Really enjoyed this one! I mean, I was definitely convinced to read it because of the cover. A really great debut, can’t wait for more from this author

The love that I feel for this book knows no limits - it's one I'm going to be encouraging others to read for a long time as it is truly worth it!

Sawyer, an author, struggling through an intense bout of writers block is such an incredible character - she's sassy, she's lovely, she's just such a joy of a character. I just absolutely adore her. Her fear of pain keeps her stuck, and watching as she grows and develops and ultimately learns that and overcomes it? It's just so incredibly well done.

Mason, a famous actor from a sitcom, and a man that is always in the tabloids for dating and breaking up with his co-stars. He's over the top and all in without ever really checking in with himself or his partners and it just makes for a really lousy combo.

The meet-cute that they have, in an elevator is just beyond words and the passion that unfolds in what should just be a one night thing is next level.

But then - they run into each other again, and realize that they can truly help each other. Mason needs help staying out of tabloids, and he needs his views on romance ruined, and Sawyer needs to be inspired to write. What follows is just plain fun - the ways they go about "ruining romance" is absolutely hilarious, and all of the moments that follow are so sweet and wholesome. I've read more romance than any other genre, and rom-coms are my all time favorite movies and the take that is taken on both of these is unlike any other I have ever read. It's fresh, and fun, and just so enjoyable for the reader.

The chapter headings alone had me cracking up - the yearning, the banter, the dildo's (!), they all just had me cracking up and enjoying this read so much. I can't even get over the fact that this is Erin's debut novel!! Such a fantastic one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

As a rom com lover ( both books and movies) I was all over the concept of this book. It had total How To Lose A Guy IN 10 Days vibes, but with the couple going into it intentionally. Unfortunately, I couldn't really get behind the couple themselves. I adored Mason, but he and Sawyer didn't really have any believable chemistry. And as the book moved on the conflict between the two became over the top and repetitive. Pair that with the slow pacing and it became a struggle for me to remain connected to the story.

I did enjoy seeing all the different scenarios Sawyer came up with to serve as the meet cutes they were trying to ruin. And we get some pretty top level spice. Which helped redeem the book a bit for me. And there is some decent comedy. I did have fun reading the book. Just not one that would live on my forever shelf as a physical copy.

Unromance is exactly the kind of quick paced rom-com that I adore reading. Sawyer is a work-a-holic romance author and chronically unattached while Mason is a hopeless romantic actor who is always falling in love. Their meet cute and repeated run ins had me kicking my feet and squealing with joy and their subsequent “don’t fall in love” arrangement had me cackling gleefully. I had the best time reading their story. Time after time, whenever I thought they couldn’t get any cuter or funnier, something would happen to have me squawk laughing out loud. I loved the little references to Taylor Swift and Bridgerton, the bi representation, the overly supportive, meddling friends, and I am *convinced* Mason was the McDreamy of his medical drama show. The “Unromance” list they created was bound to fail and I truly had the best time reading how it unraveled. Trust me, you’ll laugh at the banter, blush at the spice, and weep from joy at the sweetness (at least I did all of these things). I LOVED IT SO MUCH! Literally all the stars, no notes. Unromance is a GLORIOUSLY perfect debut romance novel. I cannot wait to read more from Erin in the future. I’m anticipating her being an auto-buy author from me moving forward!

If you like romantic comedies that will make you cackle out loud and then weep how much you love love, then Unromance is the book for you. Also if you like the film How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, you’ll love this book!

Unromance was such a fun and lighthearted story. The characters were easy to like and the story line was engaging.

Sawyer and Mason meet by chance in an elevator while on their way to a restaurant. The two then have a second chance meeting at a market. This second encounter leads the two to develop a challenge, with the goal being to change each other’s views on romance and falling in love. Sawyer will work to show Mason that not everything that screams cliche romance is a reason to instantly fall in love. Mason will work toward inspiring romance ideas for Sawyer’s next book that she must complete in order to save her writing career. Their plan seems solid, but as love goes, not all things can be planned and written out perfectly.

Unromance is a perfect mix of spicy, sweet, and humor, with some serious moments. This is a great read for romance lovers!

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Unromance.

This was sadly a DNF for me - this fell flat for me. I had no interest in the characters or the story. I did not see any benefit for pushing forward.

Gave me all the feels!! I loved this one!! It was charming Great debut and can’t wait to read more from her!

This was sooo good and such a wonderful debut novel by Erin Connor. A rom-com featuring a hopeless romantic MMC and a romance writing FMC who has sworn off love? Perfection!!!!!

