Tag: honeymoons

REVIEW: The Holiday Honeymoon Switch by Julie McKay

REVIEW: The Holiday Honeymoon Switch by Julie McKay

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from  Netgalley and G. P. Putnam’s Sons in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Holly and Ivy have been best friends since their boyfriends introduced them at a Christmas frat party while singing an intoxicated version of the old carol their names called to mind. Eight years of friendship brings them to the weekend of Holly’s wedding to Matt – when Matt calls the whole thing off and dumps her.

Holly decides to take Ivy’s remote vacation cabin in the woods for two weeks to wrestle with Matt’s blindsiding announcement. And she sends Ivy on her non-refundable Hawaiian honeymoon. Except Matt has shown up for the honeymoon, too. With his girlfriend.

Since they look so much alike, Ivy was supposed to pretend to be Holly and enjoy the trip as her friend. Instead she’s stuck in a lie, trying to dodge Matt. Ivy finds a place to stay, but keeps the whole story from Holly to protect her from Matt’s most recent betrayal.

Holly’s vacation cabin is owned by an old friend from high school. Making a few friends on her remote retreat is doing a lot to help her over her heartbreak. But what is going to happen – for both Holly and Ivy – when it’s time to go home?

Review

This was fun! I can’t remember the last time I read an entire adult novel in one day. But this was exactly what I expected and what I wanted this to be. I easily predicted how one of the closing conflicts would play out – this absolutely follows the beats of a Hallmark movie. None of the conflicts lingered for too long. Things happened and then they were resolved to make way for the HEA. I would have liked a bit more from the epilogue – if I’m going to get details of what happens next, I want all of them. But overall it was satisfying in the end. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

REVIEW: The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Olive has known Ethan for a couple years now, since her twin Ami started dating his brother, Dane. She’s never particularly liked Ethan. There’s usually a simmering hostility between them.

When Ami and Dane plan their wedding, Olive and Ethan are right there, maid of honor and best man. And while Olive considers herself a bad luck magnet, Ami is the opposite. She loves entering sweepstakes and contests, and she often wins. In fact, most of the wedding – and the 10 day honeymoon in Maui – are things Ami has won.

Olive and Ethan are the only two people at the wedding who don’t partake of the seafood buffet at the reception. Therefore, they are the only two who do NOT get food poisoning. Since the honeymoon trip is a contest prize, there is no way for Ami to postpone the trip. So she begs Olive to take her place and enjoy the vacation. And Ethan is going, too. Now Olive has to pretend to be married to her nemesis in romantic Hawaii. How is she going to pull that off?

Review

This is laugh-out-loud hilarious, at least for the first half of the book. It’s an absolute delight. Olive completely cracked me up – so brash and honest. It’s fantastic. I love a story that makes me laugh.

This would be perfect as a Hallmark movie. You’ve got the enemies-to-lovers situation as well as a fake relationship, two of my favorite romance tropes. And if you have a story where people have to hide who they really are, there’s always a moment where things fall apart. When that happens, the humor of the story pulls back and leaves room for other emotions. And this book hits those emotions just right.

Through everything – the snarky, hilarious beginning, the blossoming romance, and the dumpster fire when everything falls apart – Olive shines. I loved her. She tries to learn from her mistakes. She’s honest to the point of almost blowing their cover multiple times. And she evaluates and stands by her instincts, even when they cost her almost everything. While the whole story is a treat, I stayed with this one because of Olive. Don’t miss her story! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