The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

The Unhoneymooners is a must read for Rom Com lovers like me! This is my second Christina Lauren book, and I’m totally in love with their work now!

Olive is heading on her twin sister’s honeymoon….with her new brother-in-law’s older brother….who she can’t stand…and they have to pretend to be married…what could go wrong, right?

If you love the fake marriage trope, forced proximity, and great banter, then this read is for you!

****SPOILERS AHEAD*****
Jump to the bottom of my post for the spoiler-free GoodReads Synopsis!

I absolutely loved Ethan and Olive in this book! Hello miscommunication on Olive’s end from the get-go, but I thought it definitely added to the “loathe to love you” theme and really made things sweet when Ethan admitted he immediately had a crush on her from their first meeting!

I love a good fake dating and forced proximity trope, and I thought this one was done so well. I laughed out loud and snorted like an idiot at all of Ethan and Olive’s endeavors in paradise, fielding not only her new boss but Ethan’s ex.

Let’s talk “reality” for a minute once Ethan and Olive returned home. I knew all the sunshine and roses wasn’t going to last once they got home and “the Dane problem” resurfaced. At first, I was honestly a little hurt myself that Ethan didn’t believe Olive BUT BUT BUT for all of you who were like “WTF Ethan” let me say – I thought it was 100% more realistic that Ethan was in denial. I don’t think it was necessarily that Ethan didn’t believe Olive or thought she was lying. I think he was just in huge denail about the true nature of his little brother. And let’s be honest, this is a realistic take on a relationship between siblings. Especially for someone who is a bit of an enabler or who always sees the good in someone- even though they are truly toxic or bad in nature. So yes, I think it was realistic for Ethan to be in denial, even though I know we all wanted him to be on Olive’s side.

Olive even recognizes this herself, comparing it to her relationship with Amy. However, Ethan’s redeeming quality is that he absolutely owns up to his mistake. And hey, realistically, we all make mistakes. I also think there’s something to be said for Olive’s character development. Two people who were significant in her life had a hard time thinking her pessimistic nature wasn’t getting the best of her. She recognizes that – while also maintaining that Dane is a dirtbag, which he is – but makes those changes for herself. Good for Olive, honestly.

Overall, I loved the themes in this book. Good and bad luck, making choices that control your own destiny, and finding your person and appreciating them for who they are – so many great aspects to a fun and loving read! Oh yeah, and I absolutely loved all the Harry Potter references.

Have you read The Unhoneymooners and what did you think?

Quotes

“I want to say something sassy, but the only coherent thought that comes to mind is how insulting it is that eyelashes like his were wasted on Satan’s Errand Boy”

“I stare up at him, hating the tiny fluttering that gets going in my chest because he knows the Harry Potter reference. I knew he was a book lover, but to be the same kind of book lover I am? It makes my insides melt.”

“He tastes like cheap alcohol and contradictions, but it is still hands-down the best kiss of my life.”

“You checked out my chest.”
“Of course I did. It’s like having two other people up here with us. I don’t want to be rude.”

“Despite things being insane and hard and messy, I don’t think I’ve ever liked myself more than I do now. It’s the strangest feeling to be proud simply because I’m taking care of me and mine. Is this what it’s like to grow up?”

Good Reads Synopsis

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

Olive is always unlucky: in her career, in love, in…well, everything. Her identical twin sister Ami, on the other hand, is probably the luckiest person in the world. Her meet-cute with her fiancé is something out of a romantic comedy (gag) and she’s managed to finance her entire wedding by winning a series of Internet contests (double gag). Worst of all, she’s forcing Olive to spend the day with her sworn enemy, Ethan, who just happens to be the best man.

Olive braces herself to get through 24 hours of wedding hell before she can return to her comfortable, unlucky life. But when the entire wedding party gets food poisoning from eating bad shellfish, the only people who aren’t affected are Olive and Ethan. And now there’s an all-expenses-paid honeymoon in Hawaii up for grabs.

Putting their mutual hatred aside for the sake of a free vacation, Olive and Ethan head for paradise, determined to avoid each other at all costs. But when Olive runs into her future boss, the little white lie she tells him is suddenly at risk to become a whole lot bigger. She and Ethan now have to pretend to be loving newlyweds, and her luck seems worse than ever. But the weird thing is that she doesn’t mind playing pretend. In fact, she feels kind of… lucky.

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

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