Reviews with content warning for Gaslighting - The Unhoneymooners

I really wanted to like this book. I'm a sucker for a cute fake-relationship romance.

And the first half of the book was enjoyable! It was funny and pretty cute. I loved that in the first half of the novel any conflict or misunderstanding was cleared up basically within the same chapter. Look at that healthy communication! However, then it all when to hell in a handbasket.

Spoiler

The Dane-cheating-on-Ami fiasco was definitely NOT cleared up within a chapter. And all that healthy, adult communication? Poof! Gone. Not only did Ethan AND Ami not believe Olive the *multiple* times she tried to tell them that Dane was awful and unfaithful, but they actively tried to gaslight her about it! Especially Ethan, he refused to believe that his brother was anything but perfect and chooses to disregard Olive when she tells him Dane tried to hit on her. You know, clearly she's lying or completely mistaken. And Ami! You would think that with how close they were described as being, Ami would know that her sister wouldn't lie about something like this.

I was fine with how Olive's relationship was repaired with Ami once it came out that Olive was, in fact, *right*. But Ethan??? After being denied the first several times he comes crawling back to apologize, that man child decides that the best way to win Olive back is to ambush her with a restaurant full of her extended family (and the man who fired her from the job she had been so happy to get??). Downright manipulative. And Olive takes him back! After very little deliberation, I might add. Girl, that man does not deserve your forgiveness. The amount of gaslighting ALONE.

And don't even get me started on the epilogue - Ethan's childish reaction to Olive accidentally ruining his proposal to her (you'd think after a year(?) of dating he'd know her well enough that she'd be sarcastic about the cliche of it all. Like do you pay attention to her at all??).

You know what, looking back, I am not a fan of Ethan at any point in the book. He's a man-child with bad vibes.

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sebradley29's review against another edition

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5.0

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josoko's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted

Strong character development? Yes

3.5

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kat_rowlen's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Literally my favorite love story. I loved the story line and the witty banter! This book told a perfect enemies to lovers story without any cliches and the miscommunications were cleared up almost immediately!

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boba_n_books's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A super cute, fun romance. I enjoyed seeing Ethan and Olive come together even if their reason for “hating” one another was simplistic and more of a misunderstanding.

This wasn’t my favorite romance, but it was definitely a fun ride.

Spoiler

Dane is a terrible misogynistic villain, and I despise him.

Content Warnings

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-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

5.0

I love an enemies to lovers, especially when there’s a grumpy sunshine element too. These characters are adorable and so is their love story. This book is hilarious. I laughed so loud and long that my husband looked at me like I was nuts. And maybe I am, but still, the book is funny. I loved Love & Other Words and now I love this book, so I’m going to have to check out the rest of the books by this incredibly talented author pair.

Content Warnings

esrin_cordova's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

the ride throughout was funny and tense in all the right ways, except for the later parts of the book which almost spoiled the rest of the witty dialogue and fun interactions the honeymoon part built up so well.

Spoiler

It started precisely when they went home and it became obvious Dane was cheating on Ami as he tried insinuating to Olive she can still go to Dane if she got sick of Ethan, but neither Ethan nor Ami wanted to believe Olive. There were moments during the honeymoon itself where Olive tried to bring up the "coincidences" yet Ethan shot her down at every turn, only for Olive to end up being doubted and blamed by both Ethan and Ami about Dane. While he received judgment, it wasn't truly very satisfying, and I didn't like the way Ethan tried to make up for it either; not the method I approve of.

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