Mason and Sawyer were so enjoyable as characters- their chemistry instant and butterfly inducing!! Their inner thoughts were so relatable and without giving too much away, these two end up being made for each other. And while this was told in third person, I enjoyed the dual POV of it all.

Unromance is a fresh and flirty take on the rom-com genre, packed with steamy banter, undeniable chemistry, and plenty of holiday vibes to make it the perfect cozy-yet-spicy read. Erin Conner delivers a witty, trope-filled ride that doesn’t take itself too seriously—until suddenly, it does in the best way possible.

Sawyer and Mason’s dynamic is electric from the start. Their one-night stand is supposed to be just that, but their hilarious attempts to "ruin romance" together only make their connection stronger. Mason’s dramatic, heart-on-his-sleeve energy is the perfect counter to Sawyer’s cynical, no-nonsense attitude, and their banter? Absolute gold. Plus, the bi-sexual rep is seamlessly woven in, adding depth without feeling forced.

While the book leans into rom-com chaos in the best way, the emotional payoff could have hit harder. Still, the chemistry, humor, and playful deconstruction of romance tropes make this a highly enjoyable read. If you love books that are self-aware, sexy, and just the right amount of ridiculous, Unromance is a must-read!

Thank you to @netgalley and @readforeverpub for the e-ARC.

Unromance is the story of two people who have built their careers around romance, through writing and acting, and are rediscovering its power in their personal lives. This was a great read, and while it attempted to break down romance tropes, it acknowledged all of the enjoyable aspects of romantic stories and films. I liked how Sawyer and Mason tried not to fall in love with one another until falling deeply for one another. I was hooked from the very first chapter.

Unromance by Erin Connor follows Sawyer, a romance author and Mason a TV actor.
I really liked Mason as an mmc, he was really sweet and charismatic. He falls first trope is my favorite. The characters were very likable, and the chemistry between characters was so good.
Overall, such a cute read, I really enjoyed it. Such a solid debut novel. Highly recommended.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing an e-arc of this book.

Unromance was such a cute and fun book. I enjoyed how Sawyer and Mason went through their checklist, and how despite everything Mason was falling for Sawyer. You could see their connection as they bonded over trying to "fix" what's broken about them. The side characters added a lot to the story, especially mason's family.

Romance author Sawyer Greene is in a writing slump after being dumped and tv actor Mason West finds himself over-romanticizing every relationship he’s in. To get her out of her writing slump and help his future romantic prospects, they decide to ruin all the cliche romance tropes together.

As much as I loved the winter Chicago setting and the chemistry, Unromance fell flat. The main aspect that didn’t click with me was the whole concept of ruining all romance tropes. Each of these cliche dates felt forced and I found myself dreading when Sawyer and Mason wanted to check an item off their list. The organic moments between the two were by far better and I wish the author didn’t lean on the gimme to build a romance around.

For those looking for a quick winter/holiday romance, this will scratch that itch but I wouldn’t put it at the top of your list.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved all of the winks & nods to bookstagram & romance readers. I loved that Sawyer was the one to do the grand gesture in the end & not Mason since it's usually the guy doing the grand gesture. It was fun to see the couple put in "romance trope" situations. I liked the mutual pining & how their friendship grew so it was even more satisfying when they end up together.

UnRomance offers a delightful premise, following romance author Sawyer and famous actor Mason West as they navigate a fake dating arrangement during the holiday season in Chicago. The book starts strong, with fantastic chemistry between the leads and a fun, fresh take on the romance genre. Sawyer’s bisexual representation is a highlight, adding depth to her character, and the wintery setting enhances the charm.

However, while the first half is engaging and filled with witty banter, the second half loses momentum. The central conflict feels predictable and slightly exaggerated, making the resolution less satisfying. Despite these flaws, UnRomance is a cozy, entertaining read with lovable characters. If you enjoy writer-focused romances with holiday vibes, this one is worth picking up!

3 Reasons to Read This Book:
🎭 Fun Premise – A romance writer and a Hollywood actor fake date while trying to “ruin romance”? It’s a unique and playful setup!

📖 Great Character Chemistry – Sawyer and Mason’s connection is strong from the start, making their journey enjoyable to follow.

❄️ Perfect for the Holiday Season – Set in Chicago during winter, this book is ideal for curling up with a warm drink and getting lost in a snowy romance!

A great comfort read that had fantastic witty charm and banter between the characters. It was well written with great flow and dialogue. I am happy to have found a new author and look forward to read more from them in the future.

I enjoyed this book very much, all the fun cliches had me laughing. I can't wait to get our copies in.

