This book was a perfect representation of a meet-cute when you least expect it. Sawyer was a romantic and successful romance author until her real life doesn't have a happy ending. when she has given up on love and almost her career, she has a textbook meet cute with hopeless romantic, Mason. Sawyer's chaotic energy was so well-balanced by Mason as they are on a mission to prove every romance trope wrong. There was tension and banter and all the amazing things. I loved that Mason started falling for Sawyer first, and helped her through her thoughts to realize her feelings for him. This one is for all the hopeless romantics! Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for a free eARC.

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This was absolutely amazing. The way that Mason and Sawyer both changed each others lives was beautiful. I loved that Sawyer was willing to do it scared and Mason was willing to slow down his timeline for her. I loved Mason's siblings and Lilly, Sawyer's best friend. I would love more by this author!

My sincere thanks to Forever and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read Unromance by Erin Connor. I give my unbiased opinion of this book in the following review.

The story begins with Mason and Sawyer having a rom-com worthy meet cute in an elevator. Unfortunately, neither one is in the right frame of mind for a relationship at that moment. This doesn't stop them from engaging in some also rom-com worthy banter and going back to Mason's place for a no strings never to be repeated one-night stand. When they do meet again, they hatch a plan that is supposed to be for their mutual benefit. Sawyer is a romance writer experiencing a major writing slump since ending a serious relationship. Mason is a well-known actor who has also experienced a recent break-up. He is being kicked around in the tabloids but is still a hopeless romantic. They figure if they go out together and put all the romantic tropes they can think of to the test, Sawyer will get some inspiration for her book and Mason will see how all the romantic scenarios can't possibly be for real and break his belief in romance. Well, I wasn't sure that was going to work, and I was right on when it didn't. Of course, Mason and Sawyer start catching feelings early on. I have to say that Mason was a pretty swoony character. Sawyer was a little prickly, but it wasn't hard to see that deep down she wanted the same things that Mason did. I enjoyed how they were able to build a friendship as well as a romantic relationship. It was fun to see them interact with their best friends while trying to figure out their next steps in their "unromance". All the tropes they tried like going ice skating and chopping down a Christmas tree were well worth the read. Be prepared for some steamy times, but like I said, the friendship building was my favorite part.

Unromance releases on January 14th, 2025

starting the year off STRONG with this one! i was quite literally OBSESSED.

if you’re a romance trope girlie like me, you will absolutely adore this book! sawyer and mason had an elevator meet-cute but neither of them were quite interested in relationships at the moment after both coming off bad-breakups. so what’s the opposite of a meet-cute? a one-night-stand where they’ll never see each other again.

meanwhile, sawyer was an author experiencing writers block and needed to do literally anything to get her book started because she had deadlines to meet. mason on the other hand wanted to be less of a romantic. he believed in true love and all the tropes and desperately needed someone to help him ruin that. alas, sawyer and mason made a pact. she would help him ruin romance and in the midsts of doing romantic things, hopefully she would be inspired to write her romance book.

they completed nearly every trope in the book and i loved every single minute of it. things like going to IKEA (aka every persons worst nightmare) and going ice skating when sawyer didn’t know how to. things that should have been daunting but the two hit it off and had unbelievable chemistry. highly, highly recommend this read especially with valentine’s day around the corner!

A romance debut promising a romp of subverted tropes and elder Millennial references, Erin Connor's Unromance has been high on my list of most anticipated 2025 releases. The story follows Sawyer Greene, a successful romance author struggling to finish a draft while grappling with her own heartbreak and loneliness who finds herself in the midst of a classic elevator meet-cute with a man who turns out to be Mason West, a mildly famous actor known for dating his costars and simping hard. After a (very hot) one-night stand, they decide they can help each other during the holiday season – they can undertake many Hallmark Christmas scenarios together so that he can inspire her to finish a new holiday romance while she can ruin romance for him.

There's much to admire in Erin Connor's debut – I adored the humor and banter, and was often delighted by the amusing "definitions" of classic tropes that accompanied each chapter. But as tongue-in-cheek and witty as this book often was, as much as I liked the main characters, as much as the chemistry and tension sizzled (the tights scene!!!), and as much as I enjoyed that many of the scenarios that felt very grounded and realistic rather than cutesy romantic fluff, things never really came together for me in a way that felt fully satisfying. The character back stories and more emotional beats felt like they were left simmering on the back burner for a little bit too long, making the emotional journeys and resolutions a bit too abrupt for my liking.

Still, I did enjoy the exploration of Sawyer's writing process in how they relate both to her work and relationships, and overall I really liked Erin's voice and sensibilities. Though I didn't ultimately fully love Unromance the way I hoped, I will look forward to more books from her in the future!

