Off you want a fun book this could be it. I love the premise of fake dating to avoid romance and than falling for one another. It’s delightful.

This book might be called Unromance, but what you actually a perfect romance novel. I typically struggle with a book that is too self-away of romance and it's tropes, but the way Sawyer uses her knowledge as a novelist to keep the plot moving. I also appreciated that it showcases how messy and uneven creative pursuits can be and what it really means to commit to a relationship with a person AND their creativity. I was frustrated by the way the third-act breakup was handled, but I appreciated that both characters had to own their part in in. This is a really impressive debut where I laughed and grimmaced and gasped the whole time. Drink this book: I usually pair this with a wine, but this book HAD to call for a red wine old fashioned instead.

I can absolutely understand the pain Sawyer feels. Being heartbroken is horrible. It can definitely cause depression, which means not wanting to do the activities you love - including writing bestselling romance novels.

I love a good meet cute, but mix it with a fake romance and I'm all-in. It does help with writers block - anytime you're happy, words just seem to come naturally. But it's hard not to fall in love when you're having a lot of fun.

This was OK for a debut - 3.5 stars, generously rounded up.

It wasn’t my favourite read, for sure, but certainly not the worst debut I’ve read. I definitely had high hopes for it from the blurb, but was left wanting a lot more at the end.

The premise of a romance author and actor being trapped together in an elevator, having a one night stand after this meet-cute, but then constantly bumping into each other around town - it had so much promise, but the writing and how the storyline wound up working out… it just all fell flat, and wasn’t the best for me. The chemistry between characters Sawyer and Mason didn’t feel genuine and the writing wasn’t the type that draws you in and holds onto you (such that you can’t put the book down).

But, it looks like a lot of other readers loved it, so it’s found its intended audience! It’s just not me. With the hundreds of books I arc review annually, some are not winners. This is middle of the road, so it’s not at the bottom, either. Would I read it again or recommend it to others? No.

I received an early review copy from NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and this is my honest opinion.

Erin's writing definitely has potential, and I look forward to trying another of her books. Unfortunately, Unromance didn't work for me. The one night stand trope is one of my least favorites, and I never fully bought into their love story. I think this book could have benefitted from dual POV. and I wasn't a huge fan of Sawyer for most of the book.

I think this one will be a hit for fans of the one night stand trope and romance books heavily featuring romance tropes. Erin has a great sense of humor, and I think a book with different tropes would work better for me.

Thank you to Forever for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

This romance had such a promising start, with a fun premise, great chemistry, and a bisexual romance author protagonist—plus, it all unfolds against the cozy winter backdrop of Chicago, which gave it a festive charm perfect for holiday reading. I loved the early setup and Sawyer and Mason’s dynamic had me hooked at first, especially with the "ruin romance" challenge and their instant spark. But the second half lost a bit of steam for me, with a conflict that felt exaggerated and dragged out. Listening to the audiobook didn’t help either—the male narrator didn’t quite fit the tone and pulled me out of the story more than once. Still, I enjoyed the ride overall and would absolutely pick up another book by this author!

Unromance is an unconventional romance. When Sawyer, a bestselling author, and Mason, an actor, meet in an elevator, which precipitates their one-night stand, they never imagined that something real could come from that. As they begin to see each other more often to help each other, the passion they had during their one-night stand quickly starts to consume them. It's a fiery romance.

THIS BOOK!! I'm obsessed. I read it first and then went back and listened to it once it was officially published and I have to say it's definitely going to be a comfort read I can go back to over and over. Unromance is beautiful, funny, charming, super cute with those trope definitions at the start of each chapter, and properly steamy. 5/5 stars -- highly recommend!

Sawyer and Mason had fantastic banter from their first meeting and I loved seeing their one night stand turn to friendship and then more. I always love a main character who is a writer, so that drew me in right from the start (plus this gorgeous cover of course) and I love that she didn't recognize Mason from TV so he knows from the beginning he attracted her just by being himself. Plus who doesn't love a little splash of hidden identity?! He definitely falls first since she's the love skeptic but I really enjoyed their path to romance by "ruining" romantic tropes, activities, gestures, etc. As a big fan of the romcom, seeing all those little pieces of classic romcoms being played out on purpose was just really fun. The whole concept is great and I was definitely invested from start to finish. Mason is the perfect cinnamon roll hopeless romantic MMC and Sawyer is a very believable romance skeptic that doesn't want to get hurt and refuses to see what's right in front of her. Their journey is entertaining and sweet, with plenty of growth for both our lovable MCs.

