(Gallery Books)
In the land of fiction, the romance resurgence is real. And this summer, by the lake or on the beach, is a great time to escape into a book like the one reviewed here. By international bestselling coauthor duo and best friends, Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billing, it’s a romantic comedy in the classic sense of two people meet, they connect, miscommunication or mishap tears them apart, they reunite in the end. But, similar to a mystery novel, knowing the plot outline doesn’t lessen the fun; you can just read purely for enjoyment and let your brain have a little vacation also. The Unhoneymooners of the title are Olive and Ethan, sister of the bride and brother of the groom — who take teasing sarcastic banter to a whole new level — on a 10-day trip to Maui, the honeymoon the newlyweds are unable to indulge in for reasons that become very clear. However, Ami is Olive’s nemesis, the brother who is always whisking her sister’s fiancé off on a boy’s trip at inopportune times, and abruptly turning off his infamous charm whenever Olive walks into the room. But who can’t not fall in love whilst enjoying all the amenities the honeymoon package has to offer on an island in Hawaii?
— Reviewed by Jenny Lyons of The Vermont Book Shop in Middlebury.
9 Summer Reading Sizzlers
Star-Crossed, by Minnie Darke
The Girl He Used to Know, by Tracey Garvis Graves
The Bride Test, by Helen Hoang
Red, White, & Royal Blue, by Casey McQuiston
Waiting for Tom Hanks, by Kerry Winfrey
The Wedding Party, by Jasmine Guillory
You’d Be Mine, by Erin Hahn (YA)
The Flatshare, by O’Leary, Beth
The Plus One, by Sarah Archer