This was a fresh and delightful romcom debut featuring Sawyer Greene, a jaded bisexual disaster who is struggling to write her next romance book and recently dumped famous television actor, Mason West who still believes in love. After a fantastic meet 'not' cute where the two get stuck in an elevator and end the night with a one night stand, they don't see each other again until much later where they strike up a friendship bargain that sees Sawyer trying to destroy romance tropes for Mason and in exchange Mason tries to help Sawyer find her inspiration again.

Set over a number of months and holidays (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years), this story takes place in Chicago and was thoroughly entertaining! Full of great banter, sizzling chemistry and supportive family, this dual POV love story was also good on audio narrated by Mia Hutchinson Shaw & Lee Osorio and is perfect for fans of books like You, again by Kate Goldbeck. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @librofm for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!!

Unromance by Erin Connor is a charming and clever romcom with a unique premise. Sawyer, a jaded romance author with writer's block, and Mason, a hopeless romantic actor, team up to ruin romance for him by reenacting classic romcom tropes. Their adventures are fun, creative, and often hilariously romantic, despite their best efforts to avoid falling for each other.

The book’s structure is delightful, with each chapter highlighting a different romance trope—it’s a treat for romcom lovers! Mason is sweet and charismatic, while Sawyer’s wit and stubbornness make her an engaging protagonist. Their chemistry shines, even if the plot feels a little inconsistent at times.

The story drags in places, and the third-act conflict felt slightly overblown, but the grand gesture at the end was adorable. This is a heartfelt, funny, and spicy read that romcom fans will adore. Erin Connor’s debut is definitely worth checking out!

Unromance by Erin Connor is a delightful and charming read that will forever change your perspective on tights. This novel is not only entertaining but also thought-provoking, offering a fresh take on the traditional romance genre. Prepare to be captivated by Connor's unique storytelling and witty humor. You won't be able to put this book down!

3.25 stars! Sawyer is a cynical romance author with writers block and Mason is a hopeless romantic desperate to stop falling hard and fast for the wrong people. They make a pact to experience romance tropes in hopes of giving Sawyer ideas for her book and to ruin romance for Mason so he can take a break from dating. I loved the premise of this book, it’s the perfect setup for a romcom. I think this book would make an amazing movie. When I was reading the book I could so clearly see the scenes in my mind and I feel like it would translate so well!

Each chapter begins with a romance trope or cliche that’s going to be explored in the chapter and its definition. I absolutely loved this idea. I thought it was so original and was such a great addition especially given the plot!

Mason was a really sweet and likable mmc. I thought he really shined when he had conversations with his brother in law Luis. He was funny and charismatic and so supportive of Sawyer. Sawyer was witty and strong willed and hilarious! Their unromance outings were so fun and as a romcom lover I loved knowing what movie each activity came from!

While this book was a good time I was a bit confused by the plot. Sawyer was supposed to ruin romance for Mason but during all of the activities she never really did anything to spoil the romantic moments so every interaction was romantic, so what was the point? I also felt like there was so much internal monologue I would lose interest or get lost in the story so parts of this dragged. At the 70% mark the story really picked up pace and I was invested! There’s this third act conflict regarding Sawyer’s movie rights that, while I understand her anger, I think is blown way out of proportion and I was a bit confused about her reaction. I thought the resolution was a bit rushed but the grand gesture at the end was so cute!

I wasn’t that invested in the characters or their relationship and I something I can’t put my finger on was missing for me but I think a lot of people will really enjoy this book, especially if they love romcoms! It was a quick read that was funny and heartfelt and I’ll be sure to read Erin’s next book!

Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Sawyer may not believe love can live off the page or screen, but Mason just can’t stop falling. Can Sawyer Greene help him by ruining the illusion of romance one cheesy meet-cute at a time?

*Chefs kiss* this was just so charming and fun (and spicy)!

I would say, with the amount of Christmas and holiday activities being pivotal to the plot, I am very curious about the publisher releasing this mid-January. Was there just not another fall release window?

I hope this largely being a holiday book released post-holidays doesn’t hurt this debut author - because she deserves hype! So get ready for another Christmas…less than a month after Christmas because Unromance is hitting shelves January 14th!

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central
Publishing) and NetGalley for an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, this book was really fun - I love it when a romance takes traditional tropes and turns them upside down. It really felt like a book written by a book/romance reader, and that always makes it a little more special. I would say I’ll rate this at 3.5 overall - there was some repetition that got to me (but mason is moving to LA… I don’t like romance…. The list) and that took me out of it just a little. I think if it was shortened just a touch that would help relieve that repetition, that really just felt like filler

I loved this book so much. The concept alone is amazing, who doesn't love the personification of a black cat/golden retreiver in the form of a jaded romance author and an actor in love with love? Watching Sawyer and Mason go from strangers to friends to dumb dumbs to lovers was so rewarding and had so many fun nostalgic rom-com nods as well.

