I loved this book, if you romance that feels very "Harry Met Sally" this is the book for you. The sarcastic undertones are fun.

3.75 stars rounded up.

There were things I really liked about this book and other things that just didn't appeal to me, causing me to question is it me? LOL.

Described as a grumpy meets sunshine trope by some reviewers I think it's more a love cynic meets a cinnamon roll. Sawyer is the cynical romance writer, burned by romance and Hollywood's spin on her book turned movie and Mason is the cinnamon roll actor who repeatedly falls in love but can't ever make them stay. When they meet in their own stuck elevator "meet cute" and go on to have a one night stand, neither thinks they'll see the other again. However, another chance meeting at a Christmas market has them making a deal; Sawyer will ruin romance for Mason making him not find romance in the simplest of things so he won't keep falling in love and Mason can serve as her muse so Sawyer can get another book written. The rules are simple. No more sex, no falling in love/catching feelings as Sawyer isn't interested in a relationship and Mason is moving to LA to focus on the next chapter of his career, producing. What could possibly go wrong?

The chapter headings are super cute, each with a common romance trope that Sawyer then tries to ruin for Mason. Of course, with their chemistry they end up having fun regardless of Sawyer's cynical spin. Try as they might they can't seem to keep each other in the friend zone and this is where the conflict lies. It's giving a Nora Ephron, When Harry Met Sally vibe that I approve of.

While I loved the concept of the story, I had some trouble with the character development. Sawyer was hard for me to connect with, mostly because she never seemed to resolve her feelings from her previous breakup...even though it's been 3 years. She's bisexual, estranged from her family (which undoubtedly doesn't help her relationship issues,) intent on being this isolated writer but yet she exudes this chaotic, I'm really an extrovert energy that seems not in tune with the rest of her character. She kind of stressed me out and while her sense of humor made me laugh at times, other times it was just too much, like she was trying too hard.

Mason was almost too perfect. He's understanding, patient, supportive, a good lay (lol) and yet he always gets dumped. The explanation given by one of his exes makes sense, but it was hard not to love him more than Sawyer because he comes off as perfection.

Overall, I think this was a great debut novel. I hope the author incorporates more meaningful dialogue and less internal monologue filler in her future stories as I feel like more dialogue could have taken this from good to outstanding! I'm excited to see where the author goes next.

I loved this book so much! Literally hooked from the beginning! The tension and the banter was everything! I can’t wait to read more from Erin!

Unromance by Erin Connor is perfect for lovers of 90s/00s rom coms and anyone who enjoys romance novels that offer something fresh and just a little bit different. This book pays beautiful homage to How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days, as well as other beloved romantic comedies that we’ve all seen over and over again, whilst still being something unique and new.

These characters! Firstly, I am always a complete sucker for a bisexual main character. I also happen to be a sucker for a main character who is down on their knees deeply in love. Don’t even get me started on what happens to my brain when you take those characters (who are so much more than these surface level descriptions) and make them both best friends and lovers. We have Sawyer, whom I entirely adore and see much of myself in. It’s like a funhouse mirror - the reflection looks a little different but all the same parts are there. The way she is both wounded and warm is one of my many favourite things about her character. We also have Mason, whom is exceptionally and unfairly perfect. Truly written by a woman, crafted by a Hozier song, forged from materials handed down by gods.

This character cast was also very healthy and fully formed. Across the board there was a level of maturity and self-awareness that I don’t feel is often represented in romance books. Because of this, there were very view points of conflict. Yes, this is one of those romance novels that features miscommunication. However, I want to point out that there is not a blatant lack of communication (I feel this is so popular in the genre right now). If anything it was simply due to difficulty finding effective ways to express oneself, which made the characters feel even more real and, for some like myself, relatable. At no point in this book did we see a character compromising their authentic self or sacrificing something that was important to them.

