Unromance

The protagonists of Connor’s delightful debut set out to experience every rom-com trope they can in real life—and the result is swoony, smart, and hilarious. Bisexual romance author Sawyer Greene has grown cynical about love and is unable to write her next book after experiencing one too many broken hearts. Meanwhile, on the heels of a very public breakup, hopeless romantic television star Mason Álvarez-West wonders why he can’t get it right. When these two strangers get stuck together in an elevator—a scenario both recognize as being straight out of a rom-com—Sawyer hopes that a one-night stand will extinguish the fireworks she doesn’t want to be feeling. Mason, however, can’t help but see their meeting as destiny—especially when they keep bumping into each other after their steamy night. Sawyer needs novel inspiration and Mason wants to let go of his hopeless romanticism, so they make a pact to “do it all—all the cheesy shit no one does outside of a rom-com.” The idea is this will work as “exposure therapy” for Mason to make him stop believing in signs from the universe, and provide some fodder for Sawyer as well. It should work—as long as they don’t fall in love. Connor dispatches tropes with expert skill and plenty of fun nods to rom-com classics. It’s a joy. (Jan.)