Erin Connor is a breath of fresh air in the rom com sector. And am I saying this because I loved all the homages to rom coms? Absolutely but it was so good to see a love interest who was a hopeless romantic for once. The representation for bisexuality also such a huge plus with a careful complexity.

An author and an actor get briefly trapped in an elevator, the start of what could be an adorable meet cute, except one did not want to meet anyone and the other was on the way to a break up with their current partner. Following a one-night stand and a chance encounter at a Christmas market they make a deal(with a couple of rules) to cure Mason of his hopeless romanticism and help Sawyer with her writers block. Unromance, is a great debut by Erin Connor, filled with romance tropes, references to rom-com movies, banter and growth. A great book to start off the year!

Thank you to the publisher, Forever, NetGalley and the author for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It took me no time at all to fall in love with not only Sawyer Greene but also Mason West! Romance author Sawyer Greene is struggling with writers block and has completely given up on love after her last relationship.... bit of a job hazard. When she gets trapped in an elevator with handsome Mason West, she can't help but have a one night stand... or so she thought! Somehow she keeps running into Mason and they come up with a plan to cure him of his hopeless romanticism and to help cure her writers block....

I could not put down Unromance. I was initially intrigued by the beautiful cover of this book, but once I started reading, it was hard to find myself wanting to put the book down. I loved the characters and the idea behind breaking every meet cute for Mason. If you are looking for a nice easy Rom-Com to start off your year, definitely pick up a copy of Unromance! I absoltuely loved reading this debut from Erin Connor and I hope to read many more from her in the future!

So, yes, this was a cover-click-request for me when it went up as Read Now and yes I should know better by now. But while this is far from a new favourite, it at least didn't make me cringe the way some meta-romance novels have recently.

Having said that, I am a little disappointed I've come out of this one liking the male main character more (insert shame gif here) but alas it's true. There was something about Sawyer's character, the way I kept being told her rationale for being the way she was, hesitant about love and the repercussions of things falling apart, and yet it never quite seemed to jive with how she was written or behaved. It just felt like convenient backstory to push along the plot and fulfill the opposites attract pairing. Whereas Mason was very believable; sure, maybe a cinnamon roll is easier to write, endlessly hopeful and giving and optimistic, but despite this he could've easily morphed into something ridiculous but didn't. And while the phrase "boy was he ever written by a woman" did scan through my brain a time or two.. well. That's the fantasy, right?

This is definitely for the readers who vibe hard with a romance about romance tropes and or the writing profession as a sub-genre that's become so popular. The whole making a list and working their way through it, not to charm someone back into believing in love, but to inoculate them to the warm and fuzzies of it all was a nice twist, though.

I hated the third act break-up. And I definitely skimmed over the confessional a bit (and definitely over the weird side-bar scene of Sawyer explaining things to a random third party, woof) but this was a couple I actually did root for. And I could believe in for the long haul. So that's a nice feeling. Plus, having this set up over and around the fall and winter holidays let me soak up the season without feeling like I was reading a holiday romance and that was a nice bonus.

For a debut, this was pretty solid. I would definitely give Connor another go.

4.5 stars! This was so fun and cute. I loved Sawyer, and I loved Mason. They kind of remind me of that SNL “opposites attract” skit with Marcello Hernandez (though not quite as extreme lol). They just had so much fun together as a couple, I loved it.

Sawyer is a jaded romance author, Mason is a hopeless romantic and a sweet cinnamon roll of a man. Each chapter had little trope titles, which I thought was super cute. Also, there were fantastic grand gestures by both the MMC and the FMC.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for early access to Unromance in exchange for my honest opinion. If you are a romance reader, you have to put this one on your TBR! I can't recommend it enough! I treated myself to a Bloody Mary after reading it, although I'm sad to say that it was not the Midwestern-style feast full of food that a good one should be, as are the ones in this book.
This debut is fun and refreshing, referencing so many romance tropes and romcom movies - and even romance books! The first chapter of Unromance references Jasmine Guillory's The Wedding Date, and I can't believe how long it's been since I read that book (2019?) and yet I remember it SO well because that book was revolutionary in my reading journey. I think that was the first FUN book I read - I used to read more literary fiction with the occasional thriller, but I had never read romance. And now here we are, five years later, and I read SO much romance. I recommend reading Unromance when it publishes in January 2025, and I will be rereading The Wedding Date in the meantime - I definitely suggest you do the same!