Let’s discuss the spice/smut in this novel - yes it does get its own paragraph. I so appreciate a romance novel that includes snapshots of intimacy while demonstrating that the author knows where to draw the line in terms of frequency, language, and overall content. Erin Connor does not depend on explicit scenes to hold the reader’s attention, instead creating a well balanced story with tasteful snapshots of intimacy that add to our view of the character’s relationship and attraction to one another. I wouldn’t necessarily say that this aspect is done conservatively (definitely not the novel for anyone who prefers “closed door”), I simply believe it is well executed and integrated. Honourable mention to the tights scene that dripped perfection.

All in all, Unromance is the result of an interesting and refreshing concept that was so well executed. It even ended just how I hoped it would - probably better honestly.

A huge thank-you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the opportunity to read and review this ebook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

First off, thank you for the arc in exchange for my honest review! I think this one had great potential but missed the mark for me. The concept of going on cheesy dates to ruin romance didn't really make sense, especially if one of the characters is prone to fall in love easily. There were cute moments, but I found myself not paying close attention or having that consuming feeling when reading a book. I did enjoy the focus on romance tropes that set the tone for each chapter though, but something was missing for me overall.

Unromance starts with our main character, Sawyer who is a romance author who is stumped. She's written her bestseller and doesn't know where to go from there. This is in large part due to her previous relationship. Her relationship with her ex-girlfriend was toxic and she's had a constant case of writer's block. In comes Mason who is a beloved TV actor and his love life has become front-page news. No matter what he does, he's always seen as a heartthrob and after being dumped by his co-star, it's clear he's looking for a fresh start. The two end up having a meet-cute in an elevator which seems like the start of a budding romance.

Since Sawyer doesn't do relationships though, it ends up being an early hookup but it's clear the chemistry is there. The two end up forming a friendship which does turn into more but not without that dash of Hollywood drama. Sawyer is trying to overcome her writer's block while Mason is trying to leave his TV show to work at his own production company. These two have a lot going on but somehow, it just works in the story. Erin Connor's writing style is so fun and engaging that you'll immediately fall into the story and won't want to put it down. In a way, her writing style reminds me of fanfiction as it's just so compulsively readable.

The only issue I had with Unromance was the pacing. As soon as I thought the book was wrapping up, things just kept going. Maybe it was my mismanaged expectations, but it felt incredibly distracting. It could be a quirk as a debut author but that was my only real complaint about this book. If you're a romance reader, I think you're going to adore Unromance.

This was truly adorable. I loved the banter and the nods to 80's movies, tropes, music, etc. Fun story and characters with excellent writing.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.

Unromance by Erin Connor ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

All the early praise for this one has been well earned! It was a fun romcom that spun so many cliches on its head. And imagine my delight when How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days (my favorite romcom movie) was shouted out throughout the book.

The characters were lovely. They each were individuals first, which I always love. I loved how they each were self-aware and grew by the end. Seeing their journey gave me warm fuzzies. The plot was delightful. I did feel like it lulled in places, but overall, I was completely invested in the story.

Fans of romcoms, funny banter, and great character growth will enjoy this one.

Thank you so much to Forever for an advance copy of this!

I know it's about a week into the new year but did I already find my favorite book of the year? It's quite possible. I was highly invested in this book from start to finish. I absolutely loved both our FMC and the MMC. And you all know how much I love a celebrity romance.

The book starts off with one of the ultimate meet cutes (or in Mason's case, his worst nightmare): getting stuck in the elevator. Once they are unstuck and go on their merry way, their paths crossed later that night and they decided to have a one night stand. This did end up being an open door romance but I initially got sad because we did not get the full picture of their hook up. They thought they would not see each other again but guess what, they did.

I love their relationship and how much it grows throughout the book. Sawyer talks about her loneliness and found such a friendship with Mason. And Mason was so gone for her and wanted to be there for her in any way he could. I love that they each had their own trials going on in the book which they were able to have one another to lean on through it. Sawyer was struggling with writer's block and feeling the pressure of putting out a quality new book. Mason is starting a production company with his best friend and decided to leave the hit show that he was in for 6 years.