Like many have mentioned, it is definitely fun read and the author, without a doubt is talented, however the multiple breakups is something that just doesn’t work for me as a reader. I will definitely try her next book but from an enjoyment perspective, this just didn’t work for me.

3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book! The characters were all interesting, and I loved Sawyer and Mason. The celebrity aspect was a great addition. My main problem with this book was the main characters breaking up twice! I was getting very frustrated with them, and it was a bit hard to root for them once it hit like 2/3 of the way into the book. The queer rep was great, and I really enjoyed the first chunk of the book. It was well-written and I will definitely read more from this author.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! The idea of being a normal girl and meeting a movie star; this is every girls dream! Working through a list of romance action items, I thought I might get bored with the book, but, it kept me rapt the entire time. Way to go, Erin Connor, I loved it!

Hopeless romantic Mason and romance skeptic Sawyer made for such a fun and heartfelt read in Unromance by Erin Connor! Each chapter cleverly followed classic romance tropes, but nothing felt forced—it was such a natural, enjoyable journey. An impressive debut, and I can’t wait to see what Erin Connor writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for providing me with an ARC for review.

Thank you, Forever Books, for the review copy of Unromance by Erin Connor! This book is a win for me, a the perfect winter read for anyone craving a cozy post-holiday romance. If you adore stories that playfully honor and explore classic romance tropes with a sexy vibe, then this one is definitely for you!

Captivating Themes and Characters
One of the standout elements in Unromance is its behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood. While not the primary focus, the exploration of celebrity culture adds an extra layer of intrigue that always works for me as well as a focus on a jaded romance writer, which is always a fun way to bring in that book world, book in a book setting.

For me, a compelling romance novel also needs to showcase character growth, well-developed secondary characters, and an acknowledgment of diverse experiences in love and attraction. Connor excels in this regard with a queer female lead and a cast of engaging background characters who enrich the narrative. Each main character embarks on a journey of self-discovery, reflecting on their past relationships and professional lives in a way that feels authentic and relatable.

Why You'll Fall in Love with This Book
What truly makes Unromance shine is Connor's deep understanding of what readers crave in romance novels and romcoms. It’s all about those beloved tropes—the hopefulness that healthy, loving relationships are worth pursuing—and the delightful banter that brings smiles and cheer. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, making every "ruin this trope" moment charming.

So grab your blanket, settle in by the fire, and get ready to be swept away by Erin Connor’s enchanting debut!

I wanted to love this soo bad! and I do like the story it was cute but I didn’t stay emotionally invested in either characters.
Sawyer came off as a little self-centered and really insensitive to Mason and was a little childish at times and not the kind I like lol and dare I say it Mason was just a little too much roll not enough cinnamon if you catch my drift. I needed just a little more backbone from my boy because I absolutely adored him.
Now I did love that Sawyer was bisexual ( because hell yes ) and she was hilarious at times and BABY THE TIGHTS SCENE! 😮‍💨
Overall I truly enjoyed the book I just wish there was more chemistry between the main characters.
Overall rating: 3.6 ⭐️

Thank you again to Forever and Netgally for sending me this arc in exchange for an honest review

What a stellar debut! Erin Connor’s writing is so good and this honestly did not feel like a debut at all.

This book was really so fun. I loved the premise-an actor and romance writer help each other by completing romance tropes. He needs her to ruin romance for him because he falls too hard too fast. And she has had severe writer’s block since her heart was broken and need some inspiration. I’m sure y’all can guess what happens but the journey here was so fun.

These two start out as strangers who plan to never see each other again and then become friends and I loved seeing their friendship form through their mission. If you love romance tropes you’ll adore this one.

These two characters felt so real. They were both flawed and had to work through their flaws. I thought Mason was just so sweet and I loved how he realized the need for patience and then Sawyer with the grand gesture - adorable!

This one releases January 14th (and it’s an Aardvark pick if you haven’t filled your box yet!). I’m already excited to see what Erin releases next! Thank you to Forever, NetGalley, and the author for the ARC!

👍🏻Read If You Like:
•Romance Tropes
•Celebrity MMCs
•Writer FMCs
•Grand Gestures

🛑Content Warnings: overbearing parent, nonexistent relationship with parents due to MC’s sexuality (briefly discussed), moderate language

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️Open Door Romance (Closed Door Mods: chapter 3, end of Ch. 15, chapter 25)

*Thank you so much NetGalley and Publisher for providing me with an e-Arc for an honest review!*

What a good read!

Can we talk about how freaking cute and heartwarming this read was! I am a huge movie buff and romcom lover! So this was the perfect book to pick up for a lighthearted, swoony romance.