The Unhoneymooners

 

The Unhoneymooners 

by Christina Lauren

I honestly can’t remember how The Unhoneymooners ended up in my hands. Did a friend lend it to me? Did I snag it from the overflowing shelves at Goodwill? Or maybe I bought it after seeing one of the many book-lover accounts I follow rave about it. However it happened, it turned out to be one of those light, cheesy rom-com reads…perfect for an evening when your brain needs a break and your heart could use a little lift.

As I got deeper into the story, I found myself relating to Olive’s identity as the “unlucky” twin. She’s the one who always seems to draw the short straw in love, while her sister Ami floats through life getting picked first, finding cash in vending machines, and landing the perfect guy. In my case, that sister is Vanessa. And while she’s out there catching every lucky break, I’m left juggling job drama, empty pockets, and a love life that feels like a cosmic joke.

I’ve watched her fall into relationships that seem effortless…sparks fly, everything clicks. Meanwhile, I’ve been ghosted, blindsided, and stuck in the friend zone more times than I care to admit. Like Olive, I’ve wondered if the universe is playing favorites.

Quick recap: Olive’s sister Ami is having her dream wedding and a free honeymoon. But when the entire wedding party gets food poisoning from bad seafood, Olive and Ethan, the groom’s brother and Olive’s sworn nemesis, are the only ones left standing. The honeymoon is non-refundable and non-transferable, so they agree to go. The catch? They have to pretend to be newlyweds.

Cue the chaos.

From awkward shared hotel rooms to surprise run-ins with bosses and exes, Olive and Ethan are forced to play the part of a loving couple. And somewhere between fake kisses and real arguments, the walls start to come down.

What struck me most about Olive wasn’t just her sarcasm or skepticism…it was how those traits served as armor. I’ve worn that same shield. I’ve brushed off romantic hope, avoided dating altogether, because disappointment feels too raw, too vulnerable.

What I loved about her story is that her luck doesn’t change because she morphs into someone else. It shifts because she starts trusting herself. She speaks up. She takes risks. And she finally lets someone see the real her…not the unlucky twin, but the fiercely loyal, smart, and deeply lovable woman underneath.

I’ve got my own work to do, no doubt. But this book reminded me that being unlucky in love doesn’t mean you’re unworthy of it. Sometimes, it just means your story hasn’t hit its plot twist… yet.