pagesinthedunes 's review for:

Unromance by Erin Connor

4.5

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Surprisingly funny, unique meta romance story where the two leads are trying to use the tropes and plots of romantic comedies to “ruin” romance and get out of writer’s block. Sawyer and Mason had great flirting, teasing banter and both characters needed to work on themselves to be ready to admit their true feelings. Steamy, sweet, emotional, and diverse characters (bi fmc x Latin Mmc, one character uses a cane, BIL speaks Spanish to his kids, etc…) and Mason is a second generation actor used to living in the spotlight (PR smile). Minor critiques are that it is a bit long (lots of characters thinking about how they are feeling, quite of bit of back and forth between the couple), the racial identities of the characters felt superficial at times (his ex was “difficult” on set because she stood up for herself and surely being an Asian American actress played into her treatment, a doorman lets Sawyer into a building likely helped by being a white woman, there appears to be no black people in Chicago), and

it would have been nice for Mason’s mom to tell him she was proud of him or understood his need to go outside the mainstream Hollywood system

. Also, Sawyer is 26 and has already published 3 books (including a NYTimes bestseller)

and had one of her books made it a movie and a 2 year writer’s block

…would have been more believable to have her be 5+ years older.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Biphobia

Fmc is estranged from her religious parents due to her sexual orientation