Unromance is about a romance writer named Sawyer Greene who doesn't believe in love anymore and Mason West, a famous actor and hopeless romantic. Sawyer and Mason meet in an elevator and end up having a one night stand. A one night stand turns into a friendship when the two decide to teach each other their philosophies about love and relationships. Sawyer will teach Mason to have fun without getting attached and Mason will give Sawyer inspiration for the romance book she was supposed to have finished writing a while ago.

Something about Unromance called to me. I thought I was going to absolutely love it, but it ended up just being an okay read. The book is a homage to the rom com genre and its tropes, which I can totally get behind.

I struggled with the writing and the characters in this book. The writing was really good and funny at times, but some of the dialogue felt strange and unnatural. The character work seemed so great and deep at first, but as the story went on, I found their motivations to be weak and their decisions to be kind of annoying. An example of this was Sawyer's belief that no one could love her because of her job. This does get resolved, but while Mason cheers her on and gives her space to write her book, Sawyer still believes he's going to get upset with her for going quiet will she writes. It was small things like this that disconnected me from the story because it didn't totally make sense to me. I also thought the pacing of this book was a little off. This book felt SO long. Towards the end of the book, the author references that the two characters have only known each other and I was astonished that it had only been around two months.

I don't want to be too negative because I did not in any way hate this book. I loved the Chicago setting. I also usually dislike reading about ~famous~ characters, but I felt like the author was so successful at establishing Mason as a famous actor without going over the top and being annoying trying to prove his fame in this story. I also really loved the inclusion of so many different holidays and celebrations. Mason's family and friends were so fun to read about.

I would recommend this if:
-you love the rom com genre
-you like reading about writers
-you like holiday romance

The perfect read to kick off the month of love: Unromance.

Sawyer is a bestselling romance author but after her ex left she’s been stuck in a season of writers block. However, when dropping off books to a friend, she gets stuck in an elevator with Mason. She takes the opportunity not as a meet cute but for a fun one night stand. But Sawyer keeps running into Mason. Mason sees these run ins as a chance to cure one another from him being a hopeless romantic and to help her writers block by unromancing romance cliches- the Christmas tree farm date, ice skating, etc. they just have two rules - no more sex and no falling in love.

This was such a fun read and while trying to break down romance cliches it also appreciated all the fun parts of romance books and films. I did find it seems to move quickly for the first two thirds of the book and then we encountered a lot of the two MCs having conflict. Overall though I loved seeing mason and Sawyer navigate IKEA dates and family dinners trying not to catch feelings.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to @netgalley and @readforeverpub for the ALC and ARC as I enjoyed moving back and forth between the audio and digital copies.

#books #bookreview #earc #netgalley #netgalleyreview #novelsandneedlework #netgalleyarc #romancebooks #romancereader

Unromance is a contemporary novel that attempts to subvert traditional romantic tropes, offering a more nuanced take on relationships and personal growth. While the book had some engaging moments, it ultimately felt just okay for me due to issues with character development and pacing.

What I Liked
The concept of Unromance is intriguing. The author does a good job of challenging conventional romantic storytelling, providing a fresh perspective on love and human connection. The writing style is accessible and fluid, making it an easy read. Additionally, the book’s themes of self-discovery and independence were well-handled and added some depth to the narrative.
There were moments of sharp, witty dialogue that stood out, and some of the interactions between characters felt genuinely heartfelt. The protagonist's journey had potential, and there were flashes of strong character insight throughout the book.

What I Didn’t Like
Despite its strengths, Unromance didn’t fully resonate with me. The pacing felt uneven, with certain sections dragging on while others rushed through key emotional beats. The story lacked a strong central conflict, making it difficult to stay invested at times.
Additionally, while the book aims to deconstruct romance, some of the character relationships felt underdeveloped. Certain side characters blended together, and their interactions with the protagonist often felt superficial rather than meaningful. The emotional impact of the book could have been stronger with more depth and nuance in these relationships.

Recommendations for Improvement
To make Unromance a more compelling read, I would suggest:
1. Tightening the pacing – Balancing the narrative flow so that key moments don’t feel rushed or drawn out.
2. Deepening character relationships – Providing more emotional depth and complexity to the supporting cast.
3. Strengthening the central conflict – Ensuring that the story has a more defined arc to maintain reader engagement.

Conclusion
Unromance has an interesting premise and moments of sharp writing, but it didn’t fully deliver on its potential. While readers looking for a non-traditional take on romance may appreciate its themes, the uneven pacing and underdeveloped characters kept it from being a standout for me. With some refinement, it could be a much stronger and more engaging novel.