“I wanted to translate your frowns and find out what your problem with me was and then bend you over the back of my couch.”
Can someone please tell me why it took me so long to finally pick up this book? It sat on my shelf for an entire year, and now I can’t believe I waited so long to dive in! This is one of the rare books I genuinely regret not reading sooner. I thoroughly enjoyed The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren, from the witty banter to the romance, and I was hooked from the start. However, the one thing that kept me from giving it a full 5-star rating is that it didn’t quite give me that magical, all-encompassing 5-star feeling. It was so close, but just fell slightly short of perfect. Still, I’m so glad I finally gave it a chance!
Summary of 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.
Review of The unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
Despite all the hype surrounding The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren, I went into it with pretty low expectations. Even though I’ve never been disappointed by a Christina Lauren book, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But here I am, saying this is hands down my favorite book by them so far!
Plot Analysis of The unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
Olive and her twin sister Ami may look identical, but they couldn’t be more different! While Ami is confident and sleek, Olive is more comfortable flying under the radar as a “curvy girl.” Where Ami has incredible luck, Olive… not so much.
Ami is getting married and, in true Ami fashion, she’s managed to pay for the entire wedding using prizes from raffles and giveaways! It may not be the most glamorous affair (think lime green bridesmaids’ dresses), but hey, it’s all free—including the massive seafood buffet, which leaves everyone battling food poisoning.
When Ami and her new husband can’t take their honeymoon, they insist that their siblings go in their place. Olive can easily pass as Ami, and Ethan, her new brother-in-law, will stand in for his younger brother. Off to Maui they go!
It sounds like a dream—10 days on tropical beaches, completely free! There’s just one problem: Olive and Ethan can’t stand each other. But who would turn down a free vacation, right?
Characters of The unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
Olive Torres : She’s incredibly funny, and her inner thoughts align so well with my sense of humor. She feels real, relatable, and refreshingly honest. Of all the contemporary main characters I’ve read, she stands out as my favorite. Her growth over the course of the book is beautifully handled, and I especially admire how she’s unafraid to correct people’s misconceptions about her. She’s confident, stands her ground, and refuses to hide the truth, even when taking the easy way out would be tempting. I truly love her character!
Ethan Thomas : At the beginning, he’s genuinely snarky and quite funny. Throughout the book, we see his chaotic side, from asking flight attendants for statistics about the plane because he thinks it will crash, to being overall dramatic. I adored him. His character development is well done, and he’s incredibly sweet.
Olive & Ethan : The romance in this book is absolutely spot-on. The way it unfolds is flawless—so much vulnerability, sweet moments, and just the right mix of fluff and light spice, all perfectly balanced. The final conflict was truly unique, affecting not just Olive and Ethan, but everyone around them. It was a brilliant catalyst for character growth, teaching important lessons, and delivering well-earned justice to one character in particular. Everything about it felt perfectly executed.
Pacing & writing style
In The Unhoneymooners, Christina Lauren’s writing is witty, lighthearted, and full of humor, making it an easy and enjoyable read. The duo’s signature style of sharp, playful dialogue shines, especially in the banter between Olive and Ethan. Their character-driven writing allows readers to connect with the main characters through relatable emotions, funny inner monologues, and moments of vulnerability.
As for pacing, The Unhoneymooners moves at a brisk and engaging speed, maintaining a balance between romantic tension and plot development. The story never drags, with a steady flow of humorous, awkward, and romantic moments. The pace picks up naturally as the relationship between Olive and Ethan evolves, with plenty of banter and tension keeping me invested. Even as conflicts and twists arise, the pacing remains smooth, giving just enough time to savor both the sweet moments and the character growth without feeling rushed. The book wraps up in a satisfying way, tying up the storylines without lingering too long.
Tropes of The unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
Tropes : Enemies to lovers | Fake datig| He falls first | Grumpy x sunshine | Forced proximity | Secret relationship | One bed.
Trigger warning of The unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren :
- Fatmisia & body shaming
- Cheating (Not main characters)
- Graphic emesis
- Food poisoning
- Toxic relationship
Some quotes I enjoyed
“Sometimes, the worst day of your life might turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to you—it all depends on the way you look at it.”
“You look great.”
“You always do.”
“God I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.”
“You know, for someone who hates me, you sure moaned a lot when I touched you.”
“It’s so exhausting pretending to hate you.”
“So you don’t hate me?”
“Nope. Never did.”
“Seeing that tiny, salty woman crack up or melt or light up like constellation gives me life.”
Final Thought
The Unhoneymooners is hands down my favorite contemporary romance book! Christina Lauren did an amazing job. I always enjoy cute and entertaining contemporary romances, but I didn’t want this one to end. There was something so addictive about it! The “I hate you, wait maybe I don’t…wait maybe I want you” dynamic was incredibly entertaining and fun. I loved all the snarky banter between Olive and Ethan.”
The Unhoneymooners was a super fun and cute book. I was thoroughly entertained from beginning to end and laughed out loud multiple times. I enjoyed the banter between the main characters. Ethan wasn’t your typical alpha or nice-guy hero; he was relatable and human. His blunder towards the end made him seem more real. I’d give it four stars, deducting one for the slightly silly way he redeemed himself.
If you’re a fan of Christina Lauren, you’re going to adore this book! And if you haven’t picked up one of their novels yet, what are you waiting for? This romcom is perfection—a flawless mix of sass, snark, swoon, and just the right amount of sizzle. The characters are wonderfully developed and engaging, and I especially loved how family played such a key role in the story. I could go on and on about how much I enjoyed it, but I’ll spare you—just trust me and read it! It’s fantastic!
About the author
Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners and best friends Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The #1 international bestselling coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced twenty New York Times bestselling novels. They are published in over 30 languages, have received multiple starred reviews, won both the Seal of Excellence and Book of the Year from RT Magazine, been inducted into the Library Reads Hall of Fame, named Amazon and Audible Romance of the Year, a Lambda Literary Award finalist and been nominated for several Goodreads Choice Awards. They have been featured in publications such as Forbes, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Time, Entertainment Weekly, People, Today, O Magazine and more.
Practical Information for Readers
The unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren Book Formats
The unhoneymooners is available in various formats to suit every reader’s preference:
- Paperback / Hardcover : Ideal for readers who enjoy the tactile experience of holding a physical book.
- eBook : Convenient for on-the-go reading, available on all major e-reader platforms.
- Audiobook : Narrated with emotional depth, available on platforms like Audible.
- PDF The unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren : While some may search for a PDF version, it’s recommended to opt for legal eBook options to support the author.
Where to The unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren PDF
- Amazon Kindle: Offers a user-friendly interface with customizable reading settings.
- Barnes & Noble Nook: Another popular platform with a wide selection of e-books.
- Apple Books: Provides seamless integration with Apple devices and a smooth reading experience.
The unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren Age Rating
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren is generally recommended for readers aged 17 and up. The novel falls into the contemporary romance genre, featuring humor, lighthearted romance, and some mild language. There are a few scenes with sexual content, but they are not overly explicit and are handled with care. The book is considered suitable for older teens and adults who enjoy rom-coms with a bit of tension and banter between the main characters.
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