If you love opposites attract, one night stands turned more, unique bucket lists, "rules" that were really always meant to be broken, and just like laughing and happy vibes in general, you'll want to read this one!!

Thank you Forever for the drc via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This book was published January 14, 2025 so if you haven't checked it out yet, what are you waiting for??

3.5 rounded to 4

This was a cute, and mostly well written (but potentially forgettable) romance. What starts as a one night stand quickly transforms into two polar opposites fighting their attraction to each other. Strangers to lovers to strangers to friends to lovers to idiots to lovers.

Sawyer was heavily traumatized, and played the victim in her own life story. I would have loved to see some therapy to help her along. Third person POV helped the reader see both characters perspective, but first person POV and maybe alternating viewpoints would have included the reader more in the story rather than feeling like getting a bird eye view.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Forever Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really really wanted to love this one, but it missed for me. I was all in until about 70%, when it went down hill. 1 breakup was necessary, the second seemed like filler It wasn’t even miscommunication, just Sawyer should’ve spent less time wallowing in blankets after her previous breakup and more time doing self reflection. I just have a hard time believing that she won’t run away again if Mason makes one step she doesn’t like. Mason’s dating everyone he works with is another problem within itself. You’re a celebrity, I’m sure it can’t be hard to find a date anywhere else

I went into this blind and I was surprisingly… I really enjoyed it!
The premise, plot and character development.
It had the right amount of spice
Loved the banter and relationship between Sawyer and Mason!
Really liked this debut and would recommend this to anyone looking to read a light, fluffy and entertaining rom-com!

A delightfully witty, charming read that had me giggling and looking forward to the next chapter header!

This book sadly wasn’t for me. I couldn’t really connect either the characters. The concept was so cute and I was so excited to read it! So I could definitely see how others would really enjoy it. Maybe it was just the wrong time for me.

The premise of this book is so fun, I enjoyed this and had fun with it! I liked both Mason and Sawyer characters and their quirky romance, loved that the base of their relationship was a true friendship. I enjoyed all the rom-com references and the trope checklist they were enacting. Their banter and chemistry was so vibrant and lively. I’d definitely read more from this author again in the future.

thank you to Netgalley and Forever for my eARC in exchange of my honest opinion

This one was super cute and surprised me in the best way.
I love the concept of making a do not fall in love list and then the whole thing gets thrown out the window lol.
And the last grand gesture (with the vintage boombox) loved it.

Lot of romance trope / romcom validation in this one! The MCs explore a lot of romantic cliches in their fake/un-dating, it was so cool reading them

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

Sawyer is a romance writer with writer's block and Mason is an actor with a string of wrong relationships as a hopeless romantic. After a meet cute, the two agree to help each other out. Sawyer will break him of his romantic streak if Mason will give her ideas to cure her writer's block.

I loved Mason even if Sawyer was utterly frustrating at times. A Chicago setting is always fun for me being in the area. The idea of each chapter being a different romance trope was so creative and something new in the genre.

I would recommend this read to lovers of romance.

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up. This was great for a debut novel!!

I love the premise behind it and adore the MMC. The FMC annoyed me at times and it did get a little daunting.

However overall I did enjoy it.

I did get to listen to the audio and I don’t the male narrator matched the character at all.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the gifted copy.

I'm not embarrassed or ashamed to say that I love all the tropes and cliches in romance. That's what makes it comforting, knowing that something good is coming. Unromance brings all the best of those. Yes, technically they're trying to ruin love and romance and all the cliches one by one checking them off a list, but of course, Sawyer and Mason catch feelings. I adore Sawyer's sense of humor and how cynical she is. Mason is the perfect cinnamon roll to her black cat. Unromance is hilarious, makes the best references to some iconic rom-coms and ultimately will leave you with the happy fuzzy feeling we all need right now.

Fake dating and dating with a "plan" - two oft-used tropes, but this story managed to be fresh and fun, while still following the plan. Sawyer and Mason were interesting and layered characters, and I loved following them through the attempts to destroy romance.