4 STARS
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

2.5 SPICE
🌶️🌶️.5

I really enjoyed this one. I thought Sawyer and Mason had great chemistry, and their characters felt believable.

The only thing that I had maybe a small dislike about was that it was written in 3rd person POV, which isn’t my favorite, though I will say that it was written well enough that it didn’t bother me too much.

I would definitely recommend this one, and I will definitely read more from Erin Connor in the future!

Many thanks to the author and publisher for an eARC for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was an enjoyable read. The banter was great, the different rom com references were a lot of fun and the general interactions between the two MCs was really well done - especially in a debut romance.

Some of the key tropes:
- He falls first
- One night stand
- Bi FMC
- Forced proximity
- Meet cute
- A list of tropes to 'debunk'
- Open door spice

I ate this book up - I really enjoyed the checklist of different tropes (each chapter having it's own focus) that they were recreating and the way that they kept going through the activities. I thought the romance writer FMC was a great foil for the MMC. Their friendship was solid as it developed and their relationship really grew throughout the story which made the overall HEA believable and something that I was rooting for. Overall, really solid debut - I'm looking forward to what's next from this author.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book.

UNROMANCE is a little more classically romcom in a way I love - great writing, big feelings, a love story that’s perfectly complemented by character growth. The plot reminded me of beach read, but more purposefully leaning into tropes (including celebrity-normal person, which isn’t always my fav but is executed perfectly here). Also, it’s set in Chicago! At Christmas time! (But you can read it any time of year!)

This is a cozy, heartwarming holiday romance with just the right amount of spice and emotional depth.
Sawyer Greene might write love stories for a living, but after a brutal breakup and a relentless case of writer’s block, she’s lost all faith in happily-ever-afters. Enter Mason, a stranger, and a broken elevator—what starts as a one-time fling quickly becomes more complicated when fate (and festive decorations) throw them back together at a Christmas market worthy of a Hallmark movie.
This story strikes a perfect balance between snarky banter and genuine connection. Sawyer is a relatable, sharp-witted protagonist whose emotional walls feel earned and real, while the love interest brings just enough warmth and charm to slowly melt them down.
I also listened to this as an audiobook, which added an extra layer of enjoyment, enhancing the whole experience. Whether you're curling up with the physical book or letting the audiobook carry you through cold evenings, this is a feel-good holiday romance with humor, heart, and a touch of heat. Perfect if you are a fan of second chances and unexpected holiday magic.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I’m so thankful that Forever, Hachette Audio, and Netgalley gave me gifted copy of Unromance.

I grabbed it for the cover. She might be eating a fry but it definitely looks like something else.

Unromance was such a fun romcom.
I loved the meet cute that Sawyer and Mason had. The concept of Unromance was also great. Sawyer and Mason go through a bunch of common tropes to help Sawyer write her next book and to help Mason not fall in love.

It is set during the holidays so if you’re looking for a holiday related book definitely check it out.

I loved the narrators. They added to the storytelling of the book.

I thought this meet cute was super fun! I found both characters to be extremely likable and their banter was great. I love the hopeless romantic man with the jaded romance writer dynamic of this storyline, I felt that it was a nice switch and also brought a lot of humor. Mason and Sawyer both of course have their own baggage from previous relationships, but i felt it brought a nice background to their individual stories that tied in well with them coming together.

This was so well written. The conversations, the chrecters, the story, and the smut. We had background, and development, and things made sense, and the reactions were appropriate to the situations. It also had heartfelt moments I really loved.

Thank you to Forever for providing me with an ARC for my honest feedback

This book took me by surprise - it was cute and sweet and a little but holiday. Main characters Mason (heartthrob actor) and Sawyer (romance author) happens on an elevator, which is so cliche and the perfect for the set-up of the book. It echoed How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days in that Sawyer going to “ruin romance” for him while getting inspiration for her next book and he needs to take a break from dating publicly. Of course it turns out that as they date (the cutest, most fun dates of course) Mason and Sawyer were able to be themselves. There was a comfort they enjoyed in each others presence, and I loved that they could be real with one another. Until things get too real and we get a third act break up. Maybe this would have been better if the book was dual POV? Overall I just was not into it and I was just unenthusiastic by this point. So I am rounding my rating up to a 4, but truly this landed at a 3.5-star read for me.

Unromance is such a fun, clever twist on the typical rom-com. It follows Sawyer, a romance author who’s totally over love, and Mason, a charming (and slightly chaotic) TV star who agrees to help her act out cliché romantic tropes—for “research,” of course. What starts as a playful, no-strings plan quickly turns into something real, even though both of them are totally in denial about it.

