing right behind the door as the main character closes it? That’s what Lauren’s writing reminded me of; instead of screaming in terror, I was giggling out loud in delight as our characters time after time rain into an unexpected guest or situation.

The story itself didn’t have an incredibly unique plot, but one that kept me engaged. This is a character driven story, that focuses a lot on the character development and change within our two main characters. If you’re ready to be swept off your feet into what seems like a fairy tale romance, and then *spoiler* thrown head first back into the real world with real family drama, then I’d say give this one a hearty go. This book made me laugh out loud at 11:30pm, throw my fist into the air, grimace, and feel all the feels. I was incredibly pleased by each character, how handled their plot lines, and how they evolved as our story ended. I’ve heard rumors that Lauren has written books that are even better than this one, but I’m not sure how that’s possible! What I do know for sure is that this will not be the last of her books that I dive straight into, leaving all my cares and worries behind on the shore.

Edit: I'm just now learning Christina Lauren is TWO AMAZING AUTHORS who co-write books. I feel so silly. Please know when I mention "her writing/her book/her __" I now mean their! Ack! What a snafu. ;)

Enemies-to-lovers and fake relationships are not usually my jam. But leave it to Christina Lauren to not only make it work, but make me love it.

CHARACTERS.
It was easy to fall for both Olive and Ethan. I could relate to Olive having a sister who was “the golden one” and her being “the other one”, and loving and supporting her sister without being resentful. Olive was quite the pessimist but also managed to not be bitter. Ethan came across as so cold and dismissive at first and I had the biggest smile on my face as he slowly thawed and I was able to see the kind of guy he really was. The subtle changes as they started to realize there was something more happening between them were so well done that it was impossible not to pull hard for these two.

PLOT.
Like I mentioned, hate-to-love just isn’t my favorite trope. And I almost always steer clear of fake relationships. But, y’know, it was Christina Lauren and I can’t say no. The reasoning behind the “hate” part seemed reasonable and I totally understood Olive’s feelings toward Ethan. Their time in Hawaii while on the “honeymoon” was so hilarious. I adore good banter and this delivered big time. Olive and Ethan’s heckling and teasing was so on point and I was living for it. The pacing was perfection because by the time they returned home and the plot took a more serious tone, I was completely invested.

FAMILY.
Olive’s family was the best! I loved this big, messy, dynamic group who were so in each other’s lives and so crazy supportive. (Can I pretty-please-with-sugar-on-top have a book about cousin Diego?)

GRAND GESTURE.
I admit it, I’m a sucker for a grand gesture. Yes, I think real life should be just like the movies with impromptu musical numbers and grand gestures that make you swoon. And Christina Lauren brought it with the grand gesture. Sweet, adorable, swoony. Boom. *mic drop* I wanted to stand up and cheer.

OVERALL.
Simply put, The Unhoneymooners has it all. Sweet, funny, sexy, endearing, heartwarming, emotional… this was feel-good romance at its finest.

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren is a cute romantic comedy that is heartfelt and full of depth. An ideal beach read!

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of longtime writing partners Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. While they’re the authors of several books, this is the first one I’ve read from them and I just love their writing style! There’s an easy to it and the dialogue is both hilarious but also believable.

In The Unhoneymooners, the authors find a way to add a new dynamic to the familiar rom-com trope—enemies to lovers.

The story is told from Olive’s first-person narrative. She’s somewhat fearful—she believes that bad luck follows her no matter what she does. And she thinks this is especially true when she’s forced to pretend she’s married to Ethan in order to get the free honeymoon that her sister won (don’t think too hard about that; just go with it). But then, she receives a job offer right before the trip and when they land, she’s immediately taken in with the gorgeous Maui scenery. She thinks what could go wrong here? Well, if you know romantic comedies—plenty can go wrong. But also much can go right.

Despite the “light” tone, Olive does have an interesting arc. Her believing that bad luck always strikes her doesn’t just impact her daily thoughts; it also effects how she treats others. I thought that was an interesting concept that is explored. She learns much and grows quite a bit.

But through it all, Olive is strong and while she experiences romance, it’s not easy ride either. But the most important thing is for her to remain true to herself, no matter what is thrown her way—and there are plenty of curveballs.

Overall, this is a charming romance that will make you laugh and also smile.

4 Stars / 2 Steam Fans

I did have to sit on this review for a little bit but I can confidently give this story a solid 4 stars. Olive is an identical twin that feels like she always get the bad luck hit if her sister is winning. So when her bridezilla sister and the entire wedding party gets food poisoning Olive takes the honeymoon meant for her identical twin with one small catch....her new brother-in-law and enemy must take the trip with her and they must pretend to be the happy couple. For most of the story I enjoyed the witty banter between Ethan and Olive, there was a bit of sexual tension but I would have liked a little more. I also would have liked to be in Ethan's head a little more than just the epilogue. Overall, I enjoyed this new story from Christina Lauren.

This specific video review will be included in the May 2019 wrap-up.

For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.

The Unhoneymooners is a fun and flirty read by coauthors Christina Lauren. This story primarily takes place on the Hawaiian island of Maui, and the sights and sounds of the tropics are described perfectly. Through the marriage of their respective siblings, Olive Torres and Ethan Thomas are now in-laws. They were attracted to each other the first time they met, however, Ethan's brother purposely created an animosity between them. Overtime, this friction evolved into pure hatred.