4.25 stars! What a wonderful debut. UNROMANCE follows Sawyer Greene and Mason Alvarez-West, two polar opposites who somehow keep finding themselves in each other's paths. Sawyer is a bestselling romance author who is having a hard time believing in true love herself, after a painful breakup with her ex-girlfriend. Mason is a famous actor and a total hopeless romantic, who loves to sweep someone off their feet...only his previous girlfriends haven't quite felt the same way. When the two get stuck in an elevator together, it soon leads to an unforgettable night that they both assume is a once-off...that is, until they meet again at a holiday market fit for a Hallmark movie. Sawyer and Mason come up with a plan: she'll ruin romance for him by deconstructing every romcom trope imaginable on their "dates," while he'll help her tackle her writers' block and see that she can write romance again. The catch? They can't fall in love with each other. Which surely won't be a problem...right?

UNROMANCE had so many tropes and themes I adore in a romance, so it was no surprise how much I enjoyed it! Black cat girl/golden retriever boy? Check. Celebrity romance? Check. The list goes on. And of course, our leads truly brought the story to life. Sawyer reminded me so much of Peyton Sawyer from One Tree Hill (which, I did spot an OTH reference in the story, so maybe that was kind of intentional?)—possibly a polarizing character, but as someone who's always had a soft spot for Peyton, I really rooted for Sawyer too! I love a female lead who's maybe a little cynical, a little guarded, someone who's unapologetically independent, but will also break down her walls for the right person. It was a joy to watch Sawyer's journey to not only believing in love again, but also rediscovering her creativity and her passion for writing. And of course, I loved Mason, too! He's the perfect romance hero, in my eyes—sweet, sunshiny, with a huge heart, someone who just has so much love to give everyone in his life. Although Sawyer and Mason are complete opposites, their chemistry really shines, and I could see why they worked so well together. I also liked how "meta" the story felt—the romance tropes at the start of each chapter, that always find their way into what the characters are experiencing, were a great touch.

The only thing that really stopped this book from being an even higher rating for me was (spoiler alert) the third-act conflict/breakup. I understood why it was included, but I also didn't feel like it was entirely necessary? It felt a little repetitive to me given what we'd seen of the characters' journeys so far. Otherwise, I would highly recommend UNROMANCE! With just the right balance of wit and warmth, it's perfect for anyone looking for a good read to keep the holiday vibes going this January. Erin Connor is definitely an author to watch! Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC.

What happens when a hopelessly romantic actor and a jaded romance writer with a “no love” rule have a one-night stand... and then decide to make a list to dismantle romance tropes? Naturally, they fall in love.

Sawyer Greene, the chaotic disaster and prickly FMC we all need, is hilariously skeptical of love after her career—and heart—take a beating. Enter Mason, the cinnamon roll actor who agrees to their “no feelings” rule but finds himself breaking it anyway. Mason’s big heart and unwavering affection for Sawyer had me swooning, and it’s no surprise she starts to fall for him too (even if it takes her a little longer to admit it).

This book perfectly balances tension, banter, and steamy romance. Sawyer’s “I’m not falling for him” attitude is relatable and entertaining, especially as she fumbles her way into realizing Mason is everything she didn’t know she needed. And Mason? Absolute perfection. His warmth, patience, and charm make it impossible not to root for him.

The writing shines with witty dialogue and heartfelt moments, and the inclusion of acting and writing as central themes added a unique depth to the story—it all felt incredibly real.

While the third-act breakup was predictable, it fit their journey, and Sawyer’s grand gesture to win Mason back was chef’s kiss. My only wish? A little more in the epilogue to see how their story unfolds long-term (because I need more Sawyer and Mason in my life).

If you love imperfect and prickly FMCs, cinnamon roll MMCs, and a swoon-worthy mix of humor and romance, Unromance is the perfect read. Forever Publishing, thank you for the ARC—this one left me all in my feels!

Sadly, I don’t think this one is for me. 😔

Decided to DNF at 25% after being really excited to read this rom com… Perhaps my high expectations got in the way? It’s hard to say.

I just couldn’t connect with the characters and, personally, don’t find innuendo-laced humour funny…

However, while it’s not my kind of rom com, I do think romance readers that are a bit more comfortable with smut could have a lot of fun with this!

