PLOT: 4/5
CHARACTERS: 4.5/5
WRITING STYLE: 4/5
CLIMAX: 3.5/5
ENTERTAINMENT QUOTIENT: 4.5/5
“I can appreciate my body in a bikini and still want to set fire to the patriarchy.”
~ Christina Lauren, The Unhoneymooners[/perfectpullquote]
My Musings
Maybe it is because of the dreadful situation that we are currently in or because of my recently renewed interest in all things girly, the year 2020 has seen me reading more than my usual number of romances.
I have been quite lucky too, having read romances that I found both entertaining and heartwarming.
After reading books like How to Hack a Heartbreak by Kristin Rockaway and When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon, I was fortunate enough to have stumbled upon The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren as my next read.
Read on to know more about my thoughts on the book and how was my experience of reading it.
What to expect?
Expect a book that is a light and fluffy read, perfect for a lazy afternoon or a cozy night in. Expect a book that is a heartwarming summer romance.
Expect a book that has a bit of drama and humour in addition to the romance. Expect a book that is lengthy but effortlessly so. Expect a book that is best suited for chick-lit and romance lovers.
And finally, expect a book which is as much about brotherly and sisterly love as it is about romantic love.
Who can read?
Since the book is written in a simple and breezy language, it can be easily picked up by a beginner level reader.
Let’s talk about the storyline
The Unhoneymooners tells us the story of Olive, a girl who has always considered herself as unlucky – be it in her job, career, love or life in general.
Olive has an identical twin sister Ami, who is exactly her opposite when it comes to luck. Ever since they were little girls, Ami has been blessed with extremely good luck while Olive has had none of it.
So, when Ami succeeds in finding her perfect guy in Dane and manages to finance an extravagantly lavish wedding by winning a series of sweepstakes and internet contests, it doesn’t really surprise anyone.
Even the exotic honeymoon package, that she wins for herself and Dane, doesn’t come as much of a shock, given Lady Luck’s propensity to bestow her abundant gifts on Ami.
While Olive can only feel happy about Ami’s good fortune and upcoming wedding, she feels mild disgust at the prospect of spending an entire day with Ethan, Dave’s elder brother who also happens to be the best man at their wedding.
Not wanting to spoil things for Ami on her big day, Olive braces herself for a day of torture and mild horror.
Things, however, take an entirely different turn when during the wedding, all of the guests including the bride and the groom get sick from food poisoning because of eating bad shellfish.
And as the newly married lovebirds lie in bed nursing their stomachs, the honeymoon vacation is up for grabs.
Non-negotiable, non-transferable, and all expenses paid, the package will expire if Ami and Dane do not take it. But given their current situation that’s a highly unlikely scenario.
So, when Dane nudges Ethan and Ami convinces Olive, the two reluctantly set their differences aside and decide to fly away to the exotic islands of Hawaii.
Determined to part their ways as soon as they land, the duo plan out the entire fake honeymoon as a solo trip. But there is a slight issue.
When Olive runs into her future boss and Ethan meets her ex-lover, the two have no choice but to continue playing this Mr. and Mrs. game a little longer.
Will trouble shake their solo paradise? Or will everything go as planned?
How good is the writing style?
The writing style is amazing. The humour comes easily and the romance doesn’t seem forced. I have a thing for ‘love to hate’ romances and the book delivers it perfectly.
I think the authors (there are two authors here – Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings) have done a wonderful job of making it a fun-filled read.
Of course, some of it is too good to be true and some of it is quite predictable too, but when it comes to romances of a certain sort (the non-tragic ones) there are always a few constraints that you’ve got to work with.
What about the characters?
The characters are what makes this book so great. Both Ethan and Olive are believable, likeable and gorgeous in their own understated ways.
This unawareness of their own attractiveness makes them much more adorable. Their subtle yet intense chemistry is the stuff dream romances are made of.
Let me warn you beforehand, Ethan and Olive are going to set fire to your couple goals and make it absolutely impossible for you to stay in touch with reality.
What did I like?
Mostly everything. Barring a few things mentioned in the following paragraph, the book is likeable in all other aspects.
What did I not like?
While reading the book, there seems to be a certain disconnect happening between the first and second parts.
The writing, and more importantly the vibe of the book undergoes a sudden transformation when moving from the fake-honeymoon to post fake-honeymoon period. This transformation is not as effortless as the reader wants it to be.
Also, the second half is much less fun (I do understand, but I miss the humour terribly) and seems to drag on for a while. Needless to state, this reduces the pace of an otherwise flawless read.
Is the climax good enough?
It is predictable to a certain extent but that’s quite obvious from the very start, isn’t it? The book does end on a befitting note and I certainly can’t imagine it ending any other way.
It all boils down to the entertainment quotient
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that The Unhoneymooners is packed with entertainment.
With high doses of drama, tricky but comic situations, a warm gooey romance and an endearing cast of characters – the book manages to keep the readers engaged and entertained at nearly all points of time.
In the end
In the end, The Unhoneymooners will prove to be a perfect comfort read for someone looking for a fresh voice and breezy narrative.
The sultry exotic location, fake honeymoon thingy, hate to love relationship, a heartwarming romance and an adorable set of characters, together make this book a great read.
The final verdict
Go for it!
Pick the book if
- You are looking for an easy-breezy read.
- You like romantic reads or chick-lit.
- You enjoy books about ‘hate to love’ situations or books that are set in exotic locations.
- You like books that make your heart melt and go soft with warmth.
- You enjoy books about love – both familial and romantic love.
- You are looking for a good and humorous entertainer.
Skip the book if
- You don’t like romances.
- You don’t like lengthy reads.
- You are looking for a more serious and literary kind of read.
- You don’t like chick-lit.
Can’t wait to read it? Buy your copy of The Unhoneymooners using the link below.