For the first time ever, Olive is lucky. She did not eat from the seafood buffet that caused everyone at her sister's wedding to get food poisoning. Coincidentally, Ethan did not eat from the buffet as well. As a result, the nonrefundable honeymoon is up for grabs. Since Olive is her sister's identical twin, and Ethan is able to pass for his brother, they call a temporary cease fire and go on vacation together. Pretending to be a loving couple proves to be quite difficult at times, yet as Olive and Ethan truly get to know each other, their hostilities dissipate and they fall madly in love.

This is an nicely written novel, and Olive and Ethan are interesting, complex and genuine. Olive's extended family is a real hoot, and the way they support each other through thick and thin is beyond heartwarming. Ethan turns out to be a really nice guy, and I really liked how his self-confidence influenced those around him. If you enjoy a story with a lot energy and some funny moments, then pick up a copy of Unhoneymooners. This book may be enjoyed as a standalone.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

4 Stars
Another fantastic, funny, enemies to lovers rom com by the dynamic duo, authors Christina Lauren. I can always count on their creative collaborations to make me laugh out loud and The Unhoneymooners is no exception.

Olive and Ethan are great characters. The push/pull is terrific. The banter is witty, sarcastic and filled with innuendo. I love the premise of this story. It’s fresh and original. I liked that there was also some drama that involved Olivia and her sister. It added angst. But not too much.

Authors Christina Lauren had me laughing out loud, shaking my head and cringing in embarrassment for the characters at times. Great story about family, love and being your own person. Definitely recommend.

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren was definitely fun to read! This story of Olive and Ethan taking a “honeymoon” meant for Olive’s twin sister and her husband, Dane, is a twisted story of lies and guilty feelings for not being truthful. It is an enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy that I would recommend reading. I enjoyed the descriptive writing. I didn’t like the cheating and the excessive obsession with Olive being “unlucky” and how she was deceptive, yet feeling guilty…but overall I really liked this one! This isn’t my favorite book from Christina Lauren, but I still wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it because overall I really enjoyed it! 4 stars!

I'm a fairly new convert to Christina Lauren books and so far I have NOT been disappointed. The writing is fresh and has me laughing at things I never saw coming, which is a huge plus in my book! I'm a sucker for a good enemies-to-lovers romance and this one was in my top 5. Olive and Ethan are two characters that will keep you entertained, while wanting to shake some sense in to them. Olive will forever have my heart with her klutziness, as that's a fault I suffer from as well. A delightful story that takes you on a trip, has you believing a lie, only to wish it were true...loved it!

Love, love, love this book! I tore through it in a single day. This is a romantic comedy full of delicious wit and delightful chemistry. It has just enough complexity to feel real and relatable while still feeling as light and enjoyable as the Maui vacation you win via sweepstakes. If you are looking for your next great romantic comedy, I highly recommend The Unhoneymooners.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read it.

This was such a fun, relaxing read. I loved Ethan and Olive and all their crazy.

Olive has the worse luck ever. Her sister does not. But when the tables turn and Olive’s sister and brand new brother-in-law are laid low from food poisoning, it’s possible her luck has changed. With a new job lined up and her relationship with Ethan moving from enemies to something more, things are looking up. Now if they can hold it together once the honeymoon is over.

I absolutely adored this heroine, which is rare for me as I’m all about the hero. Olive had such a great, quirky outlook at life, even if it did seem a bit Eeyore-ish at times, a condition she eventually realizes and corrects. She’s the type of person I’d totally hang out with and love every minute of it. Her inner thoughts had me grinning and laughing as well as shaking my head at some of her antics. I would reread this book all over again because of her.

We don’t get a look into Ethan’s thoughts until the epilogue and I really missed having it. It wasn’t easy to tell what he was thinking and his actions didn’t always speak louder than words. As the story unfolds and we are given information from him I grew to love him. He’s not an alpha hero, but something, dare I say…better? He’s the type of man you’d want in your life always. He’s just a regular guy with regular reactions and some insecurities as well as being fallible. In the end, with that epilogue, I was sold completely.

This is such an entertaining read, a little lengthy but never boggy and with some drama that didn’t consume the whole story. The chemistry between these two was felt but not sizzling and I’d consider this a bit lite on the smexy times. Nevertheless, it was a wonderful book and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys a light hearted, low angst, enemies-to-lovers romance.

Heroine POV – Hero POV during epilogue
Safe <spoiler>h is not virgin; H is not manwhore; no om drama; ow is H’s ex who he wanted to marry but she did not – the H/h run into her repeatedly at the hotel/area they are vacationing and there are a few tense moments where ow acts like she wants to get back with H – it was a bit confusing because she was also all over her current fiancée – H and h have a bit of an argument over his reactions to the ow being jealous due to the fact that H was pleased that she was</spoiler>
Triggers <spoiler>h’s sister’s new husband cheated on her for a long while before engagement and hits on the h when she returns from the trip</spoiler>

OK, let us start with the fact that our couple Olive and Ethan pretty much hate the ground the other one walks upon, not a great place to start necessarily but it is a start . Due to the worst wedding history they end up with an already paid for honeymoon trip of a lifetime and here we have our "enemies to lovers" plot which would not excite me but the banter between these two and the slowly dissolving hate was some of the most laugh out loud funny stuff I have read in a very long time and I loved it.

This could have been 5 Stars but it stuttered a bit towards the ending before everything gets back to a good ending although one I did not really expect (which is a good thing) so all things considered this was a 4 Stars story with a lot of 5 Star dialogue so grab a copy an be prepared to be entertained.

A very entertaining love story of many unfortunate twists and turns. Full of fun characters, this novel was a delightful, quick, enjoyable and witty read. I received an ARC of this book, all opinions are my own.