Unromance was excellent! Such a fun read, kinda meta romance novel going through romance tropes. The couple was really cute together and the story was fun. Definitely would recommend, again, it was excellent!

all i have to say is, if i was Sawyer, Mason woulda had me folded night 1. i simply could not be unromanced bc i would’ve fell in love with him too quick. i loved how mutually beneficial their relationship started & loved even more how it blossomed into their own paths of self discovery. the dual povs really gave a whole new meaning Sawyer & Mason’s perspectives on love and the plot’s backstory highlighted how their path shaped their present. it was such a lighthearted yet spicy love story and i was obsessed from page 1!

Unromance by Erin Connor is such a gem! This debut novel was so much fun to read and it was easily a 5 star book!

I loved the non-romance romance watching Saywer and Mason fall for each other in this slow burn. The tension and banter were perfect in this book and the use of tropes for each chapter were so delightful.

I loved the setup and idea for this book and the writing and storylines were so much fun. This was a little on the steamier side and the tights scene!

So make sure this is on your January book list when it comes out January 14th!

A big thanks to Forever for an advanced copy and I can't wait for everyone to love this book!

Wow, I’m so freaking happy I got to read the ARC for this book. This has been the most enjoyable holiday-ish romance I have ever read. The characters are all so lovable and genuine. I loved how real they felt in their previous trauma. Ugh I will be recommending this book forever. It was so good!

Sawyer Greene is a successful romance author—or she was, until a painful breakup left her with nothing but writer’s block and bitterness toward love.
When Sawyer gets trapped in an elevator with a handsome stranger, she's determined to see it as not a meet-cute, but a chance encounter with a charming man whom she will sleep with exactly one time and never see him again. Easy enough right? At least until she runs into him again... but maybe they can help each other out.

Recently-dumped TV heartthrob, Mason West, needs to stop being such a romantic. It's not working for him, clearly. Perhaps this jaded romance novelist can help ruin romance for him—one rom-com trope at a time– and he can help her find romantic inspiration for her next book.

This was a fun read! I loved how Sawyer's story aligned with theirs in unexpected ways. I liked that this didn't follow "classic" romance plots, it was a unique storyline.

Thank you NetGalley, Erin Connor, and Forever Publishing for the ARC of this book for my review.

Thanks to NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and the author for a free eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This novel held a lot of promise but seemed to fall flat for me. I think this had great potential as I really enjoyed the sentence blurb of each trope at the beginning of every chapter which also served as a hint as to what would occur in the chapter - a "meta" way of demonstrating how most romance novels are structured. However, the driver of the plot, where the female main character, Sawyer, tries to ruin romance for Mason West, while funny, did not make sense to me. The scheme made a lot of sense for Sawyer's purposes of completing her book though - but it seemed like reaching that a self-proclaimed romantic wants to go on romantic dates to "get it out his system".

I didn't feel a whole lot of chemistry from the main characters, Sawyer and Mason, which may have been another reason why this didn't pull me in. In particular, I was not a big fan of Sawyer. She came off as immature and at the edge of waiting for something to go wrong - the third act "conflict" seemed to be her making a big deal out of a problem out of a minor thing (i.e., the film rights). Mason seemed a bit one-dimensional as well.

This book, I fear has ruined romance for me in the best possible way.

I laughed. I sobbed. I commiserated HARD with both Mason and Sawyer. I am both of them, miserably. I love a MMC who is an unrepentant romantic! Honestly, we love an emotionally stunted FMC. (Would’ve loved to see more healing from her relationship with Sadie, though.)

Anyway I will be telling literally everyone about this book, I have passed away.

Sawyer- a romance writer with writers block and doubts about romance in general- and Mason-an actor who was just dumped-meet cute in a stopped elevator. What starts as conversation and a one time thing becomes a relationship where Sawyer tries to disabuse Mason of his romantic tendencies but.....The twist that Sawyer identifies as bi is well incorporated. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. It's trope-y, it's fun, and it's funny.

i honestly have such mixed feelings about this book. i really loved it in the beginning but as the storyline progressed i quickly lost interest. the fmc was written in a way that tried to be relatable but came across as cringy, which ultimately ruined my opinion of the book 😭

thank you netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

perfect for romcom lovers!! this felt like a fun Hallmark movie that was a montage of everyone’s favorite romcom tropes

This is everything I could want in a romcom book! I loved the banter, it made for such a quick and fun read! Don’t get me started on the chemistry, because I was obsessed! There was a perfect self-awareness to the book that made it so refreshing to read! Mason was such an incredible MMC! I’m still shocked this was Erin’s debut because it was truly incredible!