As I mentioned this book is open door and WHEWWWW!!! I remember seeing a review thanking the author for the tights scene and I would also sign off on that thank you. Their flirtatious banter was *chef's kiss* Every moment we got of them together just made me smile so much!

This is a debut book and I'm very excited to see what this author does in the future. I also can't wait to revisit this book via the audiobook.

I highlighted so many sections due to the swoon worthy dialogue between Mason and Sawyer. Their banter was top notch. Here are some of my favorite moments:

"Do not keep making sex jokes or I will fall in love with you"
"Don't you dare."

The falling was fun, yes, but the problem with falling was you eventually hit the ground.

"I'm getting you a present"
"You in that dress and those tights is gift enough."

Everyone had layers, like an onion, but Sawyer was like the coconuts she always smelled of. You had to be fucking determined if you wanted to get to the heart of her.

"I think you might be my favorite person."
"Of course I am, I'm fantastic."

Grumpy romance novelist Sawyer meets romantic (and famous actor) Mason. With their opposite personalities and views on love, Mason thinks Sawyer is the perfect person to cure him of his romantic, over-eager nature so he can finally find love. Sawyer tries to "cure" him of being a romantic by creating a list of all the tropes and romantic things couples do in romance books so she can fix him while she hopes to gather inspiration for her next novel that is waaay overdue. However, after the meet cute that brought them together (getting stuck in an elevator), each anti-romantic romantic event just ends up bringing them closer.

I requested this one after I listened to a @foreverpub zoom call where they went over some of their new releases (I actually ended up requesting 4 titles) and I’m so glad that I got inspiration from them to read this one. The novel was such a cute read with romance tropes aplenty (but in a very obvious and humorous way). With each chapter title being a romantic trope, I enjoyed the tongue in cheek way that the novel addresses what we love and hate about romance novels. This is a debut novel and now I cannot wait to read the next novel by this author - I inhaled this one in a day.

Thank you to Forever Pub and NetGalley for the ARC to review

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever, and Grand Central Publishing for this advanced copy! You can pick up Unromance on January 14, 2025.

I'd like to personally thank Erin Connor for pulling me out of my romance reading slump. I haven't been in the mood to pick up a contemporary romance in weeks, but from the moment I met Sawyer and Mason in that elevator, I was hooked.

Not only does Connor have a unique and compelling voice, but she also crafts such relatable and fleshed-out characters. I literally wanted to laugh and cry with Sawyer and Mason multiple times, and their dynamic was absolutely electric. I love how Mason was so emotionally vulnerable and just a true cinnamon roll of a man, which perfectly complemented Sawyer's acidic exterior and gooey interior. They were truly made for each other, your honor.

I also loved the premise of crushing a hopeless romantic's tendencies while inspiring a jaded romance writer for her next book. The use of epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter was an original way to acknowledge the tropes that the scene would address. It broke the fourth wall in the best way, and while you might expect a book that's all about recreating romance tropes to be cheesey, I actually didn't find it so. Connor perfectly balanced the ridiculousness of the tropes with the real-life emotions and implications behind them.

Lastly, I don't think I've EVER read a more healthy and relatable third-act breakup. It didn't feel silly or contrived to advance the plot, instead ACTUALLY contributing to the MCs' growth.

All in all, this might just be the perfect romance book, and y'all CLEARLY need to pick it up January 14.

This was a super cute romance that really overdid it with the tropes. We get it, you are attempting to flip the typical romance tropes. Being “meta” can be cute but this was overkill.

I liked the characters overall but the premise is actually what I couldn’t get passed. If you want to set up characters for a forced proximity situation it just need to make SOME sense, and this didn’t.