The banter between the characters is sharp and hilarious, and each chapter kicks off with a classic romance trope that sets up the chaos to follow. It’s like a love letter to rom-coms, but also pokes fun at them in the best way. Sawyer’s bisexuality is woven in naturally, and the story feels inclusive and modern without trying too hard.

There are a couple slow moments, but overall it’s heartfelt, funny, and full of chemistry. If you love romance with a bit of sarcasm and self-awareness, this one’s a total win.

While I love the cover, that's about all I like about this book. I just couldn't get into it. It was too cheesy and trope-y for me. I'm sorry!

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC exchange for my honest review.)

✨ Review ✨ Unromance by Erin Connor, Narrated by Mia Hutchinson Shaw; Lee Osorio

Thanks to Forever, Hachette Audio, and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

A romance writer who’s jaded with love and an actor who can’t stop falling in love, try to cure each other’s problems by proving tropes right/wrong. This makes a noble attempt to integrate AS MANY TROPES as possible, which sounds annoying but really made this loads of fun. All of the references to the best romcoms make this truly joyful to read.

The book is set in Chicago at Christmas-time and the setting surrounding them is delightful -- ice-skating, Christmas tree cutting (and in a tiny car lol), Christmas and New Years parties, and more!

The banter and energy between these characters was amazing, and I binged this so quickly. I was hooked on seeing what tropes and adventures they'd get into next!

🎧 Great audio narration, Lee Osorio is always great. They nailed the banter and levity as well as the more emotional topics within.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Genre: f/m contemporary romance with queer rep
Setting: Chicago
Length: 11 hours 6 minutes
Pub Date: January 2025

Read this if you like:
⭕️ Christmas settings for romances (though not necessarily a holiday romance)
⭕️ Romance tropes galore
⭕️ bi character bringing in queer rep
⭕️ romance writers falling in love

Charming in moments but a bit too on the nose, this story hits familiar beats with a wink. The banter lands, even if the plot doesn’t surprise.

I loved this book so much! The humor, and the romance were top tier to me! Their banter was 10/10 amazing! The plot was so interesting, a woman who hates romance and a man who loves romance too much is such a fun concept to me! Highly recommend this one!

thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Sawyer and Mason meet when they get stuck in an elevator together (legitimately my worst nightmare 😬). She is a romance author who has a serious case of writers block and he is a tv star. She has become cynical about love and he keeps hopelessly falling for everyone he dates, only to be dumped. They strike up a deal to help each other out and you guessed it, end up falling for each other. This was so witty and fun, I absolutely loved it.

I will admit to being a bit reluctant to read this one as I have read so many books about romance authors struggling to write in the genre after experiencing a breakup. However, the overwhelming positive reviews from friends convinced me and they were totally correct! This was in no way the same story.

It was so fun to see Sawyer and Mason connect. Their banter was next level and all their dates were fun to read about. I also really enjoyed the bi representation and how big a part of Sawyers identity it was even though she ended up in an MF relationship. I thought the story did a great job showing why being part of the lgbtq community can have an impact on your life even if you end up in a straight passing relationship.

If you like fake dating, one night stands, authors as characters or books with bi rep this is for you! I was shocked this was a debut. I can't wait to read more from Erin Connor!

This was such a fun surprise! It plays with romance tropes in a clever, tongue-in-cheek way while still delivering a story that felt genuine and emotionally grounded. The banter was sharp, the chemistry worked, and I appreciated how it didn’t take itself too seriously — yet still managed to hit some deeper notes. A bit unconventional, but that’s part of the charm.

That book was something else, I'm telling you. Seriously, I couldn't stand the main female character. Her decisions were baffling, and she annoyed me every time she opened her mouth. The plot itself wasn't bad, but she totally ruined it. I'm still trying to figure out what the author was thinking with that character.

This was such a fun twist on traditional romance! I loved how it turned the genre on its head while still giving us two characters with great chemistry and sharp, witty banter. A refreshing and engaging read.

Everyone was raving about this book so I had high expectation. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book as much. It wasn't terrible. I was just bored while I read it. It was a okay romance, just wasn't my thing.

Unromance by Erin Connor is a delight! Rom com lovers will enjoy the holiday and modern spin in this novel. Sawyer's character is relatble and funny. I found myself looking for time to read this book and laughing out loud. An amazing read!