Oh this was so much fun!!! Where do I even start? I loved the premise of this book and the execution was amazing! I had such a great time reading this. This book was funny, spicy and overall just a good time. I loved that it recognized the cliches in romance books but made it its own, overall I just thought this book was so original. I loved the characters, I especially loved the growth we saw from Sawyer, while I was reading I was just rooting for her and waiting for her to have her moment with the ex and when it happened and she realized what she wanted out of her life I was screaming YESSSSSS!!! Also, Mason?! Literally a dream come true, I adored him! He was the sweetest and I loved loved LOVED seeing him be the hopeless romantic. The whiplash I got from this book was also very insane lol. I’m so so happy I was able to read it! Thank you!!! (Also the tights scene??? Engraved into my brain)

First thank you to forever and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Synopsis: sawyer green is a romance writer but has limited romance in her life since her last breakup. Mason west is an actor and hopeless romantic that has too much romance which impacts his business. After a great one night stand, they meet again and decide on a plan to ruin romance for him so that his business dreams can come true. However will that work?

What I liked: I have had a smile on my face since I read this and just loved it. Sawyer is fierce, silly and beautiful. Mason is handsome, sweet and goes along with sawyers plan. I love how they open up to each other and from that grew. Mason could have just been the dumb beautiful jock but he had such depth and made you swoon, yes actually swoon. Sawyer was smart but also kind and vulnerable. However you put both of them together and talk about magic. I loved their chemistry and banter.
Just read this romance you will love it

What a charming, sexy, and emotional debut. I found the main characters, Sawyer and Mason, to be endearing so I couldn’t put this down. I loved that she was a jaded romance author and he was a hopeless romantic TV heartthrob. The story played like a movie in my head with the elevator meet-cute, Christmas tree farm, and Christmas holiday market. I really liked their connection and banter- at times it felt really tender. I appreciated that there were some laugh-out-loud moments and the subtle (and not too subtle) use of romance tropes. I really really liked the grand gestures at the end and the Jane Austen references. I do have more thoughts but don’t want to spoil anything. Overall, because I’m a romance girlie, I found this to be an enjoyable read and a delightful ode to the room-com movie and book genre.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was an okay book for me, good, but still okay. It was fun and all but how many times are they going to break up in a book. But hey I guess maybe that's why it is named what it is named. I can tell that the author will be someone that I would enjoy so I definitely wouldn't mind reading something else by her. I will also refer this book to others who may be interested in it.

I adored this book so much! The premise is absolutely brilliant...one of the freshest romance plots I've read in a bit, and I love that turning the tropes upside down is what accomplished it. At the same time, it's also a love letter to those tropes and the rom-coms that showcase them!

I don't generally love a celebrity/normie romance, but the fact that their differing worlds was never really the main source of conflict made it almost a non-factor here,

These characters have excellent chemistry. The banter is everything. Polar opposite approaches to love aside, they GET each other, they speak the same language.

My only knock would be that there was a lot of telling instead of showing, particularly when it came to their emotions. Maybe we spend too much time in their heads and not enough in interactions with other characters?

All in all, a fabulous debut. I'll definitely be giving the audiobook a whirl as well!

5 stars
I absolutely loved this book. It made me laugh, it made me cry it made me laugh some more, but most importantly as a bisexual (slightly chaotic) woman it made me feel seen in a way few books have, This will be a go to recommendation for me for sure and I will be very excitedly awaiting the next book from Erin Connor as this debut novel knocked my socks off.

Unromance was so clever. Each chapter was separated into typical romance tropes, and our story followed them, but often with a little twist. Our main characters have a chance encounter in an elevator, and keep running into eachother. Our FMC, Sawyer, is a jaded romance writer who needs to get her romance groove back to beat the writers blocks she's had since her last break-up. Our MMC, Mason has the opposite problem--he keeps falling in love too easily, and as a TV star, the tabloids are having a field day with his string of failed relationships. The two team up-- Mason to inspire romance for Sawyer and Sawyer to ruin romance for Mason.

This was so so fun! Mason is the epitome of a cinnamon roll, and I love when a jaded character with a hard exterior starts to crack and open up.

4.5/5

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever Publishing for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a gosh darn delight.

5⭐️

No notes.

Thank you to Forever for an eARC! Review opinions are my own.